Does your dog sleeping position mean anything?

What Does Your Dog’s Sleep Position Mean?

 Courtesy of Life's Abundance Blog 12/15/21

How do you sleep? On your back, on your side, or on your stomach? Maybe you curl up into a ball or maybe you spread yourself out and take up the whole bed. Just like you prefer a certain position while you sleep, so do our four-legged friends. While how we sleep may not reveal a whole ton about our personality or mood, it does say quite a bit for our dogs. Read on to see what your dog’s sleep position means.

Side Sleeping

Just like humans, this is the most common sleeping position for dogs. Sleeping on their side with their paws loose usually means they feel comfortable and safe. You also might notice that your pup moves a lot and twitches in this position. This is because they’re more likely to fall into a deep sleep and dream when they’re lying on their side. These dogs tend to be the loyal and trusting type.

Lion’s Pose

If you’ve ever seen a lion sleeping, you’ll notice they rest their head on their front paws. Dogs can sleep in this same position, but it usually means they’re more in a resting mood rather than aiming for a deep sleep. This puts them in the perfect position so when you have a few minutes to play, they’re ready to spring up quickly! They are usually more devoted and protective and you might find them dozing this way next to your feet.

Sprawled Out

This position looks a bit like Superman with your dog’s front legs and hind legs stretched both ways. This is common with puppies or energetic dogs that love to play but also get tired and want to take a quick snooze. Similar to the lion’s pose, when your dog is sprawled out on their tummy, they want to be ready at a moment’s notice to play tug-of-war or fetch with you. It’s also a great position to cool down on tiled floors. 

Curled Up

Some dogs will curl into a “fetal” position and tuck in all of their limbs. This could mean that your furry friend is trying to protect themselves by hiding all of their vital organs. One study showed that this position is common among dogs in a shelter, an unfamiliar place where they may prefer to go unnoticed by other dogs. It may also be the preferred posture in pups who are anxious such as strays or those getting used to their environment. Dogs who sleep like this may  feel scared, but also have a caring personality. However, this position could also just mean they’re cold and trying to preserve their body heat.

Belly Up

This is the most vulnerable sleeping position for dogs as it reveals all of their vital organs. This means that they are aware of what’s around them and completely comfortable at home with you. These sleepers tend to be more loving and trusting of you. This is also another position that allows dogs to cool off. You might even say that these pups are feeling totally carefree! 

Each of these positions can give you a clue to your dog’s personality and how they’re feeling. Keep an eye on their patterns as this can reveal a lot about their health. For example, it’s normal for dogs to sleep 12-14 hours a day but if you notice they are sleeping more or less than they usually do or sleeping in an abnormal position, it’s always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian.

If you found this interesting, check out these related stories:

The Secret Of The Dog Bow

Dog Chewing Paws: What Does It Mean?

Please visit our Life's Abundance Dog Food website

Gifts for Dogs and Cats

 Holiday Gift Basket for Dogs and Cats

Life's Abundance has wonderful gift ideas for your furry friends!

Order early as they are popular and go quickly

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This DOG Gift Contains:

• One 1.5 oz bag of Turkey Heart Petites Freeze Dried Treats
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Canned dog food recall

 Fromm Family Foods Voluntarily Recalls Four Star Shredded Entrée Canned Food for Dogs Due to Elevated Levels of Vitamin D

When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

 Click here for the FDA page and Product Photos

Summary

Company Announcement Date:

October 01, 2021

FDA Publish Date:

October 01, 2021

Product Type:

Animal & Veterinary
Food & Beverages
Pet Food
Ingredients
Ingredients

Reason for Announcement:

Elevated levels of Vitamin D

Company Name:

Fromm Family Foods

Brand Name:

Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals

Product Description:

Shredded Entrée canned dog food

MEQUON, WI, (OCTOBER 1, 2021) - FROMM FAMILY FOODS is issuing a voluntary recall of approximately 5,500 cases of Fromm Shredded can Entrée dog food due to potentially elevated levels of Vitamin D.

Consumers should stop feeding the products listed below to their dogs.

Potential adverse reactions could occur in all size dogs.  No reports of illness or injury have been reported from consumers to date, however Fromm management has determined it is prudent to pull these four lots out of distribution.

Dogs ingesting elevated levels of Vitamin D may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. Vitamin D when consumed at very high levels can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction. Consumers who have dogs that have consumed any of the affected products and are exhibiting these symptoms should contact their veterinarian.

Affected recalled products were distributed at neighborhood pet stores nationwide. Products are packaged in 12 oz. cans with Best By Date 08/2024. A full list of affected products is below:

Product Name	Net Weight	UPC	Best By Date Range
Four-Star SHREDDED BEEF IN GRAVY ENTRÉE food for dogs, 12 cans per case, 11877	12 oz. per can	7270511876	Best By Date 082024
Four-Star SHREDDED CHICKEN IN GRAVY ENTRÉE food for dogs, 12 cans per case, 11881	12 oz. per can	7270511880	Best By Date 082024
Four-Star SHREDDED PORK IN GRAVY ENTRÉE food for dogs, 12 cans per case, 11879	12 oz. per can	7270511878	Best By Date 082024
Four-Star SHREDDED TURKEY IN GRAVY ENTRÉE food for dogs, 12 cans per case, 11883	12 oz. per can	7270511882	Best By Date 082024

There are no other Fromm products affected by this recall. The recall was initiated after we discovered, through our own analysis, that these products may contain elevated levels of Vitamin D.  We have identified and isolated the error, and in addition to our existing safety process, we have put corrective actions into place to prevent this from happening again.

This voluntary recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased Fromm Four-Star Shredded Entrée canned dog food are urged to return the product to your retailer. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-325-6331 from Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, Central Time, or may contact info@frommfamily.com.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:

Fromm Four-Star Shredded Entrée

 1-800-325-6331

 info@frommfamily.com

Media:

Lauren Grimm

 646-221-9849

 lauren@frommfamily.com

Cleaning your pet's ears (and free sample offer)

How To Properly Clean Your Pet’s Ears

Courtesy of Life's Abundance Blog 8/30/21

Through September 2021 we are offering a free dog and or cat treat sample with your pet purchase!

Click here for info

In the world of pet ownership, it only takes a couple of words to conjure up a visceral, sensory memory. “Dog breath.” “Wet dog.” “Cat pee.” Each compellingly icky in its own way, we spend billions of dollars a year trying to combat the lingering effects of these phenomena. So today, let’s delve deeper into the world of cavernous canals and explore how we deal with these two words: stinky ears. If you know, you know.

 

Ear cleanings are one of the most common requests we get at the vet clinic. From your vantage point as a pet owner peering into the ear, you really can’t assess the health of the ear with the tools you have. It can be hard to know whether you should be doing maintenance ear cleaning or trying to treat an ear infection without some professional guidance. So let’s start with the basics.

Anatomy Of An Ear

Most of us know at least one person who got sent to the ER because they stuck something (cotton swab, pencil, etc) too far into their ear canal and ended up injuring their eardrum. Dogs and cats have a different anatomy which makes this much harder to do - not that you should try! In fact, I’m about to explain why sticking a cotton swab in your pet’s ear isn’t something you probably need to do at all.

First things first: For our purposes, everything we can impact or treat as pet owners counts as the “External ear canal.” This starts at the outside of the ear (the pinna) all the way up to the eardrum. Both the middle ear and the inner ear are on the inside of the eardrum, and that’s where all the little bones and structures that are responsible for hearing and balance live. Unless the eardrum is ruptured due to trauma or disease, that’s not an area you can clean or medicate. So when you’re cleaning the ears or treating an ear infection with drops, you’re treating an infection of the external ear canal.

In dogs and cats, the external ear canal consists of three parts: the pinna, the vertical ear canal, and the horizontal ear canal. In people, the ear canal is one straight line from pinna to eardrum, but in dogs and cats the ear canal takes a 90 degree turn about halfway in. This means there’s a lot more opportunity for debris, fluid, and moisture to get trapped and build up around that bend.

It also means that if you put a cotton swab into the part you can access (the vertical canal), a very likely outcome is pushing ear gunk further into the horizontal canal, compounding any problems your pet may be experiencing, especially when that gunk is sticky.

How To Clean Your Pet’s Ears The Right Way

The best way to clean a pet’s ears is with the right ear cleaner designed specifically for this purpose. Never use peroxide, which is highly irritating! By using a pet friendly ear cleaner, the liquid can get into both the horizontal and vertical ear canal, and dissolve or loosen up any sticky debris. 

I like to warm the ear cleaner bottle up by putting it in a bowl of warm (not hot!) water. Once you fill the ear up with the liquid, you give ‘em a nice squishy ear massage, breaking up all the dirt inside without actually having to put anything into the ear canal. Then step back because your pet will usually shake all the dissolved goo on you, your clothes, and your carpet. (Having a towel nearby or doing this in the tub is wise.) Then, you can use a cotton swab or cotton ball to clean up the parts of the ear you can see as the cleaner drains out. 

When To See The Vet

This routine ear cleaning is something you can do weekly, monthly, or in conjunction with bathing. This is best done as a maintenance routine to keep healthy ears looking and feeling their best.

If you think your pet has an ear infection, make sure you check with your vet before embarking on the cleaning process. Signs include:

• Shaking their head
• Pawing at their ears
• Resisting any handling of the ears
• Smelly discharge
• Large amounts of discharge, ranging from dark brown to yellow or red

• Reddened ear canal

Doing an otoscopic exam at the vet office is a quick and super important step in determining if your pet has a problem. It’s one of the most common reasons we see pets at the office, and very rewarding to help an uncomfortable pet feel so much better!

• Your vet will want to examine the ear to see if there is an infection, foreign body, mass, or ruptured eardrum.
• Ear infections require the right medication to treat yeast, bacteria, or both.
• Medicated ear cleaners can make the process even easier.
• For very dirty ears, it’s helpful to have the veterinary team do a “deep clean” first so the medication can penetrate more easily.
• If the pet has very painful or ulcerated ears, you’re not going to be able to clean or medicate them- this may require sedation or oral medications to help get the ears to the point you can put in topical meds.
• Sometimes ear infections are a part of a larger disease process, such as allergies.

For healthy ears, cleaning with a gentle ear cleaner is all you usually need to keep stinky ears at bay. Stick those cotton swabs back in the drawer and enjoy your snuggles!

If you found this interesting, check out these related stories:

All You Need To Know About Bathing Your Pet

Bad Dog Breath: Checking Your Pup's Oral Hygiene

FREE cat or dog treat sample offer

Through September,  October & November 2021 we are offering a FREE PET TREAT sample for new customers who order a Life's Abundance pet product.

Some rules: :O)

Must purchase from our site below:

Life's Abundance

Purchase any dog and/or cat product (excluding samples), healthy food, treats or supplements and we will mail a free sample of Anti-oxidant Health bars and/or Gourmet Cat Treats.

After your order, just send us an email,   premium4pets @ gmail.com and let us know if you want a free sample of dog treats or cat treats - if you order a dog AND cat food product, we will send you both treats 

Offer only available in the USA - Thank you for shopping with us!

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Dog food recall

 Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Company® Voluntarily Recalls Simply Nourish Brand Frozen Dog Food Due to Elevated Levels of Vitamin D

Summary

Company Announcement Date: August 13, 2021

FDA Publish Date: August 13, 2021

click here for official FDA page and product photos

Product Type: Animal & Veterinary

Food & Beverages

Pet Food

Reason for Announcement: Due to elevated levels of Vitamin D

Company Name: Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Company

Brand Name: Simply Nourish

Product Description: Frozen dog food

Company Announcement

August 13, 2021, Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Company of Monroe, Washington is recalling approximately 51,000 packages of Simply Nourish frozen dog food, due to it containing elevated levels of Vitamin D.

Consumers should stop feeding the products listed below to their dogs. Dogs ingesting elevated levels of Vitamin D may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. Vitamin D when consumed at very high levels or over a long period of time can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction. Consumers who have dogs that have consumed any of the products listed below and are exhibiting these symptoms, should contact their veterinarian.

Affected Simply Nourish frozen food products were distributed at select PetSmart stores nationwide.

Products are packaged in 2lb and 4.5lb packages across specific date ranges. A full list of affected products is below:

Product Name	Net Wt	UPC	Best by range
Simply Nourish Frozen Chicken & Veggies	2lb	73725792262	11/10/2022-1/12/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Chicken & Veggies	4.5lb	73725792264	11/10/2022-1/12/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Beef & Barley	2lb	73725792266	11/10/2022-1/12/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Beef & Barley	4.5lb	73725792267	11/10/2022-1/12/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Turkey & Sweet Potato	2lb	73725792260	11/10/2022-1/12/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Turkey & Sweet Potato	4.5lb	73725792263	11/10/2022-1/12/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Pork & Veggies	2lb	73725792079	8/26/2022-1/13/2023
Simply Nourish Frozen Pork & Veggies	4.5lb	73725792078	8/26/2022-1/13/2023

No illnesses have been reported to date. No other products have been affected.

The recall was initiated after a routine nutrition test confirmed elevated Vitamin D levels on certain Simply Nourish frozen food products. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem arose as a result of the vitamin mix dosage being significantly reduced by the vitamin mix manufacturer, and this change was not detected or properly communicated. As a result, the dosage was not reduced. We care deeply about our customers and their pets, and have put corrective actions into place to ensure this issue does not reoccur.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased Simply Nourish Frozen Food are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-938-6673 from Monday-Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm PST.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:

Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Company

 1-800-938-6673