increasing the vitality of your pet naturally with #SomaPet
Each night at dinner time our dog, N.A.S.H.A., gets Apple Cider Vinegar and UltraOil in her food. She's been taking these supplements for some time because they are natural and effective. Plus, she loves them. She now turns her nose up at any food that doesn't smell strongly of vinegar! I thought we were pretty set in our canine supplement routine, but then I learned about SomaPet, a supplement by SomaLife.
What is SomaPet? SomaPet is a proprietary combination of organic, pure free-form crystalline amino acids that help jumpstart your pet's natural processes of cell repair and regeneration.
I knew that we had to try it. It comes in powder form and contains only natural, 100% organic ingredients. It is sugar free, gluten free, and fat free, and contains no preservatives, additives, fillers, or artificial coloring. And it's vegan. Our family tries our best to keep chemicals out of our bodies, so I was thrilled to see that such an amazing supplement had been created for our pets. SomaPet can increase a pet's vitality and longevity by helping immune function, promoting natural healing, helping maintain healthy energy levels, improving the skin and coat and improving nervous function and bone strength. With N.A.S.H.A. on the eve of her ninth birthday, I was ready to kick things up a notch.
I learned that the supplement was created by Dr. Phillip White, who noticed his beloved German Shepherd, Rover, struggling with mobility as he aged. Dr. White wanted to help Rover's quality of life and began giving him SomaLife's Youth Formula. It helped Rover so quickly and dramatically that Dr. White developed SomaPet so all pet parents could experience the benefits.
I could see that there was nothing bad to be found in SomaPet (my first criteria) so I then wondered what it could do for N.A.S.H.A. Would it benefit her? The SomaPet web site described how it could:
The ultimate dietary supplement, SomaPet consists of a synergistic combination of free form L-amino acids designed to assist:
• strengthens collagen and bones
• improves immune system
• renews vitality
• helps reduce body fat
• healthier skin and coat
• promotes cellular energy
• increases healing
Wow. Sign me up. I mean, sign N.A.S.H.A. up.
As you probably already know, N.A.S.H.A. is quite picky, so I was a little bit concerned about whether she would take to another addition to her food. I added our usual ACV and UltraOil, then sprinkled a scoop of SomaPet onto her food and gave it a dazzling chef-like toss. She was impressed. I must have sold it, because she gave it a sniff, looked at me, then dove right in. She either loved the way the SomaPet tasted or didn't notice it there. Either way–winning.
Seriously. My scraggly dog is now silky thanks to SomaPet.
N.A.S.H.A. has now been taking SomaPet for two weeks. Though I can't tell how it's affected her bone density or immune function, I am amazed to see a transformation in her skin and coat. She's not an overly stinky dog, but she doesn't typically smell like roses, either. Since she's been on SomaPet, she has no odor whatsoever. This odor-fighting thing is not an advertised benefit, but I attribute that to the increased health of her skin. I also notice how her coat is really soft. She's a scraggly little thing, and her coat is pretty wiry and obnoxious no matter what we do. Even straight out of the bath, she looks like she hasn't been bathed in years. But, now, her coat is much softer, somehow. Perhaps my imagination, but this new look coincided with our introduction of SomaPet.
N.A.S.H.A.'s mobility seems to have improved. She's always been pretty spry, but I've noticed that in the past year, it's been more difficult for her to get up on our high bed (Of course she sleeps in the bed with us). She'd have to back up and take a running start, and she wouldn't always make it on the first try. It made me sad to see this change in her, but since she's been taking SomaPet, she springs right up with no do-overs!
Silky SomaPet supermodel.
I've also noticed that N.A.S.H.A.'s activity level has increased. She's a pretty playful dog, anyway, but lately she's been asking us to play more times each day and she plays for longer periods. This makes me so happy because she loves to play fetch and catch (yes, she throws back to us), and when I'd tried to engage her over the past few months, she wasn't as interested as she'd been in the past. I even started calling her my "little old lady." Since she's been on SomaPet, I've definitely seen an increase in her activity level.
I'm thrilled to have discovered SomaPet and will definitely make it a permanent part of N.A.S.H.A.'s supplement mix. Though I can't see how it's benefiting her on the inside, I am confident that it is due to the big improvements I've seen on the outside. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a holistic supplement for their adult or aging pet.
Join me for a SomaPet Twitter Chat on July 22nd from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. EST. Use #BlogPawsChat to join the fun and have a chance to win a bottle of SomaPet!
Connect with SomaPet and SomaLife on Facebook and Twitter.
This post is sponsored by SomaPet and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about SomaPet, but well minded only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. SomaPet is not responsible for the content of this article.
we're volunteering as a family to help homeless pets
The littles and I worked our first volunteer shift this week for Lost Our Home Pet Foundation. We've taken on a weekly shift caring for the cats available for adoption in our local PetSmart. We scoop litter boxes, provide fresh food and water, do whatever cleaning is needed, and, of course, play with the cats and give them lots of love. Mostly I do all the "dirty work" while the littles cuddle and play with the cats.
Here are some of the friends we hung out with this week:
The littles playing with Seven while I scoop litter boxes.
Daisy came right out for cuddles.
Porter gives Mango the safe greeting he learned in volunteer orientation.
Ringo was ready for his close-up.
Hanging with Daisy in her enclosure. Wonder what the adoption fee would be for these two characters.
We had a great time, and we all felt like we'd done a good deed, indeed. We'll miss these guys if they get adopted this week, but we sure hope they do!
If you're interested in adopting one of these cats or browsing Lost Our Home Pet Foundation's complete list of adoptable animals, you can visit all adoptable dogs and cats HERE.
More information about Lost Our Home Pet Foundation:
pet weight loss without deprivation: theo's success with #HillsPet
pet weight loss without deprivation: theo's success with #HillsPet. Photo credit: Alice G. Patterson Photography via Daily Dog Tag
When a pet develops a weight problem, the first thing vets usually recommend is a diet–reduced food intake. It makes sense, right? A pet needs to consume less calories than he burns during the day in order to lose weight. A restrictive diet can be challenging, though, and we hate to feel like we're depriving our animals. My sister puts it well. She's always wanting to lose a few pounds and says "I sure wish I was a dog so someone would put me on a diet." Exactly. It's hard to do it on our own! Our dogs and cats are lucky in the sense that they can lose weight if we put them on a diet, but they are completely at our mercy. And diets for dogs and cats can be so restrictive. We want them to be happy and feel satisfied.
We've all tried a crash diet, right? We achieved some temporary results, but we felt a bit like the devil was inside us? We were hungry!
Theo was no stranger to table scraps or to cuteness. Photo credit: Alice G. Patterson Photography via Daily Dog Tag
Meet Theo. (Awwwww! Isn't he fabulous?) Theo's family put him on a diet, and he wasn't so happy about it. He had achieved some weight loss success with help from his owner, Beth, but he was feeling very deprived.
Beth and her family adopted Theo, an adorable puggle, last July from The Humane Association of Central New York. He was about four years old. Beth recalls "Theo was overweight when we met him at the rescue. But to be honest, I thought he was adorable just the way he was. Theo was 38 pounds when we brought him home!"
The vet thought Theo's ideal weight would be about 30 pounds.
As soon as they brought Theo home, it became obvious that his previous owners had fed him table scraps. Knowing Theo could stand to lose a few pounds, Beth and her family did not follow suit. They reduced his food intake and increased his activity level. "Theo started losing weight, and I thought we were well on our way to a healthier dog," Beth reflected. By Christmas, Theo had lost a fair amount of weight, but by January, his family started to notice that he seemed hungry all the time and they saw a change in his behavior.
Theo looks ready to hit the hors d'oeuvres. Photo credit: Alice G. Patterson Photography via Daily Dog Tag
Theo figured out how to work the foot pedal on the garbage can and started helping himself to anything he could reach. If someone dropped food, Theo was aggressive about claiming it. He tried to steal treats and food from the other dogs. In short, he was miserable and so was I. So I gave up his diet to help get back the pleasant dog I adopted. –Beth
Soon after making this decision, Beth discovered Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, a food that activates a pet's metabolism to regulate appetite and burn fat. It does not require depriving or restricting your pet. Beth hoped that this would be the answer to Theo's hunger issue, yet allow him to continue to lose weight because, she said "being so hungry brought out a side of Theo that I wasn't really comfortable with." When Theo began the Hill's® program, he weighed 32.4 pounds. Though he seemed to get around okay and accomplish all he loved to do–best of all playing with the kids–the veterinarian recommended that to be at his best, Theo would need to lose a few more pounds.
After feeding Theo the Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution for nearly four months, Beth reports that it seems to be working well. Theo has lost a bit more than a pound, and considering that he's so close to ideal weight, now, that's pretty awesome. Beth says that "the most important part of this system to me is Theo seems to be satisfied during the day. He isn't constantly looking for food or whining for food." And it's really easy. Theo gets a cup of food in the morning and 3/4 of a cup at night, plus a few extra pieces of food along with the Hill's® treats to dole out to him here and there (he's so deserving...just look at those adorable eyes–er–hold that thought...that's how we got into trouble in the first place).
Theo now weighs in at 31 pounds. He's only got an itty-bitty way to go. You can do it, Theo! We know Hill's® will help him achieve his ideal weight. Check out how awesome he looks...he's so happy!
What a handsome fellow! Photo credit: Daily Dog Tag
A special thanks to Beth Patterson and her family (and especially to darling Theo) for helping me share their story. Well Minded wishes Theo a lifetime of health and happiness. To learn more about Theo's weight loss journey and cheer him along, please visit him on the Daily Dog Tag blog:
Will Theo Be in the 88% Success Category?
Theo's Weight Loss Journey With #HillsPet
More information about Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution:
if bear can do it, any pet can: gaining back your friend with #HillsPet
is your pet overweight? let's get real
#HillsPet redefines love by helping our pets achieve healthy weight loss
If your pet has tried Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, Hill's® would love to hear about it and celebrate with you. On their Ratings and Reviews Facebook Page, you can share your stories and celebrate others' success. Join me!
This post is sponsored by Hill's® and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Food, but Well Minded only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
my kids think they're lucky to be working all summer
Don't get me wrong. We play in the pool quite a bit in our "off hours," but my kids don't have the typical summer vacation. They go to work with me each and every day, and they help. Like truly help. We don't travel to far-off lands or exotic places, and though I don't think they'd turn down the opportunity to do so, my kids actually think they're lucky to be working all summer.
We don't travel during the summer because our clients do. As a professional pet sitter and work-from-home-mom, when the kids are out of school, they accompany me–aka free child labor–on my visits. They generally know my schedule, and they know all of the creatures in the lineup, so if we're seeing some of their favorites, they'll often be dressed before 5 a.m., ready to make the rounds.
This week is particularly fun because we're looking after one of our favorite animal families. They have a dog, a cat, two horses, and three chickens, and my kids wouldn't let me leave them behind for anything.
Admiring the horses, chatting with the chickens and giving the cat some love.
Sometimes I feel like my kids are deprived because they don't get to do much of what their friends are doing over the summer, but then I review the pictures and see their enthusiasm and realize that putting them to work for the summer doing something they love while spending time together is just as valuable.
It's like our own private petting zoo, all summer long.