Ingredients:

• 100 g raw skinless chicken breast
• 1/3 can pumpkin, or about 3 very full tablespoons
• 1 egg
• dash of cinnamon

I use chicken breast because it’s very lean.  Fatty meats take longer to dehydrate and tend to go rancid faster.  Make sure that you use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling which has added sugar.  Read the ingredients in the label to make sure there’s nothing but pumpkin in it.

Instructions:

1. Cut the chicken breast in large chunks and put in a food processor.  Process until the meat is very finely chopped and looks almost like a paste.

2.  Add the pumpkin puree, egg and cinnamon and mix very well.

3.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and with your fingers drop teaspoon-sized pieces of batter. This batter is  very sticky and a little bit runny to make actual balls or patties, but you can make shapeless bitesize pieces with it.

4.  Dehydrate in the oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 5 hours depending on the desired final texture. You can use a food dehydrator, too, if you have one.   I left my cookies in the oven for 5 hours and they turned very hard, almost like jerky.  If you want them softer start checking at 3 hours.

This is the final result: crunchy, yummy, healthy goodness for your puppy.

Enjoy!!

Grizzly loved his holiday cookies!

“Holidays Are Great and Fun To Share With Our Pets, Who Love To Be Part of the Family Activities, As Long As We Avoid the No-No Foods”

While giving your pets Thanksgiving leftovers or scraps from the table can be a heartwarming experience for you and an exciting experience for them, it is important to be aware of which Thanksgiving leftovers are pet friendly, and which ones should remain in your fridge and away from your pets’ food dish.

To help you decipher which Thanksgiving leftovers are safe for your pets to eat, we have compiled two lists below — a “safe” list and a “not safe” list — that you can use as a quick reference during your Thanksgiving meal. But be sure to pay attention to the pets mentioned in the lists, and how the food should be prepared; just because something is safe for a dog doesn’t mean it’s safe for a cat.

If you, or your family, eat a food during the Thanksgiving holiday that is not mentioned on the lists below, do some additional research or talk to your local vet about the safety of the food in question.

Thanksgiving/Holiday Safety Tips For Pets

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough
Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don’t Let Them Eat Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing
Boneless pieces of cooked turkey, some mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie or cheese cake shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don’t allow your pets to overindulge, especially if you don’t normally cook for your pets, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, if your pets have sensitive stomachs, it is best to keep them on their regular diets during the holidays with just some table scraps added to their food.

A Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them rawhide strips, Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

The “Safe” List

Cranberry Sauce

While cranberry sauce is safe for most dogs, it has the potential to make them a little wild or give them an upset stomach if they’re not used to fruit or foods high in sugar. So if you want to give your dogs a little cranberry sauce this holiday season, start out slow and see how your dog reacts. Cranberry sauce should also be safe for cats and potbellied pigs, but again, only in small portions.

Green Beans

Safe for cats, dogs, potbellied pigs and guinea pigs, green beans that are low in sodium (try using unsalted ones) can actually be good for your pets when served in moderation. As long as the green beans you have leftover this Thanksgiving don’t have anything extra added (no green bean casserole!) they are pet friendly Thanksgiving leftovers.

Ice Cream (Dogs Only), a Few Licks of Pumpkin Pie, Cheesecake or Carrot Cake Without Nuts

While it is not a good idea to give your cat, guinea pig, potbellied pig, or any other common pet type ice cream this Thanksgiving, ice cream is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts as long as it contains no chocolate. A few licks of pumpkin pie, cheesecake or carrot cake without nuts are also fine.

Macaroni and Cheese (Dogs and Potbellied Pigs Only)

As long as you don’t give you dog or potbellied pig too much macaroni and cheese, it is safe for them to eat on occasion, but not all the time.

Mashed Potatoes

As long as you don’t add anything extra to your mashed potatoes (such as cheese, sour cream, or gravy) mashed potatoes should be safe for dogs, cats, and pigs. But again, remember portion control: don’t give them too much, and consider mixing a little bit of mashed potatoes into their dry food instead of giving them mashed potatoes by itself.

Turkey

While leftover turkey can be safe for dogs, cats, and potbellied pigs, make sure that the turkey does not have any bones, and that any excess fat and the skin has been removed. Also be careful about portion control, not giving your pets — no matter how big they are — human sized portions of turkey. It will be very rich for them, and could cause them to be sick if given too much. If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don’t offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

The “Not So Safe” List

The following foods are not safe for dogs, cats, potbellied pigs, or guinea pigs. Never give the following foods or beverages to your pets:

• Alcohol of any kind
• Anything with Caffeine
• Bones from Ham, Chicken, or Turkey
• Candied Yams
• Casseroles (unless you absolutely know that none of the no-no foods are in them)
• Chocolate and Cocoa (this includes things like brownies and chocolate chip cookies) and dark chocolate is the worst
• Jell-O Molds
• Macadamia Nuts (this includes things like cookies and pies) and go easy on nuts in general
• Pecan Pie
• Potato Skins
• Pork Products because of the nitrates
• Stuffing (it usually contains onions, which is very harmful to pets)
• Anything with onions in it (and garlic should be fed in moderation)
• Anything with Xylitol in it
• Grapes or raisins
• Raw eggs
• Mushrooms
• Baby food if it contains onion powder
• Milk (and American Cheese) can be a problem for some dogs. They can be lactose intolerant like some people.
• Avocados – especially for birds and cats

Poinsettias:
These plants are probably the most popular holiday plant and are easily recognizable by their large red, white, pink, or mottled leaves. These plants also contain a thick, milky irritant sap. In general, it would take ingestion of a large amount of this plant to see possible clinical signs in your pet. Signs could include vomiting, anorexia and depression. The symptoms are generally self-limiting and treatment is rarely needed. Your Vet may recommend limiting food and water intake for 1 or 2 hours if your pet is suspected of becoming sick after ingestion of poinsettias. Ingestion of poinsettias will not kill your pets, but keeping them out of reach is a good idea; and fake ones might be even a better idea!

Thanksgiving Pet Recipe of the Day
Simple Roasted Organs

(This is a great recipe to make up for Thanksgiving to feed your canine friends… you can substitute chicken for the turkey and add a few turkey scraps at carving time, or just bake the liver and giblets and add the warm turkey as you carve… just go easy on the skin and watch for bones.)

This dish can actually double up as a treat, or healthy topping to your pet’s usual meal. Turkey giblets (hearts, livers and kidneys) are available from butcher shops and many natural food markets – and also come included with most Thanksgiving turkeys!

This recipe is super-simple and just about all pets love it! Since this recipe is cooked, turkey necks should not be used.

Ingredients

Up to 1 lb Turkey scraps, organs/giblets (don’t include bones)

6 tbsp Olive Oil

½ tsp Dried or Fresh Rosemary

1 Clove Garlic, crushed or finely diced (optional)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the organs on a baking sheet. Slowly pour on the olive and gently shake the pan so that the oil is evenly distributed. Sprinkle on the rosemary and crushed garlic. Place in the oven and cook for about 35 minutes, until golden brown. Cool before serving and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days.

For cats, dice the organs finely with a sharp knife before serving. This technique also works well to create bite-sized training treats that are a little bit different.

  The answer is: acute pancreatitis.

[How do you say that word?  Try this: pan-cree-uh-tie-tis]

  The pancreas is a V-shaped abdominal organ that produces digestive enzymes and insulin. (Insulin regulates blood sugar. A lack, or insufficient quantity, of insulin results in diabetes.) 

  Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, in which the organ essentially digests itself via the enzymes it produces.

[Where did pancreatitis rank in VPI's pet insurance claims in 2011? Click here to find out.]

What causes acute pancreatitis?
Common causes are:

• high-fat diets (long-term)
• singular high-fat meal (like meat trimmings)
• obesity
• infection
• blockage of the pancreatic duct
• abdominal injury or surgery
• hyperstimulation by certain drugs and venom

  Because of the high fat content of many holiday feasts, pets that are fed from the table are at serious risk of becoming gravely ill. In some cases, pancreatitis will be fatal.

  We recommend feeding your pet its own food prior to mealtime, to make it less likely to beg. If you or your guests are tempted to share food with Fluffy and Fang, we recommend moving your pets to a separate area of the house during mealtime and after-dinner cleanup.

  Let your guests know that your pets are on a strict diet and cannot have table food. If you have to – blame the vet! We’re always happy to play wet blanket when it comes to giving pets unnecessary – and even harmful – treats.

Symptoms of pancreatitis
Watch for:

• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• fever
• weakness
• depression
• collapse from shock

How do you know if a pet is experiencing abdominal pain?
Look for these signs:

• restlessness
• panting
• trembling
• hunched-up posture
• “praying” posture
• resting on cool surfaces
• vocal or physical response to touch (on the belly)

Which types of pets are most at risk of pancreatitis?
Normally, in this type of article, I list the age span, breeds, and gender of dog or cat most commonly affected by the disorder. I am not going to do that in this post for one specific reason: I do not wish to give any pet owner the impression that his or her pet is “safe” from pancreatitis and can join in the family meal. We just don’t recommend it for any pet.

Take Action
If you believe your cat or dog may have pancreatitis (even at a non-holiday time of year), take him to the nearest Veterinary Emergency Hospital. Immediate intervention in a critical care setting will give your pet the best chance at recovery.

Remember: some cases of pancreatitis can be deadly, so prevention and early intervention are key to your pet’s good health.

************************************************************************************************
Resources:
Instructions for Veterinary Clients
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary
Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice
The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult

Story at-a-glance

• If you’re feeding your dog or cat a commercial pet food containing corn-based ingredients, chances are those ingredients are genetically modified. Over 60 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified.
• Studies of rats fed GM corn show evidence of severe kidney and liver disease, negative effects on the heart, spleen, and other organs, massive tumors, and premature death.
• While the impact of GM foods on dogs and cats has not been scientifically studied, many scientists suspect these products have some common toxic effects and may cause disorders of the liver, pancreas and kidneys in humans and animals.
• Dr. Michael W. Fox believes the high number of skin and food allergies, and other allergies associated with GI disorders in dogs and cats are caused or aggravated by novel proteins and other contaminants found in genetically modified crops.
• Even conventionally grown corn is not a biologically appropriate food for dogs or cats. Both corn and soy products are linked to a wide variety of health problems in companion animals.

By Dr. Becker

For those of you still feeding your dog or cat a commercial pet food with corn-based ingredients – which includes most inexpensive pet foods on the market today – here’s a big heads-up and another reason to reconsider the diet you’re offering your four-legged companion.

Chances are the corn products in your pet’s food are genetically modified (GM). This means the seeds have been chemically altered to produce plants that can withstand repeated spraying with Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer.

Estimates in 2009 were that over 60 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified, and according to more recent information from NaturalNews.com,¹ Monsanto has disclosed that half the sweet corn grown on U.S. farms comes from genetically modified seed.

Genetically Modified Corn and Its Effect on Rats

Previous studies have shown that genetically modified corn causes significant kidney and liver disease in rats after only a 90-day feeding trial,² and has a negative effect on other organs as well, including the heart and spleen.

Now a new lifetime study of rats fed a diet containing GM corn shows they not only died earlier than rats on a standard diet, they developed mammary tumors and severe kidney and liver damage as well.³

According to researchers, half the male rats and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared with 30 percent of males and 20 percent of females in the control group.

Lead researcher Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen, believes his study involving the full lifespan of rats gives a more comprehensive and realistic view of the risks of GM corn than 90-day feeding trials. A rat at three months is still a young adult.

GM Foods and Your Pet

If you’re wondering how GM corn might affect your dog or cat, unfortunately, the specifics have yet to be studied. However, in an article published in 2009 in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition regarding GM foods, the authors, Greek scientists, assert:

"The results of most of the rather few studies conducted with GM foods indicate that they may cause hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and reproductive effects and may alter hematological, biochemical, and immunologic parameters the significance of which remains unknown. The above results indicate that many GM foods have some common toxic effects. Therefore, further studies should be conducted in order to elucidate the mechanism dominating this action. Small amounts of ingested DNA may not be broken down under digestive processes and there is a possibility that this DNA may either enter the bloodstream or be excreted, especially in individuals with abnormal digestion as a result of chronic gastrointestinal disease or with immunodeficiency."⁴

Dr. Michael W. Fox has also compiled an extensive list of the potential risks of genetically modified foods, including:

• The toxic insecticidal agent Bacillus thuringiensis is present in most GM crops in the U.S. that wind up in animal feed and pet food.
• Glufosinate and glyphosate, which are herbicides, are applied to millions of acres of genetically modified crops across the U.S. and other countries. These poisons are absorbed by the crops – which are engineered to be herbicide resistant – while decimating everything else growing in the area and much of the aquatic life in nearby bodies of water.

  These herbicides cause kidney damage in animals, endocrine disruption and birth defects in frogs, and are lethal to many amphibians. Glyphosate has also been linked to miscarriages, premature births, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in humans.

• Nutritionists and other health experts increasingly are connecting the rise in human allergies, including skin conditions and inflammatory GI disorders to broader consumption of GM foods and food additives – in particular, GM soy products containing novel proteins. Dr. Fox suspects the high number of skin and food allergies, and other allergies associated with GI disorders are caused or aggravated by these novel proteins and other contaminants in genetically modified crops.
• Independent animal feeding safety studies show adverse or unexplained effects of GM foods, including inflammation and abnormal cell growth in the GI tract, as well as in the liver, kidney, testicles, heart, pancreas and brain.
• GM crops have proven to be unstable and prone to unplanned mutations – which means we don’t really know whether the food being grown from these plants is safe or nutritious.

Dr. Fox’s advice to pet owners is to buy only food with USDA Organic certification. He also advises consumers to avoid all prepared foods, including cooking oils that contain corn and soy products, since these are the products most likely to originate from GM crops.

In addition to Dr. Fox’s advice, I recommend omitting grains entirely from your carnivorous pet’s diet. Corn and soy ingredients are not biologically appropriate ingredients in dog and cat food, even if they are conventionally grown. Both these ingredients are linked to a wide variety of health problems in companion animals, including allergies, skin disorders, oral disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cystitis.

The ingredients can be varied to suit what you have in your fridge.  You can use chicken, beef, or any other meat.  If you add liver, be careful not to put too much because it can cause runny stools, and that’s never fun.  You can also use other vegetables.   But this is how I made it this morning.

 
Ingredients:

• about 1/2 cup pork sirloin cut into very small cubes (bite size)
• 1/4 cup  lamb heart cut into very small cubes
• 2 tablespoons chopped spinach
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon butter

1. Melt the butter in a skillet.
2. Add the meats and sear lightly at medium heat.
3. Add spinach and stir a little bit until wilted.
4. Add the egg and continue to stir gently until firmly cooked to a scrambled egg consistency.

Grizzly loves this dish.   It’s nutritious and not too fatty at all, since pork sirloin is very lean.  Next time I should make some for myself!  Bon appetit!!

And there were lots of leftovers, at least enough for one more meal.

Hustling from breakfast in the East Village – I finally had a chance to stop by Whiskers Holistic Pet Store.  I originally learned about it through a New York Times article and it’s been on my short list of places to check out.  After a very impromptu walk in, I found myself plopped on a stool in a cozy corner of the store with one of their sales representatives, Joe.  Being in the pet food business for over a decade, Joe didn’t hesitate to give me a crash course in pet nutrition.  Here are some of the things I remembered from my chat with Joe.

• Just like people eat yogurt with pro-biotics because it’s good for our digestive tracks – pets should too.  Probiotics help pets digest their food better.
• Supplementing your pets diet with fish that has omega oils is good for their joints.
• If you can, feed you pet raw foods.  But if you don’t have the lifestyle where you can prepare raw foods every meal, that’s okay.  There are easy recipes or pre- cooked frozen pet foods that can be good alternatives.
• Pet allergies and kidney disease is on the rise, in large part because of what we we’re feeding our pets.
• As much as Whiskers is a great place to learn about how to keep your pet healthy, it’s not a pharmacy. They provide recommendations on how to better care for you pet, but not medically treat your pet.
• Dogs naturally ‘binge and fast’.  Which is why it’s not good to leave dog food laying out all day.  The only thing a dog needs at all times is clean water.
• It’s important to not over feed your pets.  Routinely feed them 3 small meals a day.  That’s about it.  You don’t want your dog to be another victim of pet obseity.  It’s a rising trend in America.

I totally get that it’s part of Joe’s job to promote products from the store, but I personally didn’t feel pressured to buy, I felt like his goal was to simply teach me things I didn’t know about pet nutrition.  Joe answered all my questions and gave me some print outs of other resources worth checking out.  With so much experience in the industry, Joe made me a believer in feeding pets good food, even if it costs a little extra.  The benefits of a healthy pet diet can be realized with fewer vet visits, and of course – a long happy life with you and your pet!

Whiskers has two New York locations.  One in Manhattan, the other in Astoria Queens.

Storefronts

Manhattan: 235 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10003-7536 (212) 979-2532
Queens: 19-31 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105, (718) 956-6706

Other Holistic Pet Care sites

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com

http://www.thewholisticpet.com/

Related articles

• Pet food labels could be misleading
• Diets for Dogs – Raw Dog Food, Organic Dog Food, Homemade Dog Food
• Sandy wipes out Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack & Old Mother Hubbard websites

Obesity in cats is a serious condition.  Chronic obesity can lead to other medical conditions such as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), diabetes, skin conditions secondary to under-grooming, arthritis and urinary tract disorders.  The main cause of obesity is over-feeding and lack of activity.

To diagnose obesity your cat should be examined by a veterinarian to record exact weight and have blood tests performed.  It is vital that normal thyroid hormone levels are present and no metabolic dysfunction is noted.  Once any underlying issues are ruled out, you and your veterinarian can discuss a weight reduction plan that fits your cat’s needs.

Story at-a-glance

• High pressure pasteurization, or HPP, is a method of processing raw food to eliminate pathogens. High hydrostatic pressure is exerted by a liquid through a water bath that surrounds the product. The pressure is uniformly applied from all sides and throughout the product, which keeps the food from being crushed.
• HPP is gaining popularity among raw pet food manufacturers who wish to make their products more appealing to the traditional veterinary community and pet owners who want to feed raw, but with zero risk of bacterial contamination.
• Most raw food enthusiasts, however, do not believe “sterile” raw food should be considered raw, since HPP processing does modify whole living foods.
• HPP-processed raw pet food can be beneficial for dogs and cats with compromised immune systems, and it’s a good alternative for pet owners who want to feed raw to a dog or cat in less than optimal health.
• Dr. Becker believes unadulterated raw diets are best for healthy, thriving pets, and that “sterile” raw diets also have a place in households with an immunocompromised dog, cat or human family member.

By Dr. Becker

Today I want to talk about high pressure pasteurization, or HPP, and its controversial role in what we now refer to as "sterile" raw pet food.

High pressure pasteurization is a processing method used by the USDA to eliminate microbes in the food chain. According to Virginia Tech’s High Pressure Processing Lab:

"HPP is a non-thermal preservation and pasteurization technique that causes little or no change in the organoleptic and nutritional attributes of the product being processed unlike most conventional heat treatments."

Organoleptic attributes include things like taste, odor, color, and the feel of foods.

The High Pressure Pasteurization Process

The way HPP works is by applying high hydrostatic pressure, which is pressure exerted by a liquid, through a water bath that surrounds the product. The pressure is uniformly applied from all sides and throughout the product, which keeps the food from being crushed.

According to HPP proponents, the process does not cause the foods to undergo significant chemical transformation, but does successfully eliminate all pathogenic microbes from the food, including bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli.

High pressure pasteurization is USDA-approved, touted as being a 100 percent natural process, and is allowed for use on organic and natural products in both the human and pet food markets.

Is Raw Food That Has Been High Pressure Pasteurized Truly Raw?

Many raw feeders believe HPP is a method of processing whole living food into a modification of whole living food, and that we should not confuse truly unadulterated raw food with raw food that has been processed using HPP.

Depending on the amount of pressure used, research has demonstrated that proteins do denature, and beneficial good bacteria are obliterated during HPP processing. For these reasons, some raw feeders don’t feel pet food companies selling HPP-treated diets should be allowed to call them "raw."

Some raw pet food manufacturers have started using HPP for a variety of reasons. I think one of the reasons is they are hoping to increase acceptance of raw diets by the veterinary community.

I also think they want to opt out of the never-ending debate about the potential presence of bacteria and parasites in raw food. They are hoping to appeal to nervous pet owners who want to feed raw with zero risk of bacterial contamination to their pets or themselves.

Some Pets Can Benefit from Sterile Raw Food

There are animals who can benefit from sterile (HPP processed) raw food. These include some pets undergoing chemotherapy. Dogs and cats with significantly compromised immune systems should not be exposed to potential pathogens from any source, including food.

Raw food that has undergone HPP provides these pets with a convenient source of a better-quality food that is also sterile, which is important in reducing the risk to debilitated bodies.

Additionally, many veterinarians feel much more comfortable recommending sterile raw foods for pets with compromised GI defenses. Pets dealing with dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel disease may not have the gut resiliency to handle normal bacteria loads found in some foods. Many of these pets do much better on sterile foods until their gut issues are healed.

So sterile raw foods can be a good compromise for pet parents who want to provide the benefits of raw food to a dog or a cat, for which a true unadulterated raw diet would pose an unacceptable risk to the pet or themselves. We should keep in mind that some pet owners are also immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, but they still wish to feed their pets the best, most optimal diet.

One important point to remember is that HPP treated foods are sterile after processing, but are still susceptible to the same handling and storage issues that face all raw meat products. A half used bag of HPP treated raw food sitting in the refrigerator for four weeks will still pose the same risks as other raw meats. So the handling of HPP treated pet food is no different than the handling of any raw meat product.

Unadulterated Commercial Raw Pet Food: Safer than Canned, Safer than Kibble

I see two unfortunate issues unfolding with the increased use of HPP within the commercial raw food industry.

First, many HPP proponents believe ALL raw foods on the market should be treated with HPP in order to gain acceptance by the traditional veterinary community and pet owners who want to feed raw, but with the reassurance the food is initially bacteria-free.

Number two, a certain percentage of the general public may assume the increased use of HPP is due to issues or problems stemming from unadulterated raw food diets, which is simply untrue.

Most manufacturers of unadulterated (non HPP) raw pet food use high-quality USDA-inspected meats. They also test their products for proper nutrient levels and contaminants, which is why raw meat diets have substantially less potential for high loads of toxins and are typically not the subject of pet food recalls. By contrast, most mass-marketed dry foods, which are regulated by the FDA not the USDA, use rendered and 4-D meats (meats from dead, dying, disabled, and diseased animals).

Because commercially available raw food diets are grain-free and therefore mycotoxin-free… because raw pet food companies use high quality meats sourced from healthy animals… and because they focus on microbially responsible food processing, there’s actually a much lower risk of recalls involving unadulterated raw food than there is with commercial kibble.

My Recommendation

If your pet is a healthy, thriving dog or cat, then a completely fresh unadulterated raw diet is what I would recommend. There are tremendous nutritional benefits derived from eating non-sterile foods.

Those of you who have been subscribers here for many years know that I always recommend that we mimic Mother Nature when feeding our pets. Given the choice, our dogs and cats would choose to hunt and consume fresh prey — but they would certainly not be catching sterile prey.

Dogs and cats are designed to efficiently and healthfully process the normal bacteria loads found in their prey. That’s also why pets can lick their butts, eat poop, and not die from those behaviors — they were designed by nature to be able to do such things.

So, what’s my take on this up-and-coming hygiene procedure in the pet food industry? I don’t see a need for the majority of pets to be fed sterile raw foods, as the majority of pets are not significantly immunocompromised. However, I am thankful that we have some raw food options processed using HPP in the case of animals that cannot handle the normal bacterial load of unadulterated raw food. Feeding HPP-processed raw foods to healthy pets will not harm them, of course, but it’s unnecessary.

If you want to know whether the raw food you’re buying has been subjected to high pressure pasteurization, try checking the company’s website first and if you don’t find the information there, you’ll need to call the manufacturer to find out.

Homemade Chicken Jerky Recipe for Dogs (Pets)

Yummy super-simple treat… and it’s also super-popular with dogs and healthy. Chicken Jerky is a Treat made from thin strips of chicken slow baked to almost the point of crispness.

Ingredients

1 pound chicken breasts (I baked three pounds!)

Start by preheating your oven to 170 or 180 degrees, depending on how low your oven will go. While that’s preheating, assemble the chicken. I used frozen chicken breast tenderloins (this is a great way to use any chicken you’ve got that’s become freezer burned!)

I had thawed the frozen chicken breasts by putting them in the refrigerator overnight…and woke up to find they were still frozen! I put the chicken in a big bowl of cold water for about 15 minutes which thawed it enough to slice with a sharp knife. TIP: It’s easier to slice the chicken when it’s semi-frozen rather than completely thawed; you can use the heel of your hand on the knife to “chop” the slices rather than trying to saw through thawed meat.

The only difficult part of this dog treat recipe is the slicing; you’ll want to slice the chicken no more than about 1/4 inch wide. Slice with the grain of the chicken, rather than against it; this will make the treats a little chewier and make them last a LITTLE bit longer when you give them to your dogs.

Slice up the chicken and place it on a greased cookie sheet; be sure to use one with a slight edge because there will be water and juices from the chicken during the first hour of cooking. Leave about a 1/2 inch or so between slices and just make sure they’re not touching.

Once you’re finished slicing, pop the cookie sheets in the oven and bake for two hours. After two hours, check the slices and see if they’re dry. You don’t want them to be crispy to the point of snapping but you do want them to be very chewy. (They should look like a very done french fry.) Because I baked three pounds of chicken at once, I had to bake my treats for an 90 minutes and I flipped the slices with a spatula after two hours of baking.

When they’re done, remove the treats from the oven and cool on a drying rack. If you don’t have one (I don’t), just flip a dish drainer over and drape with a dish towel then put your treats on the towel to dry. (You just want to get the treats up off the metal cookie sheets so they’ll cool crispier. A wicker basket flipped over and draped with a cup towel work work great, too.)

When the treats are completely cool, bag them in zippered bags or pop them in an airtight container and refrigerate. You can also freeze the treats for several months. Be warned, though: these are VERY popular treats…they’ll go fast! (Cats also love them!)

Related:

Pet Jerky Death Toll Update: 360 dogs, 1 Cat According to FDA

A Raw Food KIBBLE?

When Raw Food is NOT the Right Food for Your Pet

Surprise, Surprise… the Best Food for Dogs Is Homemade Food

Free Homemade Dog Food Recipes

The Importance of Bones in Your Pet’s Diet

The Nutrient Your Pet Needs More of As They Age: Protein

Pancreatitis in Dogs

Good Diet and Advice for Dogs with Pancreatitis

“Holidays Are Great and Fun To Share With Our Pets, As Long As We Avoid the No-No Foods”

Gourmet Doggie Biscuits and Some Holiday Snacking Tips

Beef Verses Bison for Dogs – Variety is critical for your pet to receive the full spectrum of amino acids, essential fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants necessary to thrive.

Fatty Acids May Improve Mobility In Osteoarthritic Dogs

Pets and Toxic Plants

Natural Pet Remedies For Everyday Problems

Allergies and Springtime Ailments in Pets

Do Vaccinations Affect the Health of our Pets?

How the Pet Food Industry Has Helped Create "Carnivore Metabolic Syndrome"

Now dogs Have a Food Truck of Their Own With Bow-Wow Chow

Dysbiosis: The Root Cause of Many Other Pet Health Problems

Cancer and Your Pet: Two Things to Avoid

Now dogs Have a Food Truck of Their Own With Bow-Wow Chow

The Nutrient Your Dog Needs More of As They Age: Protein – And Expecting Your Pet to Get It from Rendered Pet Food Is the Worst of the Worst of the Worst Options!

Pupcakes

Gourmet Doggie Biscuits and Some Holiday Snacking Tips

Beef Verses Bison for Dogs – Variety is critical for your pet to receive the full spectrum of amino acids, essential fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants necessary to thrive.

Chicken Jerky Recipe for dogs

WHAT HUMAN FOODS ARE UNSAFE FOR PETS? (the 12 worst)–> chocolate, sugarless gum & artificial sweeteners, alcohol, yeast dough, grapes & raisins, Macadamia nuts, onions (bad for dogs and cats… but poison for cats), garlic (for cats), caffeine, fat trimmings and bones (bad for cats and limited fat and the right bones for dogs), raw eggs (for cats, but must be careful for dogs and humans), and milk.

Some of the best human foods for dogs: peanut butter (although peanuts and peanut butter can contain mold so could be bad for humans and dogs), cheese including cottage cheese (some some dogs can be prone to be lactose intolerant like people), yogurt, watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe, blueberries, salmon, green beans, sweet potatoes, fresh raw carrots, pumpkin, and lean meat… cooked or raw.

Resources:

Not Fit for a Dog!: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food

See Spot Live Longer – How to help your dog live a longer and healthier life!

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals

Over the past couple of years, Baltimore has started to become a pet-friendly city.

There are a number of hotels and restaurants that allow man’s best friend in Charm City along with a number of parks that are specifically for dogs.

In addition to the parks and spas that can be found around the city, there are a few places that appease to a growing population of pet-owners who are buying healthy pet foods for their animals.

Michelle Northam, a Baltimore resident, said she is careful about what she feeds her and her dog, Sprout, because she has allergies.

Northam takes Sprout to Howl, a local pet store that provides pet owners with alternative options to name brand pet food.

Sprout has allergies, so Northam feels even more inclined to feed her a healthy diet.

“I just want to do what’s best for her,” Northam said. “I eat organic and vegetarian, so I try to eat the best food for myself so I’m going to do the same for my dog.”

Howl gives Baltimore dog and cat owners an alternative to pet food that contains potentially harmful chemicals.

According to Howl’s website, Baltimore Magazine’s reigning four-time best pet store has helped thousands of dogs and cats live healthier lives by providing pet owners the best products since Robin McDonald opened the store’s doors in 2003.

“This market started to takeoff around the time I opened,” McDonald said. “As people have gotten more informed about it, about their own food choices, where their own food comes from, it just translates to the pets. I can’t believe some people will go to such lengths to get pure, sustainable, organic for themselves and then give their dogs garbage from the grocery store. Not to mention, good food with less filler makes for less poop. I think that’s reason enough.”

Last month chicken jerky pet treats made in China caused over 2,200 animals to become ill and at least 360 dogs and one cat to reportedly die in the United States, federal veterinary health officials said.

“I’m not sure what percentage of the population is aware of what goes into very commercial foods. It’s actually quite horrible and it’s not regulated by the government,” Laura Henderson, Howl store manager, said. ““Some of the worst foods have dye and color in them. We compare them to McDonalds or Twinkies, stuff that can sit on a shelf and it won’t change for 20 years. There’s a lot of preservatives, things like BHA (butylated hydroxytolulene), a chemical that used to be put into animal feed as a preservative but it’s actually quite toxic, things like animal byproducts, which can mean almost anything … There’s also diseased and dying animals, like cows that were unfit for human consumption, that they would put into animal food, which is completely legal, there is no regulation.”

In addition to the additives in commercial pet foods, irradiation has also become a recent issue.

Irradiated food products are exposed to high levels of radiation to sterilize and increase the shelf life. The process kills some bacteria but also damages vitamins and enzymes and combines with chemicals to form potentially toxic compounds.

The Food and Drug Administration has recently been testing treats for high irradiation levels and salmonella.

Howl does not purchase food products from China.

“None of the food is irradiated,” McDonald said. “As far as we can tell, we try to keep out of any genetically modified grains and stuff, but there’s a lot of research that goes into that … Being a local retailor, you start to get how important is to support your local guys. If I wouldn’t feed it to my animals, then I don’t sell it. If I don’t think it’s safe enough or nutritious enough to give to me own animals, then I wouldn’t be selling it in the store.”

Key Wagner is the owner of the Baltimore Dog Bakery, located in Baltimore County.

Wagner’s products are vegetarian with no additives or preservatives, making them easy on dogs’ digestive systems.

Wagner says that since Howl opened its doors in 2003, she has been selling her products to McDonald.

“She is, on the pet store side, my biggest customer,” Wagner said. “She sells a ton.”

Wagner and McDonald have seen the natural pet food market grow through the years.

“It’s grown because it’s a good product,” Wagner said. “It’s all-natural, it’s healthy, no preservatives. People are changing. Dogs are like children to people now. It’s something that we all want to take care of the best we can so we want to feed them healthy.”

Over the years, Howl has developed a loyal following of customers who understand the importance of healthy pet food products.

“PetCo and places like that don’t sell good dog food,” Kenlaw said. “They sell a lot of food with byproducts, so we come here … We won’t stop coming here unless we move far away.”

The Hampden store has self-service dog wash stations, nail-clipping sessions every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and offers full grooming by appointment.

“For the first six years, it was pretty tough,” McDonald said. “But three years ago, I actually started making money … I didn’t have to borrow anymore and got a lot things paid off. It turns out what they say, do what you love and money will follow, it actually is true.”

Halloween

1. Keep the Halloween candy safely out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate is toxic for dogs, and xylitol, a common artificial sweetener found in gums, candy and some baked items is very toxic as well. If consumed, candy wrappers can create dangerous obstructions of the gastrointestinal tract. When you’re not consuming Halloween goodies, don’t leave them out in a dish on the counter or a table, as pets have a tendency to get curious, and hungry. Store candy safely in a Ziploc bag in a cabinet out of your animal’s reach. If your pet does eat some candy, try to determine how much was eaten, and call your vet immediately.

2. The continuous ringing of the doorbell, heralding the arrival trick-or-treaters, is very stressful to many dogs and cats. Consider keeping your pets safely in a quieter part of your house or apartment to minimize their anxiety.

3. If you’re taking your dog trick-or-treating, be sure to do the following: 1) keep identification tags on your pet at all times, 2) keep your dog on a leash, and 3) consider applying reflector strips or an LED pet safety light to your animal so he is visible to passing cars.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa

1. Rich, fatty food—which is all too common during holiday celebrations—can be treacherous for pets. In some cases, even a small amount of a fatty food can lead to severe digestive problems or inflammation of the pancreas. This can rapidly become an emergency. Even if your dog is desperate to share your holiday meals, stick with normal pet food, or healthy treats such carrots.

2. Many rich alcoholic beverages such as eggnog can be tempting to dogs. Alcohol is toxic to pets, so anything containing alcohol is a no-no.

3. As a general rule, the following are all toxic to pets: grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions and artificial sweeteners such as xylitol.

4. Many different plants are poisonous to animals, poinsettia and holly included. For a complete list, check out the following link: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/.

5. Christmas trees are irresistible to most pets. If you add any preservatives to the tree water, make sure that your pet can’t drink it. Glittering tinsel, ornaments, ribbons, etc. are very enticing to cats and some dogs, and they can cause a gastrointestinal obstruction if ingested. Edible gifts or pet gifts can be detected by your dog’s amplified sense of smell; so, be aware that your pet may unwrap gifts without your approval, and even worse, ingest the wrapping. Lastly, be warned that the allure of climbing a Christmas tree has caused more than one cat to bring the entire tree crashing down.

Ultimately, the holidays are for the joy of the entire family, including pets. If you maintain a basic awareness of the possible dangers, you can easily avoid any unexpected complications. If you have any further questions, feel free to give us a call at Worth Street Veterinary Center at 212-257-6900.

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Francisco DiPolo

*As always, you should check with your veterinarian before feeding your dog anything new because every dog is different.*

Parsley is great for dogs!

Beneficial Ingredients for Homemade Dog Recipes

Carrots
Broccoli
Spinach
Alfalfa Sprouts
Celery
Pumpkin
Sweet Potatoes
Yams
Green Beans
Banana Slices
Apple Slices (NO SEEDS)
Peanut Butter
Mint
Parsley
Plain Yogurt
Peanut Butter

Remember to avoid common human ingredients including onions, garlic, seeds, macadamia nuts, grapes, chocolate, raisins, avocados, fruit pits, wild mushrooms, tomatoes, meat trimmings, meat bones, etc. 10 Foods Harmful to Dogs

<<>> Click here for yummy dog treat recipes! <<>>

Do you feed your dog any of these “people foods”? What’s your pup’s favorite healthy treat?

Princess is my little 6 year old Chihuahua. She has been the impetus of my business by inspiring me to bulid it and to become a Holistic Pet Care Practioner beyond being a Professional Pet Service Provider. She is a survivor of 3rd degree burns that covered almost 70% of her body. These burns occurred last year during a dental, while under anastesia where she was burned by a blow dryer, as they were trying to regulate her tempurature. It was the scariest time of my life, but her strength to push through it has amazed me. She has healed and overcome what most little dogs her size have not been able to survive. God has a purpose for her and thus kept her with us. Her special strong, loving and fun spirit has inspired me to share her story; and to educate other pet owners about proper pet ownership, pet saftey, pet hygiene, pet nutricion and wellness. I love what I do and have lots of fun serving and giving to my pet community.

Strut your Mutt was an amazing success this year! Did you know Strut your Mutt raised most of this years goal back on the night before the majority of donations actually came in (the night before the event!)? This was the first year that Strut your Mutt Salt Lake City, opened up to the public, with no entrance fee to the festival. That was awsome of them to do, not only for the event, it’s strutters and pet owners who were interested in it but didn’t create a pack; but also for the vendors that came. This was more exposure for everyone involved. Princess and I had such a blast meeting and greeting everyone who stopped by our booth. We shared a booth withDogUtah.Com who is the online dog directory for Utah. We love what they are doing to better our community in connecting pet owners and pet professionals together through the many links on thier site.

Congratulations to our Raffle Winner!

We want to congratulate Brittany Abbott and Jerry DeStefano and their three fur babies who were the winners of our Strut Your Mutt Raffle! They were ecstatic to win and their babies were so excited that they wouldn’t even wait for this picture to be taken before trying to get into it!

We Want to Thank a Great Mobile Vet!

Dr. Brett Packer is an amazingly loving in-home mobile vet that comes to you and will show your animals the level of love you give them! He will come to you and take care of you pet in a friendly environment, your home! We love Dr. Packer and use him as our vet, and we refer all our clients and friends to him for their animals. Give him a call at 801.205.4404, and tell him that Angie sent you!

At the time the warning was issued, reports had come in citing that at least 95 dogs had become ill, possibly due to consumption of chicken jerky. However, after multiple tests the FDA was unable to identify any cause for the illnesses, so it is not surprising that (1) people kept feeding their dog’s chicken jerky and (2) more dogs got sick.

Three of pups who died…

Then, in November of 2011, the FDA issued yet another warning stating that there was a potential connection between dogs that were falling ill and chicken jerky that was being imported from China. (I reported on this back in December.) Common symptoms included:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea – with or without blood
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Kidney failure (increased thirst and urination are typical)

Some dogs that have ingested chicken jerky and develop these symptoms have recovered. Others have not been so lucky. To date, more than 2,200 dogs have become ill. According to NBCNews.com, at least 360 dogs and one cat have reportedly died in the U.S. after eating chicken jerky pet treats made in China.

The FDA is still stumped as to the cause, but back in March, msnbc.com reported:

"A log of complaints collected from pet owners and veterinarians contains references to at least three popular brands of jerky treats that may be associated with kidney failure and other serious ailments, according to internal Food and Drug Administration documents obtained by msnbc.com."
Of 22 "Priority 1" cases listed by the FDA late last year, 13 cited Waggin’ Train or Canyon Creek Ranch jerky treats or tenders, both produced by Nestle Purina PetCare Co., the records show. Another three listed Milo’s Kitchen Home-style Dog Treats, produced by the Del Monte Corp. The rest listed single brands or no brand.

Priority 1 cases are those in which the animal is aged 11 or younger and medical records that document illness are available, an FDA spokeswoman said. In many cases, samples of the suspect treats also are collected

The FDA is encouraging anyone who has a sick dog that has eaten chicken jerky to lodge a complaint and send in a sample of the product the dog ingested. The more complaints and samples they receive the better their chances are of making the connection and preventing future illnesses and deaths.

Pet owners are rightly up in arms about the situation. Multiple petitions have been started to demand a ban, recall, and warning labels on chicken jerky treats imported from China. Concerned lawmakers are also getting involved and encouraging the FDA to release the results of 153 tests on chicken jerky treats that are still pending. Hopefully the increased pressure will lead to a resolution of this situation in the not too distant future.
In the meantime, the FDA released a statement on September 14, 2012 which was a summary of the pet death reports. It linked the jerky treat-related deaths of the past 18 months and suggested owners avoid the products completely, saying they were unnecessary for a balanced diet. The FDA will also begin testing treats to find out whether irradiation of the products may be a contributing factor to illness and death.

–Dr. Jennifer Coates

Chicken Jerky Update originally appeared on petMD.com  – Cross Posted by Paw Nation

Homemade Chicken Jerky Recipe for Dogs (Pets)

Yummy super-simple treat… and it’s also super-popular with dogs and healthy. Chicken Jerky is a Treat made from thin strips of chicken slow baked to almost the point of crispness.

Ingredients

1 pound chicken breasts (I baked three pounds!)

Start by preheating your oven to 170 or 180 degrees, depending on how low your oven will go. While that’s preheating, assemble the chicken. I used frozen chicken breast tenderloins (this is a great way to use any chicken you’ve got that’s become freezer burned!)

I had thawed the frozen chicken breasts by putting them in the refrigerator overnight…and woke up to find they were still frozen! I put the chicken in a big bowl of cold water for about 15 minutes which thawed it enough to slice with a sharp knife. TIP: It’s easier to slice the chicken when it’s semi-frozen rather than completely thawed; you can use the heel of your hand on the knife to “chop” the slices rather than trying to saw through thawed meat.

The only difficult part of this dog treat recipe is the slicing; you’ll want to slice the chicken no more than about 1/4 inch wide. Slice with the grain of the chicken, rather than against it; this will make the treats a little chewier and make them last a LITTLE bit longer when you give them to your dogs.

Slice up the chicken and place it on a greased cookie sheet; be sure to use one with a slight edge because there will be water and juices from the chicken during the first hour of cooking. Leave about a 1/2 inch or so between slices and just make sure they’re not touching.

Once you’re finished slicing, pop the cookie sheets in the oven and bake for two hours. After two hours, check the slices and see if they’re dry. You don’t want them to be crispy to the point of snapping but you do want them to be very chewy. (They should look like a very done french fry.) Because I baked three pounds of chicken at once, I had to bake my treats for an 90 minutes and I flipped the slices with a spatula after two hours of baking.

When they’re done, remove the treats from the oven and cool on a drying rack. If you don’t have one (I don’t), just flip a dish drainer over and drape with a dish towel then put your treats on the towel to dry. (You just want to get the treats up off the metal cookie sheets so they’ll cool crispier. A wicker basket flipped over and draped with a cup towel work work great, too.)

When the treats are completely cool, bag them in zippered bags or pop them in an airtight container and refrigerate. You can also freeze the treats for several months. Be warned, though: these are VERY popular treats…they’ll go fast! (Cats also love them!)

Related:

A Raw Food KIBBLE?

When Raw Food is NOT the Right Food for Your Pet

Surprise, Surprise… the Best Food for Dogs Is Homemade Food

Free Homemade Dog Food Recipes

The Importance of Bones in Your Pet’s Diet

The Nutrient Your Pet Needs More of As They Age: Protein

Pancreatitis in Dogs

Good Diet and Advice for Dogs with Pancreatitis

“Holidays Are Great and Fun To Share With Our Pets, As Long As We Avoid the No-No Foods”

Gourmet Doggie Biscuits and Some Holiday Snacking Tips

Beef Verses Bison for Dogs – Variety is critical for your pet to receive the full spectrum of amino acids, essential fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants necessary to thrive.

Fatty Acids May Improve Mobility In Osteoarthritic Dogs

Pets and Toxic Plants

Natural Pet Remedies For Everyday Problems

Allergies and Springtime Ailments in Pets

Do Vaccinations Affect the Health of our Pets?

How the Pet Food Industry Has Helped Create "Carnivore Metabolic Syndrome"

Now dogs Have a Food Truck of Their Own With Bow-Wow Chow

Dysbiosis: The Root Cause of Many Other Pet Health Problems

Cancer and Your Pet: Two Things to Avoid

Now dogs Have a Food Truck of Their Own With Bow-Wow Chow

The Nutrient Your Dog Needs More of As They Age: Protein – And Expecting Your Pet to Get It from Rendered Pet Food Is the Worst of the Worst of the Worst Options!

Pupcakes

Gourmet Doggie Biscuits and Some Holiday Snacking Tips

Beef Verses Bison for Dogs – Variety is critical for your pet to receive the full spectrum of amino acids, essential fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants necessary to thrive.

Chicken Jerky Recipe for dogs

WHAT HUMAN FOODS ARE UNSAFE FOR PETS? (the 12 worst)–> chocolate, sugarless gum & artificial sweeteners, alcohol, yeast dough, grapes & raisins, Macadamia nuts, onions (bad for dogs and cats… but poison for cats), garlic (for cats), caffeine, fat trimmings and bones (bad for cats and limited fat and the right bones for dogs), raw eggs (for cats, but must be careful for dogs and humans), and milk.

Some of the best human foods for dogs:  peanut butter (although peanuts and peanut butter can contain mold so could be bad for humans and dogs), cheese including cottage cheese (some some dogs can be prone to be lactose intolerant like people), yogurt, watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe, blueberries, salmon, green beans, sweet potatoes, fresh raw carrots, pumpkin, and lean meat… cooked or raw.

Resources:

Not Fit for a Dog!: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food

See Spot Live Longer – How to help your dog live a longer and healthier life!

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals

Superzoo was held in Las Vegas from Sepetember 11^th to 13^th. It sold out in record time, with 871 exhibiting companies.This show is not opened to the public, but you will be seeing what’s new for your pets at your local pet shop very soon.

Superzoo show is divided into categories to make it easier for retail shoppers spot the right product.

Ingredients Row – suppliers of health and nutrition ingredients and solutions were there to educate attendees on new markets.

Rodeo Drive – the ultimate in fashion, accessories and gifts for pets.

Nature’s Pathway – the best in natural, holistic and organic products, including eco-conscious innovators.

Groomer’s Court – the latest products for successful groomers including skills improvement and training.

Critter Alley – showcased tanks and aquariums, food and feeders, filters and pond supplies.

New Exhibitor Road – the new companies breaking onto the scene.

Well, if you are into pets as I am, this show was the perfect place to be. Well, I should give you some numbers on the pet industry: Just in the U.S. alone, pet owners will spend about $53 billion on their animal companions this year. The pet industry continues growing despite of the recession, and Superzoo had 254 first-time exhibitors.

It was amazing seeing so many new pet products such as computerized ID tags, supplements and services for senior pets, new toys, accessories, organic food, fashion, and many other pet products that are totally novelty in the market.

It did few product reviews on some of the exhibitors. Please check www.thepetengineer.com/whats_new_for_pets.html for more information on new products.

People love their pets and this love is a $53 billion industry.

When I received an invitation from Hills Pet Nutrition through their public relations firm, Burson Marsteller, to be their guest for three days at the headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, I accepted. Hill’s has been hosting groups of writers to their facility to learn about their products, their company’s mission, and how their efforts in research can benefit cats and dogs. I believe they’re opening their doors to pet writers to get the good word out about Hill’s, dispel the numerous and rampant rumors about commercial dog food companies, and distinguish themselves from the pack of other pet food companies viewed as pariahs.

My report will most likely be different from the writers in my group. I was impressed our group consisted of nationally recognized writers, a few vets, cat writers, who by the way were more fun than I could’ve ever imagined not being a “cat” person, and even the CEO of two very large animal shelters. These people were very knowledgeable in the science and nutrition of pet food and asked far more intellectual questions than I did. I was personally interested in learning more about pet nutrition for my dog Sadie. She’s going through some very trying times with food and allergies. It’s no secret that I was ignorant of almost everything dog when I adopted Sadie, but I promised to care for her, so with her patience and the help of other dog parents, I learned. I thought the Hill’s event would be a great opportunity for me to add to my knowledge, find material to write about for other pet parents like me, and most of all benefit Sadie. I am happy to say, I was right.

I was astonished to learn that Topeka, the capitol of Kansas did NOT have an airport! All the writers flew into Kansas City, Missouri and were met by drivers in nice Lincoln Town Cars sent by Hill’s. The hour drive seemed remarkably short because I had a driver who was a good conversationalist, and two hilarious new friends in the car who were “Cat Ladies.”

Our driver dropped us off at the Hyatt Place Hotel where we would stay for the next three days. The desk clerk greeted all of us warmly, pointed out the food and beverages available to us in the lobby during our stay, and we were off to our rooms with time to get ready for our reception/dinner that evening at the Kansas Museum of History .

The reception was informal giving everyone time to mix and mingle and get to know each other. Hill’s arranged for a great dinner catered by local restaurant featuring some signature Kansas dishes which of course included beef barbecued ribs that were delicious. Our seating was assigned with at least one Hill’s employee at each table. Dr. Karen Johnson, DVM, and Luce were at our table. I can’t remember her title or her last name, but her friendly welcome and ability to make our table feel like we’d known each other for a long time won’t be forgotten. Luce shared with us that she was worried about her dog that night and a problem he was having which endeared her to me right away. Dr. Johnson discovered that she and one of the people at our table had graduated from the same vet school…the University of Pennsylvania…which is where I took my LSAT and off we went…talking like we had known each other forever.

After dinner each person was asked to tell something about themselves; what they write about, what they hoped to get from the Hill’s trip, and anything else they felt like sharing. It was a warm and comfortable evening, good food, new friends, and since the group was small, I felt like I knew at least something about everyone.

After dinner, we could tour the museum, or return to the hotel. I opted for the museum tour and was not disappointed. It was very interesting with historical artifacts and information about Kansas and the Midwest. There was a haunted locomotive with a few train cars we walked through, lots of civil war remnants, and a complete teepee and a woven grass house. I was disappointed not to see anything about the Wizard of OZ, but then again, it’s hardly a historical fact.

The gift shop did have some snow globes featuring various Wizard of Oz characters and my new friend Patrick, a veterinarian from California with a most interesting practice, shared a dark chocolate candy bar in the shape of the locomotive.

Our schedule for the next day started early, so even with an open bar, we returned to our rooms looking forward to seeing the Hill’s Global Pet Nutrition Center, meeting more of the employees, and in particular, I wanted to see how Hill’s tested food on animals and meet the dogs and cats whose job in life is to eat!

Story at-a-glance

There’s a new entry in the ever-inventive pet food market – “raw kibble” – a blend of grain-free kibble and pieces of freeze-dried raw meat.

The target consumer for this new product is the pet owner who wants grain-free and raw food for her dog or cat, but who for whatever reason finds frozen pet food doesn’t fit her lifestyle.

The important thing to remember about “grain-free” kibble is it isn’t free of carbs or starches – only those derived from grain. Case in point, the new “raw kibble” formula lists tapioca, a carbohydrate, as its second ingredient.

The important thing to remember about “raw” meat added to a bag of kibble is it has to be processed in some manner to prevent spoilage.

• For pet owners who truly want to feed a grain-free, raw, species-appropriate diet, the answer won’t be found in a bag of kibble.

By Dr. Becker

I was recently made aware of a new type of pet food on the market: "raw kibble." This product, available for both cats and dogs, is actually a blend of grain-free kibble and chunks of freeze-dried raw meat.

According to PetfoodIndustry.com, the new combination formulas are being marketed as an answer for pet owners who want grain-free and raw diets for their animals, but who find frozen pet food does not "work with their lifestyle."

Hmm. I hope this is not an attempt to convince pet owners they can provide the benefits of raw, species-appropriate nutrition from a convenient bag of kibble.

I’m also concerned about pet owners’ interpretation of "grain-free" when it comes to kibble.

Pet food ingredients can’t be turned into kibble without some type of starch included in the mix. So a kibble that is "grain-free" is not starch or carbohydrate free – it just doesn’t contain grain as a starch or carbohydrate.

Grain-free Does NOT Mean Carb-free or Starch-free

In the case of the new "raw kibble" blend for dogs, the second listed ingredient is tapioca. Tapioca seems to be taking the place of grain-based fillers in many pet food formulas of late.

Tapioca is used commercially in pearl, pellet and flour form. As flour, it can be used to make bread and thicken desserts. It mixes well in cold water, turns to gel/paste at 125°F to 150°F, and becomes more gelatinous the higher the cooking temp and length of cooking time.

In the extrusion process used to create dry pet food, tapioca expands extremely well – up to two to three times that of rice.

Tapioca is a starch. In certain regions of the world, including the U.S., tapioca is primarily associated with a flavor of pudding. But in many other countries, it is considered a staple carbohydrate in the diet. On a dry basis, tapioca contains insignificant amounts of protein, ash, fat, and fiber, and not much sugar. It is essentially a pure carbohydrate.

The plant that produces tapioca is known by a variety of names, including cassava. The leaves, stems and skin of the cassava plant contain cyanogenic glucosides which can produce cyanide effects. These effects include development of goiter, pancreatitis, paralysis and death in both people and companion animals. The cassava plant must be properly processed to eliminate these effects.

As kibble binding agents go, tapioca is less problematic than many others. But it isn’t nutritious for dogs and cats. And keep in mind it’s number two on the ingredient list, which means there’s lots of it in the mixture.

Additional Observations About the Ingredient List

The sixth ingredient on the list is sun-cured alfalfa meal ("sun-cured" simply means it was cut and left in the sun to dry). Alfalfa is a member of the hay family more commonly included in horse and cattle feed than dog food. It contains plant (not animal) protein and a lot of fiber (25 percent). I’m not sure why this ingredient is in there at number six, but I suspect it’s to boost the overall percentage of protein in the food.

The freeze-dried raw meats included in the "raw kibble" blend show up on the ingredient list at items 9 through 12. Obviously, kibble represents a much greater portion of the formula than raw meat.

Unadulterated Raw Meat vs. HPP and Freeze-Dried Raw Meat

The raw meat in this pet food has undergone high pressure pasteurization (HPP) to sterilize it. Raw food enthusiasts maintain that food handled in this manner is no longer truly raw and shouldn’t be marketed as such.

In addition to the high pressure pasteurization, the meat has also been freeze-dried, which is yet another process.

Freeze-drying removes the moisture from food, which extends its shelf-life. Sterilized, freeze-dried meat is the only kind of meat that could be combined with a kibble mixture. Clearly there’s no safe way to add unadulterated raw meat to a bag of kibble that might be stored at room temperature or higher for up to a year or more.

So the "raw" meat in this formula has actually been processed in two different ways.

Diets Lacking in Moisture Are Not Species-Appropriate for Dogs and Cats

One of the main problems with all kibble is lack of moisture, and adding freeze-dried chunks of meat to the mix is hardly a solution.

Carnivorous dogs and cats were designed to consume moisture-rich foods. Unadulterated raw foods are about 70 percent moisture. Compare that with dry pet food, which is only around 12 percent moisture.

Your pet’s body has evolved to consume a diet rich in moisture. When raw pet food ingredients are turned into kibble, several strange things happen, but the most detrimental is that the food becomes too dry.

Feeding kibble requires that your pet’s body provide sufficient moisture to reconstitute the food in the digestive tract. Although an animal’s body will make a noble effort to consume extra water to compensate, most pets and certainly most cats simply can’t make up the difference.

The Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that owners feed cats a diet of primarily canned or raw food instead of dry food for this very reason. A lifetime of minor dehydration is stressful to multiple organ systems and can easily be avoided by feeding foods that have not been dehydrated, dried, kibbled, or extruded.

Kibble is Kibble is Kibble

Having said all the above, I should probably point out that as dry pet foods go, this new blend of grain-free kibble and freeze-dried raw meat is far from a terrible formula. Certainly there are many worse products on the market.

The important things to know about this new formula are:

• It’s primarily kibble, and therefore lacking in moisture content.
• It doesn’t contain grains, but it does contain tapioca – pure carbohydrate – as the second ingredient.
• It contains very little "raw" food and the raw meat it does contain has been both high pressure pasteurized and freeze-dried.

If you want to feed your healthy dog or cat balanced, species-appropriate nutrition, kibble is the first thing to avoid. Your best bet is to either make homemade pet food in your own kitchen (from balanced recipes only, of course), or provide your dog or cat with a high quality, commercially available, balanced raw diet.

Related:

When Raw Food is NOT the Right Food for Your Pet

Surprise, Surprise… the Best Food for Dogs Is Homemade Food

Free Homemade Dog Food Recipes

The Importance of Bones in Your Pet’s Diet

The Nutrient Your Pet Needs More of As They Age: Protein

Pancreatitis in Dogs

Good Diet and Advice for Dogs with Pancreatitis

“Holidays Are Great and Fun To Share With Our Pets, As Long As We Avoid the No-No Foods”

Gourmet Doggie Biscuits and Some Holiday Snacking Tips

Beef Verses Bison for Dogs – Variety is critical for your pet to receive the full spectrum of amino acids, essential fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants necessary to thrive.

Fatty Acids May Improve Mobility In Osteoarthritic Dogs

Pets and Toxic Plants

Natural Pet Remedies For Everyday Problems

Allergies and Springtime Ailments in Pets

Do Vaccinations Affect the Health of our Pets?

How the Pet Food Industry Has Helped Create "Carnivore Metabolic Syndrome"

Now dogs Have a Food Truck of Their Own With Bow-Wow Chow

Dysbiosis: The Root Cause of Many Other Pet Health Problems

Cancer and Your Pet: Two Things to Avoid

Now dogs Have a Food Truck of Their Own With Bow-Wow Chow

Video: Expressing Your Dog’s Anal Sacs

How to Empty Your Dog’s Anal Sacs

By Margaret H. Bonham

If your dog suddenly takes scooting along the carpet to wipe her butt, you may be in for a real treat — the dubious pleasure of expressing your best friend’s anal sacs. Lots of licking or chewing of his rear or tail is another sign that it’s time to get rid of fluid build-up.

The easiest way is to take your dog(s) to the vet or the groomer, but you can do it yourself.

Anal sacs, or anal glands, carry some smelly fluid and occasionally need to be expressed, or emptied. Many dogs express them by themselves every time they poop — the sacs are around a dog’s anus — but occasionally the sacs fill with fluid and your dog needs some help to release the fluid.

Ask your vet before attempting to express your dog’s anal sacs for the first time, because the process can cause impacted anal glands and, in really bizarre instances, can rupture the sacs. And, keep in mind that expressing the anal sacs too often can lead to impacted anal glands, and failing to care for them may lead to infection.

If you’re not 110% sure you want to take on the task of expressing your dog’s anal glands, don’t hesitate to turn the nasty job over to trained staff at your veterinary office. The cost is minimal, especially compared to the damage you could cause (and the smell you’ll be exposed to).

If you insist on expressing the anal sacs yourself, here’s how to do it:

1. Suit up with a clothespin, heavy-duty rubber gloves, welder’s apron, rubber boots, and tongs so that you look like Michael Keaton changing diapers in Mr. Mom.

   Okay, you don’t need to go to these extremes, but the fluid is stinky and nasty, so wear old clothes and nose plugs if you need to.

2. Fold several paper towels together in a huge wad.

   You want an absorbent pad to catch the liquid.

3. Lift your dog’s tail and place the paper towels over his back side (and wonder when commercial television will pick up on this type of ad).

   Note the position of the dog’s anus in relation to the paper towels.

4. Use your thumb and forefinger to gently squeeze at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions, using the anus as the clock face.

   

   Keep your face out of the way!

5. Throw away the paper towels.

   Disposing of the towels in a covered trash basket is a good idea.

6. Wash and rinse your dog’s rear end really well.

   Expressing the sacs during bath time makes sense, always remembering that a clean doggie rump is a healthy doggie rump.

If your dog shows discomfort back by his butt and his anal sacs aren’t producing any fluid, he may have an impacted anal sac, which requires veterinary intervention — soon!

Today, people drink noni fruit juice as a general health tonic, as well as for cancer and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Well, we now have a dedicated Noni pet line. I received some product samples from Hawaiian Organic Noni, the fruit lather and Noni Pet Lotion

Noni Fruit Leather for Pets can boost their immune system, relieving pain and inflammation, as well as restoring their organs to their normal state.  It can help with everything from digestive problems and hormonal imbalances to cardiovascular trouble and nervous conditions. It also helps to kill parasites, such as those responsible for malaria.

Noni Pet Lotion relieves the stiffness and pain that older dogs feel in their joints and can be used as part of a pet massage or to treat any injuries your dog might have.

My friend used this lotion on his dog’s wound and after 2 days the wound was healed. I am impressed with its ability to heal rashes, bruises, cuts, and sores. I even used it on my own legs where I bruised, and it really worked. The Noni Pet line is a natural way to treat your pet and you can see results very fast.

For more information visit http://www.real-noni.com/

1-    Chicken Liver PLUS with pumpkin and apple

2-     Peanut Butter PLUS with berries

3-     Long Lasting Sweet Potato Chewz.

The chicken liver and peanut butter freeze dried to preserve the aroma. The Long Lasting Chews have a combination of quality compressed rawhide, wrapped with natural sweet potatoes, sprinkled with brown rice crispies,

Well, needless to say that the dogs I used to make this review approved these treats. They loved the taste of every one of them. I like the freeze dried concept for pet treats. They are healthier than the regular treats we buy at pet stores.

Pet’n Shape has a variety of treats for dogs. For more information visit http://www.petnshape.com

Active Omega™ Soft Chew has Omega 3, 6 and 9 that provides 187mg Omega 3 fatty acids proven beneficial for heart and brain health. Omega fatty acids also promote healthy skin and coat and help to reduce normal, unseasonal, or excessive shedding.

They are 100% natural formulated with organic flax seed, organic oat, organic rice flour, organic chicken, organic chia and organic cod liver oil along with nutrients including 200 IU Vitamin A that supports healthy eye function and 37 IU Vitamin D that supports strong bone, nerve and muscle health.

Complete Calm -  Chewable tablets can help dogs to maintain calm and relaxation during times of stress like separation, car rides, visits to the vet and groomer, and transition to a new home. Made with an organic proprietary complex that includes botanicals of chamomile, lavender and passionflower combined with nutrients including brown rice protein, pumpkin and oatmeal.  It’s also free of binders, fillers, or refined sugar and has a natural chicken flavor dogs will love.

These chews and tablets are like treats, and the dogs loved the taste of it!!  Watch the video below.

For more information on these products visit http://greendognaturals.com/

Ferrets are carnivores, obligate by nature. This means that they have evolved and biologically are meant to gain their nutrients from other animals.

While there are some studies on the diets of wild polecats and feral ferrets that indicate the presence of small amounts of plant matter, mostly berries, in their digestive tracts, these findings can probably be attributed to the mustelids’ natural sweet tooth and scavenging nature – if prey is unavailable, they may snack on berries to get by. Wild mustelids probably also ingest pre-digested plant matter in the digestive tracts of their prey. While many ferret owners who feed whole prey to their ferrets report that their ferrets don’t always eat the intestines of the mice, rats, and chicks they are fed, some ferrets do eat them and it seems to vary meal to meal. These ferrets are probably either avoiding colons with feces in them, or are not in need of the fibrous material at that moment.

Another explanation could be that since many whole prey feeders tend to feed other foods, whether commercial raw, homemade raw, or kibble, the ferrets are probably already getting the trace amounts of plant matter their bodies are looking for through those other foods.

Personally, my kids rarely ever eat the entrails, and usually leave them. This might also be due to the fact that they are well-fed, and feel they can ‘waste’ the undesirable parts of the mouse, rat, or chick.

However, there are some companies out there that promote feeding dogs, cats, and ferrets a completely vegan or vegetarian diet. These diets are extremely dangerous to our carnivore friends. Even dogs, who are arguably more omnivorous, still do not thrive unless they get meat in their diets. The diet I was just shown by a friend of mine that sparked this blog post is called the Evolution Diet. Here are some of the reasons why these meatless diets are so dangerous to our carnivorous ferrets:

1. Meat is easy to digest. Think about what digestion is: it is the breaking down of foods into smaller and smaller particles, which are then transferred through the intestinal wall and distributed into the rest of the body. Digestion is not the same as consuming something and having it pass out the other end without causing major, obvious damage. Digestion is the utilization of those foods consumed, by breaking them down so that they nutrients can be absorbed. Plant matter takes quite a bit more “hardware” to be able to break down enough to assimilate through the intestinal wall. There are three main reasons as to why ferrets (and other obligate carnivores) cannot break down plant matter well enough to truly digest them. 1. They have very short digestive tracts, which means they do not physically have the time from input to output to break down plant matter. 2. They have no cecum, an organ of the digestive tract of herbivores that contains large numbers of gut flora and bacteria in order to ferment and break down plants. In carnivores, the cecum is either extremely reduced in size and vestigial, or is replaced by an appendix. 3. The natural gut flora of carnivores is significantly different both in amount and makeup than that of herbivores. This is simply because carnivores do not need to utilize the fermentation process herbivores must use.

2. Proteins are basically long chains of building blocks called amino acids. There are 21 amino acids. Humans and dogs need to consume 10 of these 21 in order to survive (called “essential amino acids”) and can synthesize the remaining 11 in order to suit their bodies needs. However, cats and ferrets, have 12 essential amino acids that must be provided in their diets. Meat proteins are considered “complete” proteins as they contain all the essential amino acids along with many of the non-essentials. So for cats and ferrets, this means that the most direct way to get those amino acids into their bodies is to eat other animals, where the proteins provided are complete and provide every amino acid necessary for them to survive. In vegetarian diets for ferrets, all of them are supplemented with synthetic amino acids to make up for the lack of them provided in the food itself. Most high-quality meat-based foods have no need to supplement with synthetic amino acids. Most synthetic vitamins and supplements are manufactured overseas (China) and are inconsistent and subject to contamination issues.

3. While ferrets do secrete trace amounts of amylase, an enzyme necessary to begin the digestion of carbohydrates, ferrets do not secrete enough of it to effectively eat large amounts of plant matter. The levels they secrete are probably perfunctory and serve to help break down any plant matter consumed through the mustelid’s prey. While ferrets do produce amylase, they don’t produce insulin easily and regularly, and if fed large amounts of carbohydrates over time, the cells of the pancreas responsible for insulin secretion become overworked and this is thought to lead to the development of tumors, called insulinomas. These tumors end up oversecreting insulin, creating very low blood sugar levels in the affected ferret, which can be lethal. Insulinoma is a very common issue among ferrets, and diet is believed to be a major reason as to why. Subjecting ferrets’ bodies to a food that constantly causes their pancreases to go into overdrive is exactly what these vegetarian foods do.

4. Because ferrets cannot break down plant matter effectively, much of it passes through relatively unchanged. This is especially hazardous when fed whole pieces of vegetable and fruit, as it can cause intestinal blockages, which require expensive and risky surgery to correct. In a kibble such as these vegetarian diets, while the items are probably ground into a fine meal before extruded into kibble, the risk of blockage is still great if the ferret swallows pieces of kibble whole without chewing well.

5. A ferret’s intestinal tract can become inflamed when continually subjected to products it cannot digest, and this causes the bowel to produce mucus to help move the food along. This can mean even less of the product is absorbed because the mucus will block up the absorption vesicles of the intestines. This creates malnutrition problems as well as irritable bowel, loose stools, etc.

6. Ferrets, because of their carnivorous nature, utilize fat as their primary energy source. A ferret’s diet, then, needs to be high in fat levels in order to adequately provide energy to a happy fuzz. These foods, while provided fats through soybean oil, are still low in true fats and the soybean oil provided is likely ill-absorbed.

7. The whole marketing scheme of the Evolution Diet is based around animal cruelty in the livestock and agriculture trade. As a vegan, I agree that the whole trade is very faulted, and requires significant change in order to repair the damages done to the planet and our own health. Yes, the majority of the pet food industry is contingent upon the waste products from the human food meat industry, which unfortunately includes 4D meats: dead, dying, diseased, and disabled. I agree that these meats unfit for human consumption are not fit for pet consumption either, but that doesn’t change that our pets still must eat meat. I even agree that the cruelty involved in manufacturing kibble is despicable. However, animal cruelty is a human moral. Ferrets, and cats, and dogs, do not have ethics. Their physiology requires their bodies be nourished by other animals, this is the path their evolution has taken them, and as caretakers we MUST respect that. If you as a consumer and pet owner want to provide a nourishing diet to your carnivore while still being conscientious of the livestock and pet food industry, there are still many commercial foods out there that utilize fresh, USDA-inspected, healthy, wholesome meats. If you are still wary, like I am, and want to impose your principles on your pets, then feed a raw diet. With a well-researched homemade frankenprey, prey-model diet, you can provide organic, sustainably-raised meats to your pets.

YOU make the decision on how to feed your ferrets, no one else does. YOU have the ability to respect them as the sentient, beautiful beings that they are. And doing so absolutely means that they need to eat other animals. We cannot force them to evolve any more than they can force us to devolve. By feeding a vegetarian or vegan diet to your carnivorous pet, you are committing animal cruelty in my book.

If you have any questions about diet and nutrition for you ferrets, please do not hesitate to shoot me an email at mustelamania@gmail.com. I am happy to help you find the diet that fits your ideals as well as your ferrets’ physiology!

This post inspired by Yu-ri Bando’s post in the American Ferret Association‘s Facebook Group Page. Please check out the AFA for all your ferret-related questions!

What should go in here?

Know Your Dog!

Owning a pet is like having a child. You have to be as careful with your pet as you are with your baby. Due to their loyal, protective, emotional and adorable nature, dogs are the preferred pets among animals. Taking care of your dog is not child’s play. Since it is a canine, a different species than humans, its needs are different. You cannot always feed your dog with what you eat. The food and other requirements of a dog are different and hence as a dog owner, you must look out for specialised dog food options that best suit your dog.

Choosing the right food for your dog calls for thorough knowledge of canine likes, dislikes, body chemistry and market availability of dog food brands.  The market is flooded with fake dog foods loaded with lots of preservatives, fillers like grains and lacking any real nutrition in the form of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.  Dogs require lots of protein in their diet and hence meat is the optimum option for them.

Scooby can be very finicky.

Is Your Dog Brand-finicky or Adaptive?

Many dogs prefer chicken and liver over other treats. Choosing a quality brand that guarantees complete meat rather than cheap grain fillers is key to your dog’s good health.  Applaws is one brand which dogs love and some literally bark for. Dog foods are available in both dry and moist forms. They are customized as per your dog’s breed, size and other characteristics. So choose your dog food buys as per your vet’s recommendations. A good dog food will also contain a lot of fibers. Dogs fall prey to indigestion and obesity. Including foods rich in fibers ensures a good digestion and also prevents obesity in the long run.

Apart from Applaws, Chappie is another good dog food brand. It is made of fish, chicken and cereals. It is low in fat, high in protein, fibres and provides the essential vitamins. Also, there are different varieties of dog foods for neutered as well as unneutered dogs.  Many dog owners also prefer Denes as it is made of high quality natural ingredients. Bakers Dog Food offers food varieties that cater to the changing needs of your dog as per life stages. Bacon, lamb and rabbit meat are dog favourites.

Has FDA Approved?

For authentic dog food, check out the label for FDA approval before purchase. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) necessitates that all animal foods, like human foods, are safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances and are truthfully labelled. Also, canned foods must pass the low-acid regulations to make sure that the pet food does not contain viable microbes.

Look out for labels that mention corn meals and refrain from buying such packets. Corn is not very usable by the dog’s body. It is also associated with skin allergies, joint swelling and bloating in these creatures.  A grain-free diet is the best bet for your dog as canines were not meant to eat grains but bite into meat.  If your dog is shedding more hairs, has a dull coat and is reeking of body odour, it could be an indication that it has been on a bad diet for a long time.

Kasey the corgi says, “Feed me right!”

Care for Your Dog

You must take care of certain things related to dog care.  Make sure you monitor your dog’s weight regularly and keep an eye on its stool quality – wet or dry.  Always keep the dog bowl filled with fresh water. Feed your pet on a fixed schedule so that you can regulate his bathroom needs.  Always consult your vet in case of doubts.

 Guest blogger Roger likes to write about Pets, especially Dogs and overall Pet Nutrition. He thinks choosing proper Dog Food is very important for the growth and well being of your dog.

Editor’s note: The links in this blog take you to an online pet food retailer based in the United Kingdom. I have not used the service and therefore cannot recommend it, but I had fun cruising around and comparing it to similar companies in the U.S.

Do you agree with what Roger has to say about dog food? What brands are you loyal to? Sound off in the comments!

Charlie Machete has serious opinions on this and many subjects.

Woof! I am back, did you miss me?  Oh I am sorry, is this our first sniff and tail wag together?  I am Mr MaGoo, co-author of Real Dogs Don’t Whisper: Life Lessons (by yours truly) and I come by your yard once a month to paw up a note or two about how you furiends and I share a lot in common.  Did you know that you and I wuv carrots?  I wuv me some raw carrots, they are the purrfect treat.  Oh, let’ not furget about apples too!  Now, us dogs can’t eat the whole apple because of bad dudes called seeds; they make us very sick, no paw about it though, wuv me some raw apples.

Get this!  Did you know that there is thing called flaxseed and it is good for us?  What the flax? What is this thing called flaxseed?  Furiends, I took my paws to my iPaw and went out sniffing around to find out exactly what is all the flax about.  Turns around, this flaxseed is Grr8, pawsome; give me some high hoof!  This little seed will help reduce our risk of heart disease, cancer, aid in digestion, and so much more.  Let’s not furget about our skin and coat, this seed helps maintain our super sheen.

Got an itch?  How about that darn pollen?  It can help reduce inflammation, which can relieve symptoms associated with sweet itch and other skin conditions. It can also alleviate symptoms of allergies.  Now us dogs can get what is called, “hot-spots”; do you get those too?  Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it also helps in cases of arthritis or joint stiffness.

Furiends, I realized that the subject of digestion may be something we do not want to discuss amongst ourselves, but I do need to share that this pawsome seed, aids in digestion.  Just tell your parents that you want to be “regular” and to give you flaxseed.  No worries, they will think that you will want to get up the same time every morning.  BOL  I bark to this Mom all the time, she has hasn’t been able to connect the kibble together.  Woof!

Folks, flax seed oil is rich in Omega 3 and omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) which are excellent defenses against degenerative disease and illness, including cancer, cardiovascular, kidney, auto-immune disease, and bone and joint problems. So, if you want a healthy life today, tell your parents to start giving you flax seed.  In fact, tell them to take it with you, ii has the same benefits for them too!  How pawsome is that?  Now that is one cool seed.

Mom just baked us some cookies with flax seed in it, here is her recipe; carrots and flax seeds…yum! Ask your parents to bake up this easy and healthy treat for ya

2 cups Dry Oatmeal

½ cup grated carrots

3 Tablespoons Molasses

1 cup flax seed

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
Combine all ingredients. Add enough water to make soft dough. Stir
well. Form cookies. Bake 350 for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Bark at ya later

Mr MaGoo

Kelly Preston is an animal lover and author of Real Dogs Don’t Whisper. She grew up with horses, rabbits, and dogs. Mr. MaGoo is a nine-year-old Lhasa Apso and the book’s co-creator and co-writer. Mr. MaGoo has forged ahead with this project in an attempt to present the facts from a dog’s perspective. Kelly currently resides in San Jose. Visit her at: www.realdogsdontwhisper.com

Kelly and Mr MaGoo are regular contributors to this blog. Look for them the 25th of each month.

Thanks guys for a very informative post and the recipe too!