How to Take Care of a 6 Week Old Kitten

six-weeks-old-kitten

At around six weeks, your kitty needs abundant 6-week old kitten care. At this age, she generally has mastered her bearings and sense of balance, and she is learning how to play.

Basically, 6 week old kittens have different interest and willingness to interact. For instance, toys could be the most amazing things ever or totally frightening.

But there is much to know about 6-week old kitten care than feeding and treating her right. She needs to know how to use the litter box.

In this piece, you will find everything that you need to know about 6-week old kitten care in a fun and accessible format.

Related: 4 week old kitten care

What to Feed a 6 Week Old Kitten?

Good nutrition is an important part of 6 week old kitten care. A loving personality, boundless energy, strong bones, and a shiny coat all start with a proper diet.

Weaning Process

The natural weaning by the mother cat is characterized by a period of a gradual lessening of the young’s attachment to her mother. The mother would pat the kittens on the head and hiss at them when they want to nurse.

Generally, weaning starts at around four weeks of age. So, like a cat parent, you have to successfully wean your kitty off the bottle by the end of the sixth week. Although, you can take up to eight weeks to get her off the formula.

You must know that weaning is a stressful event for your kitty. You will be exposing her to a new protein, carbohydrates, and fat sources. Also, the change in texture and bulk of ingestion is significant.

She not only has to adjust to solid food but also suggestively increase her water intake in order to maintain hydration. Weaning kittens should always be supplied with fresh water.

How Much to Feed a 6 Week Old Kitten

Food given to a 6 week old kitten undergoing the weaning process should be specifically formulated for growth. Feeding between 3 to 3.5 ounce of dry food per day and 8 to 10 ounces of canned food per day normally meet the growing needs of most kittens.

When food is always available, she may nibble at it frequently. We recommend you to consider free-choice feeding for your 6 week old kitty (feeding her unlimited amounts of food). There are two ways you can feed your kitten:

  • A mixture of wet kitten food and kitten milk replacer (KMR) at a ratio of 1:2
  • A mixture of dry kitten food and kitten milk replacer (KMR) at a ratio of 1:3

We are maintaining a higher content of kitten milk replacer in order not to upset her tummy.

Age (weeks) Weight (pounds) Suggested Daily Intake (grams)
4 0.8 to 1.7 25 to 40
4 to 8 1.8 to 3.0 40 to 50
8 to 12 3.1 to 4.0 50 to 55
12 to 16 4.1 to 5.0 55 to 60
16 to 20 5.1 to 6.0 60 to 70

Normally, you have to feed her 4 to 5 times per day, since her tummy is still small and she cannot accommodate too much in that little stomach in one go.

Kitten Food Brands – Dry and Wet

As part of 6 week old kitten care, it is your responsibility to choose the proper diet for your 6 week old kitty. Today, there’re literally hundreds of commercial kitten foods available. Therefore, make sure you look for cat food that is specified for kittens.

Every food label you look at will be different. There are a few generalities that apply to all, but it is important that food contains the right types of ingredients. The food label must include a list of all ingredients used in the food.

The ingredient list for your kitten’s food should have:

  • One or more protein sources
  • Carb source, such as cereals
  • Fat sources
  • And large numbers of vitamins and mineral

Read more: Recommended Kitten Food 2018

Litter Box Training

At 6 weeks old, a kitty will know how to use the litter box not unless she is an orphan. A kitten that has not been litter trained will likely soil around the house, on the furniture, in the beds, or in the bathtub.

Though, at times, a newly trained 6 week kitty may poop on the floor near the litter box. Make sure you let her know when she’s blundered in her potty efforts. Never hit her, but firmly and quietly let her know that it is a definite no to mess around.

Gently grasp your kitten from under her armpits and carry her to the spot. Let her look at her poop and again tell her no. Then take her to the litter box and emphasize that the litter box is the right place to poop.

Always put the litter box in a quiet spot and make sure it is clean. If your kitten cannot seem to get the idea, then put her in the litter box after every meal, when she wakes up, and after an active play session.

Brag on her when she uses the litter box and she will soon go to the box by herself. Also, try always to be there when she uses the box.

How Can I Bath A 6 Week Old Kitten?

Adopting a 6 week old kitten, especially an orphan may require you to consider bathing. Baths are important in 6 week old kitten care, particularly when you suspect your kitten has fleas.

A kitten at this age cannot be treated with flea collars or pesticides. The only thing you can do is pick the fleas off her coat with your fingers and flush them down the toilet or give her a bath of kitten shampoo or soapy dawn dishwashing liquid.

Here are a few tips on how to bath a 6 week old kitty:

  • Have a tap of comfortably warm water running.
  • Soak her neck with warm water and create a ring of soap or shampoo on the neck to keep the fleas off the head.
  • Soap or shampoo her entire body from the neck towards the tail. Use circular motions to get fleas and dirt off her skin and coat.
  • Be sure not to get soap into her ears, mouth, nose, or eyes.
  • Rinse her thoroughly to remove all traces of fleas, dirt, and shampoo/soap.
  • Use cotton rounds to spot clean her head.
  • After the bath, dry your kitten off with a soft, dry towel and then wrap her in another soft, dry towel until nearly dry.

Play, Socialization, and Behavior

At 6 week old, your kitten will become increasingly adventurous, leaving the bed and stumbling around. She learns mostly by copying your actions. Although, a major part of her day is spent in sleep.

It is important during this period that your kitty has plenty of social contact with people, otherwise, she will tend to be shy and fearful in the presence of humans and she might end up not making a good pet.

It has been shown repeatedly that 6 week old kittens that are frequently handled develop self-confidence. Their exploratory behavior makes them more playful and better at learning than those without such contact.

Socialization

Socialization impacts your 6-week old kitty on the most basic level. This is a sensitive period in your kitten’s development when she learns from positive and negative events.

Kittens that are well-socialized to other pets, people, and places learn that people, pets, and new places are nothing to fear. A socialized kitty becomes more confident, well-adjusted, and easy to play with.

Here are a few games you can play with your 6-week old kitten:

Clicker Play

Clicker play will help stop play aggression by directing your kitten’s energy toward something other than your hand or leg. Clicking is a fun way to channel her hyper-play energy and will mentally challenge her.

Put some of her play actions on use. For example, if she is a jumper, use clicker training to capture a jump with a click followed by a treat. You should be doing this before she becomes overstimulated.

Feather and String

For a 6 week old kitty, this is a very good game. Wave the feather and string above her head and tempt her to catch a flying object by jumping up and down. Play with her jump-and-catch in an open room.

Use a Crumpled Paper

Just crush or crumple a paper into a sizeable ball that you can easily roll around. Make your kitty chase the crushed paper ball. By the way, you should remember to hide the crunched paper after you’re done playing. She can easily make a mess of it on the floor.

6 Week Old Kitten Vaccinations

At 6 weeks old, your kitty is old enough for her first shot. Vaccinations help protect your kitty from certain ailments as she grows older.

There are two types of vaccinations for kittens:

  • Core Vaccinations: They are usually suggested for all kittens as well as adult cats. They help safeguard your kitty against, particularly dangerous and common diseases.
  • Non-Core Vaccinations: Unlike core vaccinations, non-core are only recommended for kittens who are highly vulnerable to infection.

Kitten vaccination is a wide topic which you may not fully understand on your own, especially if you are a new cat parent. So, we suggest that you inquire more from your veterinarian.

Kitten Vaccination Sample Recommendation

Age (weeks) Non-Core Vaccinations Core Vaccinations
6 to 8 FIV/FeLV Test FVRCP Doctor Examination
9 to 11 FIV, FeLV Boosters FVRCP Booster
12 to 14 FIV, FeLV Boosters FVRCP Booster
15 to 17 FIV/FeLV Test Rabies, FVRCP Final Booster

6 Week Old Kitten Won’t Poop

One of the main issues most cat parents are likely to face with their 6-week old kitten care is the inability to poop. You might be worried about constipation, but that is unlikely if her feedings are on schedule.

The popular technique that is usually used for younger kittens is stimulation. You need a cotton washcloth for this trick.

A 5 to 7 week old kitten normally defecates every 24 to 36 hours. You are supposed to do stimulation after her meal, after playing, and when she wakes up from her sleep.

Soak the cotton washcloth in warm water and use it to massage or stimulate her urethra and anal regions. You should be patient with her.

At six weeks, she is old enough. So, you can hold her on top of a litter box. This will make it easy to collect the pee and poop once your kitten eliminates.

Symptoms of Trouble and What to Do

Diarrhea

It is common for your 6 week old kitten to have loose elimination or diarrhea. In most cases, diarrhea will make your kitty become dehydrated to some extent. Dehydration will cause your kitty to lose body fluids and salts.

We suggest that you take your kitten to the vet. She may need antibiotics and injectable electrolyte treatment.

Constipation

A constipated kitten may eat well at one feeding, but fail to pass a bowel movement. At the next feeding, she may only eat a little, then reject the rest.

Any constipation must be caught early. Kittens normally pass a stool after each feeding; so, note her routine. You should be concerned if she skips more than one defecation.

You will need as much water as half of her regular feeding, or give a little at a time until results are obtained. Consider seeing your vet when the condition worsens.

Conclusion

We have covered the most important parts of 6-week old kitten care. At 6 weeks, your kitten needs to have stopped bottle feeding, know how to use the litter box, be able to play and socialize with other pets and people around the house.

One of the most important things you must do is establish a regular feeding and exercise schedule. Remember to feed her at approximately the same time and walk and play with her on a regular schedule.

You should also be overly concerned about her health. You should see your vet for anything that you cannot handle on your own, such as green diarrhea, constipation, and refusal to eat among other things.

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Aquarium Shops Near Me: Best Fish Store Near You

aquarium-store-near-you
Have you been considering getting an aquarium right in your house? Aquariums are such a beauty to behold. Having an aquarium in your house is such a beautiful thing and you can make it as glamorous or simple as you want.

The first step to getting your own aquarium is searching for the best aquarium shops near you. You can even go online and search for “aquarium shops near me,” or “the best place to buy fish tanks.”

When you run those search queries in your browser, you are likely to find a good aquarium shop that you can visit.

Reasons for Owning an Aquarium

There are a whole lot of reasons why people want to have an aquarium in their homes. Different people get aquariums for different reasons. Here are some amazing ideas for owning an aquarium.

  • Depending on the type of aquarium you have, it can be way less expensive than owning a dog or a cat.
  • Having an aquarium can reduce stress and enhance your overall well-being.
  • Research has it that watching fish or other aquatic life swim in an aquarium reduces stress.
  • Breeding fish or other aquatic lives is a productive hobby.
  • You will have a broader knowledge of biology and ecosystems.
  • Finding a pet sitter for an aquarium is much easier than looking for a pet sitter for other types of pets.
  • Maintaining a fish tank creates a sense of accomplishment and pride.
  • You can teach some fish some tricks while there are some that will even recognize your face.
  • An aquarium is a quick conversation point.
  • Aquariums add an aesthetic feel and look to a home.
  • Children love to sit and watch fish and other aquatic lives play around in the fish tank.
  • It is easier and less stressful to maintain an aquarium than other kinds of pets.

Tips for Finding the Best Aquarium Shops Near You

Finding the best aquarium shop near you is very important, as it will play a vital role in the quality of the items you will get.

The best aquarium shops often have high-quality fish tanks and equipment. They also have a wide range of accessories that would make the process of breeding fish in your home as seamless as possible.

Finding the best aquarium shops near me is no longer as difficult as it used to be, thanks to the constantly evolving world and technology. Here are some tips and technique that can help you find the best aquarium shops near you.

Reviews

To determine which aquarium is best and which is not, the first thing you need to do is take a look at their reviews. Finding reviews of aquarium shops near you is not difficult.

Platforms such as Google, Angie’s List, and Yelp are there to provide you with information about local businesses, including the best aquariums near you.

Look at the reviews of the aquariums shops near, see what other clients are saying about their products and services. Are other clients satisfied with their products and services, or are they complaining?

The aquarium shops with more positive reviews and ratings are likely to offer you better services and products.

Recommendations

Another way of finding the best aquarium near you is to ask people around you. You can talk to your family, friends, or colleagues at the office that owns an aquarium and find out which aquarium shops they feel are the best.

They should have a little experience about the whole process and they should be able to recommend an aquarium shop that will serve you better.

You can also explore the local store in your environment to find the best aquarium shop near you. You can visit a couple of aquarium shops near you to know the kind of products they have, the prices of their products, and the kind of services they render. With this, you will be able to compare a few shops and know which one best suits your need.

Things to Consider When Buying an Aquarium

Most times, new aquarium owners end up having a bad experience with their first aquarium. This happens because they fail to consider some vital factors that need to be put into consideration.

Planning ahead and putting some basic factors into consideration will likely help new aquarium owners avoid common mistakes. Planning is very important, even for the experienced aquarium owners.

Here are some of the basic factors you need to consider when shopping for an aquarium in aquarium shops near you.

The Cost of Getting an Aquarium

Some potential aquarium owners usually come across price tags on special packages and assume a few dollars can get them an aquarium. This can be deceptive at times, as $50 or less can’t get you started in this hobby.

To be realistic, getting started with quality equipment and tools will cost you about $150 to $200. If this amount is kind of over your budget, it is recommended that you wait and save up until your budget is right to get everything you need. One of the best ways to start is to write down everything you need.

Make a Checklist of the Things You Need

When considering to purchase an aquarium, there are a couple of things that come along with. Some of the things you would need to purchase include a stand, heater, hood and light, decorations, net, cleaning supplies, gravel, filter, and the aquarium itself. You have to purchase all of these including the fish as well as their feed.

Write down all you need then go to an aquarium near you to get the prices of all the items you are interested in. This will help you to see how much everything would cost you before you make your final decision.

The Size of the Aquarium

Aquariums usually come in different sizes. The size of a fish tank is measured in gallons. As a first-time aquarium owner, it is recommended that you stay away from aquariums under ten gallons. It is much more difficult to maintain small fish tanks than larger ones. This is mainly because toxins can quickly build up in a small volume of water.

Changes in chemistry and temperature can also occur very fast when the quantity of water in the aquarium is small. The ones you should completely avoid are those cute mini fish tanks that contain only 2 to 5 gallons of water.

Some of these mini fish tanks may have reasonable and attractive price tags on them, but they are not the best option for new aquarium owners. You should go for larger tanks of twenty gallons or more. These are easy to manage and they are more forgiving of mistakes you might make.

The Size or Quantity of Fish

This is one of the most important things you need to put into consideration when shopping for an aquarium. You need to consider the quantity and size of fish you want to keep. This will determine the size of the fish tank that you need.

Even if you opt for a big fish tank, you need to start with a few small fish that you can care for easily. As you begin to amass more knowledge and experience, you can increase the quantity and size. So when you are starting out, go for a larger aquarium and a small quantity of fish.

Types of Fish to Breed

There are two types of fish that you can breed in your aquarium; freshwater fish and tropical fish. The type of fish you want to breed is totally up to you, as they both have their advantages.

At this point, you need to consider your options and the advantages of each type of fish before you make your final decision, as the type of fish you will buy will determine the type of equipment you would need to purchase.

For instance, to know more about tropical fish, you can search for “tropical fish aquarium shops near me,” you can see a variety of available options when you visit the location.

If you are going for the freshwater fish and your house does not get too cold, you might not need a heater. If you go for a freshwater aquarium, you can also grow plants in them.

Some Vital Tips for Having a Great-Looking and Healthy Aquarium

Having a little ecosystem full of plants and animals is an amazing feeling. This is the dream of many people. A lot of people are hooked for life after buying their first fish tank, and they have extended their hobby to bigger aquariums.

However, succeeding as a newbie requires much more than just your desires. There are certain things you need to know and do to ensure you have a healthy, happy fish, as well as a great looking aquarium.

Cycle the Aquarium Before You Add Fish

In case you are new to this term, “cycling an aquarium” means taking the necessary steps to make the water conditions healthy and conducive for the fish. This is something you should do before you add fish to an aquarium. This means it is not recommended to buy your fish and fish tank on the same day.

Cycling has to do with the growth of healthy micro-organisms within the aquarium. This would help make the water safe for the fish by breaking down waste.

This process usually takes some time. A lot of professionals recommend allowing the process to run for a minimum of one week. However, when you visit the best aquarium shop near you, you will be provided with instructions on how to go about it and how long the process should last.

There are certain elements that are required for the cycling process. You can purchase these elements at the aquarium shops near you after buying your fish tank.

You can also cycle your aquarium by adding a little fish feed. This would break down over time and kick-start the process. You should never try to cycle your aquarium when you already have fish in it. This is detrimental to the health of your fish, they can easily become ill and die.

Monitor and Test Water Parameters

The water in your fish tank needs to be safe before adding fish. But how do you know when the water is safe? At this point, you need to purchase water testing kit to help you through this process. You need the water kit to test and monitor the nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, and pH levels of the water.

There are lots of water testing kits out there. You can search for “aquarium shops near me that sell aquarium water testing kits.” You should go for a testing kit that is easy to manage and shows very clear results. Nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia are natural chemical compounds that come from the lifecycles in your aquarium.

At low levels, they are fine and harmless. But if you don’t check them regularly, they can grow up to unhealthy amounts. You should take the necessary steps and follow the instructions given to you at the aquarium shop or on the kit to keep the water parameters correct.

Change the Water in Your Tank Regularly

If you notice that the parameters of your water are not normal, there are lots of products out there that can help put everything in order. However, the best solution to this is always having clean water in your tank.

Clean water is far much better than adding more chemicals to the aquarium. As such, constantly changing the water in your tank is the key.

You need to remove about 65 percent of the water in the aquarium and replace it with clean and fresh water on a weekly basis. This creates a healthier environment for your fish by diluting the chemicals in the water. Your water parameters will even be more difficult to keep under check when you fail to change your water regularly.

Don’t Overfeed Your Fish

It is pretty much difficult to starve a fish, so feeding your fish once a day is not a bad idea. You must avoid overfeeding your fish at all cost. Don’t feed your fish with more than what it can eat in a couple of minutes.

Too much food is not healthy for your fish and it could lead to disease. The leftover feed will dirty the aquarium and make the water unhealthy for the fish.

If you won’t be around to feed your fish at different intervals, you can purchase a fish feed dispenser that dispenses feed on different time intervals. You can buy this equipment at aquarium shops near you.

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How to Take Care of a 4 Week Old Kitten

4 week old kitten
Kittenhood is a unique period that calls for special attention. Kittens are works-in-progress that must receive proper care if they are to achieve their full potential.

The emotional and physical needs of kittens are very specific and not only impact the present, but also the future.

What happens to your kitten today, for ill or good, defines everything she can expect to be as an adult. So, you need to cherish every moment.

Kittenhood is the foundation upon which affection takes root. With the proper 4-week old kitten care, affection blooms into a lifetime of a shared love for the weeks to come.

How to Feed a 4 Week Old Kitten?

One of the very first things that you have to learn as part of 4 week old kitten care is feeding. This is very critical because she is going through a real rapid growth stage at that point in her life.

It is very important for your kitten’s long-term health that she is fed proper nutrition. There are a few options that you can consider, and they include the following:

Milk Formulas

Usually, a 4 week old would still be sucking her mom’s milk in the wild. When you take in a cat this young, you need a milk replacement that can serve the same purpose as the mom’s milk.

The one thing that we strongly urge you not to do is feed your kitty cow’s milk. According to research, cow’s milk doesn’t have the ideal vitamins and nutrients that a 4 week old needs.

Feline milk has fairly high levels of protein with moderate levels of fat and carbohydrates. Also, cat milk contains whey proteins that are readily digestible.

A bottle fed four week old kitten needs to be fed every six hours. Therefore, you must have a very flexible schedule that can allow you to commit to the time.

One of the best kitten milk replacer brand that we can recommend is KMR Milk Replacer, which is highly palatable, easy to digest, and sterile with zero additives.

Here are the steps that you have to follow when bottle feeding:

  • Make sure you follow the guidelines on the formula pack to the latter. The young kitty should suck 32 ml per every 100 grams of weight in a day. You can easily maintain the correct track by using the measurements on the feeding bottle.
  • Always make sure she is seated on the stomach and not her back during feeding. It is highly likely that the milk may find its way into the lungs if the kitten is laying on her back during bottle feeding, causing her to asphyxiate.
  • You can also try to hold her in an upright position while she is wrapped in a warm towel. You can even have her in your lap on a towel. Settle for an upright position that works best for both of you.
  • Face the nipple downwards and allow a drop of milk formula to come out. Then insert the nipple into your kitten’s mouth to start nursing. Ensure that air doesn’t get into the bottle by positioning it at a 45-degree angle. Also, move the bottle back and forth to encourage her to feed.
  • Normally, a 4 week old kitty will latch on and start to suckle naturally. Once she has started suckling, allow her to do so at her own pace. Try stroking her back or rubbing her forehead gently if she hesitates to feed.

Here is a table showing the appropriate amounts of formula you are supposed to feed your kitten from the first to the fifth week:

Age (weeks) Body Weight (ounce) Total Formula a Day (cc) Feedings a Day
1 4 33 9-12
2 7 56 7-9
3 10 80 7-9
4 13 104 5-7
5 16 128 5-7

The feeding can vary considerably depending on the consumption in order to ensure that daily feeding needs are met.

Soft Food

Your 4 week old kitten care should also include soft food feeding, which usually includes a combination of soft kitten food and warm milk formula or water.

How to feed a 4 week old kitten gruel?

At this time, you can offer your kitten a thick gruel and water or milk. One part dry food blended with three parts milk or two parts canned food blended with one part milk.

You are supposed to feed your kitty the gruel from a shallow bowl. Alternatively, you can force-feed your kitten by using a feeding syringe.

The feeder can easily encourage your 4 week old kitty to eat the gruel by smearing some of the gruels on the kitten’s lips, being careful not to get any in the nose.

You should gradually reduce the amount of water or milk in the gruel once your kitten has accepted to eat the gruel willingly without any forceful measures.

Care and Maintenance

Socialization

When you handle your kitten gently as early as 4 weeks old, she will develop faster physically, and her social interactions with you will improve.

Usually, the sensitive period for socializing ranges from 2 to 7 weeks of age. At 4 week old, you should introduce and let your kitten be held by various people around the house. Even children can hold the 4 week old cat, but they should be supervised when doing so.

This is also a great time to introduce the baby kitty to stimulating toys and a few scratching posts. Also, consider introducing her to other safe animals at this age.

You can make visits to the vet practice and travel remarkably by desensitizing her to a cat carrier. You can also introduce your kitten to leash training and be able to go with her to as many places as possible. Carrier training should continue until adulthood.

The socialization period is the best time to introduce litter box training.

Exercise and Play

Another important aspect of 4 week old kitten care is exercise and play. Exercise for a baby kitty is more fan than her walking from one point of the room to the other.

The play is more than introducing her to a toy and leaving her to play by herself. Usually, 4 week old cats have different play drives, which must be nurtured.

Leaving her alone to play by herself all the time may result in the manifestation of inappropriate behaviors due to lack of adequate stimulation.

When you take your time to exercise and play with your kitten, addressing her locomotive, predatory, territorial, and scratching needs. You will have a well-adjusted, happy kitten who will become a superb family member.

Litter Box Training

Here are the various things you have to do:

  • Your kitten should have a regular feeding schedule so she will be able to develop a corresponding litter box schedule.
  • In order to reward your 4 week old kitty for using her litter box, you must be there at the time she uses it.
  • Kittens need to go the litter box shortly after waking up, after eating, and after playing. Feed her at regular times to help predict when she will go pooping or peeing.
  • Call her to the litter box from a variety of places around your house, especially areas where she has soiled.
  • When your kitten gets to the box, scratch the litter to get her interested.
  • Also, throughout the day, whenever your kitten has been asleep for over two hours, wake her up and call her to the box.
  • Encourage your kitty to hop into the litter box and applaud her when she does so. Even if she doesn’t, she’s learning that the litter box is a great, clean place to be.
  • Once she is done, gently pat her, give her a treat, and let her know how pleased you are with her amazing behavior.
  • If mistakes occur, pick up your kitten and set her down in the litter box. Punishment doesn’t work with kittens. Prevention and praise for getting it right are the keys to proper litter box training.
  • Immediately clean any accidents with a solution of white vinegar and water. This will help to get rid of the odor and hopefully prevent your kitten from returning to that spot.

Bathing

As you enter into the world of 4 week old kitten care, you will soon realize that it is necessary to bathe your kitty.

A 4 week kitten can become covered with food or stool pretty quickly, especially in your absence. So, she needs bathing most of the time.

There are a number of options when it comes to bathing your kitten:

Spot Bath

Spot baths are more convenient than full baths. This is so since a spot bath presents less of a chill risk to the kitty and it is less complicated. But there’re specific times when a full bath is necessary.

A spot dry bath is useful when your kitten has a localized area that needs cleaning, which involves wiping the area gently with a slightly dampened cotton or a paper towel.

These baths do not include soaking the localized area until the skin is wet, but still needs drying of the dampened coat to prevent chilling.

Full Baths

For a full bath, you will need very mild tearless shampoo specifically manufactured for kittens, a paper towel or a washcloth, a wash basin filled with warm water at a temperature of nearly 95 degrees Fahrenheit. You will also require two or more clean cotton towels that have been pre-warmed.

Here are the steps to follow for a full bath:

Step One: Pre-warm the kitten’s environment to make it warm and cozy by using a room heater.

Step Two: Pour some shampoo into a container for easy access ahead of time.

Step Three: Gently and securely hold your 4 week old kitty in one hand while soaking her with warm water and massaging shampoo into her coat with your other hand.

Step Four: Use a washcloth or your hand to remove debris from the soiled coat, while being extra gentle not to scratch her skin. Never include her face in a full bath.

Step Five: Rinse her thoroughly to remove all the shampoo, and then quickly swaddle her in one of the pre-warmed towels.

Step Six: Dry her with a warm hair dryer set on low, carefully moving the air actively around the coat to avoid burning her skin.

General Health Care

If you are a new cat parent, you are likely to be worried about your 4 week old kitten contracting diseases, and you might probably think about vaccination.

Well, she is still too young for vaccination, you are supposed to wait until she is six weeks old to get her first temporary vaccination. You can always consult your vet to be certain.

Long Haired Kitten

Long haired 4 week old kitten may have some problems with weepy eyes, which need attention on a regular basis. A wipe with a pad of moist cotton is all that you require to clean the eyes. The same applies to the nose; however, any alarming issues should be seen by the vet.

4 Week Old Kitten Won’t Poop

Your 4 week old kitten is likely to present some difficulty pooping or peeing, depending on the food you feed her. She may need stimulation to encourage her to poop after each feeding.

How to stimulate a 4-week old kitten to poop

After feeding, hold her in your non-dominant hand in such a way that her rear is positioned towards you. Use a warm, clean, wet washcloth to stimulate her anal region and abdomen to encourage pooping.

The warm washcloth massage is supposed to mimic the tongue bath a mother cat usually gives to her young one after feeding. We strongly suggest that you use a light-colored washcloth which will allow you to have good visual of any urine or poop.

Once you have successfully stimulated pooping and peeing, you should go ahead and clean up. Make sure the anal area is cleaned properly to avoid rash or infections.

Conclusion

You should never view 4-week old kitten care as a burden. It is a simple routine that requires research, inquiries, practice, and patience. You will be perfect at it in no time.

The most important parts of the care are feeding, socialization, exercise and play, litter box training, bathing, and general health.

Of course, there are other crucial aspects of kitten care that you can learn from your veterinarian. Always make inquiries whenever you are stuck.

Apart from weepy eyes due to long hair and difficulty during pooping which you can handle at home, you should not hesitate to visit your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment for any other unclear issue.

https://petupon.com/4-week-old-kitten/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Harness For Small Dogs (2019 Reviews)

Finding it difficult to train or handle your small dog when you go on a walk? Or you just need an elegant walking aid for your small dog? We have a solution for you! All you need is a dog harness for your little friend. You can say bye to collars that might hurt your small dog. The trainers and vets also recommend using a harness for your small dog as a replacement for a collar.

A dog harness will reduce the pressure and strain on the neck of your small dog by dispersing the pressure above a wider area of dog’s body which is more secure than using a collar. The small dogs might slip their collars but a harness will keep your Poodles, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Dachshund, Chihuahua, Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, Maltese, Boston Terrier secure and safe.

However, finding the best dog harness for your small dog is a bit confusing and frustrating. But you don’t need to worry! To make it easy for you, we have listed the top 5 best dog harness for small dogs. Have a look below!

Best Dog Harness For Small Dogs on the Market

1. RUFFWEAR – Front Range All-Day Adventure Harness for Dogs

[img_products img_code=”81bIE2NUOvL” alt=”RUFFWEAR – Front Range All-Day Adventure Harness” code=”B00LHY0S9G” reviews=”View on Amazon”]
The Front Range Harness by Ruff Wear comes with a front leash attachment and a 4 point adjustment that is ideal for your dog’s everyday adventures. You have the option to adjust this harness up to 4 points according to your as well as your dog’s convenience. In addition, this harness is really easy to put on to your small dog and take off.

The product dimensions are 14.2 x 11.4 x 0.2 inches and weigh only 5.9 ounces. Above all, being extremely comfortable and lightweight to wear, it is a great alternative for collar providing all-day comfort to your small dog as the chest and belly panel is padded. The soft padded belly and chest evenly distribute the weight when your dog is walking or running or even at rest. Furthermore, the strengthened webbing in the chest pulls up and gives additional control having an aluminum ring at the back.

This harness not only makes a stylish and comfortable walking aid, but it is also ideal for training your little dog. Your small dog won’t get lost ever as this harness has a pocket for ID where you can put the tags with name, address, and phone number. Lastly, it is loaded with many convenient features like a reflective trim on the bright fabric which enables you to see your small dog even at night.

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  • Lightweight and durable
  • Easily washable
  • Soft padded
  • ID pocket
  • Available in different sizes and colors

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  • No handle

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2. Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness, Easy Walking Harness

[img_products img_code=”81Rvs8j1mkL” alt=”Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness” code=”B00164SZMO” reviews=”View on Amazon”]
This easy wear dog harness By Kurgo comes with great adjustment options with 5 points for a perfect fit. The Weinerlock quick-release plastic buckles make it very simple for you to put on and off this harness on your small dog.  Moreover, having a front D-ring is used as a leash attachment for no pull training your small dogs.

This feature will make your dog turn around when you try to pull. It also has back leash ring. The product dimensions are 9 x 4.5 x 0.2 inches and weigh 8 ounces. Furthermore, the padded chest plate of this harness will make it comfy to be worn all day by your dog as it gives relieve by reducing sternum and trachea stress.

It is not it! If you are distracted while driving with your dog, then this Tru-Fit harness is the best thing to buy. It comes with car seatbelt that is 10 inches long. This harness is available in black color only and comes in much range of sizes. All in all, it is an ideal dog harness for every day walking to the park or beach.

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  • It has quick and easy release plastic buckles
  • Padded chest for comfort
  • A car seat belt is included
  • Machine and hand washable
  • Durable; made from high-quality material
  • Lifetime warranty

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  • It has no lift assist handle
  • Heavy

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3. Puppia Soft Dog Harness

[img_products img_code=”719pnIAssbL” alt=”Puppia Soft Dog Harness” code=”B004XM62SA” reviews=”View on Amazon”]
The soft harness by Puppia is an ideal harness for your small dogs. It is extremely comfortable as it comes with a chest belt with D ring leash attachment that is adjustable and a neck rim with fully air mesh soft inner padding.

This harness is specially designed for your convenience having an easy neck opening. In addition, the harness is made from polyester and cotton providing your small dog comfortable walk all day long. It is available in many sizes ranging from X-small to X-large.

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  • It is very lightweight
  • Polyester and cotton made
  • Smooth inner padding for comfort
  • Breathable fabric
  • A quick-release adjustable belt
  • Machine washable

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  • Neck area is little slippery

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4. PUPTECK Soft Mesh Dog Harness Pet Puppy

[img_products img_code=”51jGABSbZBL” alt=”PUPTECK Soft Mesh Dog Harness Pet Puppy” code=”B01FCSE4HE” reviews=”View on Amazon”]
The PUPTECK harness is made keeping in mind the safety and comfort of your small dog. Having a very classic and stylish design with a pattern of pleading, it is made from 100% polyester as well as a soft air-mesh breathable fabric. The product dimensions are 5 x 5 x 1 inch. Furthermore, this harness is extremely light-weight weighing only 1.6 ounces.

You have the option to decide from various colors and designs. Moreover, it comes with an adjustable comfy chest belt and quick release buckles for your convenience. Also a D- ring to hook every regular leash is there on the back of the harness. This soft mesh harness is available in 5 different sizes ranging from X-small to X-large.

All in all, this is a very safe choice for your small dog as the strap and buckles are tested to provide the fastener strap with extra security. Having a vest style design, it doesn’t hurt your dog while running or hiking.

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  • Available in 6 colors as well as 5 different sizes
  • Light-weight
  • Well-made from polyester
  • Machine and hand washable
  • Adjustable padded chest belt

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  • No ID pocket
  • It stretches after few uses

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5. Easy to Put on and Take Off Small Dog Harnesses

[img_products img_code=”71sF2E8ohTL” alt=”Easy to Put on and Take Off Small Dog Harnesses” code=”B00YAH9OO2″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]
This harness by Comfort Fit Metric is the most comfortable dog harness in the market for small dogs. Firstly, it is made from metric 66 materials that make it extremely comfortable for your dog by ensuring a snug fit and reducing the strain and tension.

Secondly, this harness is interiorly all padded with great extra cushioning for your dog’s comfort. This light-weight harness weighs only 1.4 ounces. Furthermore, it comes with an extra long Velcro strap for better adjustment having quick release clip for easy put on and removal. The presence of 2 D-rings securely locks on your leash. In addition, it is available in 4 different sizes and 6 colors. Lastly, the harness is made from breathable and washable material providing extra comfort to your small dog.

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  • Interior and exterior padding and cushioning
  • Extremely light-weight
  • Durable and comfortable
  • 2 D-rings
  • Quick release clip
  • Breathable soft material
  • Easy to put and remove

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  • Size chart not accurate
  • No ID pocket

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Things to consider when buying a harness for your small dog

Before you buy a harness for your small dogs, you must consider the following things:

Proper size and fit

Perhaps the most important thing you should ensure before buying a harness is the correct size and fit for your little one. Make sure that it’s not too tight or loose. A tight harness will make your dog uncomfortable and might also harm him.

A loose harness will slip away and won’t give the right grip. Always match your dog’s size with size chart provided by the manufacturers. It is essential to know how to put on a harness correcting for a better fit. The following video is a great demonstration of how to measure and put on a dog harness.

 

Comfort

The next thing you need to look in a harness is the comfort. The harness should be made from high-quality materials that are comfortable for your small dog to wear even for long hours. Low-quality materials can cause itching to your small and are not comfortable to wear for extended hours.

The most comfortable harnesses are made from polyester and cotton which provides comfort to your small dog. If properly designed, the nylon webbing can also provide enough comfort to your small dog. Look for the harness which is made from air-mesh breathable material to avoid chaffing.

Safety and secure Features

When talking about small dogs, how can you not look for safety features? The small dogs are very difficult to spot on roads and parks, so look for a harness design that has a reflective pattern, tape or logo. It is also beneficial for your small dog walking in low light conditions.

Clips and buckles used in the harness of your small dog must be secure in order to prevent your dog from slipping freely. Connecting and disconnecting of the buckles and clips should be easy.

Types of harness for small dogs

Basically, there are 4 main types of harness for small dogs.

  • Standard fit harness

This is the most common type of harness that distributes strain against the back and chest of your small dog protecting the neck area.

  • No-pull

The no-pull design requires your dog’s to fit in the harness properly. Your pet can feel the pressure on the front armpits of your pet.

  • The vest type harness

As the name suggests, this harness has a vest-like design. It is really comfortable to wear by dogs as the soft materials distribute the weight evenly throughout the body.

  • Chest-plate harness

This type of harness has a padded plate of support from the chest to the belly with a cushion to provide comfort.

Benefits of using a harness for small dogs

The harness is more effective than a collar for small dogs because the collar slips away from their little heads. A collar for small dogs is not easy to find but there is a wide range of sizes in harness. The X-small to medium might be the best fit for your little poodle or Yorkshire.  It is an easy tool for training your puppy and also acts a fashionable walking aid.

There is no physical harm to your small dog with wearing a harness. No choking issue that often occurs with collars leading to injury of neck and trachea. Harnesses lower the risk of such injuries. Dogs with breathing problems or neck injuries get a great benefit from harnesses as pulling a collar causes coughing.

Harness provides better grip and control over your small dog. It prevents your little dog from jumping on someone and gives you full control of your dog without even pulling. The pressure is not just on the fragile neck of your little buddy; the harness distributes and reduces the pressure evenly throughout the body. Harness spreads the strain over a wider area.

It also prevents entangling of the leash. A puppy wearing a harness cannot tangle himself or you as you can attach the leash to the harness’s back. Some harnesses made out of high-quality materials also keep your dogs warm in cold conditions. They also make car traveling easy when attached with a seatbelt. Having a reflective design on harness makes it easy to spot small dogs surrounded by people on roads.

Conclusion:

So, if you are the owner of a puppy then buying a harness is the best option for you and your small dog. A harness is totally safe for walking and makes the training process of your little dog much easier.

However, our top pick is the Front-range all-day adventure harness for dogs by RUFFWEAR.  It is very convenient for you to put on and remove with easy quick-release buckles and 4 point adjustment features. The Front Range harness includes high-quality durable materials that provide extreme comfort to your pet with a soft belly and chest padding. The unique and most feature of this harness is the ID pocket. Your pet will always carry its identity with himself. Therefore, don’t waste any time and start training your little dog with this perfect harness.

https://petupon.com/best-dog-harness/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dry Cat Food Brands 2018

kitten food

Caring for your cat includes providing a balanced diet. Choose a food that is labeled “complete and balanced”. This food contains everything your cat needs in a healthy diet.

Cat food comes in dry, semi-moist, and moist varieties. The best dry cat food brands help clean your cat’s teeth and hardly spoils.

Dry cat food makes up about four-fifths of the cat food market and has become much more popular with the advent of technology.

There are numerous dry cat food brands in the market, which makes selection a little bit harder. Lest you have detailed knowledge of your kitty’s nutritional needs.

Top 5 Best Dry Cat Food Brands

Brand Name Number of Product Lines Available Sizes (pounds) Suitable For Price
Iams Proactive 5 22, 16, 7, and 3.5 Adults Check Price
Royal Canin 3 15, 7, and 3.5 Kittens Check Price
Hill’s Science 5 15 and 7 All Life Stages Check Price
Purina 6 13 and 6.3 Adults Check Price
Meow Mix 4 13 and 6.3 All Life Stages Check Price

What to Look For the Best Dry Cat Food Brands?

Dry cat foods on average contain about 11% moisture and more than 89% dry matter. This is the food type of choice for free feeding.

In general, dry cat foods are the most economical form of food to feed due to raw material storage, lower packaging, and freight costs.

Nutritional Content

What makes a good cat food brand stand out from the rest? Forget the labels that say organic, gourmet, or premium. The important thing to check when you are buying dry cat food is the nutritional content.

The best way to go is just to ignore whatever marketing lingo they have got going. Go straight to the back of the package where the ingredients are listed to see precisely what you are about to feed your kitty.

Your cat needs proportionately more protein in her diet compared to other pets. Your adult kitty needs approximately 30% protein in its diet compared to the 18% needed for an adult dog.

Cats need protein to maintain tendons, ligaments, bone, and muscle. They always use a portion of their protein for energy. This is why a high-protein diet is necessary for a kitty’s health.

Your feline cannot generate all the 22 amino acids she needs. She needs to obtain 11 of the essential amino acids from the food you give her. This is why she needs a diet consisting of animal protein.

Caloric Information

Most cats respond exceptionally to diets composed mainly of dry food. However, there are some who flourish on a combination of dry and wet. You and your vet will conclude on the appropriate diet plan.

As we mentioned earlier, the best dry cat food brands aim to supply the essential nutrients (amino acids) felines eat in nature. Any brand that is labeled “supplementary” simply means that the food doesn’t cover all the dietary requirements of your cat.

Dry cat food is normally more condensed as well as higher in calories compared to wet food. This simply means that your kitty can ingest a small portion and still obtain a sizeable number of calories.

Dry cat food calorie counts do usually range from about 350 to 500 kcals per cup. On the other hand, wet kitty food calorie counts range from about 120 to 190 kcals per every 5.5 oz. cans.

It is not that easy to get the calories for dry kitty food. Well, most of you would think it is just a matter of looking at the back of the package.

Some cat food brands may not include the calorie count information on the package. Although, it is not a must for the info to be provided for all products.

There are a number of brands that offer caloric info on their official website. You can also call or email your preferred brand and request for the caloric information.

Your Cat’s Age Matters!

Not all dry kitty food brands are ideal for your kitty. This is so since felines have different caloric as well as nutritional requirements with respect to their age. You should also consider any health risks or existing conditions.

  • Kittens

Kittens include cats of up to one year old. Young domestic felines have a considerably high protein and calorie requirement compared to adult ones.

When searching for the best cat food for kittens, settle for a brand that is specifically made for kittens. You can also consider brands formulated for all life stages.

One of the popular brands that we recommend for kittens is Royal Canin, which is a distinctive two-part food composed of the healthiest natural ingredients.

  • Adults

They include felines of age one to six years old. Adult felines require a balanced and complete diet plan to help avoid sickness and keep a healthy weight.

Search for brands that are specifically formulated or made for maintenance. You can also consider brands formulated for all life stages.

We discourage you from giving your adult cat, kitten dry food. This is because kitten food has a higher calorie content that may make your cat gain too much weight.

  • Pregnant/Nursing

Her nutrition is particularly important when she is pregnant. Apart from extra calories, she also needs additional nutrients.

There are some cat food brands that recommend you give your pregnant feline three times the serving of an adult cat.

Usually, if you do not provide enough servings for your pregnant or nursing feline, she may not have a healthy pregnancy or produce adequate amounts of milk for the kitten.

Lack of adequate nutrients may put her at the risk of getting eclampsia during nursing. She may suffer from deficient blood calcium.

  • Seniors

Cats who are seven years or older are considered seniors. Seniors felines have a tendency of losing muscle and developing serious health problems.

If your feline suffers from kidney disease, digestive issues, diabetes or any other problem, we suggest you consult your veterinarian for food brand suggestions.

Read more: Best Cat Food for Seniors

Tips for Choosing the Best Dry Cat Food Brands

Here are some tips to help you with the selection process:

  • Think of any dietary restrictions. Is your cat overweight? Does she suffer from any allergies? Choose a brand that will be healthy and safe for your cat.
  • Always consult your veterinarian when you are not sure. Ask your vet to inform you of any specific dietary issues that you should be concerned about.
  • Research numerous brands before you decide. Look for a popular brand that most cat parents recommend. Also, consider brands that offer more than one variety of their products.
  • Compare the pricing. You would certainly come across cheap and expensive brands, depending on the quality of the dry cat food. Most brands provide basic or budget food, a premium style, or a normal formula.
  • Always read the labels and read them again. You can gather a lot of info from the labels, including nutritional and caloric info.
  • Consider the preferences of your cat. Your feline may prefer smaller or larger kibbles. She may favor one flavor more than the other and so on.
  • Avoid trendy brands. The idea is to buy the best dry cat food brands. So, make sure you select a trusted brand and not just a trendy brand.

We believe this is more than enough information to help you choose the best brand for your cat. Here are our recommendations:

Top 5 Vet Recommended Dry Cat Food Brands

Iams Proactive

Iams is setting a remarkable standard for kitty food with its proactive dry cat food for adult felines. This brand has five product lines.

This is a premium kitty food brand that only uses top-quality ingredients and exceptional safe manufacturing process.

Iams is our top selection for the best dry cat food brands since it’s a genuine company that is fully committed to the nourishment and well-being of your cat.

The leading ingredient in this formula is chicken, which is a protein-rich meal that provides adequate energy and supports the development of strong muscles.

Unlike conventional nourishments, Iams Proactive is a hundred percent balanced and complete for proper maintenance.

Pros:

  • Contains potassium and calcium for a healthy heart
  • Protein-rich diet supports strong muscles
  • Crunchy kibble texture lessens plaque buildup
  • Tailored fiber improves digestive health
  • Complete adult nourishment for lifelong health

Cons:

  • Not a suitable choice for kittens

Royal Canin

At #2 on our list is the Royal Canin. This brand uses the finest ingredients in its formulas to mimic the natural high-protein regime of wild cats. This brand has three product lines.

While other brands provide you with wide varieties of products, making it harder to choose. Royal Canin offers you the finest recipe made of healthful ingredients.

If you are actively searching for a high-protein food for your kitten that is composed of healthy meats and limited carbs, look no further than the Royal Canin.

The main constituent is chicken, which guarantees strong muscle growth and full of playtime energy. This meal has 34% protein, 16% fat, 4% fiber, and 8% moisture.

Pros:

  • Supports easy weaning
  • Supports the developing immune system of a kitten
  • Features a mixture of highly digestive prebiotics, fibers, and proteins
  • Sufficient for the high-energy requirements of a kitten
  • Small kibble texture ideal for a kitten’s mouth
  • Ideal food for a kitten as she transition to adulthood

Cons:

  • Not recommended for adulthood

Hill’s Science

Hill’s Science is the brand that provides you with nature’s variety. It provides the nutritional merits of evolutionary traditional wild diet. This brand has five product lines.

This brand is committed to providing recipes that are simple and pure, using only digestible and healthy ingredients for the satisfaction of your cat.

Hill’s Science is one of the best dry cat food brands for all life stages, and the one we most recommend for pregnant or nursing felines.

The company’s 15 and 7-pound formulas are made up of clinically proven vitamin C + E and antioxidant blend for a healthy immune system.

The formulas are well-balanced for sensitive skin and stomach. They help to improve skin and coat health and digestion.

Pros:

  • Natural ingredients rich in protein and free of preservatives
  • Suitable for sensitive stomach and skin
  • Complete and balanced nutrition for easy digestion
  • Clinically proven antioxidants benefits

Cons:

  • The packaging of this brand doesn’t have feeding guidelines

Purina

Purina is the brand that knows very well that all cats are different. They know the nutritional requirements at every stage of life. This brand has six product lines.

Purina cat food is formulated by pet nutritionists to provide your cat with the perfect balance of protein-rich ingredients and healthy nutrients for health as well as longevity.

This brand has two formulas (13 and 6.3 pounds) for your feline’s nourishment. The recipes consist of no artificial colors and preservatives.

The food is specifically made for effortless digestion. Top-quality proteins and carbs work as a unit to provide the nutrients and essential amino acids your cat requires.

Pros:

  • Formulas are specifically made for healthy digestion
  • No added preservatives or artificial colors
  • Offers all 25 minerals and essential vitamins
  • Natural fiber blend improves healthy digestion
  • 100% balanced and complete for adults
  • Package includes daily feeding amounts

Cons:

  • May cause some cats to puke, especially kittens

Meow Mix

The Meow Mix brand has been producing the finest cat meals for forty years. This brand is well-known for its irresistible tastes.

Meow Mix provides you with more than one delicious flavors, including ocean fish, salmon, turkey, and chicken. Your cat will never grow tired of this brand.

Meow Mix has four mouth-watering recipes for your cat, including Meow Mix Original, Meow Mix Tender Centers, Meow Mix Seafood Medley, and Meow Mix Indoor Health.

The Meow Mix brand is designed to provide your cat with nutritional benefits that mimic the natural food cats fend for themselves in the wild.

This is the one company that cares for every need of your feline. The packaging comes with caloric info, feeding guidelines, and nutritional info.

Pros:

  • Balanced and complete nutrition
  • High-quality protein supports strong muscles
  • Supplies all essential minerals and vitamins
  • Feeding guidelines and caloric and nutritional info provided

Cons:

  • Some recipes are composed of common proteins

In Conclusion

When shopping for the best dry cat food brands, look at the packaging to make sure that the following are provided: nutritional info, caloric content, and feeding guidelines.

Avoid dry cat food containing byproduct meal. These rendered products are the most inexpensive sources of animal protein and are not reliable sources of nutrition.

We strongly suggest that you look for a specifically named meal or meat, such as chicken, turkey, or lamb meal as the first ingredient.

You should also avoid store or generic brands. These may be repackaged rejects from big companies and generally contain cheaper poorer quality ingredients.

https://petupon.com/dry-cat-food/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Food for Labs & Lab Puppies

Like a lot of dog breeds, owners spend time researching to pick the best dog food for Labs. This is because labs are prone to gaining weight and having extra weight makes it difficult to shed. Labs are high-energy breeds, and so they need a proper diet of fat as a source of energy.

Puppies don’t eat adult formula because they do not need extra fat found in puppy formulas. It can make them grow faster than their skeletons resulting in skeletal disorders.

You should feed puppy food to puppies and feed adult food to adult dogs. They are both designed with different goals in mind. Source: k9ofmine.com

These dogs do not also need supplements with their diet. But when they are prone to obesity, chondroitin and glucosamine can come in handy to prevent joint damage. Be sure to include fatty acids in their diet for a shiny coat. Add probiotics for healthy gut bacteria.

List of the 7 dog foods for Labrador Retriever
Dog Food Image Price Our Rated
1. Wellness CORE Natural Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food $$$ View on Chewy
2. BLUE Wilderness High Protein BLUE Wilderness Adult Grain Free Chicken Dry Dog Food $$ View on Chewy
3. Taste of the Wild Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain Free $$ View on Chewy
4. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food $$$ View on Amazon
5. Fromm Family Foods $$ View on Amazon
6. Eagle Pack Natural Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food $ View on Chewy
7. BLUE Wilderness BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe $$$ View on Chewy

Top Rated Good Dog Food for Labs

1. Best Dry Food: Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free

[img_products3 img_number=”49161″ alt=”Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food” img_code=”V1508796873″ product_name=”https://ift.tt/2L3b9x8″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This dog food is a grain-free dog kibble. It contains about 34% protein that supports your high-energy lab. This tasty kibble is also suitable for active working dogs. Its high-quality proteins are derived from low-fat chicken and turkey.

It is also ideal for dogs that don’t suffer from allergies. It has about 15% fat that is necessary for a large dog breed that’s prone to being overweight. Dogs on a diet may also benefit from this product. The formula contains omega 6 and 3 that help promote a healthy skin as well as a shiny coat. It also protects their heart.

The grain-free food contains high-quality fiber sources like broccoli and potatoes. These ingredients help your lab feel fuller for a long time and regulate their bowel movements. Also, fiber is relatively important when it comes to weight control. Along with the fiber content, it also has probiotics for healthy digestion.

The formula also contains antioxidants that promote a healthy and strong immune system. Its glucosamine content helps support healthy joints as well.

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  • Great for picky dogs
  • Reasonably priced
  • Doesn’t contain corn, wheat or soy
  • Grain-free
  • Doesn’t have artificial colors or flavors

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  • Contains chicken

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2. Wilderness Blue Buffalo High Protein Dry Adult Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”46872″ img_code=”V1529603549″ alt=”BLUE Wilderness Adult Grain Free Chicken Dry Dog Food”  product_name=”https://ift.tt/2BYeoD9″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This dog food has been recommended for labs with sensitive stomachs. It is an inexpensive dry dog kibble. Wilderness Blue dog food is high in protein and free of poultry or chicken by-products.

It will help your lab stay energetic and active without having to worry about the indigestible parts found in poultry. Chicken meal and low-fat salmon helps labs develop long, lean muscles. It also maintains their muscles.

The dry dog food is low in fat sliding. It has only 15% fat content, and this is suitable for labs with weight problems. It also contains the essential fatty acids needed to maintain a moisturized skin and healthy coat.

The formula is not made with corn, wheat, or soy products. It also doesn’t contain any preservatives, flavors or artificial colors.

Its LifeSource bits are processed with a cold press that doesn’t subject its essential minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to the heat. This way, it remains potent and offers all the minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for proper immune system function.

It contains phosphorous and calcium that help keep your dog’s teeth and bones healthy. The glucosamine content helps the dog maintain his bones as time passes.

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  • Quality ingredients
  • Helps with allergies
  • Doesn’t contain corn, wheat or soy
  • Low fat
  • Contains calcium, glucosamine and phosphorous

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  • The texture of its LifeSource bits doesn’t appeal to all labs.

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3. Best Puppy food: Taste of the Wild, Canine Formula

[img_products3 img_number=”49066″ img_code=”V1524669768″ alt=”Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain Free ” product_name=”https://ift.tt/2L9kZxL” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This product is considered among the best organic dog food for labs. It is delicious, inexpensive and healthy. It was made to mimic the natural feeding pattern of a canine in the wild. It is grain-free and has different exciting flavors for picky dogs.

The formula has real roasted meats to provide protein with moderated fats of 18%. These ingredients are vital for a balanced meal. It is made with high-quality fiber sources like peas and sweet potatoes and is quite easy to digest.

These ingredients provide slow-burning, long-lasting energy and keep the dog healthy while supporting gut health.

It also has naturally occurring pro and pre-biotics that help keep your pet healthy. The formula is also suitable for puppies with sensitive stomachs.

This canine formula has been enriched with the essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3. This component keeps your lab’s coat sleek while keeping the skin healthy. It also protects and maintains your dog’s heart health.

It contains antioxidants such as raspberries and blueberries. These ingredients keep your lab’s immune system in great shape.

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  • Comes in a variety of flavors
  • Fills up the pet
  • Free of soy, corn, and grain
  • Great for sensitive stomachs
  • Promotes a healthy immune system

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  • Some flavors aren’t specified.

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4. Orijen Adult Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”816FTpyYS4L” alt=”Orijen Original Dry Dog Food” code=”B01I3JW7PK” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

If you prefer a diet that mimics the raw food diet, this may be the best for labs with shedding/dry skin. The premium dog kibble contains high protein as well as 85% meat. This helps mimic the natural raw food that a carnivorous canine would enjoy in the wild.

Its 38-44% protein content helps your lab to sustain its energy level all through the day. However, you must feed this product to an adult lab. This is to prevent overgrowing by the puppy, which will damage his skeleton. It is more suitable for adult labs.

Aside from being a high protein dog food, the 2/3 types of meat are raw or fresh. This implies that your pet can absorb the nutrients and vitamins faster as it should be. What is left of the 1/3 meat ingredient is air-dried. All meat products contained in this formula are suitable for human consumption as well.

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  • Great for picky dogs
  • Kibble smells nice
  • Does not contain filler
  • High in protein
  • Great for dogs with allergy

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  • High in fat

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5. Fromm Family Foods 33 lb. Gold Nutritionals Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”61gfyBo2JAL” alt=”Fromm Family Foods” code=”B000WFQ64C” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This adult dry kibble is suitable for labs with skin issues (source). It is formulated for large size dogs such as labs that are over 50 lb. It has enough fat and protein content of 12% and 23% respectively.

This blend of fat and protein helps support your lab’s energy level and also promote weight maintenance for your lab.

The protein content is gotten from various low-fat sources like chicken, turkey, eggs, and duck. This may not be suitable for labs with poultry allergies. It also contains salmon oil and probiotics that help your lab in digestion as well as maintenance of optimal gut health.

This ingredient provides essential fatty acids that help your lab to maintain a healthy skin and coat. It also protects the lab’s heart.

Other quality sources of fiber like barley, flaxseed and brown rice help fill up your lab all through the day. They also help maintain healthy energy levels.

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  • Great for large breed puppies
  • Good mix of natural products
  • High protein content
  • Contains probiotics
  • Low in fat

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  • A bit pricey

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6. Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”76715″ img_code=”V1491238657″ alt=”Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food”  product_name=”https://ift.tt/2BVFs5R” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This natural dry dog food is specially formulated for large breeds such as labs. It is a suitable diet dog food for labs. It offers a dual source of protein with lamb and chicken as well as DHA to promote eye and brain growth.

Its phosphorus and calcium content allows your lab’s bone structure to form without any complications. This also applies to female labs during pregnancy to prevent eclampsia.

It is recommended for labs with ear infections. It does not contain meat by-products, artificial flavors, preservatives or colors. Aside from the macronutrients it provides, the dry dog food provides optimum quantities of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements.

It is more suitable for lab puppies as they need a perfect balance of micro nutrients to help strengthen their immune systems.

This formula is ideal for labs with poultry allergies. It helps maintain their coats and keep their skin healthy.

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  • Firms up stool
  • Made with natural ingredients
  • The kibbles are smaller
  • Doesn’t contain colors or preservatives

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  • May cause gas

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7. BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”64377″ img_code=”V1537549939″ alt=”BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe” product_name=”https://ift.tt/2L3bbFg” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

Blue Wilderness dog food has been recommended for active dogs. It is a tasty kibble for labs that was specially made to provide for your lab’s natural taste.

The recipe is formulated to give your lab a close-to-natural diet. It is made with a protein-rich formula, and it contains meat like lamb, deboned beef, bison as well as venison.

The formula was made with gluten-free grains. It has no trace of soy, wheat or corn. It is a unique hypoallergenic formula, and this makes it ideal for pets with a sensitive stomach.

You can be sure that your lab won’t have gastrointestinal disturbances. It gives your lab enough energy all through the day. It also helps promote a shinier coat.

It is made with a salmon formula that helps your lab fix their coat and skin problems. It achieves this by providing a fatty acid rich meal.

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  • Grain free
  • Comes in tasty flavors
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Promotes a shiny coat

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  • It may not be suitable for all dogs

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Labrador Dog Food Advice

Regardless of what a lot of people say, the nutritional needs of different dog breeds vary. This is because larger dogs often require more food than the smaller ones. However, labs need the same percentage of fat, protein, and carbohydrate in their diets like a Great Dane or Chihuahua.

Every dog needs food with some protein. However, it must be from good quality sources like fish, chicken or lamb. Labs are high-energy breeds, and if they must keep up, they need food that is rich in protein.

One important thing you must note when it concerns the diet of your lab is the high risk of becoming obese. All dogs are prone to obesity, but the lab is particularly prone. It can be difficult to feed labs properly as they can easily be overfed. You must exercise caution in this regard.

There are lots of overweight labs because owners still haven’t gotten the routine right. There must be some sort of food-exercise balance. It is crucial to monitor your Labrador’s weight closely. Where necessary, adjust the portion sizes and include more exercise in your routine.

Before choosing food for your labs, you should find out if your lab has a sensitive stomach.

If your dog has a history of gastrointestinal problems or a sensitive stomach, it is safer to find foods that are allergy friendly. Such hypoallergenic foods are free from the common allergens like soy and gluten. They may also be easier on the lab’s stomach.

When you find a suitable food for your lab, it is better to stick to it. How can you determine if your lab needs a particular food? The coat will become more glossy, and they will have well-formed stools. They are also always energetic and maintain a healthy weight.

How much to Feed a Labrador?

Feeding your lab can be done in two different ways, and lots of lab owners use these methods. You can feed your lab twice a day all through his life or feed him once daily after he passes the 12 months mark.

Large meals can make your lab bigger than necessary, so be sure to check the portion. It is better to feed the lab once in the morning and again in the evening.

Most kibble packets contain the recommended quantity of food needed. This quantity varies from brand to brand. For labs that are already overweight, feed them 1/3 less than the recommended amount.

Your lab may need fewer kibbles than you think. If you have other concerns about his weight, read more about the measures to take to help your lab maintain optimal weight.

The amount you feed your pet Labrador will depend on the size, age and the amount of exercise the dog gets. Via cuteness.com

How much to Feed a Lab puppy?

Your lab puppies can easily be overfed. Divide the food into several portions before feeding. If you give the puppy a full day’s ration at a go, the puppy will eat it all. But this may cause diarrhea and also damage his stomach because kibbles swell after they are consumed.

The Dog Breed Info Center’s basic feeding guide recommends using an 8-ounce cup to measure out food. Via pets.thenest.com

When your lab puppy is eight to twelve weeks old, he’ll benefit from eating four meals during the day. It should include breakfast, lunch, and tea before supper. Try to space these meals properly by at least three hours. This will give the pups a chance to digest the food.

Also, ensure that Supper comes two hours before the puppy’s last trip to the bathroom during bedtime. When your lab pup is three months old, you can then divide this daily ration into about three portions. When he’s six months old, cut it to two. Just breakfast and supper.
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Conclusion

Feeding your lab doesn’t have to follow a one size fits all approach. This HD because the needs of all labs are different. Some are overweight and need less food, while others are allergic to certain ingredients. So you need to do what is right for the dog and his health.

Our recommended dog food from this list is the Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food. This is because it contains a decent amount of protein that your lab needs for optimal growth. It doesn’t contain any artificial compounds like soy or color. It is also very affordable.

When your lab thrives on a particular kibble, continue with the diet. Monitor your pet to see if the food is ideal. If it is not, discontinue it immediately. You can seek the recommendation of a veterinarian for the best food for labs as well. Be sure to pick one that is suitable for your pet and keeps them healthy.

https://petupon.com/best-dog-food-for-labs/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomach, Gas, and Diarrhea Problems

Most dogs naturally have tummy troubles and finding a suitable food brand can be problematic. You need to know the ingredients that could irritate your pet’s stomach. This is the first step to solving the problem.

However, tummy troubles can be fixed by picking the right dog food for sensitive stomach. This article will highlight five top products to consider for your pet.

When it comes to treating sensitive stomachs, there is no sole approach. There are several methods of trial and error that have to be tested to know what will work for your pooch. The most recommended method is the restricted diet strategy. It involves feeding the dog with food with certain ingredients to prevent allergies and irritation.

5 Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomach, Gas, and Diarrhea

1. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”71vjAkENxXL” alt=”Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food ” code=”B003MGAIDI” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This dog food brand applied an efficient scientific approach to the development of the food. It is based on the various needs of different age groups and breeds. It is formulated for sensitive skin and stomach.

The food is made with high-quality ingredients and has additional nutritional compounds like omega-6 fatty acids. These ingredients promote a healthy coat, provides vitamin E and C for a robust immune system as well as essential antioxidants that help dogs with sensitive stomachs.

It is nutritionally balanced with simple ingredients that aid digestion and this may make it ideal for dogs with such health problems. The dog food is made in different varieties to offer a personalized experience to both small and large dogs.

It also comes in two types: canned or dry dog food depending on the needs and preferences of your dog.

The food may be ideal for dogs with allergies and may help clear up their skin within a short while after use. Its high-quality ingredients also make it a good meal for dogs as there is no chance of the pets overindulging in it.

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  • Helps with digestion
  • Suitable for old, sickly dogs
  • Picky eaters love it
  • Smells like salmon patties

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2. NUTRO Natural Choice Health Benefit Dog Treats

[img_products img_code=”91u55dEWe%2BL” alt=”NATURAL CHOICE Sensitive Stomach Adult ” code=”B006TWA6K2″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This natural dog food for sensitive stomach is packed in a pastel-colored minimalist package. The kibble is chicken flavored with a blend of simple and healthy ingredients to provide nutrition for your pet.

It is fortified with natural grains and mixed with natural fiber sources like chicory, pumpkin and natural coconut fibers. These ingredients help to strengthen the digestive function of your dog.

Although this food is rich in ingredients, it is also a dry treat, and you’ll need to hydrate your pet when you feed them this food. The water will help them assimilate the food and all its nutrients.

It is important to note that this food is 100% organic. It does not contain any artificial flavors or color, preservatives or fillers. This may make it an ideal treat for your dog if he suffers from sensitivities and allergies.

The product is made specifically to support your pet’s immune function and intestine health. The treat gives your dog access to antioxidants, real protein, and vitamins.

It also does not sacrifice taste or nutrition to provide this feature. Lastly, they make a great training treat for all dogs, including puppies.

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  • Contains high-quality ingredients like real chicken
  • It doesn’t make dogs sick
  • Large enough, so they aren’t swallowed whole
  • Prevents bad breath

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  • They don’t smell well

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3. BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dry Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”81t3eA27P9L” alt=”BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain Free Salmon & Potato ” code=”B00YFZS940″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

Just like its name implies, Blue Basics dog food contains the basics that your dog needs to stay healthy, satisfied and happy. It is made with a simple grain-free formula, which supports a healthy intestinal function.

It contains pumpkin, turkey protein, and pea fiber as well. In addition, the healthy carb requirements of dogs are covered with oatmeal, potatoes and brown rice.

This food does not expose your pet to harmful ingredients that may have serious side effects. It is free of preservatives, animal by-product, additives or colorants.

It contains a healthy blend of fruits, vegetables, and micronutrients that have been selected carefully as they aid proper digestion in dogs.

This food may be ideal for dogs that are on a restricted ingredient diet because of food sensitivities. It is also suitable for dogs who need food made from real ingredients. This makes it easier to assimilate and digest. This way, their bodies can use it for energy.

It contains an intense flavor profile that is gotten from fresh ingredients, and the natural flavors were preserved to provide a delightful taste sensation.

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  • Easy on the stomach
  • Great for sensitive stomach and skin
  • Good for dogs with digestive issues

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  • May cause vomiting in some dogs

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4. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food by Nature’s Variety

[img_products img_code=”6197nxR7gQL” alt=”Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Recipe” code=”B004YVOGJM” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

Instinct Limited Ingredient dog food is grain-free and comes in so many varieties. Some include duck, turkey, peas, and lamb. It also has different bag sizes to make it more affordable.

The small bag is only 4.4 pounds, but the biggest bag is about 25.3 pounds. This way, you will only have to buy what your pet can consume quickly if you prefer it.

The brand is formulated for pets with sensitive stomachs. This is why the common triggers of tummy problems such as grain and gluten are absent in the ingredient list. The ingredients are also free of fillers but contain lots of healthy omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

It is also made with an animal protein source and contains easily digestible ingredients. This may make it ideal for dogs with diarrhea.

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  • Hardens poop to prevent diarrhea
  • Great for dogs with irritable bowel syndrome
  • Contains quality ingredients
  • Great for dogs with oily coat

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  • May cause gas

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5. Merrick Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”81Vy%2BGx-gUL” alt=”Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food” code=”B00IAXIGPK” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This dog food has a good meat protein source. The source is pork meal, and it is a good meat protein for dogs. Lots of high-quality dog food brands use pork meal as their main ingredient as it contains up to 80% protein that your dog needs. It is a good source for all dogs.

Merrick Dry Dog Food also gets its main carbohydrate source from sweet potatoes and potatoes. Potatoes contain up to 7% protein and about 92% carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes also contain 6% protein and about 93% carbohydrates.

These options provide excellent sources of fiber. Lots of dog owners worry about the sugar content of potatoes. However, this should not be a cause for concern except the dog has blood sugar issues.

The product also contains peas which may cause tummy problems in some dogs as they may find it difficult to digest the food. This ingredient has 22-24% protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Even though it is a healthy option, it may cause some digestive problems for extremely sensitive dogs.

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  • Helps clear skin issues
  • The kibble is smaller and fit for smaller dogs
  • It is affordable

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  • Has a strong smell

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Symptoms of Sensitive Stomachs in Dogs

Different signs help dog owners to detect sensitive stomachs in dogs. Some signs to look out for include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Painful bowel movements
  • Itchy Ears
  • Itchy skin
  • Skin Rashes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Energy changes (hyperactivity or lethargy)
  • Unwillingness to eat during mealtimes
  • Noisy stomach (rumbling, gurgling)
  • Flatulence (gas)
  • Aggression (rare, but it happens)

When you notice any of these signs of the potential digestive or systemic sensitivity in your pet, you should find out which ingredient is responsible for the irritation or allergy.

Why Some Dogs Have Sensitive Stomachs

Sensitive stomachs can affect any breed of dog and can be caused by a long list of factors and some include:

Intolerances

Some pets exhibit intolerance to carbs most of the time, and this is characterized by gastrointestinal illness. Other lactose intolerant puppies show symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhea or bloating.

It is easy to spot an intolerance problem in your dog and link it to a particular ingredient or food by the way they react to it after it has been ingested. To be sure, you should visit a vet to confirm your suspicions.

Food allergies

In many cases, dogs become allergic to particular protein sources when they have been exposed to the ingredient or food source for a long time. This is why it is vital to diversify the dog’s diet properly so they can benefit from a variety of nutrients. This will definitely improve their immunity.

Another cause of food allergies in dogs is the presence of some food additives that can seriously disrupt the dog’s nervous system.

Underlying Issues

Occasionally, the dog may exhibit a sensitive stomach or allergy as a symptom of other underlying issues such as parasite infections, pancreatic deterioration, spoiled food, and toxicity. As a result, the allergy will be resent for shorter periods and can be treated easily with pharmacologic therapy.

If the symptoms do not subside after some time, then you should take the pet to the vet. The vet can detect the sensitivity and offer recommendations or place them on a restricted ingredient diet.

The Benefits

Getting food that is specially formulated for sensitive stomach helps prevent various allergic reactions in dogs. It’s necessary to study your pet to know when he/she needs special food.

You must try to understand what he can eat and what must be avoided to prevent tummy troubles. The food you provide must also give the dogged strength, optimum energy, and nutrition.

Inflammatory bowel diseases

When you buy specially formulated food for sensitive stomachs, you could also prevent the development of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Allergic reactions

Many dogs may develop allergies to regular dog foods. This is the time to get special food to promote optimal health.

Balanced diet

When the diet contains all the necessary ingredients, it will help the dog to maintain a healthy gut and balanced bacteria.

Prevents diarrhea

Most dogs display tummy problems through diarrhea. A healthy stool is solid in form, and loose stool can be caused by food allergy. When you restrict the dog’s diet, you will help aid digestion to produce firmer stools.

Prevents inactivity

When a dog has tummy problems, he is more likely to become inactive, and this will cause other health problems.

Reduces food sensitivities

When you feed your dog with healthy food, it will provide the nourishment they need despite being sensitive to some foods.

Prevents suffering and pain

Digestive problems can cause pain and agony when not checked properly. Getting the right dog food for sensitive stomach will reduce allergies and pain.

Allergic reactions to food

Eating one kind of food daily may cause an allergic reaction. Try to switch things up with the food to avoid allergic reactions.

Healthy skin

A good diet reflects on the skin of your dog. Getting good food for sensitive stomach helps make their skin shine and keeps skin diseases at bay.

How can you take care of a dog with sensitivities?

Here are some tips and guidelines to help you care for your dog with food sensitivities.

Start by finding out the food allergies your dog has. When you confirm this, do not allow strangers to give treats to the dog. Be sure to change the food every two months. You can also mix it up with other brands instead of using one formula for years.

Try the elimination and addition method to find the problem as it may be more accurate that allergy panel tests. Watch out for products with food additives, since they also cause allergies in dogs.

Also, try to reduce fat and carbs in the dog’s diet. Meat and grains should also be limited so check the ingredient list for this. Be sure to review your observations with the vet. Lastly, pick high-quality dog food.

Conclusion

Caring for a dog with a sensitive stomach is a full-time job. It doesn’t have to be complicated if you follow these steps to find high-quality food, your dog’s tummy troubles will be over.

The Hill’s Science Diet dog food is an excellent start for a dog with a sensitive stomach because it is balanced with simple ingredients to aid digestion. It is also specially formulated for dogs with allergies.

https://petupon.com/best-dog-food-for-sensitive-stomach/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Food for Bulldogs: Top 5 Picks

If you’ve been searching for the best dog food for bulldog then you are in luck. We’ve done all the research for you and have found some great options.

Many French or English bulldog owners know that their breeds come with some specific struggles. Not only in terms of health but also eating in general. We don’t enjoy seeing our pets suffer through thick and heavy breathing while they eat.

For sure hearing, too many snorts or coughs when a bulldog is in the food bowl makes me nervous! But, there is a lot of nutrition that can possibly help your bulldog’s day to day experiences. Let’s try to set your furry friend up for a long and healthy life.

Recommended Dog Food for Bulldogs

We have some recommendations here that can truly affect the nutritional intake of your dog from what they are currently getting. Don’t be too focused on the one that is a must-have. Instead keep in mind the goals you have for you and your fuzzy bulldog, as well as their nutritional needs.

What are our recommendations?

  • Wellness Natural Dry Dog Food – CORE;
  • Royal Canin Breed – Bulldog Dry Dog Food;
  • Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Recipe;
  • Canidae Dry Dog Food – For All Life Stages;
  • Taste of the Wild

All five of these options are healthy options for your short-snouted friend. So finding the right one may not be as easy as selecting whichever is cheapest or has the highest amount of protein.

Wellness Natural Dry Dog Food – CORE

Wellness Natural Dry Dog Food delivers high-quality ingredients for your bulldog. This particular formula is generalized for “any adult dog” but Bulldogs get a lot out of the many benefits it delivers. The overall health of your bulldog is quickly met with this brand.

  • 7 varieties including a puppy as well as a small breed option;
  • Completely grain-free;
  • Protein from high-quality meat, no by-products here;
  • No Fillers

Wellness CORE’s focus on providing high-quality to your dog’s diet can possibly affect a number of aspects of their health.

The dental and digestive aspects are often most affected by diet change and can be associated with the lifespan of your pet. Just like people, a healthy diet can take care of a number of other issues before they even arise.

By switching from any brand to one like Wellness that eliminates the unnecessary fillers you can have a huge impact on how much nutrition your dog is getting from each meal.

Royal Canin Breed – Bulldog Dry Dog Food

Highly rated, highly recommended and from a brand that respects your love of your purebred Royal Canin you almost can’t go wrong with.

  • Just the right amount of fiber for gas control;
  • Focused on reducing joint inflammation;
  • Top ingredient is always real meat

The benefits you see from Royal Canin formulas are far different from anything else on the market. These formulas are really engineered to cater to each breed so specifically that it is hard for any non-breed specific brand to rival them in terms of quality.

Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Recipe

Unlike any other dog food on this list, you have to make the Honest Kitchen food. It’s dehydrated and easy to mix so it isn’t the end of the world. But if you have a busy lifestyle this might be a deal breaker for you.

On top of it, the other downside we found is that it is actually kind of expensive.It seems expensive at first and then you reason, well, it’s not bad because it’s dehydrated. Don’t be fooled by portions and dehydration, this is a steep price.

  • Balanced diet of protein to carbs;
  • Entirely grain free;
  • No GMO;
  • No by-products

The balanced diet and moderate calories can be a huge benefit if you’re looking to maintain or control your dog’s weight. All of the meat used here is also human grade or “real meat” none of that overly processed stuff you see in some other dog foods. Also, all of the ingredients are all natural which a big plus for some dog owners is.

Canidae Dry Dog Food – For All Life Stages

A dog food option that often goes forgotten Canidae is a brand that delivers a high-quality product and focuses on using only premium ingredients.

  • 4 variety options;
  • No corn;
  • No wheat;
  • No Soy

Although many are adamant that any dog food labeled as “all ages” doesn’t deliver a lot of nutritional value, they have been proven wrong in this case.

It just means maybe make sure that the nutritional build in that particular formula fit your breed and the life stage your dog is in currently.

Taste of the Wild

This iconic brand is one that stands out. From all of the standard blue and grey patterned packaging is this nature scene. But Taste of the Wild doesn’t stop standing apart only with its packaging.

  • Formula with a ton of vegetables;
  • Real meat in every formula;
  • Six flavor varieties for picky eaters;
  • First two ingredients are always real meat

This has been identified as one of the best dry dog foods for Bulldogs and it’s because of the strong vegetable base. It eases a lot of their digestion troubles and it will help a lot of your having to live with their gassiness.

The downside to the Taste of the Wild is a natural side effect of the many great things about it. It molds really easily. Also, if you happen to hold on to a bag for too long and do not notice it can severely disrupt your poor bulldog’s stomach.

Taste of the Wild delivers a grain free formula that builds on a base of protein-rich vegetables. This means that the protein is high but still gentle on your bulldog’s stomach.

Whether your dog is active or lazy they’ll find a great time in burning off the energy from the extra carbs that are super protein-rich.

5 Best Food for Bulldogs Breakdown

#1 – Royal Canin Breed – Dry Dog Food – Best Food for American Bulldogs

[img_products img_code=”61F1OlIDWSL” alt=”ROYAL CANIN BREED HEALTH NUTRITION Bulldog” code=”B0032BFAMM” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

There is a distinction to Royal Canin that they really care as much about your dog’s breed as you do. They start by identifying constant struggles within the breed and then analyzing how these could be overcome through diet and design.

Short and Broad Muzzle

This can really make eating difficult. Although we often get irritated with the messy eating habits of Bulldogs it can be hard to stay mad at such a cute face. Hours later though when you are mopping their food dish for the third time we know you wish they weren’t quite so messy.

Royal Canin has, of all things, an answer for that. They’ve designed their kibbles to be wavy so the Bulldogs upturned muzzle can easily scoop them up. Instead of hearing your bulldog snort and inhale their food you can rest easy knowing they are being encouraged to chew.

Let’s face it, Bulldogs can smell not like grandmas cooking, or roses, or even a decent body spray. They smell bad and they are gassy.

This can be a terrible combination, but where there is a struggle Royal Canin comes in to attempt to fix it. They have heavily pulled back on the heavy grains like corn and put a focus on nutrient-dense fibers.

Allowing your bulldog to have a restful stomach and you to have a reasonable smelling room. This change doesn’t happen overnight though.

It can definitely take a few weeks before you identify any change. We highly recommend watching your dog’s diet very carefully if it seems like their gassiness doesn’t change when their diet does.

#2 – Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Best Food for English Bulldogs

[img_products img_code=”81keaXs-0qL” alt=”Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food” code=”B000VTRI32″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

The wellness brand can be seen as a little bit pricey as they are on the upper side of the mid-priced dog food. But wellness offers probably the most similar benefits that a breed specific brand or formula would.

They do not have the innovation that Royal Canin does, however many breeds specific formulas didn’t make their way onto this list because they simply weren’t worth it.

Variety for even the pickiest of eaters

Wellness CORE has various options which include: whitefish, herring, turkey, chicken, duck, boar and rabbit. But Wellness doesn’t stop there, they keep going.

They offer varieties geared specifically for puppies, and small breeds and weight control also. There isn’t much more than we can ask for from a formula that begins so generalized.

So whether you have a picky eater or a bulldog with food allergies there is definitely something for your pet that you can find from Wellness. This might be one of the best-generalized choices available.

Long-term Effect of Quality Ingredients

So, it’s basic knowledge that a healthy diet over a long period of time means quality health right? Well, sometimes no but most times yes.

Wellness stays focused on sticking to their initial goal of quality ingredients. Nutrition and nutrient dense foods are clearly top priorities with Wellness.

They start all of their formulas with all natural food regionally sourced from the US. So when you’re asking what the best food for your bulldog is, or any dog for that matter, Wellness definitely deserves a name drop.

#3 – Canidae Dry Dog Food – For All Life Stages

[img_products img_code=”91X6RkKmDQL” alt=”CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Dry Food Chicken” code=”B001DY6TWU” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This is one of the rare times where we recommend an option that is supposed to be a one-size-fits-all sort of arrangement.

But the benefits of Canidae’s Dry Dog food for All Life Stages are too good to pass up. There is not another generalized brand out there like this that provides all the benefits Bulldogs need that we could find.

You will always find the first two or even three ingredients to be real meat. Then the grains that are used include brown rice and rice bran. A far cry away from most generalized formula’s that claim to serve “all ages” or “all life stages”.

The Canidae Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages is great for French, English or American Bulldogs throughout their adult life. Even as they approach elderly they can stay on this formula with an adjustment to the volume of their calorie intake.

As their energy goes down we often see the need to cut down on some of their calorie intakes. This is one of the arguments that is for “all ages” doesn’t deliver exactly what they need. It does, it just needs some adjustments over time.

What makes this possible is the quality ingredients and balance between proteins and carbs. They don’t overload on protein which would make it less nutrient efficient for puppies or elderly dogs.

There are also no filler ingredients which means that at all stages they’re getting only food that delivers a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Which brand is the winner?

Royal Canin Breed – Bulldog Dry Dog Food by a landslide. There is no time when innovative thinking about an animal’s diet doesn’t produce amazing results for Royal Canin.

They are able to provide solutions such as, different kibble shapes and different fibers to solve problems that have ailed both the Bulldogs and their owners for years. You won’t be stuck at home anymore wishing there was something you could do about your Bulldogs messy eating.

Now, there is a solution, and that’s great. But, the benefits we didn’t mention above?

Of course, Royal Canin is dedicated to high-quality ingredients. They focus on providing great, nutrient-dense proteins and use Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to help your bulldog’s skin stay healthy.

Most importantly though, Royal Canin has constantly returned to the need to cater to your Bulldogs easily disrupted digestive system.

Royal Canin may not be the brand for you, but if you are looking for the best dog food for bulldog’s this is the one we would recommend again and again.

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How to Take Care of a 10 Week Old Puppy

Approximately 7 out of 10 households in America have a pet (I have written in this post). They not only offer companionship and reduce loneliness, but they also are natural mood enhancers and as per current research can predict or sense things before they happen. Other people keep pets for security purposes.

Puppies unlike adult dogs are far more delicate and require a lot of attention and care. This includes diet, vaccinations and health care, sleep and toilet training among other things. Before acquiring a pet it’s good to familiarize yourself with how to care for these fur babies.

Below we discuss a few pointers to guide you if you are thinking of acquiring or adopting a 10 week old puppy. We have to point out however that taking care of a puppy or any pet for that matter is a commitment and requires a lot of patience especially during the first few weeks of life.

Feeding guide

At 10 weeks of age, a puppy should be on soft solid food either commercial puppy food or on a raw diet.  Puppies are normally weaned at 4 weeks of age. The diet especially if it’s commercial should of high quality, highly nutritious and easily digestible. One should be keen to read through the ingredients and labels and avoid food with fillers and additives which are often added to make a puppy feel full but offer no nutritional value.

Seeking advice from a veterinarian on the best brands for puppy food is always a good idea. If feeding a raw diet, a balanced diet is imperative as well.

How much to feed a 10-week old puppy?

Puppies should be fed approximately 3 to 4 times a day or small portions throughout the day up until they are 14 to 18 weeks old where they can switch to two meals a day unless advised otherwise by your veterinarian. This is because their bodies are growing fast and their metabolism is high therefore requiring more food and energy.

10-week old puppy feeding schedule

Their first meal can be 7 am, at noon for lunch and the last meal in the evening at 5 p.m. It’s a great idea for them to have their last meal of the day early to give the body time to digest and also to give them ample time to defecate before turning in for their nap at night. Care should, however, be taken not to overfeed them as it can lead to stomach upset, constipation, diarrhea or indigestion.

Water should be provided ad lib at all times to keep them hydrated and to assist in digestion. Milk especially cow milk should be avoided. Dogs are naturally lactose intolerant and feeding them dairy products can cause stomach upsets.

Owners should also be mindful not to change the puppy’s diet abruptly to avoid stomach upsets. If one wishes to switch up the diet it should be done slowly in small portions over time. Changing the diet the diet can also condition them to be picky eaters which can cause dietary problems later on when they become fully grown adult dogs.

Puppies are indiscriminate eaters can nibble on garbage and other harmful indigestible objects which cause obstructions in the gut. Owners should always be keen. In case of instances where the puppy feels insecure and anxious, one can opt for them to eat in their crate where they feel safe and secure. It’s also training them to wait before going for a toilet break.

Grooming

Grooming helps keep off parasites which transmit harmful diseases but also infectious microbes and odors. Puppies should have their first grooming session before 16 weeks of age. Later than this often proves difficult as at this time the majority of dogs are harder to train, have formed aggressive tendencies and harder to build trust especially when handled in ways they are not used to.

Grooming should be initiated at home first before scheduling a professional grooming session. This allows the puppy to acclimatize to being handled differently. This includes massaging or playing with their paws especially between their toes, ears, and tush. One can also brush their hair gently.

The first grooming session should be short and pleasant as puppies can get frightened by the noise of hair clippers, noisy dyers and being looped on the grooming table. This is because puppies are easily stressed and a bad first experience can inform future agreeability during grooming sessions.

Only basic grooming should be performed on the first session. This includes a warm gentle bath, gentle blow dry, light hair brushing, nail trimming ear cleaning and a light trim. The groomer should be gentle to keep the puppy as relaxed as possible. It’s also good to slowly introduce hair scissors and other grooming appliances especially those used around the face slowly.

Two to three grooming sessions are usually enough for the puppy to get acclimatized to grooming. The groomer should strive to make the experience very pleasant which inevitably conditions the puppy’s brain to associate grooming as a fun and enjoyable experience.

Sleep schedule

It’s good to put your pup on a schedule to make it easy for everyone at home. It’s good to take time off during the first few days of the pup’s arrival to spend quality time. This allows you to establish a bond as well as a good sleep schedule.

How much should a 10 week old puppy sleep?

Puppies should be encouraged to sleep in between play sessions or an hour after eating. Sleeping time should always be at the same time every day inside their crate or bed. Puppies at this age normally sleep for approximately 18 to 20 hours a day.

The puppy house

This may be a kennel for outdoor dogs or a crate or bed for indoor dogs. When acquiring or adopting a puppy it’s good to provide a safe, warm and comfortable space for them to retire to when tired, stressed, anxious or when they want to take a nap.

Crates or dog beds should have round edges to avoid injury. It’s important to keep the area clean with regular disinfection to keep harmful parasites and microbes that pass on infections.

Apart from providing a place to retire to, crates help in toilet training. They also provide a safe place to keep your dog while you are away. They also offer a safe place for recovery especially if your pup has had a major surgery and needs ample rest and minimal movement.

Puppy Training

Playing with your puppy

This not only ensures good physical and social development of your puppy but provides a good bonding opportunity. It helps one to get to know their puppy’s temperament, likes, dislikes, and Choose a time when the puppy is energetic.

Avoid initiating play immediately after meals as it can lead to a life-threatening condition called gastric torsion where the stomach twists on itself. It also prevents the puppy from vomiting or getting an upset stomach. Ideally, wait approximately an hour or two after meals. If playing with children, the sessions should be supervised.

At times kids can be a bit rough which may cause the puppy to become aggressive and not enjoy future play times. It’s also important to get to know which games your puppy loves. This may take a little bit of experimenting and patience. You want a game that greatly stimulates your puppy and offers good exercise as well.

Playtime also offers a great opportunity to introduce simple commands which one can build on when obedience training commences. Simple commands such as “Sit” or “Stay” can come in handy during play time. This should be followed by a reward either a treat, more attention from the owner or more play time.

Care should be taken not to overtire the puppy as much as they are so energetic. At this age, they are still growing and too much play may injure there growing bone and ligaments as they are not strong enough.

Toilet training

This also requires patience and should be done repeatedly over time until your puppy is fully trained to go outdoors. Puppies go at least 12 times a day and should be allowed toilet breaks at least every two hours especially after feeding, sleeping or playing.

Dogs appear anxious, walk around in circles or sniff around corners when they want a toilet break. One can opt to start with newspaper training. This involves training your dog to go to a newspaper. Always praise and lavish them with attention when they do go on the paper. If not ignore them but don’t shout or reprimand them. As they get used to it, slowly move the newspaper towards the door and finally outside. It’s a valuable trick to place a soiled newspaper outside.

Dogs normally follow their scent and will probably go where the soiled newspaper is. With time you can finally get rid of the newspaper and allow them to go while outdoors. Always remember to praise them for good behavior. One can also opt to crate train. This trains them to wait in their crate before being released to go outside.

However, this method will require you let them outside every two hours especially after eating. If a puppy goes indoors make sure to thoroughly clean the area to remove the scent. A stated above dogs can smell their scent and will probably go at the same spot again.

If your puppy goes while indoors please do not reprimand him or her as many at times they may not be aware of why they are being reprimanded and may turn aggressive unless if caught on the act.

Socializing your puppy

Puppies need to be socialized to avoid aggression towards other dogs as well as human. One can opt to take them to a nearby dog park or invite a friend with a puppy for a playdate. This should be done between 7 to 4 months of age. It helps them to be able to interact with other dogs, to be confident at play and shapes their personality.

It also helps them to get acclimatized to different environments. Most socialization experiences start from the breeder or shelter one acquires a puppy from. Gentle handling during the first weeks of life and allowing the puppy to explore his/her environment at this time sets the pace. Expose the puppy to different places, people smells and sights slowly.

Puppy classes not only offer an opportunity to learn obedience training but it also offers a place where they can interact with other puppies and people. This, however, should be done once they have started receiving their vaccinations

Separation anxiety

This occurs when puppies are left alone for long periods of time. They usually get distressed and appear anxious, pee and poop when the owner is about to leave or become destructive around the house. Crate training helps relieve separation anxiety. It also worthwhile to leave your dog with chew toys while away to keep them distracted as you leave. Taking them for a walk before leaving the house helps them associate your leaving with something fun.

Vaccinations and Health check-ups

At 10 weeks of age, puppies are required to have received their first two sets of shots as well as deworming. At 6 weeks puppies receive parvovirus vaccines while at 9 weeks they receive DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and leptospirosis). These are core vaccines and should, therefore, be administered.

Deworming should start as from 2 weeks of age until 1 month old upon which it should continue once every month until 3 months. As from 3 months, puppies should be dewormed once every 3 months.

Conclusion

The first few weeks of life is the most crucial time to train and provide care to your puppy as it sets the pace for his or her adulthood. A good dietary plan, scheduled veterinary checks, and good training ensure puppies grow into lovable and nurtured dogs. It, however, requires commitment from the owner’s side and a lot of patience.

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Best Dog Brush for Shedding

Pet-Grooming-Brush-Cleaning-Shedding

Several dog breeds have distinctive coat features and need constant grooming. Some breeds have a double coat, with the first one for insulation during winter and other for outer guard hair.

The fur on some breeds thicken during winter, and the excess hair is shed in warmer seasons. Other than body temperature regulation, the hair on dogs helps them stay aware of their environment, especially in the dark.

Shedding is one major issue associated with owning a dog these days. The hair growth is in cycles. Old hair falls off, and new ones grow again. In some dogs, grooming is required to help remove the dead hair. It is a normal phenomenon, depending on the type of dog breed.

Frequent shedding may be caused by parasites, stress and other health challenges. Poor nutrition and improper grooming techniques may cause skin irritation and shedding hair in animals.

The appearance of your dogs will help you to determine the health of your dog. Keen observation of your dog’s fur to see if there are any changes to its colour or the hair shedding frequency is essential to forestall any adverse health issues. Poor feeding routines, allergies or just a change in weather can affect your dog’s coat in adverse ways.

While some people allow nature to take its course during fur shedding, others prefer using tools to remove dead hair and avoid creating a mess in their house. You may need to consult your vet before changing a hairbrush type. Also, note that shedding brushes are different from ordinary hairbrushes.

Does My Dog Need a Shedding Brush?

Dogs generally require a great deal of care and maintenance to keep them strong and healthy. Bathing alone may not be enough to keep their coats in good condition; good grooming routines are necessary to keep them looking trendy and vibrant.

To help your dog stay cool and comfortable during warm periods, the surplus hair needs to be taken out. You will have hair-free clothes, and the amount of work you have to do during your house cleaning will reduce in turn.

Picking the Right Shedding Brush

You need a shedding brush that can easily be disassembled for easy cleaning. Having a tool that is difficult to clean makes it difficult to use and may lead to the transfer of skin problems between dogs if you use it on more than one. Hair stuck on the brush may easily spread all over the house.

When selecting a brush from pet stores, try to check how well they fit in your hand. Buy those with a good grip for easy handling, in case you have to use it for long hours. You also need to look at the size.

Is it the right fit for your dog? Some brushes are wider than others depending on the size of your dog. You may choose to use narrow brushes for the tails and legs, and a wider one for other parts of its body.

It is essential to consider the safety of your dog while choosing a shedding brush. Dogs have different fur types. Your dog will enjoy the process if you’re using the right brush type. While using a brush, you are expected to pay close attention to the way it affects your pet.

If the tool irritates their skin or causes pain, they may avoid future grooming activities. You may need to talk to your veterinarian or read product review before making the decision on which brush to go for.

Review of the Best Shedding Brushes for Dogs

1. FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs – Short, Medium or Long Hair

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Due to frequent shedding, some dogs require weekly brushing. Constant brushing does not stop your dog from shedding. Use of shedding brush helps eliminate loose hair from your dog’s coat before its shed all over the house. Furminator is used to take care of mats, and it can reduce shedding by 90%. It has a FurEjector button that handles the self-cleaning of the tool. The Furminator has a stainless steel edge and comes in different sizes for different dog breeds depending on the type of coat they have. Owners of dogs like German Shepherds, Chowchow and Saint Bernard will find this brush very useful.

Things We Liked

  • Comes in different sizes
  • A self-cleaning FurEjector button
  • Its stainless steel edges make it effective in removing loose hair
  • Ideal for dog breeds with a thick

Things We Didn’t Like

  • Not suitable for dogs with a delicate coat

2. Pet Grooming Brush Professional Deshedding Tool for Dogs and Cats

This rake is very useful for your shedding dog. Depending on the way it is used, it may be able to reduce shedding by a whopping 90%. It is not suitable for short-haired dogs as it may cause scratching and lead to irritation. It is ideal for dogs with thick undercoats to easily remove dirt trapped underneath the fur. It has a handle with a good grip for ease of use.

Things We Liked

  • Easy to use
  • Ideal for dogs that shed frequently
  • It rakes the undercoat properly to achieve the desired result
  • Designed with a hanging hole for easy storage

Things We Didn’t Like

  • Using the rake with too much pressure may cause discomfort to your dog

3. Hertzko Small Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush

[img_products3 img_number=”136272″ alt=”hertzko-small-self-cleaning-dog-cat” img_code=”V1533577642″ product_name=”https://ift.tt/2zAOrrx” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

These brushes are made of bristles of thin wire on a flat surface. It can help in eliminating hair tangles and mats from the coat of your dog. It is designed with a wide head for and a good handle for efficiency and ease of use. Loose hair can effectively be removed by this brush without irritating your dog’s skin. It has a self-cleaning mechanism that can be activated by the push of a button. This helps in grooming as often as you need without leaving a mess on furniture.

Things We Liked

  • Self-clean mechanism
  • Wire bristles that can penetrate thick fur without scratching the skin
  • Wide head and ergonomic handle for efficiency

Things We Didn’t Like

  • Cannot be used on wet dogs

4. Oster Combo Brush for Dogs

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For dogs with fluffy hair, brushes with wire pins are more effective as opposed to the natural bristle brush that could work for fine-coat dogs. The Oster brush sports the closely-packed traditional bristles on one side and wire bristles on the other side.

It can be used for a wide range of dog breeds to remove loose hair and debris that is stuck in the coat. The side with the traditional bristles can be useful in massaging the body of the dog for a healthy skin. It has a sturdy handle that makes it easy to use for long hours.

Things We Liked

  • Used for different dog breeds regardless of the thickness of their coat
  • A bristle side for skin stimulation and a pin side for shedding, removal of mat and debris
  • Very affordable

Things We Didn’t Like

  • It does not have a self-cleaning mechanism which makes cleaning it quite difficult

5. Bonve Pet Shedding Brush

This brush has a bulky head with fine tightly packed pins for efficient removal of loose hair from the dog’s coat. It has a self-cleaning mechanism that retracts the pins for easy removal of accumulated hair after use. The pins are with great flexibility to eliminate discomfort when grooming your pet. It can be used on different dog breeds with long and medium-haired coats.

Things We Liked

  • The self-cleaning mechanism that can be activated by the push of a button
  • Pins that are thin and flexible for the comfort of your pet
  • Designed with a thumb rest and soft handle to minimize hand strain from prolonged use

Things We Didn’t Like

  • It is only effective on dogs with dry fur

Types of Dog Brushes

Dog brushes have four major types. They are rakes, slacker, pin and bristle brushes.

Rakes:

These brushes have one or two rows of closely arranged, razor-shaped pins. They can be very useful in removing dead hair deep in the dog’s coat. Avoid applying pressure when using this kind of brush, as they can penetrate thick fur and may scratch your dog’s skin.

Dogs with thick fur like the Tibetan Mastiff, Saint Bernard, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shepherd need rakes to help remove hair tangles and debris that may be trapped under their coats.

Knowing the hair length of your dog is key to choosing a rake with the right pin size. Short ones may not be effective in removing dead undercoat, whereas longer ones may cause pain or skin irritation.

Slicker Brush:

There is a wide range of slacker brushes available to dog owners, but the primary feature is its short, neatly packed wires. They are helpful in removing mats on dogs with long hair or those with curly hair. They can be used on dogs like the Husky, Samoyed, Golden Retriever and Malamute.

Grooming these breed of dogs that easily develop mats with the right brush size that has a user-friendly handle makes the process an easy one. Gentle strokes with the brush will prevent pain that may be caused when tangled hair gets caught in the wires.

Pin Brush:

These look like the regular human hairbrush. It consists of flexible wires with pin tips that are loosely packed. They are very affordable and are often used to round up the grooming process. They help remove loose hair that was missed by other brushes.

Bristle Brush:

They are made of bristles that are closely They are useful in massaging the dog’s skin and the removal of dead hair to keep the furniture and clothing hair-free. Bristle brushes may be used of dogs with short hair that shed often like the Scott Terrier, Pug, and Greyhound. As you brush your dog often, the activity becomes easier as it gets used to the process.

Using a Shedding Brush

You need to know the type of coat your dog has, to help you to decide on the best dog shedding brush to buy. After picking the suitable shedding brush for your pet, you need patience because it will take some time before your dog gets used to the activity. You need to be very gentle during the de-shedding routine.

It is necessary to wash dogs first before manual shedding. Bathing the dog softens the fur and helps remove some loose hair or dirt trapped in its fur. Endeavor to use a mild shampoo that will not irritate your dog’s skin. The dog’s coat should be dried after washing. A blow dryer may be used for dogs with a thick coat. Then a dog shedding brush can be used to remove the remaining loose hair afterward.

Do not rake in an angle opposite to the direction of growth of the fur on your dog. Gently stroke the coat from head to tail systematically. Be careful when raking the belly and other sensitive areas of the dog to minimize stress, as it could be very uncomfortable for your pet. Too much pressure on a particular area of the coat may lead to skin irritation.

Always remove excess hair that collects on the bristles of the brush before continuing. You may need to place a clear plastic over the floor to collect loose hair while de-shedding. Endeavor to clean the shedding brush after use and safely keep it away for future use.

Conclusion

Grooming is one of the major activities a dog owner would undertake to maintain healthy canines. Using the right dog shedding brush makes the process an easy one. All dogs shed hair regardless of their breed of the nature of their coat. We have provided top quality dog shedding brushes from the good brands in the market. You can pick the right one that suits your pet according to the size of your wallet.

Our pick for the best dog hair shedding brush is the Furminator because of its ease of use and self-cleaning capability. However, you should note that dogs have different temperaments and they may not like it just because you do. Be patient with your dog and apply minimal pressure when using these brushes to achieve the best results.

https://petupon.com/dog-brush-for-shedding/ #petupon #dogclippers