The Divine Mission of Animals; Spirit Guidance From Our Animal Companions

December 3, 2008

The wonderful furry, finned and feathered beings that we choose to share our lives with, or should I say choose to share their lives with us, are so much more than simply ‘pets’ in our lives. In fact, I believe that they are the bearers of profound spiritual messages and prompters of insightful spiritual growth through their gentle, and sometimes not so gentle nudging. This is because our animal companions have access to, and are guardians of our Divine Blueprint or Soul’s Blueprint.

The Blueprint can be described as the divine ‘plan for the perfect unfolding of the highest potential for an individual soul’. It is a perfect state of consciousness, and can enable the awareness of the ‘ancient memories that lie deep within each of us’ to resurface. Being guardians of our Blueprints is a role of great magnitude for our companion animals and one that is not taken lightly. They see it as their life’s mission and utmost priority. In fact a happy animal is a sign of their satisfaction with our progress along our own individual paths. Certainly they have their own blueprints to develop and realize, but unlike many of us, their close ties to the spirit realm, allow them the strong ability to multitask and therefore help us while continuing their own development.

How could they possibly guide us, you may ask? In my private consultations I have seen it all. The animals are masters at their role and divinely creative in their work. To begin with let me share with you a little about one of my guides, ‘Lucero’ an Andalusian Stallion, likened to an ascended master of the equine realm, now in spirit form. We met, or shall I say our spirits met, somewhere around 1997. At that time I was in private practice as a Spiritual Psychotherapist and Kinesiologist and just ‘happened’ to attend an Animal Communication Workshop. Apparently Lucero had already planned for our ‘meeting’, and what was to transpire as I somehow managed to forget to bring the requested photos of my dog ‘Jiggs’, the love of my life, to the workshop, and instead consequently ended up connecting with him. His energy was literally jumping off the photo at me and I knew then that my life was about to change dramatically. Our connection was immediate and profound. I had never experienced divine universal love and acceptance the way I did in that moment. It was like a barrier had been broken for me and I could now see who I truly was. I knew that the flood of information that was coming through me was from a source much greater than me; in fact, I was channelling!

After driving home from my weekend away, with the feeling that my tires had never even touched the ground, it became very clear to me that the course of my life had changed, and that Lucero was the catalyst. He didn’t just choose me as the one being that he would work with and guide. As I got to know more about him over time I learned that he was the benevolent vehicle of change for many other healers as well. In fact, even from the spirit realm he has called together physical gatherings of healers, one of which I was lucky enough to attend last November in Canada. Lucero, the divine being of love and light is just one of the many souls who are in partnership with us for our soul’s benefit and growth.

Prior to this day, I had always known that my connection to and communion with god, spirit or the higher power was through animals and nature but what I didn’t know was that I would ever be helping others connect in this way professionally. Not until I had met Lucero anyhow. His ideas for me have definitely reshaped my life.

When doing consultations, some of the most common messages and teachings that I hear from the animals for humanity are as follows:

• Recognize that all beings have intelligence and sentient wisdom

• Love yourself and all living beings unconditionally

• Remain grounded and connected to the earths energy

• Live in the present moment

• Surrender to and accept where you’re at

• Follow your heart, follow your bliss

• Practice forgiveness

• Listen to your inner guidance

• Trust yourself

• Approach each day with a sense of wonderment

• Acknowledge yourself as the light beings that you are

• Meditate as often as possible

• Understand the naturalness of the circle of life – life, death and rebirth

If you tune in and pay attention, I’m sure you will witness your animal companions sharing some of these messages with you. If you don’t feel that you have mastered telepathy yet, you may just want to notice what they are showing you on the physical level. For example your indoor animal companion may be seeking out time in the bathroom, the one area where they can feel truly grounded via the plumbing, or perhaps they may want to lie down on you right on top of one of your chakras, always the one that needs a little healing and balancing by the way. They know what they’re doing and everything they do has a purpose. In consultations I am often asked by the animals to request that their person spend more time in meditation or for them to slow down a little and go through life a little more consciously taking time to smell the roses. When we don’t oblige the animals they will often try even harder to get our attention usually by some type of behaviour that we find unacceptable such as waking us up in the middle of the night. When your companion animal is trying to get your attention, always take note!

Acknowledging the sacred in our relationships with our animal companions is a must for anyone seeking true enlightenment. Recognizing that they come to us to guide us and heal certain aspects of ourselves including broken hearts, disowned or shadow aspects, and even physical ailments can give us a whole new perspective on the relationships that we have with them. Always remember that LOVE is their message.

Lynn McKenzie is an internationally acclaimed Animal Communicator, Intuitive, Spiritual Healer and Teacher. Visit http://www.AnimalEnergy.com to receive your free Making the Heart Connection mini audio course and newsletter, and learn about her upcoming teleclasses and flower essence line for animals.

Keeping Invertebrates In Your Saltwater Fish Tank Aquarium

December 2, 2008

As well as marine fish you can keep a selection of invertebrates in your salt water fish tank aquarium. Invertebrates are creatures without backbones, many of which are aquatic and can be kept in a saltwater fish tank. This class of creatures include squids, lobsters, shrimps, starfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, coral and feather stars. Other marine invertebrates include sea squirts, sea cucumbers, zoo plankton, lugworms and sea hares.

Marine invertebrates suitable for keeping in a salt water fish tank include sea anemones, corals, sea sponges, crabs, shrimp and snails.

Sea Anemones

Anemones can be kept in a salt water aquarium provided excellent water conditions are maintained. they also require intense lighting and a strong current. They can be fed on blood worms, pieces of shrimp and other meaty scraps.

Although anemones are predators most of the species kept in fish tanks have a symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that will provide the anemone with nourishment as long as the lighting conditions are correct. if you place Tube anemones, Carpet or magnificent anemones in your fish tank ensure there is sufficient space between them as they will sting, and possibly kill, each other. Some mobile species may also damage live coral and anemones may also eat other invertebrates such as crabs and urchins or smaller fish.

Sea Sponges

Sea sponges are simple organisms of the Porifera phylum with over 5000 species known. They have only one type of tissue but specialised cells. Sponges feed by filtering water for microplankton. In the fish tank sponges must be anchored to rocks. they require absolutely pristine water conditions, with strong water currents and low lighting to prevent algae from growing on them. They must never be exposed to air. feed with special foods for marine invertebrates.

Crabs

Crabs can range in size from an inch to more than twelve inches. Some familiar species of crabs are Hermit Crabs, Porcelain Crabs and Boxing Crabs. Crabs will eat any edible materials they can find. Some species burrow deeply during the day so provide them with a deep substrate. Crabs need reasonably good water quality and are very good in the fish tank for their scavenger duties cleaning up algae and uneaten food.

Shrimps

Shrimps are a good addition to a salt water fish tank being colourful and also cleaning up left over food. Most shrimp are between two and three inches long with some species growing to more than ten feet in the wild. They remove parasites from fish and rely on camouflage and stealth for protection. They have a hard carapace which is shed regularly to allow the shrimp to grow. When shed the shrimp is very vulnerable until a new shell grows so in the aquarium provide rocks and caves for your shrimp to hide. they can be fed on flaked foods, freeze dried or live foods.

Snails

There are more than 40,000 species of snails and they are found in all aquatic environments. The families usually used in fish tanks are Mesogastopoda, Littorinidae and Haliotidae from the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans. They are mostly reef snails and vary in size from half an inch to around 8 inches in the wild. Snails are good additions to a fish tank as they are scavengers and eat algae. Place one snail to every two gallons of water to deal with the algae. Snails will also need a calcium supplement for shell maintenance and they are very sensitive to higher nitrate levels. Their diet can be supplemented by the addition of vegetable based tablet foods, blanched lettuce, or dried seaweed.

For more information on tropical fish and some good deals in fish tank aquariums check out Fish Tank Aquariums or Salt Water Fish Tanks

How to Hire a Pet Sitter You Can Trust

December 2, 2008

More and more people are turning to a pet sitter rather than boarding their animals when leaving home. Unfortunately, pet owners are having bad experiences with kennels and pet daycares because of viruses, cleanliness, and overall care of the animals. Pet sitting provides a quieter and calmer environment for your pet because it is in the safety of your own home. There is some risk in using a pet sitter just like trusting a boarding company or vet clinic in taking care of your pet; however, once you find the right pet sitter you and your animal will be much happier. Here are some tips on how to find the right pet sitter for you and your pet:

Make Sure the Pet Sitter Is Insured & Bonded

Make sure your pet sitter is insured. You may ask for proof of insurance if they do not offer it up front. Pet sitter insurance is fairly inexpensive and not hard to get, so professional pet sitters should always have this safety, no excuses. If you are interviewing a pet sitter that does not have insurance, keep looking!

Look For Recommendations

When you are looking for a pet sitter, ask around. Ask your neighbors, friends, and family if they have used a pet sitter before and who they might have used. You always feel more comfortable when a pet sitter gets recommended to you.

Ask For References & Call Them

When interviewing potential pet sitters, ask for references. If your pet sitter knows better, they should offer them up front without you having to ask, however, they may forget, so it is still safe to ask. Don’t hesitate to call the references and ask them questions. Ask them how they know them and if they were pleased with the pet sitting service. Ask any questions you like.

Ask Plenty of Questions

Not only should you question the pet sitter’s references, you should question the pet sitter. Ask them questions about how they would deal with certain pet situations, such as a medical emergency. Ask about their knowledge of animals and past experiences. Also, ask any questions that would make you feel more comfortable in making a decision. Example questions: Have you as a pet sitter ever had emergency situations with a client’s pet. If so, how did you deal with it? Another example question, do you have any employees? If so, are they reliable and insured? What is your backup process for when you cannot complete your pet sitting duties?

Take all the time you need. I suggest you start looking for a pet sitter way ahead of time so that you may find someone you trust to take care of your pet like you would. And find someone within your price range. Pet sitting services are not that expensive. Daily visits range around $12-$20 while dog walks are anywhere between $15 and $20. You should feel absolutely comfortable in your finding the right pet sitter for you and for the right price.

Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting plano tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.

Thanksgiving And The Cat

December 2, 2008

Here we are about to enter into the holiday season and with it being a holiday time, we want to include our pets in our holiday celebrations. After all, they are one of the family aren’t they? But we also want to keep our cats safe from all the potentially toxic (for them) foods and candy that come into our home during the holiday season. There are a few things that need to be said about “I wonder if the cat can eat that?” There are some things that can be dangerous for your cat that you may not be aware of.

After having a large Thanksgiving dinner, offering a small piece of boneless, thoroughly cooked turkey, plain mashed potatoes and a smidge of pumpkin pie is not likely to be a harmful treat for your cat. Just be sure to avoid giving foods with large amounts of onion or garlic or any treats sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Because this can lower the blood sugar of both your dogs and your cats, this could lead to life threatening things such as seizures and liver failure.

There are some spices that are potentially dangerous for your pet. Sage is considered to be edible and should be safe if given in small amounts. However, sage, as well as many other herbs, contains essential resins and oils that can cause gastrointestinal upset. In some cases it can cause nervous system depression if the cat gets too much of it. Cats are sensitive to the effects of essential oils, so for safety’s sake, I suggest you break the bad news to kitty and keep him away from the sage you are cooking with this Thanksgiving. Because cats can be very sensitive to the effects of essential oils, it is a good idea to discourage your cat from chewing on the needles of your beautiful Christmas tree as well.

Another thing that humans love, but pets should not be given, is chocolate which can be a problem for cats just as it for dogs. Since cats tend to be smaller than most dogs, it doesn’t take as much chocolate to be a problem. Also, the type of chocolate your pet eats can make a difference. The darker the chocolate the more dangerous, so bittersweet or dark chocolate will be a lot worse than milk chocolate. Even though milk chocolate is not as bad as the dark chocolate, there is still another possible problem with it and that is the toxins that are in milk chocolate are excreted through the kidneys. It is not recommended that you let your cat have chocolate of any kind if it has kidney issues. With kidney problems, they would not be able to eliminate the toxins very well. But it is safer to eliminate any possible problems and just don’t give them chocolate.

We hope this information has been helpful to you and will help keep you from “killing with kindness”. We hope that both you, your family and your pets have a safe holiday.

We plan to post articles that are informative and helpful to other cat lovers. Having been “owned” by cats for years, we know they can be demanding, but also be very entertaining and fun. Best House Cat Care Visit our website for products your cat may enjoy www.besthousecatcare.com

4 Ways to Bond With Your Kitty

December 2, 2008

Just as if you brought home a new puppy, bringing home a new cat or kitten requires just as much patience. Your new kitty will need your undivided attention to help him/her get used to his/her new surroundings. Cats are wary of change, so it is important to make the process of welcoming a cat home slow and calm. There are many ways for you to connect with your new pet. During this crucial time, here are some ways you can bond with your new cat and continue to have a loving relationship with your kitty.

1. Lots of petting. A cat loves to be petted and is shown by its steady purring. Be sure to pet your cat everyday to show your affection and bond with your kitty. Talk to your cat while giving him/her a good petting. Speak calmly and give your cat lots of praise. If your cat wants you to stop, he/she will let you know usually by giving you a little nibble on the hand. Petting is great, but you don’t want to over-stimulate your cat.

2. Daily brushings. Just like with dogs, daily brushings will help keep your cat’s skin and coat looking healthy, especially the longer haired breeds. Find a brush that works best for your cat’s coat. This will also keep the shedding to a minimum and reduce the pet hair in your house. Brushing your cat will likely be a very enjoyable time for your cat and can be combined with petting, which will help grow your relationship with your kitty.

3. Feeding time and treats. Make feeding time special for your new cat. Be sure to be consistent and have a set schedule for feedings. Cats like consistency and try to avoid change. It won’t take long before your cat knows the feeding schedule and anticipates his/her owner giving him/her food. Your cat will probably remind you of feeding time before you even have a chance to do it on your own. Take this time to pet and talk to your cat while feeding him/her. This will make your kitty feel special. Do this while giving treats as well. Announce treat time as a rewarding time of the day. Before too long, treat time will be one of your cat’s favorite times of the day!

4. Play time. Even though cats sleep most of the day, they do require exercise to maintain a healthy weight and healthy behavior. Once you find out your cat’s favorite toys, take time out once a day to have play time with your kitty. Hint: you have plenty of around-the-house items that your cat will love to play with. Such as, rubber bands, boxes, plastic bags, string, etc. Play time with your cat will strengthen your bond with your cat even more while exerting your cat’s excess energy.

You’d be surprised how social a cat can be, so it is important that you give him/her the attention he/she needs. Do this and watch how your cat’s personality changes. These four tips will create a stronger bond between you and your cat that will continue for many years to come!

Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting plano tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.

5 Around-the-House Toys Your Cat Will Love

December 2, 2008

We all know that cats can be more finicky than dogs and it is sometimes difficult to find out which toys your kitty likes the best, which may end up costing you time and money for nothing. Like children, cats usually end up being more interested in the packaging of its toy rather than the toy itself. That is why I have compiled a list of around-the-house toys your cat will love just as much as those store-bought toys.

1. Bread Tie

I figured out after many torn up loaves of bread that my cat loves bread ties. After my family finishes a loaf of bread, I make sure to save the bread tie for our cat. Cats love to toss it around the floor and throw it up in the air. It’s light and flexible, which makes the perfect cat toy! Who knew such a simple item would go over so well with your cat.

2. Milk Jug Ring

This is another simple item that is favored by cats. After you finish your jug of milk, remove the ring and toss it on the floor for your cat to play with. They enjoy sliding it around on tile or any other hard floor surface. Again, it’s light and easy to play with. The ring moves fast, which makes this game exciting for your cat.

3. Plastic Bag

Cats love the sound of plastic bags! Place a plastic bag on the floor and show your cat how it moves and makes noise and he will be attacking it in no time. You might even put another toy inside the bag to make the game even that more fun. Just be sure to watch your cat while he plays with bags because they can be a suffocation hazard.

4. Box

Cats love to explore, which is why giving them a large empty box will delight their curiosity. Not only does the box offer a place to lounge, it combines well with the toys listed above. Toss a bread tie or a milk jug ring in a box and your cat will play for hours. Another idea is to cut holes in the box for your cat to peek through. The box provides as a safe haven and a great clubhouse to play in.

5. Laser Pointer

I consider this an around-the-house item because a laser pointer is more associated with giving presentations rather than playing with your pets; however, you may actually buy this item at a pet store. Cats and dogs both go crazy over this item. It will definitely tire out your cat in a hurry. It’s a good toy to use as an exercise device. If your cat is starting to get overweight or too lazy, using a laser pointer during play time should give your cat plenty of calorie-burning exercise to help maintain a healthy weight. Because the pointer cannot actually be caught by your cat, I choose to give my cat a treat after playing with his laser pointer.

Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting frisco tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.

How to Find the Right Dog Walker For Your Pet

December 2, 2008

As a animal-lover myself, I know that hiring someone to take care of your pet is like hiring someone to take care of your child. You need to feel safe and comfortable in your dog walker selection because that person will be entering your home and interacting with your family, all while you are not at home. Rest assured that there are trustworthy people out there that can help you with your dog walking needs. Here are some tips for finding the right dog walker for you:

• Make sure they are Bonded & Insured

This step is easy. Just ask your dog walker for proof of insurance. The potential dog walker should not get offended for you being careful. If the dog walker makes excuses, this is a red flag that the person may not be insured and is being dishonest. If that is the case, keep on with your search.

• Ask for references

If the dog walker does not give references during the consultation, be sure to ask for some. Don’t be shy. Call the references and ask them what ever questions you want. You should feel comfortable with your selection and talking to other customers will help. In fact, your dog walker should encourage you to call upon their references.

• Read all policy information

Most accredited dog walkers have some type of company policies that suggest rules for the owner and rules for the dog walker. These help for your pet’s safety and the safety of the dog walker. Your dog walker will usually have you sign and agree to the terms so be sure to read them thoroughly and if anything seems questionable bring it up otherwise keep looking for the right dog walker.

• Ask all the questions you want

Don’t hesitate in asking questions. Your dog walker should be experienced and have answers for any type of situations you may have questions about. Even those that are just starting their dog-walking business should have some experience in dealing with animals. If you find this is not the case, you may want to keep looking. Example question: What would you do if our dog got away from you during the walk? Or, what are backup procedures if you cannot make it to our house to walk our dog?

• Maybe go on a walk with your dog walker first

Again, don’t be shy. If it makes you more comfortable to walk with the dog walker and your pet before making your decision, feel free! Your dog walker should be open to it and gladly walk around with you and your pet. This will show you how experienced the dog walker is with animals and will help you feel more comfortable in leaving your pet with someone besides yourself. Your dog will likely let you know if it enjoys walking with the dog walker. Your dog walker should also be open to sharing his/her experience with your pet. Suggest that your dog walker leave you notes on how the day went with your pet.

Being thorough in your hiring process will make you feel more comfortable with trusting your pet sitter or dog walker with your pet. Good luck in your search!

Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting plano tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.

How to Get Your Cat to Stop Clawing the Furniture in 3 Easy Steps

December 2, 2008

Cats claw things because it is instinct. Unfortunately for you, your cat may claw YOUR things. Don’t expect your cat to be trained to never claw anything because the cat needs to shed its nails, which is why it has the urge to claw. This does not mean you have to de-claw your cat. I personally believe that de-clawing cats is cruel and unnatural. It affects their personality and is very traumatic. I can, however, provide some easy tips on how to keep your cat from ruining your furniture. Here are three easy steps to keep your cat from scratching up your things and give you peace of mind.

Step One: Provide plenty of things that your cat is allowed to scratch.

You may try different types of scratch pads and posts to see which ones your cat prefers. You can find such items at your local pet supply store and prices vary, however, most scratch pads are fairly inexpensive. To help coax your cat to the new scratch post, you may try sprinkling some cat nip on the pad or post to entice your cat to rub its scent on it. This will lure your cat back to the scratch pad or post over and over again.

Step Two: Use double-sided tape on your furniture.

Your cat may like its new scratching toy; however, it may find itself still interested in a piece of your furniture. If this is the case, try putting some double-sided tape in the places the cat likes to scratch and once the cat puts one paw on the tape it will quickly try to get away. Cats don’t like sticky stuff, so they won’t try to paw at the tape more than once. Pet stores carry large pieces of double-sided tape specifically for training cats not to scratch your furniture. The tape does not have to stick around permanently. After attempting to claw at the taped furniture your cat will likely not return again. I suggest keeping the tape on the furniture for about a week.

Step Three: Keep your cat’s nails trimmed.

Because cats needs to shed their nails, they find that scratching things helps to remove the loose layers of nail, hence why your cat claws at furniture or other items in your house. Your local pet supply store sells clippers and nail files that can be used safely to trim your cat’s nails to help with the shedding process. Your cat may not like it at first, but if you keep it up on a weekly basis your cat will eventually get used to the process. I suggest giving your cat a treat or a good petting after clipping its nails. Because your cat’s nails are trimmed your cat will be less interested in clawing at things to shed its nails. The difference is noticeable. A cat with long un-trimmed nails will constantly claw at things to help the shedding of its claws, but if you keep the trimming up, you’ll see how much less often your cat will have the need to claw or scratch on surfaces.

Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting mckinney tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.

11 Preventive Treatment Pointers For a Vigorous and Happy Beloved Dog

December 1, 2008

Pet treatment isn’t simply about reactionary medicine - it’s about being proactive and taking preventive measures. By raising a loved dog that’s strong and happy, you can keep your beloved canine active and healthy for years to come. So, read on for 11 great tips to help ensure your dog’s life is long and active.

Lots of Attention

You should be providing your dog at least 30 minutes of undivided attention each day. Whether it’s play time, training time or grooming, that love and focus is critical to building a deep bond and fostering your animal’s mental health.

Get Regular Exercise

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise every day. It’s critical for a healthy body and a healthy temperament.

ID Tags

While technically not a health-related pet treatment, ensuring your dog wears a flat collar and ID tag at all times, even inside, will help bring him home safely if he ever escapes or gets lost.

Practice Obedience

Obedience training doesn’t just produce a well-trained dog, it also helps your canine lead a disciplined and structured life, something that’s critical to their pack mentality. Obedience training also helps to keep the mind sharp.

Yearly Veterinarian Checkups

Visit your veterinarian on an annual basis. Have your dog examined, and be sure to discuss any potential health concerns.

Brush His Teeth

Most veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth every day. It’s difficult, cumbersome and not always fun, but it will keep gingivitis, tooth decay and disease at bay. Remember, you don’t have to brush forever - a few nightly swipes should do the trick.

Give Him a Bath

You should bathe your dog whenever he is itchy, smelly or dirty. Your dog can pick up a lot of parasites, dirt and bacteria when he’s out splashing in puddles or rolling around in the dirt. Just like with humans, good hygiene is critical for good health.

Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone

Dogs are social animals, which is why they live and travel in packs in the wild. If you plan to leave your dog home alone all day, then you should invest in a dog walking service or possibly doggie daycare. Otherwise, your dog can become depressed, bored and possibly destructive.

Give Your Dog Some Room

Dogs need their own space, so give your dog a peaceful and comfortable place where he can go to lie down, have some quiet time and take a nap. When your dog is resting or relaxing, be sure to respect his space and need for rest.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

If you’re feeding your dog discount dog food, ask yourself why? Keep your dog healthy by investing in quality, veterinarian-approved food.

Heartworm Medicine

Probably the most important preventive pet treatment is to keep your dog on heartworm prevention medicine during mosquito season. Heartworm is a deadly disease that is excruciatingly painful, so keep your dog safe from it.

You love your dog, so provide the simple care he needs to live a long and healthy life with you.

For helpful information about pet supplies - please visit petsuppliestips.com - a popular site about needs for your beloved pet - such as pet treatment - pet lover gifts - and many more!

Pet Food Recall - Are Pet Food Manufacturers Killing Your Animals on Purpose?

December 1, 2008

The prevalent recall of pet food has created a huge fright to all dog and cat owners who rely on commercial brands to feed their pets. Throughout the country, contaminated pet food has caused many dogs to become very ill, while a huge number of them have died.

In March, Menu foods, a Canada based manufacturing company, recalled more than 90 brands of “cuts and gravy” moist foods (both dog food and cat food) after more than 14 pets died from eating them. A few weeks later, the same company added 20 more of their brand to be taken off store shelves.

It was later revealed that wheat gluten, an ingredient found in the said pet foods, was contaminated with rat poison. The risk of Salmonella contamination has also been a major cause of a recall for two popular brands of pig ear dog treats.

When Food Is Kills Your Pets, Something Must Change

Cases of toxic pet foods date back to December of 2005, when many dogs died and dozens fell ill after eating kibble manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods. It was later discovered that the food was contaminated with aflatoxin; a naturally occurring chemical produced from fungus and can be found on crops such as wheat, corn, rice, and beans. This chemical is also toxic to domestic animals, livestock, and even in human beings. More pet food recalls during this past ten years has also involve the risk for Salmonella contamination.

Pet Food Recall - Are Pet Food Manufacturers Killing Your Animals On Purpose?

All pet owners want what’s best for our beloved pets, especially when it comes to the foods they eat. Our goal is to give them only the healthiest food available to make sure that they will live a long and healthy life. What if the so-called “healthy pet foods” that are being sold in stores are not as reliable as we think?

So, what do we do when we can no longer rely upon the food manufacturers who are supposed to provide pet owners with safe and healthy foods for our animals?

Are These So-Called Pet Food Companies Breaking The Law?

FDA regulations say that pet foods have to be manufactured similar to the way human foods are manufactured. So, they should be processed under a sanitary environment, do not contain any harmful ingredients, accurately labeled, and safe for our pets to eat.

All pet food manufacturers are expected to act in accordance with these regulations to make sure that the food is safe and healthy …But due to limited resources, the FDA can only check pet food issues after consumer complaints are made or if the FDA has a reason to believe that there is a threat to animal health. So, a recall is then announced by the FDA or the manufacturer if a contaminated product is found. Finding out that your dog has been poisoned is devastating. This is why I recommend that all pet owners keep abreast to current news relating to food recalls.

Provided by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the largest choice of dog feeders online, visit http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders/

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