Monday, January 21, 2013

Pet corner | Newsmagazine Network

Top pet names of 2012

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. checked its database of more than 485,000 insured pets and found that ?Bella,? a name popularized by the ?Twilight? books and films, ranked as the top pet name of 2012 for dogs and cats and came in at No. 3 for birds and exotic pets.

Here is the full list of the 10 most common names for pets:

? Dogs

  1. Bella
  2. Bailey
  3. Max
  4. Lucy
  5. Molly
  6. Buddy
  7. Daisy
  8. Maggie
  9. Charlie
  10. Sophie

? Cats

  1. Bella
  2. Max
  3. Chloe
  4. Oliver
  5. Lucy
  6. Smokey
  7. Shadow
  8. Tiger
  9. Charlie
  10. Tigger

? Birds and exotic pets

  1. Charlie
  2. Buddy
  3. Bella
  4. Max
  5. Angel
  6. Baby
  7. Coco
  8. Rocky
  9. Bandit
  10. Sunny

Giving pets human monikers seems to be the trend. Each of the top five dog and cat names appear also on Babycenter.com?s list of the top 100 baby names of 2012.

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Researchers have found that domestic dogs naturally seek a diet high in fat, and many dogs will willingly eat much more food than they need.

Keeping Fido fit

Left to their own devices, domestic dogs will consume a diet that is high in fat and will happily gobble excess calories, according to an international team of researchers.

At the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in England, researchers collaborated with scientists in Australia and New Zealand to conduct a series of doggie dietary studies. They worked with adult dogs of five diverse breeds ? the papillon, miniature schnauzer, cocker spaniel, Labrador retriever and St. Bernard ? offering them foods with varying amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

The result: When given the choice, dogs consistently chose a daily caloric intake comprised of about 63 percent fat, 30 percent protein and 7 percent carbohydrate. When offered excess food, some dogs lapped up more than double the calories they needed.

According Adrian Hewson-Hughes, lead author of the study, the dogs? behavior probably reflects that of their ancestors who lived in the wild.

?In the wild, dogs and wolves often have irregular access to food, and competition is fierce, leading them to try and maximize their calorie intake whenever possible,? Hewson-Hughes said in a news release. ?However, domestic dogs today have regular access to food and may lead relatively inactive lifestyles compared with their wild ancestors. By demonstrating that dogs will overeat when offered excess food, this research also reinforces the importance of responsible feeding measures, such as portion control, for helping ensure dogs maintain a healthy body weight.?

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Pet product trends

Trend-trackers at the American Pet Products Association have identified the following as some of the top pet product trends for 2012:

? Earth-friendly pet products, such as natural toys and accessories and organic pet foods, are increasingly popular.

? Companies traditionally known for human products are targeting pets, too. Paul Mitchell, Omaha Steaks, Origins, Harley Davidson and Old Navy offer products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire and brand-name toys to gourmet treats and food.

? Pet grooming products now include nail polish for birds, paw-cleaning cloths that resemble baby wipes, and mouthwash and electric toothbrushes for dogs.

? High-tech products such as computerized ID tags, digital aquarium kits, automatic doors and feeders, touch-activated toys, self-cleaning litter boxes and self-warming pet mats are readily available.

? Stylish pet apparel includes faux mink coats, lumberjack vests, Halloween costumes and holiday outfits.

? Because many people like to take their animals on the road, pet product suppliers are offering pet harnesses and seat belt systems, motion sickness aids, and all-in-one kits for toting food, water and safety supplies.

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Show-Me State dogs

The American Veterinary Medical Association recently released results of its 2012 survey on state-by-state pet ownership in the U.S.

Missouri did not make the list of the top 10 pet-owning states came in at No. 4 on the list of states with the most dog owners. According to the survey, 45.9 percent of Missouri households are home to a dog.

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Fighting cat and doggie doldrums

A young entrepreneur has come up with a product to help pets suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) ? a kind of depression that people sometimes experience, usually in the winter months. In November, Oregon-based Pawsitive Lighting began shipping orders for Sol Box, a light therapy box marketed as a device to help balance pets? mood and sleep regulating hormones.

Max Marvin, 21, came up with the idea after noticing that his golden retriever, Luke, was drawn to the light box his owner was prescribed to treat a bad case of insomnia.

?Luke and I were both basking in the sun every single morning, and I found that he was just completely drawn to the light,? Marvin told ABC News. ?Luke would just be on his back enjoying the light, happy as can be.?

Marvin did some research and learned that veterinarians sometimes prescribe medications for pets suffering from a lack of sunlight.

?It was at this moment that I knew I was on to something,? Marvin said. ?I realized that no one was providing a natural treatment for depression in pets.?

Product instructions indicate that the minimum effective dose is 30-45 minutes and pets should gravitate on their own toward the box.

Sol Box retails for about $200 and is marketed as beneficial for both dogs and cats. More information can be found at pawsitivelighting.com.

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Vet visits down

A report issued last month by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) revealed that most pet owners consider their furry friends members of the family, but many do not visit a veterinarian for preventive care.

The ?2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook? contains results of a national survey conducted in early 2012. The AVMA survey polled more than 50,000 households and is conducted every five years.

Survey results showed that at the end of 2011, there were about 70 million pet dogs and 74.1 million pet cats in the U.S. Roughly 66 percent of dog owners and 56 percent of cat owners said they consider their pets family members, but nearly 11 percent of dog owners and about 27 percent of cat owners said they only took their pets to the vet when they were sick. Some said they never visited the vet.

Dr. Doug Aspros, AVMA president, said pet owners should keep in mind that preventive care can save them money in the long run.

?Potential health problems in pets can be diagnosed early and costs can be reduced if our pets visit the veterinarian on a regular basis,? he said.

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Pet product trends

Trend-trackers at the American Pet Products Association have identified the following as some of the top pet product trends for 2012:

? Earth-friendly pet products, such as natural toys and accessories and organic pet foods, are increasingly popular.

? Companies traditionally known for human products are targeting pets, too. Paul Mitchell, Omaha Steaks, Origins, Harley Davidson and Old Navy offer products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire and brand-name toys to gourmet treats and food.

? Pet grooming products now include nail polish for birds, paw-cleaning cloths that resemble baby wipes, and mouthwash and electric toothbrushes for dogs.

? High-tech products such as computerized ID tags, digital aquarium kits, automatic doors and feeders, touch-activated toys, self-cleaning litter boxes and self-warming pet mats are readily available.

? Stylish pet apparel includes faux mink coats, lumberjack vests, Halloween costumes and holiday outfits.

? Because many people like to take their animals on the road, pet product suppliers are offering pet harnesses and seat belt systems, motion sickness aids, and all-in-one kits for toting food, water and safety supplies.

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Show-Me State dogs

The American Veterinary Medical Association recently released results of its 2012 survey on state-by-state pet ownership in the U.S.

Missouri did not make the list of the top 10 pet-owning states came in at No. 4 on the list of states with the most dog owners. According to the survey, 45.9 percent of Missouri households are home to a dog.

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Source: http://www.newsmagazinenetwork.com/2013012130149/pet-corner/

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