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Help for Feline Acne

I thought I would address a very common problem among many cat owners: Feline Acne.  Ever go to scratch your kitty and feel some scabs under their chin?  This is a very frequent problem called Feline Acne.  It is often caused by bacteria that they pick up as they eat.  The first thing to do when you notice this problem is examine his/her bowls.  Pets should eat out of ceramic or stainless steel dishes as they harbor less bacteria than plastic bowls.  Also, be sure to wash your pets' dishes often.  As for the acne itself, here is a suggestion from Vera (via earthclinic.com):

"In the morning, I cleaned my cat's chin with a cotton square soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide. He did not seem to mind much at all, and there were no residues to worry about. At night (or sometimes right after), I treated the sores with 2% iodine tincture (the yellow kind), then rubbed it in with my finger so he would not lick it. He liked this less than the peroxide, but all in all, it was a trouble-free treatment, easy on us both. There was a visible improvement within days. In 2-3 weeks, he was completely cured. It recurred a month or two later; I started treatment right away, it disappeared in several days, and he has been free of it for over 2 years. (Be sure to also switch to clean ceramic or metal cat dishes, the plastic kind harbor bacteria.)"

I have had success with this method.  Both products clean and dry out the acne and clear it up quite well.  My kitty, Tyson, had feline acne earlier this year and I was able to clear it up with the 3% hydrogen peroxide.  I also switched his food to Innova EVO (eliminating grains from his diet) and his fur has grown thick and soft.  

Howl-O-Ween Pictures

Click below to view the pictures of the Howl-O-Ween Party at Lucia's

Howl-O-Ween Pics

The Principles of Natural Healing

Dr. Martin Goldstein, D.V.M.

1.             Disease is an absence of health and vice versa: health is an absence of disease. But health was here first.

 

2.             Disease is a process used by nature in an attempt to get itself healthy.

 

3.             Degenerative disease is not caused by nature. It is an aberration of nature (caused mostly by – in my opinion – man)

 

4.             Cancer is nothing more than a severe aberration of nature manifested in and by the body.

 

5.             Sickness is an excuse to get healthy.

 

6.             Don’t mess with Mother Nature.

 

7.             The mechanism for healing is already built into all individuals.  Healing therefore occurs most rapidly when we realign with the natural laws governing that mechanism

 

8.             Pure health is spontaneous healing

 

9.             The immune system functions maximally and at peak efficiency in its totally unaltered state.

10.         The degree to which we have to work toward health is directly proportional to the amount we have messed it up in the first place.  Health is simple; disease brings in complexity. 

 

11.         Generally it’s not what you put into the body that restores health; rather its what you let the body eliminate.

 

12.         Physically health isn’t everything, but without it, everything is nothing.

 

13.         Food, including the necessary vitamins and minerals, was intended not to improve, but rather to maintain, the body.  Therefore, the need for treatment reflects the degree to which the individual has strayed from nature.

 

14.         The body does not have to degenerate or age nearly as quickly as we presume.  Each body cell has the ability to replicate itself 100 percent, and the process should continue for longer than we currently expect if we minimize deleterious effects on the cellular structure.  It is only what we choose to do to the body, both consciously and unconsciously, that leads to the premature aging we experience.

 

15.         Genetic predispositions to disease are only predispositions, and do not have to manifest if health is maintained.  Once a genetically predisposed disease condition appears clinically, it can be reversed, although with more difficulty, as a course toward health is taken.

16.         Nature and the being itself are the true healers. The practitioner, in the guise of being the healer, is truly the guide.  Or: Physician, heal thyself!

 

17.          Nature uses disease to establish balance.  Only when our bodies are out of balance are we subject to disease, and if we can just endure the natural healing process, the disease will soon abate having restored us to the balance that is optimal health!

 

18.         In the holistic perspective, there is no such thing as coincidence.

Stella and Chewy's

Stella & Chewy's

At Lucia's, we are happy to introduce Stella and Chewy's Raw Diets and Freeze-Dried Treats!  We currently carry Nature's Variety Taste of Raw and are considering a total switch over to Stella and Chewy's.  The reason for the switch is that the meats in Stella and Chewy's are all free-range and hormone and antibiotic free.  The fruits and vegetables in their diet are organic creating a more nutritious product.  One HUGE benefit (in my opinion) is that it contains Apple Cider Vinegar.  Apple Cider Vinegar (as I have explained to many) is GREAT for digestion, urinary health, skin and coat, and almost anything you can think of.  YAY for Stella and Chewy! Read below for a little more info and check out their website for more... www.stellaandchewys.com

Stella & Chewy’s Products for Dogs

We at Stella & Chewy’s believe that all pets deserve to thrive on real, raw food — the way nature intended. Our products combine free-range meats, with no hormones or antibiotics, and the freshest farm-grown ingredients, organic where possible. Our food is uniquely formulated to strengthen your pet’s immune system and add healthy years to your pet’s life.

Stella & Chewy’s is also free from grains, which means it can help with weight loss, is excellent for dogs with allergies, and helps reduce plaque and tartar buildup on canine teeth.

All of our products are formulated with a panel of animal nutritionists and veterinarians; all food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages. Free of hormones and antibiotics. Natural enzymes and amino acids preserved.

Stella & Chewy’s Products for Cats

We at Stella & Chewy’s believe that all pets deserve to thrive on real, raw food — the way nature intended. Our products combine free-range meats, with no hormones or antibiotics, and the freshest farm-grown ingredients, organic where possible. Our food is uniquely formulated to strengthen your pet’s immune system and add healthy years to your pet’s life.

All of our products are a great source of naturally occuring taurine.

Stella & Chewy’s is also free from grains, which means it can help with weight loss, is excellent for cats with allergies, and helps reduce plaque and tartar buildup on feline teeth.

All of our products are formulated with a panel of animal nutritionists and veterinarians; all food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages. Free of hormones and antibiotics. Natural enzymes and amino acids preserved.

Our cat food contains the same mix of fresh meat, bone and veggie ingredients as our dog food, with a slight difference in the fat and protein ratios so that it is perfectly suited for your cat.

The Most Amazing Video Clip Ever!

deShedding Tool by Furminator

Dog Grooming Review - A Merryvaluation

by Angie McKaig 

Oh, pugs are so cute. They have such short hair.

If you've never met a pug before, I bet you think they're all easy to care for and practically shed-free, right?

Oh, silly reader - that's where you'd be totally wrong. Because pugs are whirling dervishes of shed. They create entire tumbleweeds of cream colored hair everywhere you turn. They save up extra piles of the stuff for the moment you've finished cleaning the floors and furniture, or the moment when you're about to walk out the door wearing black, and then they unleash their scary pounds of fur all over. And I mean all over.

Most grooming brushes are a nightmare with their tiny short hairs. I've met one or two that are almost worth it, but still, it's always been an uphill battle.

Until I fell in love. With the Furminator.

It sounds like a funny name. You may gasp at the price compared to other grooming brushes. But I'm here to tell you:

I'm never going to use another brush on the pug again as long as we both shall live.

This brush was a revelation. It easily doubled or tripled the amount of fur I could pull off the pug in a single grooming session, thereby reducing the amount of pug tumbleweed running around the house afterwards. The product is billed as something that helps to:

       Remove the dead undercoat

Not damage the top coat

       Reduce shedding by up to 90%

It does all that, and how. You can completely see how it pulls out the undercoat; it's a different texture and color than the top coat. But it left Merry with a smooth and glossy top coat. And yes, she sheds less as long as I keep up with the tool at least once a week.

You can see in the third and fourth pictures how much came off the pug in a single, simple, five minute grooming session. And frankly, we tried it on our long haired kitty, and it pulls off BAGFULS of her hair every time we groom her, which saves my clothes (and my allergies!). I can imagine that on a long haired dog it would be nothing short of miraculous.

Keep in mind the brush won't work for every breed - cat or dog. The Furminator web site has lists of which breeds and which breeds can't use the brush.

One caveat: these grooming sessions can get messy. Because its focus is on pulling out dead overcoat, a fair amount of static cling builds up in the dead hairs as they're being removed. And that means they stick - to everything. Your clothes, the floor, your hands, the dog, and anything else that wanders by. My suggestion: dress lightly (shorts and a tank top work best, since the hair has a harder time sticking to your legs than to, say, a pair of yoga pants), and grab big handfuls of hair and roll them between your hands to make a rolled up ball of hair, thereby neutralizing the "static" to some extent.

But honestly, this mess is totally worth it. Think of the mess you're saving yourself later on.

Hands down, four paws (well, actually eight since the cat gets a go with the brush weekly too) down, the best grooming product we've ever tried.

If you have a shedfest in your house, and you don't have this product yet, you are seriously missing out. Go right now. Buy buy. Thank me later.

TASTE OF THE WILD

Dogs

• 

  High Prairie Canine Formula

  A grain-free formula for all life stages with sweet potatoes

   and peas provides highly digestible energy for your active

   dog. Made with real roasted meats, this formula offers a

   taste sensation like no other. Supplemented with fruits

   and vegetables, this hearty formula delivers natural 

  antioxidants to protect your friend's body from the 

  damage of everyday living, supporting a healthy immune

   system and overall good health.

• 

  Pacific Stream Canine Formula

  A fish protein, grain-free formula for all life stages with 

  sweet potatoes provides highly digestible energy for

   your sensitive dog. Made with real smoked salmon, 

  this formula offers a taste sensation like no other.

   Supplemented with fruits and vegetables, this fish 

  and potato formula delivers natural antioxidants to 

  protect your friend's body from the damage of everyday 

  living, supporting a healthy immune system and

   overall good health.

• 

  Wetlands Canine Formula

  A grain-free formula for all life stages with sweet 

  potatoes and peas provides highly digestible energy

   for your active dog. Made with real roasted and

   smoked fowl, this formula offers a taste sensation like 

  no other. Supplemented with fruits and vegetables, this

   hearty formula delivers natural antioxidants to protect 

  your friend's body from the damage of everyday living,

   supporting a healthy immune system and overall good

   health. 

Cats

• 

  Rocky Mountain Feline Formula

  A grain-free formula for all life stages with peas and 

  sweet potatoes provides highly digestible energy 

  for your active cat. Made with real roasted venison

   and smoked salmon, this formula offers a taste 

  sensation like no other. For today's healthy cat,

   this formula is supplemented with fruits and

   vegetables, providing natural antioxidants to 

  support a healthy immune system and overall good health. 

  Your cat craves a taste of the wild. 

  Go ahead and give him one.

  
  

  TASTE OF THE WILD has been one of the most

   well-accepted foods from Lucia's.  

  Dogs LOVE the taste.  If you have a picky 

  pup or kitty,these formulas might just be

   perfect for you.  Come by for a free

   sample today.  Even if your pet isn't 

  picky,everyone loves the yummy taste 

  and uncompromised quality of TOW!
  

Information on Wellness

	Wellness Super5Mix® recipes are formulated holistically. That means we think about your dog as a complete system of health and believe that total wellbeing starts from the inside - out. So our natural recipes use the optimal balance of nutrient rich whole-foods to meet the unique health needs of your dog. We start with premium, human-grade ingredients — including pure protein sources and wholesome grains — and combine them with our unique mix of complementary nutritional supplements — we call it our 5 for Life™ Supplement System. We use fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant power, phytonutrient rich botanicals and herbs for wellbeing, and utilize omega-fatty acids for cellular function. We also include essential vitamins, chelated minerals and active probiotic cultures. Each of our Super5Mix® recipes represents a synergistic combination of natural ingredients created with your dog's whole-health in mind. Our complete line includes flavors, life stages and special solutions to offer you a healthful, flavorful alternative in holistic pet nutrition. Over the years our Super5Mix recipes have helped thousands of pets and their owners see and feel the difference choosing Wellness can make. HIGHEST QUALITY PROTEIN SOURCES OF ANY DOG FOOD Wellness® uses real, USDA grade, "Fit for Human Consumption," naturally preserved meats including Deboned Chicken, New Zealand Lamb and Ocean White Fish. UNSURPASSED DIGESTIBILITY AND NATURALLY PALATABLE We ensure excellent nutrient digestibility through our Digestool™ studies - less nutrients in the stool, means more nutrients stay in the body and reduced stool volume. With satisfaction guaranteed, Wellness does not contain unsavory digests, unidentified "natural flavors," salt or sugars. The "cleanest" ingredient deck of any dog food. Holistic and healthy. 5 FOR LIFE SUPPLEMENT SYSTEM All Super5Mix recipes* include a mix of complementary ingredients for overall wellbeing Fruit & Veggie Antioxidant Rainbow - a proactive step towards fighting disease. WellCoat® Omega 3 & 6 Mix - essential fatty acids for cellular function and healthy skin at guaranteed levels. Botanical & Herb Blend - nature's best ingredients each with their own nutritional properties. Essential Vitamins & Minerals - designed for cellular health, immunity and disease resistance. ActiCoat™ with Live Active Probiotics - added after the cooking process to promote a healthy intestinal tract and overall digestive health at guaranteed levels. THE MOST ROBUST GUARANTEED ANALYSIS STATEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY Wellness recipes include guaranteed levels key nutrients and nutriceuticals like Taurine as a preventative step toward optimal heart health and a combination of Glucosamine and Chondroitin as a preventative step to optimal joint health. Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene & Lycopene are also at guaranteed levels. The caloric content of each diet is stated to help pet parents manage feeding intake. THE WELLNESS DIFFERENCE At Wellness, we do whatever it takes to create the healthiest foods for the pets that depend on us. For each of our recipes we never compromise — selecting nature's finest ingredients and combining them in exact proportions to help support a pet's health and wellbeing. What is Protein-focused Nutrition? Wellness CORE is based on the raw feeding philosophy of providing nutrient-rich, high-quality meat to a dog’s diet. Each grain-free kibble is packed with meat from deboned turkey and chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal, whitefish meal and chicken liver along with a proprietary blend of fruits, vegetables, oils, botanicals that nurture your dog to the core.   Why is CORE different? In a word…balance. When you add more meat to your dog’s daily feeding program, you also add more protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus and calories. And since daily health requires a delicate nutritional equation, these levels must be managed to create balance, not excess-especially when fed everyday as the sole source of your pet’s nutrition. Considering your animal’s whole health, we have created CORE with the meat content you’re looking for but without the excess nutrient levels your dog does not need. CORE provides incredibly flavorful, protein-focused nutrition the WellnessWay with nothing in excess and everything in balance. We are proud to add this choice to the Wellness line of natural food for pets. This diet supports our continued belief that thoughtfully balanced natural nutrition is the foundation of wellbeing, happiness and longevity we want for all of our family members, including our animals. THE WELLNESS WAY™ All-Natural     Grain Free with Lower Carbohydrates     Higher Protein while still Controlling Fat, Calories, Calcium and Phosphorus      5 High Quality Meat Sources in our CORE Original & Reduced Fat Formulas     4 High Quality Meat Sources in our CORE Ocean Formula     Fish & Flax Omega Blend     Living Food with Active Probiotics     Power Greens Phyto-Nutrient Mix DID YOU KNOW? The majority of the grain-free diets available today contain extreme, super-concentrated nutrient levels far beyond that of everyday super-premium dog food: • 75% more protein                            • 87% more calcium • 57% more fat                                    • 53% more phosphorus • 16% more calories *ALL percentages calculated on a dry matter basis These nutrient levels (calories, fat, protein) have been historically recommended only during sustained levels of high stress, high energy and peak nutritional demand including: • Hunting, racing, showing, competition • Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness • Breeding, lactation and weaning The high levels of Calcium and Phosphorus are generally not recommended for any special condition or circumstance.