Spring Allergies are in the Air

Our last post, we discussed winter allergies and your pets, and with fresh plants and flowers bursting into life this spring, spring allergies are also coming into full bloom. The allergies don’t just stop at humans, our four-legged friends also feel the seasonal change. Blooming plants, grasses and flowers can trigger allergic reactions called Atopy in dogs and cats. This allergy is similar to hay fever, and animals can react to inhaled particles such as mold, pollen and dust. Instead of sneezing, your pet will typically have itchy skin and will persistently scratch, lick and bite to feel relief. If untreated this relief-seeking behavior can often cause sores, which can potentially lead to infections.

If you think your pet is experiencing Atopy, try using a product such as cortisone to help relieve the itching. In severe allergy cases pets can receive an allergy test to help pinpoint what is causing the allergy. There are other treatments available, and your vet will be able to decide what is the best way to treat your animal.

As always, the cornerstone of a healthy and happy pet is a good diet, and allergy sufferers alike can all find some relief in their favorite meal from Stewart Pet!

Dogs and Winter Allergies

We know that it’s technically spring, but for many of us around the country, winter is still in full force. As the seasons begin to change, and temperatures become increasingly unpredictable, it’s important to pay attention to the signs of allergies in your four-legged friends. Did you know one in seven dogs are affected by winter allergies? It’s important to recognize the signs of winter allergies among dogs so your wallet and their health can both remain a priority.

Winter Allergy Symptoms to Look For:

If the face of your dog (muzzle, chin and eyes) is red with hair loss around the eyes. Their nose may also run with heavy discharges and sneezing may occur.
If their ears are red with a waxy drainage that has a bad odor.
If their skin appears red with possible crusts and scales on it. Secondary skin infections may also develop with strong odors to it. Areas of the belly, groin, and elbows may cause intense itching, which can lead to compulsive scratching.
If their feet develop intense itching, redness, inflammation, with brown discoloration of areas which are continuously licked and scratched due to itching and burning.
If their fur develops bald spots and brown discoloration due to licking and scratching. They may rub their face on furniture and the floor, or the sides and belly of the dog because of their itching fur.
Severe allergies could lead to Anaphylactic Shock, with signs of diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, difficulty in breathing, collapsing, and eventual death unless treatment is sought from a vet.

If you are not sure about a symptom, or are concerned with your dog’s behavior, be sure to call your local veterinarian.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

This St. Patrick’s Day, don’t just be thinking about what the lucky leprechaun has in store for you, think about how you can bring luck to your canine companion. While you’re enjoying corned beef and cabbage, give Fido a meal that will surely send him to the end of the rainbow and back.

For the first course, start with our Raw Naturals™ Fresh To Home™ Lamb Recipe that provides complete and balanced nutrition for every stage of your dog’s life.

For the next course, try our Stewart® Raw Science™ freeze dried dog food, which combines the goodness of whole meat, vegetables and fruit into a healthy, all natural food that’s more than worthy of only one special occasion dinner.

Finish the night with our Stewart® Raw Naturals™ raw freeze dried dog treats for dessert. We have carefully chosen ingredients that are blended and freeze dried to maintain the wholesome goodness and nutrition of a raw canine treat.

No matter what, we know your dog will feel lucky for the extra love and attention you show him/her with any food product from Stewart Pet! Visit us online for more information at www.stewartpet.com.

Cast Your Vote for Best Natural Pet Food

The nominations are in, and Stewart Pet is in the running for About.com’s 2013 Best Natural Pet Food. We’re so pleased to be in the top three for this category, and even more pleased that readers themselves decide the winners through their votes. We love spreading the word about our great products and ask that you show your love by voting for us today.

Voting takes place today through March 19, with the winners announced on March 27. You can vote one time every day, so don’t delay, cast your vote today by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/13UmSoh

Socializing Dogs: Part Two

In continuation from our blog last week about socializing puppies, this week we will give a few tips on how to socialize adult dogs. If you have a newly adopted adult dog or perhaps your canine companion needs a refresher in behavior- the most important thing to remember is that an old dog really can learn new tricks.

First things first: socializing an adult dog looks very different than socializing a puppy. While puppies can be let loose together (in a structured, sanitary environment) to learn how to interact, the same practice can have detrimental effects on adult dogs.
The goal should be to teach the older dog to behave calmly in public, on walks and around people. Bring lots of small, tasty treats for these situations and reward Fido for sitting quietly and responding to his name while other dogs pass by at a safe distance.
Introducing dogs to leashes can be tricky, as many are forced to interact on tight leashes for too-long periods of time, leading to unwanted leash behavior. Remember to positively reinforce your dog’s good behavior, on and off the leash.
If you are set on making your dog social with other dogs, start with introducing him to other dogs one at a time. Start by keeping the interactions short and relaxed and gradually work up to more dogs you know are also well socialized.

Finally, socialization of any kind only benefits dogs, whether they are puppies or adults. Teaching your dog appropriate behavior and protecting him or her from unwanted contact will go a long way in building a trusting relationship.

Socializing Dogs: Part One

With many of us receiving new pets over the holiday season, it’s important we all take the time to understand the importance of socializing our animals. For this week and next week’s blog, we will give you some quick tips on socializing puppies and adult dogs to help them lead healthy, safe and happy lives!

Socializing Puppies

From 3 and 20 weeks, puppies are the most impressionable. It is a crucial time to introduce your new pup to a variety of stimuli every day, and to ensure the experiences are positive. These socialization efforts can have a lasting effect on a puppy and determine their temperament later in life.
Introduce the pup to new people, places, objects and situations ONLY when you can control the experience. Protect your pup from situations that may frighten him and instead reinforce positive reactions to new people and situations with treats, praise, touch and even play.
Introduce a puppy into a large group only after having socialized him in smaller groups.
Reward the behaviors you want repeated and ignore or give a signal to the behaviors you do not like. If the signal does not discourage the undesired behavior, try a time out – a brief separation period from the fun, interactive environment.
Most importantly, think about what you are teaching your dog in every situation. Your dog is aware of your actions and reactions, and puppies, like humans, observe and sense their owner’s moods.

Check out our blog next Thursday for more great tips on socializing adult dogs!

Happy January! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to dogs, cats, and pet lovers alike! Have you thought about what New Year’s resolutions your cats and dogs would make? We found this hilarious infographic from Pets Best Insurance, and for the most part we agree! We also think your dogs and cats would ask for our Stewart Pet diet to stay healthy or get back-in-shape in 2013.

Looking Out for Your Furry Friends During the Holidays

The holidays are a happy time filled with friends, family and, in our case, fur. With all of the hype centered on giving joy, it’s easy to overlook the dangers that exist when dealing with strings of lights, tree-keeping chemicals and glass ornaments. The following tips are to help you and your four-legged friends have a safer holiday season.

The first order of business is to securely anchor your Christmas tree, either to the wall or in between furniture to insure it can’t be tipped over. A tree tipping over is not only an enormous mess; it can leave trails of broken glass and/or spill toxic chemical-ridden tree water. As a pet owner it’s important to know that stagnant tree water is a haven for bacteria, so be sure the stand is out of drinking reach. Baby gates or small barricades can be effective tools, but as cat owners know, most agile and curious felines will figure out a way to get up there so keep an eye out periodically, just in case.

The next noteworthy nix this Noel is tinsel. It starts with your cat giving it a swing and a nibble, but those shiny strings can be easily ingested and not-so-easily digested. Depending on how much your pet may eat, tinsel can cause a serious blockage of the digestive track and possible surgery. All in all, it’s not worth testing your cat to see if they can resist that shiny, sparkling, hanging wonder that is tinsel.

Lastly, be conscious of all of the wonderful food that you’re both preparing and receiving. As most pet owners know, a smell can essentially brainwash your furry friend and they’ll stop at nothing to get whatever it is that smells so good. Ask friends ahead of time if gifts they’re giving are edible and make a special, out-of-reach area for those presents. Make sure feasts are stored high and covered prior to eating and that all garbage cans are secure for the aftermath. Whether it’s a chocolate treat or a chicken bone, you certainly don’t want a vet visit during the holidays.

Owning a pet is a year-round responsibility, and the holidays are no exclusion. Take the extra step to be aware this Christmas, not only for your pet’s well-being but for the betterment of your celebration.

The Best Dogs for Kids

Are you thinking about expanding your family this Christmas with the adoption of a furry friend? Before you head down to your local shelter, it’s important to do your research on the best dog breeds that will match your family’s lifestyle. This is especially important if you have kids. Here are the Top 10 Best Breeds of Dogs for Kids, as suggested by PetMD (www.petmd.com).

10) The Bull Dog – The Bull Dog has a sturdy build that is perfect for kids who like to roughhouse. However, it won’t win any awards for “most energetic dog.” Great for large homes, small apartments and everything in between.

9) The Beagle - Originally kept as hunting dogs, Beagles fit well in homes with active kids, as they are sturdily built and never too tired to play a game. Smart, friendly, and happy, the Beagle usually gets along with other pets, too.

8) The Bull Terrier – This well-framed dog also has a high threshold for pain, making it perfect for rambunctious children who are learning how to properly treat dogs. However, the Bull Terrier can be rambunctious and require a lot of playtime, so be sure to commit to daily walks.

7) The Collie – Collies get along great with children and love to please their owners and protect their family. They are also gentle, predictable and easily trainable- which is great for a family new to dogs.

6) The Newfoundland – Nicknamed “Nature’s Babysitter,” the Newfoundland dog loves children and is very protective of them. Gentle, kind, and patient, this breed is almost like the Mother Teresa of dogs.

5) The Vizsla – This may be a breed you haven’t heard of before, but because of its need of regular exercise, it’s actually one best dog breeds for active and energetic families with older kids.

4) Irish Setter – Irish Setter’s are playful, energetic, loves being around people and plays well with kids. They need a lot of exercise and are thus best matched with energetic kids.

3) The Poodle – Smart and gentle, Poodles are great for kids with allergies – as they shed very little. They are usually proud, elegant that is both caring and loyal which make it an excellent companion for children.

2) Labrador Retriever – One of the most popular breeds every, labs are playful, patient, loving, protective and reliable. In short, a perfect family pet.

1) The Golden Retriever – Are you surprised? Confident, smart, kind and loyal, Golden Retriever’s are neither aggressive nor timid and make a perfect choice for kids.

A Thanksgiving “Thank You”

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to tell our customers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers- thank you! You keep us motivated to make the best food available on the market for your pets. We look forward to serving the Stewart Pet community for many more years to come!

And did you know that we have a community forum where you can be apart of the growing Stewart Pet community? Here at Stewart Pet we are proud pet parents ourselves and love showing them off, and that’s exactly what the community page on our website is for. With our customer testimonials and the ability to upload pictures of your pet to our “family album,” we can actually get a feel for who you are and how our products are benefiting the lives of your pets.

WE CAN’T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH!