Eliminating Some Health Issues Starts With Changing Your Dog's Diet

Time after time, we have so many pet parents that come in for their first dog grooming with us and usually have the same complaints.... "dog has chronic ear infections, dog itches all the time, dog is chewing on it's feet, dog is smelly all the time, dog's coat is so dull and not shiny". The list goes on and on and they all ask the same question... WHY?

Well if you did not suspect, it all boils down to what your feeding your dog. One in particular, that we consider ONE OF THE WORST, is BENEFUL by Purina and many of the pet parents complaining of issues that we stated, are feeding this product, amongst others like it. Still, many dog owners are led to believe it is healthy because of the marketing Purina puts into this product or someone told them it was good. However, this is the furthest from the truth. Actually, feeding your dog a food like this everyday for months to years is like you eating fast food everyday for every meal. How would your skin, hair or overall health be if you did the same? You surely would be in the doctors office more than usual for health problems as well.

We have taken this ingredient list off a bag of BENEFUL. Nothing has been changed or re-arranged. It's what it is. Because your dog is a carnivore whose body is designed to eat mostly wholesome proteins and some actual fruits and vegetables (and that's it!), after examining it, do you now really consider this healthy? Personally, there is NO wholesome proteins but in fact, it's actually filled with so many cheap carbohydrates and chemicals that contribute to healthy issues for dogs down the road! (PS: We have highlighted in BOLD all the ingredients that are NOT SUITABLE for a carnivore with an explanation of why it's not good for your dog!)

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Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soy protein concentrate, soy flour, water, rice flour, pearled barley, sugar, tricalcium phosphate, propylene glycol, animal digest, dicalcium phosphate, salt, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried spinach, dried apples, dried sweet potatoes, choline chloride, calcium propionate (a preservative), added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6), Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, DL-Methionine, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

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NOW WHAT THESE INGREDIENTS ARE DOING TO YOUR DOG...

GROUND YELLOW CORN, CORN GLUTEN MEAL, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR - Known as one of the top allergy producing ingredients for pets. Causes mild to major allergy symptoms (scratching, rubbing head in carpets, ear infections, sneezing, redness of skin, chewing on paws, anal itching, etc..). Difficult for dogs to digest. Very low quality ingredient. Acts as an “artificial” stool hardener. In addition, because corn metabolizes in much the same way as sugar metabolizes in people, corn will give pets dramatic energy spurts & crashes, hyperactivity, obesity, and lack of attention (just like children fed too much sugar). Also promotes excessive yeast in the body (constant body odor, reddening around the eyes, mouth, paws, in between pads, general yeast infections, etc..)

SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SOY FLOUR - Known to be the #1 allergy producing ingredients in dog food next to Wheat. Causes mild to major allergy symptoms (scratching, rubbing head in carpets, ear infections, sneezing, redness of skin, chewing on paws, anal itching, etc..). Very low quality ingredient. Difficult for dogs to digest.

SUGAR - Causes hyperactivity in dogs (dramatic energy spurts & crashes), lack of attention, diabetes, hypoglycemia, yeast infections & over growths (constant body odor, reddening around the eyes, mouth, paws, in between pads, etc..),obesity.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL - This is a chemical found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users as this strong irritant (additive) can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

ANIMAL DIGEST - A cooked-down broth made from what is left in the stomach, intestines & colon of unspecified slaughtered animals (unless otherwise noted of the type of animal used). The animals used can be obtained from any source, so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: “4-D animals” (dead, diseased, disabled, or dying prior to slaughter). However, should it only state “animal digest” in the ingredients, goats, pigs, horses, rats, misc. road kill, even dogs and cats euthanized at shelters can be used!

ARTIFICIAL ADDED COLORS - Although found in many USA human foods, snacks & beverages (approved by the FDA), they are banned from many other countries due to evidence linking them to certain cancers, brain tumors, internal organ damage/failure, & many other disorders when consumed for long periods of time.

MENADIONE SODIUM BISULFITE COMPLEX (source of Vitamin K activity) - Added to cheap pet foods because manufacturers claim it helps with blood clotting, however, it has never been researched or specifically approved for long term use, particularly in pet food. Additionally, it has been banned from food and supplements for human use in many European countries due to serious side effects, including permanent organ damage and deaths. The FDA has, however, banned synthetic vitamin K from over-the-counter human supplements because of its high toxicity but it’s still allowed in dog food.

So, now you have it. The truth to why your dog may be suffering from some issues or better yet, what to suspect if you continue to feed your dog a food like this. Just remember, your dog is a carnivore. Stick with a grain free food, filled with just wholesome proteins, fruits and vegetables. Your dog will be thanking you for it.

Is It Necessary To Add Moist Canned Food to Dry Dog Kibble Daily?

When ever I conduct a nutritional dog food consultation, I often get asked this question by pet parents who choose not to feed a raw diet to their pet. As like many, they have opted to feed their pet the traditional dry kibble diet only and think it's all their dog needs. Interestingly though, they have chosen not to add moist or canned foods because they have been led to believe by someone they know or better yet, a vet that "it's going to rot the dog's teeth out" or better yet, "they don't need it". This is complete and utter non-sense and I will debate this until I am blue in the face.

As a carnivore, your dog's body has been built and designed to take in a majority of wholesome moist meats, like their cousin, the wolf. Dry kibble (depending on the brand) has not only been designed to (or should I say "somewhat") made to meet the nutritional requirements for your dog, but it was made to be a pure CONVENIENCE to you, the pet parent. How easy is it to scoop kibble and dump it in a bowl, walk away and wait for your dog to eat it? To me, this is simply like putting DRY cereal in front of a child (without milk) every day for every meal! Wow, that’s easy & convenient, isn’t it, but how healthy is it after a while?

Another example I always like to point out is that, as a human, would you dehydrate all your food to take out the moisture from every single meat protein, vegetable and fruit you consume daily to "dry" it out? The answer is absolutely not! No matter what you eat or how you prepare it; whether it's raw, home-cooked, processed, or frozen, the contents of your daily food intake always includes having it's natural moisture intact. Furthermore, don’t you additionally drink a beverage or two with every meal? Essentially, all this moisture you're consuming daily is hydrating your body, including the skin, which is the largest organ of the body. Therefore, would you consider a dog eating the same DRY food daily and lapping up water here and there so healthy in the long run? The answer is clearly no. Interestingly enough, I always seem to get a large amount of pet parents asking me why their dog’s skin is so dry all the time. The first question I ask them, “is your dog on a dry food diet only?” Eight times out of ten, the dog is in fact, only eating dry food. Another interesting fact is many pets on dry food diets only also have a higher chance of developing kidney and bladder crystals/stones. Why? Simply because of the lack of moisture in their diets. This is why vets will prescribe a “prescription” canned dog food when your pet has been faced with this medical problem. Look at any canned food - they all contain 80% moisture. Although such issues like this can be avoided by knowing what and how to feed your pet, the bottom line is that we all need adequate amounts of water to survive, but also need to eat wholesome proteins, fruits and vegetables that are naturally “wholesome” to support & keep all our organs functioning properly – period.

Another key benefit of adding these “moist” foods to your dog’s dry kibble is that it gives some type of rotation of other types of wholesome meats, vegetables and fruits to your pet’s diet that they do essentially need. Humans, like wild carnivores, don’t eat the same thing over and over again. If we did, our body would not only start to have a deficiency somewhere down the road, but gosh, eating would be so boring! We all need a variation of wholesome and healthy foods to stay healthy as each and everything has an abundance of different vitamins and minerals. In addition, it’s amazing how many pet parents are “stumped” to why their pet that has been eating the same food for many months to many years is no longer eating their food anymore. I often get “they loved it and now won’t eat it anymore”. Well, if anyone was giving me “crackers” (to compare dryness) everyday for every meal, after a while, I would get tired of that old same cracker too. However, if someone then offered you a rotation of dips, spreads, or cheese to add on top of that cracker, it would become a little more interesting to eat, wouldn’t it? Moreover, you just added some more nutritional benefits to your diet. Same rule applies.

Therefore, stick to a brand of kibble that works for your pet that is free of corn, wheat, by-products, sugars and chemical preservatives. Seek out brands that overly use more proteins than grain/carbohydrate fillers, which are technically not conducive to a carnivores diet to begin with. Grain free dry kibble foods work best. As always, you’ll be able to make a determination by looking at the first 10 ingredients of your dog’s brand of food. Now, to introduce moist foods, simply add a small amount that has some different proteins not found in the kibble. For example, if the dry kibble is chicken based, use moist/canned meats such as duck, fish, venison, bison, etc.. Mix everything together, but always remember to start off in small amounts to slowly introduce these new ingredients to your dog’s diet to eliminate the chances of upset tummies. To ensure you don’t overly feed your dog, the more moist food you introduce, always draw back on some kibble to keep the calories intake somewhat the same.

So now that I covered why it’s so important to add moisture to your dog’s food, I want to lastly cover the whole misconception about how moist foods rot dog’s teeth out. Like most pet parents, many do not make it a regular routine to brush their dog's teeth like they do their own. Honestly, I hardly do either because thankfully, my “crew” love to chew on their bones & toys many times throughout the day. Naturally, they are cleaning their own teeth like any carnivore would do in the wild. Like wolves and tigers that are killing and consuming only raw, moist meats & organs, at the end of their fill, they will also clean their teeth naturally by indulging in chewing on the bones from their kill. It's nature’s way for a carnivore to clean their teeth. So having your pet chew on "harder" toys, especially after a meal is extremely important. But, if your pet is not a big, hard core chewer, you can either start a routine by brushing them with a dog toothbrush or a cheap but yet effective way is to take a “dry” wash cloth and wipe your dog’s teeth every few days; making sure your always cleaning along the gum line as well. This will prevent plaque from building up which is the #1 culprit of rotting teeth.

Anyway, I hope this blog was insightful to you. Remember, you can always lead a “horse” to water, but you can’t make them drink it. Well, the same rule applies to most dogs. However, by adding as much “moisture” as you can to your dog’s daily intake with wholesome meats, vegetables and fruits, you have made a big significant change in your dog’s overall health.

In Memory of a Girl Named Pokey

Three years ago, a little Boston Terrier girl named Pokey found her way into my arms after one of my customers found her wondering on the side of Newman Springs Road in Holmdel on her way home from a doctors appointment Knowing I had Boston Terriers already, she called me immediately as she could not take a strange dog into her home. I picked up this beautiful girl, which I temporary called "Daisy" as she had no collar or identification tags on her. I brought her to my home and after her shoving herself through the front door and bypassing 3 eager other dogs wanting to sniff her, she ran up the stairs into the master bedroom, jumped on the bed, nestled herself on a pillow and went to bed (and too boot, laying on her back with all four paws up!) She never sniffed or looked back at the other dog's following her through the house. It was like she knew the layout of the house, where to go and to say "awww, I'm finally home ".

Although I felt like I found a treasure, I knew in my heart I had to find this girl her real home (although I didn't want to). I just couldn't bear the fact that a little girl may be crying that her dog was lost or perhaps a childless family was missing their fur baby. The next morning I called the SPCA and asked if anyone reported a missing Boston Terrier in the Holmdel area. To my surprise, someone did and was forwarded the contact information.

Because it was only 24 hours that I had this girl in my custody, it seemed like we knew each other for years. She followed me everywhere, knew all commands, had the best manners, didn't bark, show any signs of aggression toward my other dogs, but just wanted to snuggle next to my feet while I worked. She was the perfect dog anyone could ask for. That afternoon, I reluctantly called the phone number provided by the SPCA volunteer and a woman answered the phone. When I asked her if she was missing a Boston Terrier - she said "ooh yes - that's my Pokey girl. She gets out once in a while when she gets frightened by something on the farm." That evening, Pokey went back to her home.

However, 3 months later, Pokey's mom called me. She wanted to let me know that she didn't want Pokey anymore. Pokey was approaching 10 years old and she was planning on moving. Although I never imagine that being the actual reason to give up such a great dog because of a move, I really believe it was Pokey's age that was getting to her and some medical issues that were present. Well, without any hesitation, I told her YES, I WILL TAKE POKEY - MOST CERTAINLY! I couldn't wait to get "my girl" back.

That evening, Pokey showed up at my door step with a major eye infection and a lump on her head. After confronting the previous owner, it was apparent that Pokey was either not a priority or she was not financially able to care for this dog anymore. The next morning, Pokey was rushed to my vet to be treated. It turns out that Pokey had a major ulcer behind her eye that was pushing her eye outward and she was in terrible pain. The doctor's prognosis was bad - Pokey was more than likely going to lose her eye. But, I told the doctor let's try some heavy duty antibiotics and hope for the best. Two weeks later, her eye was back to normal. The ulcer shrank! It was then at this time I decided to have the lump on her head removed, have her spayed (which I later found out she was used as a breeding dog) and have two breast glands removed as it started to appear they were becoming infected. Pokey recovered successfully and by this time, you would have thought this dog was no more than 5 years old!

The next year passed and old age started creeping on my girl again. More breast tissue and glands had to be removed and pallups removed from her rectum. My girl was going through allot, but holding up like a fighting champ. She always pulled through her surgeries with flying colors and never showed any signs of pain following her medical "episodes".

However, two days before Thanksgiving of this year something started to happen. Pokey starting painting heavy. Because it was out of the blue, I didn't feel the need to be overly concerned until she could not stop doing it a few hours later. Her breathing rate was up to 140 breaths per minute. The next morning, we were at the vet's office. Thinking I was going to walk away with a bottle of medication and we would be all fine - this day was different. By the looks of her chest x-ray, the vet could not determine if her lungs were completely filled with fluid or cancer cells. In complete shock, I cried the entire way home while my Pokey girl just sat in the passenger side - looking out the window and enjoying her car ride as she normally did. Reality sat in - I wasn't going to have a long time with her. I was sent home with not one med, but a ton of meds to help treat fluid in the lungs and also a steroid commonly used in cancer patients to help stabilize them. I went to bed with my girl that night hoping and praying it was the lesser of the two and it was only fluid. Within two days, Pokey bounced back. She was back to her same, happy girl self.

Unfortunately, two weeks went by and Pokey's health started to decline FAST! I rushed her to the 24 hour emergency hospital at 2am and my worst nightmare was confirmed. Pokey had lung cancer and was dying. Pokey was put to sleep in the early morning hours that day. It was one of the saddest days of my life.

I got to spend a glorious three years with my girl. She slept with me every night on my pillow, on her back with her legs up - nestled/sandwiched between two pillows. She did this little "hokey pokey" dance every time she seen her harness pulled out from the closet. She loved car rides, was an excellent listener, the best dog to snuggle with and got along with any animal or person she met. She was an angel in my eyes.

Pokey's private remains now rest on my office shelf with my two other beloved boxers that I also lost to cancer years ago. What makes this girl so special is that she found me and even when I thought I found her home when she got lost, she knew where she belonged. She spent her last three retirement years with me and I provided her with all the love and care this sweet girl needed. Pokey now runs on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge; playing with all the other pets that have passed. I know in my heart she will be at the light when it's my time to go. She was truly a special soul!

FREE Puppy Report Available To You

So, you purchase a puppy from a pet store or a "so-called" breeder. Your puppy dealer swears up and down that your puppy is NOT from a puppy mill, but rather, a reputable, "hand selected" or responsible breeder. You believe them and purchase the puppy anyway. The information given to you states where your puppy was born, to whom and the name and address of the breeder. Problem is that your puppy came from out west. Chances are, you won't be visiting there anytime soon for any family "doggy" reunions to say hello.

Being inquisitive, you may have tried researching more information on your puppy's breeder via the web; perhaps to say "Hi! I'm the proud owner of one of your fur baby's". However, came up short on any valuable information. But, there is a great resource available to you now and best yet, it's FREE OF CHARGE! It's a Puppy Report complimentary from PetShopPuppies.org - a non profit organization whose objective is to inform you of the actual truth of "commercial" breeders (a/k/a puppy mills) and will provide you with all the details of where your puppy came from plus....

• USDA licensing information on your puppy's breeder
• Actual physical address (if different than on paperwork)
• Results on their annual USDA kennel inspection
• Number of pets on the breeders premises at the time of inspection (please note, the higher the number, the bigger of a "mill" it actually is)
• AKC revocations & suspensions (if any)
• Media reports or articles that the breeder (or broker) has been mentioned in (kennel raids by humane societies, breeding license suspections, etc.)
• The number of dog auctions the breeder has participated in (very common in the "mill" world")
• Misc other reports that the organization will dig up. This may be cross referenced from other consumer complaints of sick, diseased or dogs acquiring genetic defects which links your puppy to the same dog parents, etc..

Although some of the information that will be forwarded to you may be hard to read, the reality is that you will now know the TRUTH of where you puppy really came from and will be more educated the next time you want to purchase a puppy. Furthermore, it will also enable you to be proactive with any medical testings with regards to genetic defects that are linked to your puppy.

NJ Puppy Lemon Laws - Resources That Help Those With A Sick Puppy

Perhaps you've been there or know of someone who has. After spending a fortune on a puppy that you dreamed of having, you are forced to take on the financial and emotional hardship of trying to get a puppy well instead. The person that sold you the pet may tell you it's "normal" or "common" and not to worry. But, you may be put on the spot and told "should you not want that sick puppy, just return it back and we will give you another". Well, as nice as this sounds that they are "standing behind their sale", this is an unfortuante but common tatic that most puppy stores, dealers, and bad backyard breeders do. Knowing that you are most likey (emotionally) attached to that pet, they take the chance that you will not return that sick puppy back to them.

However, you bought a puppy with all intentions of having a healthy one. Should it be your liability to pay for all the medical costs associated in getting that puppy healthy because you choose to keep that puppy instead? Absolutely not! The good news is that NJ Puppy Lemon Law clearly defines regulations that protect consumers who find themselves in this unfortunatete circumstance and getting restitution owed to them. However, the key is to start your claim as soon as possible. Make sure to record all expenses paid out related to getting the puppy well again. In additon, it is wise not to use the same veterinarian who signed off on the "fit for sale" certificate that is "working with" the pet store, dealer, etc..!

Here are some valuable resources to help those with getting their money back related to medical costs on their sick puppy -

NJCAPSA.org
>> Compliant Form

NJ Division of Consumer Affairs (pdf flyer w/ contact info)

Apple Cider Vinegar - A Must Have With Pets

Did you know that apple cider vinegar is like a little medicine cabinet in a bottle? Here are a few tried and true benefits to giving a little dose to your pet a day! (Dosage: 20 lb dog - 1 teaspoon, 50 lb dog - 1 tablespoon; diluted with water twice daily on each feeding - if spraying on coat/skin - dilute 1/2 and 1/2 in spray bottle)

• Aides in helping stubborn pets eat
• Restores acid/alkaline balance in the digestive tract and bladder
• Aides in the prevention of kidney and bladder stones/crystals from forming
• Aides in getting rid of internal & external parasites
• Restore luster and shine to coat. Also wards off fleas & ticks naturally.
• Aides in relieving dogs with runny eyes, noses or ear infections
• Helps with minor hot spots
• Helps rid tear stains

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