Want to reward Fido for learning to sit and stay? Does Fluffy deserve a little something special just for being so cute today? It’s always nice to keep some natural pet treats on hand for just such occasions, but there are also a few foods right in your kitchen that can be used to brighten your furry friend’s day. In her book, The Whole Pet Diet, Andi Brown recommends the following as foods that can occasionally be used in small amounts as dog or cat treats:

- Cantaloupe balls
- Cottage cheese
- Yogurt mixed with a few blueberries
- Sardines
- Organic cheese on a salt-free cracker

If you’d like to make some treats with a few more ingredients, be sure to check out the recipe for Voyko’s Paw-Lickin’ Liver Treats, along with all the other homemade pet food recipes at HaloPets.com!

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The recent economic downturn has caused many Americans to cut back spending in any way they can – including pet care. Many animal shelters are experiencing an increase in pets being brought in because their owners simply cannot afford to pay for them anymore. In order to combat this trend, the Cat Adoption Team (CAT) of Sherwood, Oregon recently opened the first cat food bank to help pet owners in need of financial assistance.

CAT, which is the largest no-kill cat shelter in the Pacific Northwest, debuted the food bank in the beginning of June to huge demand. When the doors first opened, there was a line of people waiting – proving that many were in need of this service.

From June through September, the food bank will be open on the first Sunday of each month, and each pet owner will be eligible to receive enough food to feed up to four cats. After the summer, CAT will reevaluate the program and decide how it will operate in the future.

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Does your dog have a smile that could light up a room? Maybe your pup has eyes that could melt hearts or a coat so silky that Hollywood actresses could only dream of having such lovely hair. Or perhaps he’s just got the biggest ears known to dog-kind. Whatever your pup’s claim to fame, there’s likely to be a category that fits him in Dog Channel.com’s Virtual Dog Show. Sponsored by Halo Pets, this is one dog show that your pooch doesn’t need to be a purebred to enter. With unique categories like “longest tongue” and “best ‘feed me’ look,” there’s sure to be a place for every dog. And the best part is the prizes: Winning dogs will receive a year’s worth of Halo natural dog food!

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Dog Channel to submit your pup’s photo in the Virtual Dog Show. And if you don’t have a dog to enter, you can still check out all the adorable nominees and vote for your favorites.

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Whole-grain foods may be healthy for humans, but when it comes to cats, a meat-based, high-protein diet is the key.

For many Americans, healthy eating has become a top priority. Whole grains and vegetables are the superstars of the holistic diet—but not for cats. Cats are true carnivores. Though many commercial cat food companies promote “gourmet cuisine” that includes grain and vegetables, a meat-based diet is best for a cat’s special dietary needs.

Cats require twice as much protein as dogs. For cats, protein, not carbohydrates, fuels the cells with energy. High-carbohydrate cat food, on the other hand, can cause digestive problems for cats and may even lead to obesity and feline diabetes. Commercial cat food is often moderate to high in carbohydrates, but low-carbohydrate, meat-based cat foods best support a cat’s unique biology.

When pet owners feed homemade cat food, vegetable- or grain-based foods, or food designed for dogs to their cats, deficiencies can occur in the health of their cats. Cats require several essential nutrients that their bodies do not make—nutrients that can only be found in meat. Cats adapted to a small-prey diet and have no dietary requirement for carbohydrates. Their livers are unable to break down large amounts of carbohydrates to produce glucose, which is the energy source of the body. If cat food has more than 40% carbohydrate levels, the result can be poor digestion which causes diarrhea, gas, bloating and changes in a cat’s metabolism to a pre-diabetic or diabetic state.

In my professional opinion, for your cat’s best health, a natural cat food diet should be composed of 35-50% protein, 10-30% fat and 20-25% carbohydrates. For strong bones, healthy digestion and a beautiful, full coat, cats require a well-balanced diet.

Dr. Donna Spector , DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary internist who practices in New York City. She has written and lectured extensively on nutrition, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other animal health issues.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

We love our pudgy, fat cats and dogs, but couch-potato pets may be paying a price. Pet Obesity is associated with diabetes in dogs and cats, arthritis, heart disease and more. So how can we help? Get your pet a full, medical checkup and talk to your veterinarian about a nutrition plan. Halo® pet food can help to keep your pets lean and healthy. Pay attention to how much and how often you’re feeding your pet. And most importantly, exercise! Physical activity helps your pets just as much as it helps you, so get moving!

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Dr. Donna Spector , DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary internist who practices in New York City. She has written and lectured extensively on nutrition, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other animal health issues.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.