People ask me similar questions all the time. ‘What is the best food for my dogs?’ ‘How can I help my dog who seems to have a sensitive stomach?’ ‘What can I do for my dog’s itchy skin?’

If anyone has been reading the K9Nutrition FB page, they can find these answers on that FB page. The answers are also in my book, “Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs”. I list food/diet value below with #1 being the best diet you can feed and #5 being the least recommended diet:

  1. Raw diet, preferably with no carbs in it and no plant oils as well.
  2. Home Cooked, at 75% animal-based protein and fat, with 25% non-starch vegetables.
  3. Raw animal protein choices at 50% the raw food, to 50% dry dog food.
  4. Canned dog food
  5. And last, dry dog food.

 

Dry food is the most irritating to the dog’s digestive tract, it is high in sodium, the fat content is over cooked and dry dog food is WAY TOO HIGH in carbohydrates (grains, vegetables, and fruit). As the NRA concludes (the gold standard for determining dogs nutritional needs), carbs offer no nutritional value for dogs.

I have found that most dogs raised on dry dog food are more prone to reacting poorly to anything but kibble. My comparison is that if I ate Cheerios for every meal, and then suddenly I ate a Mexican dinner, my digestive tract would react to that. On the flip side, most raw fed dogs are fine with changes in the protein sources. They are used to raw fat and proteins and have no carbohydrates adding additional struggles to the digestive process. Please note, food allergies are extremely rare in dogs, and rarely would this result in indigestion. Dogs DO react to being over fed, introduced to raw fats for the first time, OR too much fiber. I believe that is why kibble fed dogs are more prone to diarrhea and vomiting. Low nutrition and highly irritating. If you decide to give your dog better nutrition through fresh food, start with smaller more frequent meals and add a good probiotic to help with this transition.

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals!

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals!

Lew Olson's newly revised book is filled with an abundance of new topics and information. Whether you are new to home feeding or a seasoned raw feeder, have a senior dog or a new puppy, a pregnant mom or a toy breed, this book presents all the information you need to make the best nutritional decisions for your dog.

As for itchy dogs, no, it is not an allergy, or at least a food allergy. If the itching is mostly around the stomach area, around the tail or anus, the ears, or on the feet or face, it is most likely yeast. Dogs only get topical yeast and it grows best around moist areas. I have steps to help destroy the yeast, but it takes being religious about treatment and be prepared as it can come back. Yeast is in the air and can spread easily. It most commonly erupts in the spring and fall, when it is rainier and when the furnace is turned on.  If your dog gets wet from rain or swimming, OR bathing, dry them completely. Yeast will move in on wet fur. For treatment, read more here: https://k9nutritionwithlew.com/yeast-the-most-likely-culprit-if-your-dog-is-itching/

April showers bring May flowers (and yeast unfortunately). It is great time for walking your dog, joining training classes and looking to expand your dog’s brain. Those could include Barn Hunt, Nose Work and Rally! Keeping your dog’s brain working and learning new things, as WELL as a better diet help for longevity and health!

Lastly, Because Mike is retiring, I am not sure there will be a newsletter for May as he is not continuing the B-Natural’s business. Therefore, I am looking for someone who is interested in taking on the Berte’s Product line (Immune Blend, Daily Blend, Digestion Blend, and Green Blend). These are the products Mike sourced the ingredients for and manufactured.  This is not his whole business, only the products he manufactured. If anyone is interested, please contact me at lewolson@earthlink.net or call me at 713-303-5639. I am willing to help with any consulting needs and newsletters for a consulting fee.

Thank you all for your trust, support, patronage, loyalty and friendship over the years!

You have permission to copy and distribute this newsletter to others provided it is not distributed for profit, proper credit has been given to the author, and the article has been copied and distributed in its entirety.  You may not post this article on any personal or professional website; however, with permission from the author, you can provide a link to the newsletter, which will bring your readers to the k9nutritionwithlew.com website.

Copyright 2022 Lew Olson, All Rights Reserved

Share

Similar Posts

Brussells Griphon puppies nursing

Common Questions and Concerns on Making Home-Made Diets for your Dog

How can I be sure the diet is balanced?
That answer is easy enough! Just make sure to add 900 milligrams of calcium to the diet.  You can use carbonate, calcium citrate or ½ teaspoon of ground eggshells per pound of food fed to your home-cooked meals.  Design the recipes to be at least 75% animal-based protein and 25% low-sugar (low-glycemic) cooked and mashed carbohydrates.

For raw diets, feed half the diet in raw meaty bones and half in animal protein with a slight amount of liver or kidney added.

What Supplements are Important for your Dog? This and More Questions Answered

What Supplements are Important for your Dog? This and More Questions Answered

Regardless of the diet choice you make for your dog — kibble, raw or home cooked — the vast amount of supplements on the market today, including vitamins, minerals, digestion aids, and anti-inflammatories can make choosing the right supplements for your dog very confusing. It seems just when we might be getting comfortable with our choices, new products pop up or we read an article that warns us to avoid the supplements we have already been giving to our dogs! We want to feed our dogs the best we can and we want to make sure what we are giving them enhances their health and gives us the best value for our dollar.

Cicely

October 2009 – Fats and When to Reduce Fats in Diet

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.

Rottweiler sitting in tub of water: stay cool!

Understanding Canine Blood Values

Knowing blood value terms and their significance, when they are elevated or decreased, can be helpful in making treatment decisions for your dog. However, while dog owners are oftentimes given this information from their veterinarian, they are frequently uncertain or confused about what all the different levels mean. This month, we take another look at a few of the most common blood chemistry terms. Blood values and terms can vary by the test or the laboratory producing the results, but for the purpose of this newsletter, we will use the values and terms that are primarily the United States terms and values.