The Predictable Pup with a Side of Pie

Astrid is repeating herself again. She is, predictably, a pouty puppy in the window today.

This time she didn't just stop there, though. Astrid thought you all might like a little bonus shot. Perhaps a close-up of her sniffer?

Oh, is that not close enough? Astrid can fix that. Here, how's this?

We sure hope you all aren't getting bored of Astrid's predictable pouty puppy shots. I'll have a talk with her on the importance of variety in model poses.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

We are finally back at our foodie doodles. We've been working on the suggestions you all gave us, when we asked you what foods you would like us to doodle up. Today, we have a little something that a certain tortie requested. And that is, a mud pie suggested by Mudpie!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Today's food tip is all about those carbs. When we think of carbohydrates, things like pasta and bread may come to mind. But, carbohydrates in other forms are also an important aspect in pet food. In a dog or cat's food, carbohydrates often come from plants or grains, such as corn, rice, oats, or wheat. Just as in humans, carbohydrates can serve as a source of energy and fuel for our furbaby's body. That being said, carbohydrates are one aspect of pet food that may hold different levels of importance for cats and dogs.

Dogs are omnivores. This means that, even in the wild, they get their nutrition from both animal and plant sources. For this reason, carbohydrates in the form of plants and grains are of course important in commercial dog food, just as meat products are. 

On the other hand, cats are strict carnivores, and in the wild they gain much of their nutrition and energy from the protein and fat of their prey. This is why plants and grains in commercial cat food is sometimes debated. Some studies indicate that cats in the wild do consume a small percentage of plant and grain carbohydrates, these being from whatever vegetation their prey may have eaten. Regardless, most commercial cat foods do contain carbohydrates from plants and grains, some in far higher percentage than others. This is where reading labels and comparing protein versus carbohydrate levels can be important for cat owners to do.

Not only is it important to consider a cat's strict carnivore ancestry, but it's also important to realize that for cats as well as dogs, a diet with a higher carbohydrate content can potentially lead to digestive concerns, such as diarrhea or flatulence. In addition, just as can be the case with fats and even protein, an excess of carbohydrates in the diet can potentially lead to weight gain. This is all just one more reason why it is so important to research, understand, and discuss with your veterinarian the best diet for your kitty or pup.