santé et bien-être
How To Help A Dog With Gas
If you’ve got a furry friend at home, you’ve probably experienced the awful stench that can come from being gassy! So, we’re here to help, starting with explaining some common reasons why your four-legged friend is suffering from flatulence, and how you can help! What Causes A Gassy Pup? Some common causes of flatulence in our canine friends can be: Eating too quickly and swallowing too much air Sudden change in diet Food allergies Obesity Underlying health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal parasites (these are usually accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, or lethargy) Ways To Help A Gassy Dog If your dog is eating too fast, it can be helpful to buy a slow-feed food bowl that will force your pup to slow down. If you feed kibble or freeze-dried food, you can also try sprinkling their food into a rolled-up towel or other similar enrichment idea to slow them down. If you just recently changed your dog’s diet, or he/she got into something they don’t normally eat, it can cause some short-term gas problems. However, if flatulence has been an issue for quite some time, it may be worth switching up your dog’s food. Lastly, it’s important to check in with your vet to rule out other issues such as parasites or other gastrointestinal issues, and to make sure your dog’s weight is in a healthy range! Dog-Safe Home Remedies If your vet has given you the all-clear, you may want to look at adding in some DIY home remedies to help your gassy pal! Here are some of our top foods to help calm your pet’s tummy. Parsley, which can be added to their diet in dried, fresh, or essential oil form Foods that are high in enzymes such as papaya, melon, raw honey, or coconut water. Make sure to remove the seeds from papayas or melon first! Ginger can also help with an upset tummy Yogurt to add probiotics, but start small! Some dogs are quite sensitive to dairy Peppermint oil Fennel, dried or fresh Also you can add in healthybud’s Gut Booster as a treat or crumbled on your pup’s meal! This powerful formula features some of the enzyme-rich foods mentioned above (papaya and ginger root, to name two!) and also includes a prebiotic blend. A gassy stomach can be troubling for owners and dogs alike, since excessive gas can cause discomfort for our pup. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is not meant to replace your vet's advice or prescribed medications, but only to suggest additional options to explore, based on your dog's condition.
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Are Essential Oils Toxic To Pets?
Essential oils are more popular than ever in the human health space these days, so it’s no surprise that pet parents are curious about their effects on animals too. But did you know that many oils can be harmful to our four-legged friends? Keep reading to find out which essential oils are considered safe, and most importantly, which are not… Oils That Are Harmful To Dogs Include (But Are Not Limited To) Cinnamon Citrus (d-limonene) Pennyroyal Peppermint Pine Sweet birch Tea tree (melaleuca) Wintergreen Ylang ylang Anise Clove Thyme Juniper Yarrow Garlic Oils That Are Harmful To Cats Include (But Are Not Limited To) Wintergreen Sweet birch Citrus (d-limonene) Pine Ylang ylang Peppermint Cinnamon Pennyroyal Clove Eucalyptus Tea tree (melaleuca) Thyme Oregano Lavender Symptoms Of Essential Oil Poisoning Include Difficulty breathing Drooling Fatigue Weakness Difficulty walking or stumbling Muscle tremors Pawing at the mouth or face Redness or burns on their lips, tongue, skin or gums Vomiting If you believe your furry friend has come into contact with a harmful essential oil (topically or orally), the key is to act fast. Call your veterinarian, or contact the Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680. * Keep in mind that cats and dogs are much more sensitive to scents – a dog’s sense of smell is somewhere between 1,000-10,000 times better than ours! What we may think is a mild scent is most likely overpowering to our companion animals. Even though the essential oil you’re using may not be toxic to a pet, it could definitely be overwhelming for them. Some Science Behind The Oils Essential oils are typically extracted from plants. They carry a powerful fragrance (or “essence”) of that plant. The oil’s molecules are highly reactive with the compounds in our own bodies, and in pets’ bodies as well. (If they didn’t react with our bodies, they wouldn’t have any therapeutic effect.) This is also why many essential oils and animals do not mix because their powerful reactions can mess up a pet’s natural body chemistry. Essential oils are typically advertised as natural remedies or even alternatives to traditional medicine, treating everything from skin conditions to anxiety. But remember that ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe. Also, essential oils are commonly included in natural cleaning products, so make sure to always read the labels before bringing products into your home that your bud can come into contact with! IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is not meant to replace your vet’s advice or prescribed medications, but only to suggest additional options to explore, based on your dog’s condition.
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Halloween Health Special
It’s spooky szn, y’all. #happyhowloweenie Lights and decorations, costumes and masks, a constant parade of strangers at the door. Halloween can be a downright spooky experience for our pets with risks of poisoning, intestinal blockage and lost pets! Not to mention, Halloween 2020 (quarantine edition) is suspected to draw more participation from our furry friends since the party is at home this year. Chewy and Amazon Prime couples costumes, amirite?! Potential Halloween Concerns Poisoning: Ingestion of glow sticks or Halloween candy containing chocolate or xylitol, both of which are toxic for pets. Intestinal blockage: Glow sticks, some candies, decorations or costume accessories can cause an intestinal obstruction potentially requiring surgery! Injury: Lit candles or jack-o-lanterns can cause a burn (or a fire). Stress and escape: Loud unfamiliar noises, strangers in costumes, incessant door ringing and continuous opening and closing of the door can stress your pets and present an opportunity to escape. Prevention Tips Just tell your vet if your pup got into your candy stash. It’s easier and quicker to treat a known culprit! Don’t feed Halloween candy to your pets! Never leave your pet unsupervised with accessible candy or decorations or while they are in a costume. Identify your pet with a registered microchip, collar and ID tag. Keep lit candles, jack-o-lanterns, glow sticks and other decorations out of reach of (fur)kids! Provide a quiet, safe hiding place inside and away from commotion for your pet to retreat to voluntarily? 🧘🏽♀️ Raise your paw for an Enya playlist, a warm Tempur-Pedic, an Adaptil plug-in (Feliway for my cool cats)! Make Sure Pet Costumes Fit properly. ✔️ Have no pieces that can easily be easily detached or chewed off. ⚙️ Don’t hinder sight, hearing, breathing (yes, I’m talking to you, Frenchies!), opening of the mouth, or movement. Keep In Mind ☠️In case of an animal-related toxicity, please contact your nearest emergency veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-426-4435. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is not meant to replace your vet’s advice or prescribed medications, but only to suggest additional options to explore, based on your dog’s condition.
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How To Clip Your Dog's Nails
Nail cutting can be a stressful experience as it’s most likely not the most enjoyable of activities for your pup. But, it’s definitely important for their well-being and comfort. Why Should You Cut Your Dog’s Nails? Long toenails can cause pain in your dog's feet. Upon contact with a hard ground, the nails get pushed back up into the nail bed. This either puts pressure on all toe joints or forces the toe to twist to the side. This can compromise your dog’s weight distribution and natural alignment, leaving them more susceptible to injuries. Also, long nails are more likely to get torn or split, which is painful and may end up requiring a vet’s attention. Here Are The Steps To Proper Trimming STEP 1: Prepare The Tools Dog nail clippers (scissor clippers or guillotine) Guillotine nail clippers are preferred for smaller dogs with thinner nails (most guillotine clippers aren’t quick powerful enough to cut a large dog’s thicker nails) Scissor clippers consist of two blades that come together and cut off your dog’s nail. The squeezable handle allows for more force, making these clippers better for thicker nails on large dogs. Scissors (to cut the hair around the toes) Nail File / Grinder Styptic powder (in case you clip too close to the quick and blood is released) STEP 2: Get Your Pup Comfy Sit next to your dog and start to handle their paws, giving treats and praise along the way. Show your dog the clippers, letting him sniff around. Eventually start squeezing the clippers (without clipping any nail), all with treats and encouragement. This can be a slow process if your dog is nervous. Wait until your dog is comfortable with the clippers before proceeding. Step 3: Define The Cutting Range Be extra cautious when defining the cutting range, because the nails are supplied with blood and a clip too deep could lead to pain and bleeding. It's easier to define the right cutting range if your dog has clear or light-colored nails. Use a flashlight to help identify the blood supply area. The perfect cutting range is usually right before the quick (aka the vein). STEP 4: Let's Get Trimming! Cut in small increments, keeping in mind to ensure your dog is comfortable by rewarding him every so often. If using the scissor-type nail cutter, cut at a right angle to the toenail. If using the guillotine, cut a very small portion of the nail to start. Once you get into the habit of cutting your pup’s nails, the quick will begin to shrink back, making it easier to cut more nail. Place the nail cutter around your dog’s nail, with the solid plate facing your dog. Cut down in one swift, solid movement. Then, move on to the next nail! Help! I Cut The Quick! First, don't panic! That will only make your pup nervous. (And don't feel too bad, it happens! Even professional groomers cut into the quick from time to time by mistake) His nail should stop bleeding after 4-6 minutes, or use styptic powder to stop the bleeding immediately. If however, it doesn't stop after 15 minutes, contact your vet. STEP 5: File The Nail Edges Use the dog nail grinder to smooth out your pup's nails so that they don’t get caught in clothes, bedding or toys. Snagged nails can tear and be very painful, so don’t skip this step! Helpful Tips Keep treats handy to make the experience more pleasant Trim nails in a well-lit room If your dog is very stressed, start with one paw as opposed to doing both in one sitting Clipping your dog’s nails once or twice a month is a reasonable frequency to maintain the nails at a healthy length Don’t forget to cut the dew claw! (on the inner side of the paw) If this one gets too long, it starts to grow into the toe pad which is painful Keep In Mind Unattended nails create a vicious cycle: long nails coming into contact with the paws are painful, resulting in them wanting to avoid having them touched, leading to unpleasant nail-cutting sessions (and maybe you putting it off, letting the nails grow even longer before the next attempt). If you're nervous about cutting your dog’s nails yourself, or your pup is too fidgety, take them to the groomer to get the job done professionally. Final Thoughts Finally, if you are nervous about cutting your dog’s nails yourself, or your pup is too fidgety, take them to the groomer to get the job done professionally.
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Top 5 Wellness Tips For Dogs
October is Pet Wellness month and since our goal at Healthybud is to help our pets thrive through natural ingredients, pet wellness is a huge focus for us! We’ve compiled our top 5 ways to incorporate wellness in your pet’s life. Check them out below! 1. You Are What You Eat! Nutrition is the core of your dog’s health! It’s the building block for wellness, and that’s one of the reasons we focus so much on including superfoods & unique ingredients in all our products. Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants all contribute to a healthy immune system, which is what helps fight off illness. A healthy digestive tract is also necessary for proper absorption of vitamins and minerals, so gut health is key! 2. Weight Matters When our pets are overweight, it puts unnecessary stress on their joints. It can be hard not to overfeed your pup, but keeping them lean is really the kindest thing for them! Not only can pet obesity lead to joint problems, it can also contribute to diabetes, Cushing’s disease, heart failure, decreased energy, cancers, and more. Treats should not equal more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet, and remember - not all treats are created equal! Look carefully at the ingredients included, and whether they provide health benefits to your pup. 3. Regular Checkups Are Necessary We’re advised to see our doctor once a year for an annual checkup, and the same applies to our pets! It is, in fact, even more important for our animals since they age much faster than us. It’s actually recommended that dogs & cats see a vet twice a year because of this. Regular exams allow for a good baseline of what is normal for your dog when they are feeling well and in good health, so issues can be spotted quicker should they develop. Your vet can also recommend preventative treatments to help keep your pup healthy for many years! 4. Dental Health Affects Overall Health Poor dental health can lead to much more than just bad breath! The AVDC (American Veterinary Dental Clinic) has said that gum disease is the most common condition occurring in dogs and cats, but the good news is that it’s entirely preventable! Having a dental procedure done by your vet may be required if there are more advanced issues. It’s important to practice regular dental hygiene at home - just like you brush your teeth regularly, your dog needs their teeth brushed too! Look for products that have been approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council for the prevention of tartar and/or plaque. This means these products have been tested and proven to work. You can also check out our previous blogs on dental health for more tips. 5. Quality Time Together Is Important Our dog’s needs go beyond just food & physical exercise! They need emotional and mental fulfillment, too. Spending quality time together to meet all of their needs is crucial to a healthy pet! This includes regular exercise, mental stimulation through enrichment activities like puzzles or toys, trick training, cuddling or giving scratches, and grooming (including cleaning their ears, trimming their nails, and brushing their coat). It’s also key to your dog’s overall wellbeing that they are well-trained as this can avoid issues with other people or dogs, the need to re-home a pet, or even behavioural euthanasia. Making sure our dogs have their needs met in all aspects of wellness can lead to a much longer and more fulfilling life - something we all want for our pets! Stay healthy, stay happy, stay curious #healthygang! Lots of love, The healthybud team
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Eco Friendly Pet Parenting Tips
In celebration of Earth day this week, we’ve compiled some great tips on how to become a more eco-conscious pet parent. Check it out! Poop Bags The easiest switch is to go from plastic poop bags to compostable ones. Keep in mind: not all poop bags are created equal (and there isn’t a lot of regulation in the industry) so make sure that the company you choose isn’t just using buzzwords like “degradable”, but that they meet ASTM and USDA certifications. **It’s also important to pick up dog waste promptly, even in your own yard. Otherwise rainwater can spread contaminants and potentially even parasites. Not only does picking up after your pooch keep your yard looking (and smelling!) fresh, it helps keep our soil healthy! Toys There are so many ways that you can make your toys fun for your dog while being earth conscious: Don’t overbuy! We like to spoil our furbabies, but they will be just as excited if you rotate their existing toys (tip: don’t leave them out and lying around when they’re not being used. This will create more excitement when you bring out the toy each time) When buying new toys, choose those made with recycled material (and if possible, one that can be composted). Get creative with your junk! You can make so many enrichment toys and activities with empty boxes, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, egg cartons, t-shirts - the list goes on! Just make sure that you are supervising you pup careful to make sure they don’t ingest anything they shouldn’t (just as you would with store-bought toys). If you end up with a toy that is only gently used and your bud just doesn’t care for it, consider donating it to a rescue or shelter in need. Shop Local Whether you’re looking for a new dog bed, coat, collar, or tag, consider shopping locally and supporting a small business. Find a business that is focused on ethically sourced materials. Keeping your shopping local reduces your carbon footprint if you don’t need items shipped worldwide, and avoids mass-produced materials that tend to be harder on the environment. Food We know pet nutrition can already be overwhelming without considering the environmental impact of what you are feeding your four-legged friend, but try to find a pet food company that uses sustainably-sourced ingredients. You can also look for recyclable packaging, and purchase in bulk as long as you will use the food before its expiry date. Also, consider what you put your dog’s food in! Purchase bowls made from a more sustainable material than plastic. Lastly, don’t overfeed your pet! Dog and cat food can be resource-heavy, so don’t use more of it than needed - both the planet and your dog’s health will benefit from being fed the proper portions. We know it can be overwhelming to make greener choices in your life...just remember that you don’t need to strive for perfection: any positive changes make an impact! If you have current items that are not the most eco friendly, it can sometimes be more green to continue using these items until the end of their life rather than immediately replacing them with a more sustainable option. And most importantly, make sure you and your pup get out, take in nature and enjoy the beauty of this planet and all it gives us!
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How To Help A Dog With Gas
If you’ve got a furry friend at home, you’ve probably experienced the awful stench that can come from being gassy! So, we’re here to help, starting with explaining some common reasons why your four-legged friend is suffering from flatulence, and how you can help! What Causes A Gassy Pup? Some common causes of flatulence in our canine friends can be: Eating too quickly and swallowing too much air Sudden change in diet Food allergies Obesity Underlying health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal parasites (these are usually accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, or lethargy) Ways To Help A Gassy Dog If your dog is eating too fast, it can be helpful to buy a slow-feed food bowl that will force your pup to slow down. If you feed kibble or freeze-dried food, you can also try sprinkling their food into a rolled-up towel or other similar enrichment idea to slow them down. If you just recently changed your dog’s diet, or he/she got into something they don’t normally eat, it can cause some short-term gas problems. However, if flatulence has been an issue for quite some time, it may be worth switching up your dog’s food. Lastly, it’s important to check in with your vet to rule out other issues such as parasites or other gastrointestinal issues, and to make sure your dog’s weight is in a healthy range! Dog-Safe Home Remedies If your vet has given you the all-clear, you may want to look at adding in some DIY home remedies to help your gassy pal! Here are some of our top foods to help calm your pet’s tummy. Parsley, which can be added to their diet in dried, fresh, or essential oil form Foods that are high in enzymes such as papaya, melon, raw honey, or coconut water. Make sure to remove the seeds from papayas or melon first! Ginger can also help with an upset tummy Yogurt to add probiotics, but start small! Some dogs are quite sensitive to dairy Peppermint oil Fennel, dried or fresh Also you can add in healthybud’s Gut Booster as a treat or crumbled on your pup’s meal! This powerful formula features some of the enzyme-rich foods mentioned above (papaya and ginger root, to name two!) and also includes a prebiotic blend. A gassy stomach can be troubling for owners and dogs alike, since excessive gas can cause discomfort for our pup. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is not meant to replace your vet's advice or prescribed medications, but only to suggest additional options to explore, based on your dog's condition.
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How To Spot Dog Anxiety, And Manage It!
With all of the stress of COVID continuing, anxiety has become a more frequently discussed topic. Perhaps this has got you wondering, “Is my dog anxious too?” If you haven’t experienced anxiety in pets before, it can be hard to know what to look for! Anxious behaviour can manifest itself in lots of different ways in our buds. Some of the signs of anxiety are: Pacing Panting Shivering or shaking Barking, howling, or whining Fleeing, hiding, or cowering Digging or inappropriate chewing Urinating or defecating in the house, and sometimes diarrhea Excessive licking or chewing on themselves Not eating Not settling Lip licking and yawning Showing the whites of their eyes Lifting one paw up (usually a front paw) Avoiding eye contact Sometimes, these signs only show up during specific events, like thunderstorms or fireworks. Other times, it can be a more regular occurrence like going out of the house for a walk, or when your dog is left alone. For some pups, they may be in an anxious state more often than not. There’s many ways we can help keep our pups more comfortable if they are feeling anxious: If the anxiety is sound-based,try a snood!(a fitted scarf that goes over your dog’s neck and ears. Another option is using music! Put on some calming noises for your pet using your phone, the TV, or a radio. For thunderstorm or firework phobias, try a ThunderShirt to help provide a calming effect for your pup. If you think their anxiety is affecting their everyday life, speak to your vet and look at finding a fear-free trainer. They may prescribe medication to be taken daily or for specific circumstances that prove stressful for your pup, such as car rides, vet or grooming visits, or thunderstorms. Behaviour modification through a fear-free trainer can also be beneficial! If your pet is fearful of certain places, sounds, or things, working with positive association to counter-condition them can help! For example, if your bud is frightened by newcomers in your home, you can start by having that person stay a safe distance back and reward the dog with treats for being in the same general space. Over time, make that distance smaller, and eventually you can have the person they are fearful of start feeding them the treats. You can use a similar process with objects, too! If your pup is nervous of having their nails trimmed, start rewarding them for laying calmly beside the nail clippers or grinder, then allowing you to pick up the clippers, then holding their paw, and so on and so forth. It’s most important to work in small baby steps, and recognise that this method will take time, consistency, and patience! Anxiety in our pets can vary greatly from one individual to another, and there is no one size fits all answer. Some solutions may even work for certain situations with your dog and not for others! Often a combination of these tips and tricks works best to help manage anxiety. And don’t forget, we are always here to help in any way that we can! PS: You can also always try natural treat aids like the new duck calming aid! Not only is this treat formulated to help naturally alleviate anxiety, but giving our dog’s calm and soothing attention when they are experiencing an anxiety-inducing event can also help.
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