How To Choice Organic Food For Our Pets

As a cat or dog owner, you should be aware of the food that you can buy for your pets. Basically, there are two types of food and they are organic and non-organic pet food. You need to know the differences between these food types. You should only buy the best food for your pets which provide a balanced diet so your pet will live a long and healthy life. Feeding your pet with good or bad food will impact their health. This article will cover both the non-organic and organic pet food.

Non-Organic Pet Food
There are some manufactures that produce good quality and healthy non-organic cat and dog food. You have to read the label to determine which is the healthiest. Do not be confused with the bag and the advertising that is on it as it can be misleading. Not all cat and dog food are alike.
In most cases, non-organic pet food is usually cheaper than organic. The reason being is the USDA (United Status Department of Agriculture) has policies covering organic pet food. What most pet owners should become familiar with is the label printed on the package. This is where you will find which food is actually best for your pet verses another manufacturer. You will find the ingredients that were used in processing of the cat or dog food on the label. The label information printed on the package is regulated by AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials).
For cat and dog food, the first ingredient should be meat and not meat by-products or fillers. By-products and fillers are not healthy for your pets and should not be fed to them. The reason they are used is because they are cheap to the manufacturer, whch helps to keep the price of the food down. All manufacturers must list the ingredients in order by weight. Also look for the type of preservatives used in the process. Avoid BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, artificial flavors and colors or flavoring agents. These can cause harmful effects on your pet’s health over time. The old saying is true, if its not good for humans, it is not good for your pet.
Organic Pet Food
Organic pet food does have some regulations which are governed by the USDA. There are three levels in organic pet food and they are: 100% organic, organic, and made with organic ingredients.
100% Organic
In order for a manufacturer to advertise its product as “100% Organic” it must have all of the ingredients certified as organic in the process. Manufacturer’s can display the USDA Organic Seal on the packaging and advertising.
Organic
A product certified as “organic” its ingredients must be 95% organic. Manufacturer’s can display the USDA Organic Seal on its packaging and advertising.
Made With Organic Ingredients
Products advertised as “made with organic ingredients” must have 70% of the ingredients used in the process as organic. It cannot display the UDSA Organic Seal but, can display the logo of the certification body that approved them.
Other Organic Food
Products with less then 70% of organic ingredients cannot advertise this to consumers but can only mention them in the ingredient statement.
Generally, organic food is healthier for your pet. Also, you will use less food when feeding your pets because of the high quality ingredients being used in the process. Organic food is more expensive than non-organic food. Just like non-organic food, organic foods are not the same. Look at the label and the list of ingredients. There you will find the quality of the organic ingredients being used in the process. This should help select which food to buy.
Changing Your Pets Diet From One Food To Another
Before you can give your pet an organic food diet when you have been feeding him non-organic diet, you must change his diet over a period of time. Here is how it works:
Days 1-4. Mix 25% of the new food with 75% of his current food.
Days 5-8. Mix 50% of the new with 50% of the old.
Days 9-12. Mix 75% of the new with 25% of the old.
Day 13. 100% of the new food.

More Halloween Pet Photo Contest Entries! Get Your Vote In!

　　Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pet in the Annual ThoughtsFurPaws Halloween Pet Photo Contest! Here are some more entries for you to vote on…

　　Bonnie

　　Donald Treat Dog Dispenser

　　Jimmy as King Tut

　　Penny and Toby as Snooki and Paulie D

　　Pepper as a Belly Dancer
Don’t forget to check out the other Halloween pet photo contest entries too – here, here and here are some tips for a safe Halloween for pets!

Collared today: Gidget and Gabby

　　
　　Gidget and Gabby (Cheryl Ingoe)
Related

Photos: Pictures: The dogs of BARCStoberfest 2011 　　
Halloween called the most dangerous time of year for pets 　　By Jill Rosen The Baltimore Sun
6:30 a.m. EDT, October 31, 2011NAMES: Gidget and Gabby
OWNER: Cheryl and Mike Ingoe
HOW THEY MET: Both pets were acquired from breeders in the mid-Atlantic region
AGE: Gidget is 1, Gabby is 3
HOME: Kingsville
BREED: Gidget is a Papillon, Gabby is a West Highland White Terrier
FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Treat time, walks and belly rubs, in that order
FAVORITE FOOD: Venison jerky treats
FUNNIEST MOMENT: The “girls” are at their cutest when we pull into the driveway and they are sitting side-by-side on the back of the couch looking out the bow window waiting for us to get home. Also, when Gidget uses her behind to “bump” Gabby to get her to play.
IF GIDGET AND GABBY HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: A daily walk is essential for health and happiness!

World's cutest pets

　　Warm And Fuzzy
There's nothing like a cuddly cat or dog to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. If you need a pick-me-up, look no further. These pictures of sweet little pets are bound to make you smile, even if you’re having a case of the Mondays or a wacked-put workweek.

　　Give a dog a bone
BREED: Yorkshire Terrier
This darling Yorkshire terrier named Lacie is just about the cutest thing we've ever seen with that shy look on her furry little face. Her owner submitted her picture to dailypets.co.uk, and when we found it, we just couldn't resist. That bone is as big as she is!
Warm And Fuzzy
There's nothing like a cuddly cat or dog to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. If you need a pick-me-up, look no further. These pictures of sweet little pets are bound to make you smile, even if you’re having a case of the Mondays or a wacked-put workweek.

　　Basil the blogging cat
BREED: Purebred Scottish Fold
This purebred Scottish fold cat named Basil Yuen Farrow is owned by a woman named La Carmina, who is set on making him famous. (After all, in her blog, she claims her kitty was once owned by Mia Farrow.) She even made Basil a focal point of her blog and of other ventures she's cooking up.
Warm And Fuzzy
There's nothing like a cuddly cat or dog to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. If you need a pick-me-up, look no further. These pictures of sweet little pets are bound to make you smile, even if you’re having a case of the Mondays or a wacked-put workweek.

　　Perky pom-pom
BREED: Pomeranian
This 19-lb. Pomeranian named Tinkerbell was recently voted as Woman's Day's Cutest Pet of the Day. Her owner submitted a picture of her, and it paid off. We wonder if the tee shirt adds some extra weight.
Warm And Fuzzy
There's nothing like a cuddly cat or dog to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. If you need a pick-me-up, look no further. These pictures of sweet little pets are bound to make you smile, even if you’re having a case of the Mondays or a wacked-put workweek.

　　Study buddy
BREED: Jack Russell
Can you believe that anyone would abandon a dog this adorable? His new owner found this Jack Russell, whom she named Bubba, alone and almost freezing to death on the side of the road. She took him in, and now his favorite thing to do is curl up on her lap while she studies--to be a vet tech. How fitting!

Pets Factor: meet the final 30 - and get voting!

　　
　　We’ve had so many fantastic pets enter our Pets Factor competition there’s no way we could decide on an overall winner.
Our readers have selected their top 30 cutest entrants (as featured here) but we need to get these whittled down in the second round of Pets Factor 2011.
Tell us who your favourite pet is by voting now! See the final 30 pets as a PDF and find out how to vote below
The Top 10 will be printed on Thursday, October 20 in your Evening Telegraph.
Our 2011 Pets Factor winner will receive a top-quality dog or cat bed from Pets at Home, packed full of Mars Petcare food, treats and goodies.
What’s more, the winner will also receive a stunning 16in x 12in colour print of their pet from Starlight Studios. Don’t worry, if the winner is one of two rabbit finalists, there will be alternative prizes that will delight the brilliant bunny and their proud owner.
So to enter and support your favourite furry friend, simply choose your favourite animal picture from those printed, and either text or email your vote before Sunday, October 16.
Our Pets Factor contest is being organised in association with the Love Pets Show which takes place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30, October.
TV vet Marc Abraham will take centre-stage at the two-day animal extravaganza in Peterborough, which welcomes people who are passionate about their pets to enjoy a great-value family day out.
Over the LovePets Show weekend Marc will be giving talks covering a wide variety of pet topics, answering questions from the audience and sharing anecdotes from his days as a vet on call in an emergency clinic.
“The LovePets show is all set to be a brilliant family attraction because it highlights so many different aspects of the animal world in a fun, interactive way,” explained Marc.
“For example, there will be assistance dogs demonstrating their working skills, including guide dogs, hearing dogs and Pets as Therapy (PAT) that are taken to visit people in poor health.
“There will also be reptiles and birds, exotic creatures and some particularly strange-looking insects.
“The LovePets Show brings these wonderful animals together for people to meet, and promises visitors a huge feel-good factor.
The LovePets show will offer a wealth of information on being a responsible pet-owner, and is supported by The Kennel Club, which will be on-hand to answer questions ranging from choosing the right puppy for your family, to rescuing particular breeds. They will also be promoting the Young Kennel Club for children with an interest in canines.
Meanwhile, celebrity dog trainer Karen Wild will be providing masterclasses at the show for those keen to learn best behaviour techniques, and this year’s Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Pippa Langhorne will be providing musical entertainment by singing with her dog Buddy.
Voting for this round ends at midnight on Sunday, 16 October!
VOTE BY TEXT
Text your vote before midnight on Sunday, 16 October to 61500 starting your message with the words EMN TEN then a space, then the number of the pet you are voting for (as printed in the newspaper), then your name, house number and postcode.
Texts messages cost £1.00 in addition to your standard network charge and should contain no more than 160 characters. Please note if you should enter after the stated closing date your vote will not be valid but you may still be charged.
VOTE BY E-MAIL
Email your vote, including your name, address and daytime contact telephone number to petsfactor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk. In your email subject title, please ensure you state the number of the pet you are voting for, followed by the words ‘Pet Competition’ (for example, “1001 – Pet Competition”).

Make 2011 Year of the ‘Hog: A How-To Guide for Hedgehogs

　　


Hedgehogs can make unique pets.
Some of the happiest discoveries in life can be utter contradictions. Such is the case of the hedgehog, one of the cutest animals on earth that also happens to have a pelt of sharp quills. Hedgehogs don’t immediately come to mind when thinking about fun and cuddly pets, but these unusual creatures can be playful, loving, and loyal.
“We got our first hedgehog, Heidi, as a pet for my daughter,” Ann Salamon, a Connecticut based hedgehog breeder and proprietor of Hedgehog World told me. “She was a great pet with lots of spunk and attitude and she really bonded with my daughter and our whole family. We all really fell in love with her.”
Say Hello to My Little Hedgehog
Most hedgehogs come from Africa, and the species most commonly kept as a pet in North America is the African Pygmy hedgehog.
“It is a hybrid of two different species that were imported into North America in the 1990s,” Salamon said. “Virtually all of the pet hedgehogs in the US are domestically bred.”
Because of their origins hedgehogs typically need to be kept warm to stay healthy. They should be kept in a room that is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and preferably a little warmer, which makes them a great pet for people in warmer parts of the country. A typical hedgehog will live between three and five years, though some have been known to live as long as ten years in captivity.
“Hedgehogs are very intelligent and they each have their own distinct personality. Most of them are very independent,” Salamon continued. “They don’t require as much time and attention as a dog or a cat and often apartments that don’t allow dogs or cats will allow hedgehogs.”
These Quills Were Made for Loving
While hedgehogs can often be sweet and friendly creatures, their quills present a challenge for those looking to cuddle.
“Scent is very important to hedgehogs because their eyesight is not good, so hedgehogs should be handled with your bare hands whenever possible,” Salamon said. “If a hedgehog is used to a lot of human contact, most will not roll up or will unroll immediately when you pick them up.”
If you don’t feel comfortable trying to hold your new hedgehog with bare hands, try using some cloth that still has your scent on it so he or she will start to recognize you. An old fleece or baby blanket should do the trick, though be careful to check for loose threads, which can get wrapped around a hedgehog’s tiny toes and cause problems.
“Some hedgehogs like to cuddle and sit in your lap,” Salamon continued. “You can watch TV or use the computer with them on your lap, or carry them around in a sweatshirt pocket.”
A Home Fit for a ‘Hog
Hedgehogs are relatively small and can live happily in a cage similar to what you’d use for a guinea pig or rat. They love to have space to roam, but a single level cage of at least two feet by two feet will suffice. They also tend to enjoy exercise and Salamon says an exercise wheel is a must.
“Hedgehogs are burrowing animals so a safe wood bedding like kiln dried pine or aspen--but never cedar--or paper bedding makes an enjoyable environment for them to burrow and dig,” Salamon continued.
It’s also important to give your hedgehog time to play outside of its cage.
“If you have a runner or explorer, you can let them run around supervised or put them in a run about ball, children’s wading pool or ferret exercise pen,” Salamon said. "They love to run on an exercise wheel, play with toilet paper tubes and some also like to push around other child or pet safe toys in their cage.”
Hedgehog’ing is Not a Crime—Usually
Because hedgehogs are still a relatively unusual pet, laws affecting their ownership can vary from state to state. Most states in the U.S. and Canada allow people to own hedgehogs but they are currently illegal in Georgia, California, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. New York City residents are also out of luck.
While not illegal in the state of New York, residents in any of NYC’s five boroughs are forbidden from keeping hedgehogs as pets. In Arizona, Maine, and New Jersey you’re allowed to keep hedgehogs but you’ll need to apply for a special permit first.

Pet friendly holiday accommodation

Pet friendly holiday accommodation, such as a pet friendly rental house, caravan park, apartment or hotel can be of great benefit for some devoted pet owners. For some of us, holidays without our beloved pet just isn’t much of a holiday at all. We prefer to take our pets along to share the fun holiday time. We’d miss each other too much we didn’t holiday together.

It can be difficult to find an available, trustworthy person to look after our pets. This is especially the case if we are going away for an extended period of time. Boarding kennels can be expensive and fairly impersonal. Pets used to a lot of human companionship may fret and become anxious. In these cases it is preferable to holiday someplace that offers pet friendly accommodation, where your pet is welcome.
Normally in most situations you will be expected to keep your pet under control and not allow it to cause a nuisance to other people and animals, or to cause any damage to property. It will be your responsibility to clean up after your pet.
Here are some things to check when enquiring about pet friendly holiday accommodation:

Are pets allowed inside? Are they required to stay off the furniture?
If pets are required to remain outside, is there a secure area for them to sleep?
Do they have a kennel, or a securely fenced area outside?
Are dogs allowed to run free, or must they remain on leads in certain areas and at certain times?

Will there be other pets in the nearby area?
Will you be required to produce a current vaccination certificate and flea treatment?
Are there any limits on number, type, size or breed of animal?
Is there an extra charge or cleaning fee for pets?
There is a variety of accomodation options available for the pet owner, depending on the type of accommodation required. Most common are pet friendly caravan parks, which normally allow pets of any kind.
For a little more luxury there are pet friendly hotels and motels. A pet friendly beach apartment allows allows you to exercise your pet on the sand.
There are some more luxury pet friendly accommodation locations, for those who want something special such as pet friendly rental houses or cottages, with room to move, yet lots of privacy. There are even houseboats that cater for pets!
The easiest way to check what is available in Pet friendly holiday accommodation is to search online for details – you can often find special deals that you may not easily find anywhere else.

story of your pet

Whether it be a dog, cat, bird or other animal, the life of a pet is a gift, and the time we are given with that pet is a gift. When we lose that beloved friend, sometimes the best memorial we can offer is to tell the story of our pet—to share with others about the blessing that our pet was to us, to recount fond memories with others who knew him/her—to relive the good times, the funny things, the favorite moments we shared with that pet. Not only does doing this honor the pet’s memory, but it can also help us with the healing process and dealing with the grief.
There are many ways to tell the story of your pet. There are websites online that offer the ability to create a memorial page where you can share about your pet; or it can be as simple as sharing a funny story with friends around the fire. The Loving Hearts Tribute Series can play a rather unique role in the telling of your pet’s story.
Because our pet memorial artwork is heart-themed and abstract, it tells the story more on an emotional level than with specific details.
The beauty of abstract art is that it speaks to people on a non-verbal level, and different people can see and interpret different things within it.
Our art pieces speak specifically and personally about your pet because his/her ashes or fur is included in the final coat—and yet it is presented subtly, so when you display it in your home, people won’t necessarily know what the painting is saying unless you clue them in. And of course, having a Loving Hearts Tribute painting in honor of your pet gives you the opportunity to share the story of your pet with people as they admire the painting.
What is your pet’s story? What are your favorite memories? We invite you to memorialize your pet by telling the story. If you’d like to tell us about your pet, please feel free to share briefly in the comments section below.