In Clover Blog

Is eating grass normal for my dog or cat?

We have a glass door at In Clover that is a perfect spot for my dog Floyd to watch the world go by. It overlooks a grassy lawn. I found him there yesterday afternoon staring nose to nose through the glass with a bunny who was chewing intently on a long blade of grass. Floyd is intrigued this time of year by both the lush green grass and the bunny. As spring is springing and you start to spend more time looking out and in your yard you may notice how much grass your dog and cat eat and wonder why? This is one of the most common questions vets are asked this time of the year. No one has a definitive answer because our furry kids can’t tell us if it is because they just like the taste, and if so, why they throw it up. Answers vary from they need to purge, to they have a dietary deficiency, to natural behavior.

There is not a problem with your pet grazing on the sweet spring greens, unless they head straight for the carpet and throw it back up. Dogs and cats have been eating grass and smaller grass-eating prey for thousands of years and there is no evidence that it is bad for them. This is not the case if the grass has been treated with chemicals or herbicides. If that is a concern, keep them satisfied with an organic live grass or wheat grass treat like the ones available at bellrockgrowers.com. If you suspect a dietary deficiency, treat them to a digestive supplement with plant based enzymes and prebiotics found in products like Fresh Digest or OptaGest. Since the digestive tract is 70% of the immune system, keeping their digestive system healthy and happy will pay off with a happier, healthier well pet.

Are You In Clover?

 

 

 

~Living a carefree life of ease, comfort, or prosperity~ 

 

 

I am asked how In Clover got its name, a lot.  When I first came up with the name I was fresh out of a biotechnology company where all of our projects were top secret.  In order to openly discuss the work we used code names that were straight out of a James Bond novel, project X and R gen.  When I was developing our Connectin product line and setting up clinical testing, it felt natural to give the project a code name but the spy genre was just not right. 

 

From the time I was 13 years old and one of my retired regulars at the ice cream stand where I worked gave me a 4-leaf clover (I still have it) to the Van Morrison song Blue Money, In Clover spoke ease, comfort and good luck, this was this animal health project.  As the research solidified into a natural way to position animal healthcare by supporting ease and comfort for all animals, the project practically named itself In Clover.  I later learned that In Clover is an old English idiom that was first referenced in 1507 and means living the life of ease, comfort and prosperity.  May you, and your furry kids, all be In Clover.    

Professional Pet Sitters Week, Just in Time for your Spring Break

Beth Stultz

Pet Sitters International www.petsit.com

Did you know that March 7-13, 2010 marks the celebration of Professional Pet Sitters Week? Introduced by Pet Sitters International (PSI) in 1995, this international campaign educates pet owners about the advantages of in-home pet care and encourages the public to explore professional pet sitting as a viable and rewarding career opportunity.

For pet owners, at-home pet sitting provides a unique alternative to boarding facilities or having to rely on family and neighbors to check in on their pets. Pet sitting goes beyond simply feeding and caring for pets.  Professional pet-sitting services often provide dog walking, care of special needs pets, pet transportation and pooper-scooper services, in addition to basic pet care. 

Whether you are traveling or simply working long hours, a pet sitter can provide you with peace of mind that your pets are being exercised, fed, petted and cared for in your absence. How can you make sure you choose the right pet sitter for your beloved pets?

When searching for a pet sitter, PSI recommends asking these questions:

Is the pet sitter insured and bonded?

Does the pet sitter have a clean criminal history?

Does the pet sitter offer to meet with you and your pets in advance?

How much experience does the pet sitter have caring for your particular kind of pet?

How much time does the pet sitter spend in your home to care for your pets?

Does the pet sitter provide references?

Does the pet sitter use a pet-sitting contract?

What training or Accreditation does the pet sitter have?

Does the pet sitter belong to a professional pet-sitter organization?

For a complete list of pet-sitter interview questions and tips, visit www.petsit.com/locate.

In Clover note:  Resources for pet owners and professional pet sitters are available on a national and local level.  Here are few additional sites to explore:

http://www.petsitters.org/

http://www.proactivepetsitters.com/

 

University Confirms Pets Help Seniors

 
When my daughter was a baby I took her and my 10 year old Golden Retriever, McGee, to the local nursing home to visit the residents.  I thought they would like to see a happy cute baby and McGee was a perfect gentleman to tag along.  While many of the seniors smiled at the cooing baby, I learned first hand of the connection my dog brought.  McGee immediately tried to go with a lady in a wheelchair, even though I told him to stay with me.  I quickly discovered that she had bacon in her fanny pack.  She had been saving it from breakfast in case someone brought a dog in to visit.  McGee loved the pets, treats and kind words. 

 

A recent study completed at Texas A&M confirms that that positive interaction with pets help seniors overcome depression and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 

"Pets keep seniors active both physically and mentally,” Kit Darling, MS, infection control coordinator at the college said. “Walking the dog or going outside with the dog will increase one's activity. Fresh air and sunshine are good for both. Stroking or brushing the animal is good exercise for the hands and arms. Pets may motivate the elderly to do activities they might not do otherwise." 

As I was leaving the nursing home, a feisty lady pulled me aside and told me that she had spent years taking care of kids, when I come back, just bring the dog.

Share the Love but Not the Chocolate.

According to the Nielsen Company, 58 million pounds of chocolate candy will be sold this week.  We know our dogs should not eat chocolate, but how much is dangerous and what about the cat, or the bird?  Is chocolate bad for them too? 

In light of the upcoming holiday, here is a review on why chocolate is bad for our pets.  The culprits in chocolate are the high amounts of caffeine-like stimulants known as theobromine.  Animals metabolize theobromine more slowly and can experience theobromine poisonings from as little as 1.5 ounces of chocolate for small dogs or cats and 1 pound for a 50-60 pound dog.  Birds, due to their small size and rapid metabolism, are even more at risk for the toxic effects of chocolate.  Dark chocolate is the most dangerous for pets and white chocolate has the lowest amount of theobromine, although it has the highest fat content.  Symptoms of theobromine poisoning include vomiting, excessive thirst, diarrhea, hyperactivity and abnormal heart rhythm.        

Supplement Needs for Older Dogs and Cats

 Because our senior dogs and cats are unable to make the digestive enzymes necessary to absorb and digest key nutrients, it is important to supplement their diets with a high quality digestive enzyme product. Look for a supplement with key plant based enzymes such as protease, amylase, cellulase and lipase. Make sure that your supplement does not have fillers such as lactose, rice hulls or animal digest that may cause digestive issues. If the supplement has the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) benchmark of quality seal, you can feel good about the quality that has gone into the product.  

 

Start supplementing your pet's digestive system today, you will notice the difference in decreased amounts of  stool, change in stool odor, color and consistency.  Your pet will feel more vibrant!   

   

Is Salmon Safe for Your Pet?

I walked into my favorite pet store right after work, hungry. I was projecting my tastes as I selected the pet food flavors. The dog food package had a beautiful stream full of jumping salmon. The cat food label had an appetizing array of seafood, I chose the salmon. But then I remembered about “salmon poisoning”, salmon is not safe for pets, or is it?

Living inside some salmon is a parasite, a member of the trematode family that relies on the host salmon to live. Living inside some of these trematodes is another parasitic organism named Neorickettsia helminthoeca, this rickettsia is sort of like a bacteria. And this is where the problem begins. The rickettsia is what can cause infectious disease in dogs and cats who eat raw salmon. This may result in serious illness and death. However, your pet may safely eat salmon if it is prepared by cooking or freezing it first, this will kill the rickettsia. If your pet does eat an infected raw salmon, the symptoms of the disease occur about a week later. They include severe intestinal upset and inflammation. This is easily treated but you will need to give your veterinarian a history of what he has been eating since a routine blood test will look normal.

The name “salmon poisoning” is a misnomer. The salmon simply carries the rickettsia, and not by choice. So cook or freeze your pet’s salmon and bon appetit.

New Job Opening

Operations Support Position

For over a decade, In Clover has been developing the highest quality natural animal wellness supplements. Our innovative products are based on solid scientific research and designed to support vibrant, active and healthy pets. Our products are sold in independent pet stores, veterinarian offices, natural grocers and national chain stores. In Clover is based in Boulder, Colorado.

We are seeking to fill a newly created Operations Support Part-Time Position. The ideal candidate will be fluent with numbers and advanced in Excel. They will have a natural ability to coordinate multiple processes, anticipate needs and create process improvement. Ability to easily and efficiently incorporate changing information and integrate it appropriately is critical to job success.

Key roles and responsibilities include:
• Research and locate resources
• Source/order production materials
• Maintain product/label inventory
• COGS administration and data entry
• Regulatory filings, organization and administration
• Coordinate and schedule contract packaging team.

Please send resume to RRose@inclover.com with “Operations Support Position” in the subject line.

4 Tips for a safe and happy Thanksgiving for your pet.

4 Tips for a safe and happy Thanksgiving for your pet.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, period. Every year we have a houseful of friends, dogs and cats. What could be better? My animal family, Floyd, Jasmine and Chai, however, do not see it quite the same way I do. They are used to having their house, yard and family all to themselves in a pretty nice routine. Thanksgiving is stressful. To help minimize stress and upsets, follow these simple tips from ASPCA and In Clover.

1. Undercooked turkey can harbor Salmonella or Campylobacter, these are bad germs and you do not want them in your pet. The turkey skin, especially when marinated with butter, can be hard to digest. Save the turkey for your human guests.
2. Keep raw bread dough out of reach of your pets. The dough can ferment when in your pet’s stomach and cause gas and serious stomach upset.
3. You know how you feel when you eat too much, don’t let your pet over indulge. Stomach upset and diarrhea are signs of too much of a good thing.
4. Lastly, help to soothe the inevitable stomach upset due to the stress of the day, detour from the routine, Uncle Ed’s overzealous head rubs and too much rich food with a digestive supplement such as OptaGest or Fresh Digest. Your pet will thank you and your day will be more enjoyable for all.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Preventative Care and Supplements

 Remember your grandmother’s saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” We all know she meant that if we take care of ourselves, we’ll stay healthy and avoid seeing the doctor.  The same is true for our pets. Instead of apples, however, a good diet, exercise, and supplements will keep pets healthy and may reduce vet visits.

 

A quality food is the first step to better pet health. A good food can give dogs and cats more energy, a healthier skin and coat, better digestion, and more fully-developed muscles.  When a good diet is combined with regular exercise, pets will more likely maintain a healthy weight, reducing chances of obesity and the health issues that accompany it.

 

Supplements also help dogs and cats remain active, vibrant and healthy. In Clover’s premium natural supplements help support the most common health concerns that lead to trips to the veterinarian.

 

• Joint Health: Connectin - complete formula showed results in 15 days*

• Digestive/Immune Health: OptaGest:  4 enzymes plus FOS

• Dental Health: Grin Daily Treats with green tea for tartar control

 

*data on file

photo above is at In Clover offices and where our office pets can run and play.