Last week, I wrote a letter to the Delta Society, a nonprofit group based in Washington that offers pet therapy certifications for dogs. Unfortunately, they recently banned dogs in their program that are fed a raw diet. They called ‘protein based’ diets unsafe, in that they may spread salmonella and…
There is a lot of misconceptions concerning protein and dogs. So let’s start with the basics and learn exactly what protein is and what foods contain the necessary proteins for a healthy dog’s diet.
A common concern for dog owners is trying to figure out how much to feed their dog, especially when switching to a raw or home cooked diet.
How much food to feed your dog can vary and the total daily diet consumption depends on the dog’s age, weight, metabolism, and size.
A common concern for dog owners who are feeding a home prepared diet is whether or not it is ‘complete’. People worry that it won’t be nutritionally balanced and that their dog will miss essential nutrients that can only be found in commercial dog food.
One of the most common questions asked when changing diets, either to raw, home cooked, a mixture of raw and home cooked or adding fresh food to kibble, is how to maintain balance in the diet.
Let’s look at the meaning of the word ‘balance’. Most commonly it is referred to as the calcium/phosphorus ratio in the diet. Phosphorus is quite abundant in all foods. Calcium, however, is harder to find in foods. Commercial pet foods add calcium to bring the calcium/phosphorus ratios into balance. In the wild, dogs will consume bones from their prey which gives them the additional calcium needed.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL! Lew Olson and B-Natural's would like to say 'Thank You' to all of our customers for their continued support throughout the year. Improving nutrition for our dogs is a common goal we all share. The best way to achieve this is by feeding fresh foods to…
There are a variety of stones and crystals that can affect our dogs. I often get inquiries on how to treat stones when diagnosed during a veterinarian visit. The first question I ask is, “What type of crystal or stones was found?” Each type of crystal or stone is addressed in two very different approaches.
Animal based fats are essential for dogs. They need fat for energy, to absorb fat soluble vitamins (vitamins E, A and D), protect the nerve fibers in the body and to protect the body from cold. Fat is also the ingredient found in food that makes it tasty for dogs.
Fat also contains essential fatty acids, such as omega 6 and omega 3. These help with healthy skin and coat. Dog’s deficient in these fats (most often omega 3) may show skin problems, seborrhea, dermatitis and poor hair coat. It is always important to add EPA fish oil capsules to any dog’s diet.
I hope everyone and their dogs have survived this hot, and in many cases, dry summer. My newsletter this month turned into a ‘stream of consciousness’ that puts many thoughts and suggestions together regarding skin and allergy conditions and cautions regarding antibiotic use for these conditions. Oftentimes, antibiotics are prescribed…
Bodie is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Cattle Dog mix who survived Mandibular cancer. Bodie’s owners used nutrition to help Bodie recover from cancer. This story was written by Bodie’s owners.
