3 Simple Ways to Improve Dry Kibble

Dry kibble is often the convenient food choice for dog owners. However, kibble isn’t always as healthy as the commercials lead us to believe. What if there was an easy and inexpensive way to make your pet’s kibble more tail-wagging exciting?

  1. Add a splash of water
  2. Add fresh food: green beans, broccoli, carrots (grated) blueberries, watermelon, leafy greens, etc.
  3. Add quality canned or freeze-dried food

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Lick mats are an effective tool to help pets that struggle with anxiety. At NorthPoint, we’re frequently asked about lick mat fillers. Here are our top suggestions for lick mat fillers!

5 Tips to Make the Most of Your Vet Visit

Visiting the veterinarian can sometimes be an overwhelming experience for both pet owners and their pets. However, with a little preparation and a proactive approach, you can ensure that you make the most out of your vet visit. Here are some valuable tips to help you navigate your vet visit with confidence and get the best possible care for your beloved pet.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Vet VisitMake the most of your vet appointment

  1. Prepare Your Questions: Before your visit, take a few minutes to jot down any concerns or questions you have about your pet’s health. By writing them down, you’ll avoid forgetting important details during the appointment. This will also help you to ensure that all your queries are addressed by the veterinarian, ensuring a productive discussion.
  2. Request Copies of Vet Records: To maintain a comprehensive record of your pet’s health, ask the veterinarian to provide you with copies of their physical examination findings, laboratory test results, and any other relevant records. Having these documents at hand can be beneficial for future reference and can aid in tracking your pet’s progress over time.
  3. Seek Explanation and Clarification: While receiving the vet records is important, it’s equally crucial to have the veterinarian explain the physical examination findings, lab tests, and any recommended new medications, supplements, or diets. Understanding the rationale behind these recommendations will help you make informed decisions regarding your pet’s healthcare and overall well-being.
  4. Take Notes: During the appointment, it’s helpful to take notes on the veterinarian’s explanations, treatment plans, and any other important details. This will serve as a useful reference later on, especially if you need to discuss your pet’s condition with family members or caregivers or if you require clarification on any instructions.
  5. Discuss Long-Term Care: In addition to addressing immediate concerns, use the vet visit as an opportunity to discuss your pet’s long-term care. Ask about preventive measures such as vaccinations, parasite control, and regular check-ups. This proactive approach will help you stay ahead of potential health issues and ensure your pet leads a happy, healthy life.

Preparation is Proactive

Remember, effective communication with your veterinarian is key to optimizing your pet’s healthcare. By preparing questions, obtaining and understanding vet records, and actively participating in the discussion, you can make the best of your vet visit. This proactive approach will not only foster a stronger bond between you and your veterinarian but also empower you to provide the best care for your furry friend. So, the next time you visit the vet, go prepared, stay informed, and make the most of the opportunity to ensure your pet’s well-being with these simple tips.

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We can’t wait to get outside with warm weather right around the corner. But the warm weather also means ticks, fleas, and other pests are out. When it comes to avoiding ticks, harsh pesticide products may not be best for your pet. Instead, here are our best tips to avoid bringing those pesky hitchhikers home with you.

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3 Quick Ways to Improve Dry Kibble

We all want the best for our pets, and one crucial aspect of their well-being is a nutritious diet. While dry kibble forms the foundation of many pets’ meals, there are simple yet effective ways to enhance its nutritional value. In this blog, we’ll explore three easy ways to improve a bowl of dry kibble. These enhancements not only enhance the taste but also provide numerous health benefits for your beloved companion.

Simple Additions for Any Meal

  1. improving bowl of dry kibble

    Goat milk is another fantastic way to add hydration.

    Add a Splash of Water: Dry kibble can be dehydrating for our pets, making it essential to increase their moisture intake. By adding a splash of water to your pet’s food, you’re not only improving its palatability but also aiding digestion and promoting hydration. Adequate hydration supports optimal organ function, aids in nutrient absorption, and helps maintain healthy skin and coat. Goat milk and bone broth are also fantastic ways to boost hydration. It’s a simple yet effective way to ensure your cat or dog stays well-hydrated throughout the day.

  2. Add Fresh Food: Incorporating fresh food into your dog’s kibble provides a wealth of nutritional benefits. Vegetables like green beans, broccoli, grated carrots, leafy greens, and fruits such as blueberries and watermelon are excellent choices. These additions offer essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health, boost the immune system, and contribute to healthy aging. Fresh foods also provide natural dietary fiber, aiding digestion and promoting a healthy weight management for your dog.
  3. Add Quality Canned or Freeze-Dried Food: Supplementing dry kibble with high-quality canned or freeze-dried food offers a variety of benefits. These options often contain a higher moisture content, providing additional hydration for your pet. Moreover, they tend to have a richer flavor, enticing even the pickiest eaters. Canned or freeze-dried foods are typically made with quality ingredients, offering a balanced blend of proteins, healthy fats, and beneficial nutrients. They can enhance the taste, texture, and overall nutritional profile of your dog’s meal.

A Simple Way to Promote Overall Health

By incorporating these simple improvements, you can transform your pet’s dry kibble into a more enticing and nutritious meal. Remember, consult with your veterinarian to ensure any dietary changes align with your pet’s specific needs and health conditions. With these easy enhancements, you’re taking proactive steps towards providing your pet with a well-rounded and satisfying diet that promotes their health, happiness, and longevity.

5 Ways to Engage your Cat with a Busy Schedule

 

Understanding the natural rhythm of a cat’s activities is key to promoting their overall health and well-being. Cats have evolved to follow a cycle centered around “the hunt,” which influences their metabolism, hunger, digestion, grooming, and sleep patterns. In this blog, we delve into the importance of this instinctual behavior and how it impacts your cat’s physical and mental health, as well as explore practical ways to incorporate the hunt into their daily routine, even for busy cat owners.

Cats have evolved to keep a rhythm of activities that keep their metabolism in check. This sequence affects every part of their daily metabolic processes, ranging from their hunger and digestion to their grooming and sleep cycles. Let’s take a look at how this rhythm impacts their daily health.

The Importance of ‘The Hunt’

Think about how a lioness lives in the wild: She sleeps during the midday hours. When she’s not sleeping, she spends most of her time hunting her next meal; roaming her territory in search of prey, then stalks, pounces, and catches it. After she eats, she grooms herself and goes back to sleep. And while you may not have a wild lioness sleeping in your home, your feline’s entire physiology is still optimized to run this cycle centered around the hunt.

How does this affect my cat?How to engage cat in play for health

Unlike a lioness, household cats do not have to hunt several times a day and often have access to food 24/7. It’s no wonder then, why roughly 60% of cats in the U.S. are obese1. While diet and nutrition play an integral role in that statistic, daily activity levels (or lack thereof) also contribute to this epidemic. Here’s why:

  1. Exercise from play time (the hunt) increases the metabolic rate. Without adequate exercise, the body doesn’t burn as much energy as it consumes, resulting in excess fat. Extra weight of course puts strain on the joints, leading to decreased mobility and even less exercise.
  2. Lack of positive interaction/activity can lead to destructive and unwanted behaviors. Just like humans, a cat’s mental health can benefit from regular exercise and socialization. Cats who are generally mischievous or destructive, disinterested, unsocial, grouchy, or fearful can benefit greatly from play sessions.
  3. Exercising the mind and body can reduce stress for your cat as much as it does for you. We can all benefit from stress relief! Not to mention that interactive play is a wonderful, effective way to bond with your cat.

How can I apply this to my cats when I work all day?

There are several ways that you can improve your cat’s mental and physical health – even when you work a 9 to 5! Here are some easy changes you can make, even with a busy schedule:

  1. Stop free-feeding (leaving food out all day). A cat’s digestive system and the entire metabolic process are triggered at the sight and smell of food. Leaving food out all day means your cat’s digestive system is constantly in production mode, which can lead to numerous health issues including obesity, diabetes and IBD.
  2. Increase meal frequency. Cats thrive on frequent small meals each day instead of one or two large meals. Feed as soon as you wake, when you get home from work, and again right before bed. This does not mean to feed more food, but rather to divide your feeding measurement into more, smaller meals. This closely mimics their meals if they were hunting. Doing so will ease digestion and speed metabolism.
  3. Have a short play session before mealtime. Engage your cat in a 2-minute game with a laser dot or wand toy before you feed her. This activity engages her mind and taps into her instinctual behavior to hunt and kill her prey.
  4. Regularly engage your cat in short play sessions, especially in the evening before bed. This not only gets her some much-needed exercise to burn energy, but also benefits her mental health through interaction and socialization. This is particularly important if your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn. A tired kitty will want to sleep later!

An Important Best Practice

Always give your cat a treat after playtime. If we’re thinking of a play session as “the hunt”, then it’s important to allow your cat to catch and eat what it was hunting. Otherwise, why bother hunting at all, right? Find some treats that your cat goes bananas for, and after a few minutes of chasing the red dot, give verbal praise and offer the treat This is exceptionally important for your cat’s mental health, as hunting repetitively without a successful kill can be very discouraging.

REFERENCE:

https://petobesityprevention.org/2018

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