I’m sure most of you are familiar with the vital role vitamin C plays in a healthy human diet. While vitamin C is not a “required” nutrient for our pets, supplementation can be as beneficial for them as it is for us.  All of our Precise formulas feature a unique source of vitamin C for your pets: Ester-C®. Ester-C® Calcium Ascorbate is a special form of vitamin C that is important in many of the daily body functions.

Ester-C® promotes higher levels and longer retention of vitamin C in the body, providing support for the immune system. It has also been found to help decrease arthritis pain. Its water-based manufacturing process results in a pH neutral, or non-acidic, product that is easy on sensitive stomachs.

Want to know more? Check out the Ester-C® webpage to read all about its benefits and learn why we consider it an essential ingredient in our pet food.

• Odd Pet Laws: Check out this post from the Petcentric blog to learn a few bizarre pet laws that will make you think twice before taking your pooch for a walk!
• 13 Cats in Sleeves: The Cat’s Meow blog has found your cat’s favorite hiding spot and they have the pictures to prove it! Check out this post to see where your cat might be snuggling when you’re not looking.
• Five Tips for Clicker Training in a Multi-Dog Home: Does clicker training work in a multi-dog house? Read this post from the For the Love of Dog blog to learn some helpful hints.
• Tips for Finding Cat-Friendly Hotels: Tired of leaving your kitty companion at home while you travel? Read this post from the Catster blog to learn how to find cat-friendly hotels that will cater to your kitty!

Skin issues are one of the most common health problems for pets today, and there are few things more frustrating than battling your pet’s stubborn symptoms. These issues are often mistakenly diagnosed as food allergies. Food allergies in pets share similar symptoms with systematic yeast infections, so it is important to consider both possibilities. Here’s a story from a fellow pet owner who switched to Precise as part of her dog’s treatment for food allergies:

A pet owner noticed disquieting changes in her once energized Great Dane. After a trip to the vet and months of irritated skin, ears and feet, she began treating her lethargic pup for food allergies. The antibiotics seemed to work in the short term, but symptoms returned thereafter. After much frustration and research, she came across an article on GreatDaneLady.com that recommended trying Precise to treat yeast problems. One month after switching to Precise Lamb & Rice Sensicare and completing a healthy skin kit, the Great Dane showed noticeable improvement. Three months later, all symptoms were cured.

In my 38+ years devoted to the wellness and nutrition of large and giant breeds, it’s always a pleasure to hear how Precise products are improving your pet’s health! Our high-quality, nutritious pet food is made to promote pet health and wellness. A healthy pet is a happy pet after all!

Dasti is a long-time friend of Precise Pet Products and eats Precise Holistic Complete Large & Giant Adult Formula to keep his energy up and coat shiny. Click here to read more about Dasti.

A: None of our products contain wheat, corn, peanuts or soy proteins. If these are the only allergens she reacts to, I would recommend our Precise Holistic Complete Large/Giant Breed Adult formula.

Our on-staff veterinarian Dr. Lisa Drapela is on-hand to answer questions about your dog or cat’s health. Whether you’re wondering about the best Precise formula or just have a general health question, visit the Ask Our Vet section here on the website to connect directly with Dr. Drapela. We’ll feature some of her answers here on the blog.

Q: Why does Precise periodically change or discontinue its formulas?

A: As a company that actually researches, studies and produces pet food, it is our responsibility to update formulations based on nutritional science that is proven to sustain longer and healthier lifestyles for the majority of pets. At times, some pets may have specific issues that our formulations may not address, but on the whole, we hope to bring forth pet formulations that address the majority of pets needs. Therefore, bringing new brands and improving existing brands may take place at times in order for Precise to continue to be at the forefront in pet food science.

• Top iPhone Apps for Dog Owners: Attention all dog owners on the go! Check out this article from the Geeky Stuffs blog to find out how to keep the latest pooch information on hand!
• Cats vs. Dogs: Which pet is smarter?: Dog and cat owners have been arguing this question for far too long. Read this article from the New York Daily News to learn the science behind figuring out which animal is the smarter species!
• Dog and Grandson Save Grandpa from Choking: Read this article from the For the Love of Dog blog to hear the touching story on how Teddy’s barking saved Grandpa’s life!
• 10 Celebrity Cat People You Simply Must Follow on Twitter: Check out this post from The Cat’s Meow blog to get a rare glimpse of fortunate felines and their celebrity owners!

A veteran show dog breeder, Kennel’s pride and joy, Pedro “Drakesleat Spaghetti Junction”, is currently the number one Triple Hunting Dog in the country. Pedro has sired over 22 champions, and there is even a statue of him in the United Kennel Club lobby!

With dogs who do high performance work, Kennel depends on a food that keeps her pets both mentally and physically healthy. In the past, some of the high-end dog foods Kennel tried resulted in hyper, nervous animals. That’s when she decided to try Precise.

Before Kennel started feeding her dogs Precise, she put it to the test by dropping the kibbles into water to dissolve. In the past, when performing this test with other dog foods, she saw hair and other questionable ingredients left behind after the kibbles dissolved. Once the Precise kibble dissolved, she was surprised to find that she didn’t see anything that concerned her, so she felt good about feeding her dogs Precise. She then began feeding her kennel strictly Precise Lamb Formula and even uses the food as treats!

Pedro enjoys chowing down on Precise, and Kennel says the amount of dental work since he’s needed since switching to Precise is lower than when she fed him other dog foods. With Precise, Kennel has also noticed excellent coats, which are paramount when dachshunds are graded during shows.

“It takes a lot to win me over with the dog food, and Precise has done that,” said Kennel.

With Precise’s help, Kennel is able to keep kennel’s motto — “Nutrition, Genetics and a Loving Environment.”

Scott Steed is the Eastern Regional Sales Director for Precise Pet Products! Scott is responsible for business development and sales.

Recently, I have received many comments and questions about a previous blog post on the different approaches used for switching your dog’s food versus your puppy’s food. Many puppy owners have heard it’s better to switch food slowly to allow adjustment. However, in my experience, it’s better to switch your puppies quickly.

Large and giant breeds grow very quickly from birth to six months of age. At times, you can see a significant difference in just 24 to 36 hours, so changing foods can be tricky with these dogs. It is best not to stretch out the transition period on very young puppies (8 to 20 weeks of age) because it can throw them into developmental orthopedic disease. One such condition is hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), a bone disease that usually affects young, rapidly growing, large breed dogs. Puppies could also experience panosteitis also known as Pano, “self limiting” bone disease characterized by wandering lameness that switches from leg to leg. A faster food transition tends to avoid these problems, but probiotics are essential to the process as well because switching foods quickly can often cause digestive upset so probiotics help prevent this problem.

Each dog food company uses different vitamin/mineral premixes, and there can be an enormous difference in the “quality” from brand to brand. This is another reason why it is important not to stretch out the transition past three meals on very young dogs. By mixing together different foods (adult & puppy) or different brands, you are sacrificing the integrity of each diet diet. This can be very problematic and cause a drastic growth spurt. Additionally, inferior minerals can tie up other quality minerals needed for development.

As long as you use a high-quality, multiple bacteria-based probiotic product combined with digestive enzymes, the transition will be very easy in the early ages, often better than with a mature dog, which may take a little longer. Probiotics that I recommend to ease the transition are ProBio Pac, BakPakPlus or 4 in 1 Probiotic from www.firstchoicenaturals.com.

Remember, Precise Pet Products are rich with nutrients and made with quality ingredients your puppy or dog needs. Each of our lines of dog food also comes in formulas specially made for specific sized puppies.