Just like it’s important to find the right physician for your family, it’s also important to find a vet who has your dog’s best interests in mind! While many people tend to put off well visits to the vet and only go to the clinic in an emergency, giving your dog regular checkups is an important part of their overall healthcare regimen. A good vet will take preventative measures against common illnesses and cancer as well as helping you keep your dog at a healthy weight and activity level.

Finding the perfect vet for your dog can be daunting. Many first-time pet owners tend to choose big box in-store vets, like Banfield. While these are affordable options, you may be able to find better care elsewhere. Here are a few of our tips to help you find the right vet for your pet:

• Check for word of mouth recommendations. The best recommendations are ones you know you can trust. Chances are, if you’re a dog owner, you have a few other friends who are dog owners, as well. Ask them who they use for their pets’ primary care needs if they’re in your area, and check to see if their vet is helping their dogs with specific health concerns your pups may be experiencing.

• Have a conversation with your vet and bring your dog in with you for an introduction. Bringing a new vet into your life is much like introducing your dog to a new family member. Make sure you and your vet are on the same page when it comes to key issues affecting your dog’s quality of life. At the same time, you can gauge how comfortable your dog is around their new vet.

• Convenience is a big plus, especially when it comes to matters of your dog’s health. Choosing a vet that’s nearby and has more flexible hours of operation can help you get your dog to the clinic in cases of emergency. If your vet offers emergency drop-off options and can work with you on appointments during the work week, there’s a good chance they’re the right fit for you.

A good vet will help educate you as to the right choices for your dog when it comes to nutrition, supplements, activity levels, and more. Find a vet that makes you feel comfortable enough to ask questions so you’re never in the dark when it comes to your dog’s well-being. Speaking of nutrition - did you know that you can find Pawsitively Pure human-grade dog food in certain veterinary offices in Central Florida? Click here to find out where you can find our food.

While dog’s diets are fairly different from human diets, they still need to include some of the basic food groups we eat every day. Fats, carbohydrates, water, and protein are all important parts of your dog’s nutrition. Not only is it important to make sure your dog is getting enough of each of these food groups, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re coming from wholesome sources, too.

About 18% of your dog’s daily caloric intake should come from nutritional proteins, and the source really matters - your dog is able to digest and utilize proteins from certain sources better than others. Here are a few trustworthy sources of protein for your dog:

• Eggs: For both humans and dogs, eggs are a great and easily-digestible protein when cooked. Many people used bits of cooked egg as a treat for highly active dogs, but we like adding it as an extra morsel for the occasional mealtime. When cooked properly, eggs are a great way for dogs with upset stomachs to get the protein they need to live happy, healthy lives.

• Lean-muscle meats: Lean meats like chicken and turkey are great sources of protein for your dog as they don’t add an excess of fat to your dog’s diet and they keep them fueled for the day. Human-grade dog foods like our whole food products provide your dog with healthy sources of protein that are easy to digest and responsibly sourced.

• Vegetable sources, like beans and lentils, can be healthy additions to your dog’s diet in small amounts, but they should never be used to replace whole-meat sources of protein. Additionally, be careful about what beans you give to your dog - green beans are a great treat, especially when frozen. But avoid fava beans, baked beans, and any kind of beans in sauce as a treat for your pup. Try making some lentil-based treats!

The easiest way to know that the proteins you’re giving your dog are right for them is by feeding them a human-grade food you can trust! Pawsitively Pure features the nutritional information you need on the package so you can keep track of your dog’s healthy diet. Get your dog on the right track to a healthy lifestyle this year! To learn more about Pawsitively Pure, browse through our website, or contact us here.

Can you believe the new year is just weeks away? As we tie up loose ends from 2018 and prepare for the beginning of 2019, many of us are writing a list of New Year’s Resolutions to help us lead our best lives. Whether it’s dieting, exercise, or simply flossing more, improving health is one of the top-cited resolutions on everyone’s lists. This year, why not take your dog’s health into consideration?

Taking small steps to improve your dog’s health is a great way to boost their overall quality of life and ensure they’ll be part of your family for years to come. Here are 3 items to add to your list of pet resolutions this year:

1. Exercise more. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of all dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity in your dog can cause joint issues, lack of range of motion, heart disease, and lung problems. Increasing exercise doesn’t mean you have to commit to long, drawn out walks - simply schedule more time for play or take your pup to the park more often. Give them more chances to run around and get out their pent up energy.

2. Check regularly for lumps. One of the easiest ways to detect cancer in your dog is to check for unusual lumps and bumps beneath the skin. Keep in mind that a lump doesn’t always indicate cancer, and it’s also not the only indicator - but it’s a good head start when it comes to keeping an eye on your dog’s health and taking preventative measures if necessary.

3. Make improvements to their diet. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: a healthy diet is your dog’s first line of defense against illness. Giving your dog a diet that’s packed with nutrients can help increase their lifespan, boost their energy, and ward off common diseases. This year, commit to cutting off the table scraps and give them nutritious bone broth - they’ll love the flavor just as much!

While your dog’s health should be on your mind every day of the year, the new year is a great time to start taking small steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Improving your dog’s quality of life can help you improve your own at the same time! To learn more, contact us or browse our website to see our great products.

As we discussed before, a new dog can be a great way to celebrate the holidays with your family as long as you’re committed to being a loving dog family. Dogs can lighten up any room; studies have shown that a dog’s presence can help relieve stress and can even increase a person’s quality of life. But before your new dog can brighten up your day, it may take a little time for him to acclimate to his new surroundings.

It’s best to have all your supplies prepared before you bring your dog home, so in the week leading up to his arrival, be sure to purchase toys, cleaners, waste bags, food, etc. On the day of his arrival, arrange to bring him directly home from the shelter or his original location. Here are a few other tips to make the next few weeks a little easier on everyone:

• Take your time while introducing him to new family members. It’s tempting to immediately pet and hug a dog when he arrives at your house, but he needs a little time to gather all the new smells and experiences. For the first day especially, let the dog approach you. Stay calm and offer treats for good behaviors. Keep a close eye on small children who may be a little too eager for your furry friend’s tastes.

• Utilize the leash as much as you need. Leashes are great tools for guiding dogs through new and strange experiences. On the first day, you may choose to keep your new dog on a leash as you give him a tour through your home and backyard. Give your dog plenty of outside time and re-establish potty time procedures, even if he has been potty trained before.

• You may want to crate train for a while. Crate training gives your dog his own safe space when he’s overwhelmed and helps to establish boundaries and routines. Make sure the crate is comfortable with a bed and blanket and a few toys, as well as access to water. You can use the crate to establish bedtime and feeding times, as well as to teach your dog which areas are on- or off-limits.

Above all, patience is the most important thing while your dog is getting used to your home. Especially if he’s coming from a shelter, he’s been through a lot of stressful emotions leading up to his arrival at your home; with a little time and a lot of love, he’ll feel right at home. When establishing your dog’s routines, be sure to include a highly nutritional diet at feeding time. To learn more about human grade dog food, contact us or browse through our site.

Your pet’s immune system is surprisingly susceptible to environmental factors. Think of all the different allergies and itch-causers they experience in a given day: their immune systems are on overdrive as their bodies work to keep them safe and fully functioning amidst a slew of allergens. While a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to combat these allergens, sometimes your dog’s immune system needs a little help.

Here are a few more Mercola products we use on a regular basis to help our dogs’ immune systems stay healthy and strong:

Immune Balance for Pets

Immune Balance for Pets harmonizes immune function, boosts cell, tissue, and organ repair to help slow cellular aging, supports liver and digestive health, helps restore a healthy gut microbiome, and much more.

• Arabinogalactan from Western larch trees, a prebiotic fiber that ferments in your pet’s gut, supporting colon health, protecting your pet’s intestinal lining, and promoting a healthy normal inflammatory response

• Bovine Colostrum with standardized IgG (150 mg/serving) from American dairy cows not fed synthetic hormones or routine antibiotics; contains important immune factors, growth hormone, and probiotics

• Certified Organic Moringa leaf powder contains abundant vitamins and minerals as well as valuable antioxidants to promote a normal healthy inflammatory response, helpful for flexible and comfortable joint movement

• Yeast Fermentate grown, harvested and manufactured in the U.S. (contains no active yeast!), increases Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and antioxidant protection within only hours of consumption

Juggling four different supplements on your own can be challenging, especially getting them in the right proportions for your pet. Pet Immune Balance offers a simple option for providing ideal immune support for dogs and cats.

Organic Mushroom Complex

This proprietary blend of 8 mushroom mycelium…

• Contains 100% Certified Organic, biologically active, whole food mushroom and mycelium (not isolated extracts) to optimize the life cycle of the mushroom

• Is an excellent source of fermented foods for digestive and immune health

• Contains protein and high levels of natural whole food vitamin D2, B6, B12, beta glucans, chelated minerals, fiber, antioxidants (including L-ergothioneine) and natural glucosamine

• Is grown and produced entirely in the U.S.

• Uses oats instead of rice for its substrate, adding valuable plant beta glucans and enhancing the mycelia's bioactivity

• Retains its bioactivity through carefully controlled processing methods

• Contains an array of beta glucans, each with its own beta glucan structure

• Does not contain additives, fillers, gluten, and unhealthy levels of heavy metals

Spirugreen

Spirulina is one of the richest beta-carotene ingredients, with ten mixed carotenoids. Including orange carotenes, alpha, beta, gamma, and yellow xanthophylls, these powerful antioxidants work synergistically in different sites in your pet's body.

Studies on both cats and dogs show that spirulina supports good health in several ways:

• Helps support a strong, healthy normal immune system

• Helps promote a healthy coat and skin

• May help promote comfortable movement and flexibility

Healthy Pets SpiruGreen truly packs a one-two punch with all the nutrient value of spirulina, including carotenoids, phycocyanins and enzymes, plus all the goodness of microalgae astaxanthin, one of the world's most powerful fat-soluble antioxidant carotenoids.

Whole Food Digestive Probiotics

 Whole Food Digestive Probiotic provides general nutritional maintenance support for your healthy pet’s immune health, digestion and gut health, normal cell growth and development, and overall vitality.

This “all-in-one” nutritional supplement contains four key blends:

• Probiotic blend of 8 valuable strains of gut-friendly probiotics to help promote a healthy nutritional balance of gastrointestinal bacteria for healthy normal immune function, brain health, digestion and utilization of nutrients

• Digestive nutrition enzyme blend from papaya, pineapple and porcine pancreas to help break down protein, fats, fiber and carbohydrates into usable components

• Superfood and green food blend, including spirulina, fermented chlorella, broccoli sprouts and turmeric root to provide valuable nutritional antioxidant support for cellular, detox, gut, joint and immune health

• Mushroom blend of highly-valued Reishi and Chaga mushrooms to help maintain your pet’s nutrition through healthy normal immune function, healthy blood flow and circulation, and a healthy liver