Written by: Claudia Loomis

Digestive enzymes breakdown and deliver nutrients to every part of your pet’s body. Therefore, in addition to being fed a high quality all natural diet, all pets require enzymes and in order to maintain digestive efficiency. Since enzymes are destroyed in the normal process of heating and processing most commercial pet foods, even the highest quality kibble, supplementing with enzymes is an effective way to maintain digestive health.

There are four classes of enzymes necessary for proper digestion and optimal health:
Amylase: Necessary for energy, Amylase aids in the digestion of starchy foods and releases simple sugars.
Protease: Necessary for muscle growth and maintenance, Protease aids in the digestion of proteins in the stomach and small intestine.
Lipase: Necessary for overall health, Lipase aids in the digestion of fatty acids and allows the pet to absorb Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamins A, D, E and K.
Cellulase: Necessary for the digestion of fiber, Cellulase aids in the digestion of cellulose, helping reduce the bulking associated with eating fibrous foods.

Along with digestive enzymes another important part of digestive health is the proper balance of prebiotics and probiotics commonly known as “friendly” bacteria in the digestive system. There are hundreds of species of good and bad bacteria in your pet’s digestive system. There must be a balance of the both good and bad bacteria in order for your pet to digest and absorb food. Without the proper balance of friendly bacteria proper immune response is compromised and our pet’s become prone to illness and infection.

Without the proper concentrations of digestive enzymes and friendly bacteria in intestines an enzyme deficiency will occur. Some of the symptoms of enzyme deficiency and resulting poor digestion include:
Intermittent or chronic diarrhea
Constipation
Gas and bloating
Body odor
Excessive itching and rash
Hair balls
Runny Nose
Bad Breath
Infection and poor immune system response
Joint problems and resulting arthritis
Allergic reaction

Some of the factors that will decrease the amount of enzymes available for your pet’s proper digestion of nutrients will cause an enzyme drain. These include:
Age: Digestive enzyme production decreases with age, so it is particularly important to supplement with digestive enzymes in older pets.
Strenuous exercise or overwork: The more physical work we ask our pets to perform requires more energy input and taxes the balance of digestive enzymes in your pets system.
Stress and anxiety: Pets are just like humans and stress has an overall negative effect on the body including hampering the production of digestive enzymes.
Illness: Anything that attacks or affects the immune system effects the production of digestive enzymes.
Poor diet: Pet foods that contain highly processed, poor quality, hard to digest ingredients such as corn, wheat, animal by products, artificial colors and preservatives will place additional strain on the digestive system.

In addition to pets that are prone to gastric issues and poor digestion, most all pets will benefit from supplementation with digestive enzymes and additional friendly bacteria. It will be most beneficial to pets that are:
Switching Foods: it will help ease or eliminate the gastric distress that comes with getting accustomed to a new food
Experiencing Bowel Issues: will help with diarrhea and constipation.
Senior pets: help add to the diminished capacity of older pets to produce enzymes
Gas: proper digestion eliminates excessive gas
Dogs that eat their feces: also known as coproghagy: There are many reasons why dogs eat their own poop. However output that is free of undigested food will be less likely to entice pets to eat their feces.
Pets taking or have taken a course of antibiotics: Antibiotics are equal opportunity bacteria killers. They not only destroy the harmful bad bacteria that cause infection, they also kill the good bacteria and upset the delicate balance of the digestive flora in the intestines. It is important to re-build the stores of good bacteria in the intestinal tract so that proper digestion and absorption of nutrients can occur to encourage healing and optimal health.

Chocolate in all forms, especially dark chocolate or baking chocolate, is dangerous for both dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include:
Excessive drooling
Excessive thirst
Excessive urination
Pupil dilation
Rapid heartbeat
Vomiting and diarrhea
Hyperactivity
Muscle tremors and seizures
Coma
If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms take them to the vet immediately.

Candy containing the natural sugar substitute Xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Small amounts of Xylitol, which is present in many human foods, can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar which leads to depression, lack of coordination, seizures and liver damage in a relatively short amount of time.

Halloween plants such as Pumpkins and decorative Corn are relatively non-toxic to pets. However if ingested they may cause gastrointestinal distress.

If you dress your pet up for Halloween make sure that your pet is comfortable in their costume. The costume should not constrict your pet’s movement or hearing. Make sure your pet can breathe, see, hear and bark. Remove any small or dangling accessories that can be chewed or swallowed.

Walk your dog before Trick or Treaters start to make their rounds. Be sure to keep a firm grip on the leash as many dogs are frightened by people in costumes. Use a lighted or reflective leash for added safety.

Consider putting your pet in a separate room, a secure place or a dog crate away from the door at least a half hour before Trick or Treaters arrive. Play soft music and provide a chew toy or favorite blanket to comfort your pet.

If you want to have your dog near the door to greet visitors, keep him on a leash. Pets can become stressed by holiday activities and interruptions in routine. A normally calm and friendly dog may become nervous or feel threatened and growl, lunge or bite.

If your pet is typically high strung consider using Rescue Remedy Pet, Homeopet TFLN or other anti-anxiety products to calm your pet prior to the Halloween festivities. You may also want to consult your vet about tranquilizing your pet for the night.

Make sure your dog is wearing an up-to date ID tag. If your dog does dart out the door in the rush of Trick or Treaters an identification tag with the correct address and phone number will assist in locating your lost pet.

Petzlife Oral Care Spray and Gel is 100% natural with specially formulated Grape Seed extract and other all natural herbs and ingredients to produce a very safe alternative to tooth scaling.
The natural ingredients in Petzlife include Grapefruit seed extract, Grape seed extract, Thyme oil, Neem oil, Rosemary oil, and Peppermint oil.

These ingredients are all specially formulated with distilled water and grain alcohol to produce one of the most effective and safest dental products ever produced. A small amount of grain alcohol is used to activate the herbs used in this safe and effective teeth cleaning wonder.

Keeping your dog’s teeth clean and tartar free will not only help your dog live longer but will keep bacteria from his mouth from entering the bloodstream. We all know we should brush our dog’s teeth regularly but it can be a time consuming hassle. The convenience of spraying Petzlife into on your dog’s teeth once or twice a day ensures that you will keep up with your dog’s dental care. Once you see the amazing results you’ll continue to use Petzlife regularly.

Dental cleanings are normally performed by your veterinarian under general anesthesia. General anesthesia can be risky for some dogs, particularly older or overweight dogs. Regular use of Petzlife will lessen or eliminate the need for tooth scaling performed under general anesthesia, saving you money and possible health risks to your dog.

Petzlife is doctor formulated in FDA approved labs using natural ingredients. It is easy to use. Just spray or apply gel directly on your pet’s teeth. Your pet will lick their lips repeatedly which will allow the Petzlife to mix with saliva and coat all the surfaces of the teeth and gums. Do not allow your pet to eat or drink for 30 minutes before or after application, for best results. If you spray Petzlife at night, use a soft piece of gauze to wipe the “broken down” tartar from your pet’s teeth in the morning. According to the Petzlife website, you will be amazed at how much plaque and tartar come off your dog or cat’s teeth.

Inflammation and doggy breath should improve in 1 to 2 weeks. After 30 days, application can be reduced to 2 or 3 times a week. PetzLife guarantees to refund 100% of your purchase price if you are not satisfied and when you return the unused portion.

Testimonials received about Petzlife prove that it really works.

Petzlife Oral Care Spray and Gel are available at www.cherrybrook.com.

There are many styles of brush to choose from and the right one depends on your pet’s coat type and condition. Here is the low down on the different types of dog brushes:

Slicker Brush
This brush has fine metal prongs set at an angle. A slicker is used to remove dead undercoat and aid in detangling. A soft slicker brush is best on puppies and short coated breeds. A heavy or firm slicker is best on dense coats that are wavy, curly or straight. A slicker should not be used on short haired and fine coated breeds such as Boxers or Great Danes. Slicker brushes come in a number of sizes and shapes. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or force when using a slicker brush as the prongs can cause skin irritation resulting in brush burn.

Pin Brush
These brushes have long rounded metal pins that minimize scratching and potential skin irritation. Pin Brushes are traditionally used on longer coated breeds or dogs whose coats are in good condition because the rounded pins result in less hair breakage. The length of the pin should be long enough to reach the skin in order to de-shed. The pins can be made of Stainless steel, brass- which has antistatic properties, or wood, for the gentlest of brushing experiences. The longer the coat, the longer the pin should be.

Bristle Brush
The bristle brush can be used for both short or long coated breeds that have no undercoat. The bristles can be natural or nylon. It provides a gentle brushing experience but is not a good brush for de-shedding or detangling. It is best for distributing the oils throughout the hair shaft and polishing, or shining, the coat.

Curry Mitt
This rubber mitt comes in various sizes and is used for fine coated or shorthaired dogs. Rubber Curry Mitts are also used in the tub as a shampoo brush for almost all coat types. They are at getting loose fur out of the coat quickly and most dogs’ love how they feel on their skin.

Hound Glove
This mitt has little nubs or bristles and is designed to give short or sleek coated breeds the once over. Similar to the Curry Mitt, the hound glove provides a nice massage.

Cherrybrook has many different styles and sizes the above brushes and our associates will be happy to help you choose the perfect one for your pet.

REMEMBER: Never brush a dry dog, a coat conditioner or spray will make the brushing experience easier and protect the coat.