Just as many Americans are becoming more health and weight conscious, pet owners today are becoming more mindful of what they are feeding their furry friends.  They are taking note that some of the food we give our pets is contributing to an unhealthy weight gain over the years.  And as they gain weight with their age, many times arthritis starts to set in.  So some pet owners are looking for healthier dog food from the beginning in order to better influence their weight in the long run. We all want our pets to live longer and happier lives, disease free.

A 14-year study that was recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association (JAVMA) reports that dogs that were fed in a manner that helped maintain their ideal body weight throughout their lives had a median lifespan of 1.8 years longer, and were considerably healthier than their littermates. But with so many dog-food options available, from raw and dehydrated to grain-free and single-source protein, what is the best diet for our canine companions?

According to Mike Grant, the nutritional science director for SeniorPetProducts.com, several dog nutrition myths have been debunked in recent years.

The first myth: A raw meat diet is best. Today’s dog does need a meat-based diet; however, small amounts of grains, like rice, oatmeal, pasta, vegetables, and fruits are a normal and a desirable part of good dog nutrition. He says it is also untrue that dogs can not digest cooked or processed protein. Dogs have no problem using the protein in cooked meat.

The second myth: Fat is full of empty calories. In reality, fats are highly digestible and the main source of energy for dogs. One gram of fat provides 2.4 times the energy of one gram of protein or carbohydrates. Fat is also essential for the proper absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K.

The third myth: Diets must be tailored to breed and age. A good diet is good throughout his entire lifespan. The only thing that will change is the amount of food and the kinds of supplements your dog needs.

The bottom line is this, dogs need an all around healthy diet full of nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. When dogs live their whole lives with eating nothing but table scraps, they become obese and age much quicker. As dogs age, everything else starts to deteriorate including their joints, especially if they are overweight.  FlexPet with CM8 is the only provider of dog arthritis natural supplements made with CM8. Not available in other pet supplements, our proprietary blend of cetyl myristoleate is an ingredient clinically proven to promote optimal joint health in dogs by helping to stimulate the lubricating fluid in the joints, support stronger cartilage reduce pet arthritis and increase total mobility.

So as many pet owners are becoming concerned with their dog’s diet and choosing healthier pet food for their companions, those who have pets that are already seeing the effects that obesity has on poor joint health, are turning toward alternative remedies such as FlexPet to make healthy choices for their dogs and cats.

Dog Grooming Tips Can Relieve Pet Pain

How often do you take your dog to get pampered? Is it possible for dog grooming tips to help your furry little friend feel better and alleviate some possible joint inflammation? Not only can dog grooming be a great way to keep your dog clean, but your dog will absolutely feel relaxed and more at ease, which ultimately helps them feel better.

Many experts offer dog grooming tips for a variety of breeds so that you can ensure that your particular dog feels the love and care they deserve. You can either use dog grooming tips to do it yourself, or you can hire someone to do the dog grooming for you.

Patti Lefkowich is one of those people. And when you hear about her very successful mobile dog grooming business and happy customers, you may find yourself going to her even though its her job to come to you. How happy are her customers (the dogs, of course)? Let’s put it this way, she proudly states that she may take a little extra time because she often stops for kiss breaks.

Patti runs the Patti Waggin. Dogs love the service. Owners love her attention to detail. We love her business name.

A life-long lover of dogs and all animals, Patti’s been grooming dogs for years and started her mobile grooming business when she moved to Florida. She pays so much attention to detail that she even carefully chose her grooming van to be “green-friendly” so the dogs wouldn’t have to deal with any fumes.

FlexPet loves Patti because she is extremely mindful of older dogs and their issues with joint pain. Patti takes lots of caution to make life easier for the older dogs, including hydraulics so they don’t have to jump up on tables, and massage treatment to make their bones, muscles and joints feel oh so good.

Now that you know all about Patti, here are a few other helpful dog grooming tips to make your dog feel great:

1) Make your dog feel comfortable: Dogs aren’t as familiar with grooming as humans are. We know we need to wash every day – sometimes multiple times each day. Dogs and pets don’t have this awareness. Say warm, nice things to your dog throughout and stroke him or her gently.

2) Use gentle cleansers: Pay careful attention to the cleansers and shampoos you choose for your dogor pet. Consult with your veterinarian when necessary to see if your dog should avoid any special types of cleansers or shampoos.

3) Reward your dog throughout: When your dog displays calm, relaxed behavior, or when he rolls over when you need him to, reward him! Go ahead and give him a few treats throughout.

4) Associate grooming with positive reinforcement: In addition to treats, make your dog or pet associate grooming with positive reinforcements and other warm, comfortable thoughts and feelings. You want your pet to feel like grooming is a good thing!

5) Use soft brushes: No one wants a harsh brush going through their hair, and neither do dogs. Pay close attention to the right kind of brush that will make all the difference in the world for your dog or pet.

6) Focus on all parts of the dog: It’s not just about the shampoo and brush. Make sure you carefully clip nails, clean ears and wipe away dust from eyes.

7) Use caution with belly: Just like humans, dogs and pets have their sensitive sides, too. The belly is very sensitive for many dogs so use lots of caution when grooming in those places.

What other dog grooming tips can you add here? Please leave a comment below.

Like people, pets need a good mix of exercise and rest so that their little bodies can grow healthy, happy and disease-free. When pets don’t get the right mix of exercise, rest, nutrition and play, their bodies breakdown and become less healthy.

It really doesn’t matter what kind of dog you have, it’s important to make sure every dog gets the right amount of exercise. Just like you want your children to get good exercise to keep them healthy and refrain from childhood obesity, you want the same for your pets. Good exercise is even great for adults, too, as it keeps joints from tightening up. Here are some tips, guidelines and advice on how much exercise should you give your pet:

1) Just Get Moving: No matter what kind of exercise routine you design for your dog, just getting up and doing anything is the right one. Whether it’s a nice stroll through the park or a good run around the block, as long as you’re keeping your dog safe it’s the right exercise program. Exercise and the right dietary supplements can together support healthy joint structure.

2) Keep Their Mind Sharp: Exercise is important because it works your dog’s mind and mental state as much as it works your dog’s physical state. Dogs can get dangerous mental problems from being pent up in the house for too long. They can become anxious and even start damaging parts of the house from boredom.

3) Maintain Strong Bones: Exercise helps dogs maintain healthy, strong bones.

4) Good Muscle Tone: When you take your dog and pet on a regular exercise routine they’re able to maintain good muscle tone throughout their body, reducing the problems associated with being over weight.

Think you can handle a dog boot camp? For people looking for an intense workout for themselves AND their dog, check this out:

5) Release Energy: Dogs and pets need to release energy from being in the house each and every day. How would you feel if you stayed in the house all day doing nothing. Guys, don’t ask yourself this question if it’s a Sunday during football season as it will produce the wrong answer.

6) A Little Each Day: You want to avoid getting into a situation where you don’t allow your pet to exercise at all throughout the week and then run them hard for four hours on Saturday thinking it will make up for lost time. This is dangerous and should be avoided at all cost. Instead try extra hard to give your dog a nice little workout each day for 15-20 minutes.

7) Water Is Important: Make sure your dog is properly hydrated before, during and after his or her workout. Bring along a water bottle for you and a little water bottle for your furry little loved one.

Bad Weather: Be careful when the weather isn’t so nice. Dogs and pets can easily injure themselves during the winter months and it’s cold, icy and snow-filled up north. And they can have dehydration and heat exhaustion problems during the super hot months in the summer.

9) Home Features: Also be sure to pay close attention to your home. Your dog may not get enough exercise around the house simply because of the kind of features you have in your house, such as smaller rooms and less space for your pets to run around.

So how much exercise should you give your pet? Try to shoot for a little each day.

What’s your dog’s daily exercise program? Please share with us by leaving a comment.