With all the pet food scares reported in the past 10 years, it is no wonder that most pet owners are going to the DIY (do-it-yourself) route when it comes to cat and dog meals.

Making sure your pet gets a healthy balanced diet is not as easy as it sound. Of course there are risks as you want to be careful. It takes a lot of work because every species has different dietary requirements.

The truth is, preparing a home meal for a pet is more complex than that of humans because there is a certain degree of flexibility with humans whereas for pets, as some foods and or food combinations are considered toxic.

One alternative to commercial pet food is the raw food diet, however, there is always the risk of salmonella and other illnesses that can be associated with meat.

Although the internet and library books are a great good source, we encourage pet owners who are serious about home prepared meals to consult with a vet who will be able to supply a proper eating plan to accommodate your cat and or dog nutritional requirements.

There are arguments that a dog cannot be raised vegetarian. Although carnivores, a dog is can adjust to a vegetarian diet, however, cats need to remain as carnivores. If serious about placing dogs on a vegetarian diet please consult a vet. As a rule of thumb, dogs require a higher concentration of protein than humans, especially on a vegetarian diet.

Love Sheila & Freedom, my black lab.

Just a friendly reminder that all orders are processed Monday to Friday at 11:00 am PT. Orders placed over the weekend will be processed on Monday morning. The following is especially important for customers placing on-line orders for 1 or 2 day air service. If selecting 1 day air service after 11:00 am, the order will be processed the following business day.

I read the following article in the paper here in Vancouver that disturbed me on more levels than one. Although I like to keep my blogs informative and positive, I felt that from one animal lover to another, you the readers, would appreciate and discuss amongst yourself the contents of this article. Rather than linking I have cut and pasted the contents of the article, written by Suzanne Fournier.

Before reading the article I would like to present my opinion. Please note that this is my opinion and does not reflect the beliefs and or opinions of anyone else here at petwellbeing.com

Please feel free to comment and share your opinions.

Firstly, who needs 25 guns? Legal or not, isn't 1 or 0 enough? Secondly, based on some psychology text books I've read (I'm not a psychologist) isn't hurting small animals one of the starting traits of a serial killer?

Although the alleged shooter and the neighbors have had conflicts, it's difficult to judge without hearing both sides of the story (if in fact this was an accident or not), however, regardless, one should always step forward and face the family when an injured animal is involved.

The sad thing is that if a dog were to bite someone, he/she would be put down. With our linent and almost embarrassing laws here in Canada, the shooter (my guess) will receive nothing more than a slap on the wrist and minimum jail sentence.


By Suzanne Fournier, Vancouver Province
Published: Monday, September 15, 2008

Quadra Island grandparents Margaret and Chris Rose are comforting their grandson Max, a cancer survivor who saw his beloved puppy's head shot off in what the Rose family says could not have been a hunting accident.

"Absolutely not, this was not an accident. There is a history with this particular hunter," said Chris Rose, who with his wife Margaret runs the "pet-friendly Rose Seaside Retreat" on Quadra Island.

Max, 12, who has survived surgery for brain cancer, was cutting wood with his father Nick Rose on Saturday morning when their Jack Russell terrier puppy Seymour ran out onto the road, barking at two men who had just come out of a nearby woodlot.

The two called the puppy, who grandfather Chris describes as a "friendly, cute and lovable pup, very calm, not at all aggressive," but the pup had not returned before a shotgun discharge rang out.

Father Nick and Max ran out to the road see the little puppy quivering, with half of his head blown off.

"Our son brought both of our grandchildren (Max has a 14-year-old sister) over here and we comforted and reassured them," said Margaret Rose this morning (Monday). "Max was crying but he was also very angry."

Quadra Island RCMP confirmed that the alleged shooter "fled Quadra Island before he could be arrested."

The man was able to flee the island before he could be interviewed by police, who went to the nearby home of the alleged shooter's father, who was found to be in legal possession of 25 firearms.

RCMP say they expect to issue a warrant for the alleged shooter's arrest later. He is believed to be in Victoria.

"Our son had a 40th birthday party recently and this man (the alleged shooter) crashed the party and caused a fight in which our son was injured," said Chris Rose. "The police say this family is known to them and unfortunately they live nearby to our son and his family. We're very concerned because the father was nasty and made a terrible racket with police."

Chris Rose said grandson Max is especially distraught because he just lost another puppy, who was Seymour's brother, only three weeks ago. The dog had to be put down after he was completely blinded by glaucoma and an injury.

RCMP expect to issue an update on their search for the alleged shooter, who is well-known on Quadra, later today.

Your cat is pregnant, now what? There are things that you can do in this situation. Once again, this is a combination of on-line research, opinions and information from various publications. Always ask a vet for further information if you cat is pregnant.

1. Start feeding her kitten chow. At first, with any change in food, mix in a little with her regular food. Then gradually change over her food over the course of the week.
2. Later in the pregnancy she will start searching for birthing dens. Although the place not be approved by yourself, the best you can do is provide blankets and or towels that you do not mind disposing later. This will also be likely the place in which she gives birth.
3. When the kittens are born she will have an urge to move them so just follow from a distance and move the bedding or nesting accordingly.
4. The kittens should have their first vet visit when they are 7 or 8 weeks old.

Luv Sheila & Freedom (my black lab)

Just a friendly reminder that all orders are processed Monday to Friday at 11:00 am PT. Orders placed over the weekend will be processed on Monday morning. The following is especially important for customers placing on-line orders for 1 or 2 day air service. If selecting 1 day air service after 11:00 am, the order will be processed the following business day.

Question of the week:

Does my cat have to get neutered and will his behavior change after?

That is a good question. Through my research on-line and from the experience of other cat owners having once worked at a shelter, it is advisable to have your cat neutered once it hits the 5-6 months mark, according to most vets. Most local humane shelters will give discount neutering worth looking into. Most cats who aren't neutered spray all over to mark their territory. The smell of a cat's urine is unbearable, especially all over the house. Neutered cats tend to be better housemates and less aggressive. If anything the cat will become more of a cuddlepuss. He will be more interested in you rather than marking his own territory.

I will try my best to address any question and will make this a Friday feature. Fell free to comment and or send me an e-mail at customerservice@petwellbeing.com

Although I am not a certified vet and my answers are obtained through combined research, addressing them will benefit yourself as well as the other readers.

According to the Guiness World Records, the fattest cat weighs 40.8 pounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMd8lKMRZXY

Although this video is amusing, this is also a wake up call. There are many dangerous and health risks for letting your cat get this big.

Diabetes
Liver Disease
Arthritis
Skin Problems

Having an indoor cat is not an excuse for poor health. There are ways to mentally and physically stimulate a cat for his/her health such as cat doors that can be purchased at pet stores for this purpose.

The following are testimonials received this week on our Cushings for Dogs supplement called Supraglan.

"Works GREAT! We noticed a difference in only 2 weeks. She has MUCH more energy, softer & shinner coat, hair gain, weight loss, mood has improved as well."

"The Vet put Roxanne on the traditional medication for Cushing's and she developed nasty side effects. I decided to take her off the medication and began using your natural products, Supraglan, Milk Thistle and multi vitamins. Roxanne is now handling the disease very well, and her symptoms have subsided. Both Roxy and I are quite happy with the results. Thank you Pet Wellbeing for providing a safe alternative to harsh traditional drugs.
Marie and Roxy"

"So far, there has been improvement in his health. He is eating and playing."

"YES, THE SUPRALANG HAS GREATLY REDUCED SOME OF THE CUSHINGS SYMPTOMS. ITS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HIS QUALITY OF LIFE. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME SO FAR. I OPTED NOT TO USE THE VET RX DUE TO ITS HARSH SIDE EFFECTS AND MY DOG'S AGE. YOUR PRODUCT IS WONDERFUL. I KNOW ITS NOT A CURE BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS WITH EXCESSIVE DRINKING, AND PEEING......I GIVE IT TO HIM 2X DAILY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THANKS FOR A ALTERNATIVE NATURAL SOLUTION FOR THIS DISEASE."

My 8 year old beagle Ginger was diagnosed earlier this year with Cushings Disease. She had numerous skin lesions, great loss of hair (her tail was almost naked!), she had no energy and overall, just seemed like a very old dog. The vet said that the treatment would cost $400 - $600 every three months AND that there were some heavy side effects to deal with. I know that one of the drugs, Mitotaine, is a chemotherapy because late my husband was put on Mitotaine as the first of many chemotherapies back in 1989. Anyway, I saw what it did to him in the way of side effects and I wasn't going to put my dog through that. Enter Supraglan. After only a month, I noticed her lesions were almost gone and her hair was growing back. After three months, I had my "puppy" back! Her fur was thicker than ever - even a little curlier! She is full of energy and is back to being a vibrant, happy dog. All without any vomiting, diarrhea and any other side effects. The only remnant of the Cushing's Disease I see is that she still drinks a lot of water. I am so very grateful for finding Supraglan - and have told my vets about it! Thank you for bringing my Ginger back to me!."

Before purchasing our products, please read our disclaimer.

Introducing a cat to a new home can be stressful, especially when moving from one home to another. Their anxiety can lead to such behavioral and emotional problems ranging from withdrawal to diarrhea.

There are ways to reduce this prior to moving. If possible take the cat with you to the new home to explore before the furniture arrives. Play with your cat and allow him/her to roam and adjust for at least a min of 30 minutes uninterrupted and unrushed.

You can obtain a facial pheromone-based product in most pet stores. Spray this in the corners of each room at eye level. This will initiate positive exploring behavior in cats. The pheromones will make your cat more comfortable.

Once you move, assign one room specifically for your cat until he at least feels comfortable exploring the house. This is the room where his water dish, food dish, and bed should be. This room will become your cat's safe zone.

For safety on moving day, keep the pet inside the carrier.

Luv Sheila & Freedom, my black lab

Just a friendly reminder that all orders are processed Monday to Friday at 11:00 am PT. Orders placed over the weekend will be processed on Monday morning. The following is especially important for customers placing on-line orders for 1 or 2 day air service. If selecting 1 day air service after 11:00 am, the order will be processed the following business day.

"Help my cat has smell breath!!!!!!!!!?
I have had my cat lilly all her life one of my cats gave birth to her. She has got really smell breath. She has not got liver failure as the vets thought."

I found the following question posted on a pet related forum and thought that I would address this in today's blog. Please note that I am not a certified vet, nor is this information intended to replace veterinary care.

Understandably a pet's smell isn't the most pleasant smell in the world, however, you will notice when something is wrong.

Possible Reasons for Bad Breath in Cats:
Abscessed tooth. Tooth Decay or broken teeth
Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth)
Resorptive Dental Disease
Bone or foreign body stuck between the teeth
Kidney Disease
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline Stomatitis
Mouth tumors

We do carry a supplement that helps with bad breath called mouth drops.

Luv Sheila & Freedom

We've all heard about the old lady with too many cats, however, how many cats are too many? Some say 2 some say 4 and other's have their home entirely filled with feline friends.

I did cover the financial cost in Monday's blog stated that throughout the course of a cats lifetime it will cost $10,000 in vet bills and care. Owning more than one cat when one can barely afford one seems in my opinion both financially and emotionally irresponsible.

Cats prefer to be independent and have a hard enough time adjusting to another new cat in the household, let alone more than 1. It's the nature of the beast.

Think of a house full of cats as a reality show full of girls, there's a lot of drama amongst the pack. There's a reason why they refer to girls as catty.

I can understand the need to have more than one cat as companionship. Cats are independent and very self sufficient. Having another cat makes up the difference in love whenever one cat(s) decides to indulge in his/her independence.

The rule of thumb according to some pet owners is that the affection and need of 1 dog is equivalent to 3 cats.

Multiple cats can often lead to anxiety amongst the pack leading to other health issues that otherwise wouldn't present with a single or pair of cats. It is possible that more than 1 cat can coexist; however, cats are more likely to have personality conflicts than dogs.

There are of course ways to make an ideal living situation for multiple cats:

Make sure that each cat has their own specific room or place to retreat from the other's.

When introducing a new cat to the family, keep him/her in a large crate until he/she is familiar and comfortable with the other cats and vice versa. Cats take up to a month, personality depending, to decided whether they are compatible or not.

In addition to the large vet bills, it will take more than an hour to clean up. The smell from accidental urination, you can kiss dinner parties and get togethers with human friends good-bye.

I often have many customers call who I like to refer to as "collectors" who think that they're doing a charitable cause by rescuing many cats and housing them. Although, admirable financially, emotionally and socially, it is best to leave the care to the shelters rather than taking the responsibility on your own.

I to have a soft heart as well, however, hear so many customers on pensions trying to rescue cats when they can't even take care of themselves. If you want to do your part, most shelters welcome donations in the form of volunteer, money and or toys or foods.

Luv Sheila & Freedom

Yesterday we talked about general long term budgeting when purchasing a dog or cat, however, money needs to be set aside for "incidentals" and or accidents especially relating to dog bites.

Did you know that a dog's bite can make you bankrupt? To summarize an article that was published earlier this week by Liz Pulliman Weston, legal fees if your dog attacks another person or animal can lead to $33,000 to $1 mil in settlement awarded to the other party.

Freedom is gentle, never bit anyone, loves children etc., however, like people we all have our moments and although Freedom hasn't thankfully expressed aggression, I remember that he is a dog, an animal and is capable of attacking.

As expressed in many of my blogs, prevention is always the key. Freedom is never off leash except in the house and wears a muzzle just in case.

A lawsuit for a dog bit can cost homeowners up to thousands of dollars in liability plus in most cases the dog has to be euthanized.

Last year the average claim for dog bites was $25,000.

Some insurance companies will refuse to cover the following dogs based on breed:

Pit Bulls
Dobermans
Rottweilers
Akitas
Chows
Wolf hybrids

I love Freedom, however, I am not naive in recognizing the signs that may put myself and others in danger. Most notably I take note of his daily behavior. Thankfully he doesn't demonstrate the behavior that I see in some my neighbor's dog's which is a clear indication of aggressive behavior.

Patterns such as:
Cornering elderly and children
Threatening those passing

There are some things that those considering a dog can do to limit the risks both for safety and financially.

Researching the breed is very important. You may be a good pet owner, however, considering the breeds listed above, some are breed with natural aggressive behavior.

Be honest with your insurer and disclosing that you own a dog.

Spaying and neutering reduces the aggressive hormone in dogs.

Invest in some good quality training and practice often with your pup. Although I've had Freedom for 7 years now, we still work on training lessons at least once a week at the park.

No dogs should be left with toddlers or children alone, make sure that there is an adult around.

A dog who repeatedly lunges at people isn't being protective but aggressive.

Luv Sheila & Freedom

Freedom, my black lab will be celebrating his 8th Bday this year on September 11th. My sister and I were discussing, more like arguing, that now that he has passed the age of 7 that he should be taken in annually for his check up. I don't doubt my sister's love and commitment toward our lab, however, money was a huge reluctance in regards to annual check ups.

My sister begged my mother for a lab for her Bday without giving considering to the financial costs involved in raising a dog. The cost in food, care, tagging, blood work, training, toys etc. works out to at least 10% - 15% min per paycheck.

Most of us do breed research before purchasing a pup, however, how many of us do financial long term calculations? My sister didn't and now we're both slowly paying the price. Thankfully through financial budgeting we're preventing ourselves from going bankrupt.

My lab is a mix and weighs approx 60 lbs and is fairly expensive to feed. As expressed in a finance article earlier this week: A cat whom turns his/her nose at most foods will cost you more in health bills than a medium to large size dog. Of course if cats aren't eating properly, especially their food giving by their owners, will naturally result in illnesses.

Cats generally live longer than dogs, therefore, although it is cheaper to feed a cat than a dog, in the long term you're looking at a $2,000 difference between raising a cat and a dog. The average cost of raising a dog, based on the average income of both Canadians and Americans is $8,000 over the dog's lifetime and $10,000 for a cat's.

"You can't put a price tag on love, especially for a pet." I can understand that statement as my devotion to my dog means more to me than most of my family. He is my best friend, however, I don't want to go in debt for his care. I also can't sacrifice my own health for his.

I receive at least 4 calls during the work week of potential customers, customers and recurring customers informing me how they were already in $10,000 in debt over the care for their pet before they had found our site petwellbeing.com. Costs that they either didn't budget for or didn't cross their mind when they saw that fluffy tail wagging in the pet shop window.

My sister and I take trips often to the pet shelter to volunteer our love. The most common reason for pets at our local shelter is less about health and more about abandonment 'cause the owner didn't take the time to think about the financial cost of the pet and were forced to give up the animal.

With the economy crisis facing most American's, it's no wonder that pet's in shelters live the rest of their term without the chance to live in another home.

I hear of pet owners often forced to penny pinch by not taking their pets to the vet and looking for alternatives before consulting a certified vet often leading to more health problems.

If you're still considering a dog or a cat here are a few things to consider by the financial report published early:

1. Get a detailed long term estimated cost from the ASPCA.
2. Consider time commitment.
3. Reduce costs from the front end such as adopting from shelters.
4. Save up in advance after you have an estimated cost from the ASPCA.
5. If you do not plan on buying pet insurance, open a savings account for your pet for emergencies.

Luv Sheila & Freedom, my black lab