Guest Post

For most dog owners, deciding what to feed their canines can often border on being problematic. With so many brands of premium dog food on the shelves, it is a nightmare trying to figure out which would be best for our four legged companions.

Orijen boasts the freshness their dry food maintains and their Biologically Appropriate ingredient ratio of 70% meat, 30% fruit and vegetables and 0% grain. They claim that their key differences when separating them with other commercial dog food brands are that their foods have high protein from fresh meats, low carbohydrate, use regional fruits and vegetables, health promoting botanicals and are grain free.

Arden Grange focuses their products on flavours and formulas to create food which provide gentle nutrition to dogs who suffer from a dietary intolerance. They are all hypoallergenic and free from wheat gluten, dairy products, beef and soya. Although they do aim their food at pets with eating complaints, it is suitable for any healthy canine and is often used to prevent the occurrence of any intolerance.

Each brand provides something different and fronts the advertisement of their foods with all the benefits they contain. However, be sure to always read the recommendations for use and the ingredients if your dog has any allergies. With a brand like Eukanuba it is always advisable to only use the food in consultation with your veterinary surgeon as it potentially could be unsuitable for your dog but overall, these dog foods made to suit all canines and it is rare for a diet to severely disagree with them.

The Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) has today cautiously welcomed news that the Government will commit to a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses but says that the Government’s failure to commit to a firm date for implementation is not good enough. The group says that the Government must now be transparent and open in the ongoing process and introduce the ban without further delay.

This morning’s announcement comes after a six-year political campaign by a coalition of animal protection organisations including CAPS, the Born Free Foundation, RSPCA and British Veterinary Association, their supporters and MPs and, campaigners hope, will finally close the door on the practice of using performing wild animals in circus shows. In the last 12 months, the Government has been circumspect in its approach, implying time and again that a ban would not be possible and refusing to release information on the reasons for its decisions to key stakeholders and the public.

The charity says that, given the Government’s protestations of the last 12 months that a ban would not be possible, there is a need to set a clear timescale for implementation of the ban, there needs to be a clear explanation of how the interim regulations will be handled and phased out and have made an open request that Government works with key stakeholders to ensure that the process goes smoothly. Until plans for a ban are clear, the group says that the jury is still out.

Said Liz Tyson, Director of CAPS:

“We are obviously pleased that the Government now seem committed to a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses however, until we have had the chance to go through the detailed proposals from Defra, understood fully their plans for implementation and a seen a firm and unmoving timescale for the introduction of the ban, we will be reserving judgment. 2015 has been mooted but is still a very long way off and means at least two more years of this unpopular practice and suffering for animals under the big top – we see no reason for this extended delay and are concerned that the interim licensing system is an unnecessary distraction”.

CAPS firmly believes that no animal belongs in a circus and supports an end to the practice for both wild and domestic animals.

Further information on the Government stance can be found here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/03/01/circus-wild-animal-ban/

Guest Post

Your puppy has very different nutritional requirements to an adult or older dog. Puppies need smaller but more frequent meals and a diet specially designed for their life stage as they have a higher energy requirement but smaller stomachs. Hills puppy food is specifically designed to be energy dense whilst still providing all of their nutritional needs.

It is important that you regularly weigh your puppy so you can feed him the right amount recommended for their weight and to ensure you are not over or underfeeding. Hills also provide an online growth tracker chart, whereby you can evaluate your puppy’s physical condition.

Large breed puppies also have different nutritional needs to ensure they have healthy bone and joint development so it is important they are fed a pet food suited to their size.

It is also important that you regularly take your puppy to the vets to ensure they are developing well and are healthy but also to socialise them and habituate them to the vets so they will not fear it every time they go.

Make sure that fresh water is available at all times and feed treats sparingly as they do not provide the nutrition your puppy needs and can encourage weight gain.

Whilst your puppy is teething (this normally occurs around three to six months) they may find it uncomfortable to eat dry food, therefore you can mix the dry with wet, and/or soak the dry biscuits for fifteen minutes to soften them up. However dry, crunchy biscuits can also help loosen the teeth, so they can be good if your puppy can tolerate them at this time.

When your puppy is one year old he will then need to be switched to an adult pet food. This is very important as it ensures your dog is receiving the correct nutrition and discourages weight gain, if fed correctly.

When introducing any new food, do it gradually over seven days, mixing the new food in with the food usually given. This will help to ensure your dog will eat the new food and not upset their digestive system.

The range of Hills pet food designed to suit your entire dog’s needs, can be found at VioVet.

Associated Press:

Animal welfare groups reacted with outrage Wednesday after the Iowa Legislature made the state the first to approve a bill making it a crime to surreptitiously get into a farming operation to record video of animal abuse.

The groups have urged Gov. Terry Branstad to veto the measure that was overwhelmingly approved Tuesday by the Iowa House and Senate, arguing that the measure would prevent people from publicizing animal abuse.

“The intent behind the legislation is to put a chilling effect on whistleblowers on factory farms,” said Matthew Dominguez, a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States. “It begs the question of, what exactly does animal agriculture have to hide?”…