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	<title>Healthy Pet Products and Tips &#187; Featured Articles</title>
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		<title>Choosing the Best Dog Food</title>
		<link>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/choosing-the-best-dog-food/</link>
		<comments>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/choosing-the-best-dog-food/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:30:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthypetbasics.com/?p=86</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Selecting the best dog food for your pet is crucial to its health. Before selecting a certain food, it is important that you know as much about your pet as possible to ensure that you make the smartest and healthiest choice. No matter what type of dog you have, nutrition is equally important for all.
Your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-87" title="choosing the best dog food" src="http://www.healthypetbasics.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/best-dog-food-185x300.jpg" alt="choosing the best dog food" width="185" height="300" />Selecting the best dog food for your pet is crucial to its health. Before selecting a certain food, it is important that you know as much about your pet as possible to ensure that you make the smartest and healthiest choice.<span id="more-86"></span> No matter what type of dog you have, nutrition is equally important for all.</p>
<p>Your pet needs nutrients for their coat, eyes, skin, and bodily functions. Nutrients are very crucial for digestive, eye, and brain health as well. You might think that just any food will do, but that is not always the case. There are quite a few manufacturers out there who sell poor quality dog food, and that is definitely not what you want for your pet.</p>
<p>Did you know that purchasing &#8220;cheap&#8221; dog food will end up costing you more money in the end? When your dog isn&#8217;t getting his nutrients, he is going to become hungrier than usual. Pets that are not properly fed also have a tendency toward disobedient behavior. Everyone knows how their dog can misbehave when he is craving attention. Having the ability to distinguish the difference between wanting attention and wanting nutrient-rich food isn&#8217;t difficult. All you have to do is examine the food that you are already feeding your pet.</p>
<p>It helps to compare when searching for the best dog food. Take a look at what they are eating on a daily basis and compare it to some of the more expensive brands. It might seem crazy, but usually, the more a dog food costs the healthier it is. You can have faith that there is a good reason for the additional dollar or two that you might have to pay. In the long run, you&#8217;re going to save hundreds &#8211; even thousands of dollars in possible medical bills. Feeding your dog what he needs will give him everything it takes to become a healthy pet.</p>
<p>A good idea would be to experiment when attempting to find the best dog food for your pet. Pay attention to how he acts after eating certain foods. Keep a small notebook and chart his behavior for a week at a time with various foods. A dog is literally like a family member once they have been adopted. Wanting all the same things for them as you do for yourself and others is only natural.</p>
<p>Keep note of the foods that your dog seemed the most satisfied with. The best dog food for your pet will leave him satisfied after only consuming a minimal amount. After eating, he won&#8217;t seem bloated, won&#8217;t be gassy, and won&#8217;t be hungry for something different. You might even want to opt for an all-natural dog food to spare him all of the extra additives and preservatives.</p>
<p>A quality dog food will help your pet to build strong immune system, help them to maintain strong bones, teeth, and muscles. Chances are that they will also live a longer life. The same rules that apply to humans apply to pets in relation to health. It all comes down to choosing the best foods with the most nutrients. When you go out to choose your best dog food, don&#8217;t think in terms of price or quantity, but nutrition and quality.</p>
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		<title>Can Stress Affect Your Pet&#8217;s Health?</title>
		<link>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/can-stress-affect-your-pets-health/</link>
		<comments>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/can-stress-affect-your-pets-health/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:01:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chewing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet Care Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthypetbasics.com/?p=22</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Does your dog get stressed whenever you leave the house?  Are you unsure of what you&#8217;ll walk into after having left your home?
Having a new pet is an enjoyable experience, but when your pet experiences anxiety when you leave, it may causes stressful behavior for both you and your pet.
Stress and anxiety can be just as harmful to your pet&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Does your dog get stressed whenever you leave the house?  Are you unsure of what you&#8217;ll walk into after having left your home?</p>
<p>Having a new pet is an enjoyable experience, but when your pet experiences anxiety when you leave, it may causes stressful behavior for both you and your pet.<span id="more-22"></span></p>
<p>Stress and anxiety can be just as harmful to your pet&#8217;s health as it is to human health.  Animal behavior problems are common and one of the biggest reasons that people give up their animals.</p>
<p>By treating behavior problems you can enhance the relationship between you and your pet and prevent any adverse damage to your home or you pet&#8217;s health.</p>
<p>The best way to keep your pet healthy is to help him adjust to your leaving the house.</p>
<p>One way is to give your pet a lot of attention, but also get him used to being alone, even when you&#8217;re at home.  Getting him used to your absence should be done gradually so it doesn&#8217;t create a traumatic experience.</p>
<p>Leave your pet in a separate room several times every day when you are home.  Next, leave your home for five minutes, then fifteen, and progressively longer until he is comfortable enough to be left alone for several hours.</p>
<p>Positive association is another way to prevent anxiety when you leave home.  This can be done by providing him with different toys when you are home so he doesn&#8217;t associate the toys with you going out and leaving him.</p>
<p>Another strategy is to give him a favorite snack or bone he can occupy himself with.  These are two pleasant activities your dog will associate with your leaving that will relieve him of feelings of fear and anxiety.</p>
<p>Another way of easing your dog&#8217;s distress is by giving him enough exercise, especially before you leave the house.  Taking him out for a run or brisk walk will relax and tire him.  When you get home, he&#8217;ll be ready to take a long nap while you are gone.</p>
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		<title>Exotic Pet Health &#8211; Reptiles</title>
		<link>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/exotic-pet-health-reptiles/</link>
		<comments>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/exotic-pet-health-reptiles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:33:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lizards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet Care Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reptiles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthypetbasics.com/?p=12</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the increasing popularity of owning reptiles as household pets, an estimated 3% of households in the United States currently own at least one reptile.
Unfortunately, many new reptile owners have problems with reptile health, the most common being malnutrition due to both a poor diet and an inadequate environment.
Most of the health problems in exotic [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the increasing popularity of owning reptiles as household pets, an estimated 3% of households in the United States currently own at least one reptile.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many new reptile owners have problems with reptile health, the most common being malnutrition due to both a poor diet and an inadequate environment.<span id="more-12"></span></p>
<p>Most of the health problems in exotic pets stem from a lack of knowledge on the owners part about their specific needs. The most important thing you can do to provide your reptile with a long and healthy life is to research their needs.  The more you know about your pet, the healthier your reptile pet&#8217;s life will be.</p>
<p>There are a number of types of reptiles available and they all come from different environments and have different requirements for nutrition. Not everyone agrees on exactly how an individual reptile should be fed and cared for, but there are many basics a new owner needs to know.  As long as you know the basics you&#8217;ll be providing better health care than most of the population.</p>
<p>The most important thing for you to know as an owner of a pet reptile is the normal appearance and behavior for its particular species.  If you know what normal is, it will be easier to recognize what is abnormal.</p>
<p>There are a number of magazines and books available that have good color illustrations.  Nature programs on television also have excellent footage of animals in their natural habitat.</p>
<p>A good reptile veterinarian is an excellent source of practical advice.</p>
<p>Once you have good knowledge of your pet&#8217;s optimal environment, nutritional and medical needs, you can assess his health.  Your lizard&#8217;s home should be spot cleaned daily by removing any droppings.  Weekly maintenance should include thoroughly cleaning branches and rocks, turning the substrate, removing any large clumps, wiping down the glass, changing the newspaper, etc.</p>
<p>All reptiles should be handled with care because sudden movements may shock them, causing them to run for cover quickly which may result in serious injury including loosing his tail.  It&#8217;s always important to wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling your lizard.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t rely on pet stores for assurances as to what is normal.  Most pet shops are ethical, but they often have employees with no more knowledge than their average customer.  You don&#8217;t need to know anything about animals to be allowed to sell them.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Owning A Pet</title>
		<link>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/owning-a-pet/</link>
		<comments>http://www.healthypetbasics.com/owning-a-pet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:08:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet Care Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet ownership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pets]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.healthypetbasics.com/?p=3</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you bring a pet into your household, one of the most important things is attention to your pet&#8217;s health.
Keeping your pet healthy will avoid behavioral problems along with physical problems which can be devastating for both your pet and your family.
Pets can add fun, companionship and a feeling of safety to your life. Before [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you bring a pet into your household, one of the most important things is attention to your pet&#8217;s health.</p>
<p>Keeping your pet healthy<span id="more-3"></span> will avoid behavioral problems along with physical problems which can be devastating for both your pet and your family.</p>
<p>Pets can add fun, companionship and a feeling of safety to your life. Before getting a pet, think carefully about which animal is best for your family.  Responsible pet ownership is making sure that needs are met for your pet&#8217;s health and happiness.</p>
<p>For your pet&#8217;s health, consider the amount of living space you have, your lifestyle, and the amount of time you have to devote to caring for your pet.</p>
<p>Consult your veterinarian whenever you have a question about your pet&#8217;s health or welfare. It is also important that your veterinarian regularly sees your pet to keep you all living healthy and happy lives.</p>
<p>Make sure that your pet will fit into your lifestyle and budget.  If you live in an apartment with no yard, make sure you choose an animal that will be happy in small spaces.  A large dog isn&#8217;t a good choice.</p>
<p>If the kids are set on a new puppy and you have allergies, don&#8217;t give in and choose a dog for your household pet.  The kids will love it, but you&#8217;ll all suffer in the long run.</p>
<p>Once you own a pet, keeping your pet healthy and happy will only enhance the joy they bring to your family.</p>
<p>Select your pet with a great deal of care since he will become your daily responsibility.  Make an informed decision, don&#8217;t let the playful antics of a young puppy, kitten, or bird lead to a bad decision.  Don&#8217;t select your pet on impulse.</p>
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