May 2010

Top 10 Health Conditions In Cats and Dogs & How You Can Help

Just as we need to maintain our own health, pets require our support to maintain their health too.

Top Ten Surveyed Health Conditions for Dogs and Cats*

As we know vet bills can be high, so rather than paying to cure a condition – how can we prevent one from happening?

Have you heard of Spirulina?

Spirulina is a micro-algae which contains the most remarkable concentration of nutrients known in any food. It’s is known as a functional food, as it can provide nutrition and special functions that work to enhance health.

Fact : Scientists around the world – in Japan, China, India, Europe, Russia and the USA – are discovering how and why spirulina is so effective for animal (and human) health.

Fact : In 1994, a Russian Patent was awarded for spirulina as a medical food to reduce allergic reactions from radiation sickness in the children of Chernobyl.

This incredible food has unique phytonutrients; phycocyanin, polysaccharides and sulfolipids, which all enhance the immune system. Spirulina is also rich in natural carotenoid antioxidants, all of which promote cellular health and are known to reduce the risk of cancer.

Spirulina is a high protein food, with over 60% all digestible vegetable protein, containing three times the protein value of beef, but without the saturated fat and cholesterols; as much vitamin E as wheat germ and 100 times more beta carotene than carrots. It also contains the highest concentration of vitamin B12, iron and trace minerals, together with the essential fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).

How Can Spirulina Help My Pet?

There are hundreds of published scientific studies all over the world revealing that by feeding spirulina to mice, hamsters, chickens, turkeys, cats, fish and humans, confirmed that with its unique phytonutrients, spirulina improves immune system function.

Low immune system function is the underlying cause of many poor health conditions in animals and humans, so by supporting your pet’s immune system with spirulina, you can help to prevent poor health conditions and expensive vet bills!

Key Benefits of Giving Your Pet Spirulina

• Good immune function in dogs and cats can translate into better quality skin and lustrous coat.
• Pets with fleas and subsequent itching skin are helped significantly with spirulina, as it helps the immune system to bring the allergic skin reaction under control.
• Appetites of fussy cats have been known to lift with a sprinkled on their food.
• Owners report spirulina fed pets have a fresher breath.
• Older animals may regain flexibility.
• A great alternative for dogs and cats that like to eat grass.
• Using spirulina is ideal for detoxification after antibiotic treatment.
• Spirulina promotes overall good health benefits for the pets that are regularly fed with it.

How Much Spirulina Do I Give My Cat or Dog?

Spirulina is naturally in a very concentrated form, so a little goes a long way.

• For dogs the size of a Retriever size need only 1 – 2 teaspoons of Spirulina per day with food.
• Smaller breeds need a lesser quantity.
• For cats an 1/8 of a teaspoon a day is enough.
• There are some organic pet foods also available containing spirulina

Finally, if you are thinking, ‘if spirulina is that good for my pet – will it be good for me too?’

Oh yes!

*We got these lists from this article.

April 2010

Specialist “Chocolates” for cats and dogs? No Thanks!

Better weather probably means longer walks for our canine friends, and more time outside for cats too! That’s got to be good for their fitness – as well as yours – so what better time to be thinking about their long-term health?

Just like their human owners (and we use that term loosely when we refer to cats of course, because they tend to ‘own’ us, don’t they?) an animal’s health is fundamentally affected by what they eat – the better the quality of their food, the better the nutrition they receive. Filling them up on cheap foods full of cereal fillers and reclaimed meat products is a bit like filling your kids with chips and burgers at every meal – they might like it, but it’s certainly a long way from good for them!

If you’re looking to give your cat or dog a healthy boost this spring then take a look at Nutri-Health’s range of Organic Pet Foods – not just organic, but top quality ingredients with your pet’s nutritional needs at the top of the list.

Speaking of treats for the animals, and with Easter upon us, it’s vitally important to know that you shouldn’t give chocolate to your dog as a treat – even though they can tend to have a sweet tooth, just like us!

Chocolate – especially dark chocolate – is toxic to dogs and can result in severe illness, and possibly even the death of your pet. That’s got to be the last thing anyone would want to do to what is, after all, a member of the family.

Chocolate contains a substance called Theobromine, which human beings can break down and deal with during digestion. Dogs deal with this substance much less well, and the toxic effects can be very serious for them. Milk chocolate, and particularly white chocolate are not so bad – but then, consider the fact that many vets are worried about an obesity epidemic hitting our pets as badly as it’s affecting the human population!

Occasional treats of specifically manufactured ‘doggie’ choc drops might not be a problem, but regular ‘extras’ can soon see your pooch pampered into being overweight.

So when you’re handing out the Easter eggs this weekend, remember that no matter how much he begs, your dog needs to stick to healthy treats and meals.

March 2010

What Is Really In Our Pet’s Food?

Why You Should View Your Pet’s Diet In The Same Way You Would Your Own:

Our diet plays a critical role in determining our level of health and it’s just the same for animals.

As we look to our own food labels for ingredient information, we must also pay attention at what we feed our beloved pets!

• Checking the calories is a good start. Just as with your own food, a high calorie count is not healthy.

• Look out for corn and rice in the ingredients. These are both used as cheap fillers that meet basic energy requirements, and are therefore often the main ingredients in foods and treats. However, they are dense carbohydrates that can have long-term negative effects on metabolism and weight gain. Unfortunately, this trend has played a major role in the obesity epidemic that both we and our pets are now facing!

• These corn and rice based diets are also frequently responsible for allergies and chronic symptoms of mal-digestion, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhoea. Make finding a grain-free food for your pet top of your list.

• Note whether your pet food includes chicken or meat ‘by-products’, which are generally all the left over parts of the carcass – these are another cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels ‘high’, but not necessarily the of quality of the food!

• Food additives such as corn syrup, sugar, molasses, propylene glycol, and MSG are examples of artificial flavours frequently used to disguise inferior food quality. These are often additional sources of non-nutritious calories that contribute to pet obesity. If the ingredients are good, your pet doesn’t need ‘flavouring’ to help them like their food

Finally, because pet food usually contains protein-based ingredients, many pet food companies opt to add artificial preservatives to prevent the growth of mould and bacteria. However, many preservatives are now known to cause ill-affects in both humans and pets, BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene), sodium nitrite and nitrate are examples of food preservatives that should be avoided. Natural alternatives to look for in preservation of food include, vitamin E ‘mixed tocopherols’, rosemary extract and freeze-drying.

So what’s the alternative to the many unhealthy recipes out there aimed at your pet?

Make sure you understand what your pet’s natural diet in the wild would be, and aim to replicate that with as little chemical interference as possible. If you’re a cat or dog owner, Nutri-Health can provide a simple solution for you!
Lily’s Organic Pet Food is made with the most delicious, nutritious ingredients and with none of the artificial additives or preservatives commonly found in pet foods.

Another clean, easy addition to your pet’s healthy lifestyle is Cool Pets – Stress Management for Animals – keeping them happy and stress-free!

If you have any questions about alternative health for your pets, please contact us we’ll be glad to help.

February 2010

The health benefits of owning a pet: how pets can really help keep us healthy

It is such an honour to be loved by our pets and that loving exchange between a pet and its owner is worth its weight in gold!

Pets are completely unconditional, so they tend to bring out the best in us. They have a calming and grounding influence (unless the dog runs off!). When we feel emotional – sad, angry or lost – our pets just know, and are the first in line to show their affection and support. Stroking a pet or simply watching a fish swim in an aquarium helps us to relax.

Owning a pet is also a great way for children to learn about responsibility and, if you have a dog, for the whole family to exercise regularly. We all know that dogs need regular walks, come rain or shine, so it’s a fantastic way of including exercise in your week. And getting out in nature is just so good for the soul.

It has even been scientifically proven that our pets have a great influence on us. A study at Cambridge University found that owning a pet produced improvements in general health in as little as a month. Pet owners were found to suffer fewer ailments, such as headaches, colds and hay fever.

So, with all these benefits that our pets provide for us, what do we do for them? How can we ensure they lead the best possible life? Just like us humans, dogs and cats specifically, need a healthy balanced diet, so rather than the standard pet food, why not give them something more nutritious? Lily’s Organic Pet Food is made with the most delicious, nutritious ingredients and none of the artificial additives commonly found in pet foods.

Our pets, whether they require walking, brushing or cleaning, all give us an array of physical and psychological benefits, so the least we can do is keep them happy, stress-free and in good health.

We know that people who care about their own health and wellbeing – people like you – are highly likely to care as much about the health and wellbeing your pets. So we want to present some great products and ideas that can help you provide the very best for your pets.

We know that a loving environment is key to a happy, healthy life for your pet, as is regular exercise – and so is the food that you buy for them.

Just as with humans, a good diet, balanced and full of nutrients, is required to ensure that your animal is to have a great life, with the best health and longevity.

With this in mind, we have sourced a fabulous range of organic pet foods, filled with amazing ingredients that offer your pet the best possible nutrition available. It means that you can feed your pet a diet free of all the chemicals and fillers that come with less wholesome pet foods!

Click here to the shop to browse through our stock of ‘Lily’s Kitchen’ organic cat and dog foods.

Animals are also affected by the energies and vibrations around them.

Moving house, children leaving the nest, separations or changes of any kind can distress and upset your pets as well as the humans in the house. They too suffer with stress and anxiety as a result of what’s going on around them.

Our friends at ‘Rainbow Essences’ produce a number of combination packs to help with stressful situations in the home, and one of those is the ‘Cool Pets’ pack.

This pack has been specifically selected to work with your pet, as well as with you, at the times when you all most need help with calming and recovering your balance and energy.

Check out Cool Pets here, along with our other essences, combination packs and gift sets in the shop.