You've probably seen them on the shelves at your local veterinary hospital, or maybe your furry family member is currently eating one of these foods: so-called prescription diets that are formulated for pets with specific health conditions ranging from allergies to gastro-intestinal problems to kidney disease. Also known as therapeutic diets, you would think that these diets are high quality diets that are good for your pets, right?

You couldn't be further from the truth. The majority of these diets are very high in carbohydrates and contain wheat, corn and soy. They also generally contain a high amount of by-products.

Why are these diets recommended by veterinarians? Unfortunately, veterinarians receive very little training in nutrition, and what little they do receive is frequently sponsored by the very same companies who manufacture these diets. "99% of all veterinarians who 'prescribe' these diets truly feel that they are doing the best for their patients," says Dr. Lisa Pierson, the veterinarian behind Catinfo.org. "The companies that manufacture the 'alphabet' diets have done a wonderful job marketing their products to veterinarians, making it difficult to refrain from falling into the trap of using them."

Dr. Pierson argues that in many cases, due to their poor quality, these therapeutic diets can actually be detrimental to a cat's health. "In addition, they are simply not necessary in most cases and do not optimally address the problems they claim to treat," says Dr. Pierson. "Add to this the very high price tag on these diets and we have what I consider to be a very big 'black eye' for the profession."

I know it's not easy to contradict your veterinarian's recommendation, especially when it's a vet you trust on all other matters. I urge you to educate yourself about pet nutrition, and make an informed decision before agreeing to put your pet on one of these diets. A high-quality over-the-counter or a properly formulated homemade diet may be a better nutritional choice for your pet, and still address her specific health needs.

 Click here to read Dr. Pierson's complete article on Prescription and Therapeutic Diets. 

 Photo: istockphoto 

When I first heard about the Critterzone on Hauspanther, I was intrigued. Kate Benjamin calls the air purifier and odor eliminator a "game changer. " Kate has 12 cats of her own, and combating odors is something that she deals with on a daily basis, so I figured she knew what she was talking about. I wanted to learn more about this air cleaner, and contacted the company. When I received the two sample units they sent me, I couldn't believe my eyes: they're tiny!

The Critterzone Air Purifier is only 4.5 inches tall by 2.75 inches wide by 1.75 inches deep. The wall plug in unit protrudes about an inch from the wall in the back of the unit. The cord that comes with the corded unit protrudes less than .5 inch.

I have to admit, I was skeptical. How could something so small really do anything to reduce odors? I plugged the unit into an outlet in my kitchen after I had reheated some split pea soup, which has a pretty strong smell. I'm funny about cooking smells - I love them before and while I eat, but I want them gone as soon as I finish. I can't stand lingering odors. By the time I finished my bowl of soup, the kitchen no longer smelled like soup!

But I'm sure what you really want to know is how it works on pet odors. I tested the unit near one of our litter boxes. Ruby is a vertical pee-er, and before I got the NVR Miss, the only litter box I've been able to find with high enough sides to eliminate this problem, we had some accidents. Even though I had used numerous cleaners around the box (it sits on carpet), I'd still occasionally get a faint whiff of urine odor. I only had to run the unit there for 10 minutes, and the remaining faint odor was completely gone. I haven't smelled it since.

I can't really explain to you how the Critterzone works. According to the manufacturer, it produces a natural and safe ionic flow to give indoor air the energy it needs to restore itself. This process virtually eliminates pollutants in the air, on surfaces and even in fabrics, providing odor and germ control. The unit uses very little energy and cleans your air 24/7 for less than a penny a day.

The unit is said to eliminate spills, urine and odors from carpet, upholstery, mattresses and more. They say that it can virtually eliminate human or pet urine from fabrics within 30-60 minutes. It can be used on spilled milk, gasoline and other germ or odor concerns in your home, business or vehicle (it comes with a car adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter).

The best part: no filters, and you never have to clean anything, ever!

My only concern about the Critterzone was the issue of ozone. The unit emits a faint ozone smell when it is in operation, similar to what you would smell during a thunderstorm. Some air purifiers on the market are ozone generators, and there are safety concerns around the levels of ozone these machines generate. The FDA requires ozone output of indoor medical devices to be no more than 0.05 ppm. The Critterzone produces less than 0.01 PPM of ozone.

I absolutely love this unit. I've shied away from larger air cleaners because they require frequent disassembly and cleaning, as well as purchasing replacement filters, not to mention that they take up space. This small, efficient unit gets the job done!

At $89.95, this is a bit of an investment, but it will save you from having to buy bottles of odor eliminator, and remember that you will never have to buy replacement filters. And if you're not happy with your purchase, the company offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

Critterzone USA is offering a special $10 discount for Conscious Cat readers only. Simply enter code CONSCIOUSCAT at checkout.

For more information about Critterzone, and to purchase, please visit CritterzoneUSA.com.

Critterzone sent me two units for review. Receiving the complimentary units did not influence my review.