Food trials for the wiener dog

Indy is a bit of a garbage hound, he pretty much loves everything, the problem is.. it doesn't always love him back. When I first got him, he was eating beneful and other than being constantly stinky and having dry dull coat, he didn't have major health issues.

I've tried several foods with him, but have continued to stumble into obstacles whether it was allergies, diarrhea or product unavailability. He did pretty well on Nature's logic, but I have not been able to find it locally and ordering online has become a hassle, especially with increasing shipping costs.

I then switched him over to Nutri-source grain free lamb, I was a bit hesitant about this food since he's never done well on grain free, but since it contains peas instead of potatoes, I figured more fiber would help with stool issues. He had no problem digestion wise, but I noticed that overtime his itching increased, he had red spots on the belly and would have a very strong yeasty/corn chip smell to his coat.

I'm guessing that it was either yeast or lamb that he had issues with. About 3 weeks ago I switched him to Holistic Select grain free, its a new formula which is primarily fish based, contains probiotics and has a relatively high fiber content. Based on that analysis, I thought it would work for him.

Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Dried Ground Potatoes, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace, Flaxseed, Pea Fiber, Pumpkin, Natural Fish Flavor, Cranberries, Apples, Minerals [Zinc Polysaccharide Complex, Iron Polysaccharide Complex, Copper Polysaccharide Complex, Manganese Polysaccharide Complex, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodide], Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid], Choline Chloride, Papaya, Inulin, Salt, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Potassium Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (added to preserve freshness), DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fennel, Ground Peppermint, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract. This is a naturally preserved product.

Overall, I think it has a decent ingredient list, it's a bit on a high end price wise, but I get a substantial discount at the store I work at, so it works out. I think the addition of peas, pomace, pumpkin and probiotics seem to help with loose stool and so far he's been doing really well on it.
One major difference I noticed is almost complete elimination of itching and yeasty smell, his coat is nice and shiny and his energy seems to be good. I only bought the 13 lb bag this time to try it out, but next time I'll get the big bag to last us longer. I will report back in a month or so to see if I still like this food.


Uno has been eating 1/2 raw and 1/2 Dr. Tims pursuit. He likes the dry food just fine and I haven't noticed any major negatives with the exception of his paws having a very strong cornchip odor which is  a bit unusual.

I still have another unopened 40 lb bag which I will come back to, but I'm open to trying out different options for him. The main thing that changed is his metabolism. It seems to have slowed down as he's gotten older (he's almost 7), so it's becoming more difficult for him to retain that lean shape that I like. I decided that I will most likely stay with foods that are 28-32% protein and under 17% fat which should help with the weight issue. I also need to limit his consumption of treats, especially watch what he gets during training. He really seems to like the fruitables skinny minis and they are only 3 cal per treat.

One food I came across this week is Vet's choice holistic extension grain free. It is 18% fat (27% protein) which I can live with as long as he does well on it. Down side is that I have no found anyone locally that sells it and none of the distributors in the area carry it. I do like the ingredient list.

So that is our diet plan for 2013 and I hopefully I'll have the opportunity to post more useful things on here when I get some extra time.

If you use salmon oil for your pets..

Thought I'd make a post since it's such a great deal on wild caught salmon oil. I ended up getting 4 bottles since between 2 dogs, I go through quite a bit but it's been a lifesaver especially during dry winter months when their coats start to get flaky. 
http://www.entirelypets.com/ansalmonoil32oz.html

I've been pretty busy with school and work and haven't had much time to update my dog related endeavors, but they have been doing pretty well, I've been giving Indy raw int the evening and he seems to be itching a bit less, but I'm mainly attributing it to higher omega content. They've been devouring the aunt jeni's pre-made raw that I got on sale from a local co-op, especially the rabbit formula. 

I really need to make the time to sort the raw food into separate baggies which makes it less of a headache to feed, especially if I'm in a hurry and don't have time to pre-measure everything. 

On another dog related note, I'm putting together a secret santa package for a dog forum I'm a member at, it's a bit easier this year since I can get everything at good price from the store I work at, but I keep wondering if the recipient would like my choice of goodies. I still want to get couple items but I may have to special order them since I couldn't find anything similar at the store. I would post a picture of the package, but I don't want to reveal my identity ;) 

As I was putting everything together, I realized how completely dog obsessed I actually am since majority of toys/treats I already had at home that I've gotten from various online specials. I always donate extras to rescues I volunteer with, but they keep piling on. But at this point I could probably open up my own pet supply store. 

Raw diet, funky breath and flea woes

This is something I noticed with Uno, despite eating a raw diet and having clean teeth, he has a strange odor sometimes which for the lack of better word smells like anal glands, kinda fishy and metal-like. I wasn't exactly sure what it could be until I came across this artcile from Raw Instinct Magazine.

(scroll down to page 10)
http://d27vj430nutdmd.cloudfront.net/21105/105982/105982.3.pdf

Since he's nearing 7 this upcoming December, I'm thinking of taking him to the vet to run some blood work to make sure that all his organs are functioning normally and the breath is not a result of something more serious.

On a seperate note, Indy is itching again due to fleas which is driving me a little bit crazy. I started him on an oral flea managment called Program in conjuction with a garlic supplement from Springtime Inc. After couple months I noticed that he stopped scratching so I mostly attributed it to the flea meds rather then the garlic. The last month or so I've been pretty busy with school and working 2 jobs , so often times I would forget to give him the garlic tabs every day. Unfortunately I found 2 fleas on him the other day and he's been itching non-stop since. I found it suprising because I expected the flea meds to keep them at bay, but apparently they do not kill the adult fleas, just prevent new ones from hatching.
So I'm putting him back on garlic which he hates with passion, but so far it seems to be the only natural remedy that works as long as I stay on top of it. Right now I'm crushing it and mixing it with ground raw and salmon oil to try to mask the taste. He still hates it, but I hope I can cut back to 2 tabs a day once it gets colder.

Have you found any natural flea products that work?

I've tried diatomaceous earth, various herbal sprays, water additives (garlic/acv based), and so far nothing seems to work except the garlic.
Oddly enough Uno has no fleas at all, I never see him scratch and if I do find an odd flea during the summer, that's usually it.
I think part of the reason is that he has a stronger immune system because he primarily eats raw where as Indy eats kibble and some raw. Another reason is that he has a very short slick coat, so I think it's harder for fleas to grab on and stay on. So I haven't used any flea products on him in at least couple years because it's never been an issue. I'll occasionally find a tick on his ear or neck after a hike, but since I started wiping him down with essential oil based horse spray before hand, he stopped being a bug magnet.

Perks of working at a pet boutique

I got a part time job at this holistic pet food boutique and one of the cool things besides being able to buy things at wholesale prices is that I can keep any food that's "expiring". In most cases its a best buy date for dried goods like biscuits or these edible bones that are fine to use probably a year or 2 after best by date. So the dogs have been getting some goodies, plus I'm donating like 8 boxes of treats to a rescue this week. 

Here's one of the hauls from a week ago. 

Woot! today is a great day for pet deals and new food trial

So it's been an interesting couple days for me. I decided to order some Dr. Tims pursuit food based on high ratings and the fact that the vet who formulated the food, is active on the pet nutrition forum I participate in.

Looking at the food strictly from an ingredient perspective, there's nothing particularly stellar about it, I'd say that there are other foods on the market that look better on paper. The reason why I wanted to give this a try was because:

1) Dr. Tim stands behind his food and has been very forward about any concerns. He's even made changes to the ingredient list, such as removing menadione(Vit K).

2) It's produced at an independent plant, with no history of recalls

3) The chicken meal that is used is low ash, meaning that it does not have a whole lot of bone present making it superior to some other brands.

4) The vitamins/minerals in the food come from Holland, not China, which makes me feel better about quality control due to stricter European standards.

Here's the ingredient list of the formula I'm going to try with Uno:

Chicken meal, brown rice flour, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), oat flour, dried beet pulp (sugar removed), dried whole eggs, rice bran, menhaden fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), ocean herring meal, flax seed meal, catfish meal, chicken liver meal, dried porcine plasma protein, salmon meal, lecithin, potassium chloride, salt, canola oil, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried chicory root, calcium carbonate, yucca shidigera extract, organic kelp meal, dried psyllium seed husk, choline chloride, DL-methionine, L-lysine, algae fat product (a source of DHA), L-ascorbyl-2 polyphosphate (stabilized ascorbic acid), vitamin E supplement, L-carnitine, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, taurine, beta carotene, ferrous sulfate, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), manganese sulfate, inositol, niacin supplement, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, zinc oxide, biotin, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), copper proteinate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), calcium pantothenate, potassium iodide (source of iodine), manganous oxide, vitamin B12 supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, rosemary extract.

This particular formula is 30% protein and 20% fat. 

Few things that I would prefer to see differently is catfish meal, herring meal and chicken liver meal higher up on the list, preferably keeping the protein levels the same, but reducing chicken meal. I also dislike the use of canola oil since it's a GMO ingredient. There are healthier oils on the market that supply omega 6, such as safflower oil or flaxseed oil. 

There's some debate whether citric acid causes bloat in dogs, but I would rather not see it in food, just to be on the safe side. 

The rest looks acceptable for the most part. 

Originally I was planning on starting him on Back to Basics, but I think after he's finished eating Horizon Legacy, I'll try him on Dr Tims to see how he does on it. 


Well unto more news! so couple cool things happened. I ordered this food from petflow.com, I really don't use them because they tend to have higher prices then some other websites, but I had a $10 off coupon, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Plus shipping was free. 

Fast forward 2 days, the Fed Ex truck shows up, of course I was really happy how quick the shipping was, but upon opening the package, I was disappointed that I only received 2 - 18 lb bags instead of a 44 lb bag I ordered. 
I emailed customer support getting ready to vent my frustration for screwing up my order. The lady on the other hand was very apologetic and she said that they would get it sorted out right away and I'll get my 8 lb bag of food in couple days. 

So fast forward to today, I get home and the's a huge box on the porch. I open it up expecting a small bag, and guess what?? they send me a 44 lb bag!! so basically I got 80 lbs of food for $54 shipped. So I was pretty happy to say the least. 

Little later in the day, I went online to check some deal sites I visit, turns out someone posted a coupon for 50% off total purchase at Petco. Whoever created the coupon did not think it through because it can be re-used multiple times by different people. Of course everyone went beserk after the coupon went viral and spend hundreds of dollars at Petco. Since I was going to the park with the dog and there's a store on the way, I figured what the heck.

I got a 30 lb bag of Pinnacle grain free, 50 lbs of cat litter,  large flexi tape leash (it was on sale for $17), 3 toys, flea comb, bag of salmon jerky, and a small collar for Indy. I think the total was like $120, they scanned the coupon and voila! 50% off! So with tax everything came out to $66, so I am super happy.

I was thinking of going back and getting more food, but at this point I have 5 unopened bags for 2 dogs, so I'll have to use those up before they expire.

Then we went for an 8 mile walk/hike at the local park, came across a doe which was pretty cool and ran into a lost dog, thankfully he was wearing tags with his address so I was able to find his home pretty quickly.

So overall, satisfying day :)

Influence on vet students by pet food companies

So this week while doing some browsing, I came across a post on facebook warning about potential health issues associated with feeding Beneful including organ failure and seizures, posted by a vet in Arkansas. It seems to have caused a great divide and people commenting left and right, some agreeing with the post, others claiming it to be a "scare tactic" and still swear by Purina products.

I saw an interesting pattern of the people who swore by Beneful, most of them have not done any research besides what the vet has told them or what they saw in the commercial. Most claim their dogs to be healthy, but I know from experience, most people cannot tell a difference between a healthy dog and one that has obvious issues from eating crappy food.
I've been pet-sitting on/off the last 12+ years and I've seen dogs and cats with problems that people tend to overlook because they consider it a normal part of being a dog/cat. For example obesity, dental problems, frequent ear infections, dull/greasy coats, lethargy just to name a few. Cats most often struggle with kidney issues as well as urinary crystals due to being fed high carb, dry food their entire lives.

I recently watched a 10 year old cat with progressive kidney disease, she was put on prescription dry food which is mostly made up of corn and peanut hulls, along with daily subcutaneous fluids to re-hydrate her to maintain somewhat stable kidney function. I found it mind-boggling to see an obviously intelligent owner who meant well, blindly follow a very poor advice from a vet by feeding dry food to a cat with compromised kidneys, dehydrating her further in the process. All I could do was suggest an alternative course and leave a can of EVO canned cat food. She seemed very hesitant about my advice and said that the canned food was probably not a good idea because it was "high protein". It's incredibly sad to see animals that are suffering in the hands of misinformed owners.

So anyways, back to the topic. The above mentioned vet posted a response to all the Beneful comments by stating the following which I found very interesting. Particularly since I've come across a lot of naysayers that claim pet companies do not influence vet students while they are in school.

Here's an honest response and I really appreciate, it's a rarity to come across a vet that is willing to think outside the bubble and actually care about something as vital as nutrition when it comes to animals long term health. :


-I am a licensed and practicing veterinarian.
-I started this very thread on the dangers of Beneful.
-I graduated 10 years ago from the number 2 vet school in the nation.
-We as veterinary students received virtually no internal nutritional training.
-Nutritional education we received was from Hill’s Science Diet, Iams and Purina.
-Hill’s, Iams and Purina not only provided us as poor vet students with free food for our pets for the 4 years of veterinary school, but they sponsored major events, scholarships, educational meetings and provided us with endless freebees. Their support during our hardest times made veterinarian’s feel obligated to recommend these companies.
-Hill’s, Iams and Purina sponsor extremely expensive booths at veterinarians’ continuing education meetings, continuing to demonstrate their “strength” in the pet food market.
-I learned from my own trial and error, first on my own pets, then on the numerous dogs I rescue, how high quality diet plays a critical role in the health of our pets.
-Now in this practice I purchased 18 months ago, I have personally seen the significant effects that good nutrition can make. I started my campaign against Beneful, because about 80-90% of my dog owners in this practice were feeding it and thinking they were doing right by their dogs. 
-Since we have started promoting good nutrition in this practice, I have seen about a 75% decline in my ear, skin and allergy cases. A decrease in medical cases is not good for our bottom line, but as I have learned on my own pets, nutrition is key for their overall well being. Overall, my patients are healthier, my clients are happier, and I sleep better at night knowing this. 
-Please, if you learn nothing more from reading this, be an informed consumer for your pets. If you need to research pet foods, consult http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/


You can read more responses and show your support on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southwest-Pet-Hospital/171020129603271

Trying out couple new brands in rotation

So few weeks ago I bought a food called First Mate on amazon because it was on sale for $30 for 33 lbs with free shipping. I mainly bought it because it's made in Canada in their own factory, and they have not been involved in any recalls. I originally planned on giving it to Indy, but he still has another 2 months of Nature's logic left and Uno is running low on Horizon Legacy.
It's a pretty basic formula, nothing flashy really, it's not even grain free but I figured I'd give it a shot regardless. Another reason I wanted to try it was because with summer heat, the dogs haven't been able to exercise as much, so Uno especially put on 2-3 lbs over the summer, so I thin lower calorie food would be beneficial to him.

Anyways, here's the ingredient list for First Mate:

Chicken meal, pearled barley, oat meal, brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), herring meal, fish oil, potato flour, tomato pomace, dicalcium phosphate, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, calcium propionate, calcium propionate, sage extract, rosemary extract, garlic oil, minerals (zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine, cobalt, selenium), vitamins (vitamin E, vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, d-pantothenic acid, thiamine, vitamin A, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3), glucosamine

It's 26% protein, 15% fat and 540 cal per cup (which is surprisingly high for this type of food)

http://www.firstmate.com/dog_food.aspx?guid=61D-0ADDA4075CE7


So we will start this food in about a week, gradually mixing with horizon and go from there.

Second food I'm trying out is Back to Basics, it's a relatively new brand of grain free food that is gluten/potato and grain free, making it a good choice for those seeking a low glycemic food. My main reservation about the food is the cost, it's pretty expensive ranging from $57 - $75 depending on protein source. Since I had a $10 off coupon to a new Pet Supplies Plus store, I used that to get a large bag of turkey formula which ended up being $55.
Overall I'm impressed with the ingredient list and the inclusion of organs. It could do without the chicken flavor and I prefer to see ground flaxseed instead of whole, but otherwise it looks good on paper. I'll be a while before we get to this food, so I'll keep you updated.

http://www.backtobasicspetfood.com/instinctively-better

• Turkey Giblets (Turkey Livers and Turkey Hearts)
• Turkey Meal
• Turkey
• Chicken Meal
• Tapioca
• Pea Protein
• Poultry Fat (Turkey & Chicken, Naturally Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
• Dried Whole Egg
• Whole Flaxseed
• Menhaden Fish Oil
• Natural Chicken Flavor
• Peas
• Sunflower Oil
• Salt
• L-Carnitine
• Potassium Chloride
• Zinc Proteinate
• Iron Proteinate
• Vitamin E Supplement
• L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C)
• Choline Chloride
• Biotin
• Copper Proteinate
• Manganese Proteinate
• Niacin
• Calcium Pantothenate
• Sodium Selenite
• Vitamin A Supplement
• Riboflavin Supplement
• Vitamin D3 Supplement
• Thiamine Mononitrate
• Vitamin B12 Supplement
• Calcium Iodate
• Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
• Folic Acid.

Dr Jean Dodds Nutrition Webinar

If anyone is interested, it sounds very promising and I'm a big fan of Dr. Dodds. Registration ends 8/11 or when the capacity is reached (100 participants)

What you will learn...

Wholesome nutrition is the key to maintaining a healthy immune system and resistance to disease. Commercial foods ingested by animals on a regular basis may not be balanced in terms of major nutrients, minerals and vitamins, and some continue to add chemicals to the final product to enhance its stability and shelf-life. Nutritional deficiencies or imbalances as well as exposures to various chemicals, drugs and toxins present a continual immunological challenge which can suppress immune function, especially in those animals genetically susceptible to immune dysfunction (immune deficiency, autoimmunity, allergies).

Nutrition and the Immune System
Nutrition and Thyroid Metabolism
Nutritional Management (Commercial, Home-Made and Raw Food Diets)
Raw Food Diet Study
New Diagnostics for Food Sensitivity or Intolerance


http://www.farmdogsusa.com/w-jean-dodds-dvm-81212.html

Update on nature's logic

I dont know if anyone remembers a post I made a while back, I was trying to find a food for my parents dachshund Indy that would work with his digestive system. I really wanted him to be on grain free because he gets dry, dull coat on most grain inclusive foods, but after trying 4-5 grain free foods, they all give him the runs, even after reducing the amount, which resulted in anal gland issues (at one point they became impacted while on totw). 

Anyways, I decided to try him on natures logic because even though its not grain free, it has a decent meat content and is low glycemic. My main concern was the yeast in it, though he hasnt had any ear issues, he does scratch sometimes, and I was worried that it could make things worse. 

We'll he's been on it for over a month now and I'm happy to say that he seems to be doing really well! His coat is fantastic, good energy levels, small firm poops, itching seems to have reduced and he loves the taste. Right now he's on a beef formula which is 31.5% protein which is pretty good for grain inclusive food.

Oh diamond, where did you go wrong?

I'm sure by now everyone is familiar with Diamond fiasco and multiple recalls which include diamond naturals, premium edge, taste of the wild, canidae, solid gold, natural balance just to  name a few.
I wanted to give them a second chance since their previous shady history, and I was hoping since the introduction of TOTW, they would see the positive turnout and avid following of their consumers and clean up their act. Well, it doesn't appear that way. Since FDA took over and did an inspection of their plant, the results were less then ideal.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofGlobalRegulatoryOperationsandPolicy/ORA/ORAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM304252.pdf

Ok, its understandable that such a large scale company would have few quality control issues, but me thinks that they have far more than I would be willing to accept as acceptable. It appears that they have some major sanitary violations and even possible cross contamination with uknown fats and digests.. yuk.
I dont even want to know what goes behind closed doors when inspection team isn't around.

So with a heavy heart, I can no longer in good conscience recommend any diamond products. It makes me sad because price wise, they made a good option for people on tighter budget that didn't want to settle for grocery store foods. Now, I fear that a lot will go back to feeding worse quality foods because of cost and more faith in the company, even if its a large conglomerate like Purina or P&G.

I don't know if diamond will be able to recover from this hit, based on facebook alone, taste of the wild has gone down from 40,000 to only 13,000 fans in matter of few weeks.

So are there any affordable brands that I would recommend? I'm still in process of trying to figure this one out. For example Healthwise is an inexpensive food thats made by Natura (aka P&G), while I'm not a fan of the company take over, since there hasn't been any issues or ingredient change, I feel better recommending that then any diamond foods. Another option is Nutri-Source, it appears to be manufactured by an independent company that also makes pure vita and natural planet organics.

Have you fed any diamond foods, what do you think of the whole fiasco, do you plan on switching? if so, to what?

Considering new rotation addition

So I've been looking into incorporating more dry food choices into Uno's rotation and I've been mainly using dogfoodadvisor.com as a reference. I've already tried several 5 star kibbles, including acana, totw, wellness core, orijen, BB wilderness, dogswell, earthborn, NV instinct and pinnacle.

I'm pretty happy with Acana, but I wont be able to get a good discount since leaving work and anything besides the chicken formula, is out of my budget.
So I've come across horizon legacy fish formula on sale at petflow.com http://www.petflow.com/product/horizon/horizon-adult-grain-free-salmon-dry-dog-food

its on sale $50, plus I found an $8 off coupon which came out to $47 for 25 lbs, shipped.

I've tried their chicken formula before and Uno has done pretty well on it, but there's not a lot of retailers that sell it, so I moved onto other brands.
I'm pretty impressed with the ingredient list, its comparable to Acana Pacifica, except that Horizon used pea starch as a binder instead of potatoes. Peas are a low glycemic carb source, so it's a better choice for dogs with ear infections and yeast issues. Uno doesn't have either one, but regardless, if I had to chose, I would pick peas over potatoes.

Ingredients:

Salmon, salmon meal, peas, pea starch, menhadon meal, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea fibre, alfalfa, flaxseed, liquid egg product, carrots, apples, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, blueberries, salt, fructooligosaccharides, yucca schidigera extract, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulphate, dried saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract, dried aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, pineapple, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried rhizopus oryzae fermentation extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, biotin, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), ferrous sulphate, iron proteinate, zinc sulphate, zinc proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese proteinate, copper sulphate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, magnesium oxide.

This particular formula is 34% protein, 15% fat and 8.6% ash. 

The company is located in Saskatchewan, Canada and similar to Champion (maker of Oriejen/Acana), they only use locally sourced ingredients. They have their own plant and produce several varieties of dry foods which include grain free and grain inclusive varieties. 

http://www.horizonpetfood.com/index.php?page=about-us

I'll update on this food once Uno is done with this bag of Acana, but I'm hoping that I can keep this in our rotation because it looks like a good choice for us. 

Back from the real world..

So I've had some personal issues these last few weeks and haven't had a chance to post much unfortunately. For good news, I decided to go ahead and officially advertise my pet-sitting business. So I ordered a bunch of business cards and created a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EmbarkPetCare

My goal is to have one of a kind business where I can educate the owners about nutritional aspect of pet care as well as possible alternative means to managing health issues that I often come across such as allergies, hot spots, ear infections, etc. At some point I would like to expand it into in home boarding facility and have a small retail space that specializes in natural foods, supplements, and few other pet care items.

As far as other things I've had on my mind lately is the issues of dental health. I noticed that a lot of people are far more concerned with the outward appearance of their pets (dogs especially) and spend a significant chunk of money on grooming and making their dog look and smell pretty on the outside, with no regard to their internal health. The other day we had a cocker spaniel come for a monthly groom. He was probably around 14 and pretty old, but still alive and kicking. Out of curiosity, I decided to check his teeth and was completely horrified. They were brown and rotting, the gums were so inflamed, they glowed red and the breath was pretty terrible as well.
I don't know if you've ever had a toothache, you know that it hurts, enough to ruin your whole day. Can you imagine walking around with a mouthful of rotten and sore teeth? I cant.
Yet, the owners would rather spend $60 a month on a groom to make their dog look good, then save up for few months and get him a dental that would not only better his quality of life, but extend it as well.

Considering how many options there are out there as far as keeping our pets healthy, there is no excuse. If the dog hates having its teeth brushed, there are dental gels and sprays such as petzlife or leba that work really well for finicky dogs. In addition raw meaty bones are excellent for keeping those chompers nice and clean, plus other hard chew like bully sticks and antlers.
Dentals are not cheap and often, it poses an anesthesia risk to older pets, but thats why its absolutely essential to stay on top when it comes to dental health of your pet. Its easy to put it off , but it will come at a cost later on which can compromise the quality of life for your pet.

I'm pretty hyper vigilant when it comes to Uno's teeth. He gets RMB's every other day and I brush his teeth usually once a week. He also likes his antlers. I am proud to say that he has pretty good teeth for a 6 year old, no plaque build up and gums are pink and healthy. He has a bit of yellow staining which is normal and comes with age, so I'm not worried about it. I know that those few minutes a week can and will greatly improve his life, especially as he ages.

Whats for dinner?

So tonight he's having venison, beef liver, whole egg, salmon oil and this new supplement I just got called Wellytails mighty phytonutrients (greens mix).

So, about this supplement. I've had Uno on solid gold seameal, but I'm not overly happy with ambiguous ingredient list. Which just lists seaweed meal as the first ingredient, and not specifying the type of seaweed.

I found this new supplement while flipping through the new animal wellness magazine. The company is located in canada and I'm impressed not only with the ingredients but also how its processed:

Ingredients: Barley Grass Powder, Ground Whole Chia Seed, Apple, Carrot, Alfalfa Leaf, Green Cabbage, Celery, Red Tomatoes, Sweet Potato, Atlantic Sea Kelp, Microencapsulated Fish Oil (source of EPA & DHA Omega-3), Chicory Inulin, Blueberry, Cranberry, Tart Red Cherry, Broccoli, Pumpkin, Spinach, Vitamin & Mineral Premix Blend

I decided to start adding a greens mix because Uno loves to eat grass and lately he's been very obsessively eating it, especially when we go for walk, he just attacks the grass that grows by the side of the road. And since I dont want him ingesting grass contaminated with exhaust fumes and god knows what else, I'm hoping this is a better option.

Its not cheap, but not extremely expensive, $25 for 45 day supply for a dog Uno's size (60 lbs), I've looked at other green mixes and a lot of them contain brewers yeast which Uno is allergic to along with mystery seaweed.

Overall Uno is pretty healthy with occasionally funky morning breath, so I dont expect any miraculous benefits after adding this supplement, but i'll be happy if he stops craving all that grass.

I myself take a similar supplement called Green Vibrance which is pretty awesome, I noticed that when I take it, I never get sick with a cold or flu and its a great immune booster.

This type of supplement is a good addition to any dogs diet, but particularly those that are immuno-compromised, aging or recovering from or fighting an illness.

I will update on any changes after a month of use, but if you're interested, you can check out the company yourself

http://www.wellytails.com/Mighty-Phytonutrients-plus-Vitamins-Minerals-454-grams_p_18.html

http://www.wellytails.com/Why-Pets-Need-Supplements_ep_43.html

http://www.wellytails.com/Natural-Ingredients-_ep_45.html

Uno approved chew

I was pretty hesitant about trying antlers with Uno due to hearing mixed reviews on them (fracturing teeth, etc). We have these at work and even though they are pricy at $24 a pop, I get a pretty sweet discount, so I got him a jumbo antler for $7. He loves it!

Whats interesting is that when dogs chew on it, the saliva softens the antler, so it becomes almost gummy in texture at the point where its gnawed. So usually it'll keep him busy for 10-15 mins a day and then he gets bored, but its definitely good to have around to keep him out of mischief, which he's very much prone to.

You can buy them in bulk from various online vendors which is cheaper then paying $24 for one piece, but I've noticed that quality varies. I've heard that Antlerz brand is not very good.

Some people buy a whole rack off ebay and cut it up themselves which makes it a good value.

I'll have to get couple for my family's dogs, especially for Indy since he hates having his teeth brushed and his molars need some cleaning.

In preparation for departure..

I'm stocking up on pet food for my family's pets since I'm going to Charlotte in a week for spring break.

So the back story is, my parents (and sister) love their dogs and cats, but they are pretty clueless when it comes to nutrition. I think my sister understands it little better, and tried to buy food with the words natural on the label. But we all know that when it comes to pet food labeling, natural could meat absolutely nothing.

My parents have a dachshund that they adopted from my roommate (he was her foster dog) and they love him to bits. Indy has a bit of a sensitive stomach and he does really well on natures variety instinct, which I get time to time when I find it on sale, but its pretty expensive. I've tried him on taste of the wild and it gave him bad runs and impacted anal glands. Then I had him on canidae and healthwise, hoping to find something that was decent quality but inexpensive for my parents to buy. But it his coat got dull and dry on it (probably due to lack of meat protein). So I bought some Natures Logic Beef, my reasoning is that its not grain free, but its low glycemic and has decent protein levels- 31%

Here are the ingredients:

Beef Meal, Millet, Beef Fat, Brewer's Yeast, Flaxseed, Menhaden Fish Meal, Montmorillonite, Animal Plasma, Pumpkin Seed, Cottage Cheese, Kelp, Alfalfa Meal, Spray Dried Beef Liver, White Fish Meal, Almonds, Avocado Powder, Chicory Root, Tomato Powder, Apple Powder, Apricot Powder, Blueberry Powder, Carrot Powder, Pumpkin Powder, Cranberry Powder, Spinach Powder, Broccoli Powder, Parsley Powder, Natural Preservative, Artichoke Powder, Rosemary Powder, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Bifidium Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachtium Fermentation Extract, Mixed Tocopherols.

My main concerns is brewers yeast so high up on the list, he's been kind of itchy this winter, but I think it was due to having dry winter skin. So fingers crossed, it wont make him itch, if it doesent work out, it'll go to my sisters dog Juni, who's a garbage disposal and will eat anything.

But for Juni, I got some Rotations food, I found this online deal - $1 for $30 worth of food, so I got 3- 5 lb bags free, but paid $10 for shipping, which was still a nice deal.

It looks like decent enough of a food, no major red flags and comes in salmon, chicken and lamb protein sources.

Salmon (source of DHA), turkey meal (source of glucosamine), rice, whole barley, peas, chicken fat (preserved with citric acid and mixed tocopherols), brewer's yeast, tomato pomace, carrot, salmon meal, natural flavors, dicalcium phosphate, rye, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, sodium selenite, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract

Next on the list, the kitty cats. My parents have 2 cats- Chloe and Booger. Chloe is getting up there in years(shes 16) and I"m worried about her health. She still has a good appetite and moved around some, but she's been having some incontinence issue and her teeth arent great. I'm thinking of taking her to the vet but I need to figure out how much it will cost and ask my parents to chip in(I know sounds odd, but I'm also in charge of paying for most medical care stuff for their pets, its mostly been hw meds and flea stuff).

Booger is around 7 and she's a real weirdo, but I still love her. No real health issue aside from being little chunky, though she lost weight since my parents got Indy and he's been chasing her around the yard.

As far as their diet goes, I buy them taste of the wild dry and my mom buys trader joes canned which is the least expensive premium food I found that doesent contain byproducts and other junk. Dry food isnt ideal for cats due to lack of moisture, but they mix dry with canned to help stretch the food bill.

Anyways, at work I was able to special order some new food made by Diamond. While I'm not a huge fan of their reputation, their quality has gone up since the recalls in 2007 and considering that they also make canidae and taste of the wild, I feel mostly good about buying this food. It also only costs me $15 for 24 cans, which is a pretty darn good price.

Chicken, chicken broth, poultry liver, salmon, duck, brown rice flour, fish meal, dicalcium phosphate, lecithin, cranberry powder, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, taurine, carrageenan gum, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, and sodium selenite.

Its comparable to higher end brands without the cost, but these cats are pretty picky, so lets hope they eat it.

I also got them a big sample bag of Orijen which should last them few days.

Basically my goal is to keep my family's pets off the junk, My mom will probably compensate me with various delicious human food, so its all worth it ;)

Change in the game plan

So its with a heavy heart I must semi-retire from raw. When we first started, I was able to find some good finds on craigslist/freecycle for cheap and free meats, but the last 2 months we've had zero responses even after multiple posts. When I first began feeding raw, I told myself that this is just an experiment, I will continue to feed it as long as I can afford it. So its come down to this.

I've contacted processing plants, butcher shops, restaurant suppliers without much success, even buying in bulk is just as expensive as buying from a grocery store. I will still have access to free venison during hunting season through a local processing plant.

While Uno has done well on raw, he's always done well on good quality kibble, with couple exceptions. His teeth are cleaner on raw and his poop is smaller. I myself eat a pretty balanced diet, I cook a lot, I try to eat fresh fruits/veggies and occasionally eat processed food. I love my dog but I dont think its a fair that he should be eating better then me. I can continue to feed raw, but if I want to keep it within my budget, he would only be getting, chicken and turkey. I know that from the past, not feeding enough red meat always takes a toll on his coat and energy levels.

So my plan is this:

1) Kibble in the morning (rotate between acana wild prarie, pacifica and grasslands, possibly add some other grain frees but I'm pretty happy with acana as a whole)

2) Raw at night - this will mostly be turkey necks, wings, beef heart, chicken, liver and kidney.

3) Keep the same supplements as I did while on raw- fresh free range eggs, salmon oil and green mix supplement (currently using solid gold seameal, but just ordered this supplement so will update on it later http://www.wellytails.com/Mighty-Phytonutrients-plus-Vitamins-Minerals-454-grams_p_18.html

Another big bonus for me is that I recently started working at a dog bakery and since we carry some holistic foods, I get a pretty good discounts on any food I want and /or supplements.

I understand that some raw feeders will look down on this decision and tell me to just keep feeding chicken/turkey and keep it raw, but I know my dog better then anyone else, so I know exactly whats best for him. That's one of the reasons I don't side with certain raw feeders that are super fanatic about their feeding choices. I've been to that side and while I share the passion, I would never put someone down for feeding their pets commercial food. Raw is not for everyone, and I'd much rather see someone feed a quality kibble then imbalanced raw resulting in severe nutrient deficiencies.

I will keep you updated on his progress and if I noticed any negative changes going back to kibble.

lies and deceptions of canned food

So I've had an opportunity to give a class on pet nutrition today at a local pet food boutique, it went pretty well but it got me to research various aspects of pet food industry that I havent brushed up on in a while. One of those was canned food labeling.

If you are not familiar, pet food companies can get away with using crap in their food by carefully choosing certain key words. There are 4 examples of that:

1) 95% rule- this states that the can of food must be composed of at least 95% of listed ingredients. For example, "chicken and rice" dog food, has to be at least 95% of chicken and rice combined. This is generally what you want to strive for when you purchase canned food

2) 25% rule- this is probably the most frequently observed labeling on canned food, it usually goes by appetizing named like "dinner", "feast" "platter" "entree", this rule states that it must contain 25-95% of named meat protein. My guess is that a lot of low end brands only contain that minimal amount of 25% and the rest if either wheat gluten or textured soy protein which is shaped to resemble morsels of meat.

3) "with" rule- this one states that the food must contain at least 3% of the named meat. One of the examples is the following Alpo top sirloin flavored with angus beef. So you have something thats beef flavored and it has a fraction of beef in it. The wording and the pretty picture makes it sound like you're feeding $50 steak to your dog.

4) Last but not least- flavored rule, this is pretty much self explanatory. When it says beef or chicken flavored it does not have to contain any meat. Gross right?

With that said, don't rely just on those rules when purchasing your pets food, always read the ingredient label, stay away from byproducts, glutens, soy, carageenan, etc.

I may have finally caught a break

I started feeding Uno raw in October of 2011 and the first couple weeks, I got about 200 lbs of free meat off craigslist. That's pretty much what he's mostly been eating this whole time, but were are running low. I repost on craigslist as well as freecycle on regular basis, but I dont know whether its the economy or what, but nobody has replied to me in few weeks.

There are only 2 Asian markets in Asheville and both sell gifts and snack type food. There is one very overpriced butcher that sells organic/free range meat. Couple local stores that I found that sell turkey necks, liver, kidney and heart are all very expensive. I couldn't believe it when I saw that turkey necks were over $3 per lb! crazyness.

So I've expanded my search quite a bit and found a meat mart in nearby city, about 25 mins away that seems to have a good variety for a great price. I called today and they have turkey necks for $.99 per lb and beef liver for $1.39 per lb, so I plan on going there in couple weeks and stocking up for sure.

I even organized yahoo raw feeding group and few people joined, but nobody actually posted anyting.. sigh.. oh well, maybe things will perk up with time and I can organize a co-op.

Weight loss foods, yay or nay?

This is a topic that comes up very frequently across dog message boards, which leaves some dog lovers dazed and confused.

Pet obesity is on the rise, with over 55% of all pets being overweight or obese. This isn't a joking matter, especially considering all the risks that excess weight poses. Whats even more startling is that 22% of dog owners with overweight animals do not see a problem and think that their dogs are in shape. So there's a huge issue of ignorance on the part of general population.

Being overweight carries the same risks in animals as it does in humans which include:

1) Diabetes

2)Cancer

3)High Blood pressure

4)Arthritis and other joint issues

5)Heart and respiratory problems

6)Liver and kidney disease

7) Heat intolerance

8)Digestive disorders

9)Decreased immune function

10)Decreased quality and quantity of life

Some think its cute to see a chubby dog waddle around, but the implications of such a lifestyle as far from a laughing matter. We are their primary caretakers and they are our responsibility, its up to us to keep them healthy.

I've had someone tell me once that their poodle would eat when he was anxious or depressed. Yes, you should have seen the look on my face, it was something between disbelief and smirk. I dont know how to say it otherwise, but dogs (and cats for that matter) are not emotional eaters. They do not eat for the same reasons we do, so as much as we'd like to attribute human qualities to our pets, when it comes to diet, Snoopy isn't going to reach in the freezer and grab a pint of rocky road ice cream just because a season of desperate housewives has ended.

Yes, we all are probably familiar with sad pleading eyes, begging for table scraps at every meal, but again, dogs will almost always beg, and they would probably keep on eating until they explode. That's just the ancestral woolfy habit. Since canids are opportunistic carnivores, they'll consume as much food as possible in one sitting because they simply don't know when or even if their next meal will come.

Modern dogs don't travel 50 miles a day tracking their prey or live in harsh climates which requires more calories to stay warm. So, we have to be considerate of our and their lifestyle when deciding on feeding options.

So back to the original topic, What do feed your pet if he's overweight or obese?

Just like in human industry, pet food industry if filled with fad diets, portion packs, calorie restricted snacks, etc. As a whole, our society is very lazy and it makes sense to market these things which appeal to people who are looking for an easy fix. But just like in human nutrition, there is no magic pill for weight loss if you want lasting results without compromising your health.

Majority of weight loss foods for pets work on the premise of calorie restriction/fat reduction. The main problem is that its pretty darn hard to reduce fat without reducing meat protein.

Lets take a look at one of the mainstream foods: Science diet adult light

Whole Grain Corn, Soybean Mill Run, Chicken By-Product Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Flaxseed, Caramel Color, Iodized Salt, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, L-Carnitine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

Terrible ingredients aside, this food is 24% protein, 8.9% fat, and 12.4% fiber. Which makes it nearly 50% carbohydrates.

24% protein vs 50% carbs? see a problem there? Not to mention with this food majority of the protein comes from corn, which is a low quality, GMO, low biological value plant protein and is absolutely inferior to meat.

Biologically dogs have zero requirements for carbs, with that said, I have no problem if someone feeds a food that is meat based with small inclusion of grain. When processed, grains offer a source of energy. Granted, its not as good as meat, but it helps to keep pet food affordable to the general public.

Grains(along with potatoes and some legumes) are a high glycemic foods which create spikes in blood sugar levels and can lead to diabetes which incidentally is the result of obesity and feeding poor quality food.

Another main ingredient is weight loss food is fiber. It acts as a filler and fools the body into thinking that its satisfied which in return slowly starves the animal into weight loss. Not only is this counter-productive, but it can be downright dangerous since the body will try to use up any source of energy, and after consuming the fat, muscles are next in line. Last thing you want is a dog or cat with muscle dystrophy or weakness. They need those muscles for exercising and keeping weight at bay.

Feeding high protein will keep them full and happy without the need for high fiber content.

According to Dr. Ernie Ward

The biggest cause of the pet obesity epidemic? “Carbs. Today’s pets consume high carbohydrate and sugar treats and foods that create changes in their brain chemistry, causing them to crave these foods even more. I call it ‘kibble crack’ because we’re literally creating an addiction to these high-calorie carbohydrate foods.” replies Ward.
What’s the cure? “Everyone wants a magic pill for losing weight when the safest, cheapest and easiest cure already exists: eat less, eat healthier and exercise. Put down the biscuit and pick up a carrot; instead of feeding your cat a carbohydrate-based diet, look for a high-protein alternative. Take your dog for a walk each day. Small steps go a long way toward big weight losses.”

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/half-pets-overweight

What happens with carbohydrates is that in small quantities they can be used up for energy prior to protein/fat, but in excess amount such as pet food, they are stored as fat.

http://rawfed.com/myths/carbs.html

Another issue is the source of protein. Plant protein is inferior to meat protein because it does not have a complete amino acid profile, meaning that a lot of key nutrients that are responsive for normal bodily functions are absent. The way that pet food companies make up for the lack of those amino acids is by including low quality meat by-products. Since there's no way of knowing what exactly goes into byproducts, it could include anything even diseased animals.

Many of the amino acids are necessary for proper metabolism as well as building and retaining muscle mass, with plant protein missing those key nutrients, its evident why so many animals in less then stellar shape.

So what should I be feeding you may ask?

First of all, I would take your pet to the vet to make sure there isn't an underlying medical condition which can result in weight gain. I would also run a complete blood panel and check thyroid, liver and kidney function. With elderly pets that have compromised kidneys, feeding high protein food can be detrimental.

If you dog or cat is overweight:

1) strive for a higher protein, meat based, low carb food. If there are carb sources present, look for low glycemic carbs such as chickpeas or even barley. Feed at least 28% protein and 15% fat.

I personally prefer to feed anywhere from 28-36% protein, my dog didnt do too well on super high protein, but every animal is different. So who's to say it wont work for you.

2) Use a measuring cup when feeding, not just a random plastic cup that you got from a convenience store. Be careful of the guidelines listed on the bag, in my experience, they tend to be over exaggerated, but adjust based on your pets individual metabolism and energy use.

3) Exercise, exercise, exercise! Having a backyard does not equate to exercise, even if you have more then one dog. Most dogs do not spend a whole day playing and running around the yard, they get bored of it. If you want to see results, you need to include some form of aerobic exercise, whether its speed walking, running, swimming, playing fetch, biking, hiking, etc. The possibilities are endless. Start out by committing to at least 25 mins of walking a day, then slowly increase the time and intensity(this will vary on individual pet, age, health issues, etc)

Combining those 3 factors, you should be able to see positive results as the time progresses. If you get into the rut or you get to a point where the weight wont budge. Adjust accordingly whether it means reducing the food or increasing exercise (or both) and go from there.

For more information please check out dogaware.com

http://www.dogaware.com/articles/wdjweightloss.html as well as

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/

Good luck!