How Do You Know Your Pet's Food Is Really SAFE? #WeBelieveinNB

Finding a healthy pet food you can trust can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be!  I've done my best to educate myself on what a high quality food for pets should look like.  Premium Quality Ingredients and Safety are the two most important factors for me in choosing a dog food.  Taste is another key factor, because what's the point in feeding my dog the best quality pet food if she won't eat it!  

I want to feed my dogs the most nutritious food I can, which is why I'm always reading pet food and treat labels.  A habit that drives my husband nuts when we're at the store!  I want to know what's in my dog's food and treats, where the ingredients come from, and how it's made.  For years now, I've trusted Natural Balance Pet Food®.  I've been feeding Icy Natural Balance since I first met them at a pet festival when Icy was a puppy.  I really liked what they had to say. I could hear their passion for healthy pets and for high quality natural pet food, in everything they said.  I read the labels on their food and treats and liked what I saw.  I tried a few samples of food and treats and was delighted with both the quality and how much Icy loved all their products.  We've been fans ever since!

I want Icy to continue to be healthy enough to play like this, so I give her the best nutrition I can!

Natural Balance pet food is a high quality food made with the premium ingredients I want to see in my dog's food.  High quality animal protein, fruits, vegetables and grains (some varieties are grain free). Most importantly, I know it's safe for my pets.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our dogs.  Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

Natural Balance is committed to the Quality, Nutrition, and Safety of their pet food and treats.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE PREMIUM QUALITY INGREDIENTS YOU'LL FIND IN NATURAL BALANCE PET FOOD AND TREATS:

** PREMIUM PROTEINS 

SALMON: Provides essential amino acids that help maintain muscle tone and a shiny coat.

CHICKEN: A premium animal protein source that provides essential amino acids that help maintain strong muscle tone and a healthy, shiny coat.

VENISON: A premium animal protein alternative for pets who have food sensitivities to common animal proteins such as chicken.

LAMB: A great  option for pets who have food sensitivities to common animal proteins such as chicken.

DUCK: A premium quality protein source not commonly used in pet foods.  It's a great option for pets who have food sensitivities to common animal proteins like chicken.

BISON AND BUFFALO: Lean meats rich in amino acids, with fewer calories and less fat than many other meats.




** NUTRITIOUS VEGETABLES 

SWEET POTATOES: A premium quality, grain-free carbohydrates, rich in potassium.  A highly digestible energy source.

GREEN PEAS: With complex carbohydrates and protein, they're a great alternative to grains.

GARBANZO BEANS: An excellent source of fiber and protein, they're easy to digest making them a great carbohydrate alternative.




** WHOLE GRAINS (EXCEPT IN GRAIN-FREE FORMULAS)

Whole grains like OATS are a great source of energy in pet foods. 

FLAX SEEDS, a good source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which help promote healthy skin and coat.

BROWN RICE: A great source of fiber, along with the minerals  magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, as well as Key B Vitamins; Thiamine, Niacin, and B6.






** NATURAL PRESERVATIVES & INGREDIENTS 

Taurine: An amino acid that studies show is imperative for Cardiovascular Health in dogs, especially large and giant breeds. 

Salmon Oils: an excellent source of Omega 3 to support healthy skin and a beautiful coat.




Another thing that's really important to me is that you'll NEVER find these ingredients in Natural Balance pet food:

❌ Artificial Flavors
❌ Chemical Preservatives
❌ Soy
❌ Wheat
❌ Corn
❌ By-Product Meals

What's NOT in a pet food is as important as what is in it. I love that Natural Balance says NO to these ingredients!

IT HAS TO BE SAFE!

The best quality pet food has to be made with high quality healthy ingredients, has to be delicious, and absolutely must be SAFE.  I'm very careful about what I feed my dogs.  I have to feel confident that any food or treats I give them will always be safe for them to eat.  There's nothing more important to me than the health & safety of my pets!

Nothing's more important to me than the healthy & safety of my pets!

Natural Balance goes the extra mile in their Safety Testing. They test every batch of food and treats in their state of the art lab, an ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory, one of the most technologically advanced labs in the industry.  

They don't just perform one test, they perform several different safety tests and they provide transparency by making their test results available online! That gives me a lot of confidence and peace of mind.

At the cornerstone of what Natural Balance believes in are the 4 Pillars of their  Buy With Confidence™ Promise.

> Premium Quality Ingredients

> Safety Testing

> Nutrition Experts

> 100% Satisfaction

These 4 Pillars work together to give pets Nutritious, Safe, High Quality nutrition!

Visit Natural Balance online today and learn more about the 4 pillars of the Natural Balance Buy with Confidence™ Promise.  You'll be so glad you did!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.

Pet Nutrition Experts Are Here To Help YOUR Pet #WeBelieveinNB

There are so many pet food options out there, it can be overwhelming!  Don't you wish there was a bona fide pet food Nutrition Expert to help you determine which food is the best option for your pet? Well, I have good news for you, there is!  

Each member of the Natural Balance® Customer Care Team is a Veterinary Technician with a degree in Animal Health Science.  Not only are they highly qualified, they're totally committed to pet health and wellness!

Premium Quality Proteins, Fruits and Vegetables with NO Artificial Flavors, Corn, Wheat, Soy, By Product Meals or Refined Grains in Natural Balance Pet Food.  That's what I want for my girl Icy!

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our dogs, DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

Natural Balance has a variety of premium natural pet food formulas to choose from.  Their Nutrition Experts are Veterinary Technicians that can help you find the one that's just right for your pet.  Nutrition Experts on staff in Natural Balance's Customer Care Department are ready to discuss your pet's unique nutritional needs and tastes to help you find the best food for your pet.

Their Veterinary Technicians are highly trained and have a background in Animal Health Science.  They are well versed in the unique nutritional needs of pets and are committed to helping you find the perfect food for your pet.  You can phone, email, or Chat Live about your pet with a Natural Balance Veterinary Technician.

Qualified Natural Balance Nutrition Experts 

Natural Balance Nutrition Experts all have degrees in Animal Science or Animal Health.  Some even have Masters degrees in animal nutrition!  They really know the unique nutritional needs of pets. When you contact Natural Balance you'll actually be talking to a highly trained Veterinary Technician with a background in Animal Health Science.

Call, send a message, or chat live with a highly skilled Nutrition Expert about your pet's unique needs.  Visit Natural Balance on their website for contact details:

Visit the Natural Balance website to Call, Message, or Chat Live with a Natural Balance pet Nutrition Expert.

The fact that Natural Balance Nutrition Experts have a background in animal health and nutrition makes them uniquely qualified to talk with you about your pet's nutritional needs.  They are ready to answer any pet-related questions you may have!

Natural Balance pet food is made with premium quality ingredients and backed by their Buy With Confidence Promise™.  If you're not happy with the Natural Balance pet food you've selected, you can return the uneaten portion of the food to where you purchased it for refund or exchange.  You can also contact a Natural Balance Nutrition Expert who will be happy to help you select another formula to better fit your pet's nutritional needs and taste.

** Learn more by visiting the Natural Balance Website! **

PREMIUM QUALITY INGREDIENTS

Natural Balance carefully selected formulas feature high-quality meats proteins, complex carbohydrates and nourishing fruits and vegetables.

Natural Balance pet food is made with High Quality Meats and Proteins, Complex Carbs, and Fruits and Vegetables.

SAFETY TESTING

Natural Balance extensively tests batches of food and treats every day! They don't just do one test, they test for 9 known contaminants.  You can even go to their website, enter the product date code on the package, and view your food's lab test results!  Not many pet food companies do that.

Natural Balance tests their food and treats for these 9 known contaminants

NUTRITION EXPERTS

Nutrition Experts are just one contact away.  Let them help you find the perfect Natural Balance pet food formula for your pet.

Find the right pet food formula for your pet by talking with a qualified Nutrition Expert

100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

Natural Balance wants you to be happy!  If you're not satisfied with the Natural Balance food you've tried,  bring the uneaten portion back for refund or exchange. A Natural Balance Nutrition Expert can help you select a formula that is better for your pet's unique needs.

Natural Balance wants you to be happy with their pet food so they offer a guarantee

I've been feeding Icy Natural Balance since she was a puppy.  She needs a high protein, high quality food for her very active lifestyle.  I feed her the Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diet formula that's grain free and contains single source protein.  It's helped her grow up strong, healthy, and active! 

I believe in Natural Balance because I believe in their Premium Quality Ingredients, Safety Testing, Nutrition Experts and a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

My dog deserves Premium Quality Proteins, Fruits and Vegetables with NO Artificial Flavors, Corn, Wheat, Soy, By Product Meals or Refined Grains.  Your dog does too!  

Visit the Natural Balance website to find the food that's right for your pet.  Talk with a Nutrition Expert and check out the Natural Balance Buy With Confidence™ promise!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.

Natural Balance Pet Food's Buy With Confidence Promise #WeBelieveinNB

Our pets are so important to us.  Many of us consider pets to be part of the family, I certainly consider Icy and Phoebe to be family!  I love them with all my heart and soul and take great care of them.  I always want the best for my dogs, especially the food I feed them.  Just like people, dogs are what they eat.  The food they eat has a huge impact on their health, so I give my dogs the best high quality pet food I can.

You can buy Natural Balance Pet Food with confidence, their Buy With Confidence Promise proves it!

I completely trust Natural Balance® pet food.  Their food is made with Premium Quality Ingredients; High Quality Proteins, Vegetables, and Fruits!  

What's NOT in the food is just as important as what is in the food.  There are NO Artificial Flavors, Soy, Wheat, Corn, or By-Product Meals in Natural Balance pet food. 

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for sharing our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our dogs, DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.


I have a special relationship with my dogs.  They love me unconditionally and enrich my life tremendously.  Icy and I are a therapy dog team and together we give back to our community.  When people meet Icy for the first time they can't help but smile and be comforted.  "She's so sweet!" is a comment we hear often when she meets someone for the first time.  What better way to give back to the community than with your pet by your side?

Our long walks, adventurous hikes, and bike rides are also part of the special time we spend together.  It gets me off the couch and keeps us both active.  It's also a great way for us to strengthen our bond and have FUN!

With such a full and active lifestyle, Icy needs to stay healthy and strong.  She needs a high quality food that's made with premium animal proteins like Chicken and Salmon, two of her favorites, as well as fruits and vegetables.   Here are some of the Premium Quality Ingredients in Natural Balance Pet Food:

Premium Quality Ingredients in Natural Balance Pet Food

The best quality pet food isn't just healthy and delicious, it's SAFE.  That's extremely important to me.  I'm very careful about what I feed my dogs.  Not only do the food and treats I give them have to be of high quality, I have to know it's safe for them to eat.

I know I can trust the quality of Natural Balance pet food.  In addition to premium quality ingredients, they go the extra mile in Safety Testing. They test every batch of food and treats in their state of the art lab, an ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory, one of the most technologically advanced labs in the industry.  

They don't just do a one-and-done test, Natural Balance performs multiple safety tests and makes their test results available online! I'm confident about the safety of Natural Balance pet food, and grateful to have that piece of mind.

Here's a list of the things Natural Balance tests their food and treats for:

You can see the test results of my bag of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets (L.I.D.) dog food, Sweet Potato and Fish flavor in my earlier blog post.

Of course, in addition to quality ingredients and safety, the food I feed my dogs has to be DELICIOUS!!  As you can see Icy can't wait to get her Paws on her Natural Balance dinner!

Icy can't wait to get her paws on her Natural Balance dinner!

Give premium quality Natural Balance pet food a try.  If you're not sure which formula is best for your pet, one of the Natural Balance Nutrition experts can help.  You can phone, email, or Live Chat about your pet with one of their Veterinary Technicians.  Their Veterinary Technicians are highly trained and have a background in Animal Health Science.  They are well versed in the unique nutritional needs of pets and are committed to helping you find the perfect food for your pet!

GET SOCIAL WITH NATURAL BALANCE ON:

FACEBOOK,  TWITTER,  INSTAGRAM!

You  can find Natural Balance pet food at other premium pet stores.  Your dog will thank you for it!  

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.

Celebrating National Pet Week

We've been celebrating NATIONAL PET WEEK!  National Pet Week® celebrates the bond we have with our pets, and all they give to us.  It encourages pet owners to be certain they provide their best friends with all they need for a happy, healthy life every week of the year!

NATIONAL PET WEEK was Created in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA.  The first week of May is designated as National Pet Week, and is dedicated to celebrating America's more than 200 million pets. 

Bil-Jac^® pet food company is supporting National Pet Week by sharing 8 Ways You Can Be a Better Pet Parent with dedicated pet parents everywhere! Keep these important tips in mind all year long.

 

Our pets enrich our lives in so many ways, every day of the year. 

NATIONAL PET WEEK reminds us to celebrate our animal companions and encourages responsible pet care. 

ABOUT BIL-JAC
Bil-Jac is a family brand that has been in business for over 60 years.  In the early 1940's two brothers, Bill and Jack, were in the armed forces serving in World War II.  After returning home, they set out to fill a gap in pet food nutrition by creating what they felt was a much needed  "great improvement" in the pet food that was being offered to the consumer.  It's easy to see how they came up with the company name, they simply combined their first names, dropping the last letter off each name, and in 1947 the pet food company Bil-Jac was born!


NOTE: In exchange for sharing their 8 Ways To Be A Better Pet Parent with my readers, Bil-Jac  offered me a bag of delicious Bil-Jac treats. 

Want Your Senior Dog To Be Sharp As A Tack? #BrightMind

When we adopted Phoebe in 2011, the shelter estimated her age to be approximately 3 years old.  It felt like in the blink of an eye suddenly she was  a senior dog! 

Phoebe was always a feisty little dog and very smart, but as she got older I noticed some changes in her.  It's like she wasn't as.... sharp as she used to be.  My Husky Icy, on the other hand, is two years younger and was always sharper and quicker, especially when learning new things. 

Sometimes I felt bad for Phoebe when we played games with treats.  Icy was right on it but Phoebe needed some coaching and a bit more time to "get it" and join in.  By that time Icy had usually gotten nearly all of the treats!

How do we play this game again?

Don't get me wrong, I think senior dogs totally ROCK, but sometimes they rock a little slower!  According to the experts at Purina Pro Plan®, around age seven the glucose metabolism in a dog's brain begins to change.  That can have a negative impact on a dog's:

** MEMORY

** LEARNING

** AWARENESS

** DECISION MAKING

This actually made me breathe a sign of relief, at least I know the changes I was seeing in my dogs as they age are normal!

This post is sponsored by Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™.  I am being compensated for helping enrich the lives of senior dogs, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.  Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND is not responsible for the content of this article.

If you have a senior dog who isn't quite as sharp as his or her younger self, don't worry!  I have some great news to share with you.  

Purina Pro Plan has discovered a way to promote alertness and mental sharpness in senior dogs, 7 years and older, through nutrition with BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+®  dog food formulas.  I love the idea of achieving improvement in my dog's mental sharpness through quality nutrition!

> BRIGHT MIND 7+ was created with enhanced botanical oils shown to promote alertness and mental sharpness in dogs 7 and older, with visible results in 30 days.  When added to the daily diet of dogs 7 years and older, formulas that contained enhanced botanical oils promoted memory, attention and trainability.

> BRIGHT MIND 7+  contains glucosamine to help support joint health and mobility.

> BRIGHT MIND 7+ contains vitamin A and linoleic acid for healthy skin and coat.

> BRIGHT MIND 7+ contains high quality protein as the first ingredient!

These are all really important for an aging dog!

Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND 7+ promotes alertness and mental sharpness in dogs 7 years and older 

By feeding Phoebe and Icy a daily diet of Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND I hoped to see some positive changes:

** I hope to see more of an interest in interaction and play.
 
** I'd like to see Icy catch on to new games and other things as quickly as she used to, so she doesn't feel frustrated.

** I'm hoping to see a continued interest and enjoyment in our adventures. 

Click these links to learn more about Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ and watch the BRIGHT MIND Effect video.


You can purchase Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND at PetSmart, Petco, Chewy.com, Pet Supplies Plus  and other quality pet food supplies stores.

Remember to do a slow transition whenever you change your dog's food!  Transition your dog from his or her current food to Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND over the course of 7 to 10 days, following the instructions on the side panel of the package:

BlogPaws Contest Mania!

Check out all the cool stuff Mama bought us at PetSmart!  She was one of the lucky winners of a PetSmart gift card in the BlogPaws #PetTravelContest on Instagram! 

Look at all the yummy stuff we got! 

How adorable is this PetSmart gift card!?

Mama says we have to give some of these yummies to an animal shelter where she volunteers.  I'm happy about that 'cause that's where I came from, one of the animal shelters mama volunteers at, in Phoenix.  As long as she doesn't give away our DENTASTIX dental chews or our Busy Bone chews we are OK with it!

You can hardly see me in this picture, my big fat sister is photo-bombing me!  Grrr!

Guess what?  Mama says there's still some money left over on the gift card!  I hope she'll buy me a pretty new collar.  I think I deserve it considering how much I help her on the blog, don't you?

How about you, do you participate in the many fabulous BlogPaws photo contests and Twitter chats?  They're so much fun and there are always great prizes to win!  And we love prizes!  Leave us a comment, we always love hearing from you!

THIS IS THE FRIDAY PET PARADE BLOG HOP! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Feed Your Dog Naturally #PawNatural

These days, I'm all about feeding my dogs a more natural dog food.  That's why I'm really excited to tell you about the launch of Only Natural Pet’s® new canned dog food, Canine PowerStew™ !



Hey look! Mama grew these cans of all natural dog food for me right here in our garden!

This post is sponsored by Only Natural Pet and the BlogPaws ProfessionalPet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the NEW CaninePowerStewTM, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Only Natural Pet is not responsible for the content of this article.

I discovered Only Natural Pet last year when I was looking for all natural grooming products for my dogs.  I have since been using several of their grooming products such as Pet Wipes with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, and the Safe and Sure Eye Wipes to clean tear stains Phoebe gets around her eyes.  Both products work great!

Only Natural Pet's dry Canine PowerFood and canned Canine PowerStew dog food

I love that Only Natural Pet products are made with all natural ingredients.  I can use them with confidence, knowing they are safe for my dogs.  That's why I was delighted to have the opportunity to try their new Canine PowerStew canned dog food.   There are so many health benefits to this holistically formulated natural dog food, I'm excited to share them with you!