Animal Chakras Are a Key to Unlocking Health & Well-Being

Balancing Animal Chakras are a Significant Key to Unlocking Greater Health & Well-Being

Is your animal is behaving badly?  

Maybe your cat has started using the front hall closet (or your pillow) as a bathroom. Or your dog is suddenly pulling at the leash and snarling at other dogs. Your horse seems to have forgotten how to trailer and spooks at everything.

These bad behaviors sometimes seem to come out of nowhere.

But did they…?

Are they just being bad animals? Or… are they good animals going through something bad?

Animal chakras, just like human ones, can have a huge impact on a pet’s well-being – mentally and physically. In fact, for pets – and humans – the two states are intertwined.

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Do you understand chakras, and how they affect your pet’s sense of well-being?

What are chakras?

We’ve touched on this before…

Chakras are the conduit for energy flowing from the universal life energy field. Eastern traditions call it prana or the Ch’i.

This energy is metabolized through each chakra, and sent to the parts of the body located in the major nerve plexus areas closest to that body part.   

And, if your chakras – or your pet’s – aren’t functioning properly, this intake of energy is disturbed. 

What does this look like?

For humans, our lives seem to take a turn for the worse. We feel ‘off’ and frustrated, physically ill, depressed, stuck in the mud. Our joints hurt, we suffer back pain, headaches…

Animals experience these same challenges, but they don’t have words to describe them…, unless you know how to communicate with animals, or hire a professional animal communicator to help translate for you.

They’ll be able to decode the messages your pets are trying to broadcast.  Many (but not all) are able to also read their chakras AND balance them. 

The best communicators also trained in advanced healing and they will be able to help you balance all the chakras – both yours and your animals.  

The 7 major chakras

Animals and humans have the same basic set of chakras… and animals have their own, unique extra chakra. We’ll get to that in a moment. 

First, let’s review the seven major chakras we share with our animal companions:

• Root Chakra – Fire engine red. It supplies energy to the spinal column, adrenals, and kidneys.
• Sacral Chakra – Juicy Orange. Our sexual and creative chakra, sending energy to our reproductive organs and pleasure centers.
• Solar Plexus Chakra – Lemon or Sunshine Yellow. This chakra resides in your solar plexus and supplies energy to the stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, and nervous system.
• Heart Chakra – Emerald Green. Centered on love and will, this chakra brings energy to our heart, circulatory system, vagus nerve, thymus, and upper back.
• Throat Chakra – Sky Blue. Located at the front and back of your throat, embodying self-expression, it brings energy to the thyroid, the bronchi, lungs, and alimentary canal.
• Third Eye Chakra – Indigo. Associated with vision and understanding, it’s located on the forehead and the back of the head. It supplies energy to the pituitary, lower brain, left eye, ears, nose, and nervous system.
• Crown Chakra – Violet/Lavender. As the name suggests, the 7th Chakra can be found on the top of your head and is associated with the experience of Divine Guidance or knowing. It supplies energy to the upper brain and right eye.

Animals have an extra one unique to them called the Brachial Chakra

Animals have their own special chakra that humans don’t have, and it’s important to be mindful of it…

• The Brachial Chakra – located on either side of the body, in the shoulder area.  

This is the main energy center in all animals and links directly to all the other chakras.

Here’s the thing:  This chakra is the center that relates to animal-human interaction. 

TIP:  Any healing with animal chakras should always begin at this Chakra.  

Animals that have a strong, healthy link with their human companions usually have a vibrant Brachial Chakra. 

It’s the center where the animal-human bond is formed and carried.

If an animal is exhibiting poor behavior or, worse yet, is becoming physically ill, an exploration of their chakra will guide you to the source of their pain. 

It might be coming from scars from their past, a manifestation of the pain they see in you, or a shift in their sense of security.

When an animal’s behavior becomes disruptive and completely out of character, it’s important to visit a veterinarian to be sure your pet isn’t battling an illness like an infection, poisoning or some blockage in their intestines.

Consulting with an expert pet communicator – or having the skills to converse with your pet yourself – is just as important. 

Your pet may be trying to tell you something. 

I know, personally, that my cat sent me messages when I was struggling in an unhappy marriage. Her bad behaviors stopped when I took the time to reassure her that my problems were not hers to solve… and rebalanced our chakras together.  

Do you want to learn more about animal chakras and their healing power?

Exploring the possibilities of learning more – whether it’s human chakras or animal chakras – is exciting and can launch you on a journey towards healing.

Did you know that you have an inner workshop too? 

Albert Einstein, Nicola Tesla, even Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, all spent a great deal of time in their inner workshop, the laboratory or concert hall in their mind’s eye.

When they emerged, they had the clarity of thought to create great works of genius.

You too have the ability to access and use your own inner workshop, and help the animals in your life build and thrive in theirs.

When you connect your heart Soul energy with your inner workshop, you can do anything!

Contact us for a consultation if you want help decoding your pet’s chakras… or if you want to learn how to communicate with animals on your own, start here. 

You can also go much much deeper through the powerful, life changing Chakra Healing Heart Wisdom Masterclass Series, like this one.  

 

This series of extraordinary Masterclass workshops is available in The Heart School of Animal Communication, and are FREE for Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club for Platinum Club Members.  Find out more here!

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Did you find this useful? Our readers loved these next articles too: 

Every Animal Lover Needs to Know How to Talk to Animals

Helpful Tips: 8 Ways to Focus Your Mind

Animal Communication and Telepathy: Mental Video Technique to Communicate With Animals

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Why Choose A Raw Cat Food Diet?

What are you feeding your cat?

With the impressive and alarming amount of cat food recalls that have been happening over the past couple of years, it is easy to see why so many people are concerned with commercial cat food manufacturers.

Many cat owners are switching to a raw cat food diet for their beloved furry friends, and it is easy to see the many benefits of this new trendy diet in the lives of pets and pet owners.

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Here are five of the top reasons why choosing a natural cat diet is becoming such a popular choice.

1. You will get a healthy cat through proper diet.

If you have been looking for a way to cut vet bills in half, try to get a healthy cat through proper diet and exercise. A healthier diet helps boost pets’ immune systems, and can help reverse damage that has already been done. It clears out toxins that have built up through years of poor diet. With the toxins cleared, your cat’s body will feel better and be more youthful than ever.

2. Your cat will live longer.

Science has proven that a raw cat food diet, or even a natural cat diet, will extend the life of your feline friend significantly. If you want your fuzzy friend to live longer, it is best to start stocking up on quality foods.

3. Cats are obligate carnivores.

They are designed to eat raw meat and not eat food like commercial cat food. It is just not natural for cats to eat cooked food, or over-processed food. When cats eat commercial cat food, it does not digest well, nor does it have the nutrition that they need in order to live a long, healthy, and happy life.

4. Commercial cat food also has ingredients that you cannot trust.

It is very easy to see how many cat food companies have been incorporating subpar and cheap filler ingredients into their food. Much, including soy, wheat, and corn, is actually detrimental for a cat’s health. Worse still, many of the pet food brands out on the market use ingredients that are unhealthy for consumption, including euthanized carcasses of diseased animals and chemical proteins. A natural cat diet would never include any of these!

5. A raw cat food diet will help prevent gingivitis in cats.

The smaller chewable bones help scrub the cats teeth and gums. Multiple studies back up this oral health side effect of a proper cat diet. Not having to worry about your cat’s teeth means that you will be able to rest assured that your pet will have the best that life has to offer in terms of quality of life.

There is a lot of danger in feeding a cat poor cat food, and the truth is only starting to come out right now. Now is the time that you start looking into a natural diet for your favorite companion.

~~~ Article reprinted here with permission of the author: Claude West

About Claude: “I grew up with animals and over the last 30+ years of raising cats, I’ve gained a lot of experience for helping cats be healthy and happy! Follow me on my Tips About Cats facebook page: http://tipsaboutcats.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claude_West

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Recommended for you!  Cat lovers also enjoyed these popular posts:

Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together

Cat Gingivitis – Two Natural Ways to Resolve it

The Causes, Symptoms and Solutions for Cat Hairballs

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3 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Dog

Are you thinking about getting a puppy, or adopting a new dog?

It’s so important to choose the right dog for your life. They can either become your best friend or your worst nightmare.

Sadly, 3.3 million dogs enter shelters every year and only 1.6 million are adopted. The rest either live out their days in shelters, or they are euthanized…

Even sound, healthy, adoptable pets have their life cut short because they were either surrendered or abandoned by their owners.

That’s why doing your research – learning all you can about dogs – before you adopt or purchase your new companion is the kindest and smartest thing to do.

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Here are three tips to help you choose the right dog.

You will become your dog’s whole life when you bring them home. It’s a big responsibility to care for something that will be completely reliant on you for their health and well-being for their whole life. 

Before you make the commitment, follow these three steps. 

1. Read about the breeds.

It’s tempting – especially if you have children – to go to a pet store or a shelter on a Saturday afternoon and pick out the most adorable dog you see.

Beware!  Impulse-buying rarely works out, for you or the dog.

Even if you’re adopting a shelter dog, make sure you know about the breed’s personality, its needs and quirks – and how they fit with yours.

For example, if your lifestyle is:

• Very active: Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Border Collies would make a great companion.
• Have small children: Saint Bernards and Labradors are famous for being family dogs, but did you know short-haired dogs like Boxers and Beagles are also very kid-friendly?
• Have allergies: Bichons, Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Schnauzers don’t shed and have less dander than most breeds, making it easier on your sinuses and house cleaning chores. 

Be realistic about the time you’ll have to train your new furry friend… and whether or not you have the skills to do it yourself. Some breeds are more eager to please than others. 

Border Collies, for example, are extremely receptive to training. However, since they’re working dogs the training needs to be intense and engaging both mentally and physically… 

Very smart high energy working dogs can be a delight when focused properly, but when they’re bored they can be very challenging to have around.

It can be fun to read up on dog breeds – you might even discover a breed you’d never heard of or didn’t realize would be the perfect fit for you. 

 

2. Write a job description for your dog.

That’s right. It might sound like a strange thing to do… but take the time to write down why you want a dog in your life and what you expect them to do for you.

Now that you know about various breeds, their strengths, and weaknesses, make a decision about what a day in the life of you and your dog will look like… and then pick the best match.

For example:

• I want my dog to curl up on the sofa with me while I read.
• I want my dog to learn loads of tricks to show off to my friends.
• I want my dog to keep me company on my trail runs or hikes.
• I want my dog to guard my house and my family.
• I want my dog to be a furry nanny to my child. 
• I want my dog to go with me everywhere as a constant companion.
• I want my dog to be a therapy dog bringing comfort and love to me and others. 
• I want my dog to…

There are countless “jobs” your dog can do for you…but you’ll be setting them and yourself up for failure if you’re not clear about your expectations. 

And if you don’t know what you want, then you won’t know how to choose the right breed for the job! 

 

3. Interview your dog first.

That may sound just as strange as writing a job description, but it’s a step you really shouldn’t skip.

In order to choose the right dog, it’s so important to spend time with them before you take them home. 

If you’re adopting a shelter dog, that will mean going for a few visits so you two can spend time together and interact – whether that means cuddling, playing fetch, or going for a brisk walk.

If you’re buying a puppy from a breeder you’ll know much more about the pedigree and personality of your future furbaby, but at least one meeting so you can share your energy together will be helpful. 

An unplanned meeting with the breeder is also a great idea, so you can see more of the truth about the breeder and how they handle their dogs that they may not want you to know. 

If you’re able, have a conversation with your pet to make sure you two will be a good fit. They have a great deal to say if you ask the right questions and know how to listen to their answers. 

If you don’t know how to communicate with animals, then 1) learn how now because knowing how to talk with your dog makes all the difference in the world in how quickly you bond and understand each other, and will help you work through problems together too, and/or 2) hire a professional animal communicator to do it for you. 

Who knows, maybe they don’t want the job…

Or, maybe they don’t feel a purpose with you. 

If that’s the case, then they’re the wrong dog. 

Be careful to choose the right dog: it’s a lifetime commitment for both of you.

A dog can bring endless joy into their human’s life. And their humans have to understand that once they’ve made that commitment, they will become their dog’s whole world.

Most dogs will live an average of ten years. Some large breeds have a shorter life, but there are small breeds that can reasonably be expected to be a treasured member of your family for 20+ years. Mixed breed dogs tend to live longer than purebreds, but it’s difficult for owners to predict…

Do your best to avoid getting swept up in the darling appeal of a cute furry face, a sweetly lolling tongue, and a curious wet nose at your local pet store. 

Pet store animals are typically gotten through unscrupulous breeders and puppy mills out to make a buck.  The dogs are often abused, kept in tiny cages, force bred, and are in ill health.  They can be very malnourished.  

Puppy mill dogs are often genetically flawed, and are untrained as well as unsocialized. If you get one of these dogs, then you encourage them to continue hurting more and more dogs.  And you’ll be facing the daunting task of training to overcome many problems healthy, naturally raised puppies won’t have. 

If you’re thinking about adding a dog to your family – whether that family is you and a cat or a loud household full of kids – do yourself, and your future dog, a kindness.  Do your research.  You’ll be glad you did! 

If you’d like to help learning how to communicate with all the animals currently in your life – as well as the ones you’re thinking of bringing into your life – contact us. 

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Want to learn more about your fluffy companions? Read these articles below: 

Adopting a Shelter Dog: 6 Ways to Bond

Pet Foods – Ranked From Great to Disastrous…

Cooking for Your Dog with Gayle Pruitt on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

 

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Why Should You Opt For A Dog Day Care And Boarding In Coquitlam?

Take your dogs to daycare or leave them at home?

Having a pet with a busy lifestyle means that you are barely able to make enough time for them. Dogs are social animals and need a lot of attention. Leaving them alone at home from over 8-12 hours can make them depressed, hence the concept of dog day care has become very popular. These facilities are specially designed to cater to your pet’s needs.

The daycare is a place where dogs can interact with other pets just like them and also get trained to ensure lots of exercises. If you are someone with a busy schedule and want your dog to be taken care of just the way you do it, dog day care can be a great choice. There are many other benefits of sending your dog to daycare and boarding. Some of them have been listed below.

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Gives Your Pet A Safe Space

Leaving the dog at home for a long time without supervision can be scary for most pet parents. Hence sending them to the dog day care means that they have a safe space with experienced caretakers who make sure that all the pet’s needs are taken care of. It also gives the owner peace of mind and does not make them worry about their dogs while they deal with their work or chores.

Keeps Them Active

Spending the days at daycare with fellow dogs helps keep your pet active and gives them proper exercise which they can not get at home. Also, the daycare has practice sessions for dogs to teach them new tricks which keeps them busy and occupied. These furry pets like routine, and once they get comfortable with their surroundings at the boarding facility, the routine will make them stay active and healthy.

Prevents Separation Anxiety and Boredom

Anxiety and boredom are two very common problems in dogs. Separation anxiety can lead the dogs to lash out and destroy things in the house. However, being in an open environment does not give them a chance to be lonely or anxious. Find out more about separation anxiety in dogs from this link: https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-ways-to-deal-with-a-dogs-separation-anxiety

Affordable and Convenient

A lot of people think that dog daycare is costly. However, this is not the case at all. Doggy daycare is relatively cheaper than hiring a one-on-one pet sitter for your animals. Also, the hours that you send your dog to the facility can be decided according to your need.

You can make your schedule and leave the dog with the trained staff whenever you want. If you do not want to bring your dog every day, many places give an option of bringing them once or twice a week and even lets you make last-minute bookings.

Gives The Dog A Chance To Socialize

Dogs are highly social creatures and being around other dogs and humans gives them a sense of satisfaction. Also, your dog will seek attention which you will not be able to provide him if you are extremely busy. However, at the daycare, they are given ample attention and love by the trained staff. Their brains are given enough stimulation to keep them busy and social with other animals.

It is, however, important to note that some dogs do not like to socialize much and can get irritated with the attention. Asking supervisors to keep an eye on your dog should be a safety precaution you should take. Click here to know whether doggy daycare is good for your pet.

 

Spending the day with fellow dogs in a happy environment can be very good for the dogs. Having a dog at home is pretty much like having a child and their happiness means the owner’s happiness. One of the things that you must keep in mind before sending your dog to the daycare or boarding house is their temperament with the other animals. Also, make sure that your dog is vaccinated and dewormed.

While choosing the daycare for your pet, make sure to read reviews online as well as try and visit them with your dog on an off day so that you can see them work with your pet in front of your eyes. With enough precaution and the right kind of daycare, you can happily leave your pet in a safe environment even if you have to work long hours.

Did you enjoy this article? Dog lovers might find these interesting, as well:

Dog Games: 10 Fun Ways to Learn & Bond for Puppy and Child

The Benefits of Leather Dog Collars

CBD Oil for Anxiety: Can it Calm your Anxious Dog?

 

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Buying a Birdhouse? Things that You Must Consider

5 Key Things to Remember When Buying a Birdhouse

Are you thinking about buying a birdhouse?

Whether your home is on a migratory path for goldfinches or you have nesting birds like wrens all year round, it’s always interesting to watch birds pass through your yard.

Not only do they add music to the airwaves, they help to control mosquitoes, flies and other pests, like slugs, that can damage your flower beds and vegetable garden.

So, how do you attract – and keep – birds in your yard?

There are natural and manmade ways to make your yard and home more attractive to birds. 

Here are some things to consider…

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Five ways to attract birds

Many birds will nest in trees and shrubs using sticks and grass they find nearby. But some birds, like wrens and swallows, are attracted to a more confined space.

So, here are 5 thing things to keep in mind:

1. Keep it natural.

It’s tempting to put up a decorative, colorful house that adds to your decor, but birds are looking for a quiet place to lay and hatch their eggs. Opt for natural wood and make your feathered friends feel at home.

2. Know your audience.

The size of the opening you have in your birdhouse will determine the species of bird you attract. If it’s too large, squirrels will think it’s a great nesting place and you’ll miss out on songbirds who might call your birdhouse a home.

3. Cater to your diners.

If you’re on a migratory path, the birds in your yard have some very specific dietary needs. Take the time to check with your local pet store and find out what the species in your area need to continue their journey.

This might include a suet feeder, black-oil sunflower or niger seed. If you have squirrels in your neighborhood make sure you have the proper guards on your feeder to keep them away.

4. Know which way the wind blows.

Birds will choose their nesting spots based on prevailing winds. They don’t want a cool breeze blowing in on their hatchlings, and crosswinds will impact the flight school for their chicks, so when you’re buying a birdhouse and hanging it in your yard, keep the wind direction in mind.

5. Make sure there’s airflow.

This is often overlooked. Be sure that when you’re buying a birdhouse it has proper ventilation. This includes slots on the bottom, and on the top if you have the house mounted under your eaves or in a tree.

Naturally, birds have an innate sense of what they need, and it’s important for you to try and create a welcoming atmosphere. 

You can attract certain species to your yard, but it will take time. Hanging up a niger feeder will attract one or two goldfinches at first, but word will get out and you’ll suddenly find you have a whole flock.

If you’re in an apartment you can hang up a hummingbird feeder on your balcony, or a small blackoil seed feeder. Guaranteed, songbirds will start to gather.

And, if you want to make your yard more bird-friendly, consider adding some shrubs and trees that provide shelter. Trees that bear fruit, like mulberry, cedar and ash are a huge draw for birds as they’re passing through your neighborhood. 

Remember that most birds are transient residents in your neighborhood. Like any guest, it’s ideal that you make the environment as welcoming as possible while they’re visiting. Keep their dietary needs in mind and enjoy the visit while you can.

Want to learn more about our flying, four footed and other friends? Check out these articles: 

Penguin Lady – From Tragedy to Triumph with Dyan DeNapoli on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show
Taking a Stand for Animal Intelligence Intuitive Pet Parents Unite
Things I’ve Learned As An Animal Whisperer

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Pet Foods – Ranked From Great to Disastrous…

By Dr. Karen Becker, DVM

Today’s Discussion Subject: Pet Foods

A subject readers here at HealthyPets and clients at my animal clinic are very interested in is the kind of food they should be feeding their dog or cat for good health. So by popular demand, today is a discussion of pet foods. Here are my recommendations for the best-to-worst diets you can feed your pet.

There are 13 categories on my list, and what you’re feeding will fall into one of them.

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Now, if the diet you’re serving your dog or cat happens to fall into one of the lower quality categories, I don’t want you to beat yourself up about it.

As a general rule, people who are feeding their pets a lesser quality diet are doing so either because they can’t afford a better food – or they simply don’t know what constitutes good nutrition for their pet.

If you discover your furry buddy is eating from the lower half of the list, set a goal to feed a better quality food now that you know the difference, or when you can afford a more nutritious brand.

Again, everyone’s pet food of choice can be found in one of these categories. I encourage you to figure out where the diet you’re serving right now falls in the list.  Then you can strive for improvement by feeding more nourishing, species-appropriate food.

Food Can Either Heal or Harm

As a proactive veterinarian interested in sustaining the natural good health of my pet patients, I always encourage pet owners to evaluate their animal’s diet, because food is the foundation upon which good or ill health is built.

It’s important to understand that food has the ability to heal or harm your pet, depending on the type and quality of nutrition you provide.

The first factor you should evaluate is the species-appropriateness of what your dog or cat is eating.

A species-appropriate diet contains lots of good quality protein as well as moisture. The protein is necessary because both dogs and cats are carnivores.

High moisture content is required in order to prevent organ dysfunction, including kidney failure. Dogs and cats are designed to eat food that is about 70 percent moisture, which is what a diet of mice and rabbits would provide if your pet hunted his own food.

If you feed your pet dry food only, he’s getting only about 12 percent moisture instead of the 70 percent his body demands. This is especially unhealthy for cats, because they don’t supplement their moisture intake by drinking large amounts of water like dogs do.

Pets on dry food diets (kibble or pelleted) live in a state of chronic, mild dehydration that over time can cause significant stress to their organs.

Species-appropriate nutrition does not contain much starch, also known as grains or carbohydrates. Corn, wheat, rice and soy are found in most commercial processed pet foods, but your dog or cat has no biological need for them.

I recommend you follow the laws of nature when it comes to your pet’s diet, which is to feed everything his body needs and eliminate ingredients that provide no nourishment.

In addition to the species-appropriateness of your pet’s diet, it also needs to be balanced. By balanced I mean food that contains all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your dog or cat needs.

This isn’t something you can guess at – it should be guaranteed through testing.

Nutritional balance is vitally important because deficiencies will develop much faster in your dog or cat than they will in you. A poorly nourished puppy or kitten can end up with obvious signs of skeletal problems and organ degeneration before she’s six months old.

An older animal can develop life-threatening organ degeneration, among many other not-so-obvious symptoms, over a one to three year period of eating an unbalanced, nutrient-deficient diet.

 

The List of Best-to-Worst Foods

A Balanced, Raw, Homemade Diet

It is the best food you can feed your dog or cat. It will be nutritionally balanced because you’re following recipes like those found in the cookbook I co-authored, Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats.

Raw means the food is unadulterated and still contains all the enzymes and nutrients that are typically destroyed during cooking or other types of processing.

Homemade is the best option because you are in complete control of the quality of ingredients in your pet’s diet.

I recommend pets get plenty of nutritional variety, and another great thing about serving homemade is you can buy seasonal fruits and veggies on sale, as well as protein sources (meats), and use them in rotation.

Commercially Available Raw Diet

It’s the next best thing you can feed your pet. This is a raw food diet that someone else has done the heavy lifting to prepare.

It’s important that the diet is balanced. You should be aware that there are raw food pet diets entering the market that are not yet proven to be nutritionally complete. These foods often say “For supplementation or intermittent feeding” on the label.

You’ll know if the raw food you’ve selected is balanced because it will say it right on the packaging: “This food has been proven to be nutritionally complete or adequate for all life stages.”

At the present time, these diets are found only in the freezer section of small/privately owned or upscale pet boutiques.  They are not yet in the big box pet stores. You can also find a selection online.

Cooked, balanced homemade diet.

It’s the same diet found in number 1, above, except that it’s cooked. This means some of the nutrient composition has been diminished through processing.

Human-grade canned food.

If the label doesn’t say the ingredients are human grade, they’re not. Pet food made with human-grade ingredients is also a great deal more expensive. That’s another way to tell what you’re getting.

This type of diet is the most expensive you can feed your pet. What I tell my clients is, “If you have more money than time, you can purchase human-grade canned food for your dog or cat. But if you have more time than money, I recommend you make a balanced, homemade diet right in your own kitchen for a fraction of the cost.”

1. 1. Human-grade dry food. As I discussed earlier, dry food is not as species-appropriate as a moisture-dense diet. Human grade is very important because the food is approved, in theory, for human consumption. This means it doesn’t contain low quality rendered by-products.
   2. Super premium canned food which can be found at big box pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart.
   3. Super premium dry food.
   4. Veterinary-recommended canned food. Vet recommended canned foods are purchased at your vet’s office or clinic. Typical brands are Science Diet, the Purina veterinary lines, Royal Canin and Waltham.
   5. Veterinary-recommended dry food.
   6. Grocery store brand canned food.
   7. Grocery store brand dry food.
   8.  Semi-moist pouched food.
   9.  Top 20 best Puppy Foods

The reason this type of pet food is so far down the list is because in order for the food to remain “semi-moist,” an ingredient called propylene glycol is added. This is a scary preservative that is a second cousin to ethylene glycol, which is antifreeze. And while propylene glycol is approved for use in pet foods, it is unhealthy for dogs and cats. I do not recommend feeding any food that contains this additive.

Dead Last on the List: Unbalanced, Homemade Diet – Raw or Cooked

The worst thing you can feed your pet is an unbalanced, homemade diet – raw or cooked. I’m seeing an increasing number of misguided pet owners in my practice who think they’re doing the right thing by serving their pet, say, a chicken breast and some veggies and calling it a day.

Yes, the food is homemade, but it’s nutritionally unbalanced. Pets being fed this way are showing up at my clinic with endocrine abnormalities, skeletal issues and organ degeneration.  This is caused by deficiencies in calcium, trace minerals and omega fatty acids due to diet.

From Worst to Best in a Heartbeat

For those of you who now know you’re feeding your pet an unbalanced, homemade diet, there’s an extremely quick and easy way to soar to the top of the list.

All you need to do is add ingredients to balance out the nutrition in the diet you’re already serving. This is a fast, simple fix you can apply to turn an unbalanced homemade diet into a balanced one.

So there you have it – the entire list of my recommendations for best-to-worst pet diets.

If your pet’s food is on the lower half of the list, set a goal to work toward the top.

If you’re already at the top end of the list, congratulations! You’re doing the best thing possible by providing species-appropriate nutrition for the animals in your care

If you would like to learn more about making homemade meals for your pets, my recipe book is available here

Dr. Becker is the resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian of HealthyPets.Mercola.com. You can learn holistic ways of preventing illness in your pets by subscribing to MercolaHealthyPets.com, an online resource for animal lovers. For more pet care tips, subscribe for FREE to Mercola Healthy Pet Newsletter.

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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you:

Cooking for Your Dog with Gayle Pruitt on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

First-Time Dog Owner Guide: Health and Nutrition

All about Pet Food

 

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

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source https://valheart.com/pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous/

Penguin Lady – From Tragedy to Triumph with Dyan DeNapoli on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show

Welcome to the Real Dr. Doolittle Show!

Dyan deNapoli is a penguin expert and author of  The Great Penguin Rescue, which chronicles the remarkable rescue of 40,000 penguins from the Treasure oil spill in South Africa.

She was a member of the first team of penguin specialists to fly to Cape Town from the US to train and supervise more than 12,000 dedicated volunteers who saved the oiled penguins from certain death.

via GIPHY

Dyan also helped manage the penguin colony at Boston’s New England Aquarium for nine years and now, as The Penguin Lady, she lectures internationally about penguin biology and conservation. To date, she has taught approximately 250,000 people about these charismatic seabirds. Dyan has been the featured penguin expert on several television and radio shows, and on nature cruises to the Antarctic and the Galapagos Islands. She donates 20% of the proceeds from her book and from every public appearance to penguin rescue groups.

Join us as we talk about the Treasure oil spill and the rescue efforts that Dyan deNapoli worked on. Learn more about what is happening around the world in efforts to help conserve some of the endangered penguin species, especially the 13 out of 18 species that are now on the endangered list.

I asked, and Dyan answered…

• What caused the Treasure oil spill?
• What was the most challenging part of this rescue?  The most rewarding aspect?
• How did you come to be involved in this rescue effort?
• How successful was this rescue effort, and did the birds survive after being released?
• What has happened to the rescued penguins in the ten years since the Treasure oil spill?
• In what ways does oiling harm penguins?
• How does one clean and rehabilitate an oiled penguin?
• Did you go to the Gulf of Mexico to help out after the BP oil spill?
• What is the current forecast for penguins worldwide?

Dyan encourages animal lovers to donate to their penguin charity of choice. Charities supporting penguin rescue and care may be found on her website, www.thepenguinlady.com

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Do you want to Learn How to Communicate with Penguins and other animals? Get my free Ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets!

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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you’ll love too:

Animal healing: helping an aging dog express her needs.

My Adventures with Wildlife Rescue

Talk to Animals and Watch the Amazing Results! How Animal Communication Saved the Lives of 49 Fawns

The post Penguin Lady – From Tragedy to Triumph with Dyan DeNapoli on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/penguin-lady-from-tragedy-to-triumph-with-dyan-denapoli-on-the-real-dr-doolittle-show/