Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Cat Health News’

Pet health: Wet food or dry food

Posted on: January 1st, 2011 by

A white dog with pet insurance looks at a bowl of food.

When it comes to caring for your pets there are many important decisions to make, such as selecting the best pet insurance and choosing food for your pet.

Deciding whether to feed them wet or dry food can be as difficult as choosing the brand. When deciding if you are going to be feeding your pet wet food, dry food, or a combination of both, you should make sure that you choose a high quality healthy dog food or a healthy cat food.

When it comes to choosing pet food, there are several reasons that wet food is an ideal choice. Wet dog food and cat food tends to have higher nutritional value than dry food and contains higher amounts of protein, vitamins and moisture.

It is also more appealing to picky eaters due to the variety of flavors available and the overall texture. Due to the way it is packaged, wet food is less processed than dry food and fewer preservatives are needed. Additionally, wet food is easier to chew, which makes it a good choice for very young and senior-aged pets. The downside to wet food is that it spoils quickly after opening and it is more expensive than dry food. Some people also have a hard time with the scent.

Dry dog food and cat food is a better choice when it comes to exercising your pet’s jaw muscles. Other advantages of dry food are that it is cost efficient and has a longer shelf life once it has been opened. The downside to dry food is its reduced nutritional value due to the baking process. To keep its shelf stability, dry food has more preservatives than wet food.

Pet Insurance is important when dealing with serious health concerns

Posted on: December 31st, 2010 by

A cat and a dog with pet insurance wait for a command.

The winter months bring about a time where accidents and injuries occur frequently in pets.

In addition to accidents and illnesses, pets often get sick during the winter. Having pet insurance for your dog can help with the expenses that come with the treatments you dog may need.

Poisonings happen often during the winter months; antifreeze poisoning is one of the most common. Other chemicals used in the winter, like snow melting chemicals, can also be potentially deadly to pets. Pets can also slip and fall on icy surfaces just as easily as humans, which can easily result in broken bones. If owners have dog and cat insurance for their pets, unexpected accidents like these are often more manageable. Pet insurance companies like Pets Best Insurance reimburse pet owners 80% of the total amount of the vet bill after their deductible, so long as the issue is not preexisting.

Frost bite and hypothermia are common risks for dogs during the winter. Outside dogs are at a much higher risk of developing these conditions. Indoor dogs can be affected as well because they are not used to being in the cold weather.

Skin and feet irritations are another common aliment during the winter. The dry heat indoors can wreak havoc on your dog’s skin. Their feet can become dry and cracked due to salt and various chemicals used to melt ice and snow.

If you don’t currently have dog insurance for your pet, now is a great time to get your pet covered. When choosing insurance, make sure you do a pet insurance comparison. Comparing pet insurance plans will allow you to choose the plan that fits the needs of you and your pet.

Pet health: Give arthritic cats special care this winter

Posted on: December 28th, 2010 by

An old cat with pet insurance sits in a cat bed.
Posted by H.R.
For Pets Best Insurance

Creeky joints and a stiff back can compromise pet health at any age, but it’s particularly a problem for senior cats, overweight cats, and cats who have suffered an injury.

Dr. Carol Osborne writes on her website that “the signs of arthritis vary depending on exactly which joint or joints are affected, the age of the pet and the severity of the disease.”

According to Osborne, who was the first veterinarian to be Certified as a Diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine in the United States, cat health care symptoms caused from arthritis can be subtle and difficult to detect. We may forgo specialized cat pet care, attributing slowing down to old age. Arthritic cats may become reluctant to move and often “miss” the litter box, because their stiffer joints ache when trying to climb into the box.

As in humans, cold air can worsen joint aches and stiffness. Some cats may benefit from heated cat beds in the winter, as this provides joints and muscles a soft, warm place to rejuvenate.

Holistic cat health care like acupuncture can help arthritic cats feel more comfortable. It is often covered by pet health insurance. Because of the vast benefits it provides, cat insurance may be a good option for pet owners with cats of any age. Acupuncture can even be done with lasers if the cat doesn’t tolerate needles well.

Gentle exercise is often prescribed by veterinarians to keep joints limber. There is even the option to give cats aqua therapy in warm water. The heat soothes joints and muscles, and moving in water is a gentle way to get exercise. Do a pet insurance comparison to see which cat insurance providers will help to cover these types of physical therapy. For more insight on aqua therapy for cats, talk with your veterinarian.

Cat health care: A feeding guide for your new kitten

Posted on: December 25th, 2010 by

A tiny kitten sits in a large food dish.

If you’ve decided to add a new member to your family and have adopted a cute little kitten you might be wondering considering purchasing a pet insurance policy, but you might also be wondering what you should feed him.

You may be confused with all the choices you’re presented with. Do you need a kitten food or is a food that states “for all life stages” okay? Do you choose a wet food or a dry food? Should you choose natural or organic? With all the choices, feeding kittens can be more confusing than it needs to be.

Kittens are energetic animals and burn large amounts of calories each day. They need to be fed a food that is specially formulated for kittens. Kitten food provides higher amounts of protein for proper growth.

Young kittens and those that are small can benefit from the additional nutrients in wet food. Kittens that are fed both wet and dry food should be fed twice a day. If only wet food is being fed, they should be fed four times a day.

Kittens that eat dry food can be “free fed” until around four months of age. Free feeding means the kitten has free access to their food throughout the day. Once the kitten reaches four months of age, he should be switched to a scheduled feed twice a day. Kittens that are overweight should not be free fed.

Wet food should not be left out for free feedings. Wet food becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and can make your kitten sick. Use separate bowls if feeding wet and dry food to keep the dry from being contaminated from the wet food. Opened cans of wet food should be kept in the refrigerator.

Whether you choose to feed your cat wet or dry food, make sure to choose a quality natural or organic cat food. These foods offer higher quality ingredients that will help your cat live a healthy life.

Pet health: Natural or organic pet food?

Posted on: December 24th, 2010 by

A cat eats food from a dish.

When choosing a healthy dog food or healthy cat food, a natural dog food or organic cat food may be at the top of your list. Do you know what the difference is between natural and organic food? Is one better than the other? Knowing the true definition of these terms can help you make an informed decision about your pet’s food and in turn, maintain pet health.

According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), who establishes the rules and regulations of animal feed, “natural” is a food or ingredient that is derived only from plant, animal, or mined sources. It must be in either an unprocessed state or have been processed in a way that is listed in the AAFCO guidelines. Every ingredient must meet the definition of natural. Ingredients that do not have to meet the definition include: synthesized minerals, trace nutrients, and vitamins.

When choosing an organic cat food or dog food, be sure to check that each ingredient is listed as organic. Companies may have organics in their name but their food is not made from actual organic ingredients. Foods that have organic ingredients will have an organic certification seal on the bag.

The terms “holistic” and “human grade” are not recognized by the AAFCO and therefore, are meaningless when used to label pet food.

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