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5 Incredible Service Dogs of 2018

Posted on by Above1 Support

Dogs are remarkable animals; they are wise, compassionate, intuitive and brave; however, some dogs, like these incredible service dogs, are just a cut above the rest. Their stories inspire us and remind us just how special dogs are and how much of a better place they make the world.

1. Chi Chi, “American Hero Dog” of the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards®

chi chi hero dog
Chi Chi’s heartwarming story reminds us that life often isn’t fair, but that doesn’t mean we should despair. Chi Chi was found starving and bound in a garbage bag in South Korea. None of Chi Chi’s limbs were salvageable, and she became a quadruple amputee. Remarkably, Chi Chi learned to trust people again despite her abuse. She was given custom prosthetics and soon after became a certified therapy dog. The joy that emanates from Chi Chi is palpable. In addition to overcoming her early traumas and going on to help others, Chi Chi is also a cancer survivor whose personality and attitude inspire and motivate everyone she meets. The ceremony honoring Chi Chi will be aired on national television on the Hallmark Channel on October 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

2. A Dog Named Hero Helps Military Sexual Assault Victim Heal 

Healing Paws for Warriors service dog
It’s no coincidence Hero the dog’s name is ‘Hero’ given his heroism in helping his owner, Heidi Luke, overcome the PTSD stemming from a sexual assault endured while serving in the military. For Heidi, hero is her battle buddy who enables her to go about her life. She can now grocery shop without having a panic attack. Hero guards Heidi in public, keeping strangers from getting too close. Hero’s work is part of an effort called Healing Paws for Warriors; the objective is to minimize the number of veteran suicides that occur due to trauma resulting from military service. 

3. Lizzy the Labrador Gives Leigh Michel New Hope after Multiple Sexual Assaults During Army Service

Lizzy the Labrador
As indicated by the NPR headline that details Leigh Michel’s harrowing tale, service dogs are taking on an increasingly prominent role in helping those who served in the military overcome trauma after being sexually assaulted. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for service dogs do not cover service dogs as therapy for mental illness; however, it is possible that as brave service members share their stories and their experiences with service dogs, that will change.

4. Willy’s Sense of Smell Saves His Owner’s Life

Can Do Canines service dog
Madison Stangl was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes her first year at college. A few years after diagnosis, however, Madison developed a condition called hypoglycemia unawareness where she was unable to recognize warning signs of low blood pressure. Willy, a service dog came to Madison’s rescue. Trained to sniff out a drop or spike in blood sugar, Willy the golden retriever woke Madison in the middle of the night when her blood sugar was deathly low. Without Willy, Madison would have died.

5. Sully Serves Former President George H. W. Bush & Raises Awareness

Sully service dog president Bush
As many know, former President George H. W. Bush suffers from Parkinson’s and has been hospitalized twice since his wife Barbara passed away in April 2018. Sully not only is helping the former POTUS, but the lovely yellow lab is helping to raise awareness via the Instagram account, @sullyhwbush, to raise awareness for and about the important role service dogs play in all of our lives.

Service dogs do amazing work, and we salute them in their various, honorable missions. To show our love and support, we at Wellness Pet Food stand firm by our dedication to making delicious, high-quality, all-natural foods, snacks, and treats that are designed to ensure wellness and longevity in all animals that enjoy them.

Top 10 Accounts That Made a SPLASH on the Internet This Summer!

Posted on by Above1 Support
kodiak top 10

This summer was hot but these accounts were hotter! From impressive dock jumps to internet challenges, these dogs sure left their “mark” on the internet!

eyebrows

10. Madame Eyebrows: Our #10 spot goes to Instagram’s most frumpy pooch: Madame Eyebrows! Her uniquely marked face is furever stuck in Monday-mood and everyone can relate. Sure, she may wear that frown pretty convincingly, but make no mistake she is living her best life! 

logan

9. Logan the Shepherd: #9 goes to Instagram’s most stunning dog model, Logan! Rescued from a Craigslist ad, Logan came from humble beginnings but quickly climbed the ranks with his beautiful split-face markings and longing eyes. He’s since captured the eyes of millions and stolen the hearts of many more! Sure, he may be “two-faced” but he’s certainly no Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!

8. Walter Geoffrey the Frenchie: Our #8 spot goes to Instagram’s most gifted singer, Geoffrey! When he’s not lounging around at the house, getting sassy with his mom, or ordering Puppuccinos at Starbucks, he likes to dust off the old pipes and sing a few tunes. Remember, if you run into Geoffrey at a karaoke bar, don’t even try to challenge him to a sing-off! He’ll steal your pride and your girl!

7. Golden Retriever Jill: Our #7 spot goes to Instagram’s most famous underwater fetcher, Jill! What surfaced as an unbelievable video of a dog swimming underwater quickly led to a massive treasure chest of unseen diving videos buried in the account! This pooch must have been a submarine captain in a past life because she’s one incredible sub-woofer! If you ever drop your phone or sunglasses in a lake or pool, you know who to call!

6. Winston Moose: #6 goes to Instagram’s most famous scaredy-cat, Winston! During the dog days of August, a video of him getting adorably spooked by an ocean wave blew up. His reaction was priceless, sending waves across the internet! A true service dog at heart, Winston has done us all a public service and brightened each of our days with his hilarious, playful, and easily-spookable personality!

5. Ringo Swiss Alot: Our #5 spot goes to Instagram’s most gifted dock diver, Ringo! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope, it’s Ringo! Whether he’s jumping after his toy or challenging his mom to a diving competition, this pooch hits the water with grace and style! Every jump is a chance for Ringo to SEND IT and he never disappoints! 

4. Kirk the Border Collie: Our #4 spot goes to Instagram’s most lovable Border Collie, Kirk! A video of Kirk reacting to herself winning the 2017 Incredible Dog Challenge captured the hearts of millions. Bouncing and spinning with each obstacle, Kirk didn’t miss a beat as she watched her run on tv. Although the video was posted last year, it didn’t go viral until this summer proving once again there’s a goldmine of viral content just waiting to be discovered! 

3. Maya Polar Bear: This spot goes to Instagram’s most happy cloud, Maya! She loves borking to some Spotify tunes, giving makeup tutorials, riding the escalator with her mom, and creating food ASMR videos! She’s become such a staple in the Instagram dog community that anything she touches turns to gold. One could say she has the Midas “fluff’!

2. Siberian Husky Jax: Our #2 spot goes to Instagram’s most viral Husky, Jax! Remember the What The Fluff Challenge that popped up earlier this summer? Well, this account started it all! The goal of the challenge was to fool your pet into thinking you disappeared by throwing a blanket up into the air and running into another room. What began with a simple homemade video led to a massive internet sensation leaving millions of pooches bamboozled or laughing at their owners for attempting such a cheap trick! 

1. Long Coat Max: Our #1 spot goes to Instagram’s most loved German Shepherd, Max! His coat may be long but there’s certainly no long-face to match! With Max, there’s never a boring minute! He’s made us laugh, cry, and laugh some more with his hilarious internal-voice videos, adorable throwbacks, and goofy memes! Max has put the GSD gang on the map by growing quicker than any other dog in the Instagram community! Max gained almost 100K followers in the span of a few weeks after one of his videos went viral on an international scale. Max’s dad has shared so many adorable moments that it feels as though we’re right there with them for every swim, lick, bamboozle, and happy accident on the kitchen floor!

Caring for a Pet with Special Needs

Posted on by Above1 Support

Mick Szydlowski is an author, marketing consultant and animal welfare advocate living in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, plus two young daughters and their “big brother,” Klaus the cat. Although Oskar is no longer around, Mick is patiently awaiting the arrival of his next special-needs shelter cat, which just happens to be another blind tabby!

What are some common special needs in pets?

If you’ve browsed social media over the past six or seven years, you have likely come across a number of accounts which feature pets with special needs. Animals with special needs are those that require additional daily care which is often quite specific, although not necessarily a lot of extra work in every case. The broad range of special needs may include varying degrees of blindness, deafness, loss of limbs or use of wheels for mobility, neurological issues, paralysis, behavioral problems, birth defects, plus a range of digestive disorders and chronic diseases that reduce organ function. The truth is that any pet that lives well into its senior years will likely develop a condition that would classify it as an animal with special needs.

klaus

 

How to care for a pet with special needs:

 

Frequently, the thought of caring for a pet with special needs discourages people from adopting the afflicted cat or dog, hence finding homes for these unique animals is a challenging task for shelters.  However, an animal with special needs is not necessarily unhealthy or destined to live in a state of suffering. These assumptions come from unfounded biases and low expectations that society imposes on those with disabilities. With the right environment and daily attention and love, most of these pets can absolutely thrive. The key for those interested in adopting a “less than perfect” animal is to be armed with knowledge about the specific condition and a commitment to care which can include additional time and expenses. The rewards of caring for a special animal are immeasurable; you’ll be inspired daily and the bond of friendship will be something you’ll never forget!

Life with Oskar & Klaus

I am very lucky to have been blessed with two special needs cats in my life. The first cat, named Klaus, was adopted from a no-kill shelter in 2006. Klaus was already an adult cat when I brought him home after meeting numerous cats and kittens with every character trait from timid to wild. There was something special about this cat — the only adult — that was in a room full of kittens. His collapsed right ear, missing teeth and scars were a reminder of his previous life as a famished stray, but his elegant tabby coat, bright eyes and overall confidence were a clear sign that he would make a perfect spoiled indoor companion.  

Klaus, however, came with digestive issues that required a fair amount of trial-and-error to control. He suffered from frequent bouts of colitis, which translated to recurrent diarrhea and responsive vomiting lasting a week or more. The key to eliminating the flareups ultimately came down to feeding him the right ratio of protein and carbs, portion size, mix of kibble and wet food and adding a daily probiotic supplement. With the right formula in place, Klaus’ digestive health is something that I don’t worry about and I certainly don’t miss cleaning up the messes that were part of the daily routine for many, many months!

klaus oskar

The second cat, Oskar, was an outdoor farm kitten discovered in 2011. Oskar was only eight weeks old when I found him, and although I was not actively searching for a second cat, I immediately fell in love with him and brought him home to Klaus.  Oskar was born completely blind with a condition called microphthalmia; he technically had eyes, but they were never fully developed and thus stayed tucked far behind his eyelids.  Instead of navigating his world visually, Oskar mapped out his environment using his senses of hearing, smell and touch and by utilizing detailed special memory.  

Initially, however, I had serious misconceptions about how well he’d do in an indoor space. Would Oskar run into the walls and furniture? Would I have to put down padding along the base of the walls to keep his head safe? Would he be able to find his food or the litter box? Oskar began to prove that my fears were misguided on the first day! As long as I didn’t rearrange the furniture and kept the clutter to a minimum there were zero issues. As a matter of fact, Oskar never made a mess anywhere outside of the litter box and he was the first cat at the food bowl when breakfast was served! Like many blind cats, he was adventurous and quite fearless, plus exceptionally skilled at climbing on top of the tallest object in the room, which Klaus often couldn’t do!

klaus hiking

Should Your Next Pet be a Special Needs animal? 

If you are prepared to offer the extra care and are ready to bring a unique special needs cat or dog into your home then talk to your local shelter about the animals that are in their custody that need that special someone. Shelters will often keep pets with special needs in their foster care program so you may not see them at the facility. Additionally, some shelters, such as Milo’s Sanctuary in California, specialize in caring for pets with special needs, so feel free to extend your search if you have no shelter locally. When you have finally brought home your special needs pet, share your experience on social media with others to inspire them to adopt the “less than perfect” cat or dog that ends up being absolutely extraordinary.

The Average Cost of Taking Your Pet to the Veterinarian

Posted on by Above1 Support

Every pet owner knows that vet care is a routine part of being a responsible pet parent, but not every pet parent knows what vet care should cost from basic preventative care and vaccinations to an unexpected diagnosis. 

This article gives an overview of what kinds of expenses to expect and what those expenses are so you’re better prepared before heading to the office. Keep in mind that it’s possible for vet costs to vary widely depending on where you live, for example. It’s also a good idea to talk with other trusted pet parents to get their experience of different veterinary care costs.

What Do Veterinarians Charge For?

Most pet parents cringe when it comes to the vet bill part of a vet visit; however, that is because most do not know what goes into the services their pet receives.  The reality is that—in addition to administrative and operating fees—there are many things vets have to charge for in their practice. These are:

  • Professional services, which includes the physical exam, medical exam, extended exam, and hospitalized patient exam
  • Diagnostic services, which includes blood pressure evaluation and more
  • Diagnostic imaging services, which could range from ultrasounds to radiographs
  • Lab work services, which includes collecting labs, running, and analyzing samples that test for blood chemistry, leukemia, heartworms, thyroid, immunity, and more
  • Surgical procedures
  • Anesthesia for procedures, which includes intubation and monitoring
  • Hospitalization services, which includes overnight stays, inpatient monitoring, and more

Veterinary fees are generally competitive based on the rates of other veterinarians in the surrounding area as well as the nature of the services offered. Your pet’s weight and size also influences costs for services rendered.

Costs of Basic Preventative Care

dog at veterinarian
Needless to say, all of these services are not part of basic preventative care. During a routine, annual or bi-annual (depending on your pet’s age) preventative care or well-visit, your pet will have a thorough physical exam in which the vet will check your pet’s hearing, vision, teeth and gums, heart function, respiration, skin and coat, musculature, and more.

Average cost of physical exam: $45-$55

Some such visits will also include getting routine vaccinations or vaccine boosters. Recommended vaccines for dogs are for parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and rabies. Recommended vaccines for cats are panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calcivirus, feline leukemia, and rabies.

Average cost of vaccines per shot: $15-$28

Costs of Additional Tests and Services

Additional services that might be rendered during a preventative care visit include tests for potential issues such as a fecal exam or heart worm test. The typical costs for such additional tests and services are:

  • Fecal exam: $25-$45
  • Heartworm test: $45-$50
  • Dental cleaning: $70-$400
  • Allergy testing: $195-$250 for skin test, $200-$300 for blood test
  • Geriatric screening: $85-$110

Costs of Surgery or Unexpected Diagnosis

While on average, routine annual veterinary care might cost between $200 to $400 for dogs and $90 to $200 for cats, unplanned events such as accidents, injuries, or unanticipated ailments can cost a variable amount more.

For example, if you learn your cat has diabetes, it might cost $300 just for your vet to be able to properly diagnose your cat. The total cost of caring for a pet with diabetes will vary depending on the age of the cat when diagnosed and how long the cat lives afterward. While glucose can be monitored and insulin can be managed at home, pets with diabetes often have to visit the vet more frequently for other ailments or for interpreting at-home glucose test results as needed.

Similarly, if, after the $45–$50 heart worm test, your dog does have heart worms, treatment can be $400 to $1,000.

Emergency treatment is another expense that can quickly run upwards of and beyond $1,000. Again, this is circumstantial and depends on what the vet has to do to diagnose and to treat your pet. If the ailment is unknown, the vet will have to do diagnostics and blood work—possibly imaging, to determine what is wrong. After they figure out what is wrong, they still have to treat your pet. If hospitalization is necessary, that will increase the total costs for treatment.

Covering Veterinary Costs

dog with owner
If your pet does have an emergency, you can minimize costs by providing the vet with as much specific information as possible. While not all unexpected diagnoses and needs for long-term treatment can be prevented, attending to routine preventative care, not missing annual check-ups, and getting your pet vaccinated and staying on top of booster shots will help.

To manage costs, consider creating a special savings account to cover your pet’s annual vet bills plus incidentals. If you start saving while your pet is young, by the time they suffer afflictions typical of old age, you will be financially prepared to handle those unplanned diagnoses as well as any other unexpected medical problems that occur along the way.

In addition to preventative care, pet parents can help decrease unplanned medical issues by feeding a natural food especially designed for his or her size, age and breed. Wellness Pet Food for dogs and cats is made with all-natural ingredients and are created to ensure cats and dogs have long, healthy, happy lives.

10 Signs You Have a Happy, Healthy Cat

Posted on by Above1 Support
happy cat blog cover photo

With so many different personality types among them, it can be difficult to read your cat’s mood and overall wellness; however, studies have shown that happy, healthy cats (regardless of personality) all exhibit similar physical and vocal cues to indicate that they are happy and healthy.

Good Grooming

A happy healthy cat will keep himself well-groomed. Not only that, but he might also feel inclined to groom other pets or even you. Some pet owners call licks from their cat “kisses”. They’re not wrong as your cat’s attempt to groom you is a show of trust in your bond.

Lifted or Twitchy Tail

You can tell a lot about your cat by her tail. When a cat holds her tail high in the air, it’s a show of confidence, and when she twitches the tip of her tail, it means she’s happy with who is around her.

Gets Comfortable

comfortable calico cat
When cats are on the defense, they arch their backs, and their ears flatten. Happy cats will indicate they are such by being relaxes in their movements and sleeping positions. They will tuck their paws under when watching the world go by, for example.

Dilated Eyes

cat with dilated pupils
While your cat’s eyes won’t be dilated 24/7, a sign of happiness is a sudden dilation of the eyes—most people think it means their cat is about to go wild, but it’s not.

Forward-Facing Ears

striped cat
When cats are upset, they will fold their ears back against their heads. Happy cats’ ears are forward-facing as if to say they’re interested in what you have to say.

Hearty Appetite

Healthy cats enjoy eating and will show enthusiasm at meal times by rubbing against your legs and guiding you to where food is typically served.

Playful Patterns

As cats age, their playing habits might change, but a sign of a happy cat is a playful spirit. Whether it is chasing a toy or just jumping and running around, happy cats are playful pets.

Good Sleeper

long haired grey cat sleeping in plant
Cats can nap anytime, anywhere and for any length of time—that’s surely why they call them “cat naps”; however, a happy cat will want to sleep with someone…on your lap, with a fellow pet, in your bed, etc. What is more, a happy cat will sleep but not in excess as that is a sign of an unhappy cat.

Likes to Chat

talking cat
Happy cats can be chatterboxes. Their high-pitched “talks” are signs that they are happy, happy, happy.

Purrs Like a Motor

orange cat purring

Photo by Michael Sum on Unsplash


Happy cats purr when they are feeling content. Often, this happens while they are getting a back scratch, but sometimes, a happy cat will purr just because. If this describes your cat, then rest assured, he is one happy, healthy kitty.

Happy and healthy cats are ones that feel good. Keep your cat health (and happy) by giving him or her all-natural (yet very yummy) snacks, treats, and meals. Wellness Pet Food cares about your cat’s health and happiness and shows it through a complete line of wet and dry foods, snacks, and treats designed especially for felines.

These Two Wellies Bring Over 50 Years Experience to Wellness Pet Food!

Posted on by Above1 Support
simple

Today, we’re excited to introduce you to two Wellness Pet Food team members who combined, bring over 50 years of experience to the company—Human Resources Benefits Manager, Joanne S., and Senior Customer Service Representative, Sue V.

In 1997, Wellness Natural Pet Food was created, and was considered one of the very first natural pet foods on the market. Over the years, as we’ve remained family-owned, we’ve perfected our recipes and used innovation to make it possible for pet parents to find healthy options for their pets no matter the pet’s unique nutritional needs, life-stage or breed size. 

The leading force behind the success of Wellness Pet Food has always been the passionate, dedicated Wellness Pet Food team that shares a love of animals and a desire to help pets live happier, healthier lives. In fact, a lot of our employees have been with us for nearly their entire careers, something we’re very proud of. 

Over the years, Joanne and Sue’s commitment and work ethic has been an inspiration to all of us here at Wellness Pet Food, and we recently caught up with them to reminisce on the journey that has taken us to where we are today. 

Meet Joanne S., Benefits Manager, Human Resources joanne s

Q. How long have you worked at Wellness Pet Food?

A. I have been with the company for 37 years now. This was supposed to be a part-time job while I was in high school!

Q. Did you envision yourself working here for that length of time when you first started?

A. Not at all, I was in high school and was looking for a job that I could walk to and save some money to buy a car, all of my friends were going to work for big companies like Wang laboratories when they graduated and so I thought someday I will to.

Q. What would Wellness Pet Food fans be surprised to know has stayed the same since you began working here?

A. The passion that the employees have for the product has always been here.

Q. Can you share a memory of how it was working at the company 30 years ago?

A. There are so many it is hard to mention just one. I remember that for holiday parties we would clear the packing room and bring in a caterer and entertainment to celebrate the holiday with all the employees. One year we had a fire the week before Thanksgiving, the plant had to be closed down for a few weeks. So we stood outside in the front yard and gave out turkeys and employee payroll checks. The Scott family wanted to make sure that the impact of the fire did not become a burden on the employees especially during the holiday season.

Q. Why has Wellness Pet Food been the company you’ve decided to stay with?

A. This company has always been like family to me. I was given the flexibility that I needed during the changes in my life from finishing school, getting married to having three children.  

Q. What’s something you’re excited to see that Wellness Pet Food has added over the years?

A. It is amazing at how the Wellness product has grown. Who would have thought that a small dog food company with less than 75 employees would grow into what it is today.  

Meet Sue V., Sr. Customer Service Representative, Operationssue v

Q. How long have you worked at Wellness Pet Food? 

A. My first day of work at WellPet was July 10, 2000, so it’s been 18 years!

Q. Did you envision yourself working here for that length of time when you first started? 

A. To be honest I wasn’t sure. I knew I liked the idea of working for a family owned business as I come from a family that owned successful businesses. As time went on I knew I was in the right job at the right company!

Q. What would Wellness Pet Food fans be surprised to know has stayed the same since you began working here?

A. The sense of pride in knowing we still manufacturer a really great product.

Q. Can you share a memory of how it was working at the company 30 years ago?

A. When I first started working at WellPet (Old Mother Hubbard in those days) our warehouse was located in the same building as our offices on Alpha Road in Chelmsford, MA. We also had a store located in that same building and consumers could come in and buy product.

Q. Why has Wellness Pet Food been the company you’ve decided to stay with?

A. Wellness Pet Food is a great company that really takes good care of their employees. I am grateful to have worked here all these years!

Q. What’s something you’re excited to see that Wellness Pet Food has added over the years?

A.The expansion into the international market!

How to Include Pets in Your Hurricane Preparation Plan

Posted on by Above1 Support

At the height of hurricane season, please remember that our pets rely on us to get them ready for the next big storm so it’s important to include your dog and cat in your preparedness plan. Here are my best tips on how to prepare your pets for the next inevitable hurricane.

Make Sure Your Pet Is Prepared for a Hurricane

Have an evacuation plan:

  • We all create a plan in case of an evacuation, but it is important to make sure that pets are allowed wherever you are headed. Many motels, hotels and shelters do not allow for pets. Be prepared and make sure your evacuation plan includes your pets.
  • If your evacuation location does not allow for pets, choose designated caregivers that can care for your pets. Keep a list of friends, relatives, boarding facilities, animal shelters, or veterinarians who you know can care for your animals in an emergency. Be prepared with a list of phone numbers.
  • Many times in emergencies, we need to separate pets. Be prepared to designate more than one place for your pets to go.
  • Include your pets in evacuation drills so that they become accustom to traveling in their carriers comfortably.

Have emergency supplies and travel kits ready:

  • Have leashes, harnesses and/or carriers ready to transport pets safely and ensure that they cannot escape.
  • Make sure to have enough supply of food, drinking water, bowls, and cat litter. Don’t forget a can opener if you pet eats canned food.
  • Remember all medications and keep copies of medical records stored in a waterproof container.
  • Make a hurricane first aid kit which includes the following:
    • Identification (current color photo of your pet, ID tag including owners name, current address, contact phone number).
    • Keep medical records and information of any medical conditions, or behavior problems handy.
    • Keep information on feeding schedules, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.
    • Always keep a list of veterinarians and 24-hour emergency animal hospitals that are close to your destination if you need to evacuate.
    • Make sure to include pet beds and toys, or something that provides your pet with comfort during what can be a difficult time.

Be prepared to Travel with Your Pets:

  • Make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are current and that they are wearing collars with up-to-date identification (many pet shelters require proof of current vaccinations).
  • Stock up on any medications your pet requires, along with a copy of their medical records.
  • Many pets get lost or displaced during natural disasters. Make sure your pet is microchipped and that their microchip is registered and current.
  • If your pet exhibits anxiety and stress during storms or travel, have your veterinarian prescribe a sedative if needed. Always consult with your veterinarian before giving your pet any medications.

Rescue Sticker Alert

  • The ASPCA recommends this sticker be displayed so that people know there are pets inside your home.
  • Make sure your sticker is visible and includes the number of and type of pets in your household.

With all the nervousness and busy preparations for hurricanes, please make sure to keep your pets in mind. They rely on us to ensure their safety and well-being. As always, your pets’ health and well-being are always my top priority. 

Originally published on Forever Freckled.

Hello everyone! My name is Alison Streit and I am Forever Freckled’s veterinarian. Being a veterinarian has been my dream job since I could barely speak. Over the past six years, I have dedicated my life to building, opening, and running an animal hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, accomplishing a life long goal of mine. It has been an amazing journey turning my passion for animals into a career. I know pets are our family and nothing brings me more joy than to help pets and their parents with wellness and healthy living. In addition to being a veterinarian, I am a wife to my amazing husband Rob, and a mommy to my greatest accomplishments and the most unbelievable joy for me, my children Luke, Leah and Hayden. Everyday I feel so lucky to have pursued my dreams to take care of animals, and become a wife and mother. I am so proud to have started Forever Freckled with my sisters and develop a platform to help people and pets on their life journeys.

6 Ways to Beat Dog Separation Anxiety During Back-to-School Season

Posted on by Above1 Support

All the kids are headed back to school, mom and dad are getting back to their regular schedules at work, but what about the dog? The change in routine this time of year isn’t just an adjustment for the humans, but it can cause separation anxiety in your dog. Here are

6 ways you can help with your dog’s separation anxiety this back-to-school season:

 

  1. Acclimate them to more and more time home alone in their safe spot, whether that be their dog bed, a crate or other area. Instead of taking Fido with you on errands and to the beach, get him used to spending a few hours alone at a time. 
  2. Get a dog walker!  A full work day home alone is a long time for a dog to have to “hold it”, especially if they get used to being let out several times a day over the summer. There are plenty of wonderful dog walkers available, check out who is in your area and make sure they are reliable, bonded and insured. 
  3. Provide them with puzzle toys and food enrichment toys which will provide them with mental stimulation during the day. This will keep their day from being so boring. There are many brands to choose from, and freezing them a special treat will help keep them busy longer. 
  4. Get up early and take your dog for a walk or jog. Although you’ll have to skip the snooze button, this ensures Rex is well exercised and tired before you leave, and will help prevent your dog from getting overly excited when you come home.
  5. If your dog is the type to enjoy it, doggy daycare could be a good option! The kids are going back to school, why not send Rover to “school” too?  He won’t have to be alone during the day, he can play with his friends and come home tired. Just be sure to do your research on doggy daycare locations near you and make sure you feel comfortable with their policies.
  6. Did you know that Spot can be an excellent study buddy? Especially for kids learning how to read, your family dog can be a non-judgmental pal to practice reading aloud to. Who doesn’t like snuggling with their dog and a good book after a long day at school or work?  

In addition to the above suggestions, it can help to get your dog used to the “cues” that you are leaving. Does he now associate the sound of you picking up the car keys with him going with you for a ride? Does tying your shoes mean that you are all going on a walk? Take the time to desensitize him to these triggers by picking up and putting down your keys several times a day, or sitting down and putting on your shoes, wearing them around the house and then taking them off. It will make these cues that you are all going some where less predictable, and there for less stressful for your dog when you leave without them! 

We wish you all a happy and successful school year!

5 Reasons Why Ginger Cats are So Special

Posted on by Above1 Support

Ginger Cat Appreciation Day takes place in September, but any day to recognize these cute, adorable, yet often overlooked fur babies is a reason to celebrate! 
Most Americans remember such iconic ginger cat characters like Garfield with his funny, quirky, fun-loving attitude, and Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes, who embodies playfulness and feline instincts. Ginger cat fans may know some of these already, but let’s take a look at these 5 Reasons Why Ginger Cats (also known as Orange Tabby Cats) are So Special:

Their coloring:

Orange cat

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Just like humans, there are different shades of ginger between cats. They can have an orange, red, or yellow-colored fur.  Pheomelamine is the pigment responsible for the ginger color in cats. The amount of this pigment reflects how intense the ginger color of the cat is.

Their gender:

Ginger cats are more likely to be male than female.

*This is because the “ginger gene” which produces the orange color is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and so need two copies of this gene to become ginger, whereas males need only one. This means there are roughly three males to one female ginger cat. Ginger tom cats father tortoiseshell or ginger females. If both parents are ginger, then they will have all ginger kittens as well. 

Their personalities:

Orange cat

Photo by Tony Wang on Unsplash

Although early socialization plays the biggest role in an adult cat’s personality, there is some anecdotal evidence that says cats’ personalities vary between different colors. Male Ginger cats have a reputation of being assertive, vocal and active. Female Ginger cats are known to be calmer and quieter. 

Their coat patterns:

The ginger coat comes in 5 types, classic (swirled), mackerel (striped), spotted, ticked and patched. Learn more about the specifics of each pattern here.

Ticked orange tabby cat

Example of a ticked pattern orange Tabby cat

They are all considered Tabby cats:

All ginger cats are tabbies as they all have the “agouti” gene, but all tabbies are not orange. One characteristic to look for in tabby cats is an “M” marking on their forehead. Tabbies are also often referred to as “tigers” for obvious reasons.

orange cat

Notice the “M” marking on this orange kitty’s forehead.

*Via Science Focus

Do you have a ginger cat? We’d love to hear from you! On Instagram, tag @wellnesspetfood and #Wellnesspetfood for a chance to be featured on our social communities or website!

What’s So Unique About CORE® RawRev for Cats?

Posted on by Above1 Support

If you’ve read our post on How to Honor Your Cat’s Inner Lion (or have ever met a cat!), then you know that cats instinctively crave raw animal protein. And for good reason. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they need high-protein diets in order to thrive.

If You’re Considering Feeding Raw

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to incorporate raw into your cat’s diet? Nutritionally, raw protein provides cats with vitamins and minerals that are not available in cooked diets unless they are supplemented. But there are some challenges associated with adding raw protein into your cat’s diet. For example, there can be food safety concerns around handling and serving raw food, not to mention that serving raw is a messy task that many cat parents aren’t comfortable with. 

Not All Raw Recipes are Created Equal

In order to get the benefits of raw protein in a diet, there are newer products popping up that combine traditional kibble for cats with freeze-dried raw ingredients. However, these products aren’t are all the same.

raw rev cat

Most cat foods that incorporate freeze-dried raw meat mix the raw meat with other fillers or ingredients for cost savings. This could mean that while your cat is getting a boost of nutrition from the raw meat, they’re getting a boost of unnecessary carbohydrates, fillers and calories, too.

CORE RawRev cat freeze dried pieces

Freeze Dried Pieces Made of 100% Turkey found in CORE RawRev for Cats

Instead of combining raw protein with other ingredients, Wellness’ new CORE RawRev for cats combines high-protein, grain-free kibble with lean cuts of freeze-dried raw turkey—and nothing else.

How CORE RawRev Freeze Dried Compares

If based on the above, you’re drawing the conclusion that the freeze-dried pieces in CORE RawRev for cats are all meat, and nothing but meat—you’d be right! The great thing about the simplicity is that your cat is only getting lean protein, vitamins and minerals from the pieces without any added carbs or calories.

In fact, compared to other similar products on the market, CORE RawRev for cats offers the highest protein and lowest fat and carbohydrates. 

But How Does it Taste?

Because there aren’t any filler ingredients to dull down the flavor, CORE RawRev is packed with delicious 100% turkey and a meaty aroma that cats absolutely love. CORE RawRev for cats promises 100% acceptance. What that means is that if your cat doesn’t excitedly gobble up their RawRev, Wellness offers a 100% Catisfaction Guarantee and cat parents can return the unused product for a complete refund. 

Just Ask These Kitties

You can pick up CORE RawRev for your kitty at PetSmart or online at Chewy.com. Has your cat tried Wellness CORE RawRev? We’d love to hear from you! On Instagram, tag @wellnesspetfood and #WellnessCORE for a chance to be featured on our social communities or website!

About This Page

Pet Type:

CAT

Topic:

Diet Health & Nutrition

Date:

28/08/2018

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