Tail Blazers
Summer 2011
Greetings!

Brent and Skylla
Brent and Skylla
I hope you are enjoying your summer so far! Remember to keep your pets well hydrated and safe from excessive heat and if you are out of town for a vacation and need pet supplies stop by at one of our locations in Kelowna, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Sherwood Park, Edmonton or Calgary!


Wishing you a safe and fun summer,

 

Brent Hauberg,
Founder and President of Tail Blazers

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 NEW - WELLNESS CAT CANS - Cubed, Sliced or Minced!

Wellness CansAvailable in 12 tasty varieties, new CUBED, SLICED and MINCED canned cat food recipes from Wellness are the perfect way to treat your cat to the variety he's been waiting for. For each delicious recipe, succulent cuts of wholesome, all natural protein sources are paired with delightfully savory sauces that are sure to please the palate of your furry friend.

Available in a convenient 3 oz. serving size, each recipe is grain-free and, like all Wellness products, does not contain any wheat, wheat gluten, soy or added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. For those cats that are in need of a single protein source diet, poultry-free and fish-free varieties are available.

Explore all of the flavorsome choices today: chicken, turkey, turkey/salmon, salmon, and tuna.

Source:www.wellnesspetfood.com

 -please contact your local Tail Blazers for availability, as not all stores carry the same products. 


 NEW ARUSHA Essentials
Arusha Pet Food
Arusha is an Alberta based raw pet food company, which uses huma
n-grade, free run/range meats. The most recent addition to their product line is the "Essentials" patties for dogs. This means the basics are in there: meat, bone, veggies and organs, you just have to add supplements! Because you add your own supplements, Arusha Essentials are a more economic choice than Arusha Dinners. Patties are 1/2 lb each.

For supplements, consider adding kelp, omega 3 fatty acids (eg: fish oil) or a whole food supplement such as Missing Link or Whole Food Fortifier.

Arusha Essentials Chicken & Vegetable:

 Chicken backs*, whole chicken with bone*, chicken*, chicken liver*, carrots, celery, cabbage.   
* Non Medicated, Free Run.

 
Arusha Essentials Turkey & Vegetable:

Turkey backs*, turkey*, turkey drumsticks*, turkey wings*, turkey liver*, carrots,  celery, cabbage. 
* Non Medicated, Free Run.

 
The pieces of poultry are proportioned to approximate the meat to bone ratio found in whole mature bird. Vegetables are pureed and make up 25% of the formula. Raw diets are species-appropriate and improve overall health and longevity!     

 -please contact your local Tail Blazers for availability, as not all stores carry the same products.


Anal Gland Problems in Dogs


Reprinted with permission by www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com


Dogs have a pair of small scent glands on either side of the anus, just under the tail. These glands have pheromone-rich secretions which are a part of dog communication and territory marking. Inside the glands is a foul, musky smelling substance.

 

The anal glands normally exert some of this brown substance when dogs have bowel movements. When the glands do not empty on a regular basis, abscesses or impactions can occur. Dogs with anal gland issues can be seen 'scooting' on their rears, or licking the affected area and the anal area will appear red and swollen.

 

Joey

Joey from Tail Blazers 14th Street NW in Calgary 

There are a few causes of anal gland issues, the most common being improper diet. The glands do not empty easily if the diet produces soft stools. Many veterinarians will recommend a high fiber diet to attempt to firm up the soft stools that commercial dog foods can create but a diet that includes bone content will do a much more thorough job.

 

Raw feeders are proud 'poop experts' and one type of poop they recognize is 'bone poops'. When dogs consume a meal that is relatively high in bone content, such as chicken backs or beef ribs, the result is a small but hard stool. The hardness of this type of stool is very effective at pushing against the anal glands during elimination, causing regular emptying of the gland contents.  

Allergies may also be a cause of anal gland issues. If your dog suffers from allergies, a consult with a natural pet practitioner to help reduce the symptoms and the anal gland issues may resolve by treating the allergies.

 

Supplementing with fish oil or other oils high in Omega 3 will help to reduce itching and inflammation. 

Regular exercise will also help your dog by strengthening the rectal and abdominal muscles, allowing them to put more pressure on the anal glands. It also gives your dog the opportunity to relieve himself more often.

 

If anal gland problems are allowed to get out of hand, infection can occur. Monitor your dog for signs of irritation and make sure his diet is suitable and produces firm stools and you can prevent expensive and painful issues for your dog.

 

 

For full article go to: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/anal-gland-problems/

Changes in Behavior Can Signal an Illness in Your Cat

   

Your kitty might seem perfectly healthy to you when she's anything but. Cats are stoic creatures, even when they don't feel well. It can be quite difficult to detect illness in your kitty. She's covered in fur so it's hard to tell if her skin has pallor. She doesn't have a wide range of facial expressions, so you won't see her grimace. And she doesn't speak your language, so she can't tell you where it hurts.

One of the first signs your cat is ill is often a change in behavior you may not even notice -- especially if she's the shy, retiring type. That's why it's important to pay special attention to your kitty and take note of anything she does out of the ordinary.      

Changes in behavior might include the following:

  • If your normally affectionate cat suddenly becomes stand-offish and doesn't seem to want you to pet her, it could be a sign she isn't feeling up to snuff.   
  • If your kitty starts doing something new or performs a routine more frequently, take note.   
  • If you find her trying to drink from a faucet or a toilet and she's never done that before, she's thirstier than normal. Increased thirst is a symptom of a number of feline disorders including diabetes and kidney problems.   
  • If she seems to be scratching or rubbing her ears a lot, or shaking her head as though she's trying to clear it, there could be an underlying problem. It could be an ear infection or allergies. It could also be a problem in your kitty's mouth.   
  • Cats with poor dental health or gum disease often display a range of behaviors -- from head shaking to sneezing and coughing - that seemingly have nothing to do with the condition of their mouth. 
  • If your cat stops her grooming ritual you might not notice right away, but this is also a sign of an underlying problem - and a fairly serious one since grooming is such an instinctive behavior for felines. If you haven't noticed she's stopped grooming, the first thing that will catch your eye will probably be the condition of her coat. Cats that aren't grooming will eventually have dull, dirty or greasy-looking fur. 
  • If your normally quiet kitty starts to hypervocalize -- or if your chatty cat turns quiet, you should take note. Some cats are just more vocal than others, but a noticeable change in the level of noise your kitty makes could be a sign something's going on with her health.

There's no need to panic each time your quirky kitty does something unexpected. Just keep a close eye on any changes you notice in her behavior and if they continue or get worse, consult your veterinarian.

 

Source: Changes in Behavior Can Signal An Illness in Your Cat
(by Dr Karen Becker http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/06/09/your-cats-behaviors-as-a-radar-of-his-health_2620_.aspx


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