Let Your Canine Go Crazy For Coconuts!

For centuries, coconuts have been a staple ingredient in tropical cuisines and cocktails around the world, especially in the Pacific Island regions because of its unique flavoring. However, it's not only the taste or smell of the coconut that makes this hard shell fruit unique. For holistic healing doctors, for thousands of years, it has been merely an effective and "natural medicine in a shell" for them to prescribe. For patients who have followed a traditional coconut-based diet, surprisingly, do not suffer from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses that modern Americans are plagued with each year.

Coconuts being known to be rich with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), is a lauric acid used by the body to make the same disease-fighting fatty acid derivative "monolaurin" that babies make from the lauric acid they get from their mothers’ milk. The monoglyceride monolaurin is the same substance that keeps infants from getting viral, bacterial, or protozoal infections. Therefore, it's the only natural compound known to fight both viral and bacterial infections internally and externally; unlike antibiotics that can only be used for bacterial infections.

Within the past decade, unrefined coconut meat and oil has been introduced to canine diets who suffer from varies health issues and surprisingly, pet owners have been seeing incredible, positive results just by adding unrefined, organic coconut oil to their dog's diet.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, coconut oil is one of the supplements that should not be overlooked, especially when you have a dog that is prone or diagnosed with cancer. What many people don't realize is that this "super food" is highly packed with other amazing health benefits that are now being recognized to holistically heal pets that face many other medical problems as well. And, to boot, dogs go crazy for coconut!

So, what can coconut oil do for your dog when added to their diet, you ask?

• Reduces the risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions as it is considered a very alkaline food source.

• Helps fight heart disease

• Improves digestion and nutrient absorption

• Heals digestive disorders like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and colitis

• Contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents that prevent infection and disease

• Relieves arthritis

• Prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections

• Prevents and treats viral infections

• Helps balance the body’s metabolism and ph levels

• Promotes normal thyroid function

• Helps prevent or control diabetes

• Rejuvenates the skin

• Reduces allergic reactions

• Supplies fewer calories than other fats

• Is 400 times more powerful than vitamin E.

Additionally, coconut oil can be applied topically and offers the healing benefits of:

• Disinfects cuts

• Promotes wound healing

• Improves skin health and coat condition

• Deodorizes whatever it touches (bad breath, yeasty smelling ears, etc.)

• Clears up warts, eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis or other allergic reactions, ear mites, ear infections, ringworm, yeast infections, skin fungus and other skin disorders

• Is an excellent moisturizer for cracked paws and noses

Personally, I have seen the amazing results that coconut oil does (topically) on one of my pets. Years ago, one of my pet's, a teacup yorkie named Mia, developed a strange, small black mole on her stomach. Within a week, it grew significantly that it started to cover one of her nipples. I took her to my vet who could not determine what it was, but wanted to surgically remove it. Since her liver enzymes were elevated and knew a local numbing agent was not going to be enough for removal (as she was so small and such a wiggle worm) she would have been put under anesthesia. That certainly was not going to be an option. It wasn't until the next day that I personally came across information pertaining to how coconut oil can be used for such things. I immediately started applying an organic version of coconut oil to her belly three times daily. Within one week, it simply fell off; leaving no scar or mark. It has been three years since that strange growth appeared and has never grown back. This is just my personal experience with it, but have read countless testimonials on such similar situations with pets who have naturally healed with the use of coconut oil.

When buying coconut oil, ensure that:

• It is unrefined or “virgin”, which is made from fresh coconuts. Pressed by hand using traditional methods or manufactured in state-of-the-art factories, virgin coconut oil retains most of the nutrients found in fresh coconut

• It is in a glass jar, not a plastic one.

• It's colorless when liquid and pure white when solid, never yellow or pink and it should not contain any off color residue at the top when solid. Coconut oil will liquidly naturally when its in an environment above 75 degrees F.

How to administer to your pet:

Solid or liquid coconut oil can be added to food at any meal or given between meals. The optimum dose for dogs is about 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight daily, or 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds. These are general guidelines, as some dogs need less and others more. But don’t start with these amounts. Instead, introduce coconut oil a little at a time in divided doses. Because coconut oil kills harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeasts, and fungi, the burden of removing dead organisms can trigger symptoms of detoxification. Headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms are common in humans who consume too much too fast and similar symptoms can occur in dogs. Even in healthy dogs, large amounts of coconut oil can cause diarrhea or greasy stools while the body adjusts. Start with small amounts, such as ¼ teaspoon per day for small dogs or puppies and 1 teaspoon for large dogs. Gradually increase the amount every few days. If your dog seems tired or uncomfortable or has diarrhea, reduce the amount temporarily.

Coconut oil isn’t the only coconut product that’s good for dogs. Fresh or dried coconut is an excellent source of dietary fiber, and dogs enjoy and benefit from the same coconut flakes, coconut flour, coconut cream, coconut milk, shredded coconut, and coconut spreads used by their human companions. Just be sure the products are unsweetened and free from chemical preservatives.

A 14 oz. jar of organic virgin coconut oil will be re-stocked by Friday, August 24 in our store for $19.99.

The #1 Thing You Should Do If Your Dog Develops Cancer

Cancer........ the awful word that makes your heart sink to the bottom of your stomach when you hear this. Unfortunately, it's increasing at alarming rates and can strike any breed at any time; just like in humans. However, many breeds are more susceptible to certain types of cancers simply due to no fault of their own, thanks to genetics. This is why it's extremely important to start your dog on the healthiest diet as early as possible, especially when your loved furry companion is a target for cancer. 

Commonly, after being diagnosed, many are advised to turn to traditional medicines and procedures in hopes to reverse it but interestingly, many pet owners still stick to the same diet their dogs has been on before being diagnosed and solely depend on chemo and radiation treatments.  Sometimes these procedures work but then sometimes they don’t, but there is one thing that ALL HOLISTIC practitioners will agree upon that can alter the prognoses significantly which can be in you and your dog’s favor - change your dog's diet immediately!

What is known is that cancer cells multiple and thrive in acidic environments and that is mainly determined by what you have been feeding your dog. Many processed foods containing lots of carbohydrates, bad grains (corn, wheat, soy), sugars, artifical colors & flavors and chemical preservatives are contributing factors that will alter your dog's internal ph levels to become more acidic. However, there are some proteins, vegetables and fruits that are considered acidic as well. So, what you feed your dog daily and how much daily moisture they get in their diets, especially after being diagnosed, can greatly impact the outcome.

For dogs, a body ph level below 6.9 is considered acidic as 7 is considered neutral. So, when cancer has plagued your pet, your dog’ body ph levels are more acidic then.  But when ph levels rise above 7.4, cancer cells become dormant and when ph levels reach close or over 8.5, the cancer cells will perish. This then allows healthy cells to rebuild themselves naturally; making your dog's immune system much stronger.

So, what kinds of foods are considered more alkaline to alter the ph levels within your dog's body?

BEST PROTEINS: Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Venison, Cold Water Fresh Ocean Fish

BEST OILS: Organic Flax, Coconut & Olive Oils

BEST RAW VEGETABLES: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Squash, Green Beans, Alfalfa, Garlic

BEST GRAINS: Pearl Millet, Chickpeas, Split Peas, Amaranth, Wild Rice, Quinoa

BEST FRUITS (with minimal servings): Papaya, Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Melons, Coconut, Watermelon, Mangoes

In addition, it is extremely important to feed your pet WHOLESOME foods that still have the natural moisture in tacked and not cooked at high temperatures as this will destroy a lot of the enzymes, vital vitamins and minerals.  

Give your pet more of a fighting chance against cancer.... know what your feeding and how to feed for a healthier pet for years to come. 

A Skin Parasite, Not Normally Found Here, May Be Making It's Way To Your Neck of the Woods

Excessive itching, scratching and biting at the skin is certainly one red flag that your dog is being eaten' by a pesky bug.  Commonly, fleas are the #1 culprit, but when you can't find a trace of those visual little scavengers anywhere in sight, you then begin to scratch your head wondering what is going on yourself.

There is no question that chronic itching is not just a sign of a parasite, but maybe an issue of just dry skin or an onset of an allergy of some sort. However, when you find that your dog was fine one day and then wanting to crawl out of it's skin the next, it's more than just dry skin and an allergy.  .

The other day, one of my customer's called me after walking their dog through Allaire State Park and a local bike trail near the jersey shore a few days prior.. Apparently, the dog began itching excessively after going to these two places.  Within the next few days, it was determined by their vet that the dog was diagnosed and infested with a not so common parasite usually not found here.... Chiggers.  Even the vet was astounded since he has never seen a case in this area.

Chiggers, also known as Trombicula mites or harvest mites, are a very small parasite (the size of a pin head) that are reddish/orange in color and prominent during the Spring and Fall months; mainly in the central/midwest areas of the United States. Thriving in high grassy, harvest areas with chalky soil, they attach themselves on the "host" and feed on the tissue; injecting their saliva into the skin which causes severe itching.  In turn, it ultimately cause small red circular irriated spots on the skin. Within a few days, they'll simply fall off their host; unlike a flea and tick. 

On dogs, chiggers are mainly found around the front and rear legs, backend, head, and abdomen after walking through an infested area.  Easily missed by the naked eye, it is said chiggers resemble sprinkles of paprika on the skin when they are still feeding on their host, but again, can be hard to detect without proper lighting or if you have a dog with a thick or dark coat.

If you suspect your dog may have chiggers, a vet can determine it by a skin scrapping under a microscope.  Natural based pyrethrin-based dips or a topical anti-parasite treatment can be given (after a bath) are what usually does the trick. It is then highly suggested to just vacuum your home thoroughly, wash your dog's bedding and to avoid the area where you think your dog may have picked up these pesky bugs.

After hearing this, I wanted to pass along this information to our readers.  Guess we now have to add another possible cause to the list of why our dogs are getting the "itches" as these buggy pests are making their way to our neck of the woods.

Turning That Boring Marrow Bone into a Healthy Tasty Treat Again

The smell and sight of a new stuffed marrow bone to your dog's eyes can be like pirahna on prey, but after your dog has cleaned off all the meat and marrow, is that bone then left like fish bones on the bottom of the bay? If so, turn that boring, empty bone into a "new" fresh and tasty treat for your pet again.

Here are some ideas to livin’ up that stale, stranded hollow bone…

1.      Clean bone with hot water and let dry

2.      Stuff bone with one of the below recipe blends, (like you would do with a cannoli).  Usually, the use of a pastry filler or cake decorating bag works best.

3.      Keep in mind the filling you use and where the dog will be enjoying the bone, as it can become a little messy.  Kitchens, laundry rooms, crates or outside areas are perfect.

Classic PB Bone

Stuff both ends with an all natural, no sugar added creamy peanut butter.  Refrigerate to firm or freeze to harden.

PB&J Bone

First stuff both ends with an all natural (no sugar added) strawberry preserve and push jelly more toward the center of the bone.  Then top off both ends with an all natural, no sugar added creamy peanut butter.  Freeze overnight.

Standard Cream Cheese Bone

Stuff both ends with a fat free cream cheese.  Freeze overnight

Cheddar Cheese Bone

Mix together fat free cream cheese and an all natural cheddar cheese powder.  Amount will depend on size of bone used and acquired taste.  Once mixed together, stuff both ends.  Freeze overnight

Yogurt Bone

Stuff both ends with vanilla or plain Greek yogurt.  If yogurt seems to be a little runny, stand bone upwards on paper plate or freezer safe container before stuffing then freeze overnight to harden.

Banana Bone

Mash up a banana.  Amount will depend on size of bone used.  Freeze overnight.

Meat Lovers Bone

Use a premium brand of a canned, grain free dog food (meatloaf style; not chunky) in either beef, venison, chicken, lamb, etc..  Stuff both ends and refrigerate to firm

The Italiano Bone

Partial cook some lean ground beef.  Sprinkle (generously) parmesan cheese, some fresh, finely chopped parsley and add a small amount of all natural tomato paste.  Mix together and stuff in bone.  Amount will depend on size of bone used.  Refrigerate to firm. 

As you can see, the possibilities in turning a bland, hollow dog bone are endless.  Adding interest and a variety of flavors is all you need for your dog to enjoy chopping on that ol’ bone again and ultimately, allowing him/her to clean their teeth naturally too.

What Constitutes a Good Quality Dry Dog Food?

There is no question when looking at all the varieties of different dry foods that are available in your local store, picking the right one for your pet can be very confusing.  Big corporations that will cut into the quality for better profit margins will go to great lengths in hopes to capture your attention so you can select their brand.  With creative print ads, television commercials flooding the airwaves and an artistic design team that will devise the food bags and labels, unfortunately, most are misleading once you know how to read the "fine print" (a/k/a "the ingredient list").

When educating my customers who believe they have been feeding their dog a good, quality food, I always ask why they selected that certain brand to begin with.  Many say it was because it was recommended, but there is still a large portion of consumers who choose the brand based on what the bag said and/or looked on the front, or simply a television commercial they saw.  However, most, if not all, never took two minutes to look at the ingredients on the back of the bag before they bought it.  Interestingly enough though, many are then looking for advice AFTER their dog is showing symptoms of allergies or another medical issue since being on that brand, but still have never looked at the ingredients and/or just didn't know what really constitutes a good  quality dog food to begin with.

To help you better understand on how to read a dry dog food ingredient list, here are things that your dog's food should never contain.  If it does, then it's simply G-A-R-B-A-G-E and highly recommended to find another brand that does not have any of the below items listed!

SINCE THE FIRST SEVEN INGREDIENTS ARE MOST VALUABLE TO YOUR DOG'S OVERALL HEALTH, IT SHOULD NEVER CONTAIN:

* Any type of wheat, corn, soy, by-products, sugars, or animal digest material.  Out of the first seven ingredients, you should have a MINIMUM of 2-3 WHOLESOME PROTEINS LISTED, EITHER AS WHOLE OR MEAL BLENDS. Dried egg product does not constitute as a wholesome protein, by the way.

THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS SHOULD NEVER HAVE:

* More grain listed, by-products, sugars, animal digest material, artificial flavors and colors, propylene glycol, BHA/BHT, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity) or ethoxyquin. 

As an example, here is an ingredient list off a NATIONALLY KNOWN COMMERCIAL DOG FOOD BRAND that is one of the worst on the market, yet, sell millions a bags a year to pet owners who are under the influence of what I call "unethical marketing strategies".

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.

As you can see, there is absolutely NOT ONE SINGLE WHOLESOME PROTEIN LISTED!  As a carnivore, your dog NEEDS WHOLESOME PROTEINS to be healthy; not SOY PROTEIN OR FLOUR!.  Furthermore, this food is ridden with grains that not only produce allergies in dogs but with the combination of pure sugar, WILL create obesity, diabetes, gingivitis, and an over growth of yeast in your pet at one time or another.  In addition, it contains propylene glycol which is the additive found in anti-freeze that prevents pipes from freezing, animal digest (which they are not being specific to the "type" of animal and unfortunately, can be ANY TYPE of animal), artificial colorants which are linked to certain types of cancers, and lastly,menadione sodium bisulfite complex which has been banned in human foods because of the link to liver failure.  But on the flip side, the bag shows a healthy looking dog surrounded by pictures of chunks of protein meats and vegetables.  Interesting, huh? 

An example of a good quality kibble would read something like this with a lot of added probiotics for added digestive and immune support: Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), Dried Egg, Tomato Pomace, Apples, Blueberries, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, Garlic, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Taurine, Cottage Cheese, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Beta-Carotene, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, L-Carnitine, Vitamin B12 Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, Biotin, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Manganese Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentatio

Remember, as the saying goes, "you are what you eat" and the same holds true for your pet.  So, stay true to your dog's natural, intended diet that it's body is designed for (protein, vegetables and fruits) for a healthier dog for years to come.

Is What You Consider Healthy Snacks or Food Toppers For Your Pet Doing More Harm Than Good?

I often find when giving nutritional advice to customers who have a dog that is overweight, diabetic or battling   chronic "yeasty" ears or on the skin, many who think they are following a healthy diet regimen for their pet, are actually contributing to the issue, simply by the choice of  foods they choose. Commonly known as "healthy & harmless",  there are some fruit and vegetables that should be avoided during snack time or added as food toppers during meals because of the amount of natural sugars in them which ultimately elevates the blood sugar and making yeast thrive more as it is a food source for it..

COMMON FRUITS & VEGGIES THAT CONTAIN THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF SUGAR (20 grams & over):

Bananas   

Uncooked carrots 

Uncooked sting beans

Uncooked peas

Mangos

Sweet & Regular Potatoes 

It is suggested when your pet has such issues, that you consider some other alternatives for snacks & food toppers as they contain less than 10 grams of  natural sugar per serving such as::

Asparagus
Boiled carrots, string beans or peas (to destroys most of the natural sugar)
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Apples (with skin & seeds removed)
Spinach
Broccoli
Zucchini
Strawberries/Blueberries/Cranberries
Pear (with skin & seeds removed)
Orange (with skin removed)
Tangerine (with skin  removed)
Seedless Watermelon
Honeydew
Cantaloupe
Pineapple

As a reminder, grapes or raisins should NEVER be given to pets as they are toxic to them.