Can an Outdoor Cat Ever Become an Indoor Cat?

Posted on July 30, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Is a stray cat trying to adopt you? Does it appear at your doorstep day after day? Does it press against your ankles and gaze at you adoringly? If so, it’s possible that it could be happy living the rest of its life inside your home. Especially if the cat has been socialized, perhaps by a previous owner, and it’s comfortable around people.

Feral cats, on the other hand, have always lived in the wild, have never been socialized and may never be comfortable living in close proximity to humans. If this particular cat appears to be more friendly than scared, it may be possible for them to trade in the outdoor life for an indoor one.

The outdoor life comes with risks

Why keep cats indoors? The average lifespan for an indoor cat is 10 to 12 years longer than that of an outdoor cat, according to the American Humane Society. That’s because roaming cats can be hit by cars, attacked by predators, or exposed to deadly diseases or other potentially life-threatening dangers.

The first step: a veterinary exam

If you can tempt the cat into a carrier with some tasty tuna, the next stop is the local veterinary clinic. Your veterinarian can scan for a microchip to make sure the cat is, in fact, a stray and not a neighbor’s cat freeloading food and affection.

If there’s no microchip, it’s important for everyone’s safety to have the cat examined before introducing it to any family members, including your furry ones. The doctor can check for diseases, such as feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, which could be spread to current household cats.

At the same time, the veterinarian will evaluate the cat’s health and treat any internal and external parasites, so you’re not welcoming ear mites, fleas or roundworms into your home, too. Spaying or neutering the cat can help reduce roaming and decrease the incidence of marking within your home. Now’s the time to administer vaccines and implant a microchip, just in case the cat inadvertently slips out the door.

Catproof the house

If you haven’t already done so for other housecats, make sure your house is safe for your new cat. Remove any plants that may be toxic, put away string, thread and other small objects that may be swallowed, cover electrical cords that could be chewed and make sure windows and screens are secure.

Create a cat haven

Help your new cat become gradually acclimated to its new surroundings by limiting it to a bedroom for a week or two. This can help the cat become adjusted to using a litter box. Start with unscented, clumpable litter, and scoop the box daily. For now, avoid boxes with covers and self-cleaning mechanisms. Food and water bowls should be placed as far away from the litter box as possible.

To help create a cat haven, provide with creature comforts including a soft bed and a kennel or box to hide in. Pheromone sprays or diffusers can help ease anxiety and promote calm.

You’ll also want to provide opportunities for hunting and adventure, similar to what they had in the outdoors. A cat tree, placed near a window, can satisfy the cat’s need to climb, stretch and get a bird’s-eye view of, well, the birds outside. Treats that are hidden around the room can simulate the hunting experience. And a scratching post, sprinkled with a little catnip, can provide a better alternative for sharpening nails than your furniture.

Spend plenty of one-on-one time with your new cat, so he or she can get used to your company and to being touched or handled. Encourage play and exercise with feather dancers and other toys.

Introduce other pets gradually

After your new cat adjusts to being inside, allow the cat and other pets to sniff each other under the door. You can also rub a towel on one pet and place it in the room with the new cat (and vice versa) so they can learn each other’s scents.

After a week or so, open the bedroom door and allow the new cat to explore the rest of the house when other pets aren’t around. Gradually introduce the pets during supervised sessions, and allow the new cat to retreat to its own room when needed.

With a little patience, you can help a stray cat transition to indoor living so it can feel the kindness and love that comes with being part of your family.

12 Tips for Raising a Healthy, Happy Kitten

Posted on July 16, 2020 - 6:47 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Do we detect the pitter-patter of tiny kitten paws in your house? If you’re adding a new feline family member, here are some important kitten care tips to help you make a successful start.

Age matters. The kitten socialization period, when they learn to interact with other animals and humans, ends at around 7 weeks of age. To encourage healthy social interactions and bonds, make sure kittens aren’t separated from the litter before this time.

Catproof the house. Remove toxic houseplants; put away string, yarn, buttons and other small objects that can be swallowed; and cover electrical cords that can be chewed.

Start a veterinary health program. Your veterinarian can recommend the right vaccines, parasite prevention and nutrition to help put your kitten on the road to good health.

Tag your kitten. It’s easy for small kittens to inadvertently slip out the door. Increase the chance they’ll be returned to you with an ID tag on a breakaway collar. This kind of collar snaps off if caught on a fence or branch to prevent choking, in which case a microchip can serve as a permanent form of identification.

Make gradual introductions. If you have other household pets, keep the kitten in a separate room, allowing pets to sniff each other under the door, then through a baby gate, and then gradually introduce supervised meetings over the course of a week.

Scratching is a normal behavior. Provide kittens with scratching posts so they can give in to their natural instincts. Start nail trims early so kittens are comfortable with having their paws handled.

Count the litter boxes. You need one box for every cat in the household, plus one more, in different locations. Large, uncovered boxes with low sides in easily accessible but private locations are best. Most cats prefer unscented, clumping litter that’s scooped every day.

Stay positive. Never punish a kitten because this can lead to fear, anxiety and aggression. Instead, reinforce good behavior with praise and a treat.

Make time for play. Purchase or make cat-safe toys, such as feather dancers and balls that can’t be chewed or swallowed. They don’t have to be expensive — kittens like hiding in cardboard boxes and paper grocery bags or batting around wads of crumpled paper.

Invest in good nutrition. Your veterinarian can recommend a diet that’s specially formulated to provide the energy and nutrients to help your kitten grow strong and healthy. Avoid the bottomless food bowl, which can lead to overeating and obesity.

Start brushing. Use a finger brush and pet toothpaste to get your kitten accustomed to dental care from an early age. Same goes for grooming: Brush medium- and long-haired cats to help prevent the development of painful mats.

Train your kitten. Most kittens are able to learn certain commands such as “come” and “sit.” Keep training sessions short, and reward the right behavior with treats and praise.

A Legacy of Healthy Pups Requires Nutrition They Can Trust

Posted on July 9, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
An interior infographic detailing various facts about breeding dog nutrition.

The Matthews family knows a thing or two about pet nutrition.

When your family motto is “Work hard, play hard,” and part of that work and a lot of that play involves multiple litters of goldendoodles at a time, you need to make sure that everyone — especially those on four legs — is happy and healthy. You need nutrition you can rely on and trust.

The Matthews have been breeding goldendoodles for several years, and they’ve relied upon Taste of the Wild since day one. McKinley Mantell and her sister, Tori Matthews, got a pet goldendoodle, Dixie, 12 years ago — way before goldendoodles were a wildly popular breed. Dixie gave McKinley and Tori a passion for the breed, and that passion became a dream to give other families the opportunity to love a doodle just as much as they loved theirs.

The sisters spent hours researching the best way to breed and raise goldendoodles. “We wanted to raise happy healthy puppies to be service dogs, emotional support dogs, and life-long companions.” Tori says. “We started with two female golden retrievers, Sadie and Rue, and fell in love with their happy personalities and even temperaments,” McKinley says. “We knew they’d be perfect mothers.” And so the Matthews Legacy Farm breeding program began.

When the sisters started the program, McKinley and her husband, Matt, had been feeding Taste of the Wild to their own goldendoodle, Bear. “We’d been looking for a brand with a clean nutrition panel,” Matt remembers. “So we tried Taste of the Wild, and we quickly noticed Bear’s thick, shiny coat. And she just seemed healthier.”

“If we were noticing how great it was working first hand for our own dog, then we knew it would be great for our program,” McKinley says.

A Caring Environment

Matthews Legacy Farm is an animal haven. The 15-acre plot where the farm sits is home to cows, horses, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, and cats. “We have a little bit of everything,” McKinley says. “But they’re all pets. Every one of them.”

But let’s not forget the dogs. While Bear, Sadie and Rue are the constant canine companions, there have been up to 20 goldendoodle puppies goofing around the farm at one time. “Both dogs had litters, and one was huge. 11 puppies! That was fun,” McKinley remembers.

In addition to their own personal dogs, the Matthews created a “guardian program,” meaning that they place potential mothers in pre-screened homes. “This way, the mother has an amazing quality of life and a great family to create many lasting memories,” Matt says. Part of the screening process for a potential home is that the mother and any subsequent puppies be fed high-quality food. “We recommend Taste of the Wild.”

Wild at Home, Wherever Home Might Be

The Matthews have placed doodle puppies all over the United States (with their first international placements to Canada and Mexico coming this fall). No matter where the puppies make their new homes — from New York to Oregon to California to Washington, D.C.— one thing stays consistent: Every new pet family is sent home with a “Matthews Legacy Farm Puppy Package” that includes a toy, teething bone, shampoo, training treats, a bandana, poop bags and pee pads, puppy folder with records, birth certificate and training guide, all in a sturdy Matthews Legacy Farm canvas bag. And they also get two sample bags of Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe with Smoke-Flavored Salmon.

“There are a few reasons for this,” McKinley says. “With puppies going to a new home and leaving mom and siblings for the first time, having the same food helps them adapt to new family and strange living space more easily.” But it’s not just the puppies who are adapting to change; the new puppy parents are as well. “So taking the guesswork out of the puppies’ nutrition for the owners brings them comfort and helps them get started on the right foot.”

Another reason the Matthews prefer to send the puppies home with Taste of the Wild is a little more practical. “We love the distribution,” Matt says. “Whether they’re going to Vegas or New York, we’re confident that if the new owners want to stick with Taste of the Wild, it will be available to them. Whether it’s at the local store or online, we like knowing that it’s there.”

But another reason is because the puppies love the Pacific Stream Puppy recipe. “We start feeding puppies at 5 weeks,” Tori says. “We soak the food with warm water and they just jump right in, like it’s a natural-born instinct. We’ve never had to force-feed a puppy. They love the flavors. They just crave it.”

The new owners seem to recognize how much the pups love Taste of the Wild. The Matthews stay in touch with every family who has adopted their puppies, and whenever nutrition comes up, it usually turns out that they stuck with Taste of the Wild. “Every time we hear from owners and they say they’re still on Taste of the Wild, we consider it a success,” Matt says. “It tells me that we’re doing it right.”

As for the Matthews’ adult dogs, there isn’t a Taste of the Wild recipe that they don’t like. The pregnant mothers get switched to puppy recipes to get extra nutrients into mom and her milk while the other dogs have yet to turn down an adult recipe. “We try to mix it up for them from time to time,” Matt says. “And they just down it no matter what.”

More Puppies, More Fun on the Horizon

There is a lot of puppy action happening at Matthews Legacy Farm. With two litters due in July and two more by October, it’ll be worth your while to follow the family and all the puppies on Instagram and Facebook. And if you haven’t already, look us up on Instagram, Facebook and X.

An interior infographic detailing various facts about breeding dog nutrition.

A new puppy text graphic with a white, tan and black puppy lying in the grass.

Stuck at Home? Build a Backyard Agility Course

Posted on June 9, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Is your dog’s energy level cranked up a notch or two above the average pooch? Does he or she seem to have an insatiable need to run, even on a rainy day? Are you looking for new ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated? Could you stand a little more exercise, too? Then a backyard agility course may be the perfect outlet for the both of you.

Canine agility is a sport where you run next to your dog, directing them with commands and hand signals, through an obstacle course during a set amount of time. It’s a great way to help your dog expend excess energy and pick up new obedience tips while providing a mental challenge to help reduce boredom and anxiety. Best of all, this sport gets you off the couch and helps build a stronger bond between you and your dog.

First stop: a vet check

As always, your dog’s health and safety are priorities. Ask your veterinarian to examine your dog to make sure there aren’t any underlying conditions that could be exacerbated by this sport.

Since running the course obstacles could put stress on muscles and joints, it’s especially important to look for orthopedic conditions such as arthritis or ligament ruptures as well as spinal disease. A diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean your dog can’t participate in agility, it just means you’ll need to adapt the course to keep your dog safe. Your veterinarian can provide guidance.

Learn about the sport

If possible, take a course in beginner agility or read books and articles to learn the basics. Because much of the sport relies on communication between you and your dog, teach your dog commands such as “watch me,” “look,” or the skill of touching his or her nose to your hand or a target. These are just some of the commands that will help you move your dog through the course.

At first, keep training sessions short, just five to ten minutes, then gradually lengthen the sessions. Make sure to lavish your dog with positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats so he or she associates good things with your sessions.

Mapping your course

The obstacle course can be designed in a myriad of ways, depending on the size of your yard and the number of obstacles you choose. You can find agility starter kits online, which contain some of the basic obstacles, or you can make your own. Here are a few examples:

Weave poles — A series of lightweight, vertical poles that your dog zigzags through like a slalom skier. Poles should be flexible and bend if your dog bumps into them. Potential materials include PCV tubing, bamboo poles, ski poles, or even orange cones, initially placed about two feet apart.

Tunnels — Flexible, lightweight tunnels that your dog can run through. A children’s play tunnel may do the trick.

Jumps — Adjustable hurdles that your dog can leap over. You can build these out of almost anything, as long as the pole can be dislodged so your dog won’t be hurt if they bump it. Consider using two stacks of books or bricks with a broom handle laying across them. The height can be raised as your dog becomes more proficient.

Tire jumps — Basically, a vertically mounted ring your dog can jump through. Try securing a hula hoop or tire between two PVC pipes at a height that’s easy for your dog to leap through.

Teeter-totter — This is a plank with a fulcrum in the middle. Ideally, cover the plank with rubber or carpeting to prevent your dog from slipping. As your dog runs up this plank, the obstacle pivots in the middle like a seesaw, bringing the far end down so they walk safely onto the ground.

Start with a walk-through

Once you’ve set up the course, walk your dog through it slowly, helping them understand each obstacle. Use hand signals, vocal commands, praise and treats to help guide the way. Start with simple obstacles, then move on to more complicated ones.

Never force your dog through any obstacles that cause them fear or anxiety. For example, it might be scary for your dog to enter a dark tunnel initially. In this case, try leading them through with a trail of treats and lots of encouragement.

As your dog gets used to the course, you can gradually increase the speed or the height of the jumps. It’s a great way to build your dog’s confidence, strengthen your bond and get you both off the couch!

How to Foster a Dog: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on June 4, 2020 - 3:34 pm by
A close-up of a woman holding a small white and black puppy in her arms.

Looking for a fulfilling job that doesn’t require a fancy resume and comes with lots of perks? Consider becoming a dog foster parent!

Scroll through pet adoption websites or the social media feeds of shelters and rescue groups, and you’ll see a vast array of dogs looking for furever homes. What you don’t usually see is the foster team that quietly works behind the scenes at the adoption center to help make sure these forever homes are found.

Dog foster parents provide a temporary home — and any special care needed — for homeless animals until they’re adopted. A dog may be in a foster home for a few weeks or a few months, depending on when they become adopted by their forever family.

How Much Does It Cost to Foster a Dog?

While the details of a foster program vary from shelter to shelter, most rescue operations go above and beyond to make fostering appealing. Donated supplies such as food, bowls, bedding and toys are often made available for foster parents. Shelters will typically cover veterinary costs as well.

Your time, attention and commitment are typically the only “costs” associated with fostering a dog. As well as their daily care at home, you will likely be asked to bring them to adoption events so they can meet potential adopters and find their permanent home. You’ll also need to make sure they are socialized well and take them to any veterinary appointments they may have.

The shelter may also ask you to send photos or videos of their cute or silly antics so they can show potential adopters what they’re like at home. Often, a dog acts differently in a quiet and calm home compared to the overstimulating and noisy shelter environment. However, sometimes, even after being placed in a foster home, shelter dogs are found to be “unadoptable.” The good news is there are programs suited for these unadoptable dogs.

Why Is Fostering Dogs Important?

There are many reasons why foster caregivers are needed for homeless dogs. Some rescue organizations don’t have brick-and-mortar buildings to house homeless pets and rely entirely on the kindness of foster families. For shelters that do have housing, they can become overcrowded, and placing some pets in foster care helps reduce the burden on the shelter. Additionally, dogs that have been in a shelter environment for a long time may need more personal interaction than they’ve had in their kennel, and foster parents can provide an enriching home environment for them.

Some dogs come from situations that did not provide proper socialization, and they may be fearful. By staying with nurturing foster parents, they can learn to trust and be calm around people and other dogs and cats. Similarly, some dogs may have behavior issues like separation anxiety, and they need a calm and patient support person to help them overcome their fears. Occasionally, dogs who underwent medical care may need a place to recover from injury or surgeries such as spays or neuters. Foster families also provide a place to raise newborn puppies until they’re ready for adoption.

Do You Get Paid to Foster Dogs?

No, being a pet foster is usually an unpaid, volunteer position. However, many foster volunteers are provided with all the supplies and resources needed to care for a dog (e.g., food, toys, bowls and bedding). The cost of veterinary care is typically covered by the shelter or rescue organization as well.

Even though you don’t get paid, there are many other reasons to become a foster parent for shelter animals. Here are just a few:

  • If you can’t commit to the responsibility of having a pet long-term, fostering gives you a “pet fix” when you need it.
  • It’s rewarding to know that the simple act of opening your home and providing a loving environment could save a dog’s life.
  • Helping a fearful or shy dog transform into a trusting, calm and loving pet is incredibly fulfilling.
  • What’s not to like about raising a litter of puppies (or kittens — cats need fosters, too!)?
  • If you have kids, fostering can teach them how to be respectful and responsible with pets.
  • Your other pets may like the companionship of a new playmate.
  • Foster pets can chase away loneliness (conveniently, that works both ways).

How Does Fostering a Dog Work?

If you have an open heart, patience and the time to commit to fostering a dog, why not look into pet rescues or shelters in your area? These organizations are happy to explain the rules of their foster programs. In most cases, it doesn’t require any special training, just a foster application and a commitment from you. The shelter will ask you lots of questions about your home, your schedule, any other pets that you might have, and much more. Once everything is approved, you can go home with your new foster dog.

A Foster Home Can Become a Dog’s Forever Home

When you bring a foster animal into your home, the goal is to provide them with a happy and safe space until they are adopted. But sometimes heartstrings get pulled and a dog’s foster journey doesn’t end that way. “Foster failure” is the name given to people who fall in love with their foster dog and just can’t let go. And that’s perfectly OK.

Dogs at Work: The Ever-Talented Canine Nose Also Detects Heat

Posted on May 28, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A close-up of a brown dog's nose.

It changes temperatures. Can it also detect them?

According to an old wives’ tale, if your dog’s nose is warm and dry, it’s a sign of illness. But the truth is, there are more reliable ways to check your dog’s health: it turns out that nose temperature can change throughout the day.

While animals such as deer, cows, and horses always tend to have warm noses, it’s common for a dog’s nose to be a few degrees cooler when the environmental temperature is fairly warm. (When ambient temperatures are cold, dog noses tend to be a bit warmer.)

But a cooler nose in a warm environment makes sense: There’s no fur covering the skin on the snout and dogs often lick their noses, adding moisture which dissipates heat as it evaporates. That cooler nose temperature is what led researchers at Sweden’s Lund University and Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University to wonder if there might be a purpose for it: Could it be used by dogs for heat detection?

Putting the idea to the test

The researchers trained three dogs to discriminate between two objects without seeing or smelling them. One object was at ambient temperature and the other at the warmer temperature of a furry animal. When tested, all three dogs were able to identify the objects emitting mild thermal radiation.

The scientists also performed magnetic resonance imaging on 13 dogs while they exposed them to objects that were either warm or ambient temperatures. The left parts of the dogs’ brains, which accept inputs from the nose, lit up when the dogs were exposed to warm objects. When objects at normal temperature were placed in front of their noses, no area of the dogs’ brains responded.

What does it all mean?

Combined, the two experiments demonstrate that dog noses can detect mild heat, and this causes a reaction in a specific area of their brains. The scientists speculate that this trait was probably inherited from wolf ancestors that used it to help track prey.

But dogs aren’t the only creatures with this unusual talent. Black fire beetles, some snakes and vampire bats also use heat detection to help hunt prey.

Researchers also surmise that the ability to detect heat is what makes dogs great hunters even if they’ve lost some of their other senses such as sight, smell or hearing. It’s possible that heat detection helps avalanche dogs and search and rescue dogs track down missing people.

While this ability to detect heat might explain a lot of things about dogs, one thing is still a mystery: How can they unerringly find a tennis ball under five feet of snow?

Should My Dog’s Diet Change for the Summer?

Posted on May 21, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A dog standing on a sand dune on the beach.

Many dogs, like their owners, are more active in the summer — especially those who tend to hibernate during the snowier months. Simple logic might tell you that more activity means your dog needs more calories. So, should you switch to a summer dog diet? In most cases, it’s not necessary.

Do Dogs Eat Less in the Summer and More in the Winter?

Ever notice how you crave heavier “comfort” foods like lasagna in the winter but opt for lighter salads in the summer? The same phenomenon can occur in dogs, too.

In the winter months, dogs that are outdoors a lot tend to need more calories as the temperature drops to help them generate heat. The opposite is also true: in warmer temperatures, they tend to need fewer calories as the temperature increases.

That said, if your dog is involved in any high-intensity sports or competitions over the summer, it’s best to confer with your veterinarian about your dog’s nutritional needs.

In Most Cases, No Summer Dog Diet Changes Are Necessary

Rather than switching your dog to a “lighter” diet, a better option might be to feed them a slightly smaller amount. Again, your veterinarian can help you determine how many calories your dog needs in the summer.

You generally want to keep your dog’s diet consistent unless he or she has a special health condition such as allergies, obesity or arthritis that can be helped with a dietary change. In those cases, you want to make a gradual switch to the new diet because abrupt changes can lead to tummy upset, vomiting and diarrhea.

Monitor Your Dog’s Figure

One of the best ways to tell if your dog is eating the right amount is by using a body condition scoring system. Ideally, you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs, and there should be an obvious waist just after the rib cage when viewed from above. If your dog has lost its waist or the ribs are hidden under a thick layer of body fat, it’s time to cut back on the extra table scraps.

While it can be common for dogs to eat less food in the warmer months, a loss of appetite can also be a sign of disease. If you notice your dog’s ribs are showing and his or her appetite seems to have vanished, call your veterinarian.

Don’t Forget the Water in a Summer Dog Diet

Many people don’t realize that water is an important part of every dog’s diet. During the warmer months, make sure your dogs have plenty of fresh water available. That way, they’ll be well hydrated for all those outdoor adventures you’ll take together.

So, Should My Dog’s Diet Change for the Summer?

In most cases, your dog’s diet is probably fine as is, especially if they were healthy and happy heading into the summer season. If you ever have any questions about your dog’s diet, be sure to ask your veterinarian.

Cancer Signs: What to Watch for in Pets

Posted on May 7, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

If you’re lucky, you’ll never be faced with a diagnosis of cancer for a pet. But about 1 in 10 dogs and 1 in 5 cats will be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. this year, according to the Animal Cancer Foundation. We’re sharing pet cancer signs to help you recognize when something may be amiss. After all, early diagnosis and treatment give your pet the best hope for a remission or, in some cases, even a cure.

Of course, the signs of cancer vary depending on the organs or body parts affected, such as the skin, blood or bones. These signs can also signal other conditions, so don’t panic. Just see your veterinarian if you find any of the following:

Unexplained weight loss: If your pet starts looking thinner than usual, and you haven’t started a new diet or exercise routine, it’s time for a checkup.

Enlarged lymph nodes: The lymph nodes that are the easiest to find are just under the jaw, right below the ear and behind the knees. Normally, the lymph nodes feel like a small, pliable blip between your fingers. But if you feel anything firmer or bigger than usual, talk to your veterinarian.

Skin lumps and bumps: You should run your fingers over your pet’s skin at least once a month so you can identify any lumps that are growing or changing. Female pets that have not been spayed are at greater risk for mammary cancer, so be sure to check for any unusual growths on their chests and bellies.

Chronic coughing or difficulty breathing: Tumors that occur in or around the lungs can cause respiratory problems.

Lameness or limb swelling: If you run your hands along both of your pet’s front or rear legs at the same time, it’s easy to compare and spot areas with unusual swellings along the bones. If your pet starts favoring a limb, or is hesitant to bear weight on it, talk to your veterinarian.

Stinky breath or difficulty chewing: These can certainly be signs of periodontal disease, but pets can get tumors in their mouths, as well. If your pet will allow it, take a peek at the gums and under the tongue, checking for unusual growths.

Chronic vomiting or diarrhea: Not surprisingly, cancers of the digestive tract can lead to loose stools, upset stomachs and in some cases, trouble defecating. If the problem persists, or your pet starts losing weight, make an appointment.

Circling or seizures: A pet with a potential brain tumor may experience a sudden onset of seizures, especially in the older years, or may pace in circles over and over again.

Abdominal distension: Pets might have swollen bellies from overindulging in the treat jar, but it can also be a sign of an enlarged organ, such as the liver.

Lethargy:  Any time your pet seems less active than usual, lags behind on walks or just doesn’t want to interact with the family as much, there’s a good chance something’s not right.

When in doubt, see your veterinarian. It may be nothing. But if it’s something more serious, you’ll be glad you caught it early.

Benefits to Spending More Time at Home with Your Pets

Posted on April 30, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

If you’re spending more time than usual at home with your cat or dog, you may be searching for new ways to keep your pet mentally stimulated. But did you know that pets can also help your mental and physical health?

There are quite a few practical benefits to spending more time with your pets. Dogs and cats are scientifically proven to help our physical and emotional conditions. So it’s good to know that while your pet seems to make you feel good, he or she really is making you feel good.

Pets relieve stress

In 2012, the data made it official: even thinking about your pet could make you feel more positive in the moment. Multiple studies separated subjects into three groups: one was placed near a pet, the second was asked to think about pets, and the third wasn’t exposed to pets in any way. The first two groups were more positive about imagined goals and, when asked to perform difficult tasks, did so with lower blood pressure than the group that was sans pets. Just having your dog or cat on your mind puts you in a better frame of mind. Think about that the next time you’re Zooming with the office.

Pets force you to be healthier

Being stuck at home is a great excuse to park it on the couch and dig in for long sessions in front of the television. When you combine this tendency with fewer grocery visits and less discriminating diet choices as a result, it’s easy to see how your physical health could take a turn for the worse. But you know who isn’t interested in chilling with Netflix? Your pets. They see your increased presence at home as an opportunity for more walks, more fetch, more activity in general.

And the science backs up the thought. According to the New York Times, dog owners spend close to 300 minutes each week walking with their dogs, which is about 200 more minutes of walking than people without dogs. That’s 5 hours of physical activity; or almost 3½ hours more than non–pet owners. We can reasonably expect that gap to increase now that we’re spending more time at home with our pets. What are you going to do, let them stare at you with the leash in their mouths all day?

You literally feel better around your pet

In addition to less mental stress and better physical health, pets make you experience healthier emotions thanks to chemistry. Science Magazine reported that pets increase oxytocin levels in the brain. Oxytocin is a hormone most notably released when a mother gazes into a newborn baby’s eyes and vice versa. It creates a sense of trust and bonding between the two parties. The study reported in Science showed that when an owner and a pet gazed into one another’s eyes, oxytocin levels rose 130 percent in the dog and 300 percent in the person. The test results suggest that the bond between an owner and pet is similar to that between a mother and child.

Separate studies have shown that simply petting a pet releases the “feel good” hormones serotonin and dopamine in similar ways that snuggling children do to mom and dad. Gives new meaning to the term “pet parent.”

Pets are great co-workers

If you’re working from home for extended periods, pets offer additional benefits. They’re always happy to see you. They’re not likely to try to microwave fish for lunch, although they would if they could. If you do a lot of video conferencing, no one ever seems to get tired of surprise appearances by cats and dogs. They’re not going to rat you out for taking frequent breaks to go outside for fresh air. They encourage naps on the job. And as we’ve already established, just thinking about your pet can help you work through complex problems. Imagine what you can do when he or she is curled up on your lap.

Should Your Pet Sleep in Your Bed?

Posted on April 28, 2020 - 6:24 pm by
Taste of the Wild

The concept of dogs snoozing with their people isn’t exactly new. Indigenous people in Australia are said to have curled up with dingoes for warmth. The colder the temperature, the more dogs were snuggled. Thus the phrase “a three-dog night” was coined as a way to describe an exceedingly cold night.

But we no longer live in the bush and smash rocks together for fire. We have furnaces and fireplaces. So should we still sleep with the dog or cat in the bed?

Survey says

Today, almost half of all dogs sleep on their owner’s beds, according to a pet owner survey by the American Pet Products Association. But the size of the dog matters: Pomeranian-sized dogs are more commonly invited up, whereas potential bed hogs such as Great Danes are less frequent guests. At the same time, more than half of cats sleep with their owners — whether they’re invited or not.

Another pet owner survey by a mattress company provides even more detailed findings. The majority of pets, 52 percent, sleep at their owners’ feet; 23 percent sleep next to them, 11 percent sleep on the pillow and 14 percent of the pets actually burrow under the covers.

Less surprisingly, 52 percent of pets prefer to curl up in a ball, while none of their owners were comfortable in this sleep position.

A Mayo Clinic sleep study

Curious as to whether a pet in the bed would disrupt sleep, researchers at Mayo Clinic recently studied 40 adults and their canine sleeping companions. All human participants were healthy and had no evidence of sleep disorders. Each person was accompanied by one adult dog in the bedroom (sorry cats, you’ll get your own study some day). Both people and dogs wore activity monitors that recorded movement or sleep. For seven nights, the researchers monitored the sleep of the people and their dogs. Both slept fine, according to the study. Interestingly, the size of the dog made no difference in the quality of human sleep. However, people slept slightly better when the dogs were on the floor of the bedroom, rather than on the bed.

In an earlier Mayo Clinic study, dog owners felt that having the dog in their bed gave them a sense of security. So our pets may actually be comforting rather than disruptive to our sleep.

When the bedroom should be off limits

Certainly, if your pet snores like a chainsaw all night, you might want to consider setting up a cozy pet bed in another part of the house. Young puppies that aren’t potty trained probably shouldn’t be on the bed either, for obvious reasons. People with pet allergies will do well to keep pet dander to a minimum in the bedroom. And those who may be immunocompromised from cancer treatment or other health conditions may be at higher risk for catching a disease from their pet.

For healthy adults, though, it’s relatively rare to catch a disease from your pet while sleeping. That is, of course, if your pet is current on vaccinations and parasite control and has a clean bill of health from the veterinarian. Chances are, you’ll all have sweet dreams, even if it’s a three-dog — or -cat — night.