Ashwagandha for your doggy’s gut

Anushka Iyer says their wet food is 100 per cent human grade

Each pet is unique and has its own needs. Given that pet care is not personalised, Pune-based Anushka Iyer launched Wiggles after she realised that it was time to question the status quo of the ‘one size fits all' approach. "What is considered good for one pet may not necessarily be good for another," she says.

During the lockdown, she also created India's first pet sanitiser that is alcohol-free. "To no one's surprise our first batch was sold out in 48 hours. Also, our wet food for dogs is 100 per cent human grade, which means humans can taste it too! Premium ingredients with herbs like ashwagandha help their heart and gut." Their latest creation is Yibble, a dry oven-baked food for senior dogs.

The food is a blend of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, which are slow-cooked at a low temperature through an oven-baked process. The technique helps retain the natural vitamins, minerals, colours and aroma of each farm-fresh ingredient. Iyer has created a community of pet parents on Facebook, titled Wiggles Tribe, which has over 7,500 active members across India. Its aim is to educate pet parents by connecting them with their in-house veterinarians, trainers, behaviourists, groomers and nutritionists. Queries are centred on vaccinations, deworming, nutrition, tick control and skin issues.

wiggles.in

To help navigate pet parenthood, Iyer shares a list of dos and don'ts

Dos
>> Invest in your pet's health. Vaccinations are important right from the puppy to the senior stage
>> Deworm your pets to keep them safe from internal and external parasites
>> Spend quality time with them. It has numerous benefits for their health and yours, including reduced stress and anxiety and increased opportunities for exercise and socialisation
>> Take care of their dental hygiene. It is an important part of your pet's daily hygiene schedule

Don'ts
>> Skip vet visits. Dogs and cats are masters of disguise, which unfortunately means that many signs of illness can easily go unnoticed
>> Try to groom or vaccinate your pet on your own by reading about things on the internet. Google does not know it all
>> Feed them common foods like grapes, chocolates, aerated drinks, pizza, alcohol, and sugar, all of which are toxic for them
>> Use human products like shampoos and toothpaste on your pets. There are products in the market which are specifically made for them