Oconomowoc – Blog  

Hi Friends! This week we're going to be talking about the benefits of different bird feeders and the seeds that go with them. Peanut Feeder There are two different types of peanuts you can feed, Shelled or Peanut Pieces. Shelled Shelled peanuts attract Blue Jays the most, but Red-Bellied Woodpeckers have been known to visit the feeders as well. Some other birds may grab a peanut here and there but the thick shell makes it harder for the smaller birds to crack. One other common visitor to the shelled peanut feeder is the squirrels. The most common shelled peanut feeder is one that is shaped like a wreath. Very easy to fill with a slinky-like metal that wraps around a metal base, making it easy for the birds to grab and go. Peanut Pieces Peanut [...]

Hey Friends! This week we're talking about some awesome products that are made right here in Wisconsin! STELLA & CHEWY'S  Stella & Chewy's is a complete and balanced diet for cats and dogs. They use 100% Organic fruits and vegetables, along with healthy proteins from grass-fed, cage-free, wild-caught, and farm-farm animals. Never any use of artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors in any of their products. We carry a wide variety of their foods and treats! Dog Kibble/Wet Food Limited Ingredient Raw Coated Raw Blend Essentials Grain and Grain Free Cartons Cat Kibble/Wet Food Raw Coated Raw Blend Cartons Pouches Dog Frozen Patties Morsels Marie's Kitchen (a gently cooked frozen diet) Dog Freeze-Dried Meal Mixers Patties Magical Dinner Dust Cat Frozen/Freeze Dried Morsels Magical Dinner Dust Dog Treats Wild Weenies Cravin' Bacon Training Treats FROMM Fromm [...]

Hi Friends! This week we are going to talk about what you can do to get your yard ready to be a hot spot for the migratory birds. Fall migration is a great opportunity to attract birds that you don't normally see. By adding a few things to your yard, you can help the birds as they continue their travels. Food Setting up a food station with a variety of feeders will be beneficial to many different kinds of birds. Suet provides a necessary fat for birds not just passing through, but also for birds that stay all year round. Suet has peanuts/nuts or sunflower seeds added to it are especially popular heading into the colder months. Suet feeders are super easy to use for both birds and the bird watcher! Suet comes in a [...]

Hello Friends! It seems that there is still quite a bit of confusion about DCM and its supposed link to grain-free or BEG diets (Boutique, Exotic, & Grain-Free). Prior to the increase in reported DCM cases, BEG diets were a rapidly growing segment in the pet food market, as pet parents were looking for healthy feeding options that included human-grade ingredients, and more meat and fewer fillers such as grain. The exotic proteins in some of these diets offered relief to dogs with allergies to common protein sources. In this blog, I am going to share with you some of the things going on behind the scenes in the pet food industry at the time the public became increasingly aware of DCM, and take a look at some of the other potential causes of DCM. [...]

Hi Friends! We have some new products in-store that are sure to satisfy your dog or cat! Let's check them out! Tucker's Freeze-Dried Tucker's is a family-owned company that makes and packages all their food in Southern Wisconsin. We've had their frozen food for quite some time, but recently started carrying their freeze-dried formulas! They have 8 different formulas: Chicken, Pork & Bison, Pork & Beef, Pork & Duck, Salmon, Surf & Turf, Beef, and Pork & Lamb. Each one has pumpkin to help with digestion, and they don't use HPP (High-Pressure Pasteurize) their freeze-dried products. They use a probiotic formula instead. Victor Victor is our newest food. A family-owned company that built their manufacturing facility from the ground up in Texas. They have a few different formulas to help meet the needs of every [...]

Hey Friends! This week we are going to talk about getting your horse(s) through a change of season. I have two horses of my own. Bullet goes through change of season pretty well. Amtal usually needs a little TLC. Let's talk about what I do to help my guy out! Amtal is a 17-year old Arabian gelding. Toward the end of summer and most of the fall, his allergies get pretty rough. He'll get watery eyes at times, his glands behind his jawline will swell and if it gets really bad, he'll cough. At times he even becomes lethargic. I've tried using Benadryl and it will take the edge off but doesn't work that well. I tried and had great success with the Cavalor Bronchix Liquid supplement. Bronchix Liquid is a natural supplement that uses [...]

Did you ever wonder, with all the different types of animal feed available, how we make decisions on what products to stock? Today we will share with you how the store is stocked, and why we would decide to let a product go. There are a variety of things we consider before a new product makes its way to the store floor. Country of Origin - We do not stock any feed that is manufactured in China, but there are some countries outside of the USA that produce excellent quality, and humanely raised meat-based products we do stock. Italy and New Zealand are two of those countries. New Zealand has very strict animal welfare policies in place for all of its livestock. Quality of Ingredients - We research all ingredient labels on every product that [...]

Hello Friends, this week we are going to explore some ways to boost the nutrition of your dog's kibble diet. I would be remiss if I did not mention that a raw, and properly formulated, diet is the best way to feed your dog. However, we understand that a raw diet is not always possible. Dogs with a weakened immune system may not do well with a raw diet, and let's face it, for large breed dogs or multiple dog households, feeding exclusively raw can be cost-prohibitive. I have 4 large dogs and feeding exclusively raw is out of my budget, so here are some things I do to keep mealtime exciting while making sure my dogs are getting what they need out of their diet. The very best kibble in the world is still [...]

Hey friends! This week, I want to share tips to help out your allergy dogs! I know it can be difficult and sad to watch your poor itchy dog. My dog Ernie, has severe seasonal allergies around this time of the year. So, let's talk about some products that have worked for him! Diet Ernie eats Zignature Trout & Salmon, Zignature is made in Minnesota. All their formulas are potato, grain, and chicken-free with multiple, rotational proteins. We went on a year-long hunt to find the perfect food to help with his allergies. Zignature was the winner! No more soft stools and digestion problems. We've also used Ultra Oil on top of his food, which is an all natural skin and coat supplement with Omega 3, 6, and 9 oils and is also gluten, soy, [...]

Hey Friends! We know that finding a chew for your dog that is healthy, safe, AND long-lasting can be quite the challenge. Luckily, here at Friends of Nature, we carry rawhide alternative chews that check all the boxes. Stop in today to try some of our favorites! Beef Cheek Rolls Red Barn Naturals Cheek Rolls are a puffed, easily digestible dog chew. These beef cheek rolls are both grain and gluten-free, as well as rich in collagen, making them not only great for boredom busting, but also dental hygiene and joint health. These chews come in two sizes and two flavors, making it a great option for a wide variety of dogs. When my dog Pete needs something to keep him busy, these are the first things I go for.  Even with him being a [...]