It’s difficult to get away from essential oils these days; you’ll find them in household cleaners, room fresheners, fragrances, candles, aromatherapy kits, and in certain medical preparations as well. While we love them, they may not be as safe for our pets. Cats are especially sensitive to essential oil toxicity if they accidentally ingest them, so it’s wise to keep essential oils out of reach of cats and dogs. While some essential oils can be dangerous for your feline friend, here are some that are safe for cats: Why are cats sensitive to essential oils? These oils are derived from plants and have certain highly-volatile, organic substances that confer flavor and fragrance to them. Essential oils are natural antibacterials and are great room fresheners. They can soothe and uplift your mood, but in animals, they are swiftly absorbed through the skin and pass into the bloodstream, from where they travel into the liver. Cat physiology is different from that of dogs and humans, and they lack certain enzymes necessary to metabolize essential oils that may contain phenols. This can cause serious damage to the liver with a gradual build-up of toxins. Symptoms of essential oil toxicity include vomiting, disorientation, lethargy, drooling, respiratory problems, tremors, and redness around the eyes, mouth, gums, and tongue.

Feline diabetes is similar to human diabetes, but the condition is usually diagnosed late in cats. It is treatable, and your feline friend can continue to live a normal life with the right medication and nutrition. Read on to know about some of the common causes of diabetes mellitus in cats. What is diabetes mellitus? It is a condition wherein the body is unable to respond correctly to the hormone insulin that regulates blood sugar levels. There are different types of diabetes: Type1 that is an autoimmune response and is also known as juvenile diabetes, Type2 diabetes caused by insulin resistance, and gestational diabetes that develops during pregnancy and usually affects the fetal body-weight and size. Diabetes mellitus is a treatable condition when diagnosed early and can be managed with proper diet and lifestyle control, insulin injections, or oral medication. Feline diabetes Diabetes mellitus in cats is similar to type 2 diabetes in humans. Here, the body produces insulin but is unable to process it. Early symptoms in cats include excessive urination and thirst, along with weight loss and lack of appetite. Late-stage feline diabetes is indicated by signs like disorientation, an inability to jump, hind-leg weakness, vomiting, and excessive sleeping.

Dog fleas are a bothersome issue for nearly all dog owners. The threat of developing disease-ridden fleas is becoming more prominent, be it due to seasonal fluctuations, the environment, or lifestyle habits that pets are induced to. That being said, thorough research can help you ensure long-lasting protection with the best products that keep dog fleas at bay. While there are specific chemical-based products that are proven effective, you can also choose from a variety of all-natural flea products: Frontline Plus It’s a monthly treatment option that effectively kills fleas and larvae before hatching. You can choose from the 3-pack and 6-pack options of this superior product. Pura Naturals Pet These are organic wipes infused with cedar and peppermint oils that fight fleas and ticks while being gentle on your dog. They also offer a flea shampoo and spray made with organic ingredients for safe and effective flea treatment. Wondercide flea & tick control Among the best products that keep dog fleas at bay, this product is made from cedar oil that is extremely safe on your dog’s skin. It helps fight the formation of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, and it is effective for a long period. Capstar Oral Flea Treatment This powerful yet safe oral formula starts working within 30 minutes of administration and is 90% effective.

What better way to connect with your lovable, furry companion than to vacation together? Traveling can be fun and worth every moment under the sky, and journeying with your pet helps create profound memories of companionship while exploring your favorite destination. That being said, it calls for extra preparedness on your part to ensure that the trip is enjoyable for your pet too. However, what about traveling with a sick pet or if your pet has specific health risks? Consider the following tips to travel safe with a sick pet and make your trip a smooth and uncomplicated one. Update the ID tags for your pet It’s important to keep your pet’s ID tags updated with your name, address, contact details, and other important information about your pet. This ensures added safety for you and your pet, and it’s easier for someone to contact you in case your pet wanders off to explore its new surroundings. Check whether traveling is safe for your pet Talk to your veterinarian to discuss possible risks and whether it’s safe enough for your pet to travel. The doctor will help you understand the risk of any complications that may occur or if the pet is too old or sick to travel.

While plant poisoning is not so common among cats, but they can get into the habit of nibbling on plants, especially indoor plants and the ones in the backyard, due to boredom or out of curiosity. There’s a potential risk for your cat to ingest pollen and other harmful compounds that could lead to severe poisoning. It’s important to contact the local health pet club immediately if your feline ingests a toxic plant component. Waiting until the signs of poisoning manifest can make it too late for treatment. Here are a few tips to manage plant poisoning in cats: Contact your veterinarian Call your vet immediately and explain what your cat ate. Your vet will give precautionary instructions that you can follow. In more serious cases, your vet will ask you to bring your pet in for further diagnosis and treatment. Collect samples Collecting samples of vomit, stools, and, if possible, the plant poison your cat ate are some important tips to help manage plant poisoning in cats. Take the sample to your vet and let the doctor examine it to know the type and severity of the poisoning. This will help your vet administer the right treatment in the right dose to ensure that the situation doesn’t worsen.

Just like us, our pet dogs can suffer from food allergies too. It’s not just the fleas, dust, pollen, and grass that your pooch might be allergic to. Food allergies can result in an adverse immune response, leading to itchy skin, digestive issues, and other health ailments. While you may seem lost in addressing your dog’s food allergies, thorough research can help you along the way. Some pets require gentle ingredients, while others thrive on specific types of food items. Here’s a list of the best foods for dogs with food allergy: NomNomNow’s Customizable Food Let your dog munch on this pre-portioned, made-to-order specialty food tailored to their nutrition goals, weight, and other health requirements. You get to choose the protein and fat content depending on your dog’s needs and include specific portions of chicken, beef, turkey, and pork. The power-packed food is prepared from restaurant-grade ingredients minus the chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavors of processed foods. Blue Buffalo Natural Adult Dry Dog Food Salmon Treat your furry companion to a protein-rich diet free from common allergens. The rich content of fish oil refreshes your dog’s skin and coat and enables the smooth functioning of their digestive system. It contains real meat, and your dog will love the exclusive salmon flavor.

Giving treats to your cat might sound simple, but there are a few things that you should be aware of before you treat your cat. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind while treating your cats according to experts. Don’t Spoil Your Cat Moderation is key and this cannot be stressed enough. If you rely on treats for everything then your cat will soon become a picky eater. You should offer treats at most three times a week. The treats should constitute a maximum of 10% of the calories that your cat eats. Pick Tasty Treats For Training If you are picking treats for your cat for training, then one of the tips to keep in mind while treating your cats is to pick tasty and healthy treats. You want your cat to have her full attention on you when you train. And this is possible only when the treat is irresistible to your cat. It might take a while to find out your cat’s favorite treat but it will be worth it. Use Treats Wisely It is easy to give treats all the time without realizing it. You should stick to giving treats when you are trying to exercise your cat through training; both mental and physical.

While pet parents can make decisions regarding their own diets when they want to lose weight, eat more healthy foods, address a health problem etc, this privilege is not available to our furry friends. They depend on us to provide them with the right food, well balanced and comprising all the essential elements and one that provides interest and variety as well. If you’re providing packaged dog food to your dog because of the convenience, it is probably complete and planned according to your dog’s size, breed, and weight. But you can always supplement it or enhance it with a few personal touches of your own. While homemade dog food takes effort and time to prepare, it may appeal more to your pet in terms of freshness, taste, and variety. But pet parents need to evaluate it in terms of nutrition and the right balance with your furry friend’s dietary requirements. Talk to your vet and get some handy tips to improve your dog’s diet based on their individual needs and preferences. Pay attention to your dog’s needs Your dog’s dietary needs change according to age, lifestyle, and health condition. One of the risks of feeding packaged food is that we tend to fill the bowl automatically at feeding times (and it’s promptly wolfed down) without really paying attention to whether the meal is in sync with the dog’s age, whether he/she needs to lose weight, is recovering from an illness, pregnancy or surgery etc.

According to the American Pet Products Association, between 37-47% of people in the country own a pet dog while between 30-37% own a pet cat. A survey conducted by a travel organization reports that more than half of those polled travel with pets and about the same number stay only in places that are pet-friendly. These numbers reflect the growing popularity and need for pet-friendly accommodation across the country for travelers. Apart from accommodation, there are several airlines in the country that endorse traveling with pets provided certain rules and regulations are followed. Airports in Chicago, New York and Houston are pet-friendly, with special facilities for long layovers. Today, apart from being merely pet-tolerant, some of the most pet-friendly resorts in the country ensure that your furry friends are pampered, kept entertained, given treats and goody bags, and they have special facilities that cater to pet needs and safety. Cranwell Resort, Lenox, Massachusetts Located in the Berkshires, New England, this is a luxury spa with great dining and accommodation. Lots of hiking trails that you can enjoy with your pet and kids, restaurants and golf course in the midst of the scenic hill country are features that make this resort ideal for a deluxe holiday with your furry friend.

The foods humans eat are not always healthy for our beloved pets. While there is often the temptation to feed your dog from the table (especially when they look at you with those puppy dog eyes) the human digestive system is more complex than that of the canine, and can therefore handle many foods dogs cannot. In fact, many human foods can cause pet obesity, arthritis, diabetes, allergies and even fatal pet toxicity in dogs. Here are some potentially harmful human foods that dogs should never eat: 1. Chocolate Chocolate is a complete no-no for dogs, there are no benefits for a dog to eat any kind of candy. Theobromine, which is found in chocolate, is very toxic to dogs and even in low doses can cause issues. In small amounts a dog may only suffer from an upset stomach. Large quantities of chocolate can induce seizures, heartbeat issues, internal bleeding and potentially death. 2. Raw eggs Generally speaking there is no serious risk to dogs from raw eggs. Dogs can easily digest both raw and cooked eggs and their stomachs are generally more resilient to bacteria that cause food poisoning. This does not mean that raw egg can not be harmful to dogs because there is an enzyme that can cause some issues.