Benefits of Feeding Your Pet with an Anti-Gulp Bowl
Many pets love to consume their foods fast when they are given any meal. Such a gluttony habit can make the pet inhale its food, which can lead to various health hazards. Some of the ailments that can result from speed eating by pets are:
•    Food bloat, which usually happens from swallowing or gulping the food; this problem can be life-threatening.
•    Gastrointestinal discomfort
•    Vomiting and
•    Choking

Gulping foods fast may delay satiety, making the pet to desire for more food, though in the short term.  The dog will end up looking sad and begging for more food. Of course, you will want to give it more food when you see that sad face.

The purpose of designing the anti-gulp or slow feeding bowl is to prevent food gulping by your pet.   Some bowls feature barriers or ridges that can break up the surface area of the bowl and, therefore, prevent the pet from inhaling the food in just a couple of gulps. The bowls can equally alleviate any issue that may be associated with fast eating as described above.
With slow feeders, you can slow down the rate at which your pets eat. The bowl is designed in such a way to reduce how much food the dog can take per bite.  Can you remember your doctor advising you to slow down your pace at mealtime? That same advice will work well for your pets for the reasons earlier provided.

Do you ever find your pets belching just a few minutes after gulping down their foods in a rush. This behavior can be corrected by the slow feeder; they can spend minutes on their meals instead of few seconds.
The anti-gulp or slow feeding bowl, aside from reducing the pace of your pet at meal time, can also give the pet something else to do. The pet may see the slow feeder as some game object and will want to take on the challenge posed by the feeder against its freedom of feeding.

With the help of the anti-gulp or slow feeding bowl, your dog will likely never suffer from bloating anymore. The risk of the twisted stomach will be greatly reduced, and the pet can live a happier and healthier life as a result. Gulping down the food forces the pet to also gulp down a lot of air. The air will transform into a gas inside the stomach, which will make the abdomen to swell. The swelling will put the internal organs, like the heart and lungs, under pressure. If things get more serious, the nerves and blood vessels may get pinched, and the stomach may even rotate.

Keep in mind that anti gulp or slow feeding bowl may not guarantee complete prevention of bloating, but they can modify how your pets eat; remember that their uncontrolled eating habit is the primary cause of bloating.

There are many slow feeding bowls being sold out there today. They are all designed to achieve the same goal, but they do so slightly differently. The Wiser Pet slow feed bowl is made from stainless steel which has other benefits, is strong, durable and looks good too.

As a responsible dog owner, you owe it to them to be conscious of the nutritional needs of your pet. In response to this awareness, you need to give them natural treats due to them having all the benefits a dog can ever derive from a treat. One factor that sets natural treats apart is the fact that they do not have any added chemical, filler or preservative. They are made using top quality foodstuffs that are delicious, edible and prepared in a palatable manner that even humans can take them (although we don't recommend you try)!

​Some of the many benefits of natural dog treats are discussed below

Reduces allergies and skin ailments
Eating natural treats is one of the best ways your dog can overcome allergies or skin problems in the long term, the reason being that natural dog treats do not contain toxic pesticides, which can lead to skin problems.  The protein content of such foods will strengthen the dog’s immune system and fight against any form of infection in the dog.

Stronger immunity
Natural dog treats will lead to better health for your dog, as well as strengthen its immunity. An improvement in immunity will lead to a drastic reduction in the frequency of allergies. The health benefits of these natural treats persist for a very long time. They can prevent the dog from experiencing conditions, like skin ailments, digestive problems or obesity.

Digestive disorders
The grain and protein sources in natural treats are natural and safe. As a result, there is a drastic reduction in disorders. The dog only has to eat a small quantity of food to feel satiated thanks to the natural source of the foods. The food is usually composed of easily digestible vegetables, lamb, and chicken, and this will have an impressive positive impact on the dog’s digestive system. The dog will not have to eliminate too often. Their bowel movement will be healthy to produce a less smelly firm stool.
The meal usually contains wholesome grains, which is far better than the synthetic ingredients in many of the commercial dog foods. They do not contain any artificial growth hormone, antibiotic or flavor.

Better life quality
Your dog can live for many years and also have a better quality of life by consuming natural dog food. What your dogs eat goes a long way to determine how they live, look, feel or act.  The dog can live a happy, healthy life if you feed it with natural food. The dog will equally have a strong immune system, adequate energy to run and play and a healthy weight.  Consequently, the life expectancy of the dog will improve a great deal.

Wholesome nutrition
The ingredients in natural dog food are of top quality. You can check the package to find out about this, and you will not be disappointed. The synthetic dog treats will contain meat and animal derivatives, while the natural treats will contain good quality meat, like beef or chicken. The foods are also free from hormones; this is unlike synthetic dog foods that are filled with antibiotics and hormones. The digestion of such natural dog treats is also gentle and easy. The dog will equally not produce excess waste.

If you are looking for all natural healthy treats for your dog you will be delighted with the Wiser Pet Beef Tendons. 100% premium beef with no added ingredients. Purchase now from Amazon.com

A healthy dog is a happy dog. And if your four-legged friend is wagging its tail, then no doubt you’ll be smiling too. Although inevitably there are some illnesses you can’t prevent, if you look after your dog’s health, you’ll both be rewarded with a long and happy life.

​Keep vaccinations up to date

It’s not only puppies who need to be vaccinated – usually when they’re between eight and 12 weeks old – all dogs should get a booster on a yearly basis, protecting them against diseases such as canine parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis. Keep a record of vaccination dates as this is vital if you’re booking a boarding kennel or applying for a pet passport.

Discuss neutering with your vet

To reduce the number of unwanted dogs being born, the UK’s RSPCA advise owners to neuter a pet if they are not planning to breed. A bitch can be spayed before her first season, and a dog castrated around eight months. With the urge to sire a litter gone, your dog will lead a more contented life. Ask your vet for advice.

Watch your dog’s weight

Dogs need a well-balanced, nutritious diet and fresh water at all times. The breed and age of your dog will determine the number of meals you give it. Treats can aid training, but don’t feed it titbits all day long as this will affect your pet’s appetite. Human food, especially if high in salt, fat and sugar can have a damaging effect on your pet’s weight and overall health. Weigh your dog regularly and tell your vet if it seems to be putting on too much weight or losing it rapidly.

Vary your daily exercise

All dogs need to be exercised every day, regardless of the weather. Try to walk your four-legged friend before meals and carry poo bags. If possible, try and vary your walks to keep your dog active and interested. Also give them plenty of opportunities to run, explore and socialise with other dogs. They’ll return home ready for a snooze.

Grooming

Long haired breeds such as Afghan hounds obviously need more grooming than a smooth-haired terrier, but all dogs should get used to being groomed and handled regularly. Combing and brushing helps to remove dirt and prevent matting in their fur. Check your pet’s eyes and ears too, and remove grit or thorns from its paws. If you wash your pet at home, use a mild and naturally based dog shampoo.

Don’t forget a toothbrush

A happy dog’s smile can be ruined by a bad breath, so get into the habit of brushing your dog’s teeth at least twice a week. Plaque and tartar causes receding gums and loose teeth so even if they struggle, don’t give up. Start by massaging your dog’s lips with your finger, then move onto the teeth and gums, gently brushing up and down. Dog toothpaste is available, as are soft toothbrushes that fit on your finger.
It is also a good idea to use natural treats and bones which help to clean teeth naturally as would happen in the wild.

Banish fleas forever

You don’t want fleas in your home, and neither does your dog. Irritating flea bites can drive a dog to despair, causing allergic reactions and making it gnaw its skin until it bleeds. Prevent this happening by using a flea treatment such as the Wiser Pet natural flea collar.

Tackle ticks head-on

Ticks are nasty blood-sucking pests that latch themselves on to dogs (and humans) and transmit disease. Always check your dog for ticks after a walk in long grass or woodland, paying attention to its face, eyes and inside its ears. Invest in a ‘tick twister’ and dispose of it safely.

Keep the bedding clean

Even if your dog enjoys rolling in mud, it should have a clean bed. Shake bedding outdoors every other day and vacuum regularly to get rid of hairs, dirt and grit. Removable covers, blankets and towels should be washed on a weekly basis, to keep fleas at bay and smells away. Remember to wash bedding and towels that you keep in the car too.

Know your dog’s routine

When you become a dog owner, take note of your pet’s behaviour and habits from day one and you’ll soon be able to tell if your dog is feeling out of sorts. It may just be tired or swallowed something it shouldn’t have, but if you notice a change in your dog’s eating pattern or the way it interacts with you, consult your vet.

Should You Feed your Dog Using A Plastic Bowl?
Is there a difference between feeding your dog or cat from a stainless steel bowl or a plastic one?  Can plastic pet bowls actually be harmful? A majority of vets agree that a stainless steel bowl has many advantages; it is also better than virtually all other types of feeding dishes you can ever buy for your cat or dog. What are the features that make the stainless steel bowl better than a plastic bowl? Continue reading to find out.

​Durability 
A stainless steel bowl is highly durable. It is built to last long and also resist harsh treatment by the environment or your pet. Yes, the pet can bite into its feeding bowl many times, but a stainless steel bowl will never get damaged as a result.
This is unlike what obtains in a plastic bowl.  Your pet sees its feeder bowl as another chew toy to be eaten, especially if it is a teething pup.  The plastic can break easily when the pet bites into it. The broken shred of plastic can get swallowed by the pet, which can cause intestinal blockage or internal bleeding. Your vet bill will rise as a result.     

Porosity
Stainless steel is not a porous material, and as a result, food substances do not sink into it. Which means all the leftover foods can be washed off when you are washing the stainless steel pet feeder.  As a result, the pet will remain in a healthy state. The stainless steel is not easily scratched by the pet. Consequently, no hole or crack can be created in it for bacteria to hide. 
The same cannot be said about a plastic feeder, which is a very porous material. Foods, oils, and whatnots can sink into the plastic dish and hide in those porous parts. It will be difficult to wash off the oil and food substances; this will culminate in the development of bad bacteria, which can cause disease in the pet. The plastic feeder can be easily scratched by the cat or dog while feeding, and the crevices can harbor harmful bacteria, which can infect your pet to cause diseases.

Bisphenol A
Stainless steel does not contain bisphenol, which is a dangerous chemical found in plastic materials.  Bisphenol A (BPA) can damage your pet’s health, even if it is in a minute concentration. It can affect the pet’s endocrine system, cause reproductive system and chromosomal abnormalities, as well as impair the mental function of the pet due to its neurogenic effects
Additionally, BPA can cause resistance to chemotherapy, obesity, cardiovascular system damage and even cancer.
Now, do you have an idea of the dangers you are exposing your pet to by feeding it with plastic pet feeder? You can avoid all these dangers by simply buying a stainless steel pet feeder, which is free from the culprit, BPA.

Affordability
One other unique feature that sets a stainless steel pet feeder apart is its affordability. It is surprisingly cheap despite its many benefits as described above. Because it is long lasting and durable you will not need to replace it as often as cheaper plastic ones. As a result, you can get very good value for your money when you buy it for your pet.  This feature, combined with the other ones described above, makes a stainless steel feeding bowl the better and safer choice for your pet. 

Owning a pet comes with many benefits including companionship, compassion, exercise, emotional support, among others. However, having a pet also comes with certain responsibilities. It behooves on the pet owner to provide a nutritious and balanced diet, a safe environment and quality healthcare for the pet. Meanwhile, for many pet owners and caregivers, the damages caused by sickness and diseases are a major cause for concern.

For dogs and cats mostly, the incursion of fleas and ticks is a cankerworm causing damages to the wellbeing of our four-legged friends. It can be very difficult to prevent pets from the challenging effects of these ticks and fleas. However, it is fundamentally important and has to be done. Fleas and ticks can be stubborn, once they get into your home; that is it. Fleas, in particular, begin to lay eggs around every corner of the home and easily become nuisances. While ticks cause Lyme and other deadly diseases, fleas bite on the skin results in sores which pose health hazards to the pets.

Typically, many pet owners and caregivers are quick to administer chemicals to pets when we are faced with the challenges of flea infestation - or any other disease for that matter. They employ these over-the-counter products to safeguard their pets even when we are aware of the health risk they can pose to the animals, humans, and environment. For some reason, people do this because of a skewed belief that natural remedies aren’t as effective as chemical products, but for the most part, however, they settle for synthetic products merely because they require less effort.

It continues to be a cause of worry that despite the recorded cases of the adverse effects caused by the continued use of chemical treatments such as flea collars, these products are still allowed to be sold. Meanwhile, there are natural ways to repel these fleas and ensure the health of the pets and humans, and at the same time, protecting the environment.

The use of natural treatments like essential oils such as citronella, lemongrass, and eucalyptus have proved not only to be highly effective in keeping fleas and ticks away; they also do not pose any threat to the environment. Essential oils wouldn’t contaminate your home with nasty chemical odors; in fact, they are a source of great aromas to relax stress while battling the fleas. Also, natural methods of treatments are often cheaper than these toxic chemical products. The use of essential oils instead, helps save you money and prevents you from buying poison with your bucks – which can harm you and your family.

At times, we are all tempted to share some of your delicious food with your pup. After all, who can resist those puppy-dog eyes begging for a morsel? But wait, sometimes being a good dog owner is knowing when to say, “No.” Is chocolate bad for dogs? Some human foods are seriously harmful, even poisonous to dogs and can cause all sorts of health problems. Even if your dog has eaten these foods in the past with no problems, they could be storing up serious issues that you might not be aware of. Here are a selection of foods you should never feed dogs, no matter how adorably they beg.

1. Chocolate

At the top of the list of bad foods for dogs is the one you’ve probably heard of most often – chocolate. The problem is a component called Theobromine which is found in all kinds of chocolate, but especially in dark and baking chocolate. It isn’t harmful to humans, but it’s the toxic part of chocolate for dogs and can cause them to vomit, have diarrhoea, and become overly thirsty. In more extreme cases it can cause abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, tremors, or death. Save the sweets for yourself.

2. Bacon and fatty meats

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Wait, my dog can’t have bacon? That’s right! High fat foods like bacon, ham, or meat trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And since these meats are often high in salt content, too, they can cause upset stomachs and, in extreme cases, can cause dogs to drink too much water, leading to bloat, which can be fatal. 

3. Salty Foods

You may have heard that popcorn and pretzels are bad for dogs, but that’s particularly the case if those foods are salted. Salt can cause a condition called sodium ion poisoning, not to mention excessive thirst or urination. Symptoms of eating too much salt might include vomiting, diarrhea, high body temperature, and seizures, in addition to bloat, as is the case with bacon. Salt can be fatal, so keep it to a minimum if you choose to share food with your pup.

4. Garlic and Onions

This one-two combination of foods doesn’t just give you bad breath and repel vampires. These pungent ingredients are bad news for dogs. They can actually destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia. This is a tricky one because a small dose might not do much harm. But a large dose or regular small doses can lead to poisoning. Symptoms might include weakness, vomiting, breathlessness, and a loss of interest in food. 

5. Milk, Cheese, Ice-Cream and other Dairy Products
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(Picture Credit: Getty Images)
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You may have slipped your dog a pill in a piece of cheese, but dogs aren’t really built to process cow milk products. They lack the enzyme to break down milk sugar, and many dogs are lactose intolerant. Dairy can cause dogs to vomit, have diarrhoea, or develop gastrointestinal diseases. The high fat content can lead to pancreatitis, as is the case with fatty meats. To be on the safe side, don’t share your dairy with your dog. 

6. ​Raw Meat, Fish, And Eggs

In the wild, wolves eat meat fresh, so you could be forgiven for thinking that your dog should be fine with a little raw meat, right? Wrong! Raw meat contains bacteria that can lead to food poisoning, and raw fish can hide parasites that cause fatal diseases. Raw eggs can contain salmonella or e. coli and contain an enzyme that can cause skin problems for your dog. By cooking eggs and meat you can kill off bacteria and parasites that hurt your pup. 

7. Candy, Gum, Peanut Butter, And Baked Goods

The real culprit when it comes to these sweets is an ingredient called xylitol. It causes an insulin surge through your dog’s body that can lead to a drop in blood sugar and liver failure. Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and eventually death. Several of these foods, especially peanut butter, are sometimes made without xylitol, so check the list of ingredients in your foods before you share them with your dog.

8. Grapes And Raisins​

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This is a sneaky case of dangerous foods, as your dog has probably eaten some grapes or raisins without issue. But it’s risky. Grapes and raisins are known to cause renal failure in dogs. Your dog’s kidneys might start to shut down, causing vomiting and lethargy and eventually leading to death. It’s best to keep the grapes and raisins out of reach of your dog.

9. Sugary Food

Sugary food isn’t good for humans, and it’s not good for dogs either. In fact, it can lead to similar problems for dogs as it does for humans. Obesity, dental health issues, and diabetes can all result from overeating foods that have high sugar content. Be very wary of feeding your dog sugar. 

10. Avocados

Not only are the pits or stones of avocados a choking hazard for your dog, but avocados contain persin in their leaves, seeds, bark, and fruit. If you have an avocado plant in your house or in your yard, make sure your pup can’t get anywhere near it. Persin isn’t harmful for humans, but it’s toxic in large amounts for dogs.

Other products that aren’t necessarily food for you that your dog should stay away from include uncooked yeast dough, seeds and pits from fruit, raw potato, bones, apple cores, alcohol, caffeine, and human medicine. Don’t let your dog anywhere near these products, as they are toxic and can lead to potential poisoning and death. Stick to a diet approved by your vet, or research some healthy foods that you can share with your dog. Resist that cute face and keep most of your human food to yourself.