From time to time our furry friends get diarrhea...it happens. Be prepared. Always have a can of 100% pumpkin in the pantry. As long as your dog is not running a fever or vomiting, for those occasional bouts of the runny stuff, give 'em a tablespoon. (for small dogs, a couple tablespoons for a bigger dog) You don't have to mix it with anything...my doggies ♥ it! (Make sure you don't buy the pumpkin that's got all the stuff in it for a pie...just plain pumpkin puree) I don't know what's in it that works, but it WORKS!!! My Mags had some really bad diarrhea from an antibiotic she was taking, just one tablespoon of pumpkin and it was gone!

Clean, Safe Home Environment

Keeping your house clean and keeping it safe, not only for yourself but for your furbabies too! I quit using harsh chemicals to clean years ago...products like Mr. Clean, Pine-sol, Lysol...those are offensive to my nose anymore! They're bad for your pets too! There are many 'green' products on the market today that are much better and safer. Green works has out many cleaners...I use them. Consider sprinkling baking soda in your toilet to clean it...it's mildly abrasive and cleans well. I also use essential oils for cleaning...and wow...the scent it leaves behind is so natural. If you have a Vitamin Shop store close to you, they carry some of the more popular oils...I use them on my kitchen counter tops...just drop about 4-5 drops around, wipe down with a paper towel. Peppermint, Lavender and in the winter Eucalyptus are a few of my favorites!

Skin Problems (Dry/Itchy)

Does your dog suffer from dry skin? Although it is more common in the winter when humidity levels are low, dogs can have dry skin problems any time of the year.  I have found that organic coconut oil is an excellent product to use, and it's extremely safe to use directly on your dog's skin.  If your dog would lick it off, it wouldn't hurt him.  Since coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is affected by air temperature.  When it is cold, it tends to be solid, the warmer it is, the more liquid form it takes.  Massage into your dogs skin one to two times a day, depending on the severity of the dryness.

Does your dog suffer from itchy skin? There are many reasons dogs scratch.  Usually allergies (many different kinds) are the main cause.  It could be a hot spot, a flea bite, lots of things. A good first step is to work internally; using a fish oil supplement.  Products with Omega 3, 6 and 9 in it are good to help keep the coat moisturized from the inside out. These can be squeezed from the soft capsule onto your dog's food. Topically, aloe vera gel is very soothing and also not harmful to apply directly on your dog's skin.  It can be used from the plant itself or you can purchase it in a vitamin or health food store.  Aubrey Organics has a good product out that does not contain a bunch of added unnecessary stuff.  I always look for the least amount of ingredients on a product, and an ingredient list that has words I can actually pronounce!

Calendula is also an excellent choice.  I will be writing a separate blog on this in the near future.  Remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog! Keep yours in top shape by catching skin problems early so it does not become a major issue.

Considerations For Feeding Your Dog

In answer to Sherry in Georgia….
There are many things to consider when you begin cooking for your dogs. Going beyond the point of just kibble is a big step. You’ll want to make sure you introduce your dog slowly, and with smaller portions when you first begin, allowing their systems to adjust to new foods. I foster off and on for dog rescue, so I’ve had quite a few dogs in our home for over a four year period now, which is great. That enables me to introduce this whole new world of balance and variety into their lives. I actually feel sorry for the dogs once they leave my house to be adopted, because I realize most likely they will not get fed somewhere else like they did here in our household!
Dog food packaging usually gives you guidelines as to how much kibble to feed your dog. A small dog (under 10#), about 1 cup of kibble a day, a medium dog (around 40#), about 2 cups of kibble a day, a large dog (around 60#), about 3 cups of kibble a day, and for a dog over 70#, about 5 cups of kibble a day. Check package guidelines and allow this to be your starting point. You don’t want to overfeed your dog when you add other foods in…you make an allowance for that and adjust the amount of kibble down to the above mentioned measurements in combination with the additional food.
I am an advocate of what I call ‘high end’ dog kibble. The better quality dog foods. I don’t buy my kibble at the grocery store. I buy from the pet store where the variety of the better brands are available. I particularly like Innova, Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux brands (and several others). Yes, they cost more, but they are much better for your dog, as the ingredients are of better quality. Meats top the ingredient list instead of grains and what I dub ‘mystery’ ingredients (I.e. ‘animal digest’, ‘meat by-products’ - what animal source is that from?) Keep in mind, if you are going to be supplementing your dog’s diet with additional foods, you will use less kibble, so it’ll last longer…so you can spend a bit more to get a good ‘base’ for your dog’s diet.
Other things to consider when feeding your dog are: age, current weight (is your dog at a healthy weight, overweight, underweight?), activity level (couch potato, moderately active, high strung athletic getting about 30-45 minutes of actual ‘exercise’ every day?). That also will determine according to the above listed guidelines whether you need to increase or decrease the total amount. How often do you feed your dog? I feed mine twice a day, in the morning when I fix breakfast and in the evening after I get home from work. Some people only feed their dog once a day, some three times a day. That tells you how you need to divvy out the amount at each feeding.
I buy as much in organic as I can afford. For me and for my dogs. I purchase hormone free/antibiotic free meats (occasionally I buy organic meat), organic fruits and vegetables, and dairy. I do have a few recipes that are fairly easy that I will share below, but most of the meals just contain a combination of a meat, vegetable and kibble. Meats: round steak, salmon, chicken breast/thighs, ground chicken/turkey, beef liver, occasionally pot roast, and very rarely they get shrimp. (Note: I sprinkle dried parsley over most meats I serve my dogs…very good herb for them!) Vegetables: Broccoli, carrots, winter squash, green pepper and green beans are some of their favorites. (Note: with veges, cut small so your dog can digest them easier) Fruits: bananas, apples, applesauce (plain, no sugar), peaches, blueberries, watermelon and cantaloupe. Dairy: cottage cheese (organic, when I can get it) and always organic on milk (whole, I don’t buy reduced fat varieties), whole plain yogurt and kefir, and organic cheese and eggs. If I’m cooking them something that requires oil, I only use organic extra virgin olive oil. It is a highly digestible fat that gives satiety in the diet. I do not suggest corn, as many dogs have an allergy to it, and it does not digest well. And never give your dog a corn cob to eat…that can pose a dangerous health risk.
I’ve managed to put together a fairly consistent routine with feeding. Monday morning is egg morning, over easy…doggies love the runny yolk. (Note: do not feed raw eggs to your dog) I cook it, then break it up with a fork. Thursday morning is oatmeal morning (check my blog for this post), and Sunday morning is scrambled egg morning. Dogs are blessed in that cholesterol is not an issue for them like it is humans. In the wild, dogs and wolves consume high amounts of cholesterol, due to the amount of meat in their natural diets.
Here are a few recipes my dogs enjoy: Apple Cinnamon Yogurt: Peel and core an (organic) apple, and grate into a bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon (very good spice for dogs), mix in organic plain yogurt. Very yummy for breakfast. You can even add some coconut into it (just soak in water to allow it to get moisture). Banana Peanut Butter Delight: Mash a ripe banana in a bowl. Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (organic or natural is best)…mix in plain (organic) yogurt. Doggie Salmon Patties: Drain a large can of salmon, (set juice aside), add ½ to ¾ cup organic quick oats, one organic egg, and 1 to 2 teaspoons dried organic parsley. You will need to add some of the juice you drained back into the mixture so it isn’t dry. Any remaining juice can be drizzled over the patties before serving. Mix ingredients together, form into patties, and fry in a skillet using organic extra virgin olive oil. Cook both sides until browned.
It’s fun to experiment with different food combinations. I tend to feed fruits and yogurt in the morning and vegetables in the evening. Most likely what you will find is your dog won’t eat certain foods the first time. I have experienced that. Most of my dogs didn’t like bananas the first time around. Don’t give up. Keep trying. My dogs act like they’re crazy while I’m fixing their meals, just in anticipation of what‘s to come! It doesn’t take long for new dogs at our house to figure out the food at the ‘Chaplin Doggie Diner’ is really yummy! Thanks for your question, Sherry. I hope this helps. Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Check my previous blogs as I mention many other tips for adding food and supplements to your doggie meals.

Help Feed Shelter Animals

Want to help feed shelter animals for free? Go to www.freekibble.com and play the different trivia game they have each day...whether you get the answer right or not, they will donate 10 pieces of kibble to an animal shelter....and I ain't talkin' Kibbles 'n Bits...I'm talkin' about good kibble...Halo brand, which is a holistic food...check out their website (Google Halo Dog Food) and look at the ingredient list...you might want to eat it yourself! (tee hee hee!) With all the millions of people playing everyday, just think how quickly those 10 pieces of kibble add up to help animal shelters! Check it out...and give your furbabies another hug and kiss! ♥

Raw milk...also referred to as 'pet milk'....if you are fortunate enough to live close enough to a local diary farmer, check with them, and see if they have it available...I purchased some and gave it to my furids...they LOVED it...and it's very good for them! We have an organic dairy farmer out in Greenfield, and that's where I purchased mine (p.s., it's good for people too...but don't tell them you're going to drink it!)

Making Decisions

As adults we make hundreds of decisions every day...some more important than others.  From what to eat, what to wear, where to go, etc.  As a pet owner, we have that responsibility for our furry companions, as this is not something they are capable of doing on their own.  When issues arise, it is important that we be as informed as possible about the situation, ask questions and seek options, and second opinions when necessary.  We need to be making the best possible decisions for them as we can....these are our babies...family!  By being infomed and knowledgeable we can be more in charge of a situation.  We'd do it for ourselves and our young children, we need to do it for our pets because they cannot speak for themselves.  Understandably, emergencies can arise that catch us off guard.  I'm not real fond of having to make split second decisions on something that I'm not familiar with.  And when it's not a life or death situation, I like to be able to step back and do research. 
Know what's in the food your feeding your dog.  Did you read the label? What are the ingredients?
Don't allow your dog to be given unnecessary prescription drugs.  There are times when there are no other options, but again, if it's not a life or death situation, my answer is, 'there's got to be an herb for that'.  If you know you have a certain issue, read all you can about it from reliable sources.  Most veterinarians (and some specialists) are not familiar with natural and herbal remedies.  And the majority have little teaching on nutrition, and what they did learn in vet school was most likely presented by a prescription dog food company.
Be an advocate for your faithful friend.  Get to know your dog well enough that you know what's normal, so that you will know what's abnormal .  Be your dog's advocate for their health, nutrition and well-being.  It is a daily necessity - their lives are depending on it!

Eggs are a good source of protein for our furry friends...just make sure you don't feed them to your furbabies raw...always cook them...it is ok to have a runny yolk (egg white cooked). My kids ♥ over-easy on their Monday morning eggs. Dogs don't suffer from high cholesterol like humans do...I also hard boil eggs...I eat the whites and crumble up the yolk over their food.

I know there has been a lot of concern lately over dog treats from China and it making dogs sick or killing them. I have stated how much I really like Only Natural Pet's products. Check this one out for your furbabies for a daily vitamin. The flavoring used in this product is from the U.S. pasture fed beef that is pesticide free! You can't get much better than that!

Antibiotics and your pet. I know there are times when it is necessary for our furry friends to take these synthetic drugs...so...when that happens, be sure to add a supplement to their diet to repopulate their gut with normal, beneficial bugs. In other words, give them probiotics! Kefir is great! I buy the organic plain variety...it's like a pourable yogurt....add some mushed (!!) up bananas or slice them up, pour the kefir over it...my furkids ♥ it!!

Got an anxious dog? Fearful of loud noises, like the spring storms that move through this time of year? Check out www.onlynaturalpet.com for natural anxiety remedies. Valerian and chamomile work wonders for your dogs in these situations...and they work quickly and effectively without the harsh side effects of prescription drugs.

What contains Omega 3's, 6's & 9's, is a cancer fighter, anti-inflammatory, aids in digestive health and bone health? Something you should DEFINITELY be including in your doggie's food regimen....what is it? Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil! I use it for myself and my doggies...it's highly digestible and adds satiety to the diet. Doggies need fats too...just the HEALTHY ones! I brush the skillet with it to cook the doggies eggs in...swipe it across the bottom of the dish when baking meats for them...I just look for places to add it to their daily variety of yummy foods! Try it...to you and your doggie's health! ♥

I'm using a great seasonal allergy support product for one my my doggies. This stuff is really doing the job! It's called Vet's Best and it's the Seasonal Allergy Support formula. I got it at The Vitamin Shoppe...you can also check out their website. www.vetsbest.com
It's very reasonably priced. Remember, when using herbal based supplements, full results can take up to 3 months. Be patient. Herbs aren't miracles, they're nature's medicine. ♥

Doggie Recipe #1 - A yummy treat for your doggie(s) Peel and smoosh (♥ that word!) up a small banana(make sure it's ripe!)...stir in about a tablespoon of natural peanut butter, then stir in some organic plain yogurt...watch your furbabies gobble it up! Yum! ♥

I cook for my dogs, so I store their food in the frig. I used to use plastic until I read about BPA...it is a chemical found in most plastics that causes cancer (you know doggies can get cancer too!). I always wondered about the safety of plastic. Some plastics are starting to come out now that are 'BPA free', but I have replaced just about all my plastic with glass containers. That's what I store my doggies 'left overs' in now. :-)

Dogge dental help...Top Performance has a product called Pro Dental - Professional Dental Solution. This is added to your doggies water to reduce plaque build-up, freshen breath and whiten teeth. What I like about it is, it does not have ANY artificial colors in it! (like the Blue #4, Red #2, Yellow # whatever!). I also like the PetzLife Oral Care Gel...it basically serves the same purpose as the Pro Dental, but it's a gel you rub on your doggie's gums and teeth. Both of these really help to keep your doggie's teeth in great shape (especially after they've had a dental!) The best price on these (and believe me, I've researched it) is on Amazon.com (that means everybody can get these great products!)

I'm really enjoying sharing these wonderful tips with everybody for their fur-babies! I know mine are a top priority in my life, as is their health. I know I don't like to feel bad, and I've heard it said if you have your health, you have everything! Our fur-kids deserve to have a healthy, long life...this can only come from a proper diet, exercise and sunshine, a non-toxic environment, and lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses! Pets are a life-long commitment. They're not a toy you play with for awhile at your convenience, and when you get tired you put it away...they are a living, breathing animal that God created, that has emotions and feelings...and yes, they do feel pain...as responsible pet owners, we need to make sure we keep them safe...they don't realize it, but they're counting on that from us...it's the least we can do as their pack leader. ♥

Doggies like fruit...and it's really yummy with yogurt! I buy the Stonyfield Farm (organic, of course!) plain yogurt. Peel and core an apple...grate it...smoosh (don't ya love the word?) up some blueberries...sprinkle a bit of cinnamon, add yogurt...stir...dish out for doggies...watch them enjoy! Mine had some of that this morning with their chicken thighs and kibble! ♥

Your dog's health is very connected to the type of food you feed him...feed him right, add years to his life...feed him wrong, and problems are sure to occur in later years.  Just as humans, most times in our younger years, we think we can 'get away with' a lot of things we do that are abusive to our bodies, we think we aren't affected...only to find later down the road, when we reach our 30's, 40's and especially our 50's we encounter problems from those things we did years back.  Remember, dogs age quicker than we do, signs of improper nutrition can show up in a couple of years.  Once set in, reversing the effects are much more time consuming and costly than taking steps to keep it from occurring in the first place.  That old saying, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' speaks volumes to how we should conduct our lives and the lives of those with us, including our furry companions.
With more shelter and rescue dogs being adopted these days, it's difficult if not impossible to know or try to figure out what is going on with an animal that we know little about.  Because of this we need to make sure when we take on a dog that we know little or nothing about his/her background, that we practice top notch nutrition. adding into that a non-toxic environment.

A Quick Word About Cooking For Your Dog....

Cooking for your dog is really not any more difficult than cooking for yourself.  I know, more and more people tend to eat out these days, but cooking at home is by far better than fast fooding.  (Note: Please don't feed your dog fast food!  More about this in future blogs)

If you're steaming veggies for yourself, throw some in for Fido.  Dogs do have a harder time digesting veges, so cut them up small for them to aid in the digestion process.  There are certain foods your dog shouldn't have, and I will discuss these in future blogs.  With warmer weather and cook out season coming up, you shouldn't feed your dogs corn.  It's hard for them to digest and many dogs have allergies to corn.  Never let your dog eat a corn cob, this can pose serious health risks.  In fact, go easy on the starchy 'vegetables', such as peas and potatoes, limit these to small amounts.

I eat my oatmeal prepared the same way I give it to my dogs.  I have heard so many people say their dogs wouldn't eat the things I feed mine.  Truth is, they haven't tried feeding their dogs these foods!  Portion control is important (just like it is for humans)  Too much of even a good thing can put unwanted pounds on your pets, and that's not healthy.  Even a gain of one pound in a small dog could be as much as a 20% weight gain.

Adding vegetables to your dogs other foods such as green beans or broccoli add fiber, thus satiety to their diet.  These are low in calories, and have many good nutrients as well.  Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is not only good for their joints, it's good for quality of life.
I will be adding more about cooking and nutrition for you dogs, and including some 'recipes' and food combinations I use for my dogs.  To your dog's good health!

Allergy season is upon us and this is quite common among dogs to have allergies.  It can range from mild to extreme, and symptoms vary.  Giving your dog a fish oil supplement such as Omega 3-6-9 from Springtime, Inc. (www.springtimeinc.com) will help keep your dogs skin and coat in top condition.  My Maltese has licked her paws for years...turning them brown from her saliva.  This is most likely a grass allergy.  Although I do not have my lawn sprayed with chemicals, dogs can still have allergies just like humans.  This is a mild form of an allergy and not cause for alarm.  If you dog itches, sneezes and coughs, keeping you up at night, consider using a natural/herbal allergy formula.  I've used a really good one from Vet's Best (http://vetsbest.com) it's a seasonal allergy pill.  Remember when using natural and herbal supplements you need to allow at least 3-4 weeks for it to get in your dog's system and begin working.  I am not an advocate of prescription meds for dogs any more than I am for humans (except in emergency situations)  Keep your dog and your family happy and healthy by using nature's remedies.

Know What Your Dog Needs....
What is responsible pet ownership? It's more than you probably ever thought.  It's been a little over sixteen years since I began the journey....and those early days are a blur...what did I do? What didn't I know then that I know now?
I have learned so much over those years, most of it being in the last four years since I began volunteering in dog rescue.  I didn't know anything about what type of dog food to buy, what my dog's nutritional needs were or what they'd be ten years down the road.
I am writing this blog to share my experiences, research and personal study on canine nutrition, health, and disease.  The more I learn, the more I realize there is to learn, and I don't want to keep that to myself.  It must be shared so that more dogs can reap the benefits, and their owners can become educated to their furry companions needs...that's just one part of responsible pet ownership.
I am certified in human nutrition, and I have over twenty-five years of study and research in that area.  I have also recently become certified as a personal trainer, which has further enhanced my nutritional knowledge.
Read my article 'Canines In A Human Environment'.  It is a stepping stone to understanding what we expose our dogs to in 'our world' and why this is not beneficial to their health and well being.  I will be adding more articles dealing with many issues of nutrition, health and environment, as it can't possibly all fit into an article or two.
I hope you enjoy reading these and I appreciate your feedback.

Dog Tip #7 - Thursday morning is oatmal morning in the Chaplin household...my furkids ♥ their oatmeal...I buy the organic quick oats, use organic whole milk, and then I slice organic banana on top of it. They get their meat and kibble as well. I bet your dog(s) would ♥ oatmeal too! Give it a try! Very healthy for them! :-)

Dog Tip #6 - Keep your fur-babies healthy with all natural/organic supplements and herbal products. I use Only Natural Pet for a lot of my pet's need. Check them out at: www.onlynaturalpet.com

Dog Tip #5 - Did you know your dog can have parsley? I sprinkle the organic dried variety (fresh chopped up fine will work too!) into their eggs and on their meat, in veggies. It has 3 times as much Vitamin C as an orange, twice as much iron as spinach, excellent source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A and folate. It's a cancer fighter, antioxidant, good for the heart and protects against rheumatoid arthritis...and it's a natural breath freshner to boot! My kids gobble it up! I use it myself in my food as it adds an excellent taste! Try it!

Dog Tip #4 - does your dog have allergies? To food? To anything inside or outside? Then your doggie needs fish oil in his/her diet! Springtime, Inc. (listed below) www.springtimeinc.com has a great supplement...3-6-9 Omega...I use it for my little Maggie...it's a gel cap....i puncture it with the end of a sharp knife and squeeze it over her food...because of her size, she only needs 1 every other day...she gobbles it up! More coming in 'docs' section about Natural/herbal cleaning around the house to keep allergies down and puppy doggies healthy and safe! ♥

Dog Tip #3 - Dogs like vegetables too! Due to their short digestive tract, they can not digest them as easily as we do, so chop them up small to help this process...my furbabies love carrots, broccoli, squash, green beans....don't add any salt to them, as this is not a requirment for dogs...don't give them onions. Add herbs to give extra flavor...of course, I don't think mine chew...they swallow their food whole! Will write more about veges, herbs, fruits, etc...in upcoming posts and documents! ♥

Dog Tip #2: Did you know that flea eggs hatch at 40 degrees and above...get ahead of them, and they can be nipped in the bud naturally. I use 'Bug Off Garlic' from Springtime: www.springtimeinc.com and also eucalyptus is NOT liked by fleas, put a few drops of the essential oil on your dog's collar or bandana (not directly on their fur) to keep fleas away. Place eucalyptus in dishes around your house (where pets can't reach them) to help ward off fleas. Personally, I like how it smells. :-)

Dog Tip #1 - Calcium. Did you know your dog should have calcium in his/her diet? So, how do you get this into their diet? Well, in the wild, dogs and wolves eat the bones of their prey...our domesticated variety don't have that option...so we need to help them. Good sources are yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese...but best is egg shells. I buy organic eggs...once you break the shell...wash it out, allow to dry, run through a coffee grinder until it is a powder...store in a glass dish (preferbly) in your frig, and sprinkle onto your dogs food. :-)

Canines In A Human Environment
By Anita Chaplin

‘It’s just a dog’. I don’t like hearing that statement. To me, my dogs are family. I refer to them as my ‘furkids’ or ‘furbabies’. They are a living, breathing creation of God that have a soul that will live forever. They have emotions, can communicate, feel pain, and by my personal observation, they can reason.

Wolves and dogs in the wild are at truly a greater advantage than their domesticated relatives. They are not exposed to the environmental ‘dangers’ that Rover and Fido are who live in polluted cities and toxic suburbs. As humans, this is the environment we have grown up in, we don’t know anything any different, and simply put, we don’t stop to think about not only how this affects our health and quality of life, but also that of our beloved pets.

As a child I grew up in a household that was, well, contaminated, not even realizing it or giving it a second thought. My mom used bleach with chlorine, Mr. Clean products and an array of other cleaning products not suitable for human exposure. I don’t blame my mom. There were a whole lot of things back in ‘those days’ that majority of folk were not aware of. In our 21^st Century society, ‘green’, ‘eco-friendly’, organic, natural and herbal are all buzz words that have derived from years of research and study that have concluded we need to get back to living more purely. The tide has turned and we are now more aware of our bodies and the world around us and how it directly affects us.

People are not the only ones who can benefit from better living. If something is bad for us, it’s not good for our pets that reside with us. The rise of disease and illness in domesticated animals over the last couple of decades has brought to light the need to ensure the environment in which we all dwell is not only safe, but healthy.

Dogs suffer from arthritis, cancer, and a plethora of other ailments. It’s not just us humans. Some would perhaps argue that it’s the inevitable aging process, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Not true. Are you just planning on aging gracefully, or are you going to fight it? There is great emphasis these days on appearance. We all want to look and feel younger. We need to remember, our canine friends age more quickly than we do.  They age 15 human years just in their first year of life! (See link below to view dog age chart) Smaller dogs have a longer lifespan than larger dogs. 

There are several factors that affect the quality of life for your pet: proper nutrition, exercise and weight control, health such as spaying/neutering, and environmental contaminants such as second hand cigarette smoke, cleaning products and external pollutants. Most of these we can control for them, others we cannot. That being said, we need to be proactive in our approach to the afore mentioned areas.

When I entered into the world of pet ownership and responsibility over 16 years ago, I was pretty much in the same boat as a lot of other ‘wet behind the ears’ owners. In retrospect, I knew nothing about properly taking care of an animal in my direct care. It has been the more recent years when I began fostering for dog rescue and numerous dogs entered and left through our home, that the realization of what their true needs were caused me to begin research in the area of nutrition. This arose from my background and certification in human nutrition.

Fast forward four years later, hours upon hours of research and reading, realizing how much more there is to learn about this, I continue to strive and pursue my interest in canine nutrition. It’s really just starting to catch attention, kind of like organic products have gained in popularity over recent years. There isn’t a whole lot of information out there, however, I have found and utilized many resources that have proved reliable.

I have concluded that nutrition is the first line of defense against many of the illness and disease our pets encounter due to being in ‘our world’. I have personally experienced reversing the poor health of a dog by utilizing high end nutrition, and natural/herbal supplementation. Mainstream veterinary practices rely on what most human doctors do, prescription drugs and surgery to control and correct allergies, infections and disease. Low-fat and prescription diets are popular, and vets are quick to write a script, along with the synthetic, man-made pills. I am not an advocate of ‘low-fat’…not in the human diet nor that of canines. Quality fats such as organic extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil used internally and externally are excellent choices, and are much needed in a proper diet. ‘Prescription’ dog foods to me are junk food and have no place in a proper canine nutritional program. I do not apologize for this, and this is my personal opinion, which has derived from my many years and hours of study in this area.

Most people would not consider, let alone know where to start to cook for their dogs. In my opinion, dog kibble is not enough, even when using top quality brands such as Innova or Blue Buffalo. Wolves in the wild forage herbs and vegetation along with animal prey where they obtain fats, calcium (from bones), vitamins and minerals, all necessary for good health. By instinct, they know what they need. Pretty smart! I will not go any further in depth about nutrition, as that is several other articles all on its own. (those to be forthcoming)

Let’s move on to exercise and weight control. In short, just like humans, dogs need to move! Even those who have physical disabilities need some form of exercise, fresh air and sunshine. Exercise helps to counter weight gain, which can be detrimental to a dogs health which can affect the onset of joint problems, diabetes and ultimately quality of life and longevity. Monitor this area closely. If your dog is overweight, take action to reverse this process, your dog’s life depends on it!

Spaying and neutering your pet is not only being a responsible pet owner in that it eliminates pet overpopulation, it also protects your pet against certain cancers such as breast and testicular and helps prevent uterine infections. It will not make your pet fat…that comes from overeating and lack of exercise.

Environmental contaminants. There are many and in this article I can only touch upon a few briefly, as again this could cover several articles (those to be forthcoming as well). Let’s discuss second hand smoke. This is an area we can control. Perhaps those who would not consider smoking around babies or young children don’t consider the effect it has on their pets. Dogs can get lung cancer…and other types of cancer…they breath in the contaminated air that comes from cigarette smoke, and over a period of time it can cause them to develop cancer, especially if other factors such as poor nutrition and overuse of prescription drugs are a part of their daily life. Please, do not smoke in the breathing presence of your dog and do not expose your dog to direct contact with others who smoke. (This includes cigar smoke too!)

Pollutants in the air is something we have little control over, especially outside of our home. Who knows what is in the air we breathe. Just because we can’t smell something, doesn’t mean we’re not breathing contaminates into our lungs…same for our pets. We can help counter bad air in our homes by changing furnace filters regularly and using environmental friendly cleaning products. So much of what is on the market today is synthetic and offensive to our sense of smell. Essential oils, vinegar, baking soda…all of these are more natural, better for the environment and our olfactory system. They cost less and are just as easy to use.

It is evident by just this short article that there are many factors that affect canine health and wellness. To think that we can bring them into our environment with its harmful attributes, and it not affect them is irresponsible. They are vulnerable, and rely on us to assist them in feeding, grooming, exercise and every other aspect of their daily existence. They will never ‘outgrow’ this, as most human children do. Pet ownership (or rightly said, human ownership, from a dog perspective) is a life long commitment, as some dog breeds can live as long as 20 or more years. We need to make a commitment to make those quality years, not quantity years. I feel blessed to be allowed to care for God’s sinless, blameless critters, it involves a tremendous responsibility of time and care when done properly. The bond between man and canine is unique, to be cherished and above all, it is a relationship that will leave a paw print on your heart forever.

　

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