Christmas is just around the corner and you may be wondering what to buy your pet(s) or the pet people in your life. Luckily Natural Pet Foods has tons of great gifts for just about anyone! 

One of my all time favourite gifts is "Little Treasures" breed specific statues. These gorgeous dogs or cats have a cute little miniature on a necklace inside.

If you are looking for pet gifts we are definitely the place to shop with 100's of half price toys for dogs and cats. We have brands like Aussie, Kong, Kyjen Outward Hound, Jakks, Rogz and more for prices 50-90% off.

We have a ginormous treat wall with great stocking stuffers 50-90% off. one of my favourite treats for the dogs are the JW Slide 'n Treat toys that you can load with JW treats for only $1.99. 

Some other great gifts for pets include a new bed ( check our half price beds), an uuses and Merricks on sale), a new collar or leash! We have a big selection of China mugs, artwork, scarves and bags if you want to surprise someone with a unique pet-lover gift.

Kong Tropics Mouse: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/kong-tropics-catnip-mouse

Curry Comb: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/can-pro-massage-curry-comb

Whimzees: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?q=whimzees+sale

Kong Charmed Shapes:  https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/kong-charmed-shapes-sale

Rollover Super Beef Chews: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/rollover-super-beef-chew-6-5-7-5-single

Gray's Horse Sports Mugs: 

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?q=Horse+Sports

Nature's Miracle Orthopedic Bed: 

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/natures-miracle-orthopedic-pet-beds

Petmate Fashion Pillow: 

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/petmate-fashion-bed-large-dots-sale

Merrick Fresh Kisses:

 https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?q=fresh+kisses

Conair Pro Safety Shears: 

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/conair-pro-6-safety-tip-shears

RC Skyline Jacket: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?q=skyline

RC Westcoast Rain Wear:

 https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?q=West+coast

Canine Equipment Leash: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?q=canine+equipment+leash

Circle T Leather Lead: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/circle-t-6-leather-leash

Coco Therapy Coconut Oil:  https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/coco-therapy-coconut-oil-16oz

Superior Triple Thread Halter:  https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/superior-triple-stitched-leather-halter

Chilly Dog Jackets: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/search?page=2&q=chilly+dog

Classy Kitty Double Condo:  https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/classy-kitty-double-condo

Benny Bully's: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/benny-bullys

Classy Kitty Round House Climber: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/classy-kitty-round-house-climber-sale

Beanie Babies: https://naturalpetfoods.ca/collections/beanie-babies

Melissa & Doug Plush Toy: 

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/melissa-doug-plush-toy-ashley-the-horse

As we get closer to winter, many of our fur babies will be staying indoors and that means more of them will be getting dry skin. This is the season that many of you will be looking for ways to keep the skin and coat of your pet properly moisturized. That's where Tropiclean's Oatmeal and Aloe Shampoo comes in. It has Oatmeal, Aloe, and several other natural ingredients to make sure your dog stays healthy and snuggly.

Oatmeal for one is known to be a great skin soother. Mixed with water it forms a gel that both moisturizes and keeps moisture in. It also has antioxidant activity, and is anti inflammatory. All these things can help out dry, itchy, or stressed out skin.

Secondly Tropiclean Oatmeal and Tea Tree has an organic blend of extracts. These are things like chamomile, aloe, and pomegranate. Chamomile is a strong hypoallergenic antioxidant than can neutralize skin irritants. Aloe is a fantastic coat conditioner that reduces dandruff and itchiness. Pomegranate extract is great for skin protection and regeneration. It's small size allows it to go deeper and aid in skin renewal. This formula also contains Tea Tree extracts. Known to Australian aborigines for thousands of years, this plant from far away has great skin soothing and dandruff reducing properties. It's also anti bacterial and anti fungal which reduces the chances for itches there too. Other great things in it are coconut, vitamin E, and Papaya. It also has natural Salicylic acid to break up debris clogging pores and making it itchy. Salicylic acid is something many ask Tropiclean about, but it's important to know that it can be derived naturally from willow bark.

More bonuses:  This company is earth friendly using recycled materials, this product is 70% Organic, and soap free so it doesn't affect flea products.  Tropiclean also donates some of the proceeds to charitable causes.

This amazing shampoo is available for purchase in our online store here, and in the brick and mortar store of course too!

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/tropiclean-oatmeal-medicated-shampoo

 This post does not constitute medical advice. Be sure to research the topic and consult with a veterinarian as necessary.

Is your pet feeling a little down with an allergy, sickness, or other immune system problem? Maybe looking like this?

If your pet ever been sick, had allergies, or just an unbalanced immune system you probably wished there was something you could buy to help it. But when you go to a pet store it's hard to find a natural pet supplement helps them get over it faster.

Now we have something you might want to check out. This could turbo boost your pet's immune system!

We have the thing  and it's called Omega Alpha Healthy Pet. It can boost and balance the immune system, it's affordable (only $9.99 for the 120ml size), and it's a liquid so it's easy to add to wet or dry food.

There are 6 herbal ingredients in it and they are all good. But the one that excites us the most is called the Reishi Mushroom. Native to Asia, it's so highly thought of in the east that it's sometimes called the mushroom of immortality. You might of even seen in a Chinese pharmacy before. It's a huge red mushroom and it's unmistakable and unforgettable.

The health benefits of this mushroom are many, but the main one is that research has shown  it boosts the immune system's NK killer cell activity. NK cells are called Natural Killer cells, and these are the hunters that are sent out to destroy invading bacteria or neutralize cancer cells. Over a seven day period NK activity could very well double! This is especially important for senior pets as the immune system typically declines with age.

The Reishi's ability to help combat infection, disease and cancer are  not it's only benefits though. It can also reduce allergy symptoms by acting as a natural anti histamine. That means it neutralizes some of the negative effects of histamines that the body produces to combat allergens. These include watery eyes, itchiness, and sneezing. Benefits of Reishi may also include lower blood pressure and a mild calming effect.

Other beneficial ingredients in Omega Alpha Healthy Pet include Astragalus, Echinacea, Cat's Claw Vine  (Uncaria Tomentosa - don't worry this is a plant!), Ashwaganda, and Siberian Ginseng. These are all either antioxidants or adaptogens. Antioxidants clear up harmful free radicals that may impede proper immune function and adaptogens are plants that have properties that help a pet's body to adapt to stressful conditions. Like being sick for example!

The Healthy Pet Tincture can be regarded as an Immune Balancing remedy. That means not only does it boost immunity, it shuts down aspects that are not necessary too. If your pet has an immune system that isn't functioning in it's proper way then this may be a supplement you want to try out to get things back in balanced and top notch order.

Over the more than 10 years that Natural Pet Foods has been open, we have heard some very nice stories about how Healthy Pet and other products containing the Reishi Mushroom seemed to help a pet to get over a sickness or just balance out their immune system. Examples include a customer who said their dog recovered from a cough shortly after starting to use Healthy Pet. In another instance one of our store staff told us a tincture containing Reishi Mushroom resulted in an autoimmune rash diminishing in frequency after consistent use.

The Omega Alpha Healthy Pet Supplement is suitable for both dogs and cats. You can find it in a 120ml and 500ml size. As a liquid it's easy to give to your pet and  it's  also  affordable to all so why not give it a try! 

It's available in our online store here

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/omega-alpha-healthy-pet

This article does not constitute medical advice and if your pet has a medical condition we recommend that you consult with your veterinarian for advice.

For Further Reading

Life Extension Magazine article on Reishi benefits with extensive footnotes.

http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2014/8/Fight-Immune-Decline-With-Reishi/Page-01

NIH studies of immune enhancing effects of Mushrooms 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22593926

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17875480

The Surprising Reasons Lentils Might be in Your Dog's Food

Red Lentils are common in Indian Curries but lately they have become a popular addition to many pet foods. But it might surprise you to find that they are in many dog formulas today. But take a look at all the health benefits and advantages that this little superfood has, and we're sure you'll agree you're dog will get a health boost out of eating them.

Pet Parents usually want to get the best for their pups, and Champion Pet Foods Orijen Dog Formulas do their best to make the best possible kibble for your pet. The 6 Fish Formula (made with non-GMO ingredients from sustainable sources) used to have potatoes but the kitchen has now replaced the spuds with lentils. In the past the potatoes were a source of starch to "glue" the kibble together. They were low carb, but the lentils make it even lower in carbs.

Here is the award winning Orijen Dog Food available in our online store. We consider it to be one of the best fish based foods out there and it's suitable for all life stages and sizes of dogs. It's designed to be a very low carb food as well.

Lots of Meat Means Low Carb

Dogs seem to have an improved ability in comparison to wolves to break down starches in carbs into sugars, but their diet should still be primarily meat. They are still genetically very close to wolves which eat very few starchy foods. That's why Orijen's 6 Fish formula ingredients include 85% meat products. The remaining 15% includes a healthy portion of low carb  fruits, vegetables,and legumes like red lentils. Red Lentils have a high content of antioxidants, more fiber, and more overall nutrition than potatoes or grains.

Lower Risk of Diabetes

Dog food formulas containing low amounts of simple carbs will convert to  glucose more slowly. There are less blood sugar spikes, and thus there isn't a great demand for the release of insulin which transports glucose to cells. Research is showing this my be a factor in reducing the chance of diabetes developing.

More Antioxidants

There are high amounts of healthy antioxidants in lentils as well. Legumes that are brightly colored like red lentils have extra high amounts of antioxidants that latch onto nasty damaging free radicals and neutralize them. Antioxidants are widely thought to slow down aging and preserve overall health. Good for your pet to have them and good for you too.

Fiber is Good For Your Pet

The final point we'll talk about with lentils as that they have a lot of fiber in them. This should help to regulate the bowel movement, and help to make your pet feel fuller. The fibers should also help to clean nasty toxins out of the system. If you are concerned about the fiber causing gas not to worry we haven't heard of many problems. The dog's digestive system is too short for this to be a problem most times. Plus the fiber feeds the friendly bacteria that help breakdown and digest food. Things that feed the friendly ones are called prebiotics and red lentils are definitely one of them.

With 85% Animal Orijen has so much animal protein in it that healthy levels of taurine are assured in it. Perhaps a lower grade of pet food would include lentils as a filler and have lower levels of taurine as a consequence, but this is absolutely NOT the case with Orijen. With all the Omegas in Orijen 6 Fish Dog food, it is extremely healthy for your dog. 

Recipe for a healthy pet right?

There are lots of other cool features about this food so check it out in our online store! It's also available for cats.  You can find the dog version of it here:

Orijen 6 Fish in our Online Store

https://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/orijen-six-fish-dry-dog-food-new?variant=35035660360

As usual this blog is not intended to constitute medical advice. Please consult with your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

Here are some other links about the benefits of lentils. Most are written with humans in mind but most benefits translate to dogs very well.

Antioxidants in lentils

https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20040617/antioxidants-found-unexpected-foods

Why eat lentils?

  https://www.openhand.org/blog/5-reasons-why-you-should-eat-lentils

One of the world's healthiest foods

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=52

Is your dog a puller? Tired of yanking on the collar? Well, thankfully there are great alternatives out there that reap work. Just some   of the go-to brands I like best are: Canine Friendly No-Pull harness, Premier Eco-harness, PetSafe harness & JWalker. These harnesses are designed to halt the pulling without having to be a bodybuilder 😊 Other great harnesses that work well if your dog is not a really bad puller include: Ezydog, RC Pets, Rogz, and more! One of our staff, Bobby, has kindly compiled a great list of the benefits of Ottawa's own JWalker below.....

Main Points:

-Box Stitches: high quality stiching, for a longer lasting harness!

-Designed locally by Jessica O'neil: Canine Behaviour Specialist.

-No Seem lines means no more chaffing your Furry friend's fur!

-Universal Clips allow for easy connection with the Jwalker training belt.

-One-clip design makes the Jwalker extremely easy to take on and off!

Looking for great deals on pet supplies? Look no further - we have amazing deals on pet supplies 50 - 90% off everyday! I've picked just a few to show you the kind of deals you can find online at www.naturalpetfoods.ca

1) Rogz Tango Paws Flat Podz over 60% off. I love this bed because it is dirt and water resistant and lasts forever!

2) Pet Loo over 60% off! These are great for small dogs in the winter, cats who have litterbox issues, or senior/ill pets, basically any apartment dweller.

3) Leash Lockets are 75% off! These are the best item you can invest in for anyone who walks their dog in an off-leash park.

4) B.F.F. Cat Cans are only 99 cents! What a smokin' good deal for the kitty cats!

5) Weruva Variety Pack of 24 dog cans are $49.99! That comes to just over $2 per can! It will keep your dogs interested with the wide array of flavours.

6) Pet Gear creates are over 60% off! Xsmall starts at $29.99 and mediums are only $49.99!

7) JW Slide 'n Treat Toys are 50% off and the treats that go along with them are only $1.99!

8) Safemade treat trays are 50% off. These great toys and treat trays meet the kid-safe standards!

9) Classic Flexi leashes are 50% off! I always have a flexi for my dog walks.

10) Rogz Sportskins and Rainskins are only $14.99 until stock runs out! These are amazing quality coats with a buckle.

You may be aware that there are so many options for pet food these days. One of these options you may not know much about is the dehydrated category of foods. Of these we have two that are the most popular: Urban Wolf and Honest Kitchen. Urban Wolf is made in Ontario, 🇨🇦 Canada. Their food requires very little effort; however you must purchase the meat or fish, as well as a fish oil. Next in the list is the Honest Kitchen which comes in a number of formulas and is made in the US. With this food there is no additional ingredients required. It really can't get any simpler. Add water and "Bob's your uncle!".

Another line of foods is the freeze dried category. You can again buy Canadian from Orijen freeze dried, or you can buy American with Stella and Chewy's or Primal. With any of these options you simply add water and voila!

The advantage to freeze dried or dehydrated is convenience and taste. It is great for owners who are travelling, if you are feeding raw it is a great alternative, and if you have finicky pets...freeze dried foods have better taste for senior, ill or pregnant animals.

Are you wondering what to get for your significant other? If they are a pet-lover you are set. Natural Pet Foods has a wide array of dog, cat and horse themed giftware.

Whether it is a mug for enjoying coffee in the morning or a beautiful cat-scarf you will find that purr'fect item in the gift lover section of the site!

If you visit their Carleton Place location, or browse online, you will find many great jewelry finds like Chelsea Pewter pins, necklaces, earrings and more! And if you are a collector of snap jewelry, they carry clutch bags, sunglasses, bracelets and earrings that you can personalize with cat, dog, horse or other pins. What a great way to "make" a unique and thoughtful gift for Valentine's Day!

They have a huge selection of artwork geared specifically at the dog, cat and horse lover. Whether you want a large piece for your living room, or some smaller pieces for the bathroom, they have a great selection of artwork, plaques, pillow slips and more to help decorate the home of any pet lover.

We all want our pets to live as long as possible. That is a goal we can take some positive steps towards. What those changes might be, will be different for everyone; however, there are many simple ones that you can easily implement. 

Number one for me, is feeding the most natural diet possible. Whether this is home cooking, raw diet, home-made pre-mixes, freeze-dried, or a natural kibble will be up to you and what fits best with your lifestyle and pet(s). You can also choose to do a mix of the above by feeding kibble as a base and supplementing this with fresh foods when time allows. The best diet will be the freshest, but you can also pick the best quality kibble available and expect great results. Many foods on the market now use free-range ingredients, fresh caught produce and helpful botanicals and other beneficial foods that help keep your pet healthy. 

Next in this list for me is selecting a holistic veterinarian who looks at the whole health of your pet. Ideally this veterinarian will titer test your pet rather then repeatedly vaccinating your pet. This should help keep their immune system healthy and prevent over-vaccinating. Your holistic veterinarian can also advise you on natural remedies and homeopathic treatments to combat/prevent many ailments.

The third most important plan for good health is of course keeping a healthy mouth. Easier said then done; I know; however, keeping good dental hygiene is one of those things that will help keep your pet alive longer. When you have multiple pets you may need to opt for a product that is sprinkled on the food, like Nature's Dentist or another similar product. If you have time to do better, you can also brush the teeth. This is the gold standard in keeping the teeth free of tarter. This can be done alternating with, or in combination with, a dental gel that can be applied at night after all feeding is complete. Remember, that poor dental hygiene effects the entire animal, including the organs and all the things you don't see....plus the breath will smell better!

Fourth on my list is weight control. I feed all my cats (7 in the house) free choice dry food. I don't have anyone overweight and I also feed 4 wet meals per day. This has worked well for me; however if you have an overweight cat you should switch your kibble to a calorie controlled or "light" or "reduced-calorie" formula. To help slow feeding you can now buy treat balls, puzzles and slow feeding bowls that will slow the feeding process down and hopefully trigger a foraging game for your cat. Something I've also heard lately is that wet food helps the cat feel full. I find this makes sense to me, and it also helps increase the water intake which is beneficial to all cats. For dogs, all of the same principles apply. Remember that simply cutting back on the kibble below the recommended portion is not advisable as you may be depriving your pet of vital nutrients. Instead I'd recommend the reduced calorie food at a regular dose until ideal weight is achieved. Regular exercise is going to go hand-in-hand with this diet. I also have three large dogs that I apply this feeding practice to, with free choice kibble, and at minimum toe fresh or canned meals per day. Out of three dogs, one is overweight; however he also suffers from hypothyroidism. Getting his weight to an ideal number has been something of a problem as we have small children in the house and he has become something of a thief 😔 But we all have to recognize the things we can fix, and some may be long-term battles for us.

These four principles of good health are the things highest on my list...along with plenty of playtime, and social interaction with other animals, and of course with "their people". Plenty of fresh air, mental engagement and healthy lifestyle will hopefully get you the longest time possible with your pet. Look at that dairy farmer in Australia I think it was, whose Kelpie lived to 30. And it was 30 "good" years where the dog was active and lived in relative good health the entire time. That is my wish for my pets, and for yours!