Stella & Chewey’s dehydrated is just one way to help. Rehydrated, it’s a flavorful and easy way to get essential water into your cat’s body.

You hear a lot of stories of older cats with kidney problems; kidney disease is the leading cause
of death in domestic cats. You may have experienced this in your own life with your own pets.
It’s a common problem for older cats, but it doesn’t have to be.
Cats are thought to have been domesticated from species living in western Asia
and northern Africa. Cats are, originally, desert creatures, and typically do not
have a big “thirst response”. While they do drink water, it’s usually not all that
their bodies need. They evolved to obtain most of their moisture from their
prey items. In the wild, rodents, lizards, and birds provide hydration,
supplemented by drinking free standing water. Now look at our domesticated
cats, keep indoors and feed a diet mostly of dry kibble. After all, we’ve always
heard that dry food keeps a cat’s teeth clean and canned food makes their teeth get weak. But it turns out a
lifetime of this diet can slowly dehydrate them, eventually leading to an older cat with those dangerous kidney
problems.
There are several things that you can do to help prevent these problems later in life . . . . read on

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This post, Hydration is vital for your cat’s health, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on August 23, 2018. Tweet This Post!

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The big stink about tripe

What is tripe?

Tripe is, basically, the stomach lining from ruminant animals like cattle, pigs, sheep or lamb, and goats. It’s not new, as it has been a popular dish consumed by numerous cultures around the world, and is now gaining popularity as a healthy food for cats and dogs.

The tripe we feed our cats and dogs is different than the tripe you’ll see in grocery stores. That product is white because it has been bleached and boiled. Green tripe, the type we sell, is called green not because of the color but because it is untreated, so it contains all the natural benefits that cooking strips away.

Why feed tripe?

It does sound disgusting, but there are numerous reasons you want to offer it to your cats and dogs:

Probiotics – Tripe is heavy in the beneficial bacteria that are an important part of both the digestive and immune systems. Poor diet, stress, and illness can wreck the biome in the intestines, leading to further health problems. Probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus help prevent bad bacteria, like e-coli, listeria, and salmonella, from taking hold in the intestines. Adding probiotics back to the system helps keep the gut biome healthy and vigorous, promoting good digestion and optimal nutrient absorption.

Natural vitamins and minerals – Green tripe contains a perfect ratio of calcium to phosphorous. It is high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and heart-healthy unsaturated fats. It also contains partially-digested greens, making their micronutrients available to your dog or cat.

Protein – Tripe is high in protein with 7 essential amino acids, vital in building muscle and the function of the immune system.

Enzymes – Digestive enzymes begin the digestive process, breaking up foods to make the locked up nutrients more available during digestion. The more enzymes, the more nutrition your pet will get from their food. This is important for animals on highly processed diets that may be lacking in these vital elements – and it’ll help you get the most out of those foods.

Benefits

One of the first thing you’ll notice when you open a can of tripe is the smell. It is powerful, the smell has a personality of its own! But as foul as we find it, dogs and cats LOVE it! This means it’s great to feed when your pet is off their food, turning their nose up at everything you offer, or when your pet needs to gain weight from illness or injury. Picky eaters love tripe, and mixing it with another food keeps them chowing down. Many animals lose their sense of smell as they age; one sign is not being interested in their food any more, and tripe is great to get older dogs and cats to eat again.

Because of the enzymes, probiotics, and high protein content, tripe is a great option for dogs and cats with sensitive stomachs. Tripe is easily digested and can help ease symptoms of diarrhea, gas, and acid reflux. The enzyme content also make it great for dogs that are eating poop; coprophagia is thought to be a response to the need for more nutrients and enzymes.

Tripe does so much more: The dense nutrition makes it great for pregnant and lactating mothers. They rubbery, chewy texture is perfect for them to chew on, helping improve dental health. It‘s also a nice change, to add some variety and extra nutrition to even a healthy dog or cat’s diet!

Few natural foods have so many benefits for our pets in a form so attractive to them!

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This post, The big stink about tripe, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on August 17, 2018. Tweet This Post!

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There’s been a big shakeup in the pet food business: PetSmart has purchased the online delivery company Chewey’s. As a result of this, Chewey’s is no longer able to carry Orijen and Acana. 

Why is this? Champion foods, the company that makes these foods, is committed to the quality of their food and focusing on the smaller independent retailers and specialty shops. From their page about the change:

 

“Mass retailers operate different business models than specialty stores. They often require food makers to make significant investments in advertising and measure success through sales volumes and profits. This model is not who we are — our focus is and always will be on our foods.

 

At Champion, we invest in ingredients and research. The majority of cost in making ORIJEN and ACANA comes from their ingredients, not advertising. Our commitment to our foods is critical to our vision and mission. It sets us apart from multinational and marketing brands.

 

We believe that our pet specialty store partners recommend pet foods based on their trust in the food maker and the food’s performance, rather than advertising and sales volume.”

 

You can read their entire statement here. 

 

We’re proud and honored to be one of those independent retailers that carries both Orijen and Acana! And with our home delivery service you can still get it delivered right to your door! Just give us a call at 847-251-6750!

You’ll also save more with our automatic frequent buyer program and our Customer Rewards!

Your Wilmette Pet Staff

847-251-6750

wilmettepetcenter.com

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This post, You can still get your Orijen and Acana delivered to your door!, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on July 27, 2017. Tweet This Post!

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Cats are thought to have been domesticated from species living in western Asia and northern Africa. Cats are, originally, desert creatures, and typically do not have a big “thirst response”. While they do drink water, it’s usually not all that their bodies need. They evolved to obtain most of their moisture from their prey items. In the wild, rodents, lizards, and birds provide hydration, supplemented by drinking free standing water. Now look at our domesticated cats, keep indoors and feed a diet mostly of dry kibble. After all, we’ve always heard that dry food keeps a cat’s teeth clean and canned food makes their teeth get weak. But it turns out a lifetime of this diet can slowly dehydrate them, eventually leading to an older cat with those dangerous kidney problems.

There are several things that you can do to help prevent these problems later in life:

Use a cat water fountain. Cats are much more likely to drink water that is in motion – we’ve all seen cats drink from faucets. Moving water tends to feel colder, and cat drinking fountains have built in filters to help it stay cleaner than still, stagnant water. We love the Cat it Fountain; it’s a great way to increase their water consumption. Check it out here.

Place several water dishes around your house. Cats are more likely to drink when there are multiple sources. Wider water dishes can get your cat to drink more, as they hate to have their whiskers touching anything, even the side of their dishes.

Add water, or something tasty like low sodium chicken or beef broth, to their dry kibble. Allow it to sit for a few minutes for it to soften. The bowl should be picked up after a few hours to prevent the food from drying out and going bad. This is a good way to get fussier cats to eat, as it adds some flavor and the moisture releases the aroma of the food.

Better yet, switch them to canned food, as this contains higher levels of moisture. Dry cat food contains around 8-10% moisture content, while canned food can be as high as 80%. You do need to feed more than dry food, but this gives them the water how their bodies expect to get it. There’s another reason to go to wet food: Your cat’s teeth are actually sharp and angled, having evolved to shear meat, not flat to grind dry kibble. In fact, when you hear cats crunching their dinner, they are actually breaking up the kibble with the roof of their mouth. So it’s not only easier for them to eat, but it effectively gives them that vital moisture. For older cats, some people will even add extra moisture, water or broth, to their canned food to make it even soupier.

By far the best diet for your cat and hydration is raw food. This food is the closest thing to their natural diet. It has not been altered with heat or friction, which preserves the innate vitamins and minerals, along with essential amino acids and enzymes (processed kibbles have these added back to the food after cooking them out.) Two of our favorites are Stella & Chewey’s and Nature’s Variety.

Cats are about 60% water, and they must have continual hydration to maintain this level. Symptoms of dehydration in cats are lethargy, dry gums and eyes, and skin that stays peaked when you lift a fold. Severe dehydration is a matter for your vet to address, as intravenous fluids may be needed. Giving fluids in a more natural way can help keep your cat well hydrated and out of the vet’s office. Try offering water in a variety of ways; your cat will definitely let you know what they like!

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This post, Cats and hydration, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on June 14, 2016. Tweet This Post!

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Available in 6 canned recipes

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This post, Introducing Cocolicious for cats!, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on May 26, 2016. Tweet This Post!

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Cats are notoriously fussy when it comes to their food. And it isn’t just to test your patience. It’s biological. Cats are true carnivores. As such, nature demands they eat a diet based on animal proteins to thrive. That’s why our Physiologically Correct recipes always start with meats rich in complete proteins as the main ingredient. But it wouldn’t matter how nutritious our food is if your cat won’t eat it, so we tailor the taste of our recipes based on actual feline feedback to ensure it’s equally delicious. When we say our food is Co-Created by Cats, it isn’t just a slogan, it’s the secret to everything we make.”

Available in 3 dry and over 13 canned recipes, so there is something your cat is sure to like!

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This post, Introducing our new cat food: Fussie cat!, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on May 19, 2016. Tweet This Post!

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For every one who’s already using these diets, it’s your lucky month! For those of you who’ve never tried your cat or dog on a raw/freeze dried diet, now is a great time to start! Using the in-store coupons, you can:

• Save $2 on any freeze dried dinner,

• Save $2 on 3 lb bags frozen dinner,

• Save $4 on 6 lb bags frozen dinner, or

• Buy any 4 pouches of single serve Stella & Chewey’s dinner for cats, get one FREE!

Head over to Stella & Chewey’s for more on this great food! You can also stop by and speak to any of our staff about why raw diets may be the best thing for your cat and dog.

While supplies last

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This post, Save on Stella & Chewey diets, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on March 2, 2013. Tweet This Post!

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• Tuna Too Cool
• Tuna & Veggies Valentine
• Tuna & Salmon Soulmates
• Tuna & Chicken 4Eva

12 – 3oz cans Sale $8.99

8 – 5 oz cans Sale $8.49

Get more details at the BFF site here.

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This post, Get the new Best Feline Friends variety pack at GREAT savings!, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on February 8, 2013. Tweet This Post!

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We’re here to help you save even more on your pet food. We’ve partnered with our pet food vendors and have frequent buyers cards for many of the most popular foods. Simply save 10 to 12 of the UPC codes from your participating cat or dog food to earn free bags!* Stop by the front desk to get your card and for more information.

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This post, Save on your cat and dog food, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on February 7, 2013. Tweet This Post!

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So many of us start of the new year with one resolution: to lose weight. We know how unhealthy excessive weight is, and yet never consider what it does to our pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that about 40% of all dogs and 50% of all cats are overweight – that’s 28 million dogs and 40 million cats! Fluffy may look fat and happy, but obese pets have more health problems, from  cardiac and respiratory issues, and major problems with their joints, to diabetes. So this year, why not make a resolution to help your cat or dog slim down?

What is a healthy weight for your pet?

Various breeds have different normal weights, and it can depend on gender, too. It can be especially hard when we have so many dogs whose exact breed we don’t know. In addition to discussing your pet’s weight with your vet, you can also use these general guidelines to help determine is your dog is overweight.

1. Running your hands along your dog’s ribcage, you should be able to palpate the ribs covered by a thin layer of fat. Inability to feel the ribs is a sign of an overweight dog.
2. Looking at your dog from the side, you should be able to see the upward tuck of the abdomen. An overweight dog will have very little or no tuck.
3. Viewing your dog from above, there should be a moderate narrowing at the waist just past the ribcage. A straight or bulging line from the ribcage to the hips indicates an overweight dog.

It’s similar for cats:

Look down at your cat. You should be able to see a waist when you look down on it from the top, or when you run your hands from its ribs to its hips. Run your hand along its abdomen from its ribs to its pelvis and it should be indented. If you put your hands on the side of its chest, you should be able to feel its ribs without a thick layer of fat over them.

It’s a good goal, but how do we do it?

1. Begin by knowing: For one week, record everything you give your dog or cat: measure dry and canned food, all treats, even table scraps. This can help show you where/when you tend to over-indulge your pet, and ways to cut down. Want to go a step further? Figure out the calories you’re feeding. Add the calories from the dry and/or canned food (found on the packaging) to the calories of the treats. Discuss with your vet you particular pet’s caloric needs, and make the appropriate adjustments.

2. Make adjustments. Not every dog eats the same amount of food. More active dogs, or dogs that spend time outside in the cooler months, need more calories than a more sedate, indoor dog. Older dogs need fewer calories than healthy adult dogs, and puppies generally need more.

3. Limit treats: Often overlooked when considering your pet’s diet, treats can make a big impact on their weight. Those small bites can add up quickly! Ideally, treats should be less than 10% of your dog or cat’s total daily calorie intake. A few tips:

1. 1. Break up your treats into the smallest piece you can. Dogs will jump through a hoop for the whole bag of treats and they’ll jump through a hoop for the smallest crumb. They still feel special, and you make the treat last a lot longer.
   2. Use treats effectively. By only offering them only for good behavior and training, you reduce their caloric intake and reinforce positive behaviors.
   3. Feed pure, freeze dried meat treats. They are high in protein and have no carbs, ideal for your cat or dog.
   4. Go with a high protein, low carbohydrate food. Dogs and cats are carnivores, meaning they evolved to use protein and fat for energy. Simple carbohydrates break down to sugars in the digestive system, and sugar converts to fat. Decreasing carbohydrates reduces excess sugar, limiting fat production (and decreasing a most important source of food for cancer cells). Come by and talk with any of our staff about our choice of high protein, low carb foods such as EVO, Fromm grain free, Orijen, and California Natural grain free.

Feeding canned food? There are some great choices for weight loss in canned food. EVO canned cat and dog food is perfect for weight loss as it                                   is 95% meat.

Raw frozen food is gaining in popularity, since it is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and is closest to their natural diet in the wild.

5.  Feed twice a day. Many people leave their pet’s food down all day; it’s easier, but some animals will continuously eat, past the point of satiety. Keeping the meals restricted to two meals not only restricts calorie intake, but gives them the chance to burn some off in between feedings.

6.Use a slow feeder. The brain releases “satiety” hormones that make you feel full about 20 minutes after beginning to eat. Use a Kong Wobbler or the Funkitty Egg-Cersizer instead of a feeding bowl. You place their entire meal in the toy, and, as they play with it, the kibble slowly drops out, a piece or two at a time. In addition to slowing down their feeding, which makes them feel more full with less food, it also gives them exercise, which burns more calories. A slow feeder also helps reduce indigestion and gas.

7. Fiber is weight loss’s best friend. Fiber helps with weight loss by helping one feel full. Fruitables Pumpkin SuperBlend Weight Loss supplement contains high level of fiber from pumpkin, oatmeal, and inulin. Replace up to 30% of their food with this tasty food to help them lose up to 2% per week.8. EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE! It’s always the answer for losing weight. Including the dog on a short jog not only helps them lose weight, it’ll help keep you on your own health goals. Make a point to set aside some playtime with your dog or cat.  Playing with your dog can burn 115 calories an hour, better than 75 calories sitting on the couch. Playing with your pet is also a great way to de-stress and relax!

Reducing your dog or act’s weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. It’ll reduce wear on joints, reduce breathing problems, decreases the strain on their heart, and reduce the chances for diseases such as cancer and diabetes. It’ll also keep your best friend around a lot longer.

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This post, Your pet’s New Year’s resolution to lose weight, originally appeared on Wilmette Pet Center on January 6, 2012. Tweet This Post!

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