Fresh Pet - Sharing Love During The Holiday Season

Good morning blog readers....just a quick blog to let you know about this wonderful opportunity YOU have to help shelter pets during this Holiday season.  FreshPet has put together a video....a must see! Here is what they posted about it on FaceBook, and also the link!

 

"We threw these shelter pets a Holiday Feast they’ll never forget, and what happens after will warm your heart. For every share Freshpet will donate a meal to a pet in need!"

http://freshpet.co/2hFP0VJ

 

 

Thank you, FreshPet for your commitment to adopt, and thank YOU, my blog readers for sharing and helping out! Merry Christmas!

Bone Broth for a Healthy Dog

 

I am always searching for new and better ways to help pet parents have healthier dogs.  I understand the financial burden of caring for our furry family members, especially large dogs or multi-dog households...I'm in that boat with you.  As you well know, food is just a part of our responsibility to our Fido's and Spot's.  However, it is a very important one, and as I have said for years, it is their first line of defense against disease.  I know that majority of owners feed dry kibble, and unfortunately the cheapest one they can find.  That troubles me, but my plea is that you will at least add something that will be of benefit....it's better than nothing.  There are numerous add-ins that I have blogged about over the many years that can be beneficial to your dog's health and well-being.

 

I recently began researching the benefits of collagen for myself, and with that came much reading about bone broth.  It is a powerhouse of nutrients.  Then I saw an advertisement just the other day regarding dogs and bone broth...which got me to thinking, 'yeah, why not for dogs?'  So....this morning I did some further research.  I have in past blogs posted my exclusive 'Chaplin Doggie Diner' recipes, and canine soup is so easy to make! Adding bone broth as the liquid is a cinch!  The most convenient way to do this would be to buy it, but it can be pricey...around $5-6 for 32 ounce of the organic, but that is always my recommendation because of the better health benefit of organics.

 

If you are willing to invest some time, you can make it yourself very inexpensive.  Check the Asian food markets, or stores with a butcher shop to get raw bones...the best ones being beef knuckles, chicken necks, turkey wings, oxtails, soup bones and even poultry feet.  You can put these in a crock pot and cook on low for about 24 hours (here is a link with directions.... http://www.grassfedgirl.com/easy-crock-pot-bone-broth-2/)  Do not feed the bones to your dog! Cooked bones are a danger for dogs to eat!  Consider adding some veggies to the broth in the last couple of hours of cooking...carrots, celery, broccoli, potatoes are all good choices.  Even herbs like some fresh parsley is a great choice!

 

I have long believed that any dog over the age of seven needs to be on a joint supplement to help avoid joint issues, as many smaller breeds develop luxating patella, and large breeds tend to have hip problems.  Bone broth can help, as it has high concentrations of minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium and calcium...all of which develops/maintains stronger bones.  It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which I have supplemented in wafer form for years with my own dogs and have had positive results.  As always, consistency is key with diet...yes, even with dogs!

 

So many dogs have digestive issues, mainly which I believe develop from the daily diet of kibble.  Bone broth has healing properties that aids the digestive process because it contains glycine, which is an amino acid (aka: a building block of protein)  Dogs can suffer from leaky gut too!  Digestive ills can lead to allergies, which can not only affect the digestive tract and cause diarrhea, but also bring on skin issues.  Bone broth contains gelatin which can seal up holes in the intestines.  (Note: the intestines contain small holes naturally that allow nutrients to pass into the body, but can become problematic if the holes become too large, which can cause things to pass into the body that shouldn't).  Besides gelatin, this broth also has collagen.  I did quite a bit of research on collagen as a advantage for humans, and found the best way to get benefit from it is through ingesting it, as the molecules are too large to absorb into the skin.

 

Another gain from adding this to your dog's diet is bone broth aids in liver detoxification.  When you consider how our furry friends are directly connected to their world, their bare paws touching flooring that has been cleaned with toxic cleaners, and grass that has been sprayed with chemicals, it is easy to understand how their bodies can become overwhelmed with dealing with elimination of these.  Also, synthetic ingredients in the typical food they eat, dewormers, flea and tick preventatives, antibiotics and vaccines (most times over vaccination), and you just have an accident waiting to happen!

 

Truly, this is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  This can be one small change to your dog's diet that will reap positive results.  I am a firm believer in herbs and complimentary, natural forms in caring for people and animals, as it is close to nature, to our natural biorhythm of life.  When you treat the body as the whole and connected form it is, you provide a harmonic environment in which it is able to heal, and that is the very root of sound health and well-being!

Fresh Pet Dog Food - Update to Blog from 3/27/16

 

I wanted to provide an update to the blog I wrote just this past Sunday regarding Freshpet Dog food.  That blog came from a comment from a reader who had an issue of mold in the 'Select' brand of this food. (I have since removed her comment, but I am leaving her YouTube link for viewing) After writing the blog as a warning to my readers, I went to the Freshpet website to contact them myself, as I could not overlook my responsibility to do this. (http://freshpet.com)  I explained in detail my reason for contacting them.  The next day I received an email from Freshpet's Consumer Affairs Manager thanking me for reaching out to them with my concern.

 

I was informed that Freshpet co-founder Mr. Scott Morris wanted to speak to me regarding the matter.  I will discuss some of the things Mr. Morris and I talked about, but first let me share with you the email I received.  I was told, 'Freshpet takes great care in our product formulations and manufacturing processes to make the best pet foods.  Products are processed in a modern pet food facility under sanitary conditions to produce safe and nutritious pet foods.  Freshpet Select Dog Roasted Meals are pasteurized to destroy bacteria, packaged under hygienic conditions and refrigerated to maintain freshness.  As with any fresh food, a damaged bag will allow air to enter and result in mold formation.'

 

Continuing....'Several factors can cause the problem to occur.  We have discovered that if bags are dropped, cut or punctured while in transit or in stocking, this can allow oxygen into the bag and leave our foods susceptible to mold.  We'd like to assure you that out of all the bags we sell, only a small percentage are affected by mold.  We understand that even at a low percentage that this is an important issue, and we have implemented stronger bags and case packaging to eliminate as many instances as we can of mold...we are very familiar with the case you have referenced.  We have no reason to believe that our foods have caused any illness in pets and take these concerns very seriously.'

 

I received a call from Mr. Morris the next day, which was Tuesday.  We spoke at length, well over an hour.  He gave me a brief history of the company which was founded in 2006, and emphasized the importance of quality and their 'pets before profit' standpoint.  Their foods are 'processed' as little as possible, are pasteurized and each batch, (a batch being 2,000 pounds) are all tested for microorganisms such as bacteria and mold before leaving the facility.

 

I am big on education, as I believe 'knowledge is power'.  I know most of my readers feed a dry food (kibble) to their dogs.  Since this is not a 'fresh' or 'refrigerated' food, it's not an issue to leave it at room temperature or have the bag open for a month or have much concern for the way it is handled.  Fresh Pet is different.  My advice would be to treat it as you would raw meat you buy for your family.  Careful handling is imperative, and I would much rather err on the side of being 'overly safe' than to be careless and have an issue.  Fresh Pet's website is a wealth of information to help you use their foods properly, and I highly recommend you read it if you are considering feeding your pet this type of food.  According to their site, here is the amount of time they recommend to use up the food once opened: rolls/patties - 7 days; bagged meals - 7 days; single serve cups - 2 days; dog treats - 14 days and non-refrigerated food - 2 to 3 weeks. And do not leave the refrigerated food in your dog's bowl for more than 2 to 3 hours.

 

My dogs eat a mainly raw diet, along with home-cooked.  I do give them a little kibble  in the evening.  Yes, we have the Fresh Pet kibble.  I am very careful with my utensils, and clean-up after wards.  The raw I purchase comes frozen...I thaw it in the refrigerator, never on the counter-top.  I make sure I use it within at the most 4 days of opening, depending on the size of the container. I have never had any problems with mold or with any of my dogs being sickened by it, and I've been feeding raw for nearly three years. 

 

My conclusion from my conversation with Mr. Morris is that there was no fault on Fresh Pet's part regarding this mold issue.  I make no apologies for my findings.  The evidence presented to me, which I do not feel at liberty to discuss in this blog, determined my personal opinion, and those are based on my extensive background in human and canine nutrition in which the former spans several decades.  I always strive to learn as much as I can and research necessary areas to bring my readers easy to understand, no nonsense information you can use to become better pet parents.

 

Albeit said, I cannot do it all for you.  Please check out Fresh Pet's website....they still have the Talk To the Paw, 'paw of approval' for their food.  They receive thousands of letters from satisfied customers. I was impressed enough with it in late 2012 to blog about it, and I still stand behind their products...I have been feeding it to my own since before then. Yes, it carries a higher price tag, but it is a quality product, and if you cannot afford to feed it to your dog on a consistent basis, at least consider supplementing their diet with it from time to time, as I feel it is a healthy addition to any canine food program. As always, best of health to you and your furry companions!

 



Fresh Pet Food Update....IMPORTANT!!!

I began writing this blog nearly four years ago because I care very deeply for dogs...their well-being is of utmost importance to me.  I obtained my certification in advanced canine nutrition shortly after starting the blog.  I continue to do research and utilize my extensive background in human nutrition to bring to my readers easy to understand, no nonsense information to help them be better pet parents.

 

I recently had a comment left by one of my blog readers, Robin, regarding an issue she encountered with mold in the Freshpet Select.  This is very troubling and disheartening.  I am so sorry to hear that her mom lost a pet because of this and two of her own dogs were sickened by it.  Here is the link to the YouTube video she made...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nJfJdtJAoM

 

I went to the Fresh Pet website and left a detailed comment to them regarding this issue. (http://freshpet.com)  I am anticipating an answer back from them, and I informed them I would be adding a warning to my original blog from October of 2012, and that I would also write an updated blog to warn my readers of this issue.  I am a strong advocate for dogs, I have seven little ones myself.

 

Considering my blog has reached over 90 countries in nearly four years and is approaching 62,000 page views...and the blog on Pet Fresh food has over 4,100 views...that is a considerable reach.  There are many pet parents using this product...I use the kibble for evening meals, and I have purchased the very product where the mold was found.  I questioned them in my comments I left regarding the preservative they use, their shipping methods and the storage and handling once it reaches its destination.  It will be interesting to see/read their response.

 

I will update as I hear further information.  This is important to me, because it is significant to my readers.  I hope this issue can be resolved, as this is one of the few foods on the market that I consider to be worthy of the 'Paw of Approval' from 'Talk To The Paw'.  I certainly don't want to hear of any more dogs becoming ill and definitely no more deaths.

 



Update 3/29/16 - I will be writing another blog to add to this, as I have new information to add....hope to have it added by the end of the month.

Canine Seborrhea

 

 

I receive a lot of inquiries regarding skin and diet issues in dogs.  There are so many problems that arise...some genetic, but most of these I believe stem from diet deficiencies and food allergies.  If you have followed this blog for very long, you know how I feel regarding diet.  What you feed your dog is his/her first line of defense.  You either feed disease or you starve it.  I realize there are no 100% guarantees, but there is a lot you can do to help avoid problems by controlling your dog's diet first and foremost.

 

I recently responded to an email from a reader regarding a dog with Canine Seborrhea.  Here is an overview of this condition.  There is 'primary', which typically an exact cause is not known, and 'secondary', which is common in almost all breeds of dogs.  There are two types...'sicca', which is the dry, scaly form, and 'olesa', which is the greasy, oily form.  There are many factors that can cause this.  As I mentioned above, genetics, but also skin infections, allergies (from food and dietary deficiencies), a hormonal imbalance and skin cancer.

 

Clinical examination can determine the underlying cause, but I understand this is an expense that many pet parents cannot afford. I typically don't like to make recommendations when it's not clear what I am dealing with, as it makes treatment advice more challenging.  A little over four years ago, I took in a small dog with severe allergies.  I was able to talk to the dog's vet and found that tests had not been conducted to determine the cause.  I suspected diet, so that's where I started.  I believe this is the 'safe' place to begin.  I wrote a blog in September of 2012 detailing how I turned this problem around.

 

I am not fond of prescription drugs and over-the-counter products of synthetic origin.  I prefer natural methods and using herbs, as this gets to the root of the problem and brings about healing...anything else is just treating symptoms which does nothing to truly bring about a cure.  Treatment from the inside out, I believe is the best approach.  That is where diet factors in.  It is best to try just one product and allow time (several months) to see results before moving on to something else.  Herbs are slower to yield positive outcome, therefore much patience is necessary. You may think nothing is happening...but it is! I can say this from personal experience.

 

First my recommendations in the dietary area would be supplementation.  Any dog with an allergy, skin or food should be on an Omega product.  Springtime, Inc. (https://www.springtimeinc.com/) has an Omega 3-6-9 that I highly recommend.  (Note: buy quality supplements!)  I used Vet's Best 'Seasonal Allergy Support' for Maebelle, the above mentioned dog with the severe allergies.  They have a terrific line of top quality, natural products for pets.  (https://vetsbest.com/)  

 

I realize most people feed their furry companions a dry kibble.  I prefer a raw/homecooked diet, as that is what I have been using for years with my own. Adding organic extra virgin olive oil or organic coconut oil is a great boost to canine nutrition. Food allergies and sensitivities affect dogs just as they do people.  Keeping the diet simple, yet nutritionally beneficial goes a long way in insuring fewer issues. (Note: Read over my other blogs to get advice and assistance in this area).

 

The other side of this coin is actual skin care.  Again, quality products are everything.  My recommendations are: Only Natural Pet (http://www.onlynaturalpet.com) and Burt's Bees (http://burtsbeespets.com/). ONP carries a product that would be beneficial in treating the Canine Seborrhea...it is 'Doc Ackerman's Herbal Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo'.  A warm bath with an oatmeal shampoo along with a coconut oil massage (rinse well) and applying aloe vera to the skin can help manage dry, irritated skin.

 

Be pro-active in your dog's health.  Expect that as your dog ages, issues will become more common, it is unavoidable.  Keeping your furry companion healthy and well in those golden years is important in quality of life. Become familiar with what is 'normal' behavior and attentive to skin/fur conditions.  Staying on top of this is important.  I wish you many happy years with your dog!