Your Cat's Microbiome and Disease Risk
There’s a lot of information out there about how to feed your favorite feline family members. One thing you may not know that can guide you in the right direction regarding their food—your cat is an obligate carnivore. This means that many commercial pet food diets may not contain optimum nutrition for your kitty; typically this includes dry food or high-carbohydrate food.
When your cat consumes a biologically appropriate diet, her microbiome (gut flora) will be more balanced and diverse, which helps regulate the immune system, digestion, and many other bodily functions that are necessary for good health. When a high-carbohydrate diet is fed, the “bad bugs” of the microbiome may take over, potentially causing a host of discomfort and even leading to disease over time.
One disease we are familiar with—diabetes—is unfortunately becoming more common in cats. Recognizing your cat’s nutrition needs in this scenario is most important to helping her overcome diabetes (and other chronic diseases!) and thrive.
Curious to learn more? Check out this article by Dr. Karen Becker!
—-> Your pet's risk for disease - Why the food you feed matters <—-
Raw food options for your cat at EOTL
At End of the Leash, while we love our dogs, we have many great raw food options for your cats, too!
We currently stock Stella & Chewy’s, Primal, Vital Essentials, Tiki Cat, Tuckers, and Small Batch.
Plus, don't forget our Frozen Fridays when you save 20% off that week's featured manufacturer! This Friday, August 23rd's featured food is Primal.
Is your cat hacking hairballs?
While hairballs in housecats are very common, you may be surprised to learn they aren't a normal part of a feline's digestive process. Your cat's digestive tract is built to handle a certain amount of fur — the fur she pulls off herself during grooming, as well as the hair attached to prey in the wild.
But indoor-only cats in particular develop hairballs due to hair length, shedding patterns (spring is often hairball season for cats whose coats thin out as the weather warms up), excessive grooming (of themselves or other cats in the household), deficiencies in the diet, digestive dysfunction or a combination of issues. —Dr. Karen Becker
Anyone who has an indoor kitty has inevitably stepped on the squishy surprise—the hairball! Dr. Becker wrote a nice little article with basic information to determine if your cat’s hairball hacking could require a vet visit, or if some easy-to-administer remedies are in order.
Click here for the full article! —-> Why frequent hairballs may be a red flag
New to us! Icelandic+ Combo Bites for your dog
About Icelandic+ All-Natural Dog Treats
At Icelandic+, we care about pets. Ours and yours. That’s why we’re committed to producing healthy dog treats that meet their specific digestive, physiological, metabolic, and nutritional requirements. We use only the purest ingredients from Iceland, manufactured within FDA, USDA, EU, and MAST standards and regulations, to ensure the freshness, purity, and integrity of our products. And there are zero additives, fillers, supplements, or preservatives in them. Why? Our treats don’t need them.
Dogs love our treats. Their owners will love the enjoyment and nutritional benefits their pets experience from eating them.
Pure crunchy fish treats for dogs!
Four Flavors: Cod & Herring, Cod & Salmon, Cod & Lobster, Cod & Shrimp.
For healthy skin and shiny coat.
Full of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Pure Icelandic fish. Nothing else.
Caught fresh daily.
Enjoy peace of mind. Our fish treats are cleaned and air-dried within FDA, USDA, EU, and MAST standards and regulations.
100% sustainably fished.
100% edible and digestible.
100% natural—no additives, no preservatives and no supplements.
100% two ingredient dog treat—just fish, nothing else!
100% Viking—air-dried as the Vikings did in 900 A.D.
HAWS PET OF THE WEEK
To learn more about how to adopt through HAWS, please visit their adoption page. You may also give them a call at 262.542.8851.
Tyr is an almost three year old Lab/Hound mix who has been at HAWS since March. This handsome dog is looking for a home with kids six and over because of his size and strength. He is very playful and enjoys the company of other dogs. Tyr is exuberant and would benefit from a home that enjoys walking, running or hiking. He is still learning his manners and his new family can continue to refine him in training classes.
Thanks for stopping by our blog!
Your Friends at End of the Leash
Please remember that us folks at End of the Leash are not veterinarians and no information on our website is intended to replace the indispensable and professional advice of your veterinarian.