Pet Health

Have you ever tried quinoa? It’s a nutty-flavored seed that derives from a weed-like plant called Goosefoot  (which is closely related to spinach, beets, and chard) . This hard-to-pronounce seed  (for the record, it’s pronounced KEEN-wah)  is packed with all sorts of goodness: protein, fiber, calcium, and the list of beneficial nutrients goes on.  Get this: Not only is quinoa healthy for us humans, but it’s also great for our canine companions! Some puppy parents add a little pre-rinsed and cooked quinoa to their dog’s food. Another way you can sneak a moderate amount into your pup’s diet? Through treats … like these Quinoa Crunch Dog Biscuits!  Quinoa Crunch Biscuits In this treat recipe, I use quinoa flour (AKA ground up quinoa seeds) , coconut flour, and a few other wholesome ingredients that you likely have in your refrigerator right now.  Watch The Ingredients Quinoa Flour  – High in protein, fiber, and a long list of nutrients, quinoa-f...

Dwight K. Schrute Marsh found his forever home after a long journey from Mississippi to Maine. But, his new mom had no idea Dwight had a best friend back at his foster home in Mississippi. Fate stepped in though, and the cat BFFs were reunited after seven months apart. Megan Marsh had considered the idea of adopting a cat for a few years. And when she met Dwight at the Animal Welfare Society , she knew the moment had come. She and Dwight knew they were meant for each other and Megan became a first-time cat mom! “Dwight is the sweetest cat I’ve ever encountered,” Megan told The Dodo . “I had never had a cat prior to him and was worried that I’d get a cat that was aloof and just did their own thing — Dwight is NOT that cat!” Megan Marsh/Facebook “Right from the very first day he loved belly rubs, kisses and cuddles. He follows me around my apartment, has to be with me at all times and sleeps with me every night.” But Dwight had a friend back at the foster home he originally came ...

Suki is a cat on the go, but her travels are leisurely because she’s a feline who knows how to enjoy the moment. And thanks to Suki, her family has learned to slow down the pace and enjoy the moment. Suki Cat and Martina Gutfreund became family about years ago when Martina adopted the Bengal cat. Mom and kitty quickly bonded , and Martina soon recognized what a bold kitty she had in Suki. As Bengal cats are an active breed requiring stimulation, Martina knew her sweet Suki needed adventure and the pair began leash training. @sukiicat/ Instagram On leash training, Martina recommended , “You want them to associate it with positive experiences, so if they have never been outside do not try to take them out on the first day. Reward them with lots of treats for wearing the harness, and only keep it on for 5-10 minutes at a time.” But above all else, “it is so important to listen to your kitty.” @sukiicat/ Instagram Padding the World on Leisurely Cat Paws Their home of Alberta, Ca...

Music soothes the savage soul and research proves this is true beyond humankind. Cats find stress relief from music just like people. But feline ears groove to tunes differently than ours. We know from how music makes us feel, it does much to improve mental and physical health. Over the years, several studies have been performed to learn the benefits of music with science has proving music really is good for the soul. Medical News Today reports music offers many benefits to the body . Pain reduction Lowered anxiety Reduced stress An aid to memory Help in recovery from brain injuries and strokes Plus, the use of music in clinical settings has been proven to reduce patient worry as well as treat certain conditions. @musiciantee/ Instagram So, if music does all this for us, what might it do for our kitty darlings? And do cats like the same music as people? Building A Happy Cat Playlist With such questions in mind, a group of researchers from the School of Veterinary Medic...

The curious nature of cats creates a need to discover the unknown. While it may seem felines are lazy and aloof creatures, deep inside in them rests a want for adventure, and one cat is showing us how its done. Meet Gary, a courageous cat who craves the thrill of discovery. According to his Instagram bio , he’s “a domestic longhaired meowtain lion living in the CA Rockies” and he loves hiking the trails with his parents and dog brothers. Plus, Dad James captures the best photos ever so viewers can share Gary’s exciting adventures. @greatgramsofgary/ Instagram But getting Gary to “meowtain lion” status was a measured process. He was an eager cat, but his parents wanted to make sure he worked his way up to adventures in the safest way possible. Learning Explorer Skills James related he met Gary a couple years ago when he and Gary’s mom met. At the time, Gary was only a couple years old, but even then, the kitty boy craved exploration. “We started taking him out when he was about f...

Bear loves to go on adventure walks, car rides, meet new dogs, spy on the neighbors from the deck in his yard, and eat cheese whiz on his lickety mat. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/32xDBA9

AJ is one of a kind. If only we could all be as happy as AJ...life would be incredible! There is nothing like a dog to give you the unconditional love that can fill your soul. Tags:  smiling dogs from The Bark https://ift.tt/3990Oee

Adult cats with special needs often have hard times finding their forever homes, but after spending 2,432 days with the Ulster County SPCA , Plankton the cat proves there’s a family out there for every kitty. Plankton came to the shelter as a kitten, having been rescued from a hoarding situation with 100 other cats. The little black kitten was a sick boy and after lots of tests, it was learned he was in kidney failure. But in a stunning twist, Plankton survived. A rare feat in the cat world. Kidney disease is hard on a cat’s body, but Plankton was made of strong stuff. Ulster County SPCA/ Facebook Though he overcame the renal failure, he was left with medical needs that will be with him all his life. Three times a week, he receives a ten-minute infusion of drugs, but this can be done at home by cat parents. This designated him as a special needs cat though, which reduced his chances at adoption. As the years went by and Plankton grew into adulthood, his chances plummeted further ...

Werewolves are real! Well, werewolf cats anyway… And these moon-howling felines are considered a newer breed in the cat world. The Lykoi breed was first recognized in 2011 and began thanks to a genetic mutation. Caused by a recessive gene, the first Lykoi were discovered in a feral cat colony and testing revealed the mutation responsible for the unique appearance was unrelated to other hairless cat breeds. The term ‘lykoi’ is a rough translation for ‘wolf’ in Greek and its an aptly chosen name. @sphynx_dobby_lykoi_lobo/ Instagram The sparse fur really does give these cats a lupine quality, but it’s not because they’re caught in the transformation from cat to wolf or vice versa. A natural mutation causes the Lykoi cat to lack an undercoat, leaving their skin exposed beneath a wispy topcoat. And while the coat appears wiry, it’s quite soft and silky . And Lobo the Lykoi cat is all these things! Plus, he’s a purrfect model for his dad and professional photographer, Martin. @sp...