Why does cat food cost more than dog food?
Cat food typically costs more than dog food for two primary reasons:Dogs eat more than cats. That's true even for smaller dogs, because all that barking, running around and going for walks burns calories, while all that sleeping, lounging, stretching and yawning doesn't require much energy on the part of cats.Cats are obligate carnivores and can't properly digest fillers or plant material, which are cheaper ingredients than meat. The really junky cat food is padded with grain, but most cat food is almost entirely meat, and cat food usually has a minimum protein percentage listed on the label for increasingly picky owners who want to feed their cats properly.Most dog breeds are larger than cats, and pretty much all dog breeds are more energetic than cats. We’re talking about animals that sleep 16 hours a day. That's not to say cats are lazy, although they are in some ways. It's just a product of how they evolved.Cats are ambush predators who expend large amounts of energy in short bursts in order to catch prey. When the hunt is over and they've dragged their kill back to a quiet spot, they don't have to expend energy anymore. That's true of feral domestic cats, as well as wildcats and big cats — it’s why lions are so often seen lounging beneath Acacia trees on the African plains. They've conducted their hunt and fed their bellies, so they've got nothing but lounging and sleeping on their schedules.But house cats don't even have to expend energy for hunting prey, since their meat is served right up for them in a little bowl. That means they need even less energy, and it's also why play time is so important.Of course, any determined pet owner can spend more on their dog or cat these days, when even TV chefs are muscling into the pet food market.
My dog makes me so itchy?
I got a new dog 3 weeks ago and when his fur touches my bare skin, I break out in a rash and it itches. I've given him a bath and used hypo-allergenic conditioner. My other dog and cats don't cause me to itch like this, they just make me sneeze. Going to a doctor isn't an option right now since I don't have insurance. What can I do?
My dogs keep itching but they don't have fleas?
I have three dogs, a border collie mix and two small poodles. Recently they've been itching but they don't have fleas. I gave them oatmeal baths but that didn't seem to help. The border collie will scratch until she bleeds and gets scabs. I have also treated them for fleas just in case and also treat the yard every year with an organic pet safe bug killer. Anyone else have this problem and found a solution? Also I've read about dry skin and giving fish oil to help, I have a cat and they all frequently steal the cats wet food so i was thinking they get enough fish oils. we also live in a very humid area. I have even tried an organic pet hot spot/itch treatment with tea tree oil and 13 other organic essential oils but that hasn't worked. I'm getting quite frustrated and worried.
Why does my cat scratch the area around his food during and after meals?
Cats who scratch the area around their food dish are often making a sarcastic remark about their opinion of the food. When they are using the scratching for this purpose, they are comparing it to scratching their litter box and comparing the food to their poop. This would be equivalent to a very low rating on restaurant reviews.The other way that cats can use the scratching around their food dishes is that they are trying to “bury” it to save it for later. Wildlife specialists have noticed that large cats will even do this, but it is not as thorough as the burying that canines do for burying bones. Cats’ version of burying food for later is to scrape a few leaves and twigs over it.I have given cats, with an overdeveloped urge to bury their food, things to help them. One of these efforts was to put old phone book pages near the food dish so the cat could scrape them over the dish to hide it. I did this to discourage my cat from finding things that I especially disliked being used to cover the food. One of these was to find my socks and underwear and carry them to the food dish and dump them in the cat food. I hated this. The phone book pages were lots better.
Can cat food make your dog loose its hair if it eats it about once a day?
I feed my dog cat food for a treat. But his fur is still there. So I don't think it would effect his fur or body. So I would take him to the vet, because he obviously has some kind of problem. The sooner the better.Put the cat food up higher or put the dog outside while the cats eat.
Did Pedigree dog food cause my dogs hot spot?
First - dogs EASILY develop allergies over time with their regular food. Many times dogs will develop allergies from their food after 10+ years of eating it! Pedigree is junk - nothing but a bag full of corn, wheat, soy, artificial dyes and flavors. Hell, there's been traces of pentobarbitol in that particular company which is the medication used to euthanize dogs and cats at the vet (euthanized animals are probably used in the food). It is extremely likely your dog is simply scratching due to his low quality, high allergen "dog food"....I put that in quotes because dog foods in grocery stores and wal-mart are terrible for dogs. ALL pedigree formulas are just as crappy as the other. It doesn't matter if it's puppy, adult, large breed, etc - they are ALL junk. Corn, wheat and soy are VERY HIGH allergens due to the extreme low quality of the grains - dogs don't even need grains - especially the bad ones that make up Pedigree dog food! Dogs require actual meat in their diet to live a full healthy life. In order to buy a high quality healthy dog food, you need to stop shopping for his food at wal-mart, target, grocery stores because EVERY SINGLE brand of dog food there (alpo, iams, beneful, purina dog chow, kibbles n' bits, etc) is in the same garbage category as Pedigree. All garbage. So, where to go? Go to your local pet store and find wholesome foods for your dog. Petco has alot of good ones, and so does Petsmart. Since your dog is probably allergic to the Pedigree - I would definitely opt for a GRAIN FREE dog food. My dog also has allergies and I switched him to a grain free dog food and he was a BRAND NEW dog after I switched his food. What brands to look for? Here are some grain free options: Natural Balance Taste of the Wild Merrick B.G. Nature's Variety Innova EVO Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wellness CORE Orijen Acana Go! Natural Here's the information about why Pedigree dog food is such crap: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_... Also on that site is the reviews of dog food based on stars....1 = worst quality, 6 stars = best quality...Aim for a 4,5, or 6 star food. Pedigree is a 1 star food. good luck - choose wisely!
What are some home remedies for a dog itching?
First you want to determine the source of itching. Have your dog tested for thyroid function. Many an allergic dog is easily helped when this is discovered. Our dog went from bald and oozing, able to eat only limited ingredients to full coated immunity. We could then feed her anything and she did well.If your dog, for instance, has a grass allergy, then corn, wheat, oatmeal and barley in many dog foods is causing the outbreak. Likewise, some dogs develop a chicken allergy and it is tough to find a dog food that doesn't use chicken fat in the non-chicken food. Read the ingredient labels carefully.If it is a flea allergy, you must get a grip on the infestation. Ask your Veterinarian what is working in your area. I used to use Advantage and Frontline, but now the fleas treat the medication as if it were a health spa. I am now using Revolution and it seems to be working, though my cat does seem to have a mild reaction at the site of the drops, so again, the vet is your best bet here. If they are in the yard, then go ahead, be proactive and spray those devils down. You should only have to treat once with a good killer. And keep your dog out of the yard for a couple of days.Using something that will deter fleas on the dog, like Pennyroyal, Peppermint and Eucalyptus around the legs when you go for a walk can help you repel the little hitchhikers, but remember to wipe your dog's legs down. A little Eucalyptus oil is pretty hefty stuff for a dog to ingest, so, careful!If your dog does not have a grass allergy, then a nice Oatmeal bath works well. Then follow up with a drench of black tea. The tannic acid in the tea has cooling properties, but again, a little goes a long way.Be sure to run all this by your vet, who may be willing to do a phone consult to be on the safe side. If not, a one time visit with a list of questions prepared will make the most of the cost of a visit and checkup.
What can I do for my dog's itching problem?
My dog, a 1-year-old Miniatur Schnauzer, has a serious itching problem on his butt. We've tried medicing, flea and tick powder, and sitting him in warm water. Nothing's worked. What can I do that'll make it stop? I'll promote the best answer that works.
Why is my cat scratching the floor next to his food bowls?
The same reason they scratch in the litter tray: to bury any smells that might attract other predators and put themselves in danger.It also means they are finished eating and since you are their caretaker and they can't bury the food or bowls, you should preferably take the bowls away between meals to clean them. If there is food left over, try to work out a routine for feeding (2-4 times per day) and note how much they eat once the they are used to the feeding schedule. Then you can adjust the portions.Also, try to avoid dry foods/kibbles and keep the water bowl away from the food or their litter trays. The water needs to be changed at least once a day and cleaned at every change. Another option is to have a drinking fountain, which not only filters the water but also stimulates their drinking reflexes. In the wild, a still body of water is probably full of parasites and bacteria which is why all mammals prefer running, colder water where these things are less likely to grow.Cats have sensitive kidneys and poor drinking reflexes. Their ancestors lived in the desert and got most of their fluids from their prey. So it's not very ideal or natural for domestic cats to eat dry foods, even if they have access to fresh water. It's also better for their teeth and stomach to eat soft, but chewy foods than kibbles which they usually just swallow whole.I hope I answered your question and that you now know your kitty a little better! ;)