FAQ

Here is a list of answers to frequently asked questions by pet owners like you. If we have not answered your question below or you would like further clarification, please email us your question at [email protected] and a Chicken Soup for the Soul expert will respond promptly.

Please click on a link below to jump to the appropriate section of our FAQ.

Where are the Chicken Soup for the Soul foods made?

Feeding and Nutrition
When giving Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food to my pet for the first time, do I need to introduce it slowly?
How can I tell if my pet is too fat or too thin?
Is it ok for me to feed my pet table scraps?
How much water does my pet need?
How much food should I feed my pet?
How often should I feed my pet?
Can too much protein cause kidney problems?
Does my senior pet need a low calorie diet?
Do I need to supplement my pet's diet?
What is the difference between puppy and adult dog food?
Why are carbohydrates important?
What does the Guaranteed Analysis tell me?
I've been hearing a lot about the rotation diet. What is it and should I feed it to my pet?
Does the heat of the cooking damage the nutrients in your food?
What is ash and why do you put it in your pet foods?
I heard salmon is bad for dogs. Why do you use it in your foods?
What are faba beans?
Should I be concerned with faba beans in grain free dog food diets?
How long can wet food be out in the bowl once opened?
How long does canned food last once it’s open?
Is it OK to mix wet and dry dog foods?
When should I switch my dog to senior diet?
Where can you find the expiration date on our canned products?

Health and Lifestyle
Do I need to brush my pet's teeth?
How do I get rid of fleas?
How do I add a new pet to my household?
How can I tell if my pet is too fat or too thin?
How does a dog or cat get heart worm?
How do I know if my dog is considered a small breed? Or a large breed?
My pets are eating grass. Why?
My dogs are eating feces. Why do they do this?
How much water does my pet need?
My pet has diarrhea every once in a while. Could it be the food I am feeding?
Can high protein affect my dog's behavior?
Are your foods hypoallergenic?
My cat has bladder problems. Do you have a diet for this?

Ingredients
Have you made any recent changes to your ingredient decks?
Does this food contain ethoxyquin?
Is Chicken Soup for the Soul irradiated?
Are your meats hormone and antibiotic free?
Do you use any chemical preservatives?
Why do you put salt in your diets?

Products
Do you have a vegetarian diet?
Do you employ a full time qualified nutritionist?
Are your diets tested using AAFCO feeding trials or by formulation to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles?
Where are your foods produced and manufactured?
What specific quality control measures do you use to assure the consistency and quality of your ingredients and the end product?

COMPANY

Where are the Chicken Soup for the Soul foods made?
Chicken Soup for the Soul’s dry and wet pet foods are proudly made in the USA.

FEEDING AND NUTRITION

When giving Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food to my pet for the first time, do I need to introduce it slowly?
When changing to Chicken Soup for the Soul, we recommend making a gradual transition over 7-10 days to avoid digestive upset. Add a small amount of new food to your pet’s previous diet, gradually increasing the new and decreasing the previous diet until the transition is complete.

Veterinarians do not really talk about weight as much as they did in the past. Body condition score is now more commonly used for assessing whether a pet is too fat or too thin. It is not very common that we see a pet that is too thin, as the obesity epidemic in pets is mimicking that of the human population in the United States. Nearly half of all pets that are seen in veterinary clinics are overweight or obese. If a pet is too thin, there is often a medical explanation.

If you are concerned that your pet is too thin, please contact your veterinarian right away. To determine whether your pet is too thin, look at them from the top and the side. If you can see the outline of each rib, your pet is too thin. Also, if you can see the actually hip bones when looking down on your pet, this is also an indication that your pet is too thin. If you are seeing these things but your pet has a large belly, there is most likely a medical problem that needs to be addressed immediately. In this case, your pet’s weight may be normal, but the body condition score is too low.

A normal, healthy pet will have a nice waistline and a tucked up abdomen. From the side, your pet’s belly should go up at the end of the ribs. You might be able to see the last rib and this is ok, but you should not see more. If you don’t see any ribs, this is probably ok too, just rub your hand gently across your pet’s ribcage. The ribs should be very easy to feel, with very little fat between the ribs and the skin. From the top, your pet’s waist is very visible. Between the rib cage and the hips should be a nice indentation. Unless your dog is very furry, you will probably be able to see the outlines of the major muscles in their legs.

If you think your pet is too fat, he probably is. If you have to press your hand against your pet’s side to feel the ribs, there is too much fat. Also, if you look at your pet from the side and the abdomen does not go up at the end of the ribcage, there is too much fat in the belly. And finally, when looking from the top, if your pet is a solid sausage with no waistline, he is too fat.

Being overweight is not only a burden to your pet’s bones and joints, but is also a health hazard. Dogs that are overweight are more likely to suffer from pancreatitis and heart disease than dogs that are at a healthy weight. Research has proven that dogs live longer when they are kept at an ideal lean body condition than if they are allowed to be overweight. Cats that are overweight are susceptible to type 2 diabetes, just like people. They are also more likely to suffer from breathing problems and fatty liver disease.

Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s body condition score and start making an effort to get your pet to the ideal lean condition.

Is it ok for me to feed my pet table scraps?
It is really best if you do not feed your pet table scraps. Some individuals choose to add human foods to their pets diet for variety, freshness and flavor. This is not necessary, but is not necessarily harmful as long as you choose wisely and your pet still eats adequate amounts of a complete and balanced diet so that nutritional deficiencies do not result.

The problem with table scraps is really the way that we cook. We often use seasonings that are too strong or even potentially harmful to pets. Garlic and onion are two things that pets should not consume. The way we prepare our meats is also problematic because of the high fat content. When veterinarians suggest feeding meat to a dog because of an upset stomach, we always say that the meat should be boiled. This gets rid of most of the fat in the meat. Rarely do we boil meat that we are going to be eating for our evening meal.

Feeding from the table encourages begging during meal times. Feed your pet his own healthy meal during your regular meal time. This will ensure that he is satisfied and will not be begging for a morsel from the table. Feeding table scraps also encourages finicky behavior. Your pet may begin "holding out" for the stuff that comes from the table. You may interpret this as your pet not enjoying his food as much when this is not really the case, he just is not as hungry because you are feeding him from the table and he knows he might get something if he just skips that kibble in the bowl.

Do yourself and your pet a favor and feed a healthy, balanced diet that is designed for pets and stick with it. If you want to give a treat, try a spoon of canned food, a treat or biscuit, or even a dental treat to help keep the teeth clean.

How much water does my pet need?
Your pet should have free access to fresh water at all times. Most pets will drink the amount of water that they need. In very rare situations, dogs can develop a behavioral condition called psychogenic polydipsia. This simply means that a dog drinks excessive amounts of water with no apparent medical cause. This can be a real challenge to diagnose and treat, so if you suspect this, make sure to work very closely with your veterinarian.

Pets that are outdoors or very active will drink more water than pets that live indoors or lead a sedentary lifestyle. Monitor how much water your pet typically drinks. If he is suddenly licking the bowl dry faster than before, a visit to your veterinarian is important. An increase in water consumption can be an indication of many different health problems including: diabetes, kidney disease and even infections.

How much food should I feed my pet?
There are feeding guides on every package. It is important to remember that the amounts listed on the package are expressed in the number of 8 ounce measuring cups (a standard kitchen measuring cup, not the Big Gulp cup you found in your cabinet) to be fed per day. So, if it says 2 cups in the chart and you feed your dog twice daily, each meal should be 1 cup.

However, each dog is different. Do you have a friend who can eat everything and never gain an ounce? How about a friend who complains that she looks at food and gains weight? Well, people have different metabolic rates and so do dogs. They also have different activity levels. Feeding guides on pet food packaging designed for adult dogs use one equation, figuring that most adult pets are “moderately” active. Obviously some dogs will need more food than the moderately active adult because of higher activity levels and some dogs will need less food because of their “couch puptato” lifestyle.

Puppies have a much higher energy requirement per pound of body weight than adult dogs do. Very young puppies need more calories than older puppies as well. So, if you have two puppies that both weigh 10 pounds but one is 10 weeks and the other is 10 months, you will find that the 10 week old puppy actually will need to be fed quite a bit more food than your 10 month old puppy.

Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s body condition. It is best for your pet’s health to be kept in lean body condition. Feed the amount of food that keeps your dog lean and fit, and remember it might not be the amount that is listed on the package. If you find that you are feeding less than half of what is recommended on the package for your dog’s age and weight, you likely need to consult your veterinarian and consider a switch to a lower calorie formula.

How often should I feed my pet?
This is a common question, and really a matter of personal preference, but also depends on your pet’s age and lifestyle.

Starting with dogs: If you have a very young puppy (less than 4 months of age), consider 3 to 4 meals per day. For toy breed puppies (5-10 pounds full-grown), you should feed 3-4 meals per day until they are 10-12 months of age to prevent hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Between 4 and 6 months, feed 2-3 meals per day and after 6 months, feed 2 meals per day.

Some people choose to leave food out all the time or feed one large meal per day. As a veterinarian, I do not prefer the free-choice feeding method. My concerns about this method are multi-dog households where one dog may eat too much food and become overweight. Often pet owners compensate for the empty bowl by adding more total volume so the “healthy eater” of the group will still eat too much but now the more timid eaters are getting the proper amount instead of too little. This method may also not reveal if a dog is not eating well, especially if you are using a feeder that holds multiple days worth of food. Illnesses may go undetected for some time because you are unable to see that your dog is not eating well. One large meal a day works fine for many dogs. However, large and giant breeds that are prone to bloat, should be fed multiple smaller meals per day (at least two). The reason for this is that one large meal tends to stretch the ligaments that support the stomach and over time, this relaxed ligament will make the stomach more likely to twist if the dog bloats. Bloating is bad, but bloating and twisting is much worse.

A final reason for feeding two meals per day is for those dogs that need medication on a daily or twice daily basis (example: dog with diabetes needs insulin injections twice daily). When you are feeding two meals per day, it is easy to time the medication with the meal, which is some cases is a requirement.

Now for cats: Free choice feeding is the method that many people choose if they feed dry food. Veterinarians used to support this method, then more veterinarians began advocating meal feeding, and now you can find proponents of both methods. The benefits of meal feeding are really the same for cats as they are for dogs: controlled portions, you know if your cat is not eating very well right away, and the ability to time medication with meals.

What about cats with a bladder problem? After cats eat, the pH of their urine rises even if the food is acidified for urinary tract health.. When the pH is high, struvite crystals can form in the urine. We used to think that if a cat snacked multiple times per day, the pH would be rising more frequently and this would be a problem for cats with urinary tract disease. However, studies have shown that free feeding does not have a negative impact on urinary tract health. Remember, diet is not the only factor involved with urinary tract disease and we are finding that it actually plays a much smaller role than we once thought. Read more about urinary tract disease in cats in our medical library.

Can too much protein cause kidney problems?
Absolutely not. This is a myth that needs to be dispelled. Dogs or cats that have been diagnosed with a kidney problem should be treated with a prescription diet (low protein content) that is designed specifically for these animals. This will help control the advancement of the disease and likely help the pet survive longer.

This does not mean that a normal healthy pet, even a senior pet, should eat a diet that is restricted in protein in order to prevent kidney disease.

In recent studies, it actually has been proven that protein restriction for senior animals can lead to muscle wasting, protein deficiency and can shorten their normal lifespan. We are starting to see diets for senior pets that have the same level or even higher levels of protein than diets designed specifically for adult dogs.

Choosing a diet that contains healthy animal protein sources will help keep your pet healthy and in ideal body condition for a longer, happier life.

Does my senior pet need a low calorie diet?
This is an excellent question, without a straightforward answer. Your senior pet may benefit from a low calorie diet, especially if your pet is not very active or is overweight. A study done in dogs proved that dogs that are kept in lean body condition throughout their lives will live longer, healthier lives than dogs that are allowed to become overweight. Although a similar study was not done in cats, from day to day in a veterinary practice, it seems that this result would also be found for cats.

Very old dogs or cats, what we call geriatrics, may actually need a very high calorie diet with good quality protein to maintain their lean body condition. It is very important to closely monitor your pet’s body condition. Your veterinarian can show you what “ideal, lean” condition is and will help you keep your pet in this condition. Too thin or too heavy can mean bad news for your pet’s overall health.

Do I need to supplement my pet's diet?
Do you need to? No. All of our pet foods are complete and balanced. If you want to though, you can – with caution. In most cases, supplements will do no harm. However, it is important to remember that human supplements may contain things that are harmful to pets and you should always check with your veterinarian prior to using any supplement for your pet.

Sometimes veterinarians will prescribe supplements to treat specific conditions. It is becoming more common that veterinarians are turning to natural therapies, either in combination with traditional therapies or alone, to treat different conditions. One such example would be the use of probiotic when an antibiotic is prescribed. Probiotics add back “good” bacteria to the digestive system to keep it healthy. Many antibiotics will actually kill the good bacteria in the digestive system, leading to diarrhea. Probiotics, when administered at least one hour before or after antibiotics, will help to minimize the digestive upset that can be associated with the use of antibiotics.

What is the difference between puppy and adult dog food?
Sometimes there really is not any difference between puppy food and adult food. There are many foods available that are labeled “For all life stages.” The recognized life stages of dogs are: growth, gestation, lactation and maintenance. So, puppies fall into one group, pregnant bitches into a second group, nursing mothers into a third group and EVERYBODY else into the fourth and final group.

Just because there are foods out there that can meet the needs of all life stages, feeding a puppy formula to a puppy and an adult formula to an adult and a senior formula to a senior, will offer nutritional benefits to your pet. Not to mention the fact that most bags do not have a feeding guide for puppies unless the food is specifically labeled as a puppy food, so you will have to either contact the company or do some guessing as to how much food to feed as your puppy grows and develops.

Puppy formulas often contain DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that comes from fish oil. It is a critical nutrient and helps promote the proper development of the brain and the vision in puppies.

Puppy formulas are often higher in protein and fat than normal adult dog diets. This is because puppies have a higher energy requirement than do adult dogs. If you feed a diet that has lower protein and fat content, the calorie content will also be lower. This means that you will have to feed a larger quantity. For rapidly growing puppies, with high calorie requirements, you might find that you are feeding such a large volume that the puppy can’t digest it and has diarrhea or large, soft stools.

Puppy formulas often have added antioxidants. Antioxidants are well known as important nutrients for aging animals, but puppies actually have a higher requirement for antioxidants than do adult dogs. The reason goes back again to their higher calorie intake. When food is metabolized, free radicals are released into the blood stream. These free radicals do damage to healthy cells. The more energy that has to be metabolized, the more free radicals are released. Antioxidants combat the free radicals, neutralizing them and protecting the healthy cells.

Sometimes puppy foods are a bit more digestible than adult formulas, to make it easier for the immature digestive system of a puppy to process the food.

Puppies require higher levels of minerals in their diet as well. Since puppies eat so much more food than adults of the same size, they usually can meet their needs simply with this increased volume. However, puppy formulas will often have higher levels of calcium and phosphorus than adult formulas because the calories are higher, feeding amounts lower and the specific stage of growth is being targeted by the food in that bag.

You don’t have to choose a puppy formula for your puppy, but it will make things a lot easier on you and is a wise nutritional choice for your puppy if you do.

Why are carbohydrates important?
Carbohydrates are one of the 6 nutritional components of food. The others are: water or moisture, fat, protein, ash and fiber. The sum of all these components must equal 100%. Carbohydrates provide energy to your pet. There are fast burning sources of carbohydrates that provide quick energy (think sugar) or slow burning sources of carbohydrates that provide long lasting energy (think carb loading before the big race). Now, pets really do not have a requirement for carbohydrates in their diet except for pregnant or nursing dogs. However, if you do not have any carbohydrates in your food, this nutrient must be replaced by something else and it would be impossible to make a dry pet food without ANY carbohydrates.

What does the Guaranteed Analysis tell me?
The beauty of the guaranteed analysis is that it gives you a lot of information about what is inside the bag of pet food. Once you understand how to read it, you will be much better equipped to compare different varieties of pet food.

By AAFCO regulations, the guaranteed analysis is only required to list four nutrients: crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and moisture. However, many pet food companies add additional guarantees not only to provide you with more information about the food, but also as a mark of quality. The more things that are guaranteed, the more things that regulatory agencies can test for and fault a company if they do not meet the level on the label. Because of variances between different types of laboratory equipment, sometimes foods can be faulted even if they truly are not deficient in one of their guarantees. Added guarantees mean that the company is working very hard to manufacture a precise formulation each and every time and you can be reassured that bag to bag, that product will likely be more consistent than a product that only guarantees the four required nutrients.

The first nutrient listed is crude protein. This is a measurement of the guaranteed minimum level of protein in the food. If the food guarantees a minimum of 21% protein, it is not going to contain 32% protein. By AAFCO regulations, a diet that states a guarantee of 21% protein, may have no less than 20.4% protein. There is not a specified maximum, but the protein is typically within 2% of the target. So a 21% protein formula would range from 21% to 23%, but would most often be right at 21% or slightly higher. Your dog will benefit from a food that has protein from animal protein sources. After you check the level of protein, look at the ingredient listing to see where that protein is coming from.

The next listing is crude fat. This is also a minimum guarantee, with a 10% allowed variance. So, if the guaranteed minimum fat content is 15%, the minimum allowed by AAFCO would be 13.5%. Most foods very closely target the fat level, so expect very little variance in this nutrient.

Next comes crude fiber. This is typically pretty low, 2-3%, and is a maximum level. In hairball formulas for cats and weight loss formulas, you will usually see a higher level of fiber, usually 6-8%. Higher fiber formulas will result in larger stools than low fiber formulas, but this is to be expected.

Finally, you will see the moisture guarantee. In dry formulas, this is typically 8-12% maximum and in canned formulas it is typically 75 – 85%.

Protein and fat will show the widest variance between different types of pet foods. Cat foods have higher protein than most dog foods. Formulas specifically designed for athletes, puppies, and low carbohydrate formulas for dogs will have high protein content and often high fat content as well.

Read pet nutrition 101 in our library to learn more about specific nutrients.

I've been hearing a lot about the rotation diet. What is it and should I feed it to my pet?
The rotation diet is exactly what it sounds like, a rotation of the foods that you present to your pet. Certain manufacturers of pet foods are strongly advocating the rotation diet and since it is getting some time in the press, you are hearing about it. Why should you rotate? Well, the wisdom behind this diet is that nutritional deficiencies may result when a pet is fed a single food every day because of the inability of that pet to process a certain ingredient or because of something lacking in the diet that no one is yet aware of (think taurine in the 80's - no one knew that taurine had to be added to cat foods). Another reason that is brought up as a possible benefit for rotating foods is the possible decreased risk of the development of food allergies by providing a varied diet. Food allergies are not common in pets, but when they do develop, it is after prolonged exposure to a particular protein source. By varying the diet, possibly the body will be less likely to develop an allergy to a particular food.

Rotation can be done daily, weekly or monthly (or even quarterly, yearly, etc) As a veterinarian, I feel that a monthly rotation would be the most frequent that I would recommend to my clients that would like to try the rotation diet. I'm afraid that daily or even weekly rotation might result in more digestive upset for the pet. The changing of the diet is always a potential trigger for digestive upset and a gradual switch from one food to the next is highly recommended.

The rotation of proteins that you present to your pet will offer different sources of the various essential amino acids that your pets need. However, foods that are on the market as complete and balanced must contain all of the essential amino acids that your pet needs to thrive so the benefit of changing proteins may not be a realistic one. If you are already feeding a diet that has protein from several sources, you are feeding your own sort of “rotation” without ever changing the food.

Advocates also suggest rotation between dry, canned and frozen/raw foods. I’m not sure that I see any nutritional value to this type of rotation. I would be most concerned that a pet would develop a preference for one type over the other and would refuse the other types. The biggest concern would be the pet that develops a preference for canned food, which is soft and can encourage the more rapid development of dental disease. Pets certainly consume more water in their food if they eat canned or frozen foods but most pets will make up some of the difference by drinking more water if they are fed dry foods only. Cats with bladder disease may benefit from increased water in their diet, but I would recommend choosing canned food and sticking with it for these cats.

Are there great success stories behind the rotation diet? Of course. But there are also great success stories behind every feeding method. We receive testimonials on a daily basis from pet owners feeding our foods and often feeding only one recipe. There are millions of pets out there that eat the same food every single day and are happy and healthy. Choose the method of feeding that works best for your schedule, your budget and your pet. Signs of a healthy pet are: bright eyes, shiny coat, good appetite, high activity level and playfulness. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about how best to feed your pet.

Does the heat of the cooking damage the nutrients in your food?
Yes and no. It is true that some of the nutrients in the food are diminished by the cooking process. Because of this, we make sure to add higher than necessary levels of these particular nutrients so that the finished product provides optimal nutrition and meets our guarantees.

The food must be cooked under certain conditions (including heat of approximately 200 degrees) to guarantee that the starches in the food are gelatinized. This means that the chemical structure of the starches (or carbohydrates) in the food are altered so that they are able to be digested by the animal eating the food.

While there are some nutritionists who believe that raw foods are the only way to feed ourselves and our pets, we know that you can provide your pet excellent nutrition by feeding a high quality, convenient dry product like ours.

What is ash and why do you put it in your pet foods?
Ash is the non-combustible portion of the diet. This means that when a sample of the food is burned in a special oven called an ash oven, the portion that remains is ash. Just like a fireplace, but much hotter and more controlled. We do not add an ingredient called ash to the food, but our foods (and all other pet foods out there as well) do contain ash.

Ash comes primarily from the bone content of the dry protein ingredients, such as chicken meal. Chicken meal is made from chicken meat and bone and is a natural source of essential minerals. Dry protein ingredients such as chicken meal typically contain 70% protein (fresh meats are only 20-25% protein because of their high water content). This ingredient also is made up of some fat, some moisture, a little bit of fiber, and ash.

Ash levels in pet foods should be controlled, especially in adult or senior diets. Excess ash will contribute excess minerals to the diet, potentially leading to health problems. Ingredients such as chicken by-product meal are much lower in ash than chicken meal or lamb meal, but many individuals choose not to feed diets that contain by-product meal to their pets.

I heard salmon is bad for dogs. Why do you use it in your foods?
There is a parasite that lives in the bodies of some salmon, mostly in the Northwestern United States. Dogs that eat raw salmon can become extremely ill if exposed to this parasite. The salmon that we use is safe for two reasons: the first is that it comes from Alaska, where the parasite is less likely to be found. The second, and more important, reason is that our pet foods are cooked. Cooking destroys the parasite and protects your dog from this serious illness.

What are faba beans?
Faba beans are a legume. They are:

  • Rich source of dietary fiber
  • Very high in protein
  • High in phyto-nutrients such as isoflavone and plant-sterols
  • Contain Levo-dopa or L-dopa, a precursor of neuro-chemicals in the brain such as dopamine, epinephrine and nor-epinephrine
  • Excellent source of folates.
  • Good amounts of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin and niacin
  • Fine source of minerals like iron, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium. Faba beans are one of the highest plant sources of potassium
  • Are an AAFCO improved ingredient for animal feed

Should I be concerned with faba beans in grain free dog food diets?
The FDA is investigating dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs that are not genetically predisposed to the condition. We are aware that they, and many researchers, are studying potential connections between grain-free diets and DCM, and as of this time no direct cause and effect has been established between specific ingredients and the development of DCM. Millions of dogs are thriving on grain-free dog food every day. While faba beans are legumes, they have not been an ingredient specifically mentioned by name in the FDA report.  Veterinary nutritionists have cautioned concerned pet owners about feeding diets with particular ingredients of concern found within the first 5 ingredients. In all of our Classic formulas for which faba beans have been added, they are much further down the ingredient list.  We are confident that veterinary cardiologists and nutritionists would approve of these ingredient lists.

How long can wet food be out in the bowl once opened?
Wet/canned food can be left out in the bowl for up to 2 hours if left out at room temperature.

How long does canned food last once it’s open?
Canned food can be kept in the refrigerator covered for 2-3 days.

Is it OK to mix wet and dry dog foods?
Yes, it is ok to mix wet and dry dog foods as long as they are both appropriate formulas for the dog (ie: adult dog dry formula with adult dog canned formulas)

When should I switch my dog to senior diet?
When switching your dog’s food from adult to mature it depends on the individual dog. Consulting your pet’s veterinarian is advised for the most appropriate recommendation.

Where can you find the expiration date on our canned products?
The expiration date can be found on the bottom of both our dog and cat wet food products.

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

Do I need to brush my pet's teeth?
Brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way to remove plaque from the surface before it can become hardened into tartar. Plaque is a soft substance that is made up of food particles and bacteria. When the minerals in the saliva bind to the surface of this plaque, it becomes hard. This is called tartar and must be scraped off the surface of the teeth, usually under general anesthesia during a procedure called a dental prophylaxis.

Most pets age 2 and older have some degree of dental disease. Dental disease is progressive and if it is allowed to continue, it becomes irreversible and leads to illness, mouth pain and tooth loss.

Start brushing your pet’s teeth when they are young. Use a gauze pad or small piece of cloth, apply a pea sized amount of pet friendly toothpaste, and rub the surface of the teeth gently. It is best to do this when your pet is calm and relaxed and not when it is play time. Your pet will soon become used to the brushing and you can use a soft toothbrush to brush the teeth as your pet grows. Daily brushing is most effective.

If you are looking for something a bit easier to keep your pet’s teeth clean, consider a dental treat that is endorsed by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). There are several brands of treats that have gone through extensive testing to prove their effectiveness. Diamond Pet Foods manufactures one such treat, under the brand name Bright Bites. If you are having a busy day and miss the brushing time, you can use the treats as an alternative. Some people (myself included) choose to use dental treats as the main method for maintaining a healthy mouth with an occasional tooth brushing session thrown in for good measure!

How do I get rid of fleas?
Fleas are a common problem for dogs and cats and are the number one cause of allergies in pets. Flea allergy dermatitis can occur even after the bite of a single flea, so you will not necessarily see the evidence of an infestation on your pet.

The best medicine in this case is prevention. Depending on what climate you live in, you may be able to use seasonal prevention or possibly year-round prevention. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you which method is best in your part of the world.

The best medications to use are those that you purchase from your veterinarian. There are several different brands available and most veterinarians will offer several varieties or possibly just their favorite brand. These topical medications are applied to the surface of the skin and are absorbed into the fatty layer of the skin. They are not absorbed into your pet’s circulation so are non-toxic. Most products are applied monthly and will prevent fleas from getting onto your pet and taking a bite.

Use caution when considering a natural remedy or preventive. Garlic is toxic to pets and has not been proven to be effective for flea control, so think twice about using this for your dogs or cats. If you want to choose a natural preventive, talk to a holistic veterinarian about which substances are safe to use.

How do I add a new pet to my household?
Introducing a new pet into the household can be a fun and rewarding process with proper planning. First, think very hard about whether or not your household is ready for another pet (or even a first pet). If this is your first pet, consider all members of the household in your decision. If you have a toddler, it might not be a great idea to get a puppy and certain breeds of dogs can be problematic with young children. Research the breed that you are interested in and choose wisely. There will never be a shortage of dogs in this world so if you decide it would be best to wait, then wait. NEVER go to the store to pick up some milk and bring home the “cutest little puppy that they were giving away in the parking lot”. Unless you were already planning to add a puppy to your household, you will likely be unprepared and sorry.

So, you’ve made the decision to add a pet to your household and you have researched and have purchased all the required items. Oops – we need to know what the required items are.

For cats:
Stainless steel or glass bowls for water and food
Litter box
Litter
Food (You might want to find out what your new pet has been eating so you can get the same food, at least initially. You can always change later.)
Nail trimmers
Collar (breakaway) and ID tag if your cat will ever be venturing outdoors
Scratching post/cat tree/perch/bed – these are not all necessary, but one or two would be nice

For dogs:
Stainless steel or glass/ceramic bowls for water and food
Leash
Collar (consider a Gentle Leader or Promise Collar, these are head halters that give you better control and prevent your dog or puppy from pulling on the leash)
ID tag
Nail trimmers
Crate or kennel with a soft bed for sleeping
Toys for chewing – these are a must for teething puppies

Now we are ready for our new pet’s arrival home. If you have dogs at home and are bringing home a cat, it would be best to put your dogs away and allow your new cat to explore the house undisturbed. Let the cat approach the door behind which the evil dog beasts are hiding (just kidding), so that she can sniff her competition. Show her the litter box and any cat trees or hiding spots you have selected for her. When you introduce the dogs to your new cat (especially if they have not been around cats before), put the dogs on a leash and let the cat be loose. Maintain good control of the dogs at all times and let the cat choose how much and when to interact. Well-mannered dogs can easily be told to leave the cat alone and the transition should go smoothly. If your dogs are not well-mannered, consider spending the money on obedience classes before you expand the pet population in your home.

If you have dogs at home and are bringing home a puppy or a dog, the procedure should be very similar but all dogs should be leashed and under control during the face-to-face introductions.

Now if you have a cat or cats at home and are bringing some new invader into the house, be prepared for some resistance. This is especially true if you have had one or two cats for a long time and they have never had to deal with anyone else in their space. Potential behavioral problems that can occur are inappropriate elimination, fighting, hiding, and anorexia. Watch closely for any of these things, and intervene immediately. Talk to your veterinarian about specific methods of intervention.

So, follow the same steps listed above. Allow the cats to meet through the closed door first. You should probably not allow face-to-face interaction for several days. Give everyone their own food bowl and their own litter box. You might throw in one extra litter box just to prevent problems. Make sure that all the cats have their own special places to sleep or rest. If you are bringing a dog home to your cat, you might see some of the same problem behaviors. Your cat may just try and avoid the new dog, so make sure that your cat can easily get to food and water and especially the litter box without being bothered.

Whatever you do, do not rush the process or everyone might end up unhappy. Keep in close contact with your veterinarian and address any problems as soon as they occur. Usually, a well-balanced household with lots of happy pets can be achieved with a relatively small amount of work.

How can I tell if my pet is too fat or too thin?
Veterinarians do not really talk about weight as much as they did in the past. Body condition score is now more commonly used for assessing whether a pet is too fat or too thin. It is not very common that we see a pet that is too thin, as the obesity epidemic in pets is mimicking that of the human population in the United States. Nearly half of all pets that are seen in veterinary clinics are overweight or obese. If a pet is too thin, there is often a medical explanation.

If you are concerned that your pet is too thin, please contact your veterinarian right away. To determine whether your pet is too thin, look at them from the top and the side. If you can see the outline of each rib, your pet is too thin. Also, if you can see the actually hip bones when looking down on your pet, this is also an indication that your pet is too thin. If you are seeing these things but your pet has a large belly, there is most likely a medical problem that needs to be addressed immediately. In this case, your pet’s weight may be normal, but the body condition score is too low.

A normal, healthy pet will have a nice waistline and a tucked up abdomen. From the side, your pet’s belly should go up at the end of the ribs. You might be able to see the last rib and this is ok, but you should not see more. If you don’t see any ribs, this is probably ok too, just rub your hand gently across your pet’s ribcage. The ribs should be very easy to feel, with very little fat between the ribs and the skin. From the top, your pet’s waist is very visible. Between the rib cage and the hips should be a nice indentation. Unless your dog is very furry, you will probably be able to see the outlines of the major muscles in their legs.

If you think your pet is too fat, he probably is. If you have to press your hand against your pet’s side to feel the ribs, there is too much fat. Also, if you look at your pet from the side and the abdomen does not go up at the end of the ribcage, there is too much fat in the belly. And finally, when looking from the top, if your pet is a solid sausage with no waistline, he is too fat.

Being overweight is not only a burden to your pet’s bones and joints, but is also a health hazard. Dogs that are overweight are more likely to suffer from pancreatitis and heart disease than dogs that are at a healthy weight. Research has proven that dogs live longer when they are kept at an ideal lean body condition than if they are allowed to be overweight. Cats that are overweight are susceptible to type 2 diabetes, just like people. They are also more likely to suffer from breathing problems and fatty liver disease.

Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s body condition score and start making an effort to get your pet to the ideal lean condition.

How does a dog or cat get heart worm?
Dogs and cats get heartworms when they are bitten by a mosquito that is carrying the larvae. If the dog or cat is not taking a heartworm preventive, the larvae that are injected into the bloodstream will circulate and grow and develop into mature heartworms. This takes about 6 months. If the dog or cat is taking a preventive medication, the larvae will not be able to develop into adults and the pet will not become infected.

Adult heartworms live in the blood vessels of the lungs and also in the heart if the numbers are very high. This can lead to congestive heart failure. Dogs may have infections with hundreds of worms, while cats may only have a few worms.

Often the first symptom of a heartworm infection is weight loss, especially in dogs. Once there are symptoms of heart failure, such as exercise intolerance or coughing, the infection is advanced. There is no treatment for heartworm infection in cats. Dogs can be treated with a poison that will kill the worms. The treatment is expensive and requires that your dog be kept very still as the worms can break loose and get into the small vessels of the lungs and act like a clot.

Heartworm infection is most common in the southeastern United States. It is also most prevalent where the population is high. Living in a lower risk area does not necessarily mean that your pet will not get heartworms. Do the right thing and talk to your veterinarian about the best preventive to keep your pet safe and healthy.

How do I know if my dog is considered a small breed? Or a large breed?
The typical cut-off weights that are used for large breed dogs are 50-55 pounds adult weight. For small breed dogs, typically less than 20-25 pounds adult weight fits the bill.

My pets are eating grass. Why?
Dogs and cats will often “graze” as a normal behavior. There are various types of “cat grass” that can be purchased for indoor growing to offer your cat something appropriate to chew on instead of your household plants. If dogs are grazing excessively to the point that they are vomiting, you should contact your veterinarian. Your pet might be suffering from an upset stomach.

My dogs are eating feces. Why do they do this?
This is a behavioral problem, not a medical concern. Dogs that eat their own feces or more commonly, eat the cat’s feces, are doing so because they like it, they’ve seen another dog in the household doing it and don’t want to miss out or maybe they are bored. Walk your dog on a leash, immediately pick up the feces, and separate your dogs when they go out after meals to help break the cycle. As far as keeping them out of the litter box, the best you can do is put the box somewhere that is not accessible to the dog. My old beagle never bothered the litter box until I got a new puppy. Then she decided she could not pass up those little treats in the box. Well of course the puppy decided he better join in. Now I have the litter box barricaded in a part of the basement that the dogs can’t get to. Not too nice for the cats, but so far they don’t seem to mind and at least they are not getting interrupted during their bathroom breaks.

How much water does my pet need?
Your pet should have free access to fresh water at all times. Most pets will drink the amount of water that they need. In very rare situations, dogs can develop a behavioral condition called psychogenic polydipsia. This simply means that a dog drinks excessive amounts of water with no apparent medical cause. This can be a real challenge to diagnose and treat, so if you suspect this, make sure to work very closely with your veterinarian.

Pets that are outdoors or very active will drink more water than pets that live indoors or lead a sedentary lifestyle. Monitor how much water your pet typically drinks. If he is suddenly licking the bowl dry faster than before, a visit to your veterinarian is important. An increase in water consumption can be an indication of many different health problems including: diabetes, kidney disease and even infections.

My pet has diarrhea every once in a while. Could it be the food I am feeding?
Diarrhea or soft stools is a common complaint from pet owners, especially dog owners who walk their dogs on a leash and cat owners who are responsible for cleaning out the litter box. Dietary intolerances can certainly cause digestive upset, leading to vomiting and/or diarrhea. However, if your pet is not tolerating something in their regular diet, you would expect to see signs of digestive upset everyday, not every once in a while.

For dogs that have occasional diarrhea, the most likely culprit is something they ate that was not part of their regular diet. This could be a treat or it could be something tasty that they found in the yard or on your walk around the neighborhood. It is impossible to prevent a dog from EVER picking something up and swallowing it that they should not. Some dogs do this very infrequently but some dogs do this on a daily basis. If the diarrhea occurs every time you feed a certain type of treat or a certain type of people food, try stopping this particular item and see if the problem stops.

If your dog seems to occasional suffer from a bout of diarrhea, talk to your veterinarian about adding a probiotic into your routine. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that support good digestive health. Yogurt is an example of a food that contains probiotics. Plain, nonfat yogurt added to your pet’s dish once in a while may work wonders (not all pets tolerate yogurt and this is not recommended for all types of pets so talk to your vet first).

Cats with diarrhea are a bit trickier. Intermittent diarrhea is not that common in a cat. Stress may cause diarrhea, but it more typically causes blood in the stools. If your cat has diarrhea one day and then is fine for months, there is probably not anything that needs to be done. However, if your cat is having intermittent diarrhea, a trip to the veterinarian is warranted.

Can high protein affect my dog's behavior?
Possibly. SOME dogs, but certainly not all dogs, develop aggressive behavior when they are eating a high protein diet. Lowering the protein content in their food may help reduce the aggressive behavior. This is a rare situation and most aggression disorders are behavioral or medical problems that need to be addressed with a veterinarian and a behavior specialist. Aggressive dogs are dangerous and their aggression should be treated at the first sign by a professional.

Are your foods hypoallergenic?
We get this question quite often and the answer is no. There are very few truly hypoallergenic diets in the marketplace and the ones that are out there are available only through veterinarians. Limited antigen diets are another story altogether. Limited antigen refers to a diet that contains only one protein source and one carbohydrate source. Usually, the protein source is something unique that many pets have not been exposed to before. An example would be a fish and potato diet.

Although we do not have any hypoallergenic diets, or true limited antigen diets, sometimes changing to a diet that contains different ingredients than the one you are currently feeding can eliminate some skin problems. All of our foods contain omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, nutrients that help protect the health of the skin and help decrease inflammation. Talk to your veterinarian to determine which type of diet is best for your pet.

My cat has bladder problems. Do you have a diet for this?
We do not manufacture any prescription formulas for the treatment of urinary tract disease in cats. All of our adult cat formulas are designed to maintain a urine pH of 6.1-6.4. This is adequate to prevent struvite crystals from forming. In most cases, this is also appropriate to help prevent calcium oxalate stones, but some cats may need a diet that produces a higher urine pH, such as a senior cat formula.

Feeding a canned product is thought to help prevent stone formation by increasing the total water intake and thus diluting the urine. Cats normally have concentrated urine and diluting it seems to help prevent urinary tract problems. Also, cats with chronic urinary tract problems seem to have an excessive response to stress. Any stress in their environment can trigger a flare-up of bladder trouble. Sometimes even a diet change (even when switching to an appropriate diet) can trigger the development of a problem.

Any cat with a history of medical problems such as bladder stones should have a thorough check-up and a nutritional consult with his veterinarian. If changing diets, switch very gradually (2-4 weeks) to help prevent a problem.

INGREDIENTS

Have you made any recent changes to your ingredient decks?
As part of our commitment to provide the finest products possible, we recently made improvements to our kibble that significantly increased our nutritional levels and palatability. These improvements reflect our dedication to providing a premium, complete and balanced pet food that you can feel confident feeding to your pet. Click here see the differences in our our current and previous ingredient decks.

Does this food contain ethoxyquin?
Chicken Soup for the Soul sources all protein meals (chicken meal, fish meal, etc) from vendors that do not use ethoxyquin. As always, only natural preservatives are used in our manufacturing process to preserve the foods.

Is Chicken Soup for the Soul irradiated?
Food irradiation is a process in which foods are exposed to radiant energy, including gamma rays, electron beams, and x-rays to eliminate foodborne pathogens.

We do not irradiate Chicken Soup for the Soul for a number of reasons, the most important of which is that it is not guaranteed to kill 100% of pathogens present. Irradiation also has the possibility to accelerate the oxidation of the fat in the food and make it spoil faster. If misapplied, irradiation has proven to be hostile toward vitamins, especially B1 (thiamin), activity. A thiamin deficiency in cats can cause numerous health concerns, including neurological disorders.

Are your meats hormone and antibiotic free?
Yes. All of our meats are purchased from food grade suppliers and are certified hormone and antibiotic free.

Do you use any chemical preservatives?
Chemicals are not used to preserve any of our formulas. We use mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) to preserve the chicken fat in our pet foods. Added ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and rosemary extract in some of the formulas also have preservative effects.

Why do you put salt in your diets?
The answer to this question is simple! Dogs and cats require it in their diet. Sodium and chloride are important minerals for dogs and cats, especially for young puppies and kittens. Dietary sodium must be at a minimum of 0.3% on a dry matter basis for growth and reproduction for dogs and 0.2% on a dry matter basis for cats. If we didn't add salt, we would not meet these minimum requirements. For adults, the minimum required is much lower. However, there is some research that supports higher “recommended” amounts. For adult to middle aged dogs, that amount is 0.2-0.4% on a dry matter basis. For cats in the same life-stage, it is 0.2-0.6%. As dogs reach senior status, the recommended amount drops slightly to 0.15-0.35%. As cats reach senior status, the recommended amount drops to 0.2-0.5%. Although our diets are not “salt restricted” like some prescription formulations, they are certainly not high in salt.

PRODUCTS

Do you have a vegetarian diet?
At this time we do not have any vegetarian diets. We believe strongly in the value of high quality animal proteins for optimal health and lean body condition. We offer a variety of formulas with a variety of animal protein sources to appeal to many different pets and their owners. The blend of amino acids that are found in animal protein sources better meet the nutritional requirements for dogs and cats. This does not mean that a balanced vegetarian diet is not possible, but we have decided to stick with quality animal protein sources for now.

Do you employ a full time qualified nutritionist?
We use a certified third party Nutritionist.

Are your diets tested using AAFCO feeding trials or by formulation to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles?
Our products our formulated to AAFCO standards. They are formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles and also verified by analysis during the development process along with further verification through composite sampling program on the initial production run along with follow up sampling and analysis through the quality verification process.

Where are your foods produced and manufactured?
Our dry food is produced in Utah and our canned food is produced in Kansas.

What specific quality control measures do you use to assure the consistency and quality of your ingredients and the end product?
All supply sources go through a thorough qualification process, which includes multiple quality control points, from vendor certification, ingredient specification control, samplings and ongoing quality checks which include sampling and lab testing against declared specifications.