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How to Honor Your Pet on World Pet Memorial Day

Posted on by Above1 Support

World Pet Memorial Day is on June 9 and is a time for pet owners who have lost a beloved pet to remember, to honor, to celebrate and to reflect on the life of a departed pet.

Honoring Your Pet Online

Social media is one of the most popular ways to honor one’s pet on World Pet Memorial Day. Here are some things you can do.

  • Post a favorite picture or series of pictures of your pet on social media.
  • Consider making a photo album of your pet starting from the time he was small or from when your journey together began.
  • Share stories about your pet on social media or on your website. A favorite moment or experience is a great way to remember the love you shared with a pet who has passed.
  • Create a website for your pet. This is a place for you to share pictures, quotes, videos, and longer stories about your pet. Not only does creating a designated page for your pet give you more quality time reflecting on your life together but reading it also could help other pet owners who’ve lost pets.

To help others find your online tributes, make sure to use the hashtag #worldpetmemorialday, so other pet lovers and mourners can share in the joy your pet brought and in your shared grief. You can also create a unique hashtag for your pet.

Special Ways to Memorialize Your Pet

In addition to honoring your pet online, there are many special things you can do to create permanent reminders of your pet.

  • Print photos of your pet for you to hang on the walls of your home or to put on your desk at work. Seeing the image on a regular basis will bring back fond memories of the happy times you and your pet had together.
  • Get crafty be creating a memorial stone for your garden or walkway. The stone could be painted or could have your pet’s name or image carved into it. Every time you see the stone, you’ll have a beautiful reminder of your pet.
  • Plant a bush, flower, or tree in honor of your pet. Just as your pet had a positive impact on your life, so will a plant on the environment.
  • Make a donation to a cause that your pet led to you. This could be a variety of things from donating to the shelter where you got your pet to donating to a research center that cures pets of ailments your pet may have suffered from. You can also consider volunteering or donating to the park where you used to take your pet.

Taking Time to Remember Your Pet

Whatever you decide to do on World Pet Memorial Day, remember to take time. No matter how much time has passed since you lost your pet, you still have strong feelings that you deserve to take time to feel. Take a walk where you used to walk your pet or sit on a park bench where you used to watch your pet play and think about those special times. Reflect on the wonderful moments that you had and help yourself find peace in knowing how much you and your pet brought to one another’s lives.

When you lose a pet, take care of yourself and allow yourself to grieve and honor your dearly departed loved one. Wellness Pet Food believes in the best physical, mental and emotional health for pets and pet owners. For those who have lost pets, we are sorry for your loss.

America’s Most Pet Friendly Companies of 2018

Posted on by Above1 Support

Our second annual list of pet-friendly companies—created in celebration of Take Your Dog to Work Day®—includes breweries, dating services and more!

While we celebrate the event each year at our Tewksbury, MA offices—complete with dog grooming and massages, a biscuit bar, raffles, a jumpy house, K9 officer demo and more—we wanted to roll out the red carpet for other companies with a similar passion for pets.

America’s Most Pet Friendly Companies of 2018 include:

1. Tito’s Handmade Vodka (Austin, TX)

In addition to allowing dogs in the office each day, Tito’s goes above and beyond for pets in need. During the early years of the company, Tito’s Handmade Vodka took in abandoned animals that wandered around its distillery. As the company grew, so did its desire to help the community with the launch of its Vodka For Dog People program. The program works alongside animal charities to help save the lives of hundreds of animals.

2. Petcube (San Francisco, CA)

Not only is its office pet-friendly, many of Petcube’s events and corporate functions are as well! Employees enjoy perks like dog walking and pet sitting, pet insurance, on-demand vet consultations and more through their Petcube Care membership program. Best of all, employees get early access to cutting-edge pet technology products and services that the company is developing. 

3. Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA)

Harpoon Brewery’s CEO, Dan Kenary, is a dog lover who decided to bring that passion to the workplace by allowing dogs in their office every day. Many employees’ dogs frequently visit the Boston and Windsor (NH) Breweries as well.

4. BISSELL Homecare (Grand Rapid, MI)

Bissell knows that allowing pets in a workplace can reduce stress and lift spirits, and its annual employee survey indicates that being able to bring their pets to work is a top reason why employees love working there. Their office has Pet Spot, an area designed specifically for pets with dog treats, water bowls, doggy cleanup kits, walking paths as well as occasional special treats, like doggy ice cream. Bissell also infuses its love for pets into its BISSELL Pet Foundation that offers various fun pet-focused products.

5. Glassdoor (Mill Valley, CA)

Glassdoor has nearly 30 dogs in its headquarters every day. Knowing that a dog-friendly space allows employees to bring their whole selves to work, the company has had a dog-friendly workplace since 2013 and works to help jobseekers find pet friendly workplaces through its website. The office also has designated areas for those who have allergies to keep everyone safe and comfortable. 

6. Zoosk (San Francisco, CA)

While the online dating service helps men and women find relationships, Zoosk understands the importance of the relationship between pet parents and their fluffy friends. It welcomes dogs on a daily basis and recognizes a pup per month with a special award. Zoosk thinks the best way for employees to alleviate a “ruff” day is to take a break and play fetch with one of the many Zoosk doggies on staff.

7. Zogics (Lenox, MA)

As one of the country’s largest suppliers to the health and fitness market, Zogics cares as much about their pets’ health as it does humans! Headquartered in the Berkshires surrounded by acres of outdoor space and 15 miles of dog-friendly trails, a day at its office is pooch paradise. Its “Pawternity” policy gives new pet parents an extra week of PTO, a pet store gift card, and a lifetime supply of Zogics Pet Shampoo. Their pets are also an integral part of their work—which includes an internal Slack channel devoted to pets. 

8. O.H.S.O. Brewery, Distillery and Restaurant (Phoenix, AZ)

All of its brewery locations have dog-friendly patios and walls filled with images of guest and employees’ dogs. It also offers complimentary homemade dog treats, a burger for dogs, and “barking bars” with taps that pour water for doggy water bowls. The company also hosts monthly giveback nights where 20 percent of sales go to local animal shelters and adoption events.

9. Fueled (New York, NY)

To make the office as comfortable as possible and add an irreplaceable sense of warmth and joy to its work environment that only pups can bring, Fueled allows dogs in its office every day. It even has a company dog mascot that has worked alongside employees for years, a Brussels Griffon named Frasier. Employees can’t imagine their office without him! 

10. TerraCycle (Trenton, NJ)

TerraCycle welcomes dogs in its office, with designated conference rooms and outdoor spaces for the office pups. The innovative recycling company is also committed to sustainability in the pet industry, supporting recycling efforts of empty packaging to help minimize the footprint the pet industry leaves behind. In 2015, Wellness Natural Pet Food became the first US-based pet food brand to partner with TerraCycle to provide consumers a free method for recycling their pet food packaging. Consumers can sign up to recycle their Wellness packaging here.

Here, beagle, Harley, gets a free grooming session during Wellness Natural Pet Food’s 2017 annual Take Your Dog to Work Day® celebration.

 

 

Maintaining Health in Your Senior Pet

Posted on by Above1 Support
Senior Pet

While it might feel like those playful kitten and puppy years will last forever, most cats and dogs are considered seniors by the time they are six and seven years old. The senior years are when health problems can start. By being aware of what they are and how to maintain health in your senior pet, you can keep your senior pet feeling, looking, and acting young and spry for years to come.

Preventative Healthcare for Senior Pets

When it comes to pet health care, being proactive is one of the best things you can do.

Proactive health care includes:

  • Regular vet visits – Don’t miss those annual wellness checks; your vet is trained to catch early signs of health problems and to make recommendations regarding the best diet and dietary supplements for your pet’s breed, condition, and age.
  • Monitoring your pet’s hygiene – As your pet ages, you will not only want to help with regular hygiene, which includes bathing and brushing, teeth brushing, ear cleanings, gum inspections, eye inspection, parasite checks, and the like, but you will also want to inspect your pet for signs of trouble, for lumps, for dry skin, for missing teeth, etc.

pet grooming

  • Daily exercise – A plethora of health problems set in when animals become sedentary. As a pet naturally ages and as his health naturally declines, exercise can become more of a challenge. By never ceasing a fitness regimen, it can be easier to maintain physical health in an aging or senior pet.
  • Adopt a healthy diet – Internal problems with your pet’s organs and systems can start as a result of poor diet. If your pet is consuming foods with a lot of foreign ingredients, make the switch to a natural pet food with ingredients scientifically proven to support bone and joint health, for building lean muscles, for being rich in healthy fats, and for promoting liver, digestive, and other systematic health.

When you do see your vet, inquire about supplementing your pet’s diet with supplements or with fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin, etc., which can help support your pet’s mobility. You can also ask if your vet recommends changing your pet’s food to something that is specially formulated for aging pets.

Things to Monitor in Aging Pets

As your pet ages, she will naturally slow down a little; however, there are many signs of issues beyond advanced age. As the years tick by, monitor your pet for the following changes or conditions.

  • Dramatic weight changes – Senior pets can gain or lose too much weight; dramatic changes in either direction are indicative of a problem. Such problems could be dietary, exercise related, or symptomatic of an illness.
  • Mental health issues – Like people, pets can get senile as they age. This is particularly true of pets that are under-stimulated.  Signs include wandering, repetitive behavior, signs of anxiety, confusion, disorientation, irritability, aggression, bathroom accidents, and antisocial tendencies to name a few.
  • Changes in habits and behaviors – Kidney, urinary tract, and heart disease are evident by changes in your pet’s behaviors. Such changes include increased or decreased urination, coughing, trouble breathing, poor or increased appetite, poor or increased thirst, poor hair / coat, vomiting, and weakness. 

Should any of these signs present, you should document them. Write down what the activity is (and record it on your smartphone if possible), when it occurs, how long the behavior lasts, and how frequently it occurs. Then, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. The sooner you have a plan of action, the better your pet’s outcomes will be.

Caring for Your Senior Pet

In addition to making provisions for monitoring your pet’s health as he ages, you also want to make sure that you are being emotionally supportive of your pet. Just because your pet isn’t as active as he used to be, make sure you still spend time with him, play with him, throw a ball with him, and show him love and affection. This will help your pet feel motivated and happy, and it will help you maintain your pet’s health and wellbeing as he ages.older dog

Cats and dogs deserve to live long, healthy lives. By learning how to proactively feed and care for senior pets, you can ensure you pet is around and is healthy for many years to come. That is why Wellness Pet Food has created several different all-natural cat and dog food formulas for pets of varying ages.

 

From an Idea to Your Pantry: How Wellness Creates New Products

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How Wellness Natural Pet Food Creates New Products

Wellness is known for having over 100 years of experience creating the best food for the pets that depend on us. While we’ve perfected our nutritional approach to natural foods with superior ingredients and unwavering attention to quality, we also have a full-time Innovation team dedicated to bringing Wellness fans the latest and greatest food and snack options for their pets.

Get ready for an inside look at how our Innovation Team takes a new product from ideation all the way to the final, delicious product you see on shelf!

How We Create New Products:

Step 1: Inspiration

Inspiration comes from many places. We’re constantly thinking of new recipes, forms, flavors and varieties to offer our furry friends.

What inspires us?

You! We have a dedicated Consumer Affairs team who not only answers questions about our existing products, but receives your requests and suggestions for new products you’d love to see from us. 

Will you have a CORE RawRev puppy food? I really want to feed this but I can’t yet because my dog is only 10 weeks old. -Ashlie B.

Our own pets. Many of us are proud pawrents ourselves and we’re always looking to keep our pets happy, healthy and satisfied!

Our own diets. We practice healthy living ourselves and make sure we’re keeping up with any of the latest human food trends that may be able to be applied as a beneficial diet for dogs or cats.

Step 2: Ideation

From inspiration, we then move to ideation. What does the food ultimately look like? What food form should we deliver it in? What ingredients will best fit the recipe? What flavors should we offer?

Wellness CORE pet food designs

To help answer these questions and shape our new product concept, we utilize various sources of information. This includes consulting with our internal teams and external customers, conducting consumer research and analyzing industry data, to name a few.

Step 3: Formulating the Recipe:

Wellness recipe production

Once we have defined our vision of the new product, we then move on to recipe formulation. We work closely with our team of food scientists, nutritionists and veterinarians to ensure our desired recipe is not only delicious, but also nutritionally appropriate and beneficial for dogs or cats. Once we have worked our magic, the recipes are carefully evaluated for nutritional performance and digestibility (which is a fancy way of saying we want to make sure pets are absorbing all the great nutrients we put in the product).

Step 4: Bringing it to Life with Packaging

After the nutritional details are confirmed to be as awesome as we intended, our team works closely with designers to bring the product to life through its packaging. You might be surprised about how much time and thought goes into each element of the packaging, including the photography, words and iconography on the bag.

Wellness CORE Bowl Booster Mixers and Toppers

Packaging design is something we take very seriously because when you pick up the bag, we want you to be thoroughly informed about exactly what you’re getting when you purchase the final product, and how the product will nourish and benefit your dog or cat.

Step 5: Recipe Production & Quality Assurance

Once all the details are finalized, the artwork is sent off to be generated into final packaging and production of the new recipe can begin! That is where our quality assurance team steps in— to ensure everything from raw ingredient sourcing to final production is held to our high quality standards. You can read more about our Quality Assurance process here.

Wellness pet food formulation

We apply this process to all of our innovations, including the newest wave of products hitting store shelves now. This includes our line of tasty, TENDER or PURE Wellness CORE toppers, Bowl Boosters, and our new CORE RawRev Puppy and Healthy Weight formulas. And for our feline friends, NEW CORE RawRev for cats and new CORE 95% protein canned recipes.  

Have you tried any new Wellness recipes lately? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter by using the hashtags #wellnesspetfood and #wellnessCORE. We’d love to hear from you, and might even feature you on our website or social pages!

How to Plant a Pet Friendly Garden This Spring

Posted on by Above1 Support

TerraCycle is an innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste. Wellness Natural Pet Food is the first U.S.-based pet food brand to make its packaging nationally recyclable through a partnership with TerraCycle. So far, the partnership has resulted in 80,000 pet food bags diverted from landfills.

Raising a pet is a lot like growing a garden. They both require close attention, proper watering and feeding, and the care that comes with understanding their needs. But while they have their similarities, pets and gardens don’t always get along.

Pets around the world have been known to stomp on and relieve themselves in gardens. Sometimes, they’ll eat the plants in it, which not only destroys the space, but can make them sick. Before you resolve to keep the two separate, know that with a bit of help, pets and plants can live harmoniously in the same yard.

Here’s a short list of tips for the two-fold goal of raising a pet-friendly garden, along with a garden-friendly pet:

It all starts with training

 A well-trained pet is a good starting point for a peaceful plant garden. Especially if the garden is established as a no-go area, an obedient pet is much less likely to be destructive, and will listen to commands.

Build a border

Creating garden borders can help to keep your pet out. Simple solutions include a small wooden fence, pieces of driftwood, or chicken wire, depending on the pet and plants that need protecting. Another way is a natural border of large, sturdy plants at the garden’s exterior. Lining this border with a paw-friendly pathway (small cedar chips are great for this) gives your pet somewhere to walk near the plants without ruining them. With designated paths and a well-distinguished border, your pet may take it into their own paws to protect the garden!

Give your pet alternative solutions

This step can be hard for people with limited space in their yard. However, giving pets, especially dogs, established areas to relieve themselves, dig, run, enjoy shade and play can help to avoid your pet using your garden to do these things. A dog sandbox can give your dog exactly what it needs to fill its digging needs, while a marking post, like sculptural piece of driftwood, can serve as a place for dogs to mark their territory.

Plant pet-friendly plants

In case your faunal family member does get into the garden, make sure it is full of flora that is beneficial, not harmful. Your cat may like a catnip plant, and lavender is calming for people and dogs. Colorful petunias, marigolds and gerber daisies can co-exist with cats and canines, and parsley and carrots are great for dogs (and humans!) to eat. With summer coming, citronella wards off mosquitos, which can cause heartworms in pets. 

Avoid thorny and spiny plants, and be cautious about growing plants that are toxic to animals, such as tulips, daffodils and lilies. The ASPCA’s full list of plants to avoid can be found here.

Be a responsible pet parent

They say that pets look like their owners, and act like them, too. Responsible pet owners breed responsible pets. In order to reach this goal, it is important to take into account the needs of your pet and the environment in which it lives. Practice good habits with your pet every day, whether it’s feeding them on a consistent schedule, properly recycling their Wellness food packaging or taking the time to play with them. Feeding off your energy and respect for shared spaces will help your pet be calm, happy and able to live in concord with the plants you keep. 

What to Feed Your Pet if They Have Food Allergies

Posted on by Above1 Support

Animals, like people, can develop allergies to substances in their environment. When inhaled, consumed, or put in contact with an animal’s skin, such substances cause an allergic reaction. Food allergies can be difficult to detect; however, when detected, you should make appropriate adjustments to your pet’s diet. 

wellness dog food

Signs of Food Allergies in Pets

Because signs of allergies mimic signs of other ailments or could show up in conjunction with other ailments, they can be difficult to detect. Typically, dogs with food allergies will also exhibit these signs: 

  • Multiple ear infections
  • Itchy skin
  • Diarrhea and / or vomiting 

Additional general signs of allergies include:

  • Increased scratching
  • Runny eyes
  • Sneezing
  • Snoring due to throat inflammation
  • Swollen paws
  • Excessive licking 

Pets can develop food allergies at any age, so it is important to be aware of what an allergic reaction in pets might look like and that you aim to diagnose the cause of the allergy as soon as possible when signs of an allergy present.

freeze dried dog food

Diagnosing Food Allergies in Pets 

If you suspect your pet has a food allergy, you should take him to the vet. Your vet can conduct blood tests and can make recommendations for conducting an elimination diet to determine what food or foods is causing the problem. Common pet food allergens are added colors, flavors, and fillers as well as types of ingredients and multiple proteins. 

The Right Food for Pets with Allergies 

Typically, a limited-ingredient pet food with a single main ingredient will be the solution for resolving food-related pet allergies. Limited ingredient pet foods enable you to exercise complete control over what your pet consumes. Selecting pet foods made exclusively with all-natural ingredients, such as those created by Wellness Pet Food, gives you further peace of mind in knowing there are not added flavonoids, chemicals, or fillers, which can cause allergic reactions and other major health problems.

If your pet has allergies, CORE products feature recipes that accommodate their special dietary needs.

For dogs:

  • CORE Simply Shreds: CORE simply shreds mixer or toppers are 100% all-nature five-ingredient-or-less toppings or snacks that come in a variety of flavorful combinations like chicken, beef, & carrots; chicken, wild salmon, & pumpkin; or chicken, chicken liver, & broccoli to name a few. The recipes are 100% grain free and are potato free for sensitive dogs.
  • CORE 95%: These single-source protein meals are grain free and are an ideal choice for dogs with multi-protein or grain allergies. The combinations include: chicken with broccoli, turkey with spinach, and beef with carrots. These wet meals can be served as-is or paired with CORE Simply Shreds toppers for additional nutrients and flavor.
  • CORE 100% Freeze Dried Treats: CORE freeze dried treats are made exclusively from real meat. No wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives were used in these treats, perfect for dogs with allergies. The flavors include: turkey, beef, salmon, or boar. 

food allergies

For cats:

  • CORE Indoor Ocean: CORE Indoor Salmon & Herring is a grain-free dry food formula for cats that cannot tolerate protein. There are multiple CORE dry food combinations that support your cat’s digestive balance, lean muscle mass, hip and joint support, and skin and coat as well as her special allergy needs. Other combinations feature turkey and chicken or turkey and duck. There are several formulas for cats of all ages. 
  • CORE 95%: Like Wet CORE 95% for dogs, CORE 95% for cats features a 95% protein formula with limited ingredients and zero grains. The recipes come in single or double-source protein options and include: beef & chicken; chicken; chicken & salmon; & turkey.

cat food

By adopting a limited-ingredient diet for your pet, you can help manage their allergy symptoms and ensure a better overall quality of life as such diets often have additional health benefits that boost your pet’s energy levels and immune health while promoting longevity.

Since its inception, Wellness Pet Food’s mission has been to make pet foods that support lifelong health and wellness. Our limited ingredient CORE formulas are specially formulated with sensitive pets and pets with allergies in mind because they deserve long, happy, healthy lives, too. 

Becoming a First Time Pet Parent

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I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, and I knew that one of the first things I was going to do once I was on my own was get a puppy. However, the thought of having this overwhelming responsibility was definitely daunting, and I wasn’t sure if it was the right time to bring a puppy into my life. A few days later, Koda, a blue eyed Weimaraner came into my life, and our adventure began. 

The first thing I learned as a new pet parent was that there’s never going to be a “right” time to get your first dog, and that those first few months are something you’ll never regret or forget. There was a steep learning curve and I found myself scouring blogs just like the Live Well blog by Wellness Pet Food, trying to learn as much as I could about food, vaccines, exercise, and training so I could properly take care of my new best friend. 

I’ll be the first to admit, my situation is pretty unique. As a professional athlete, I’m home from practice by lunch time most days which allows Koda and I to explore every afternoon, and living in the Pacific Northwest caters to our need for adventure. In his first year Koda’s been to five national parks, visited six states, ran in the Pacific Ocean, camped atop several mountains, and has probably chewed over 1,000 sticks. My schedule also allowed me to spend a lot of time bonding with Koda right from the start. He’s well trained and we’re totally inseparable – which means he has a bit of separation anxiety whenever I leave him for work road trips. However, the rest of the time our close bond makes it great because I don’t have to worry about him during our adventures.

The second thing I learned is that some words are sacred – ball, stick, smell, snack, friends, etc. Dogs are smart and Koda knows when I say “friends” that he gets to go to the dog park to play. I’m sure most dog owners have their own list of words and they understand the struggle of not accidentally using those scared words.

I also learned that no matter how tiring and frustrating it can be having a puppy, your dog will love you unconditionally and that alone makes it all worth it. Koda has done more than his fair share of testing my patience in our first year together. Although he knows better, he still can’t resist getting into the garbage when he smells bacon, he’s eaten an entire roast right off the counter, and he even chewed up our blinds so that he can look outside. But even through all of that, he’s my best friend and I can’t picture my life without him by my side. 

If you’re trying to decide whether or not you should get a dog, my advice is to just do it. You won’t regret it for a second. Your new companion will be by your side through everything and love you unconditionally.

How to Get Involved with Your Local Animal Shelter

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Alicia is responsible for front office operations at WellPet, ensuring excellent customer service to visitors and employees, and is a corporate culture advocate. Here, she talks about her passion for volunteering at pet rescues and shares some helpful tips for those who are interested in helping animals but might not know where to start.

Why do I volunteer?

 Growing up, my family frequented the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA to make donations of treats and newspapers – with the added benefit of being able to cuddle the animals available for adoption.  For a place that provided me with such joy, it only made sense for me to give back to their shelter.  I now volunteer at 3 local shelters (MSPCA at Nevins Farm, Salem Animal Rescue League and Lowell Humane Society) that provide a welcoming environment to small and large animals alike while they are waiting to find their forever home.    

alicia with puppy

What I do:

I am part of the outreach teams at these three shelters and assist at on-site and community events.  Goals of the outreach teams are to educate the public about the shelters, raise much-needed funds, and to find homes for the animals.   It always brings me happiness to watch someone interact with an animal for the first time and to see them leave the shelter with a new family member. There tends to be a stigma that an animal at a shelter has something “wrong” with it, but there are many reasons why an animal is placed at a shelter including the owner’s financial issues, a change in family dynamics, or a move that doesn’t allow pets.

alicia with goat

How do you get involved?

Most shelters are actively looking for volunteers! Help is always needed for a wide-range of tasks. From doing laundry to caring for barn animals – the shelter teams are willing to invest the time in properly training volunteers at any skill level.  Volunteers usually go through an application background check, attend orientation and then begin training from a mentor at the facility. There’s generally an age requirement for certain tasks, but most shelters will welcome any assistance you can provide. One misconception is that you need abundant free time to volunteer – but shelters are generally willing to work with your schedule and availability to find a fit that works for you. Many shelters offer children’s programming as an introduction of how to care for the animals and fundraising opportunities.

WellPet works closely with many animal rescue and shelters throughout the United States. We encourage you to reach out to your local facilities that are looking for volunteers. 

Get to Know Wellness Natural Pet Food Veterinarian, Dr. Danielle Bernal

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We’re excited to formally introduce you to Wellness Natural Pet Food veterinarian, Dr. Danielle Bernal. Dr. Danielle travels across the United States and other countries where Wellness is sold. In each place she visits, she educates pet parents on the role that premium, natural nutrition plays in pets’ health and longevity.

We were able to catch up with Dr. Danielle for an interview. Keep reading to get to know Dr. Danielle:

Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in Sydney, Australia on a hobby farm with a backyard full of pets. Having always wanted to be a veterinarian, I completed my Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Sydney before working at an equine and small animal clinic. I absolutely adored the life of a veterinarian. Each day was different with unique challenges. Whilst it could be exhausting, it was also so very rewarding.

My role at WellPet is to educate our customers, consumers and internal sales and marketing teams about the importance of natural pet nutrition and how our WellPet brands are crafted to support the optimal health and wellbeing of dogs and cats around the world. When I am not helping WellPet customers choose the best products for their pets, I am often found on the sidelines of my 3 young boys’ sporting activities be that surfing, track and field, swimming or football. And my husband and I adore travelling, triathlons and taking our Border Collie Megs down to the dog park at the beach.

Q. What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

I adored animals growing up and would spend every waking minute down the back of the farm either teaching my dogs new tricks or preparing my horses for our next competition. A life with animals meant there was usually a veterinarian on our property. Whether it was for my horse who decided to go through the three rails of our wooden paddock fence in the middle of the night, or to check in on our newborn calf, these vets were my inspiration. I would ride along with them any chance I could get and saw how a passion could become a fabulous career. I knew this was what I wanted to pursue for myself.

Q. How do you personally see nutrition play a role in overall health and longevity of pets?

Nutrition is so fundamental to overall health. A pet’s genetics and the environment are key contributors to their health and wellbeing, but when we combine great care with top nutrition, the benefits for a dog or cat are significant.

Studies have shown that nutrition can help increase a pet’s lifespan by up to 25%. But moreover, pet parents often remark that their pet’s quality of life is better since transitioning to a premium, natural brand. The improvement in quality of life is evidenced in many ways, whether it’s with more energy and enthusiasm, ideal body condition, a soft, shiny coat or better digestion.

Pets are a key part of our family and giving them the best nutrition is a way of making sure they are healthy and happier for longer.

Q. How can pet parents work more closely with their veterinarians to ensure pets are getting the best nutrition for their needs?

Your local veterinarian is the perfect partner for helping advise you on the best nutrition for your dog or cat.  As part of an annual check-up, your veterinarian will assess your pet’s general health, weight, mobility, teeth and review issues they are experiencing. With this background, your vet can recommend the right recipe to either help support health issues or ensure that a pet in great health stays that way.

Q. What’s one of the most common questions you get from pet parents?

The number one question by far is, “Am I feeding the best option for my pet?” There are so many brands available today and pet parents can easily be confused, but we always want to feed the best we can. That’s why teaching pet parents about pet nutrition and helping them choose a diet is an important part of my role.

Q. Can you share a wacky or especially memorable story of a pet that came to see you?

Clinic life was often wacky! One morning I came into work to find a large, wild, western grey kangaroo sitting on the consult table with a broken leg. Over the next few weeks he fast became the clinic’s favourite patient. Another day, an adorable 5-year-old brought in her goldfish because one of his fins was longer than the other. But one of my favorites was caring for the most adorable Jack Russell who had a very unfortunate encounter with a dog far larger than him. Poor Ted needed three surgeries over the next few months, and it was truly that little fellas heart of gold that got him through the toughest time of his life and brought him back to his old self!

Q. What are some of the differences between pet parents and pets in Australia vs. in the United States?

Not much at all. One of the privileges of my role is that I get to travel all around the world talking with pet parents. All of them have the same love and desire to give their dog or cat the best. They have the same health concerns, from dental issues to skin sensitivities.

The cat parents all remark on how fussy their cats are and how they’ll only eat a certain flavor. And globally, dog parents are choosing smaller breeds with an increasing number of millennials becoming pet parents.

Q. What do you like most about working at Wellness Natural Pet Food?

Pet passionate colleagues. There will be challenges sometimes, but when you have the best colleagues to work with who are all dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats, it makes our workplace so enjoyable and means that I can truly say, I love what I do.

What is AAFCO?

Posted on by Above1 Support

At Wellness, we hold ourselves to the strictest quality standards when it comes to sourcing our ingredients, manufacturing our foods and labeling or our products. As we strive to exceed the expectations of the industry and craft the best natural food for our pets, we look to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) to guide our decision-making when it comes to formulating and labeling our products.

What is AAFCO?

AAFCO is a non-profit association of local, state, federal and international regulators whose primary goal is to ensure the health of our pets through nutritional standards and non-misleading labeling of pet food. AAFCO advises pet food manufacturers and state legislators on the appropriate nutritional values needed to support animals at different life stages (ex. growth, gestation/lactation, adulthood) and how to present nutritional information on product labels.

As an advisory association, AAFCO does not actively regulate pet food products. Instead, regulation is the responsibility of individual states. As a trusted source in the industry, AAFCO guidelines are followed by pet food manufacturers and adopted as regulation in most states.

AAFCO consistently revises their guidelines based on the latest research in pet nutrition to best support the health and wellbeing of our pets.  Recently, AAFCO made the following changes to their dog food guidelines.

In addition to formulating our recipes with our strict standards, we have updated our products to ensure they are all AAFCO compliant:

  • Optimal Calcium Level has been defined for Large Breed Puppies (puppies who will be 70lbs+ as an adult). AAFCO now recommends including on the label, with nutritional information, whether the product meets the levels of calcium recommended for the growth of large breed puppies.
  • The recommended daily amount of Vitamin D has been reduced. AAFCO has recommended that any dog foods that exceed this amount be reformulated to meet the new standard.
  • DHA is now recognized as an essential nutrient for the growth of puppies, so any product that is formulated for puppies should include DHA and report the DHA level in the 보장된 분석 on the product label.
  • Recommended daily calorie intake has been refined. 
  • AAFCO recommends that nutritional information indicates for what life stage(s) the food is intended (growth, maintenance (adulthood), or gestation/lactation). You are now required to specify if your product includes or excludes the growth of large size dogs.
  • Calorie Content is now required on all forms of pet food – previously it was not required for mixers, toppers and treats.
     

 

 

wellness CORE pet food

AAFCO guidelines as a whole help define which pet foods are “complete & balanced” versus “intended for supplemental feeding only”. “Complete & Balanced” products are those that meet all of the daily calorie and nutrient requirements of your pet and can therefore be fed alone without concern for nutrient deficiencies. Foods that are “intended for supplemental feeding only” – such as treats and toppers – do not contain all of the nutrients that your pet needs for optimal health and therefore must be fed along with other foods to ensure your pet gets all of the calories and nutrients that they need.

To learn more about impacted Wellness wet dog products, click here.

Do you have any questions about AAFCO or a product you’re currently feeding? We’d be happy to talk. You can reach one of our knowledgeable Consumer Affairs team members Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm ET at 800.225.0904 or email us at info@wellpet.com

About This Page

Topic:

Diet 건강 관리 및 맞춤 영양 식단

Date:

26/04/2018

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