Category: Health & Wellness

Nutrition, Grooming & Safety Tips

By Sarah Christie, Certified Professional Dog Trainer

A healthy dog is a happy dog — and a well-trained dog benefits from feeling their best. Let’s talk about the basics of keeping your dog in tip-top condition.

Nutrition

Feed a balanced diet suited to your dog’s age, size, and activity level.

  • Check ingredient labels — the first ingredient should be a named protein source.
  • Avoid toxic foods like grapes, chocolate, onions, and xylitol.

Grooming

Regular grooming keeps your dog comfortable and allows you to check for skin issues or parasites.

  • Brush your dog’s coat weekly (more for long-haired breeds).
  • Trim nails regularly to prevent discomfort.

Safety

  • Keep ID tags up to date.
  • Secure your backyard and check for escape routes.
  • Buckle up with a harness or crate when travelling in the car.

Tip from Sarah: “Health, training, and happiness go hand in hand. A well-fed, well-groomed dog is more focused and ready to learn.”

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Choosing the right food for your furry friend

Are you unsure about the best diet for your furry friend? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide what to feed your dog. One of the most debated topics in the pet food industry is whether a complete raw diet or dried dog food is better for your canine companion. Let’s explore the key differences between the two and discuss how to choose the right food for your pet’s needs.

Understanding Dog Nutrition

Before diving into the debate, it’s essential to understand the basics of dog nutrition. According to Ann Martin, author of “Food Pets Die For,” a dog’s food should ideally be fed in its raw, natural state. Cooking dog food can lead to a loss of nutritional value. Furthermore, commercial dog foods often contain grain by-products as the main ingredient, despite dogs being designed to eat a raw diet consisting of various prey species.

Proponents of a complete raw diet argue that it closely mimics what dogs would eat in the wild. Advocates believe that feeding raw meat, bones, and organs provides essential nutrients that dogs need for optimal health. Additionally, raw diets typically contain fewer carbohydrates, which can help prevent issues like obesity and diabetes.

On the other hand, dried dog food, also known as kibble, has its drawbacks. Many commercial dog foods are loaded with preservatives, artificial colors, and excess salt to enhance palatability. These additives can lead to overeating and various health problems in dogs, such as allergies, weight gain, and digestive issues.

So, how do you choose between a complete raw diet and dried dog food for your pet? The decision ultimately depends on several factors, including your dog’s health, lifestyle, and preferences.

If your dog thrives on a raw diet and has no adverse reactions to it, sticking with that option may be the best choice. However, transitioning to a raw diet requires careful planning and consultation with a veterinarian to ensure that your dog receives all the necessary nutrients.

On the other hand, if a raw diet is not feasible for you or your dog has specific dietary restrictions, high-quality dried dog food can still provide essential nutrients. Look for brands that use natural ingredients and avoid artificial additives.

Some dogs may have sensitive stomachs or digestive issues that make it challenging to tolerate raw food. High-quality dried dog food is often easier to digest, thanks to its uniform texture and consistent ingredients. Additionally, kibble typically undergoes processing techniques such as cooking or extrusion, which can help break down nutrients and make them more accessible to your dog’s digestive system.

The market for dried dog food is vast, with numerous brands and formulations available to suit different dietary preferences and requirements. Whether your dog prefers grain-free, limited ingredient, or specialized diets for specific health conditions, you can likely find a high-quality kibble that meets their needs. Additionally, many brands offer a variety of flavors and textures to keep mealtime exciting for your pet.

Overall, high-quality dried dog food can be a convenient, nutritious, and practical option for pet owners looking to provide their dogs with a balanced diet that supports their health and well-being. As with any dietary choice, it’s essential to select a reputable brand and consult with a veterinarian to ensure that you’re meeting your dog’s specific nutritional requirements.

Choosing the right dog food involves weighing the pros and cons of a complete raw diet versus dried dog food. While both options have their benefits and drawbacks, the key is to prioritize your dog’s health and well-being. By making informed decisions and consulting with a professional, you can ensure that your furry friend receives the nutrition they need to thrive.

Complete Raw Diet vs Dried Dog Food

Source: Food Pets Die For by Ann Martin

 Basic Facts about Dog Nutrition

  • A dog’s food should never be cooked. It should be fed in a raw natural state. Cooking a dog’s food ruins most of its nutritional value.
  • The main ingredient of commercial dog food is grain by-product, despite the fact dogs are designed to eat a raw diet from a range of prey species. Grains cause a range of problems such as allergies.
  • Commercial dog foods are often laden with preservatives, colours (dyes) and salt (Up to 20 times more than a dog requires). The additives make the food more palatable so dogs will overeat. Dogs also appear to enjoy kibble so the owner feels good about feeding it and continue buying the product.
  • The vast majority of commercial dog foods contain too many carbohydrates (grain). High levels are linked to overeating, diabetes, weight gain and numerous other complaints.
  • There is no substitute for a RAW, natural diet for which the dog through evolution has chosen for itself. Only human influence has removed choice for the dog and isolated the species from its evolutionary diet. The domestic dog’s anatomy has not evolved to differ from that of the wolf…only its habitat has changed.
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What is best for a dog’s digestive system?

A RAW food diet. A dog’s digestive system does not cope with grains, yet they are the major ingredient of many dog food products around the world. Grains are one of the biggest allergy sources in dogs. Many people find that when they switch to a RAW food diet, their dog’s allergies disappear.

Top breeders, caring owners and well educated vets are getting back to basics.
There is undeniable proof that commercial dog diets have caused damage to dog health internationally. While many people know it’s common sense to feed a natural diet to their dogs, a major re-education campaign is now underway to help people “discover” again the fabulous benefits of feeding their dogs a RAW natural diet.

So what about bacteria in a raw pet food diet?  It is not uncommon for pet owners who would like to feed their pets a species appropriate raw diet instead of a commercial dry or wet (canned) food to be concerned about bacteria such as salmonella in raw food. Some vets and, of course, the dry food companies, still tell pet owners that raw food is not safe for their pets. But this is not true. Raw food is just as safe as other pet food on the market. In fact, most recalls of pet food occur in commercial dry foods, not raw foods.

It is true that there are bacteria in raw meat, every raw meat for that matter, not just meat used for pet food. These are the same bacteria as in the meat you buy from the supermarket or the butcher for your meals at home. It all comes down to the proper handling of the meat to prevent these bacteria from becoming harmful.

A few simple and very easy to follow tips to handle any raw pet food:

  • Store frozen pet food at -18 °C in your freezer until you need it.  This reduces and slows any possible bacteria growth significantly.
  • Only defrost the amount you need and use it up as quickly as possible. This minimizes bacteria growth.
  • Use different utensils for your pet food and keep it away from other food in your fridge.
  • Wash all surfaces thoroughly after handling raw meat, rinse utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water. Wash them in a dishwasher after pre-cleaning them with soapy water.
  • Wash your hands each time before and after you handle raw meat.
  • Don’t let your pet lick your face, especially around your mouth. This is not just because of any bacteria that might exist in the pet’s food but even more because you never know where you pet has sniffed and licked before.
  • Wash your hands when your pet has licked them.

From an article on that subject by Dr. Karen Becker, veterinarian, Healthy Pets Mercola:

“It’s important to note that salmonella can be found in up to 36 percent of all healthy dogs and 18 percent of healthy cats regardless of the food they consume. Many pets harbor these bacteria as a part of their normal GI flora and naturally shed salmonella organisms in feces and saliva regardless of what food they eat.

All non-typhoid salmonella species are ubiquitously present in the environment and reside in the GI tracts of many animals, including pets. The fact is the majority of human salmonellosis cases are acquired through ingestion or handling of contaminated dry pet foods and treats – not raw meat. In fact, as I mentioned, there’s no known incidence of human beings being infected with salmonella by raw-fed cats and dogs.”

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