When you first adopted your cat, you were probably given a recommendation for a particular type of food or had a preferred brand you opted for right away. However, after months or even years of providing your pet with the same food, there may come a day when you feel the need to change your cat’s food type. In general, changing your cat’s food regularly isn’t necessary. As long as your pet is getting all the nutrients they need to live a happy and healthy life, you could feed them the same thing forever! That being said, there are a few instances in which switching your cat to a different food is a good idea. If a change in diet is necessary for your kitty, make sure to consult your veterinarian and conduct the switch gradually for the best and safest results. Reasons to change your cat’s food Once your vet has approved a cat food for your furry friend, you don’t need to change it on a regular basis. However, certain health concerns may require you to seek out a new type of food that will meet your cat’s needs. Recalls One of the most important, yet somewhat uncommon, reasons to change your cat’s food is a health and safety recall. Once you hear about a recall and double-check that your cat’s food is included, you’ll want to remove your cat’s access to the food immediately, watch them for signs of illness and start feeding them a similar type of food that is safe right away. Life stage Another key reason to start feeding your cat a new type of food is that they have entered a new life stage. Most pet manufacturers sell food specific to a particular age group, such as kittens, adult cats and seniors. These food types may be fortified with certain nutrients; for example, kitten food has extra protein to help your kitten grow, while senior food may include special nutrients to help with age-related illnesses. When your cat enters a new stage of life (from kitten to adult and from adult to senior), you should choose a new type of food that is most appropriate for their age. Speak with your veterinarian to identify the best food for your pet’s specific needs. Allergies Although they aren’t very common, cats can develop food allergies that are triggered by particular cat food ingredients. If your cat begins experiencing itchy, inflamed skin or vomiting and diarrhea, they may be sensitive or allergic to their food. Feline food allergies can be triggered by a wide variety of ingredients, so you’ll want to work with your vet to identify the specific allergen through an elimination diet. During this process, your cat will need to be put on an entirely different diet. Specific health conditions If your cat develops a health condition over the course of their life, there may be a type of food that is more appropriate for their healthcare needs. These types of foods can vary, including everything from weight-management foods to help obese cats to foods fortified with urinary-health ingredients to assist with urinary tract diseases. Other specially formulated foods may help ease discomfort from arthritis, increase fiber to help with digestion and much more. Similarly, if your pet’s current food doesn’t appear to be meeting their nutritional needs, you may want to switch to a higher-quality cat food that offers better ingredients and additional nutrients. Regardless of the reason you’re switching your cat’s food, you should always consult your cat’s veterinarian before doing so to ensure the new food will be appropriate for your cat at their current stage of life and state of health. If you need recommendations for a new pet food, your vet should be able to answer questions and point you in the right direction. How to successfully transition your cat to the new food Once you’ve identified a new food for your furry friend and your vet has given their approval on its safety, you may be tempted to pull your cat off the old food and give them the new food immediately. However, this is a big mistake! Switching your cat’s food too quickly can lead to gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea and vomiting. It’s very important to switch your cat over to their new food gradually, unless making an abrupt change is absolutely necessary (as is the case when food has been recalled). The change to the new food should occur over the course of at least seven days, during which you should alter the percentage of old food versus new food slightly each day. On day one, use a mix of mostly old food with a little bit of new food. On each subsequent day, take out a little more of the previous food while adding in more and more of the new food until your cat is eating all-new food every day. Once you complete the switch successfully, monitor your cat for a few weeks to ensure he or she does not show any changes in behavior, health or appearance. If they do, speak with your vet about finding a new food that will be better for them. Source: https://petwellbeing.com/  

Halo NBFriends! NatureBridge kembali lagi dengan acara Flexing on the Bridge! Kegiatan outdoor seru bersama Pawrent dan juga Pawfriends pada tanggal 16 Maret 2024 kemarin di Tell ‘N Tails, Lembang Bandung diselenggarakan meriah bersama puluhan peserta dari seluruh kota Bandung. Flexing on the Bridge di ikuti oleh berbagai komunitas anjing dan juga ras anjing kecil hingga besar. Seperti corgi, poodle, golden retriever, siberian husky, alaskan malamute dan masih banyak lagi. Tidak hanya itu, kegiatan Flexing on the Bridge yang berlangsung dari jam 10 pagi hingga 4 sore ini terdapat banyak lomba yang di banjiri hadiah juga loh! Ada lomba Fun Dog Walk yang dilakukan di pagi hari dimana Pawrent dan anabul berjalan-jalan di sekitar kawasan Tell ‘N Tails Dog Park yang asri dan sejuk. Fun Agility, dimana para anbul beradu ketangkasan, Basic Obidient lomba untuk mengetes trik yang di kuasai anabul, Eating Contest dan Testimonial LOHAS yang di sponsori oleh NatureBridge, serta lomba Come to Mama yang di sponsori oleh Flexi Dog Leash. Kegiatan Flexing on the Bridge ini merupakan ajang bonding yang bertujuan untuk anabul dan juga Pawrent. Menghabiskan waktu bersama hewan peliharaan di luar ruangan dengan menyenangkan sangat berpengaruh pada kesehatan dan juga mood dari hewan peliharaan kita. Selain bertemu dengan teman baru untuk anabul NBFriends juga bisa sharing bersama Pro Train Pet Camp seputar pelatihan anjing, sekaligus mencoba dry food dari NatureBridge dan juga dog leash paremium buatan Jerman dari Flexi. Jadi sambil bermain bermain bersama anbul, sharing, NBFriends juga bisa belanja kebutuhan anabul dari NatureBridge dan juga Flexi Dog Leash di stand yang sudah disediakan. Tapi jika NBFriends ketinggalan untuk berbelanja, NBFriends tetap bisa mendapatkan produk-produk NatureBridge dan juga Flexi Dog Leash di Official E-commerce CP Petindo ya. Buat NBFriends yang belum bisa ikut Flexing on the Bridge jangan khawatir karena Flexing on the Bridge akan di adakan di banyak kota-kota besar di Indonesia. Cek terus sosial media @naturebridgeid, @flexileashid, dan juga @loveyourpetid ya untuk mengetahui info acara Flexing on the Bridge. Tunggu kehadirannya di kotamu ya!  

Ringworm is a common skin infection in both dogs and cats. The name is a bit misleading since ringworm is not caused by a worm but by a common fungus found everywhere in the world. And, many times, the infection is not ring-like at all but can take on a variety of appearances. Ringworm infection, or dermatophytosis, can spread from pets to their human companions. The good news is that ringworm rarely causes serious problems in animals or their people, and it is both treatable and preventable. As pet owners, it’s important to know the common signs of ringworm infection as well as understand the facts about this disease. Ringworm Isn’t Just One Fungus Several species of fungi can cause ringworm in pets. In dogs and cats, the majority of cases are caused by Microsporum canis. Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes are responsible for the rest. Infected Pets Are Generous and Like To Share With Others Infected pets can transmit ringworm to people or other pets. There have even been reports of cows, goats, pigs and horses passing ringworm to people! Many studies have shown that children are most likely to get ringworm from a pet, due to a combination of closer contact with their pets and hygiene. Pocket pets also can get ringworm, with Trichophyton mentagrophytes responsible for almost all documented cases. Known species infected include guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters. The literature is sparse about potential transmission between pocket pets and dogs and cats, but given that the most common organisms responsible differ between species, it’s unlikely transmission occurs. Some Breeds of Cats and Dogs May Be More Susceptible Although there is no sex or age predisposition to infection, Persian, Himalayan and Rex cats, and Yorkshire and Jack Russell terriers, are overrepresented in published studies looking at the dynamics of ringworm infections. Although Ringworm Fungi Are Everywhere, There Are Conditions That Predispose a Pet to Infection These include: Dogs used for hunting and working dogs Stress and concurrent illnesses in adult animals Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in the home Microtrauma to the skin for any reason Group housing situations Interestingly, in cats, many studies have shown that infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FeLV) alone does not increase risk of disease. Skin Lesions Mimic Other Diseases A good medical history for your pet can help your veterinarian make a diagnosis of ringworm. Skin abnormalities in a newly acquired pet, especially if accompanied by skin lesions on a pet owner or other member of the household, are common historical findings. Common physical examination findings include: Areas of hair loss Areas of scaling and crusts (in cats it can take the appearance of cigarette ash) Broken hairs Itchy skin is not a common feature in cats and dogs but can occur. Some infected cats and dogs have no clinical signs but can spread the disease to other pets. Your veterinarian might advise testing asymptomatic pets sharing an infected pet’s space, particularly if the disease recurs. Unfortunately, similar signs are seen with other common skin diseases of cats and dogs, such as superficial bacterial skin infections, mites and allergies. Additional testing is needed to sort through all these potential diagnoses. Diagnosis Requires Specialized Tests Once a veterinarian suspects a pet might have ringworm based on history and physical examination, a few specialized tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. One common test is to use a specialized type of UV light called a Wood’s lamp. M. canis glows when exposed to the particular wavelength of UV light produced by a Wood’s lamp. Another test that your veterinarian can do in their clinic is examination of hair and skin under the microscope. Studies suggest that 85% of ringworm infections, regardless of which type of fungus is present, can be confirmed this way. In cases where a diagnosis is not confirmed by either of these tests, a fungal culture is needed to definitively diagnose ringworm. Results can take from a few days up to four weeks. Treatment Includes Both the Pet and the Environment Although the vast majority of ringworm infections resolve on their own, most veterinarians recommend treatment to decrease duration of infection and to reduce the chance of spread to other pets and people. Therapy for pets includes topical therapy and oral medication. There are lots of treatment options and your veterinarian will work with you to decide which medications are best for your pet. Diligent and thorough environmental decontamination is a crucial part of treatment. Without adequate cleaning, reinfection can occur and the disease can spread further. Your veterinarian will work with you on specific measures but keeping areas hair-free, washing areas frequently, deep cleaning carpets and washing a pet’s bedding daily are essential. Many owners find it easier to keep an infected pet in an area that is easy to clean. However, simply keeping a pet in a kennel is not recommended. Many pets respond to treatment quickly, sometimes within a week or two. Your veterinarian can monitor therapy using a Wood’s lamp or fungal culture. Most pets are completely cured in four to eight weeks. The good news is that almost all pets and people recover completely with no long-term effects. People who have any skin lesions they think could be ringworm should seek advice from their doctor about treatment. Recurrent or lingering infections are usually due to treatment failure, either through inadequate duration of therapy or failure to properly decontaminate the environment. Is Prevention Possible? Although it can be difficult, there are steps pet owners can take to prevent an infection from getting a foothold in their house. Having a thorough physical examination, including a Wood’s lamp evaluation, on all new pets can help. Isolating new pets added to a home (but again, not kenneling them) can help not only prevent ringworm from spreading but also allow time to detect other diseases. As always, practicing good hygiene when interacting with a new pet is essential. Morris Animal Foundation is dedicated to improving animal health through science and also by providing resources for pet owners to learn more about important diseases that can impact health and well-being. Browse our website to learn more about what the Foundation is doing to improve the health of animals around the world. Source: https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/