At some point, you've probably glanced at the back of a tin of dog food and thought, what on earth are all those ingredients for, surely dog food doesn't need all that! However, some ingredients that seem unusual or irrelevant to dog food can have important functions. One of those such ingredients is vegetable gums. We look a little closer into what vegetable gums are, and why they are a useful addition to wet food.
Liver disease is fairly common in cats. Liver disease in cats can happen on its own, or the liver can be affected by other conditions, such as diabetes. The good news is that the liver is very good at repairing itself! Also, two-thirds of the liver would need to be badly affected for actual liverfailureto occur. Appropriate, good quality nutrition plays an important role in the recovery from liver disease, so let’s explore what food is best for cats with liver disease.
One of the most successful treatments for kidney disease in dogs is not medicine or tablets, but the power of targeted nutrition. A diet created specifically for the body's needs to cope with kidney disease can lengthen the amount of time our beloved friends are with us by up to thirteen months. Unfortunately, kidney disease is often progressive, getting worse with time, so the sooner a kidney-focused diet is started, the better, and there is plenty of evidenceto support this theory.
At Zealandia, we are committed to providing pets with a diet rooted in quality, transparency, and wholesome ingredients. Our canned foods are crafted using only the finest cuts of meat and nutrient-rich organs from the human consumption chain. Here, we’ll break down what’s in each can and the specific benefits of the lamb ingredients we use to support your pet’s health and vitality.
Heart disease is common in dogs, with around 10% of dogs who attend a vet practice suffering from some form of heart disease. Sadly, heart disease is also one of the top ten causes of death in cats. As with humans, there are risk factors for heart disease in pets. While many of these are unavoidable, there are some measures you can take to support their health. This article explores heart disease in dogs and cats, and the important role nutrition can play in supporting heart health.
The brushtail possum is a fascinating and adaptable marsupial native to Australia. It was introduced to New Zealand in 1837 initially intended to establish a fur trade, as brushtail possum fur was highly valued. However, the species quickly became invasive, with significant ecological impacts on the native flora and fauna of New Zealand.
For Zealandia canned food to be ‘Complete and Balanced’, its products are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are crucial for maintaining the health and well-being of pets, playing vital roles in various physiological processes. This article provides an in-depth look at the vitamins and minerals incorporated into Zealandia's pet food, exploring their functions and benefits.
Feeding your pets a diet rich in nutrients is vital for their overall health, longevity, and well-being. While most commercial pet foods often only provide basic nutrition, incorporating natural, nutrient-dense food sources like lamb organs can significantly enhance your pet's diet. Lamb organs, including liver, heart, kidneys, lung, green tripe, and plasma, offer a plethora of benefits that contribute to optimal health for both cats and dogs. This article explores the advantages of feeding lamb organs to pets and provides insights into how to safely and effectively incorporate them into their diet.
Making sure that your pet is at the correct weight is vital for their health and well-being. Nowadays, the most common issue with weight that vets see in clinics is overweight dogs and cats. However, pets can also be underweight and lack body condition. There are many reasons for this and in these situations, owners may want to fatten up their pet. In this article, we’ll discuss the common reasons why pets may be underweight and give you some tips on how to get your pet back to their optimal body condition.
Everyone hates the thought of their companion suffering. There’s nothing worse than being kept awake at night by your pet scratching and not being able to help them. Itching is one of the most common reasons for dogs and cats to visit the vet. So, if your dog is constantly scratching and biting themself, or your cat is itching and licking, you are probably wondering how you can help. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of itching in dogs and cats, and what you can do about them.
Everything you need to know about how to assess your pet’s weight, if they need to be on a diet and if so, how to start the process.
As pet owners, it can be hard to know if our pets are the correct weight. Are they underweight or overweight, do they need to be put on a diet? With so much information out there nowadays, it can be confusing. But don’t worry, in this article, we’ll discuss everything that you need to know including how to assess your dog/cat’s body condition, the calories they should be consuming, and how to put them on a diet if they need it.
New Zealand, renowned for its unique biodiversity and rich native wildlife, is also home to an unexpected mammal: the wallaby. Originally native to Australia, these marsupials have established populations in various parts of New Zealand, raising ecological, agricultural, and conservation concerns. This article delves into the history, impact, and management of wallabies in New Zealand.
Historically, many canned food manufacturers, including those in the pet industry (not Zealandia), used to make their internal can linings with epoxy resin based on bisphenol A, or BPA in the production of their canned food. Every can needs a thin liner inside so that the food doesn’t corrode the metal from the inside out. The BPA was added to strengthen the plastic.
Diabetes is a relatively common condition in dogs and cats. If your dog or cat has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you may (understandably) be feeling overwhelmed. You will have a lot of information to digest, at the same time as learning how to administer injections to your pet. Luckily, diabetes can usually be well controlled with a combination of medication, diet and weight control. So, let’s explore the important role diet plays in managing this complex condition.
Urinary issues are very common in cats. They are so common that there is a blanket term used to describe any condition affecting the lower urinary tract - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (or FLUTD). Diet plays an important part in the management and prevention of urinary issues in cats. So, let’s take a look at which food is best for a cat with a history of FLUTD.
Dietary allergies or intolerances can cause a wide range of symptoms, and untreated allergies can cause our pets very real suffering. Feeding a special diet can be used to diagnose an underlying allergy, as well as treating it. Feeding the right diet can not only improve their quality of life, but often reduce (or even eliminate) the need for lifelong medication. So, let’s take a look at hypoallergenic meats for dogs and cats with food allergies.
Do you find that your dog or cat commonly has an upset tummy? Does he suffer frequently from diarrhoea and vomiting? Perhaps he has a variable appetite and maybe has lost some weight. Although there are many possible causes of these symptoms, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common condition in dogs and cats responsible for causing ongoing gastrointestinal signs. In this article, we will take a look at what IBD is, how it is diagnosed and how we can manage it. Diet plays a very important role in the management of IBD, so we will be taking a look at what food is best for dogs and cats with this condition.
Whether you’re thinking about adding a kitten or puppy to your family, or if your kitten or puppy is getting older, you may be thinking about what is the best food to feed them. If your pet is approaching one year old, it is probably time to think about switching from kitten or puppy food to adult food. But is making this change essential? What are the differences between these diets? And how can you best make the change? Let’s take a look. Do we need to feed kittens and puppies a different food to adult cats and dogs? The short answer is, yes - puppies and kittens need to be fed a different diet than adults.
You may be keen to support your local wildlife and are wondering what food you can leave out. Or perhaps you are considering feeding some tinned cat or dog food to a different pet. Either way, let’s explore what other animals can also eat canned cat or dog food. It’s important to note that each species of animal has slightly different natural diets and nutritional requirements. So before you consider feeding any animals, it’s important that you do your research first. Let’s look at some animals which can also eat canned cat and/or dog food. Hedgehogs are insectivores. In the wild, they snuffle through the undergrowth looking for bugs such as earthworms, ground beetles, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes.
Pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening condition which can affect both dogs and cats. But what is pancreatitis? How is it treated? And what should you feed a dog or cat with pancreatitis? Let’s take a look. Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a small fleshy organ which sits near the stomach and intestines inside the abdomen.The pancreas has many functions, but is important for digestion and regulating blood sugar levels. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the digestive enzymes which are normally only active in the gut become activated in the pancreas itself, and the surrounding areas.
Increasingly, pet owners and vets are looking for more natural ways to support the health of their pet. ‘Preventative healthcare’ promotes a healthy diet and lifestyle as key components of good health.
However, with the wealth of (sometimes misguided) information available at our fingertips via the internet, and the plethora of diets to choose from, it can be hard to know what’s best for our feline and canine friends.
This article discusses the potential pros and cons of an increasingly popular ingredient for pets, green tripe.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common health conditions affecting adult dogs. It affects more than 80% of dogs over the young age of only 3 years. It’s a painful condition that can progress if left untreated, causing problems around the rest of the body, such as kidney and heart disease. The good news is that periodontal disease is preventable! So, here’s all you need to know about keeping your dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder seen in elderly cats. It is estimated to affect around 10% of cats over the age of 10 years, with some surveys even reporting a prevalence of around 20%. Luckily, hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs. Diet can play an important role in the management of, and recovery from, hyperthyroidism, either as a sole treatment or alongside other therapies. So, let’s explore what food is best for cats and dogs with hyperthyroidism, with a focus on cats.
Sadly, kidney disease is very common in senior cats, in particular chronic kidney disease (or CKD). Unfortunately, there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, so treatment is aimed at both improving quality of life and slowing the progression of the disease. Diet is a very important, and clinically proven, part of the management of kidney disease. So, let’s explore what food is best for cats with kidney disease.
1080 poison has been used for pest control in New Zealand since the mid-1950s. Unfortunately, the poison is not selective in its killing. This means that other animals, including dogs and cats, can also be poisoned by 1080, usually resulting in death. Dogs are particularly susceptible to the poison and hundreds of dog deaths have been reported since 1960, with many more likely to have been unreported. So, let’s look at the effects of 1080 poison on dogs and cats.
Many pet owners and vets are now looking for more natural ways to support their pet’s health. Green-Lipped Mussel is one of these natural products with potential health benefits, it is a form of nutraceutical. Nutraceuticals are products manufactured from food, which have health or medical benefits. If you are considering using Green-Lipped Mussel, this article discusses everything you need to know about Green-Lipped Mussel for dogs.
