#bayareapets

Pet Club has been one of our go-to local pet stores in the Bay Area for a few years now. We like going here because we tend to find lots of food/treats at reduced pricing, and lots of toys (Blanca's fave) for less than $15. They also have self-service pet wash stations at their Emeryville and Santa Rosa locations!

You can find coupons and more info on their website: https://www.petclubstores.com

Here are some good finds from the other day, some of which we already purchase pretty regularly and others that just seemed worth a try ---

Fruitables Superblend Digestive Supplement - a canned pumpkin-based puree with added vitamins and minerals Normal retail price is usually ~$7 per can, but we bought it from Pet Club for $5.49 per can Ingredients: Pumpkin, Apple Pomace, Spinach, Tomato Pomace, Choline Chloride, Ginger, Calcium Carbonate, Cinnamon, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement. Why we like it: Helps to promote healthy stools and digestion.

Pumpkin is considered a "superfood" for pets because it is full of antioxidants - it is a source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron, potassium, and beta-carotenes. The soluble fibre content in pumpkin aids in firming stools by absorbing water as it passes through the GI tract, and also acts as a prebiotic to support the presence of healthy gut bacteria.

The Fruitables Superblend "Weight Loss" formula also contains ground oatmeal and inulin to help dogs and cats feel more full and enhance bowel movement - it's good for pets that would benefit from a low-calorie/high-fiber diet, i.e. patients who are obese or need to lose weight, or have diabetes, chronic/severe constipation, hyperlipidemia, liver/galbladder disease, IBD or lymphoma, etc. This product's efficacy has actually been clinically proven through feeding trials done at Texas A&M University (here's the article - "Lipid Metabolic Alterations and Satiety with a Pumpkin-Based supplement in Obese Dogs") There is also a "Switch" version, which is just 100% pumpkin puree (no additives) - useful when transitioning diets or introducing new foods.

Fish & Venison Jerky by The Real Meat Company - made with sustainably wild-caught hoki and mackerel and free-range venison from New Zealand Normal retail price is usually $20-25 per 12 oz. bag, but we bought it at Pet Club for $16.99. Ingredients: Fish, Venison, Lamb, Dried Chicory Root, Vegetable Glycerin, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (used as a preservative).

Why we like it: The meat is gently air-dried to preserve its nutritional value, and supplemented with dried chicory root (a natural prebiotic) to prime the gut. There are no artificial preservatives, coloring, or fillers --- "mixed tocopherols" are actually a combination of different sources of vitamin E, and can come from nuts, seeds, healthy oils, and leafy green vegetables like spinach. Also, the vegetable glycerin used in their products are indeed vegetable-based, with Kosher certification, refined to meet USP grade - meaning that the glycerin is naturally extracted with low vapour pressure, low toxicity, and low flammability to reach high purity levels. In addition, Blanca's current diet mainly consists of venison and fish as protein sources...

Venison/deer meat is low in fat, but rich in protein, and loaded with iron, phosphorus, zinc, and B vitamins that help support healthy metabolism and red blood cell production, and boost energy. It is also considered a novel protein, which makes it less likely to cause allergic reactions in pets with food sensitivities or inflammatory bowel disease.

Fish like hoki and mackerel are packed with essential omega-3 fatty acids that contribute to pets' overall health by improving the body's inflammatory response, easing pain and swelling of the skin, organs, and joints. Moreover, the wild-caught fish are sourced from certified sustainable fish populations in New Zealand that strive for the highest standards in reducing mercury contamination.

"Joey's Favorite" Salmon Treats by Dr. Marty - 100% real freeze-dried salmon bits Normal retail price is usually $20-26 per 4 oz. bag, but we bought it from Pet Club for $16.99 Ingredients: Salmon. Why we like it: Only one single ingredient, and since it is freeze dried, it still contains a good portion of its nutritional content. They're good to serve as treats or pour as meal toppers.

Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that help support skin and coat health, cognitive function, and improve mobility in dogs with joint or inflammatory diseases.

Lickable Actives Calming Peanut Butter by Green Coast Pet - peanut butter supplemented with L-theanine, an amino acid found naturally in green tea leaves that eases stress-related behaviors

Normal retail price is usually $20 per jar, but we bought it at Pet Club for $15.99 Ingredients: Ground peanuts, L-Theanine. 

Why we decided to buy it: Good for spreading on lick mats or stuffing in rubber toys for enrichment, or even distractions while bathing/grooming or during vet visits. Might also be a good ingredient for making treats at home. This product also doesn't contain any added sugars or xylitol like many commercial peanut butters do. The NASC seal on its label indicates that the product maintains its quality and safety through regular third-party testing.

L-theanine can help to decrease anxiety by raising serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, without causing any negative side effects or overt drowsiness. Research says that L-theanine supplementation in dogs result in reduced behaviors triggered by fear, such as flight avoidance, hyper-vigilance and trembling. There was a study done in 2010 to examine the effects of L-theanine on dogs with noise phobia undergoing behavioral therapy - those that received L-theanine tablets consistently over a ~2-month period tended to exhibit less panting, drooling, lip licking, yawning, vocalizing, attention-seeking from owners, and other compulsive behaviors (here's the article - "Effectiveness of L-theanine and behavioral therapy in the treatment of noise phobias in dogs ").

Although this next product isn't food, it caught my eye because Blanca was due for a bath. She always tends to form some redness/irritation on her chest/upper abdomen area from laying on the ground and wearing her harness.

CannaLove Medicated Antimicrobial Shampoo - a safe and gentle solution to heal hot spots and skin irritations; controls dry, itchy and flaky skin caused by seborrhea or non-specific dermatitis