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Tag: scratching

  • 7 Positive Changes After Switching to a Limited-ingredient Dog Diet | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Dogs with allergies or food sensitivities are challenging to feed. When you switch to a limited-ingredient dog diet, you can help alleviate symptoms and support your pup in other ways!

    Does your dog scratch constantly, get hot spots, or have digestive problems like diarrhea? Dogs with food allergies and sensitivities can experience a host of problems. In fact, it’s estimated that about 40% of dogs with dermatitis and itchy skin have food allergies. In other words, there’s a good chance diet could be contributing to your dog’s symptoms. When you switch to a limited ingredient dog food, it can benefit your pups’ sensitive stomachs and allergic reactions in many ways, including these seven!

    1. Say Goodbye to Surprise Allergy Triggers

    While it’s not always possible to pinpoint what your dog is allergic to, common ingredient list items include beef, dairy, chicken, wheat, and eggs. When you limit their diet, you reduce potential allergen exposure, making it easier to avoid triggers and reactions.

    2. Improved Skin Symptoms

    When your dog eats food that contains something they’re allergic to, it triggers an immune response that includes inflammation and a range of skin symptoms, including:

    • Itching
    • Redness
    • Hot spots
    • Paw chewing
    • Hair loss
    • Skin dryness
    • Rashes
    • Flaking

    When you remove potential common allergens and irritants from their diet, it gives their immune system a chance to calm down, bringing relief from constant scratching and irritation.

    3. No More Recurring Ear or Skin Infections

    Food allergies cause itching and inflammation, so they can also cause recurring skin and ear infections. Inflammation can disrupt the skin barrier, so when your dog scratches, wounds form and bacteria enter, causing an infection.

    4. Improved Skin and Coat Health

    By stopping the allergy cycle, a limited-ingredient diet can give your dog’s skin and coat a chance to heal, especially if the diet contains quality protein sources, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Not only will symptoms cease, but they’ll also have healthier skin and a shinier, softer coat.

    5. They’ll Have Better Digestion and Less Upset

    Allergies and food sensitivities also cause gastrointestinal problems. Limited-ingredient dog diets usually focus on simple, highly digestible ingredients. This supports better nutrient absorption, less strain on the gut, and improved overall digestive health. What’s more, they’ll have better stool quality and fewer GI symptoms, such as:

    • Gas
    • Diarrhea
    • Vomiting
    • Bloating
    • Constipation

    6. Overall Health Can Improve

    Companies that make limited-ingredient diets typically prioritize high-quality, nutrient-dense, whole food ingredients and complete, balanced diets that promote stronger energy levels and better long-term wellness. Furthermore, a limited-ingredient dog food diet supports a calmer, more balanced immune response, enabling their body to focus on maintaining total body health.

    7. Their Appetite Could Return

    Dogs often avoid eating when food causes stomach pain, itching, or discomfort. By contrast, when their body feels good after eating, they’ll naturally develop a stronger, healthier appetite. Therefore, one of the benefits of limited-ingredient pet food is that it eliminates triggers and can help make mealtime enjoyable again.

    A Limited-Ingredient Dog Diet with Everything You Want, Nothing You Don’t

    Venture recipes from Earthborn Holistic are an ideal solution for dogs with allergies and sensitivities. They feature carefully selected proteins, omega fatty acids, antioxidant-rich vegetables, probiotics, amino acids, and essential vitamins and minerals. What they don’t contain is common triggers for allergies or sensitivities, such as:

    • Grains
    • Gluten
    • Egg
    • Peas
    • Legumes
    • Lentils
    • Chicken
    • Colorants
    • Fillers
    • By-products
    • Artificial preservatives

    Crafted in the USA using premium ingredients, Earthborn Holistic comes from a long-standing, family-owned company established in 1926. For generations, they’ve focused on nourishing food for dogs and cats with quality nutrition, protecting the environment through sustainability efforts, and giving back to communities through meaningful charitable programs.

    Visit Earthborn Holistic to learn more about their Venture recipes and other high-quality diets for dogs and cats!

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    Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.

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    Animal Wellness

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  • Best scratching posts and cat trees | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Find out what to look for in scratching posts, cat trees, and condos to keep your cat happy and your furniture safe. Includes tips on styles, materials, placement, and multi-cat household needs.

    Scratching is quintessential feline behavior. Satisfying this natural instinct means providing a selection of surfaces for your cat to scratch without resorting to your furniture. The ideal feline environment includes both horizontal and vertical surfaces, especially in a multi-cat household. Here’s what to consider for the best scratching posts and cat trees.  

    Check it out: A well-designed scratching “tree” set-up provides a great place for your kitty to comfortably view her world and, of course, perfect that feline manicure.

    Buying a scratcher for your cat: what to look for

    Scratching posts, cat trees, and condos are now available in many styles, configurations, and price points. Be sure to shop around before making a purchase, while keeping the following factors in mind:

    • Make sturdiness your priority when selecting a product. A scratching post or tree that wobbles or tips is sure to discourage – or even scare – your cat. 
    • Think about where your cat likes to hang out and what types of surfaces she’s attracted to. Does she like to be out in the open with a view of her surroundings? Or does she like curl up in a cozy corner? There’s a scratcher to suit all feline preferences.
    • Pick something that’s the right height for your cat. The scratcher should be tall enough for your kitty to fully stretch out. 
    • Look at the covering. Most scratchers feature a combination of sisal and carpeting. Make sure sisal is securely wrapped and glued — there’s a lot of torque in those claws! Choose carpeting with dense pile to maximize durability.

    Check it out: More elaborate cat tree/condo configurations incorporate perches, hammocks and cubbies. 

    Scratchers with style: something for every décor 

    Manufacturers now design scratching posts, cat trees, and condos to match the décor preferences of cat parents. For example, a rustic scratcher made from recycled tree limbs suits a log home, but may clash with sleek, contemporary décor. 

    Whatever your style, there’s a scratcher to match it. Here are just some of the available options:

    • Realistic-looking “trees” with perches tucked inside
    • Vine-shaped posts with perches
    • Cactus and floral shaped designs
    • Scratchers that double as end tables, with cardboard sides dedicated for scratching. 
    • Wall-mounted designs to enable secure feline surveillance; these are great for expanding territory in smaller, multi-cat homes. 
    • Different-coloured carpet coverings to coordinate with your décor. 
    • Scratching wraps that can be secured around vulnerable sofa arms and sides.

    Check it out: Faux fur is another covering option but doesn’t offer the scratching satisfaction of carpeting, sisal, or cardboard.

    Situating your scratcher: location is everything

    Even if you only have one cat, place scratchers, cat trees, and condos in prime spots around your home. Avoid out-of-the-way corners. Cats like to survey their domain from secure locations that still enable them to interact with family members. It goes without saying that window locations are ideal!

    Check it out: You can prevent boredom by rotating the scratchers in your home. 

    When it comes to the best scratching posts and cat trees, don’t be stingy. The more surfaces your cat has for scratching, the happier he’ll be — and the less likely to use your furniture!

    Additional options: from cardboard to concrete 

    Cardboard scratchers: Don’t overlook these humble options  They’ve come a long way from the original $10 pet store special. Many of today’s cardboard scratchers are nice and large and include both horizontal and vertical surfaces. You can prop them against a wall or offer them as a comfy lounge. Lace them with catnip for extra attraction!

    Concrete pads: A more recent innovation, concrete pads are the indoor cat’s answer to lounging outside on a toasty sidewalk. Cats are attracted to concrete because its porous texture absorbs heat or offers coolness.

    You might wonder how your cat can use concrete as a scratcher. Even though he can’t sink his claws into it, he can still sharpen them against the surface. It’s similar to how we use an emery board to file our nails. 

    Give your cat a variety of scratching surfaces

    The scratchers in my own house include the following:

    1. Simple sisal-wrapped pole, a little less than 3’ tall
    2. Well-used sisal/carpet combo with a curved perch (the 45° carpeted section is “well loved”)
    3. Tall sisal-wrapped pole topped with a large square carpeted perch
    4. An almost 5’ cat tree with two curved carpeted perches, a cozy carpeted barrel (with lookout) and two vertical sisal support
    5. Collection of cardboard scratchers. 

     


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    Sally E. Bahner specializes in cat-related issues, specifically nutrition, holistic care and behavior. She has offered her services as a feline behavior and care consultant and gives classes on cat care. Sally is the resident cat behavior expert on Tracie Hotchner’s Cat Chat radio program, and a member of the Cat Writers’ Association and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

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    Sally E. Bahner

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  • Headachesound Wow & Flutter Machine Lets DJs Scratch Sound Samples

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    This upcoming gadget from Hong Kong outfit Headachesound is a self-contained gadget for making turntable scratch effects. You can load it with your samples and beats, then jog its high-sensitivity mini turntable to manipulate sounds. Music producer Mr Viktor got his hands on a prototype and put it through its paces.

    When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Headachesound Wow & Flutter MachineHeadachesound Wow & Flutter Machine

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    Paul Strauss

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