to Better Protect Your Dogs and Cats
By Steve Huber, The HolisticPetGuy
All our lives are measurably improved every day by the natural joy that our beloved dogs and cats bring to us. Our Furr Babies make our world a better place and provide our days with tail-wagging surprises and the kind of unconditional love that we hope to have with other humans who are closest to us.
We can always improve what we do to ensure our dogs and cats receive our best efforts — to make and keep them healthy and happy. That better care starts with providing our canine and feline family members with a healthy diet in a holistic approach.
But holistic pet care goes beyond what is in the food bowl. It also means protecting dogs from environmental stressors that affect their physical well-being, including cold temperatures that many breeds are simply not built to handle. Smaller dogs, short-haired breeds, and senior dogs in particular can struggle significantly in cold weather, losing body heat quickly and becoming uncomfortable or even unwell during outdoor walks and playtime. Investing in quality outerwear like these dog jackets from Canada Pooch is a simple but meaningful way to keep dogs warm, comfortable, and protected during colder months, extending their ability to enjoy outdoor exercise year-round.
Often, we’re urged to buy pet foods and treats because of effective marketing and promotion by familiar giant corporate names. Many pet parents don’t realize that many of those big brands do not generally provide a holistic natural product. Still, we are often persuaded by some veterinarians to purchase food products they recommend.
Be aware that many huge pet food corporations have an army of veterinarians — getting paid by them — to recommend their products. As good consumers, we need to challenge or reject corporate vet recommendations that often include nutrients that are not the healthiest for your pets.
Switching to a holistic nutrition direction for your dogs and cats can offer significant potential benefits, especially when compared to relying solely on big corporate pet food brands, even those recommended by veterinarians. That’s why we pet parents need to read and study about the contents — every ingredient — and insist pet food providers be transparent about what they’re really selling.
For a truly holistic diet, fresh meats, vegetables, fruits, and helpful herbs should be the choice over processed, filler ingredients. Be wary of brands with food that contains by-products like ‘meat meal,’ preservatives like BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin, among others. And resist products that rely too much on or wheat, soy, corn, and other inexpensive ‘fillers.’
Moving to holistic care for our pets gives us more control over what they ingest, how good they feel, and likely enhances and extends their lives. Not all holistic foods are good, and not all big-brand foods are bad. It comes down to being better parents, doing more research, asking direct questions, and staying even more involved in our pets’ health.
Remember: our pets don’t know or care if we’re Republicans, Democrats, or NPAs. They love us for the real people we are – not the particular party we’re with!
Steve Huber, the HolisticPetGuy, is the highly respected owner/expert of two Earth Pets Natural Pet Markets in the Jacksonville area. He and his wife, Holly, are the parents of two teenage daughters, Kaia and Sienna, and two beloved canine family members, Henna and Ziggy. He may be reached at earthpetsholisticjax@gmail.com
