The fall is here and the season for baking, cooking and maybe even relaxing in front of a fireplace is upon us. Most cookies are not healthy for our pets in particular when they are covered with chocolate. But luckily. there are numerous homemade treats which are in line with healthy diet protocols for our pets.
 
Let’s explore some fun homemade treats for our pets:

Do you make treat for your pet? Share your recipes, we would love to try them.

*Disclaimer:  All recipes are purely informational, we do not guarantee that your pet will like them or that they will be agreeable with them. You know your pet the best. Please do your own research to see if the ingredients stated in the recipes are suitable for your pet. Consult with your pet's veterinarian if you are unsure about the ingredients listed above. Enjoy the holiday season.

​Do pets have allergies, and what to do about it?

Humans suffering from allergies may have a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, itchy eyes and skin. Pets also suffer from various allergies, as humans do.Pets can show a variety of different symptoms. Signs of Food allergies can be anything from chronic ear inflammation, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic diarrhea to chronic gas, licking of their feet, or itching of body parts.

For humans, the end of fall is considered often an end to the allergy problems, but when it comes to pets, their problems associated with allergies can be all year-round.

WHAT CAUSES ALLERGIES IN PETS?
Allergies are considered the body's immune response to foreign proteins and are common in pets and humans.  Pets can suffer from an allergy when their immune system overreacts to foreign material such as dust, pollen, insect bite, or a specific food protein. Resultantly, a large amount of histamine and white blood cells are produced in the body, resulting in what is seen as symptoms of allergy.
 
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGY?
If you are a pet owner, you might have seen your pet itching and rubbing its body against hard objects.
The symptoms that usually appear in pets as a result of allergies are sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, ear infections, itching of skin.
In dogs, the most common sign of allergies is excessive itching on the overall body, including ears. In some dogs, only licking a specific part of their body is an indicator of allergy.

FOOD ALLERGIES IN PETS:
The most common allergens in dogs are beef, diary, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit and fist. Most dogs are allergic to more than one item. Looking at this list, you may ask yourself: where to start to find the culprits? You can try to change the food to see if there is some change. That approach can take a long time to get results. This hit and trial method usually takes months to see the results.

There are hypoallergenic foods commercially available for pets. These foods are free from those allergy causing ingredients. Most of the time, they are free from beef, dairy, wheat and grains. You need to patient; it can take approximately up to 30 days to see any improvement in your dog’s skin.
 
There is another way, it is not inexpensive but there is a saliva-based food sensitivity and intolerance test kit you can order. You can swap your pets mouths and send the cotton swap back to the company. There are test kits available for dogs, cats and horses and they test for the common allergens.

ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED ALLERGIES:
Environmental allergies are usually found more often among dogs than in cats. The allergies often show up when the dogs are between 1 year and 3 years. Like with humans, the allergy is a reaction of the dog’s immune system to a substance in his surroundings.  The environmental pollutants can be grass, mites, mold, fleas and pollen just to name a few. These allergens can be seasonal or irritate your pup all year around.
 
Unfortunately, some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to allergies and more prone to express symptoms. Breeds like Retrievers, Terriers, Boxers, Dalmatians, Bulldogs, Shepherds, Beagles and Irish Setters are more prone to environmental allergies.
Your pup may show some common symptoms while his body tries to deal with the bothersome allergens. These symptoms are usually skin-related ones and are a result of atopic dermatitis (atopy). which is skin inflammation and extreme itchiness. Dogs may seek relieve from these uncomfortable symptoms by excessive chewing, biting and licking. These actions can result in hair loss or open wounds which can get infected if no treatment is given.
The areas commonly affected are the feet between the toes, wrists, ears, flanks, around the eyes and groins

​HOW TO TREAT YOUR PET TO AVOID SECONDARY INFECTIONS?
Consult with your pet’s veterinarian. He may suggest given your pet antibiotics to prevent secondary infections due to excessive itching of the pet's skin resulting from allergies.
Using medicated shampoos will help keep the overall skin health better and can help prevent the case from worsening.
 
We hope that your pet does not suffer of any allergies but if you have any advice to give our readers; we would be happy to hear from you.

Disclaimer: Information given in this blog is just for entertainment purposes and does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as that. Please see a veterinarian for any pet related health issues.
​

WHY DO CATS PURR?

      
I have a question for all your cat lovers out there… Did you ever ask yourself why the purr of a cat has such an effect on humans?  How great is it to come home after a long day and have some special cuddle time with your furry purr machine? Doesn’t the stress of your day melt away while your cat is curled up and purring on your lap? This purring sound seems like a tale-telling sound that is unique to cats.

We know that cats make other sounds like meowing, chattering, growling, and hissing, but why do cats purr. Let’s explore why cats produce purring sound and what it means for them and us humans?
 
Do purring sounds indicate a happy cat?
 
Cats purr when they feel relaxed in an environment and are calm. It is a common perception that cats purr when they feel contented and happy, but this is not always the case. Cats may also produce purring sounds to express other needs and communicate when they are frightened, injured, or hungry. For example, if you pick your cat up, she can produce a purring sound for two reasons, whether she feels nervous or she may like it.
 
Cats start purring, and hearing purring, from infancy. Mother cats purr to lead their kittens—which are blind and deaf when they’re born—to them for food and warmth. In turn, vets believe, kittens purr to show they’re OK and help them bond with mama cat

Five reasons your cat may purr: 
 
Your cat may be happy
Purring, along with other body gestures, is indicative of a happy mood in cats. If your cat has a still tail, half eyes are closed, and the cat looks relaxed, you can assume that your cat is in a pleasant mood.

Your cat may be hungry 
If the cat produces a combined sound of purring with meowing, and also it's a mealtime, you can assume that your cat is demanding food and is hungry.

Motherly instinct 
Cats hear purring from infancy. Mother cats purr to communicate and guide their newborn kittens. Kittens are blind and deaf when they’re born. The vibration of the purr leads them to their mother and to food and warmth. Kittens purr in return to show their mama cat that they’re Okay and it helps them bond.
 
Symbol of relief
When cats are hurt or in pain, they can produce purring sounds similar to human babies, which may suck their thumb to soothe themselves if getting hurt.

Purring aids in healing
Many experts believe that the purr of a cat helps a cat to heal at a faster rate. Purring produces vibrations in the body, increasing bones and wounds' healing speed, repair tendons, breathing easier, and decreasing the swelling and pain.
 
 

  
The effect purring has on humans:
Owning a cat is a stress reliever for humans, not only due to their cute looks and soft fur but also due to the positive effects their purring has on us. A domestic cats purr at a frequency of 18 to 20 Hz. This frequency range falls within a therapeutic sound range that loosens nerves and brings a feeling of ease.
 
Cat owners are usually less prone to increased blood pressure than non-cat owners, and it is claimed that sitting next to a purring cat helps ease migraines.
Did you know that studies have shown that the purr of a cat can help build up bone strength and supports the healing of the fracture? It is believed that the frequency between 25 to 50 Hz promotes bone strength. The purr of a cat reaches 20 Hz which is not quite 25 Hz but it comes close which supposedly is enough to promote bone healing
That’s not all! The study at the University of Minnesota compared 4,435 Americans aged 30 to 75 and found that non-feline fans were 40 percent more likely to have a heart attack.

Do all cats purr?
 
Interestingly, the scientific community is divided. Some biologist believes that any big cat that can roar such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars cannot purr.  This is based on the believe that the physical traits (a length of tough cartilage runs up the hyoid bones to the skull) that allows the roaring sound precludes the ability to produce a purr. Others believe that they are able to do both, roar and purr. I personally have not come close enough to any roaring cat to confirm their ability to purr. There is no disagreement that other large wild cats, such as Cheetah, Bobcat, Puma, and mountain lions purr but they don’t roar.
 
Let us know if you ever heard a purr from a large roaring cat and share a purr-tastic story with you!!! We would love to hear from you.
 
 
In the meantime, enjoy the relaxing sound and healing vibrations of your cat.