Happy Groundhog Day!

Well, now that Punxsutawny Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter, it’s important for folks up North to think of ways to keep your pet warm during the last stretch of cold weather. Even if they have a fur coat, dogs and cats can be just as susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia as humans, especially if they are exposed to cold precipitation. The best way to ensure that your pets are safe is to try and keep them indoors as often as possible and to monitor them closely when they are outdoors, but there are other precautionary steps that will help keep your cat or dog healthy and warm for the remainder of the season.

Clothing


If your cat or dog spends even more than a few minutes outside every day then I would highly recommend extra layering, especially if it has short hair. When looking for the right coat or sweater make sure to pay more attention to the material then appearances; nylon and fleece are much more effective in protecting against the elements while natural fibers such as cotton are not recommended as they can easily become damp in wet weather. You may also want to consider foot protection as well, but bear in mind that that some pets, dogs in particular, might find the idea of foot coverings to be uncomfortable, so I would recommend holding off on those booties if you have a picky pet.

Diet

The best diet for your pet depends first and foremost on how active it might be this time of year. If your cat or dog spends a lot of time outside, increase portions to keep energy levels up and also alternative to help ward off any illnesses. But late-winter is also the time of year in which pets are most susceptible to gaining weight so if your pet spends all of its time indoors then you should probably be reducing its caloric intake, either by reducing portions or by low-calorie pet food. Late-winter is also a good time to consider introducing supplements to your pet’s diet, as Vitamin C can help boost their immune system, while compounds high in fatty acid (such as Vitamin E) can help maintain a healthy skin or fur coat. Pet food can sometimes lack these types of vitamins, especially if they are highly processed.

Bedding

Having a comfortable place for your pet to sleep is paramount during the winter. While finding the right type of pet bed is a matter of personal preference there are a couple of important things to consider. First off, you want to make sure that the bed is raised to some degree. If your pet is sleeping only a couple of inches off of the floor it can leave him/her exposed to floor drafts. You might also want to consider a heated bed, especially if you have a pet with arthritic troubles or if you live in an especially cold area. I would steer clear of electrically heated beds however, as the cords can be hazardous for chew-happy pets. Instead look for a hot-water heated bed instead. For a cat or dog that prefers to sleep outdoors in a protective house or box, straw materials or even discarded newspapers can work as effective insulation.

While winter is (hopefully!) close to being over keeping your pet safe and warm is important now more than ever, so the most important thing is to remain vigilant of any present or future health problems and make sure to consult a veterinarian if you notice any issues.

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You want a healthy, good humored pet to give you company, right? For that you have to take care of what you give it to eat. Remember, your cat’s well being is the ultimate function of what it eats. Just like a human being’s life span is influenced by what he consumes, the same way, your cat will live a longer and healthy life when fed wholesome, natural foods without the contamination of chemicals.

What makes the best diet for your pet cat?

The natural foods make for the best diet for both the dogs and the cats. But what does natural food imply? Natural foods refer to those varieties that your pet would like to have if it was staying in the wild.

So far as cats are concerned, they display an essentially carnivorous food habit. Their system calls for high protein intake. Cats surviving on purely a vegetarian diet is nearly impossible. By counting the number of your cat’s grinding teeth, and the number of tearing and shearing teeth, you will be able to get a possible ratio of the protein, carbohydrate and fat content that the ideal diet for your cat should consist of.

Here is an overview of a healthy diet for your cat.

Protein content

An ideal cat diet should consist of 60 % protein. It is better to avoid highly processed, artificial cat food. The protein should come from either organic ground beef or organic chicken— raw or cooked. You can give eggs once a week if your cat likes it. Let your pussy make a feast on cooked fishes more than once a week. To add variety, give her piece of turkey or rabbit from time to time.

It will be prudent to steam or boil the meat before you offer it to your cat. Don’t discard the water after boiling the meat, boil some vegetable in it and your cat will just love this meat flavored vegetable broth.

Fruit and vegetable intake

Vegetables should cover approximately 20% of your cat’s diet. Cats generally like the taste of variety of vegetables like broccoli, carrots, zucchini, cauliflower or corn. It becomes easier for you to add variety to your cat’s diet if your cat happens to love the taste of such fruits as melon, mango or apple.

The grain content

About 20% of your cat’s diet should comprise whole grains like brown rice—steamed or boiled. Other grains like millet, barley, oatmeal, and amaranth are also good for your cat’s health. You can also offer your cat the boiled grains in a pureed form.

Last of all; make sure to give your cat adequate vitamin and mineral supplements. It is also important to supply enough amino acid taurine; deficiency of this substance results in blindness. Also add 250 mg vitamin C to your cat’s daily diet online sales to add to overall cat health.

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Remember our Furry, Four Legged Friends – courtesy of Linda, at

www.thepowerofasimplelife.com

-exercise in the early morning before the heat of the day -never leave them in a parked car -the pavement is hot on their feet so outdoor animals must have a proper shelter. Sensitive paws burn easily on pavement and on beaches. -be careful of pesticide use -always provide lots of fresh, cool water. Dogs sweat by panting and through the pads of their feet.

-keep well groomed, but do not shave them as their fur protects against sun burn -keep away from puddles
-don’t let them ride in the back of an open vehicle

-watch for sunburn

-keep the air circulating indoors

-give your pet less food during extremely hot weather. Over eating can lead to over heating.

Without shade and water pets can overheat, become sick and die within a short time. Signs of heat stroke: · Rapid panting
· Lots of drooling
· Hot skin
· Twitching muscles
· Vomiting and dazed look

First aid for heat stroke:
· Wrap in towel soaked with cool water, or
· Place in a bathtub with cool water, or
· Pour cool water over the pet, or
· Put ice-packs on the animal’s head
· Call your veterinarian if you think your pet has heat stroke discount

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