Holistic Pets

Just like ourselves, our pets need a regular supply of food in order to stay healthy. The foods that we eat contain components which are involved in the very complex processes that take place in the body’s cells, provide the building blocks for growth and supply energy to keep the body warm.

Our pets have several requirements that have to be met by the diet that we provide:

Energy

Like a torch needs batteries to supply the energy to keep the bulb lit, every cell in the body needs energy, providing the power for each cell to function. Energy is used up every time the body performs muscular work, such as moving or even breathing. The most efficient source of energy in the diet is fat, which is quickly converted by the body into usable energy. Carbohydrates and proteins are also sources of energy, but to a smaller extent.

The body can usefully store energy as fatty tissue, and in times of shortage these will be used up – hence the weight loss when on a diet.

Protein

Proteins are composed of amino acids, which are the basic building blocks of life. Proteins are essential components of all living cells, both in structure and function, and animals require protein in their diet to provide amino acids that their bodies cannot synthesise in sufficient quantity.

An increased intake of protein is required during periods of growth, pregnancy and lactation. Consideration should also be given to the quality of protein and its digestibility.

Too much protein in the diet can lead to its conversion by the body into fat, or in a growing animal in too swift a growth of muscle structure, which may lead to problems later in life.

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates provide the body with a source of energy, which may be converted into body fat. This food group includes both simple sugars (such as glucose) as well as complex sugars (e.g. starch) which consist of chains of simple sugars.

Fat

Dietary fats are composed of combinations of fatty acids, which are involved in many aspects of health, from the cellular level upwards. They also provide the easiest form of concentrated energy in the diet, as well as giving an acceptable texture and ‘mouthfeel’ to the food.

Water

An animal cannot survive for longer than a few days, or even hours without water. There is a continual loss of water through skin, urine, faeces and breathing, and this must be replaced either as fluid or through the breakdown of food ingested. Daily water requirement will depend on many factors, including temperature, activity and type of food given as part of the diet. It is important therefore, that adequate water is provided in the diet.

Fibre or Roughage

These materials generally pass through the gut without providing specific nutrients, merely helping to regularise bowel movements and managing constipation or diarrhoea. Fibre in the diet is usually of plant origin – indigestible polysaccharides such as cellulose, lignin and pectin

Minerals and Vitamins

A number of minerals have been discovered to play a part in the regulation of body processes, the requirements for some being greater than others. Only very small amounts are needed however, and excess can sometimes result in ill health, as these can be toxic in high doses.

Vitamins help to regulate the body processes. Most cannot be synthesised and therefore must be provided in the diet. Interestingly, unlike humans there is no dietary requirement for vitamin C in most pets, as they can synthesise it from glucose.

Dietary supplements

As long as an animal is being fed a balanced and complete diet, and a good quality feed should provide for this, then there should be no need for dietary supplements, unless prescribed by a veterinary surgeon for a particular medical purpose. Where the animal’s food is cooked at home from raw ingredients, then care should be taken to ensure that the diet is balanced with regard to the major and minor nutrient requirements of the animal.

Most people know that iguanas are reptiles. Yet, they belong to the largest reptile family: lard. Their natural habitats are the tropical rain forests, hot deserts and semi-aquatic places. You can see these iguanas in places in North America, South America as well as South Africa, Canada, Madagascar and on the island of Galapagos.

Reptiles and Environment

Iguanas are adaptable to all kinds of environment. They are cold blooded which means they can’t produce heat. They also lay eggs like many other reptiles.

Each iguana in different parts of the globe are different because they get used to their habitat. In certain places, iguanas lay about in high trees which can jump down to the ground without any injuries. Galapagos Island iguanas are known to be excellent swimmers.

The iguana species are different in their coloration – some have bright colors where others are quite dull.
Iguanas’ size, their behaviors and even their status in extinction can be different.

Iguanas grow fast and are nearly 100 times heavier than hatchlings in just two and half years. This only happens if the iguana has been given correct care, enough food, plus have air circulation and plenty of sunlight.

Iguanas are mainly herbivores even though some iguanas are omnivores or even carnivores. This depends on the the habitat they live in.

Terrestrial dwellers are carnivores and live off of mealworms and wax worms in the forest. Tree dwellers are herbivores and eat flower buds, fruits and young leaves.

It’s very important that iguanas eat properly to ensure their survival. A diet that is lacking in proper nutrients could lead to some diseases. Insufficient intake of food could lead to bloating and obesity. Like any pet, keep an eye on their health.

Iguana Health Care Regarding Weight and Diet

Even if your iguana is overweight, this does not mean it is unhealthy. Yet you know ensure it gets proper diet such as one with a high calcium intake with low phosphorus diet. Be sure your iguana gets as much sunlight as possible.

Should your iguana show signs of NSHP or MBD, it is imperative to bring them to a veterinarian. Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathrodism, which is a metabolic bone disease is one disease your iguana could get. Keeping an eye of them is vital.

Suppose your iguana’s body is bony and fat with jaws appear swollen, this means your iguana is in the critical stages of NHSP or MBD. The disease leads to fragile bones those of which can cause deformities and possible fractures.

Give your iguana a proper diet along with exercise and maintain their weight. A fat iguana should have the needed calcium to keep healthy bones.

How to tell if your iguana is growing healthy

When an iguana is only a hatchling, it will measure to two and half to three inches from its snout to vent. Once the iguana comes from its shell, the iguana will grow three-quarters of an inch a month for nearly three months.

The growth slows down at about three months of age to half an inch but at one year the growth kicks back in and during twelve and fifteen months, it will triple the original length. Over the next few years, the iguana will only grow sparingly. This is the time to give a healthy diet so the iguana won’t grow any bigger.

If you are interested in iguanas and like to own one, be sure to read about their environments and diets because it can be the difference between the iguana’s life and death.

Dog nutrition is just as important, if not more important, than loving your dog. If you want to truly show how much you love and care about them it is important that you keep them healthy with a proper diet. So, this article will tell you some good Beagle nutrition that you must know.

The first and biggest problem of a poor diet for your dog, especially Beagles, is that of being overweight. With the right diet and proper balance of vitamins and nutrients you can significantly lower the risk of your dog being overweight. There is no excuse for you not to give your dog the diet they deserve.

Next time you take your dog to the vet you should ask them to help you plan your dogs diet out so it is as well-balanced as it can be. Your vet will be able to give you the diet that you should give your dog and will even probably tell you when to feed the dog the food. All breeds of dogs are different and require different things; this is why talking to your vet is the best way to go.

You may think that you can just go to the pet store and buy one of the hundreds of dog foods that are available, but these are not always right for your dog. After talking with your vet to find out exactly what your dog needs you can then go to the pet store and probably find the combination of food that he/she needs.

It is extremely important that you find out what type of well-balanced diet your Beagle needs, but you should also ask about the treats you should give them. The worst thing you can do for your dog is to give them table scraps or people food of any kind. If you put all of this work into planning their diet it would be terrible to throw it all away by giving them people food.

If you want to give your dog treats you can either buy them from the store or there are a lot of recipes online that you can make for them. These recipes often look like human foods which will make your dog thing you are giving them the same old food, but it is actually the healthy food they need.

By taking your dog into the vet to talk to them about the Beagle nutrition they need, you will not only show that you love them, but you will be able to enjoy them for a lot longer because they will have the health they need.

Reptiles are of different kinds. Iguanas are just one of those that belong to the largest species of lard family. Iguanas are commonly seen in tropical rain forests, hot deserts and semi-aquatic places. From the forests of North America, Canada and South America to the desert places of South Africa and Madagascar and Island of Galapagos, you will be able to see different types of iguanas.

Iguanas can easily adapt to their environment. Like other reptiles, iguanas are also egg-laying animals and cold-blooded, meaning they cannot produce heat from their body.

Different Iguanas has its unique ability to be able to become accustomed to their habitat. They have their unique skills. Iguanas that dwell in high trees for instance, can jump off the ground without having injuries. In addition, iguanas in Galapagos Island, the Amblyrhynchus cristatus, known as the marine iguana are good swimmer.

The species of iguana differ in their color, size, behavior and their extinction status in the wild. Some iguanas have vivid and bright colors, and others are dull. Most iguanas grows quickly, a hundred times heavier as their normal size as a hatchling in just about 24-30 months. But this would happen if they are given proper care, enough food, and a place with good air circulation and lots of sunlight.

Most iguanas are herbivores while some are omnivore or carnivore depending on their habitat. Terrestrial dwellers are carnivore, they eat mealworms and wax worms while the forest and tree dwellers are herbivores, eats young leaves, flower buds and fruits.

Proper feeding of iguanas is important. Sufficient food intake might lead to bloating, and obesity. In addition, lack of proper diet may also lead to some diseases. Cases like these are very usual so you must be prepared whatever happened to your pet.

If your iguana is showing signs of NSHP or MBD you must bring your pet to a veterinarian. Your iguana is suffering from Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyrodism or a metabolic bone disease. It doesn’t mean that your iguana is unhealthy if it is oversized or fat. Proper diet must be given. Provide your iguana with a high calcium and low phosphorus diet. Also, always make sure that your pet gets a proper sunlight.

If you’re iguana body seem to be bony and fat and jaws seem to be swollen, your iguana is in the critical stage of NHSP or MBD. This would lead to brittle bones that cause deformities and fractures.

To avoid this to happen give your iguana proper diet, exercise and should maintain a good weight but not becoming overweight. It is also necessary for a fat iguana to obtain the needed calcium or phosphorus ratio for a healthy bone.

How will you know if your Iguana is growing properly?

Hatchling usually measures for about two and a half to three and a half inches snout to vent. When it reaches and emerges from the egg it grows three-quarters of an inch a month for almost three months. The growth of young iguanas slows to a half when it is three months old with a snout to vent of five and three-quarter inches. Iguana reaches for about 9-10 inches stout to vent in just one year.

The growth of your iguana in this stage is very fast. During its twelve to fifteen months, it will grow for about triple of its original length. The growth length of iguana slows radically as the iguana continues to grow for next years. This time give your iguana a proper diet so that it would not get bigger and bigger.

How could we not with all the media that is constantly surrounding us about getting and staying healthy? However, do we ever stop to think about the one thing that loves us unconditionally and their health?

Our pets give us so much including being a huge stress reliever, that we sometimes overlook keeping them healthy. One thing that we can do everyday for our animals is to give them vitamins.

Vitamins work to enhance your immune system and in dogs too they do the same. If you think dogs lead a more comfortable life, think again. They need nearly the same enhancers that we do. When the immune system is working full throttle, canines are less susceptible to germ attacks! Canine Vitamin supplements are all the more important now after the recent pet scare coming out of China.

Even if you are even giving Fido a top quality dog food, he will still need supplements to stay at the top of his game. Many types of vitamins exist, and understanding which constitutes a good vitamin for your four legged friend can make all the difference in their health.

Vitamin requirement varies from breed to breed and is different for different ages. A puppy requires an extra diet of nutrition providing food. Apart from regular intake, he would also probably need something like omega-3 fatty acids, which will keep his heart healthy and provide him resistance to illnesses as he grows big and strong. For the young doggie in his prime, the need is to keep him healthy overall.

Another type of popular pet supplement is for the older dogs. Many dog vitamins for senior dogs will have glucosamine included and this will help to keep their joints agile and moving. For the adult dog in the prime of his life, you can find vitamins that are specifically made for overall health and intended to just keep the animal at peak performance and health.

Dog owners should take special care while choosing the right type of vitamins for their precious pets. Keep in mind the requirement as per the breed and the age of your doggie. While purchasing the supplements and even the food, see the labels carefully to find out where the packet has come from. At times, many people buy stuff that is available at a discount. If it is the right food, go ahead but don\’t buy it just because it is cheaper. This could cause damage to your pooch\’s delicate digestive system. He or she could come down with a bout of diarrhea or some other tummy disorder when you change its diet.

We want our pets to grow with us. In order to accomplish that task, we need to keep them in our minds when we think of staying healthy.

Just like any other pets, what you feed your ferret is a very important factor in keeping it healthy. Of course, ferrets need proper hydration so drinking plenty of water everyday is important.

It is understandable that having a ferret as a pet is not very common. Therefore, there are few ferret foods available in the market. Nonetheless, a diet that is high in fat and protein is best so you can feed your ferret mice and rabbits or raw meat such as chicken, pork and beef, which are foods that are important to their growth and health. In addition, ferrets enjoy eating fruits and vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, grapes and bananas. They also enjoy sweets such as peanut butter and cereal with high sugar content but it is recommended by veterinarians to not feed ferrets these foods at all since such treats have been linked to diseases in ferrets. No two ferrets are alike so try to experiment with different kinds of meat, fruits and vegetables. Do, however, avoid feeding your ferret fish as this could cause odor problems. 

Snacks that may be edible for humans are not necessarily edible for your pet so it’s important not to feed your ferret snacks that are intended for humans since many foods may be toxic or indigestible for ferrets. Certain foods to avoid would be chocolate, coffee, tea, soda, ice cream, milk, grains, breads, nuts, and onions.

What’s important when feeding your ferret is to have variety so introduce your pet ferret to different kinds of food and snacks. You may find food and snacks that are especially made for ferrets in pet stores and even kitten food would be suitable as long as they provide the high protein and fat content that is needed by the ferret’s metabolism.  The ideal diet for a ferret should contain a minimum of 32% meat based protein, 18% fat and a maximum 3% fiber.

Once upon a time the poorest fed dog in America was the farm dog left to fend for itself for food. These dogs, undernourished bags of bones, were once so common they almost became symbolic of impoverished rural America. Today vast numbers of those small farms have vanished. With them have gone the gaunt, hollow-eyed hounds that greeted every farm visitor with a hungry, ill-tempered bark.

The farmer has snored to the city, gotten a job, and become the suburbanite. With him have come his companion dogs. And, the suburbanite house-pet has replaced the farm dog as the poorest fed dog in America. Probably 75 percent of all dogs in the United States owned by private individuals are household pets.

Most of these dogs are anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent overweight because the most frequent error made by feeders of house-pets is overfeeding. Unlike their predecessors, today’s poorest fed dogs are not underfed, but overfed. The irony of it all is the fact that, while they may be overfed and overweight, they may also be undernourished! Unfortunately, there is a widespread misconception among dog owners that any dog food that comes out of a can or box that they bought at the grocery store is adequate and nourishing enough for a dog.

This belief has led politicians, sociologists, and even some nutritionists to express the opinion that most American house-pets are better fed than most Americans. While these statements may grab sensational headlines, the accuracy of such a proposition does not stand up under critical exploitation. While it certainly is true that some house-pets receive far better nourishment than some people, it is also true that many dogs in this country are woefully malnourished. Some of the dogs suffering from the greatest malnourishment are those eating the very item to which the politicians and sociologists attribute such grandiose performance-commercial dog food.

Not all, probably not even most, of the canned dog foods in this country are guilty of malnourishing a dog, but some do exist, and they are being fed. Nowhere does a dog feeder need to evaluate the food he feeds more than he does when he is feeding canned foods to a house-pet. Yet, the number of pet owners who actually feed their dogs based on their evaluation of the foods available to them is practically zero.

The people at Royal Canine Dog Food understand dogs probably more thoroughly than any other dog food manufacturer. From the growing puppy to the active adult and advancing senior our pooches benefit from the enormous amount of love and research Royal Canine puts into its extensive line of dog food.

Since Royal Canine Dog Food was founded in France in 1967, they have been researching the vast variety of dog breeds to formulate the optimal nutritional balance for each breed at each stage of its loyal, human-loving life. Here we are, so fortunate to have ready access to this wealth of information to support the nutritional well-being of our canine companions – and all we need to do is pick up the appropriate bag! Life is good!

Consider these Royal Canine doggie-diet details and learn that size does matter. The puppy stage for a small breed lasts approximately eight months opposed to a large breed that may stay a puppy for up to twenty-four months. Royal Canine adjusts their puppy formulae to take breed, growth timetable, and accompanying energy level into consideration.

Embracing this wide difference in growth and puppy stages, Royal Canine Dog Foods are developed to support healthy growth of the entire pooch: skeletal structure, organs, and mental capacity at the same time acknowledging the energy-expending requirements of the various breeds.

Small dogs require more than twice the energy-dense diet a large dog does. This may be in part because of the doorbell, jumping up and down barking experience, but the consensus is not unanimous.

The large breeds begin the aging process earlier than smaller dogs. Larger dogs are considered senior at approximately age five and the smaller not until about age eight. Royal Canine Dog Food recognized this and suggests you look into a senior diet for your pooch even before obvious signs of age are apparent. As you may imagine, a variety of nutritious, senior-supporting foods are available for your pooches’ health and longevity.

The unconditional love we receive so willingly from our four-legged friends is without parallel. We owe it to them and ourselves to promote a healthy diet and lifestyle and as luck would have it,Royal Canine Dog Food has made this easy beyond measure. Bon appetite, Fido! Do dogs have all the luck? No, Royal Canine makes cat food too.

Good nutrition helps your dog resist infection and disease. He/she will live longer and spend more quality time being your friend and companion. Dogs need healthy, natural or organic human grade dog foods!

Let’s take a look at the various parts of the body that can give us a signal about the state of overall health. The word ’symptom’ is from the Greek word ’signal’. Symptoms are signs that the body is out of balance or attempting to heal. We need to determine exactly what symptoms are trying to tell us rather than trying to cover them up or suppress them. Suppressing symptoms can prevent the body from healing.

We will start by looking at the eyes. Take a look at your dog’s lower eyelid. The color here can indicate proper assimilation of iron and other minerals. If they are white or light colored, there is poor assimilation. The lids should be pink to red. Gums are also indicators of the proper use of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. If in poor condition and health, we will see loose teeth, bleeding, tarter build up, light color or white spots. Good healthy gums show no bleeding when rubbed and firm teeth. The gums should be dark in color. Your dog should not have bad breath! Feeding a good diet of human grade dog food will help keep eyes and gums in good shape.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and is an amazing indicator of overall health. Skin needs high quality protein, fatty acids and fluids. Without these, we see dry, flaky areas, ‘hot spots’, recurring infections and susceptibility to parasites. Good skin should be smooth and pliable. Check the elasticity of your dog’s skin by pulling gently on it and observing how quickly it resumes shape. It needs to be elastic and firm.

If your dog’s coat is dry, brittle and dull, it could mean his diet is filled with poor quality proteins and is deficient in fatty acids. A healthy coat will be soft, glossy and bright with minimal shedding. It is not normal for your dog’s fur to always come out in clumps!

A great indicator of overall health is the energy level of your dog. Is your dog energetic or does he seem listless and tire easily? Dogs that appear hyper or overly nervous may be suffering from a poor quality diet loaded with preservatives and toxins.

Always pay attention to your dog’s look and personality. Changes in either may be reflective of disease or early signs of other physical challenges. Weight change in particular can be especially significant and you should monitor your dogs weight regularly. Most dogs in America are over weight and this can not only interfere with your dog’s quality of life but may shorten it dramatically as well. When you pat your dog your should definitely not feel nothing but skin and bones but in a perfect canine world you should feel their ribs through a well muscled ribcage.

Remember that a healthy diet is the cornerstone of good health for both humans and dogs. Feeding your dog a “Human grade”, unprocessed dog food will provide high quality vitamins and minerals that are readily absorbed by the body. Dogs are people too you know! Alright, maybe not exactly people but your know what I mean and they definitely need high quality nutrition found primarily in human grade dog food to maximize their chance for long and healthy lives.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

Whole food nutrition should be as close as possible to what nature intended. You will quickly see how this information relates to whole food nutrition. The power of fruits and vegetables goes well beyond a balanced diet. To clarify the difference between whole foods and processed foods, and whole food nutritional supplements versus the average, adulterated, isolated, synthetic supplements, let’s “dissect” whole, unrefined grains. Whole, unrefined grains contain three main parts: the germ – or sprouting part of the grain; the endosperm-containing starch to support the young sprout during its early stages; and the bran – the protective layer encasing the sprout and its endosperm. Herein lies the beauty of whole food nutritional supplements.

Refined, processed, low fiber foods, animal fats, a lack of exercise and an ever-increasing level of stress all contribute to our current gastrointestinal health crisis. The health of American’s digestive tract and colon have reached an all-time low. We also offer information that can help make sense of food labels and allow families enjoy healthy eating on a busy schedule. Some publications and classes are available in Spanish. It’s usually the ” foodstuffs” that are man made or processed to provide extra kick that set you up for a crash, poor health and lowered performance.

This process also applies to your pets! A pet’s diet, the biggest health variable controlled by its owner, is crucial to its well-being. That’s why selecting a tasty and healthy pet food is the most loving choice you can make for your pet. The human body-field can be considered as a road map, but instead of directing “people on their journey”, it directs “information around the body to govern and coordinate healthy activity”. The human body-field is in essence, a dynamic, self-regulating, intelligent, energetic information control mechanism.

Natural and artificial flavors are also often grouped together under one name, and manufacturers aren’t required to disclose what “artificial flavors” really means. The exception here is a new ruling by the FDA, to begin January 1, 2006, that states any food containing a “major food allergen” must have it listed on the label (whether or not its part of flavoring or incidental additives). Not all fats are bad and, in fact, some should be required in any diet. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in foods such as nuts, avocados, fish, olives, and most oils help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels without affecting ‘good’ cholesterol levels.

We are sharing information we believe in and feel it is not commonly found in mainstream media. As a nutrition researcher, I have known for quite some time about the numerous ill effects of too many simple sugars in our diet. Table sugar is made up of glucose and fructose, and the average American eats over 2 pounds of this health robbing ingredient! Charles Elson, researcher at the University of Wisconsin, studies on individual supplements has been inconclusive at best.

The fish oil supplements you choose should have a high concentration of EPA and DHA for quality as well as being ultra refined to ensure it purity. The way to tell the difference is rather simple: A whole food is just that – a food like a carrot, beet, celery or potato flour, for instance. Isolates are stated on the label by their chemical names, such as vitamin A palmitate, mixed tocopherols, ascorbic acid. pyridoxine, niacin and niacin amide. Refined wheat flour, fairly high in gluten, sometimes with up to 80% of the wheat germ restored and this is naturally aged to strengthen gluten.

Did you know that saturated fat is the preferred food for the heart? Drugs do not fix the problem. These include heart attack, stroke and related disorders. The newest adult statistics on heart disease and cancer, are that 37% of us can look forward to dying of heart disease and another 25% of us can look forward to dying of cancer. If that isn’t sobering enough, another 4% of us can look forward to dying from complications from prescription drugs that we are told will make us better.. All the more reason to have a regimen including liquid vitamins that are equal to whole food nutrition!