Pet parents go beyond measure to look after their furry friends’ safety, food habits, and overall health. They choose the best for their pooches, and we know there are no two ways about it. Besides the commercial dog foods available in varied categories and grades, there are some foods that are totally safe for dogs. This article highlights the top 5 foods that your dog will enjoy and are easily available at home. Carrots Carrots are safe for dogs, and they also enjoy them. Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which enhances the quality of their skin and coat. Besides the nutritional value and safety factor, carrots help get rid of plaque from dogs’ teeth and help maintain good dental health. They are also a great way to exercise their jaws. White rice Cooked white rice is a great option for dogs, especially if they have an upset stomach. It’s easy to digest and can help when a dog has diarrhea. Apples This fruit is a good source of vitamin A and C. Apples are also a great source of fiber, which helps bind the stools in case of an upset stomach. However, please note that rotten apples can be poisonous for dogs.

We want to provide our pet cats with the best care and make them feel comfortable in our home. A part of this is ensuring that your home is safe for your feline friends. Cats are known to munch on flowers and plants (no one knows why). This makes it essential to avoid having certain indoor and outdoor plants poisonous to them. Read on to learn about seven such plants. Oleander Oleanders make for a perfect house plant. They add to the beauty and esthetic of the home and are even the ideal choice for a small garden. But these plants can be damaging to the health of your pet cat. This is because the oleander plant contains toxins known as a cardiac glycoside. If your cat does consume this toxin, it can experience vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and incoordination. In worse cases, the cat may even have seizures, or the poison may prove to be fatal. All parts of the oleander plant are toxic to your cat, so it is best not to keep this plant at home if you have pets. Lilies Lillies, belonging to the Liliaceae family, are very harmful to cats. Most plants from the Liliaceae family, including Easter lilies, daylilies, and Asiatic and Japanese lily, can prove to be seriously damaging to cats.

Tick and flea season can be extremely frustrating for your furry friends! The bites and infections cause consistent itching, but some bites can also lead to infections that cause tick fever and other potentially fatal complications. Always speak to your vet regarding medicines and methods used for avoiding ticks and fleas all year round. And to make sure that your pooch stays clean, here are some of the best options for tick and flea collars. TevraPet ProAct™ TevraPet uses a waterproof design for their collars to keep the deltamethrin effective through the six months of usage. This chemical kills both fleas and ticks on your dog’s fur and skin on contact and gives the whole body protection from these insects. Say bye-bye to tick or flea bites that can irritate your furry friend. SENTRY® Dual Action Flea & Tick Dog Collar Sentry uses a chemical called deltamethrin to protect your dog from fleas on your pet. The collar is designed to work against adult fleas by killing them quickly and thus preventing any eggs from being laid in your pooch’s fur. You can use the collar for up to six months and also not worry about keeping it dry as it is waterproof.

The pet food in your cart is not going to be healthy just because the packaging claims it is. Instead of relying on what the advertisements tell you is good for your pet, you should research and understand what is actually beneficial for them. If you want to keep your canine healthy and happy, select the best dog food at your disposal. Here are four factors to consider the next time you’re shopping for dog food. Be mindful of their age The most important factor to consider while choosing the best dog food is your pet’s health. You should pick food age-appropriate food for your pooch, both in quality and quantity. Experts say that puppies need food packed with protein and vital minerals, while an adult dog’s diet should depend on their daily activities. Older dogs should be served low-calorie food that’s rich in fiber, protein, and fatty acids. Meet their nutritional needs Meeting your pet’s nutritional requirements is essential to keep them healthy. One of the things to keep in mind while looking for the best dog food is the type, quality, and amount of nutrients it contains. Professionals say selecting foods with all essential macro and micronutrients is the right way to go.

Pests can invade a dog’s furry coat and create quite havoc. Some dogs are extremely sensitive to these crawly bugs and can develop skin reactions. That said, several products are available in the market to tackle this problem, and flea tablets are one of them. These fast-acting pills control ticks, worms, and other pests, so pet owners won’t have to worry about infestations. Here are a few trusted flea pills for dogs that will actively protect your pet’s fur coat. Capstar Flea Tablets Capstar is a well-known brand for effective flea-prevention and treatment products. Their flea pills for dogs and puppies can prevent allergy dermatitis, which often occurs due to a flea infestation. Their tablets can start killing these pests within half an hour of ingestion, and they are safe enough for daily single-dose consumption. While no prescription is needed to purchase these, remember to get approval from your vet as they will know if the medicine will agree with your canine. Trifexis Chewable Tablets These strong monthly chewable flea pills for dogs are a good fix for fleas, and they also help keep heartworm disease at bay. They have a blend of pest-fighting agents like milbemycin oxime and spinosad that fight parasites and curb infestation.

Heartworm, a type of parasite, is transmitted through mosquitoes. The parasites directly go to the pulmonary artery and heart of a dog. The symptoms are often severe and require urgent medical care and hospitalization. Most dogs need months of care and rest to get back to normal after treatments. This is why dog parents need to take preventative measures against heartworm infection. Here are some of the commonly used heartworm prevention medicines for dogs: Simparica Trio® This is one of the most popular heartworm preventive medicines for dogs. Simparica Trio is used for the prevention of multiple infections. Along with preventing heartworms, this medication can be used to treat stomach worms, hookworms, and roundworms. This is a chewable tablet. The preventive treatment with Simparica Trio usually begins with pups as young as eight weeks old. Heartgard Plus Heartgard Plus, one of the top choices for heartworm prevention in dogs, is an oral medication. Its popularity is because of the flavor that it comes in–beef. This medication has two major ingredients: ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate. Both of these are effective in the treatment and prevention of various common infections that affect dogs. These include heartworm, hookworm, roundworms, among others. Tri-Heart® Plus This heartworm prevention medicine for dogs is often a generic alternative to most other medications, including Simparica Trio.

If you already own a cat or are thinking of bringing one home, it is essential to understand their nutrition and health needs. Most cats require a certain amount of meat products to be included in their regular meals to get the right amount of proteins. However, some cats are allergic to certain ingredients in cat foods. For such cats, you can opt for gastrointestinal cat foods from top brands. Selecting the right cat food One of the most important factors to consider when looking for the right kind of food for your furry friends is nutrition. Make sure you choose the right food that contains all the necessary nutrients your cat requires. When you choose canned food or kibble food for specific purposes like snacks and reward foods, ensure that they have balanced nutritious ingredients. Also, avoid those foods with ingredients that are allergic to your cat. If your cat suffers from gastric conditions like pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), selecting the right cat food from a good brand plays a vital role in improving your cat’s health. Moreover, it is also essential to check with the veterinarian before introducing cats to any new foods. Some of the most popular food brands for cats with gastrointestinal issues are listed below.

Skin infections and allergies are among the leading triggers of a persistent itch your pets have to deal with regularly. And there are several forms of topical solutions and medicines available in the market that can treat such discomforts. However, it is always a good idea to explore natural remedies that may be more beneficial. Here are four simple topical solutions you can make at home for long-term dog itching relief. Apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar is one of the most versatile ingredients for itch relief. The organic liquid is loaded with antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that can help contain a bad itch caused due to infection or skin irritations. You can make a topical solution by diluting the cider with water and using a spray bottle to provide gentle relief from persistent itch under the fur coat. Remember never directly to use raw concentrated forms of vinegar and essential oils. Aloe vera Aloe vera is safe to use when applied only as a topical remedy for dog itching relief. You must ensure that your pets don’t end up ingesting the gel, as it is toxic to consume. However, when used externally, the gel can provide long-term relief from inflammation caused due to itching.

Everyone is inclined towards consciously eating healthy and ensuring so do their pets. Most pet parents like to keep tabs on what their pet eats throughout the day, ensuring they get the necessary nutrition via their meals. With cats, choosing the right treats can be a task, as they are sensitive and choosy. However, to help you, here is a list of the best cat treats that are delicious and nutritious for your cat’s health. Wellness Kittles This brand is best known for its crunchy, grain-free cat treats made with all-natural ingredients. They make low-calorie treats that are high in palatability. Their most popular flavor among all treats is salmon, but that’s not the sole ingredient the brand relies on. Wellness Kittles also includes healthy food ingredients like peas, blueberries, flaxseed, rosemary extract, green tea extract, and cranberries. A 2-oz bag of these treats is available for approximately $2.37, and the per treat calorie is around 1.1. Blue Buffalo These are the most budget-effective cat treats that pet parents can rely on. Their Bursts treats dominate the savory seafood flavor, wherein meat makes for the first ingredient. Their treats contain no wheat, and their key ingredients include deboned salmon, tuna meal, barley, brown rice, pork fat, salmon meal, cod, and dried whey.

Pets, specifically cats, may be picky eaters, but they can gobble up your food when you are not looking. However, not all human foods are safe for your feline friend. If they eat something that is perfectly healthy for you but is harmful to them, their digestive system will malfunction. Your furry pet may end up getting sick. So, keep them away from human foods that are mentioned in this list. Chocolates Dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants for humans. But for cats, these indulgent treats are to be kept away. Never ever hand out chocolate treats to your furry one. This is because chocolates contain a high amount of methylxanthine, which can cause increased thirst, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, vomiting, diarrhea, as well as high body temperature. Dairy products Most cats like drinking milk. However, apart from milk, other dairy products may be harmful to them. Most cats are generally lactose intolerant. It is only when they are kittens that cats are tolerant to the lactose in their mother’s milk. Caffeine Keep your feline friend away from your daily fix of caffeine, that is, your coffee. All caffeine-based foods and beverages, including tea, coffee, and soda, can cause toxicity in cats.