Archive for April, 2010

Dogs, just like humans, have specific nutritional requirements when it comes to their diets and as a pet owner, you have a responsibility to ensure that your dog gets all the nutrients needed to stay healthy. Not surprisingly, many dogs function on the same nutrients that humans do and as you search for the right food or dietary supplement, make sure that your dog’s receives all of the essentials.

Not sure what those essentials are? Don’t worry – K9HealthSolutions.com is here to help with a list of all of the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed for a healthy and happy dog:

• Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K
• Zinc
• Omega Fatty Acids
• Selenium
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Copper
• Glucosamine
• Chondoroitin
• Iodine
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese

In addition to these minerals and vitamins, your dog’s diet should also have a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fats to ensure that he has energy to sustain healthy systems. Still not sure what’s best for your dog? At K9HealthSolutions.com, we recommend giving your dog a high quality kibble and supplementing it with a dog supplement like Dinovite to ensure that he gets everything he needs to be his best. Packed with digestive enzymes, omega fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, Dinovite is a great way to complete your dog’s nutrition. Consider starting your pet off with a healthy diet today by supplementing with Dinovite.

Warmer weather is already here and that means that you have to make adjustments to ensure that your dog stays cool. Here are five easy things that you can do to ensure that your dog stays comfortable throughout the spring and summer months.

1.) First off, give your dog a good bath using a natural dog shampoo and start grooming. Your dog’s winter fur is probably shedding like crazy and getting that excess, thicker fur off of your dog will help him feel cooler. Keep his coat trimmed a bit shorter and neat so that it’s easy to care for.

2.) Take time to notice the temperatures in the areas where your dog spends a lot of time. If he’s outside for most of the day, make sure that he has a house or an area where he can go lay in the shade to cool off.

3.) Make sure areas where your dog spends time, including dog houses, have plenty of ventilation to get air moving through to stay cool.

4.) Put out extra water for your pup to drink throughout the day and after walks and pay attention to ensure he doesn’t get dehydrated.

5.) Think about changing your dog’s sleeping spot to somewhere cooler than just outside. A basement, garage, or screened in porch that is well-ventilated or offers a fan may be a better choice for your dog.

Warmer weather is here and that means that your dog is going through a major change which most pet owners find to be a huge hassle: shedding. As your dog rids himself of his heavier winter coat, it’s important to remember that you have to keep him looking his best.

Grooming your dog is the single most important thing you can do to reduce his shedding and keep him looking good. Try using a regular slicker brush daily to keep loose hair from ending up on your floor and furniture, but also make time to do a really good, thorough grooming at least once for week.

So what exactly goes into a grooming session? Well, for starters, you begin by giving your dog a bath using a natural dog shampoo that nourishes your pet’s coat and skin. K9HealthSolutions.com carries Dinovite’s DogOSuds shampoo, which is perfect for keeping your dog looking his best.

Next, you continue grooming by drying your pup and using a shedding comb and pulling it through your dog’s coat until it runs through smoothly. Untangle all of the mats and get more of that shedding fur off your pup. Don’t be afraid if some small chunks of hair come out – it’s very normal. Once you’ve done that, use an undercoat rake to get your dog’s undercoat back in shape. Follow up with a fine comb, or a flea comb, and finish with a soft brush to give your dog’s coat a nice sheen.

Hot weather is on its way and the last thing you want is for your pup to get overheated and uncomfortable enough. With all the fur, he’s got to hate heat waves! Don’t worry – we’ve got a treat that’ll keep him cool and give him something yummy to look forward to when he’s been a good boy. Check out our super simple recipe for Frozen Doggie Delights:

Ingredients
1 cup of water
1 small bouillon cube (beef or chicken)
Finely chopped pieces of chicken or beef, depending on which bouillon you choose

Directions:
All you have to do is dissolve the bouillon cube in the water. Then, add the pieces of meat. Transfer mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Then, just pop out a cube when you want to give Fido a nice treat on a hot summer day!