The Happy Beast - Blog - Cat Health

Product Review: Steve’s Raw Goat Milk Yogurt
Chelsea Niekelski

Product Review: Steve’s Raw Goat Milk Yogurt

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My poor dog was up all night, and poor me, I was up all night too…cleaning up her vomit. Dogs occasionally get stomach aches, just like we do. Pi is a healthy, raw-fed dog, so her digestive system is pretty solid, but even she isn’t immune to the effects of the neighbor kids feeding her brownies through the fence.

I’ve long been a proponent of using raw goat milk as a supplement for dogs and cats and I’ve seen it work wonders in animals suffering from cancer, diabetes, allergies and digestive illnesses. Steve’s Real Food just released their Raw Goat Milk Yogurt, so I was eager to try it on Pi’s upset tummy.

Steve’s Raw Goat Milk Yogurt has just three (AMAZING) ingredients:

  1. Raw Goat Milk- Full of probiotics and digestive enzymes (i.e. digestive aids and upset-tummy soothers)
  2. Chia Seed- Superfood that absorbs toxins from the large intestine. Also, awesome source of magnesium and phosphorus
  3. Coconut Flour- Believed to be antiviral, antibiotic and anti-parasitic

Goat Milk acts as a complete diet for dogs (remember unpasteurized milk is the first thing infants eat!)  It’s super gentle on their stomachs and is helps keep them hydrated.  For the first 24 hours after Pi’s puke-y night, I just fed her Steve’s Raw Goat Milk Yogurt. Those probiotics got to work, and she quickly made a full recovery back to her wild self.  Hooray!

The yogurt comes in a convenient, resealable, absolutely mess-free container (available in 4oz. or 16oz.) And you can serve it to your dog daily, as a treat, or just when his digestive or immune system needs a boost.  Cats love it too!

And of course, being a crazy dog-mom, I had to try a spoonful of the yogurt too. It’s tangy, smooth and pretty delicious!

Eat Well my Happy Beasts!

Kitten in a litter box reviewing different types of cat litter.
Kitten in a litter box reviewing different types of cat litter.

The Scoop on Cat Litter

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The most widely used cat litter brands are made of bentonite clay, but many cats and owners (including yours truly) prefer a litter made from pine, corn or wheat. Be sure to research your particular brand, but the points outlined below are true of most products. Experiment with different styles of litter until you find one that both you and your cat prefer.

Pine (Nat’s preferred litter!)
We like “Feline Fresh”

  • Non-tracking and non-dusting
  • Made of reclaimed pine wood from sustainable forestry products, in a zero-waste production facility
  • 100% renewable and biodegradable
  • No Chemicals or Additives

Corn
We like “Integrity Corn & Pine Blend” and “World’s Best Cat Litter”

  • Lower tracking than clay litter, with a texture that most cats prefer
  • High absorbency and odor control
  • Superior clumping for easy cleanup
  • Free of chemical fragrances

Wheat
We like “Swheat Scoop”

  • Low tracking
  • Odor control from natural wheat enzymes
  • Clumping
  • Chemical and Clay free

Clay
We like “Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat” and “Integrity”

  • Most common due to it’s superior clumping ability and odor control
  • Suitable for sifting/mechanical litter boxes
  • Texture preferred by most cats

Cons of clay litters:

  • More dust and tracking than other types of litters.
  • Cats with respiratory issues, such as asthma may benefit from a non-dusting litter.
Disaster Preparedness for Pets | The Happy Beast
Chelsea Niekelski

Disaster Preparedness for Pets – Tips for Your Pet Emergency Kit

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It was just about this time last year when the floods hit Boulder County and other parts of Colorado. Fortunately for us, our little house in Lafayette stayed safe and dry. Hearing how the floods affected other families though, was heart-breaking and a very real reminder that we do need to be prepared for a disaster, including disaster preparedness for pets.

After doing a little research with the RedCross, the ASPCA and Code3, I compiled this list of items to keep stockpiled in case of an emergency. It took me less than a half hour to get everything together. I encourage you to take some time this weekend to make sure your pet emergency kit is updated too!

The List!

  • 3-7 day supply of food (I like The Honest Kitchen’s dehydrated food – it’s light and has a long shelf-life)
  • at least 2 gallons of water
  • 2 feeding dishes (preferably stainless steel)
  • extra leash, collar and ID tag (I picked up an inexpensive set from The Happy Beast!)
    • (On Pi’s ID tag I listed her name, our address, my phone number and an emergency contact)
  • paper towels and baby wipes
  • first aid kit
  • medications
  • poop bags (or litter and litter box)
  • carrier for small dogs or cats
  • extra blanket
  • all of this information sealed in a ziploc bag:
    • copy of vaccination records
    • your name and phone number
    • vet’s name and contact info
    • two emergency contacts with phone numbers
    • recent photo of your pet
    • directions for any medications, feeding schedule, behavior issues (in case you are displaced and your dog has to be boarded)

Be sure to tailor your kit to your specific needs, I also added:

  • 1 week supply of Optagest (probiotics in case of upset tummy or bad drinking water)
  • 1 bottle of Ark Natural’s Happy Traveler (herbal calming supplement)
  • 1 bag of yummy treats (I picked Sojo’s Simply treats.  They’re freeze-dried, so they’ll last a long time.)
  • 1 super fun toy.  (Pi loves treat-dispensing toys, so I picked up an extra Busy Buddy)

Hopefully we won’t be faced with any kind of disaster, but I think it’s important to be prepared just in case.  And it’s nice to have these things on hand for those other kinds of emergencies – like running out of dog food when you can’t get to the store!

Stay safe out there and let us know in the comments what else you’d bring along for your furry friend.