Lucky canines across the UK can expect to enjoy Christmas every bit as much as their owners as a staggering 49% of owners have said that they will be preparing their beloved pooch a special Christmas doggie dinner on the 25^th.

The survey was carried out on behalf of the Pet Insurance division of Direct Line, and of  the 1021 dog owners that they questioned, almost half said that they were planning to make a special dinner for their dogs, and 46% were planning to take them for a special Christmas walk afterwards, a great way for them to burn off all those doggie goodies.

Adam Whiteley, head of pet insurance at Direct Line, offered this advice to dog owners: “Dog owners going to the trouble of cooking a special Christmas dinner for their best furry friend are clearly doing so out of love and festive spirit. It’s worth remembering that there are a few things dogs shouldn’t eat at all, even on special occasions, as doing so can make them very ill or even cause death in extreme cases. Chocolate, raisins, onions, and added salt should all be avoided, as should sharp or small bones. It’s a good idea to make sure that all food items and treats are stored well out of reach of pets, during the holidays and all year round.”

According to the survey, 89% of Britain’s dogs can expect a delivery from Santa left under the tree for them to spend the holidays enjoying.

40% Britain’s dogs will have an average of £10  on presents spent this year with a lucky 9% having gifts worth more than £100  awaiting them.

Toys are the most favoured present of choice, but pampering with collars, leads and clothes also top the list of most desired presents.

However, with 26% of Britain’s dogs enjoying chewing presents, it might be advisable to make sure Santa’s little four legged helpers have someone keeping an eye out for them.

K9 Magazine editor Ryan O’Meara offered this thoughts on the findings, “The fact that nearly half of all dog owners are preparing to fully include their canine pals in the Christmas festivities is indicative of just how much the relationship between pets and their owners has changed in modern times. Dogs are now considered fully fledged members of the family and this research highlights just how seriously owners take that relationship. Dogs bring us so much joy every day, it’s nice to hear that owners take great delight in including them at this special time.”

Here at Hill’s we understand the importance of providing your precious pooch or cute kitty with a well-balanced and varied diet. That’s why we work around the clock to produce pet food products that are specially tailored to your pet’s size, weight and medical needs.

We’ve more than 150 veterinarians, Ph.D. nutritionists and food scientists worldwide who are constantly innovating tasty, new recipes. We are proud to have developed leading formulas and have the most extensive range of clinical nutrition products for sick, at risk and healthy dogs and cats.

We know that like human beings, every animal is different and requires a unique and specifically modified diet. That’s why our specialist team have created the Science Plan to make sure your canine or feline gets the right balance of antioxidants and high-quality ingredients. A bouncing puppy doesn’t need to follow the same diet as an aging cat, which is we have spent our time creating specialised meal choices.

Our Prescription Diet plans are also ideal for animals that are suffering from particular illnesses as they offer clinical approved nutrients. So, if your furry friend is feeling a bit under the weather Hill’s is here to help with a highly nutritious and specially tailored diet. We all need a bit of a boost when we are feeling low and eating the correct foods is essential to a speedy recovery.

Hills are dedicated to strengthening to relationship between you and your pooch and have devised a number of products to help with stiff joint in dogs and other animal ailments. We want you to enjoy a quality life with your pet for as long as possible and our passion for giving animals the best quality of life underpins everything we do.

So if you are looking to save money, cut back elsewhere and make sure you dog or cat is getting a top quality diet – after all they are one of the family, right? Find out more about Hill’s today and take excellent nutritional care of your furry friend.

Article Supplied by Hill’s

The scientific community is currently investigating several commercial dog foods that have recently come to the media’s attention the containing toxins. Studies are being conducted on sick dogs that are believed to have eaten toxic food and dogs that have died from liver failure are also being examined.

One of the most common toxins defined in dog food is aflatoxin which can potentially cause liver failure in dogs. This type of chemical blocks the production of protein and cholesterol and by measuring protein levels in the body vets can see whether the dog suffering from aflatoxin poisoning.

Just recently Diamond Pet Food have recalled nearly 20 varieties of their dog feeds and along with two others manufacturers it is expected that they have been responsible for the deaths of over 100 dogs. Some reports have also said that the makers of dog food are processing dead animals to cut costs. There have been rumours that dogs and cats which have died are being processed without any of their fur being removed, they are simply cooked at high temperatures and then packaged.

Another study that has come out of the United States showed that a certain type of cat food that was commercially available contained a large amount of lead. Many of the meat that goes to producing animal food has been deemed unfit for human consumption by slaughterhouses.

As well as the problems with toxins in the food, many commercially available animal foods do not have nutritional value that your pet needs. Carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins and minerals are required to keep your pet healthy and many types of commercially available food do not have these essential components.

If you want to ensure that your dog is eating a healthy diet then it is a good idea to create meals for them with ingredients that you can buy the supermarket. Before you do this it is important to understand what your dog needs nutritionally. While most of the carbohydrates and protein needs are the same as ours they require different minerals and vitamins to ensure that they function properly.

There are many recipes out there that are targeted towards dogs and these include quiche, cornbread, baking biscuits and Turkey cookies. These are often made from easily available ingredients including oatmeal, beef, eggs, and various vegetables. It is important to realise that dogs omnivores and they should be eating a balance of meat and vegetables so including a healthy amount of both in their diet is very important. You must also realise that depending on the environment dogs require different amounts of protein.

In 1967, the Royal Canin company was founded in the French village of Gard by veterinary surgeon, Jean Cathary. He realised that poor nutrition in dog food was responsible for many canine health issues, and tested his theory by constructing a new and healthier diet. This idea proved to be incredibly successful, as Royal Canin Dog Food has evolved to become a major global brand. Royal Canin Cat Food is just as successful and they now operate a global market, supplying premium products around the world.

Royal Canin is at the forefront of providing “targeted nutrition”, formulating diets for specific breeds and symptoms. Different dogs may have particular variations as to what they require in their diet, hence a range of “breed specific” diets are available. Modern pets typically live very differently from their wild ancestors. The difference in habitat affects cats nutritional needs, for instance the fact many cats live completely indoors affects their metabolism. Royal Canin recognises this and has produced diets for these changes.

Royal Canin prides itself as being one of the largest providers of therapeutic diets (veterinary diets). Animals that have medical conditions often respond to veterinary diets with altered nutrient levels. Treatment outcomes can be positively affected by simply increasing or decreasing the levels of constituents or nutrients. Royal Canin Renal diets, for instance, reduce further damage caused by kidney failure as they are simply formulated to below in phosphorus and protein, and contain added fish oils.

Animals with urinary infections benefit from the Royal Canin Urinary diets .The nutritional formula also helps prevent the formation of crystals of struvite in the urine. If only used for a short period of time, for example a few weeks, these particular diets are designed to contribute to a veterinary treatment plan.

Royal Canin Sensitivity Control is well regarded for helping animals that have skin or digestive problems. Such issues could involve food intolerance or hypersensitivity. Dietary allergies commonly affect skin and the intestine, which can be hard to cope with for any pet. This diet is available in many different forms for cats or dogs, based on either chicken or duck. Like with most Royal Canin food products, wet or dried kibble forms are also available.

As Royal Canin has provides such a vast range of pet foods and supplies, it is rare to find a retailer that stocks anywhere near the full product range. More and more customers are starting to benefit from online suppliers, as they have access to the complete range available from Royal Canin. With the advantage of home delivery, it is likely that soon most people will be buying their pet food online.

As a vet, Joe is very aware that arthritis can be a particular problem in middle-aged and older dogs: “Stiffness and difficulty jumping into the car are typical symptoms and there are many causes, including hip dysplasia and injuries, but old age wear and tear is one of the main factors. Good nutrition, keeping your dog well exercised and at a healthy weight is also important, as obesity is a known contributing factor.”

Joe, who has long been a campaigner for natural pet foods, works tirelessly to educate pet owners on how best to feed their dogs for a long and healthy life. He first became aware of the benefits of joint care supplement, glucosamine, several years ago in the surgery, but he found the early products were often difficult to administer and expensive.

Olympic Gold Medallist, David Wilkie, who introduced glucosamine and a number of now-familiar high-grade, natural supplements to the UK human market in the 90’s, was the person Joe consulted to help formulate a new kind of joint care supplement for dogs. The result of their collaboration is ‘Active Joints’, one of three ‘Active Sauces’ which are all mixed into a delicious chicken sauce which they believe is already transforming the way dog owners administer nutritional supplements. Joe explains: “Unlike other canine nutritional supplements, a simple squeeze of the bottle over the dog’s food is all that’s needed.”

David added: “Containing glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, collagen and MSM, I believe Active Joints delivers the very best active ingredients for long term joint health in dogs.”

MEET THE VET’S KITCHEN TEAM THIS SUMMER

Joe and the Vet’s Kitchen team are taking their campaign for healthier pets on the road this summer to top County Shows with his Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan Roadshow.  Canine visitors to the Health Scan trailer will be offered a free health scan which will give their owners an accurate insight into their pet’s health and body condition. Owners will also be able to ask for advice on weight control, joint mobility, digestive and skin problems.  Details of the Roadshow can be found on the Vet’s Kitchen website.

Active Joints is one of three Active Sauce supplements in Joe’s Vet’s Kitchen range of natural pet food. Each 300ml Active Joints easy-to-measure squeezy-bottle provides a 30 day supply for a medium sized dog at a RRP of £6.99.

If you’re like most dog masters, you want to keep your dog healthy while at the same time satisfying his healthy appetite.  But this still leaves quite a few options.  There are literally hundreds of dog food products are available. Here are some things you should consider in selecting the best.

You need to select a dog food that has plenty of good nutrients, including vitamins, protein, minerals and water.  Pay close heed to the food’s protein ration.  Normally, a dog food with 20 to 30 percent ratio of protein is good.

The healthiest dogs are those whose diets consist of a combination of dry dog food and wet.  This promotes healthy and gums and also gives him the essential nutrients mentioned earlier.  Also, be careful not to overfeed the dog.  This can cause obesity, and just as it does with humans, will cause health problems for your pet.  A general guideline is this:  If you can feel your dog’s ribs, you’ve probably been overfeeding him a bit

Have you ever noticed that when you go on a diet, it costs more to eat healthy foods than junk foods  There’s a similar phenomenon with dog food.  There are high-end foods which cost a bit more.  But in many cases, these foods do a good job of balancing the dog’s nutritional needs with outstanding flavour that most dogs love.  So by all means, splurge on Fido!

The question often arises:  Should you feed your dog human food?  Remember that dogs are related to wolves, which are carnivorous (they love meat).  However, this doesn’t mean you should feed them meats processed for humans.  Instead, get them a dog foot product where the main ingredient is meat:  real meat, not a processed substitute.

Human meat is usually too greasy for dogs and can block their arteries.  As for other human goodies sweets are just as bad for dogs as it is for people.  And chocolate can be downright deadly.  So if you really want to be kind to your dog, feed him high-quality, highly-nutritious dog food.

Chocolate eggs and other treats left around the house at Easter can be a big temptation to four legged friends, however unlike most people they can become extremely unwell if they eat large amounts of chocolate which is intended for humans.

The toxic chemical within chocolate is called Theobromine and the amount contained within chocolate varies according to the type and quality of chocolate. Dark chocolate usually contains high levels of the toxic chemical, compared with white chocolate which contains comparatively little. Even a small amount of high quality dark chocolate eaten by a dog can cause clinical signs such as hyperexcitability and restlessness, vomiting, tremors and convulsions.

While M&S Pet Insurance policyholders have access to a 24-hour advice line, 365 days a year, meaning that if the worst happens this Easter they know they have support at the end of the phone, as it is much better to avoid the problem in the first place.

Vetfone nurses provide concerned pet owners with immediate advice on an animal’s condition and can decide whether emergency medical treatment is required.

Vetfone Deputy Operations Manager, Clare Scantlebury, said: “Easter is a great excuse to indulge in all things chocolaty, but dog owners should think carefully about storing chocolate eggs in a safe place out of the reach of hungry dogs.  The potential danger depends on the amount of chocolate eaten, the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate and is showing signs of illness, seek medical advice immediately.”

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: “It’s not just the chocolate at Easter which can cause illness and injury in pets. We have seen claims when dogs have eaten small novelty toys from Easter eggs and shredded plastic used as packing material in Easter baskets.  Small toys may cause internal damage or an intestinal blockage which can be life threatening. Ideally keep these objects well out of reach of your pets and supervise your dogs closely if children are playing with the toys.”

It has recently been reported that the obesity levels of dogs in the UK has reached epidemic proportions. It seems that Britons are feeding their pets an atrocious diet of junk food. Fatty foods, such as cheese, chips and crisps, are being given to dogs as treats but they are creating severe health problems in our Dogs. Pets are increasingly suffering from diseases associated with obesity in humans. Malaise, asthma, diabetes and heart disease are becoming more and more common amongst our household pets. Some owners are even feeding dogs chocolate, which can cause fatal heart attacks for our canine brothers.

There have been recent calls for pet owners who over-feed their pets to be prosecuted under the Cruelty to Animals Act (1876). Like humans, good health is the result of a balanced diet. Here are some tips when considering your dog’s diet.

Milk is a fantastic source of Calcium but beware. A dog only needs a moderate amount of milk and therefore milk should never substitute water in a dog’s diet as this may cause severe diarrhoea. Puppies and pregnant dogs do need extra calcium in their diet but this can be added to their diet by other foods such as, green vegetables and fish. If you do give your dog fish make sure that it is cooked thoroughly as the consumption of raw fish has been attributed to vitamin deficiencies in dogs. A further result is possible abnormal posture, loss of appetite, weakness, and even seizure.

The protein content that is recommended for dogs is 20-30 percent. You should include protein-rich foods such as Chicken, Lamb, and Salmon. Dog’s also need fats and oils in their diet for taste and for digestive reasons. Egg’s are also an excellent source of protein but any foods which contain raw eggs should be avoided as this may lead to Dermatitis, loss of hair and poor growth in your pet.

Carbohydrates are also important to provide energy and fibre to improve the digestive capacity of the dog.

Dogs, like humans, should be fed at scheduled times at regular intervals. If you do give your dog treats be careful. Keep a check on what treats you are giving your dog and adjust their ‘standard’ diet accordingly. Don’t feed your dog table scraps, as it will result in the dog developing the bad habit of begging. Remember a Dog is smaller than a human. One chip is the equivalent of a whole portion of chips.

Pet shop dog-food is an easy way to provide your dog with the nutrients that it requires, but be sure to buy high-quality dog food that is appropriate for your dog’s weight, breed and age.

This advice is not all-encompassing but it provides a good framework for ensuring that your dog is receiving its essential nutrients without becoming obese. The important message is that, like humans, Dogs need a balanced diet in order to lead happy healthy lives but always remember that dogs are not humans and react differently to certain foods.

James Wellbeloved
Burns Pet Food
Hills Pet Food
Royal Canin
Nature Diet

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1. Look for good value – balance of quality and price
2. Go for products with a longer shelf life to reduce waste
3. Buy locally sourced products

Which is why the country’s fastest growing natural pet food company, Pets’ Kitchen, is proving resilient to the credit crunch. Established in 2005, and showing a 300% sales increase in the past 18 months, Joe & Jack’s range of natural foods were the inspiration of TV vet Joe Inglis after seeing the benefits that good quality, natural home-cooked recipes had for his dog Jack, and patients at the surgery.

But, in these times of credit crunch, don’t confuse premium quality with premium price. Honest or ‘real’ pet food – free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives – does not need to break the bank. Indeed, a price comparison between Joe & Jack’s Complete Fresh Chicken & Rice Dinner with Cesar…A Little More Refined Select Recipes Dog Food reveals that honestly natural is honestly cheaper – by the big bite of £580 a year! – (Based on recommended intake of both for a 10Kg dog at recommended retail prices November 2008)

As a UK dog food supplier, all Joe & Jack’s products are made in the UK, using local produce wherever possible, and are packed full of healthy natural ingredients with absolutely no artificial additives. They are tasted, and approved, by Joe’s dog Jack and his friends and never, ever tested on unwilling animals.

And it doesn’t stop there! Not only healthy, natural and competitively priced, Joe & Jack’s Complete Fresh Chicken & Rice Dinner is the UK’s first mainstream pet food to use only FREE RANGE chicken meat. Joe & Jack’s Free Range Chicken Dinners and Joe & Jack’s Fresh Lamb Dinners are exclusively available now in 331 Tesco stores, for 6 months, priced at £1.49 for 395g.

Joe & Jack’s fresh dinners are delicious wet complete meals for dogs, made using fresh meat, vegetables and rice that is simply minced together and steam-cooked in the tray. The trays can be kept at room temperature for up to a year, thanks to the innovative pressure-cooking process that seals all the goodness in whilst keeping bugs firmly out and, once opened, can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days. Each 395g tray will keep a small (10kg) dog full and happy for a whole day.

Find out more about Joe & Jack’s at www.petskitchen.co.uk