Author: World Arabia

Key points

• A limited ingredient diet is a food regimen that includes fewer ingredients than an average dog’s diet. It typically has one source of protein and carbohydrates that your dog has not eaten before.
• There’s no set number of ingredients that can be present in limited ingredient dog food, but the ingredients should be whole and well-balanced.
• Switching your pet to LID is the easiest and most precise way to determine whether your dog is allergic to something. The idea is to start with a low-risk allergy ingredient and slowly introduce new foods to your dog, watch its reactions and find out what’s causing the allergy.
• The other benefits of LID for dogs include improved digestion, lower risk of GI upset, and lower fat and higher protein content compared to an average dog’s diet.

Statistics show that about 15-20% of cases of allergies in dogs are related to food allergies. However, there are a lot of debates about how common canine food allergies really are. Beef, chicken, dairy, and wheat are responsible for 79% of cases of food allergies in dogs. At the same time, it’s rare for dogs to have an allergic reaction to any other grains besides wheat.

Limited ingredient dog food contains fewer different ingredients compared to regular dog food. Essentially, when your dog has a less diverse diet, it’s less prone to developing allergic reactions to food. Your dog can’t be allergic to a product that it has not been exposed to before. But is a limited ingredient diet better for canines? How does LID work? Keep on reading and find out all the pros and cons of a limited ingredient diet.

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Key points

• Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps you and your dog know when it is time to go to bed;
• Sometimes, the body cannot produce enough melatonin, which leads to difficulties falling asleep and other sleep disorders. That’s why this hormone is often taken as a supplement;
• Melatonin is considered to be safe for dogs. However, you should not give this medication to puppies or pets in the advanced stages of pregnancy;

Melatonin is an ideal all-natural supplement that is said to help relieve stress and sleep disorders. However, it might also be effective in treating a wide range of health issues from mood swings and Cushing’s Disease to hair loss.

Since melatonin naturally occurs in the body, melatonin supplements are quite safe for humans and have no harmful side effects. However, many dog ​​owners wonder if they can give this hormone to their dogs to alleviate the pets’ fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, or loud noises.

In this article, we will tell you everything there is to know about melatonin for dogs so you can make an informed decision regarding giving your pet this supplement.

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Key points

• Technically, peanut butter is not considered to be toxic to cats. However, there are many reasons why you should avoid feeding your cat peanut butter;
• Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that the majority of their diet should come from animal-based protein. Protein in peanut butter is plant-based and, therefore, doesn’t have any nutritional value for your cat;
• The texture and consistency of peanut butter can create choking hazards for your furry friend;
• If you decide to feed your cat peanut butter, make sure that there is no xylitol in the ingredient list on the label;

Pet nutrition is one of the most important issues for owners of animals. While some people may want to share the foods they love with their pets, not all human foods, snacks, and the like are healthy and nutritious for our beloved four-legged friends. For example, onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, and excessive amounts of fish can be very dangerous for felines. Moreover, some products can be beneficial for dogs and simultaneously toxic for cats, making it even more challenging for pet owners to feed their animals appropriately. For example, one of the most popular human foods that pet owners feed their dogs is creamy peanut butter. However, can cats eat peanut butter and benefit from it just as much as dogs? 

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Key points

• Coconut oil is a superfood that can benefit your cat in several ways. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, which help with different skin conditions, inflammation, prevent hairballs, improve digestion, and boost the immune system.
• Coconut oil is safe for cats with chronic illnesses such as pancreatitis and liver disease. In fact, it helps to relieve the symptoms and alleviate the severity of these conditions.
• It’s recommended to start by giving your cat ¼ to ½ teaspoon of coconut oil, but you can also start with as little as ⅛ teaspoon and gradually increase the amount if necessary. Be careful, as too much coconut oil can cause obesity and diarrhea in cats.
• Coconut oil has a high calorie and fat content, so owners of overweight cats should give it with caution.

Coconut oil is a natural “superfood” that can benefit both humans and pets, and its popularity has increased rapidly in the last few years. Many pet owners are using coconut oil for their cats, but does coconut oil have the same benefits for cats as it does for humans? Can we use it as a dietary supplement for our felines? We discuss how coconut oil can benefit your cat and underline some concerns regarding this product in this article.

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Key points

• Probiotics are microorganisms that live in the intestine of both humans and animals and have a positive influence on the health of the host;
• You can administer probiotics to your pet to help keep its intestinal flora stable and to support its digestion, and help with nutrient utilization;
• Probiotics are available in different forms available on the market. You can choose between powder, chews, capsules, and products that are naturally fermented and rich in beneficial microorganisms such as kefir, yogurt, etc.;

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Key points

• Canine gastritis is a condition when a dog’s stomach lining becomes inflamed. This condition can be either acute or chronic;
• Typical signs of this condition include loss of appetite or anorexia, frequent vomiting, diarrhea, strong thirst, pale mucous membranes in the mouth, etc.;
• Kidney damage, improper feeding, ingesting non-food items, poisoning and medication, constant stress, and hormonal diseases can cause canine gastritis;
• While most acute cases can be treated at home, chronic cases require medical intervention;

Inflammation of the stomach is common in dogs and can have a variety of causes. Just like humans, dogs can experience nausea, cramps, or abdominal pain. However, our pets can’t tell us about their health issues for apparent reasons, so canine gastritis often goes undetected. This is why it is so crucial for you to be able to recognize and combat gastric mucosal inflammation in your dog.

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Key points: 

• Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor (SARI) drug. It’s an antidepressant that vets usually prescribe to treat behavioral disorders in dogs associated with anxiety and phobias.
• Trazodone is a safe dog anxiety medication, and most dogs don’t experience any adverse side effects. However, some pets may experience trazodone side effects such as dilated pupils, sedation, vomiting or gagging, loss of energy, and arrhythmia. 
• The recommended dose depends on your dog’s weight and health and should be determined by your vet after considering all the underlying factors. If you give your dog too much trazodone, it might experience serotonin syndrome with the following symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperthermia, skin sensitivity, dilation of pupils, blindness, difficulty breathing, loss of movement control, disorientation, paralysis, coma, and even death.
• Trazodone is not recommended for pregnant dogs or those who suffer from liver or kidney disabilities or severe heart disease. Trazodone should not be given to dogs with angle-closure glaucoma. 
• You should administer trazodone with caution if your dog takes MAO inhibitors, antihypertensive drugs, aspirin, azole antifungals, cisapride, CNS depressants, digoxin, diuretics, fluoroquinolones, macrolide antibiotics, metoclopramide, NSAIDs, ondansetron, phenothiazines, SSRI antidepressants, and tramadol.
• The most efficient way to change your dog’s behavior is to combine a course of trazodone with a behavioral modification program.

Have you noticed that your dog is acting anxious, fearful, and hostile? Dogs can become anxious for a number of reasons, whether it’s a vet visit, loud noises, change of environment, or being left alone, but what can you do if nothing seems to relieve the pet’s fear and eliminate its destructive behavior? When your goal is to alleviate your dog’s anxiety and improve its well-being, combining a behavioral modification training program with anti-anxiety medication is the best way to do so. The most common anti-anxiety drug that your vet may prescribe is trazodone.

Trazodone is commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat dogs with anxiety and behavioral issues or keep pets calm during regular veterinary visits. The medication has sedative and anti-anxiety effects and can be prescribed along with other psychotropic medications. Trazodone was first used for humans as an off-label medication for insomnia and post-traumatic stress. Now, scientists have confirmed that trazodone is just as effective and safe for dogs. 

But how exactly does trazodone work for dogs? Is it safe? Does it have any side effects? If these questions popped in your head when your vet mentioned this medicine, keep on reading and find out all the answers.

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Key points

• Tramadol is an opioid drug that can be prescribed both to humans and dogs. It helps to relieve severe pain by altering the body’s perception of the sensation. 
• Tramadol is safe for dogs, but only if you follow the instructions and give your pet the recommended dosage of the drug. The appropriate dose will depend on your dog’s weight and health history.
• Tramadol’s side effects for dogs may include vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and dizziness. Tramadol overdose symptoms include disorientation, difficulty breathing, seizures, abnormally slow or fast heart rate, and tremors. 
• Tramadol should not be given to pregnant, geriatric, or debilitated dogs and animals that suffer from kidney and liver conditions. 
• You can give your dog tramadol in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquid. It’s better to mix the drug with food to hide its bitter taste.

Most pet owners find it excruciating to see their pups suffer from pain. Tramadol is one of the most common pain drugs from humans, but it’s gaining more and more attention in the world of canine pain management. How does tramadol work for dogs? What are the side effects of using tramadol for dogs? Keep reading and discover all the information.

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Key points

• Zucchinis are perfectly safe for dogs, and their consumption doesn’t cause any adverse effects. Also, almost all dogs tolerate this vegetable without experiencing allergic reactions.
• Zucchini can enrich your dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals and provide a lot of health benefits, including improving the pet’s digestion and having an antioxidative effect on its cells. Zucchinis can also be beneficial for overweight dogs because they are low in calories and fat.
• Don’t give your dog bitter zucchinis because these often contain cucurbitacins which are toxic to dogs. The symptoms of cucurbitacin poisoning in dogs include excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and shock.
• You can give your dog zucchinis in a raw or cooked state, tailoring the portion size to your dog’s weight. 

Zucchinis are one of the essential products for a healthy human diet. This vegetable can provide numerous health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels and improving eyesight. Many pet owners can’t help but wonder whether zucchinis have the same benefits for dogs as they do for humans.

Fun fact time: while most people are convinced that zucchini is a vegetable, it is actually a fruit! Because zucchini appears from a flower, it is technically a berry which is also known as courgette and belongs to the cucurbit family. While it has a high nutritional value, zucchini is a low-calorie product that can serve as a perfect snack both for you and your dog.

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Key Points

• While occasional bad breath in cats is not a cause for concern, you need to take it to a vet if your pet has chronic halitosis, as this could be a symptom of several serious health conditions. 
• Some causes of stinky breath in cats include gum disease, dental issues, diabetes, liver, kidney, and digestive tract problems, oral tumors, and more. 
• The best way to treat your cat’s foul breath is to have the pet examined by a vet who can diagnose its condition and prescribe appropriate treatment. 
• The best way to prevent bad breath in cats is to brush your feline’s teeth daily with a feline toothbrush and toothpaste. You can also give your cat dental chews to help clean its teeth and keep its breath fresh.

Do you love petting your cat but hate having your nose be anywhere close to its head? If so, your pet may be suffering from serious health issues! According to Eric Davis, DVM, a fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, a cat’s breath is not supposed to smell bad. So while it’s absolutely normal for cats to occasionally suffer from bad breath, if the issue occurs constantly, it’s time to visit a vet and figure out what’s causing it. And in the meantime, this article will explain the reasons for bad breath in cats and ways to treat the issue and prevent it from occurring in the future.

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