You are what you eat!? I have been concerned for some time now, about what we are feeding our pets. There are the junk food brands of pet foods, prescription foods, raw diets and numerous holistic foods. When I was first married I will admit money was pretty tight, so my cat and dog at the time got the grocery brand foods that were available. My cat was the first one to develop problems, crystals in her urine, for years she was on a special diet to help avoid crystals, which then had to be changed to a weight loss food, as she became very overweight. From there she developed Hypothroidism. From the point that she got sick I decided to try and invest from the get go, on a good quality food for my pets. Despite my efforts, one dog ended up on an intestinal diet for most of her life. My current cat gets crystals, so he is also on prescription food to prevent a blockage. Lucas, in the four years he has been living with us, has had an abysmal time trying to adjust to a food that agrees with him. For the first year, the poor dog had the worst gas I have ever encountered in an animal. I would manage to get him on a food that I thought would work, and then he would start throwing up or get the runs after being fine for months, so we would have to change his food again. He too, is now on a prescription food, which I am betting I will have to change again. I am rambling, but what concerns me is the number of people I know whose animals are developing ailments like Congestive Heart Failure, Cushings disease, Crystal in the urine, Diabetes and the list goes on and on. You just didn’t hear of stuff like this thirty years ago. Our dogs and cats lived to ripe old ages. I know far too many people who have lost their pets prematurely! I had a an Aunt whose cat lived until it was 21, it seems most of my friends cats can barely make it to 12 nowadays. And the same goes for dogs, I lost one of mine just before her 9th birthday, her breed usually have a life span of 14 to 16 years. I am sure there are many factors to why our pets seem to be developing more ailments and living shorter lives, but I have to say, I think we are what we eat. Research the treats and foods you are feeding your pets and try to find them the most natural foods that are available. Beyond the diet we feed our pets factors like genetics, exercise, providing a life without stress and ample loving, is about all we can do to help keep our furry friends healthy and happy!
No Time To Paws 