Author: ndcadmin

Social Distancing with your Pet

by ndcadminUncategorizedLeave a Comment on Social Distancing with your Pet

In the past couple of months, we have all been struggling with social distancing. School has been out and our children have been pushing our buttons a little too much. There’s an easy way to help simmer the frustration and that’s your pet. You have probably wondered how safe it is to take my dog on a walk? What about hiring a pet sitter or walker? In this blog, we’ll discuss the best tips and tricks for your pet during and after Covid- 19.

In some ways, the Covid-19 era has been golden for pets and pet parents, with more time than ever to nurture the special bond between us. Keeping them busy can be hard, that’s why there’s plenty of ways to help with that. Playing enrichment games such as snuffle mats or puzzle games, spending time in different rooms, say he’s in a room playing with his Nepal Dog Chew while you’re in another room reading a book. Or work on your crate training. To get my dog to like his crate as if it was a home, his safe space, I would place a freshly worn t-shirt in his crate for him to feel like I was close.

Base what you do with your pet on your old schedule. Think of things like doggy daycare, investing in a crate, how to get in at least a half a hour of exercise a day, and budgeting for new services like dog walkers or pet sitters. Chews may help your dog’s anxiety for giving them something to do for an extended period of time. These chews can help with mental and physical stimulating which helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread Covid-19 to people but there are precautions you can take if you or a family member has Covid-19. People with Covid-19 and in home isolation should be advised to restrict interaction with household animals, in addition to following other prevention measures to protect others from Covid-19.

What can I do to ensure the health and safety of myself and my pets during walking & sitting services?

Staying healthy is of utmost importance. We compiled some tips below to help keep everyone safe during stays and on walks. We encourage you to be up front with your sitter about your own safety preferences.

  • If you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has, please communicate that to your sitter prior to booking.
  • Prior to any service, do your best to ask questions virtually. Certain services offers several tools to help facilitate these conversations:
    • Exchange introductory information via messaging
    • Coordinate information about stays with your sitter to utilize video calling
    • Make a voice call
  • We encourage you to have conversations with your sitter about the measures you’re taking to protect yourself. Confirm that your safety precautions align with your sitter’s.
  • Check to see if your preferred sitter has noted any Covid-19 safety preferences in their profile.
  • We recommend that everyone in the community wash their hands frequently.
  • Keep your interactions short and try to maintain a 6-foot distance.
  • Wear a cloth face covering, as recommended by the CDC.
  • Sanitize your dog’s leash before handing it to your sitter and request that they do the same before giving it back.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily
  • Find health information specific to your state

Specifically, while a person with Covid-19 is symptomatic, they should maintain separation from household animals as they would with other household members, and avoid direct contact with pets, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, sleeping in the same location, and sharing food or bedding. If possible, a household member should be designated to care for pets in the home and should follow standard handwashing practices before and after interacting with the household animal. If a person with Covid-19 must care for pets or other animals, they should ensure they wash their hands before and after caring for them. Service animals should be permitted to remain with their handlers. Care for household animals that are sick or injured should be coordinated with the household’s local veterinarian. In order to ensure the veterinary clinic is prepared for the household animal, the owner should call ahead and arrange the hospital or clinic visit.

To try our chews: https://nepaldogchews.com/shop-now/

Interim Guidance https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/interim-guidance-managing-people-in-home-care-and-isolation-who-have-pets.html

For more CDC recommendations visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Dairy for Dogs

by ndcadminUncategorizedLeave a Comment on Dairy for Dogs

Picking the right food, chews, treats, toys, etc. is essential to our pet’s nutrition. That’s why it’s always important to look at the ingredient label to make sure there is little to no harmful additives. Nepal Dog Chews can help provide the best chews for your pup. When dogs get a hold of our chews, it’s hard to take them away. My dog loves them so much she even likes to bring her chew to bed with her.

Here’s the reason why, Nepal Dog Chews have very limited ingredients. Their chews are pasteurized, high in protein, low fat, gluten free, lactose free, no preservatives, no dinging agents, odorless, they dry and re-hardens after being chewed. All of those features are probably why Lily likes taking her chew to bed with her, they’re long lasting. It’s a great product for young pups who have teeth coming in.

Even though the chews have Cow’s milk, they’re lactose free. The difference is that lactose is an ingredient in milk that can be taken out by using a modern enzyme-based approach. Which can selectively break down the lactose without affecting the rest of the milk. Milk is one of the most nutritious foods you can find. Milk contains a lot of good stuff that dogs need in their diet, including protein, calcium, and vitamins A, D, and B12. It has been widely studied and seems to have several important health benefits. Some of the health benefits of milk are the vitamins and minerals that are contained in milk itself.

The following vitamins and minerals are found in particularly large amounts in milk:

  • Vitamin B12- Foods of animal origin are the only rich sources of this essential vitamin.
  • Calcium- Milk is not only one of the best dietary sources of calcium, but the calcium found in milk is also easily absorbed
  • Riboflavin- Dairy products are the biggest source of riboflavin — also known as vitamin B2
  • Phosphorus– Dairy products are a good source of phosphorus, a mineral that plays an essential role in many biological processes

Nepal Dog Chews are also pasteurized, another benefit of the chews. Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to destroy potentially harmful bacteria that are occasionally found in raw milk. While working from home, making dinner or simply lounging on the couch these chews are perfect for keeping your dog busy. All Nepal Dog Chews products are produced and shipped from FDA compliant facilities. You can purchase these long-lasting chews at Nepal Dog Chews

Reference: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/milk#benefits

People Food That Can Be Harmful to Pets

by ndcadminDog FoodLeave a Comment on People Food That Can Be Harmful to Pets

People and pets are different in many ways. What may be safe for you to eat may be toxic to your furry friend. Sometimes the effects of food toxicity in pets aren’t always obvious, which may lead you to think that certain foods are okay or safe for your pet. In reality, they are not!

While there are many fruits and veggies that are completely safe for your pet to consume and others that may only cause mild indigestion, in this blog post, I would like to review the most common foods that are NOT safe for pets!

This is not an exhaustive list, so remember to always look up a food item before giving it to your pet to ensure that it’s safe. If you’re in doubt, better to be cautious and not share the food with your pet to protect their health and prevent accidentally poisoning! We always want what’s best for our pet’s, I even treat my dog as if she’s my child! Let’s *dig* in to see what some people foods mind be causing your fur baby harm!

“Do Not Eat” List

 Alcohol

Under no circumstances should you give your pet any alcohol. Even just a small amount can cause vomiting, diarrhea, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma and even death. If you suspect that your pet has ingested alcohol, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.

Avocados

The skin, leaves, and pits of avocados have Persin, which is toxic to dogs and can cause diarrhea and vomiting. The flesh of the fruit doesn’t have much of this toxin, but it is still a lot for your dog’s system. Avocado is even more of a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses, sheep, goats, etc. Another concern is that the large seeds can become lodged in your pet’s stomach, esophagus or intestinal tract.

Bones

Bones from poultry and fish tend to be very brittle, especially after being cooked. If the bone splinters or breaks when chewed, it could get stuck in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract. Raw bones can also be very dangerous for domesticated animals, as they can choke on them.

Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine

These products contain methylxanthines, which are very dangerous to a pet’s health. When ingested by pets methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Citrus

The stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid, essential oils that can cause irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression if ingested in significant amounts. Small doses, such as eating the fruit, may only cause minor stomach upset.

Coconut and Coconut Oil

When ingested in small amounts, coconut and coconut-based products are not likely to cause serious harm to your pet. The flesh and milk of fresh coconuts contain oils that may cause stomach upset, loose stools or diarrhea. Coconut water is high in potassium and should not be given to your pet.

Milk and Dairy

However our dog chews though made from yak and/or cow milk are completely safe and are FDA registered.

Pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products can cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset if they consume it in large amounts. Be on the lookout for a future blog on this topic.

Grapes and Raisins

Dogs shouldn’t eat grapes or raisins as they are highly toxic and can lead to acute and sudden kidney failure. Even only a few grapes can be fatal for your dog.

Nuts

Nuts, including almonds, pecans, and walnuts, contain high amounts of oils and fats that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and even pancreatitis in pets. Macadamias are especially dangerous for pets. They can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

In all forms (powdered, raw, cooked, etc.) these foods can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if they consume enough of any of these foods.

Raw/Undercooked Meat & Eggs

Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to both pets and humans. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems.

Salt and Salty Snack Foods

Large amounts of salt can result in excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. Avoid feeding salt-heavy snacks like chips, pretzels, and salted popcorn to your pets.

Sugar

Just like in humans, sugary foods can lead to dental problems, diabetes and obesity.

Potatoes and Tomatoes

Contain oxalates which can cause abnormalities in your dog’s digestive tract, kidneys and nervous system. Green tomatoes are especially harmful.

Xylitol

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. Xylitol can cause insulin release, which can lead to liver failure, seizures and brain damage.

Yeast

Yeast, a common ingredient in bread dough, is dangerous for dogs. It can expand in their stomach and cause organs to tear or twist. Symptoms of yeast consumption include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach bloating. Some yeast dough also ferments, which can lead to alcohol toxicity.

“Supervise” List

The following items are not as harmful to pets, but should be well-supervised.

Asparagus

Asparagus isn’t toxic but, isn’t beneficial either. It’s best not to give it to your dog to eat raw because it is too hard and tough to chew. And, when cooked, it loses most of the nutrients.

Mushrooms

Store-bought mushrooms aren’t toxic or harmful to dogs, but they should still be avoided. 100 out of the 50,000 species of mushrooms are toxic to dogs, so just in case, it’s best to keep your dog away from all of them.

Unique “No’s”

While the list of toxic foods is standard for most pets, each pet is unique and may react differently to other foods.

In Case of Emergency

If you suspect your pet has eaten any of the toxic foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center as soon as possible.

Final Words

So next time your pet begs for people food, remember to make sure your leftovers or snacks are safe for your fur baby to eat! It’s important when picking out treats to give to your pet, to always look at the ingredient label.

Chews safe for your dog

Here at Nepal Dog Chews we make safe and healthy Himalayan Chew’s for dogs. They are pasteurized, high in protein, low fat, gluten free, lactose free, no preservatives, no binding agents, and odorless. Their products are 100% natural and are produced in a sterile climate-controlled environment with minimal human contact, which is extra important in these trying times. My dogs love to have them as an afternoon snack. I personally love them because it keeps when busy when I’m working at home. Support a small business and try their chews today: https://nepaldogchews.com/

Do you have a personal food “warning” story to share? Let me know in the comments section.