Recently my curiosity got the best of me and I set out to research what's really in dog food. Every vendor from Alpo canned to Bil Jac's Frozen swears their products are the best, used by champion breeders, etc. Some of it sounds like you could feed their food to your kids.
I don't know if curiosity killed the cat; but evidently pet foods can help kill your dog. The first piece of bad news is that the pet food industry is a way for the human food industry to turn waste into profits. What that means is that slaughterhouse offal, like intestines, udders, and esophagi; mildewed or rotting grains; and decaying vegetable and fruit cores and skins are bought up by the mass marketers, and processed into what you buy in that can or bag that promises "choice beef cuts", "whole grains", and "fresh vegetables". There are few laws or regulations controling the biological condition of the waste that pet food manufacturers buy, not to mention the cleanliness of containers and wrapping materials, or the mode of storage and transportation.
The major dog and cat food producers are subsidiairies of huge multinationals whose relationship to dog care is zero to none: Nestle (Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Mighty Dog); Heinz (9 Lives, Amore, Nature's Recipe, Kibbles-n-Bits, Gravy Train); and Colgate-Palmolive (Hill's Science Diet). Proctor and Gamble produces Eukanuba and Iams. So, if you thought the above waste-into-profits scenario didn't apply because you buy the "gourmet" foods like Iams, well, think again.
So what's a dog owner to do? There are small, independent producers who make dog food with human grade ingredients. Most of these people are dog loving entrepreneurs who set out to address the problem of mass marketed pet food. Many of them are devoted to the cause because they have had pets who were unsuccessfully treated by a veterinarian for a variety of ailments for long periods of time, before someone told them to feed their beloved companion wholesome food. For many ailments, and behavioral problems, a good diet solved the problem.
Some human-grade dry foods: Wellness, Flint River Ranch, Life's Abundance, The Honest Kitchen, Merrick, Dr. Harvey's, Solid Gold, and Fromm Family Nutritionals. Wet, freeze-dried and frozen diets include: Wellness, Spot's Stew by Halo, Red Barn, Fromm Family Nutritionals, Pooch Bowls and Steve's Real Food.
You can easily order these foods online. Try feedmypet.com, petfoodcafe.com, poochbowls.com, or just4pooches.com.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Dogs and Their Humans on vacation
Shuki, Benny and I are vacationing with our friends Lilly (2 legged) and Livia (4-legged) in Provincetown, MA. and I want to pass on to you how dog-friendly this place is! It's a little fishing village turned resort where there are lots of hotels, condo rentals, and rooms in B&B's where well-behaved dogs are welcome. It's wonderful how disciplined the dog owners are at Bayshore by the Sea, where we're staying. Everyone works hard to keep their pups quiet and they pick up poop. You almost never see poop on condo property or on the streets and the town is restful. Bayshore is at 493 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA, 508-487.9133. We're right on the water with beach view from our condo; plus the ocean beach (Herring Cove or Race Point Beach) is a 5-minute drive and it's National Seashore so dogs are allowed there too! There's wi-fi (which is why I'm able to post while on vaca).
Lots of other dog friendly accomodations too. Check out http://www.bayshorechandler.com/. Plus you'll meet oodles of other dog owners while out walking Commercial St, the main shopping and eating route. Some outdoor cafes allow dogs and it's lovely sippling a latte while your pup indulges in dog watching!
Check out these dog links!
www.provincetown.com
The Doggie Den Homepage
Lots of other dog friendly accomodations too. Check out http://www.bayshorechandler.com/. Plus you'll meet oodles of other dog owners while out walking Commercial St, the main shopping and eating route. Some outdoor cafes allow dogs and it's lovely sippling a latte while your pup indulges in dog watching!
Check out these dog links!
www.provincetown.com
The Doggie Den Homepage
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Keep Your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Safety Tips
‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink. Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.
Talkin’ Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.
Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
No Bread Dough
Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
Don't Let Them Eat Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Too Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.
A Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.
Check out these dog links!
The Doggie Den Homepage
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Sue Sternberg
This week I spent a couple of days with Sue Sternberg learning how to evaluate dogs for aggression. The seminar was intended largely for shelter workers; it focused on determining whether a shelter dog is adoptable. But even for a doggie daycare owner, the it was excellent!!
Sue has been evaluating dogs for years and her method has been studied and determined to be statistically predictive of aggression. That's impressive enough. But what really struck me was her commitment to open-minded education and dialog. She euthanizes unadoptable dogs at her shelter and I had always been against that. After listening to her experiences and the litany of misery that dogs endure in long-term kenneling situations, I'm now open to the euthanasia solution. She's a person with a big heart - it shows when she teaches; that's what convinced me that if there were another solution besides euthanizing unadoptable dogs, she would have found it.
Her method ranks dogs as (1) okay for the average family (2) in need of a firm hand with people who have clear desires and limits in terms of how they'll live with a dog, and (3) dogs that need to live with a dog professional. Before she taught us the procedure for evaluating a dog, she took us through a whole day of learning how to observe details in the dog's behavior, then collect a set of observations to make the judgment. For example, a stiff posture and upright tail don't mean anything clear all by themselves. But if the dog gives those cues, plus a hard stare, and a lack of interest in socializing with the handler, then then the dog could very well be a biter. I was impressed with the "gather a set of data" approach. It seemed much more scientific then approaches that assign meaning to specific behaviors. It allows for differences among individuals.
If you're a dog professional of any kind go to a Sue Sternberg seminar!
The Doggie Den Homepage
Sue has been evaluating dogs for years and her method has been studied and determined to be statistically predictive of aggression. That's impressive enough. But what really struck me was her commitment to open-minded education and dialog. She euthanizes unadoptable dogs at her shelter and I had always been against that. After listening to her experiences and the litany of misery that dogs endure in long-term kenneling situations, I'm now open to the euthanasia solution. She's a person with a big heart - it shows when she teaches; that's what convinced me that if there were another solution besides euthanizing unadoptable dogs, she would have found it.
Her method ranks dogs as (1) okay for the average family (2) in need of a firm hand with people who have clear desires and limits in terms of how they'll live with a dog, and (3) dogs that need to live with a dog professional. Before she taught us the procedure for evaluating a dog, she took us through a whole day of learning how to observe details in the dog's behavior, then collect a set of observations to make the judgment. For example, a stiff posture and upright tail don't mean anything clear all by themselves. But if the dog gives those cues, plus a hard stare, and a lack of interest in socializing with the handler, then then the dog could very well be a biter. I was impressed with the "gather a set of data" approach. It seemed much more scientific then approaches that assign meaning to specific behaviors. It allows for differences among individuals.
If you're a dog professional of any kind go to a Sue Sternberg seminar!
The Doggie Den Homepage
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Canine Reiki Treatments from Mary Oquendo
What is Reiki?
Reiki is an ancient healing system in which the practitioner channels the Universal Life Force energy that surrounds us into the pet in need. Mary uses a gentle hands on the body or just above in the pets physical aura. She also offers long distance Reiki, which is used in hospitals and shelters.
Check out this dog link!
The Doggie Den Homepage
Friday, December 28, 2012
Enjoying Dog Walks
Dog Walking 101: Tips to Make Your Outings Safe & Fun
It can be a job or a joy, pet parents, but we’ve all got to do it—yup, we’re talking about walking the dog! The beginning of spring is a great time to consider some ways to reinvent this daily ritual and make it more enjoyable for the both of you. Whether you’re a proud new pup parent or a long-time, experienced dog handler, our experts have got some advice for you. Who says you can’t teach an old owner new tricks?
Among the tips you’ll find in the complete article:- "Retractable leashes are best reserved for walks in the park, when it’s safe for a dog to explore a bit further away from her pet parent,” says the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT. NOT a good idea if you’re walking in an area with high foot traffic or off-leash dogs, as the long line may get wrapped around your dog, a person’s leg or another dog.
- Walk with buddies. If your dog likes other dogs, consider group walks. You can either borrow a friend’s dog to accompany you, or invite family and friends who have dogs to meet you somewhere.
- Even though popular spring plants like tulips and daffodils add much to our landscape, they can cause significant stomach problems for our furry friends. If your pooch likes to stop and smell—or nibble—the flowers, keep him on a short leash during walks.
Read the complete article Dog Walking 101.Reprinted from an ASPCA newsletter
.
Check out these dog links!
The Doggie Den Homepage
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Keep your dog safe over the holidays
It's oh so tempting to slip Fido a bite of Christmas pudding. But no! Dogs' digestive systems are not set up for our rich holiday treats. They cannot digest many of the ingredients that we take for granted, such as chocolate and nuts; and the result is often severe diarrhea. So, don't want to get up at 4am after an evening of holiday cheer? Limit your pup to treats that are intended for her.
In extreme cases chocolate can have a toxic effect on dogs, and even cause death. If Fluffy has consumed half a pound of Fannie Farmers' best, call your veterinarian's emergency number immediately. If somebody goofed and poor Fido is frozen in "the position" in the back yard, stop feeding him roughage. Fast him for 12 hours, but leave plenty of fresh, cool water around, 'cause diarrhea dehydrates a fellow. After that feed him something very bland and smooth for 24 hours, like boiled rice with a little hamburger cooked in for taste. Cottage cheese is a good adder too.
Like kids, our canine companions depend on us to keep them safe from hazardous materials that look like toys. Mistletoe, christmas lights, tinsel, wires, ornaments, poinsettas, and pine needles will all make your pup sick if she chews them. It's also best to put gifts where she can't get at them without your supervision, or crate her if she's allowed in the same room as the tree and gifts. Pet shops carry dog-safe ornaments that you can put on the bottom branches of your tree.
In extreme cases chocolate can have a toxic effect on dogs, and even cause death. If Fluffy has consumed half a pound of Fannie Farmers' best, call your veterinarian's emergency number immediately. If somebody goofed and poor Fido is frozen in "the position" in the back yard, stop feeding him roughage. Fast him for 12 hours, but leave plenty of fresh, cool water around, 'cause diarrhea dehydrates a fellow. After that feed him something very bland and smooth for 24 hours, like boiled rice with a little hamburger cooked in for taste. Cottage cheese is a good adder too.
Like kids, our canine companions depend on us to keep them safe from hazardous materials that look like toys. Mistletoe, christmas lights, tinsel, wires, ornaments, poinsettas, and pine needles will all make your pup sick if she chews them. It's also best to put gifts where she can't get at them without your supervision, or crate her if she's allowed in the same room as the tree and gifts. Pet shops carry dog-safe ornaments that you can put on the bottom branches of your tree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)