10-reasons-why-not-buy-purebred-pet

Adding a new pet to your family is a big decision, even if you already have pets in your home. This is particularly true of dogs and cats since they will be free-roaming in your house and interact with both people and other pets. Having a companion animal can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. So choosing your new pet is an important decision. Since you want your pet to be compatible with you and you with it, taking in a new pet should be taken seriously. But there is also a decision you can make that will make a difference in the problem of unwanted animals. That decision is whether to buy a purebred or to adopt. I have nothing against purebreds. I love animals of all kinds, and years ago I helped my mother buy a purebred which we still own. However, I have a different view on the situation now and would never purchase a purebred myself. Even though you may be enamored of a particular breed, a mixed breed can give you just as much love and satisfaction and you will know you have given a home to a pet that needed it. You may also be able to get that same breed from a rescue organization. Following are ten reasons why you should not buy a purebred.
10. Purebreds are expensive. Depending on the breed and where you buy it, your pet could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Considering that owning a pet is a financial consideration to begin with, why bother spending even more money? If you are buying a puppy or kitten, you will have to put out quite a bit of money in the first few months with shots and vet checkups. Also, the breeder you want to buy from may not be in your area, which could involve costly travel. And many animals, particularly purebreds, require regular grooming which you'll likely have done by a professional. So no matter which where you get your pet, there are costs you should consider. Adoption, on the other hand, costs little to nothing and your new pet may come already neutered and having had their first shots.

9. Purebreds can be stolen. Like a fancy car, purebreds are attractive items to steal, and often very easy to swipe. Believe it or not, dogs are stolen out of yards all the time and resold or kept by an owner who wanted the breed but wouldn't pay for it. Regardless of how much money you might be out by having your pet stolen, imagine the heartache of losing your new companion. On the flip side, you might even be buying a stolen dog from a fake or disreputable breeder.

8. The breed you want may not be compatible with your lifestyle. The breed you think is so cute or would make a great guard dog may not be compatible with you, your family, your other pets or even the environment in which you live. A friend of mine once purchased a Husky, primarily because she was enamored of how it looked. But when the dog grew out of puppyhood he basically destroyed her house. He was also miserable a great deal of the time because she lived in Florida and Huskies are made for cold climates. Another friend fell in love with a Jack Russell terrier who ended up driving her out of her mind with its crazy personality. So don't let the look of a breed cause you to end up with a pet that isn't right - for either of you.

7. You are limiting your choices. If you want a purebred, especially if you have a single breed in mind, you will have less choice in terms of finding the right one. What if you have been waiting on a particular litter, and when you go to get your new pet, none of them seem to click with you? If you adopt a stray, you have a wide array of choices from a variety of places. They are crowing humane societies, rescue organizations and the classifieds no matter where you live. After all, if you are purchasing your pet as a companion, it's important that you feel a connection to that animal. Sometimes you have to do a lot of looking before finding that perfect match.

6. You may not be getting what you paid for. If you buy a purebred from a pet store, you have no idea where the store got it from. They may say it was from a reputable breeder, but how do you know? There's a good chance they got it from a puppy mill (see the next reason). Employees may not know anything about the breed and will be of little help with your selection. If you buy from over the Internet or from a newspaper ad, you may run into the same problem. Again, many puppy mills sell this way. Note: Many pet stores today, like Petsmart, bring in animals from rescue organizations for adoptions. This is a great way to offer pets through a store yet still provide the adoption option.

5. You may be getting a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills often keep their dogs in deplorable conditions where the animals are mistreated and unloved. These animals may be sick, inbred, and may not be sociable since they have spent their lives caged among dozens, maybe hundreds, of other animals. Puppy mills should be stopped, but they won't be as long as there is demand for their product. And that demand comes from pet stores and individuals alike.

4. Purebreds are not "better" than mixed breeds. In fact, certain breeds come with specific genetic problems. If you buy from a bad breeder you may end up with a sickly or problematic animal due to inbreeding. If you thinking because an animal has "papers" it is a better pet, or that you want a particular breed as a status symbol, you may be getting the animal for the wrong reasons anyway. Reconsider you reasoning for having a pet at all if this sounds familiar.

3. You can get the same breed you want but cheaper from a shelter or rescue organization. Purebreds end up at the pound just like other animals. Also, there are many rescue organizations dedicated to finding homes for a particular breed. Here you can get the best of both worlds, a breed you want but the knowledge that you gave an unwanted animal a home.

2. Buying a purebred is part of the problem. Adopting a stray is part of the solution. Animal overpopulation is a huge problem in the United States. Ways to stop overpopulation is to get your pets spayed and neutered and to adopt strays.

1. Adopting a stray instead of a purebred will make you feel good and may even be saving that animal's life. If you adopt a stray, you will feel good knowing you have not only helped that particular animal, but you are helping the problem of animal overpopulation in general. Every stray adopted and spayed or neutered is one less animal breeding unwanted animals or one less innocent animal being euthanized. When you buy a purebred, that is one less animal saved.

10-reasons-why-not-buy-cheap-cat-food

1. The cheaper the cat food the worse it is for your cat and the more it will cost you in the long run with vet bills and complicated health problems. Cost is relative. Feeding a better quality food means your cat eats less and since it is more digestible your cat is absorbing more nutrition, producing less waste, and higher priced, but more nutritionally sound food is far more cost effective.
2. It might be better for a cat to eat inferior and mediocre cat food instead of no food and starving, but if the food is so low quality, you really do end up starving your cat.

3. BHA and BHT are cancer causing chemicals and you can often see this listed as one of the first four or five ingredients on dozens of cheap cat food products. BHA and BHT are cheap preservatives in some foods.

4. Cheap cat food is not high in protein. Your cat may seem to like the cheap cat food just because they eat it and make frequent trips to their dry food bowl. But maybe when your cat keeps eating that cheap cat food it is because they are so darn hungry from not getting enough protein they keep going back to their only food bowl hoping to feed their hunger.

5. Cheap cat food also makes your cat load up their kitty litter box. According to Care 4 Cats at http://www.care-4-cats.com/cat-food.htm

"The very cheapest pet food has a lot of ash as a filler, and the animal has to eat a lot to get enough nutritive value, producing lots of excrement. Better to buy less of a more expensive brand and save on cat litter costs too!

6. Cheap cat foods put extra fat into their foods so if cats have a nice shiny coat of the owners who are uneducated on ingredients are fooled into thinking their pet is healthy. Remember the old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover?" Don't judge your cat simply because the fur looks good. If they are not eating an adequate diet, eventually that good looking fur will stop looking good and get in sync with the look of their unhealthy insides.


7. By-products are often listed as one of the first three ingredients, and sadly it is often the first ingredient listed in cheap cat food. By-products are products that would not even stand alone to be considered food. By-products are disgusting and imagine if the company had to list exactly what the by products were? They could be beaks and feet and feather and bones and guts and eyeballs and on and on. It is just not natural and it is horrible to think that the biggest ingredient in the food you feed your cat is a waste product and not fit for consumption. NEVER buy cat food where by-products are listed as one of the first 5 ingredients. It is difficult to digest and does nothing nutritionally for your cat's health.

8. Corn fillers. Corn isn't cat food; it is another cheap filler that is difficult to digest. It is another reason cheap cat food is high in carbohydrates and high carbohydrate diets often lead to diabetes, kidney failure, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, obesity and many other complications in cats. Grains such as corn, rice, wheat and so on, should be absent or only minimally present in your cat's diet.

9. When was the last time you heard a veterinarian recommend a cheap cat food? Never. There are no professional pet journal articles mentioning you should feed your cat cheap versions of cat food found in both dry and canned form.

10. Just because you see the word beef or chicken or liver or fish doesn't mean the cat food even contains any of those items! There are industry standards in naming products and consumers are often fooled because of it. There is a difference between Chick cat food, chicken flavored cat food, chicken dinner, etc. According to consumersearch.com

"Of great concern to many pet owners is the quality of ingredients in cat food, primarily the type of protein source in food. Just as for human food, there are regulations regarding the labeling of cat food that can help consumers assess the amount of meat in the food. If a product is labeled "Beef Dog Food", for example, 95% of its ingredients must be beef. If it says "Chicken Dinner" or "Lamb Formula", it must contain only 25% of the meat. If the packaging simply states "Chicken Flavor", the food merely needs to taste like chicken to the cat; it does not need to actually have any chicken in it."

See the full story here:

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/family/cat-food/fullstory.html

According to Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, she says "In the wild, your cat would be eating a high protein, high-moisture content, meat-based diet, with a moderate level of fat and with only approximately 3-5 percent of her diet consisting of carbohydrates. The average dry food contains 35-50 percent carbohydrates. Some of the cheaper dry foods contain even higher levels."


Cats are carnivores. They don't crave dough and bread and corn muffins, what cats want is meat. So, feeding your cat a high carbohydrate cat food, whether it is dry food or canned food, is much like feeding it doughnut as its main meal with some corn meal gluten pie as dessert. Just because the cat food is shaped like cute little fish doesn't mean it has anything really to do with fish ingredients. What is also appalling is how often cheap cat food is colored with chemical ingredients proven to cause cancer, just because the color as to somehow be pleasing to our human eyes. You cat doesn't care what color its food is! Your cat eats to fuel its body and what fuels its body best is a high protein diet which is impossible to get from a cheap cat food.

So, do yourself a favor, and most importantly your cat, and stop buying cheap cat food and read the ingredients. Buy more than one kind of high quality cat food and let your cat have a varied diet that doesn't just consist of dry food, but a mixture of dry and wet food.

Be generous with your cat and let them experience deli cuts of meat, tuna fish packed in water, sardines packed in water, salmon and other high quality high protein foods. And for an extra special treat, wheat grass, also known as pet grass, is a favorite among cats to aid in their digestion. Make sure you only give them organic wheat grass to snack on too.

A good diet of high quality high protein cat food is the best way you can show your cat you love them and want them to be around for many many years.

7-tips-prevent-heat-sickness

Like their human counterparts, dogs can have problems with heat related illnesses. People and dogs tend to be more active during the summer when it's hot and the days are pretty. Learning how to prevent heat sickness in dogs will help keep your pet happy and healthy.
It isn't as hard as you might think to prevent heat sickness. Many people own dogs in hot climates while others take their pets on vacation with them. My family successfully took our dogs to the Grand Canyon in the summertime.

As temperatures climb it is more important that ever to be aware of heat illnesses such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion in dogs. Signs of heat related illness can include panting more than normal, heavy or labored breathing, lethargy, difficulty walking or other symptoms.

Fortunately, there are some steps that pet owners can take to recognize and prevent heat sickness in dogs.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip #1
Visit the groomer.
Long fur coats are miserable in the summer. That's why humans don't wear jackets. Reducing the amount of fur will help your dog stay cooler. Visit the groomer to help get Fluffy or Fido ready for the hot summer days.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip #2
Shade
Provide a cool spot so your pet can escape the heat. A shade tree is better than a dog house which can become very hot. Older dogs or even healthy dogs may need to come in to an air conditioned building.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip #3
Water
Be sure that your dog has ready access to water at all times. This is especially crucial for any dog that is kept outdoors. Dogs who are kept indoors should also have access to water.

Collapsible water bowls are perfect for people who are traveling or for dogs who have to work outside. Open the bowl and add water. When your dog finishes drinking put the bowl in a plastic zipper bag and put it in your bag or purse for next time.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip #4
Never leave your pet in the car.
In some states this is even against the law. There are no exceptions.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip #5
Go slowly.
If your dog isn't used to the heat go slowly. Give dogs a chance to acclimate to the conditions. Leave dogs outside for short periods of the day and gradually build up. Take a short walk in the heat and build up to longer walks. Be sure to give your dog plenty of time to adjust. If vacationing, give your dog several days to get used to the new environment before strenuous or vigorous activity.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip 6
See your vet.
Make a visit before the long hot days of summer arrive. Your vet is the most reliable source of information on your dog.

How to prevent heat sickness in dogs Tip 7
Air conditioning.
Air conditioning is the #1 way to prevent heat related illness. If you even suspect that your dog is becoming ill find air conditioning immediately. Most of the time this will mean going to your car and turning on the air conditioner. Stay with your pet and monitor closely. If your dog doesn't seem to bounce back, vomits or refuses water go to a veterinarian immediately

5-ways-help-keep-cat-healthy

New cats require more than just food, water and a comfortable place to sleep. A responsible cat owner will also ensure that their cat's health is well taken care of and that any health issues are quickly brought to the attention of the vet. This article will discuss some ways in which cat owners can take better care of their new cats.
5 Ways to Help Keep Your New Cat Healthy: Vaccinations

Cats will need to have their vaccinations kept up to date so that they stay in good health. The rabies vaccination should be administered to your cats and if you decide to turn your inside cat into an outside cat, he will need additional vaccinations to keep him healthy. So be sure to keep up to date with these vaccinations.

5 Ways to Help Keep Your New Cat Healthy: Vet examination

Just as women may attend a "Well woman's clinic" from time to time, a cat should also be taken to the vet for a routine health check up. The vet can then weigh your cat, check his teeth, and internal organs to check for any abnormalities by running his hands over your cat's body. The vet can then let you know if your cat is the right weight for his frame, if his teeth are in good condition, and whether or not he feels any abnormalities in your cat. Most cats will squirm and try to escape when they are being examined by a vet, but it is for your cat's good, so let the vet do his job.

5 Ways to Help Keep Your New Cat Healthy: Stop your cat from overeating

As your cat continues to grow, they may gain an excessive amount of weight than is safe. If your female cat has been spayed then there will be no question of pregnancy, so this can be ruled out. But if you have a male cat, weight gain can be a worry. But there is often no reason to be alarmed, as they often continue to grow and gain weight after they have been neutered. So be aware of this. Also, keep an eye out for your cat's eating pattern. Does your cat clean his bowl within moments of it being re-filled? Does your cat sleep a lot more than run around the home or outside? If that is the case, you will need to reduce the portions of food that you offer your cat. One way you can combat this problem is to re-fill the food bowl more frequently, but with smaller amounts, so that your cat does not gorge himself all at once.

5 Ways to Help Keep Your New Cat Healthy: Exercise

A lazy cat can quickly become a fat cat, so try to encourage your cat to go outside and get some fresh air. A cat's natural curiosity will often lead him to chase after birds, flies and anything else with wings. This will help to provide your cat with the needed exercise he needs to work off the excess fat. Take the time to also play games with your cat. Choose a ball he especially likes and toss it. Then when he catches it, toss it again and watch as he runs after it. Unlike dogs, cats do not usually return a ball to their owners, but you can still adapt this game for your cat. Many people are unaware of the fact that cats are also susceptible to human diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions, so it is in your cat's best interests to cut down on his food and get him to exercise more frequently.

5 Ways to Help Keep Your New Cat Healthy: Grooming

Cats do a very thorough job in grooming themselves, but you can help them along by also brushing their fur. This is something that they may resist at first, especially if the bristles are too hard and you are rough in grooming your cat. Use gentle strokes and brush in a downward motion. Grooming your cat can help to reduce the occurrence of hairballs and keep their fur looking healthy and glossy.

These are just a few suggestions that can help you to keep your cat looking and feeling healthy. Responsible cat owners do all they can to make sure that their cats are well taken care of.