How many times have we said "he's slowing down" about our senior cats or dogs? When you go to the vets office and they ask how your dog or cat is doing, oftentimes you'll reply with that and that's old. Then your next question might be "what are you going to do?" There are lots of things that can be done for one of the most common diseases of aging dogs and cats...degenerative joint disease (DJD) which is also known as osteoarthritis (OA). Did you know that one out of... Read more →

Whether you’re bringing a cat into your home for the first time, or you're a seasoned cat parent, there are some things you will want to understand about our feline friends. Let’s explore one question you may not have considered: can coat color predict a cat's personality? For years, researchers have tried to determine whether cat coat colors have an impact on cat personality traits. Rumors have circulated among cat parents that their orange tabby cats were notoriously friendly, compared to their gray and white counterparts who were seemingly more... Read more →

We love houseplants but some pets do too. Having plants in your home is a great way to add beauty, keep your air clean and boost your overall mood. However, you have to be careful when choosing houseplants when you have pets. Some houseplants are toxic and can even cause life-threatening health problems for your pet. So, which pets are dog or cat friendly? No worries because we’ve compiled a list of pet-friendly plants that are safe if you have dogs, cats, or both. Pet-Friendly Houseplants African Violets African violets... Read more →

Unfortunately, July 5th is one of the busiest days in both veterinary hospitals and animal shelters. Panicked pups bolt over fences leading to injuries and lost pets, unattended food gets scarfed down causing gastric problems, overheated canines experience heat exhaustion, and the list goes on. I remember when we had our pet sitting business and we would see flyers for lost pets. During our dog walks, people were out searching or we'd hear the stories first hand of pets that got sick during a celebration. The good news is that... Read more →

Every ingredient in dog food should provide a benefit. We choose to feed Life's Abundance dog food because they also believe in a whole-health, or holistic, approach to product formulation. Life's Abundance dog foods include all the nutrients that we know their bodies need — including some cutting edge ingredient choices we’ve made over the years that can pay big dividends to your dog’s health, taurine among them. Taurine publicly emerged as an important nutrient for dogs in 2018 when the canine heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), started making headlines.... Read more →

When you're looking into your dogs beautiful eyes, have you ever wondered if they can sense emotions? Yes they can! Dogs are social animals, and they want to understand us as best as possible. That’s why they read our emotions through subtle postures and facial cues. Since humans have no tails to wag, our furry friends have to decipher other signals to uncover our emotional states. Dog are great at this! Here's an example, when dogs bare their teeth it’s often a sign of hostility. On the other hand, when... Read more →

Did you know that more than half of the dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight? All that extra heft puts our beloved pets at-risk for many serious health conditions. The good news is that solving your companion animal’s weight problem might be easier than you’d expect! Check out these helpful pet weight loss tips to ensure your beloved friend will live an even healthier and happier life: Select A Wholesome Diet One vital measure towards curbing weight is also a simple one — selecting the perfect food. Choose... Read more →

Deciding to bring a new dog into your family is exciting — it’s also a long-term life decision. It’s important to be prepared before you embark on the journey of bringing a new four-footer into the home! There are some common problems that folks run into, but once you’re aware of them, you can steer your pup towards a healthy and happy future. Here are five common mistakes dog parents make: Impulse Adoptions It’s common knowledge that dogs have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. But when those puppy-dog eyes... Read more →

Let's play 'True or False' with our staff veterinarian, Dr. Jessica Vogelsang! When I say “puppy breath,” what do you think of? It’s most likely a pleasant thought, right? People like puppy breath (well, at least dog lovers do!) Now what about when I say “dog breath?” Not such a great thought! No one wants to be told they have dog breath, not even a dog. So what causes the transformation from the sweet smell of puppy breath to the putrid stench of dog breath? It’s easy to combat bad... Read more →

Just like humans, dogs can get scared — and when they do, they may defend themselves by acting out aggressively. If your dog is behaving this way, it’s your job to do what you can to help them get over that fear! Here are some tips for overcoming aggressive dog behavior at home: Learn About the Breed Some dog breeds are naturally more fearful than others. For example, the Chihuahua has a notorious reputation for acting aggressively out of fear. To understand your dog's fear, it can be helpful to... Read more →

As your furry friend gets older, are they showing signs of slowing down? Arthritis in dogs and cats can potentially be treated, giving your pet an active life for years to come. Here are seven common signs that may indicate your pet has arthritis or other joint problems: 1. Limping Did your cat land wrong when jumping off the couch or is it a sign of something else? If your pet's limping seems to be related directly to a potential injury, it's important to have it checked out by a... Read more →

If you own a dog, you probably find yourself gushing to others about how great your four-legged furball is. Now, there are compelling new scientific studies that prove just how amazing they really are! Published in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, the evidence shows that dog owners have a lower risk of death over the long term and are less likely to die from heart disease when compared to non-owners. Researchers also determined that dog owners who experienced a heart attack or stroke had a significantly lower... Read more →

Every summer, our local parks department posts warning signs at the trailhead of my favorite hike warning of the dangers of overheating. Not for people. For their dogs. The trail is five miles round trip, winding up a rocky mountain with little shade and no access to water. If you get into trouble out on the trail, you have to either be carried out or airlifted. Fortunately, most people heed warm weather warnings for themselves, bring enough water and have the appropriate hiking attire, all of which help make rescues... Read more →

NOTE: Life’s Abundance is not the subject of any FDA investigations or cases of DCM. The FDA’s June 27 update linking 16 dog food brands to reports of the canine heart disease dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has pet parents understandably concerned. Our hearts go out to affected families, and we’re happy to address your questions about our brand. Above is a picture of our Rio who has been enjoying Life's Abundance since we adopted him in 2006. Life's Abundance Purpose is You Life’s Abundance is fueled by their passion for helping... Read more →

In July of last year, the FDA's investigation of consumer reports concerning an increase in the number of incidents of a heart disease called canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The dogs did not have a predisposition to DCM but they did frequently eat dog foods containing peas, lentils and other legume seeds or potatoes as main ingredients. The FDA has updated their investigation into the DCM cases and named 16 brands eaten by dogs involved in the official report. Only brands named 10 or more times are in this list while... Read more →

Cats are wonderful, mysterious creatures. And that's just two of the many reasons we love having them as a part of our family! On the other hand, cats are notorious for masking symptoms of disease, which can make determining their health needs increasingly challenging as they age. The signs are there, however, if we know what to look for. In what follows, we'll review the signs and reveal several things pet parents can do to optimize their cats' nutrition as they age. When are Cats Considered Senior? Generally speaking, cats... Read more →

If you've been watching the news or our recalls page, you've been seeing all the dog foods recalled for excess Vitamin D. This is scary and if you have fed any of those, we have tips on what to look for if you're dog is experiencing symptoms of excess Vitamin D. We've also been receiving the questions...Is Life's Abundance involved in the recall? Has Life's Abundance ever had a recall? What does Life's Abundance do to keep our pets safer? Here's the information you are seeking and will help you... Read more →

From FDA.gov - September 20, 2018 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinarians to be aware of the potential for neurologic adverse events in dogs and cats when treated with drugs that are in the isoxazoline class. Since these products have obtained their respective FDA approvals, data received by the agency as part of its routine post-marketing activities indicates that some animals receiving Bravecto, Nexgard or Simparica have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Another product in this class, Credelio, recently... Read more →