Monday, October 22, 2018

Just Food For Dogs- A whole food prescription diet!


Last week, we posted on or Facebook page a new journey we are embarking on. Our elderly dog Kale came back from the vet with a diagnosis of the beginning stages of kidney disease. As expected, our vet recommended we put her on Hill's Prescription diet. The concern with Hill's is that it is highly processed. Kale has a long history of chronic ear infections and processed food exacerbates the problem. After voicing my concern, the veterinarian pointed me towards another company: Just Food For Dogs.

Just Food For Dogs is a company that specializes in whole foods, "homemade" dog food. Their food is USDA approved for human consumption. The supplements are made in an FDA & CGMP compliant facility that produces supplements exclusively for human consumption. The company is supported by 8 veterinarians on staff and is the only brand to validate health benefits through feeding trials. Wow! They offer a variety of balanced, pre-formulated daily meals for your "average" healthy dog, AND customized formulations based upon your dog's prescription needs. The latter is what Kale received.

How the customized, prescription food works-- First of all, you will need to have your pet's blood work. Just Food For Dogs will need to see this blood work and may need to see your prescription. In addition, they will ask you some questions about your furry family member. The veterinarians on Just Food For Dogs' staff, if needed, can talk to your personal veterinarian for additional details or clarification. After that's all done, you will pay a $195 fee for the formulation and receive a quote for how much the prepared food will cost by week or month. Once you have the formulation and are ready to start, you simply order the food and it will arrive in the mail. Voila!

We have just started Kale's journey on this dog food. Stay tuned as we update you on her blood work. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it helps our furry love. 💗




Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Dog Toy Review: Beco Pets

We will be reviewing some new toys this month: Beco Pets!
This is not a Bark City image. I stole it from Beco Pets website. Just so ya all know.


 Beco Pets was named one of the world's most ethical companies in 2017 and are dedicated to developing the most fun, innovative and ethical pet products on the shelf. They have a wide product range and develop a variety of items: Sustainable wild-caught dog food, dog beds, biodegradable poop bags, bowls and toys. In addition, there is also the Beco Foundation that gives 5% back to local communities, animal and environmental causes. 

Reading up on their website, I could write this blog about their wild boar food or bamboo feeding bowls, but instead we are going to focus on their toys. Because, alas! This is a dog toy review! Here is our initial video introducing the toys we will be testing out with our daycare dogs this month: 




All of these toys seem to be made out of recycled, sustainable materials. The fabric and stuffing is made from recycled bottles. The balls and chew bones are natural rubber, and the ropes are either natural cotton, hemp or rice husk. Please check in periodically to find out how these toys hold up with our dogs. We will be posting pictures, videos, ect on Facebook and then give you the final verdict at the end of the month! Here is the final verdict of our last toy company: Aussie Natural Pet Toys.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Turmeric for Dogs

I am sure by now, most of you have heard of a spice called Turmeric. It is most likely in your cabinet and you have used it when cooking. This little spice has been getting a lot of trendy, news worthy praise as of late for it's medicinal value. More and more pet owners are starting to turn to this spice to help their furry family member live a happy, healthy life. But, why? As crazy as it seems, an immense amount of research is being done on this spice and it seems to be trumping quite a few medications. EXPENSIVE medications: arthritis drugs, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, chemotherapy, Inflammatory bowel ect...

Yep, It's beginning to become one of those "super spices". The component in Turmeric that makes it so powerful is a bio-active compound, curcumin (not to be confused with the spice Cumin...they are two different things). Curcumin is found to be anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, wound healing, anticancer and a powerful antioxidant.

For a dog, the daily dosage of turmeric should be 1/8- 1/4 of a tsp per 10 lbs of dog weight. It should also be mixed with an oil to aid in body absorption. Here are a couple recipes to help:


You can also mix turmeric into your favorite dog treat recipes. Whenever you add a new supplement to your dog's diet, you should always start out with a very low dose and work up very slowly. Be observant of any changes in your dog's behavior or bodily reactions.

Now for the warnings:
  • Turmeric can be a binding agent. This means you dog may become constipated. Make sure lots of water is available and watch for constipation.
  • Turmeric is also a blood thinner! If your dog is on a blood thinning medication or has liver disease, it is best to check with your vet before supplementing with this spice.
  • Beware of over supplementing your canine friend. Sometimes too much of a good thing is NOT good. One supplement can counteract another if taken together. It's always best to do your research and consult a vet before starting a new supplement.  
  • Dogs with kidney stones should not take Turmeric, because it will increase urinary oxalate levels.
  • This spice can also effect drugs for diabetes and anti-inflammatory medication.
With all that said, Here are a couple of useful links to help you on your way:


One last thing---turmeric used to be used to dye clothes yellow. Do not be alarmed if your dog has a yellow tongue or mustache after eating! 

 

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Aussie Naturals Pet Toys


Our next toy review is Aussie Naturals. Above is a short video highlighting all the varieties of toys the dogs will be playing with this month at the daycare. Stay tuned, because at the end of the month, we will review them again with our thumbs up or down on the durability and fun-factor of each toy.

There is not much information about Aussie Naturals on the world wide internet. I think this is because they were acquired, along with Outback Jacks and Wild Eats, by Hyper Pet last year. I have written to Hyper Pet to request more detailed information about these products and hopefully, I will have the information by the end of the month! What I do know is that these toys are designed and manufactured to be safe, durable and sustainable. They are made from materials such as: natural rubber, jute, cotton, coconut fiber and leather.

Here are a few pictures of the dogs in action these last few days (They were introduced to the dogs on June 1st.)





If you would like to see more of our dogs in action and other reviews we will be doing each month, you can always follow our Facebook page. We also have Instagram! Last month, we tested and reviewed Aikiou and Animaganza. You can read our verdict ---> here.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Dog Toy Reviews!


It’s TOY REVIEW TIME!!!!! We have decided to do something fun with our enrichment program and start doing a hands-on dog toy review. Each month, we will be purchasing toys from a different dog toy company. We will be reviewing them for a month. During that month the same toys will be used in each activity. We will be posting videos of how the dogs like them and which ones actually hold up. If the toys make the cut on being a fun toy and a good investment, for not only us but also for home use, we will have them available for purchase (we may even hint to you that your dog absolutely loves a certain toy😉) Here is a glimpse of this month's toys: Aikiou and Animaganza. These toys will be introduced to the Enrichment Dogs this Friday, May11th, 2018. Please be on the look-out for our reviews (and be patient with us as we learn the ins and outs of  videoing product reviews 😀).

Aikiou (pronounced: IQ)


This image is from the Aikiou website: https://aikiou.com/

Aikiou was founded and each product is designed by pet behaviorist and veterinary health technician Kathleen Desrosiers. Desrosiers created a series of interactive feeders that claim to occupy your furry companions in a way that correspond to how they eat in nature. They are made to promote intellectual activity which should in turn, reduce anxiety and bad behavior. These products are made from human-grade plastic that are free of BPA and BHT. According to their website, since 2008, Aikiou is the most recommended brand by veterinarians and behaviorists when it comes to enrichment. If you want to learn more about their products, you can click the link in the photo caption.

Animaganza 

 
This picture comes off of the Animaganza website: http://www.animaganza.com/
Animaganza is a sister company to Himalayan Corporation-- The company that makes the famous Himalayan Dog Chew. Animaganza's goal is to create enrichment toys and puzzles that are first on the market. They do not make replications of products that already exist. One product that I think is really quite adorable is the Animastuffy. Basically, it's a stuffed animal that has a velcro opening in the back. You can stuff this animal with your own stinky sock and seal it back up. Though you may think your stinky sock is gross, your dog may think it is the most comforting smell in the world-- thus the idea is that it will help provide comfort in anxious situations (like being in a doggy daycare without mom or dad!) Animaganza also has a program called "Make Mondays Matter". On selected Mondays throughout the year, they donate a case of dog toys to a no-kill shelter or rescue group. You can nominate your favorite shelter or rescue here


These are our first two companies! Be on the lookout for photos and the official review when it comes out! And remember, whatever toys make the cut will be available in our store front. Please be patient as we learn how to be movie stars. 😎


Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The "Ins and Outs" of Raw Feeding


You've done your research and have decided to switch your dog over to a raw food diet, but feel completely overwhelmed and a little bit scared all at the same time. No fear! In this post, I will give you the general "ins and outs" of making your own raw food. Because let's face it, buying pre-made raw dog food can get super expensive! In addition, at the end of this post, I will give you some handy links for further reading to reassure you that you will not kill your dog.

First, let's talk parasites. That is probably the number one (or two) concern when switching to a raw diet. There are two things you can do to eliminate the probability of giving your dog parasites: 1. Do not feed your dog the guts. Guts are where parasites harbor. By taking the guts our of your dog's meal, you drastically reduce the probability of there being parasites in your raw food. 2. Freeze your raw meat for three days before serving. Freezing will kill any parasites that have traveled from the gut area into the muscle mass.

The next concern is bacteria. Will I make my dog sick from bacteria? The answer is maybe. But, there is also a chance bacteria will make your dog sick in commercial dog food as well. We see that almost every day with new and up-coming recalls. The chances of your dog getting sick from bacteria is slim and here's why:

"Dogs and cats are built to handle bacterial loads from food that would cause significant illness in you or me. Their bodies are well equipped to deal with heavy doses of familiar and strange bacteria because nature built them to catch, kill and immediately consume their prey.
Your dog’s or cat’s stomach is highly acidic, with a pH range of 1 to 2.5. Nothing much can survive an environment that acidic – it exists to keep him safe from potentially contaminated raw meat and other consumables.
In addition to the acid, dogs and cats also naturally produce a tremendous amount of bile. Bile is both anti-parasitic and anti-pathogenic. So if something potentially harmful isn’t entirely neutralized by stomach acid, the bile is a secondary defense. And your animal’s powerful pancreatic enzymes also help break down and digest food."  (https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/the-truth-about-raw-food

Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about the food:

  1. Your dog must have calcium and the best way to give it is through raw bones. Do not cook the bones, this is how they become a choking hazard because cooking causes them to become dry and brittle. Raw bones are not a choking hazard. Make sure that approximately 1/3 of your dog's diet includes bones. Egg shells are also a good source of calcium, but you must make sure they are from a farm. Commercial eggs are usually sprayed with some sort of not-so-great spray.
  2. Organs are the multi-vitamin and should be 10% - 30% of the diet. Variety is the spice of life. If you are feeding your dog just one particular organ, it should be just 10% of the food. Otherwise, you run the chances of your dog getting loose stools. If you are including a myriad of organs: liver, kidney, spleen, brain, lung, testicles, you can have the percentage up to 30%.
  3. Muscle meat is the foundation and should be 1/2 - 1/3 of the food (depending upon your organ percentage). Try to make sure the food incudes a little bit of fat, but not too much. Fat is essential for immune function and skin health. Too much fat, you will run the chances of your food being low in vitamins and you will have a chubby dog.
  4. No starches! Try to avoid grains, peas and potatoes. These are just fillers and don't really do much for your dog aside from giving them health problems. 
  5. Fruits and Veggies? You don't need to get overly concerned about fruits and veggies. If you have the meat portions right, your dog should be getting everything they need. Fruits and veggies do provide nutrients that meat does not have-- prebiotics, Chlorphyll, Lycopene, Lutein, ect... that will enhance your dog's health. But, don't over stress it. Personally, I just add the bits and ends of my produce that don't make it into my "people food".
  6. Variety is the spice of life. Try out different meats and weird parts as well. Did you know that poultry feet and beef trachea contain a good amount of chondroitin and glucosamine? By mixing and matching, you will end up being a culinary expert and keep your dog well-balanced. Which leads me to my next tip:
  7. Balance over time. Don't worry about whether or not each and every dog meal is "complete and balanced". Shoot for your dog being balanced over a weekly time frame. Again, if you provide variety, your dog's health should be complete. 
  8. Fish once a week. This way, you can skip buying the expensive fish oil that easily becomes rancid. Fish should be about 5% of your dog's diet. Good, cheap choices include: sardines, smelts, herring and/or mackerel. 
  9. Whole animal is simple and best.  With all the above said, if you really want to keep it simple, just use a whole animal (minus the guts). Example: a whole chicken, a whole rabbit or a whole fish. A whole animal contains all the things your dog needs in the correct percentage! It has organs, it has bones and it has muscle meat. All in all, mother nature really did provide the optimal nutrition for our furry friends. We humans made it complicated.  
  10. Work with a veterinarian that rejoices your raw food choice. Until you have the knack of it, don't be afraid to work with your raw-loving veterinarian to make sure your dog is maintaining optimal health. 
  11.  Feed your dog 2-3% of it's body weight a day. Adjust it according to your dog's individual metabolism and health. (example: if your dog is obese, you may want to shoot for 2%. If your dog is super high energy, 3% may be better.) To calculate: (dog's ideal weight) x .02. For puppies-- they should get 2-3% of their ideal adult weight.
That's it! Don't overthink it. But, if you really want to overthink it, here are some extra links to reassure you:





Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Pumpkin Spice Sorbet



I found this recipe on The Gracious Pantry and decided to give it a go for myself and my four-legged family members. I did alter the recipe, because the recipe on "The Gracious Pantry" had some ingredients toxic to dogs. If you are making it for your dog, please use the recipe below! The original recipe calls it "Ice Cream", but I beg to differ. It is more of a sorbet, since none of the ingredients even remotely resemble anything creamy or dairy like. I doubt my dogs care whether or not it is correctly termed "ice cream" or "sorbet". But let me tell you, if you go into eating this thinking you are getting a creamy dessert, you will be disappointed. None the less, it is a delicious treat that can be put into a bowl, cone or Kong.
This recipe is really simple and healthier than conventional ice cream. Below the recipe, I have outline the health benefits of some of the ingredients:



  • 4 bananas
  • 1 cup pumpkin Puree
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (The original recipe called for pumpkin spice. Pumpkin Spice contains nutmeg which is considered a toxin for your dog.)
~ Using a food processor, blend all of the ingredients. Transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze for 24-hours.~

That's it! That's all you need to do. Pretty simple, eh?

Maple Syrup   Maple syrup is rich in Manganese, zinc and natural antioxidants. It also has a lower Glycemic Index than regular sugar which means it will be absorbed into your body at a slower rate. You're less likely to get that sugar high. But, we must keep in mind that sugar is sugar and should be an occasional treat for your dog.

 Pumpkin  helps with digestion, urinary health and weight loss. Keep in mind, you DO NOT want to give your dog canned pumpkin PIE filling. It has sugar and spices that are not so good for them. Instead, opt for 100% canned pumpkin.

Cinnamon has a long list of health benefits. To list a few, it's an anti-inflammatory, increases brain activity, stimulates appetite and is anti-microbial.

Bananas are a great source of Potassium.

 All in all, the recipe was "Ok" for me (because I like ice cream!), but the dogs' absolutely loved it. If I were to make it again, I would probably freeze it in something cute like a silicone ice mold in the shape of a heart, bone or paw print. This would allow me to A) be super crafty and B) have single servings for the furry ones that I can just pop out and serve. To put it into a Kong, I would soften up the frozen mixture in order to scoop it and stuff into a Kong. A Kong would no doubt last longer than a silicone mold shape, but it would be a larger serving of a sugary treat for your canine friend. Doing it the "Kong way" would definitely have to be an occasional treat.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Bone Broth: Illness recovery in Canines


Bone broth should be in everyone's freezer during the flu season. It's great for 4-legged and 2-legged family members on the road to recovery from a bout of germ mayhem. It's full of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes and very easy to make. It does need to be made ahead of time, because it takes a LONG time to make-- like 10 hrs. The good news -- that 10 hours has nothing to do with preparation or you in the kitchen. It has to do with all the ingredients simmering into goodness in a crockpot. After it's made, you just have to freeze it into portions and wait for the germ apocalypse to strike.

What you need:
  • Bones-- any kind of bones. Chicken, beef, pork... whatever suits you fancy. Meat is optional, but obviously Fido will think it's delicious. A popular choice is Oxtail, but anything will work. 
  • Vegetables-- please see this list for vegetables that are good/ bad for your dog. Onions and garlic are not a good choice for Fido (TOXIC), but are a good choice for human taste buds. So, you may want to make two batches labeled appropriately? Just a thought. 
  • Vinegar-- You need an acid to extract the minerals from your bones. I like Bragg's Raw Apple Cider Vinegar.
  • Water.
  • A crockpot (If you don't have a crockpot, you can always cook it on your stovetop on low.)
What you do:
 Throw the bones in the crockpot. Chop up the vegetables and throw in the crockpot. Add water to cover everything and vinegar. You don't need much vinegar-- approximately 1 tsp/ gallon of water. I usually don't measure. I just kind of "guesstimate".  Cover with a lid and cook. If you are using the low temperature setting, it will take about 10 hours. If you are using the high temperature setting, it will take about 6 hours.

Once it's cooked and cooled enough to handle, ladle (or pour) it into a large bowl and refrigerate. You will notice that when it reaches refrigerator temperature, it will look like gel. Which is kind of gross to look at, but don't worry. When it's heated up, it will turn to liquid again. The gel means that it is super-duper healthy = full of gelatin from the bones. If yours doesn't turn to gel, don't worry. It' still has the nutrients in it. It's just not jam packed full like the gel. You can now scoop out your gel (or pour your broth) into your storage containers and freeze.

Here are the internet accolades for bone broth:


I like to use bone broth as the first "go-to" after gastrointestinal upset. I then gradually introduce solids-- like rice and chicken (with bone broth) and then my dog's regular dog food. You can even try to use bone broth to entice a finicky eater. (Same goes for my human family members, except substitute the dog food for people food.)


Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Pet Exposure to Reduce Allergies


At Bark City, we love dogs. I don't have enough fingers or toes on my human body to count the ways dogs are awesome. Recently, some new research on a somewhat old presumption is surfacing that gives one more reason to treat dogs like super heroes: Pet exposure may reduce allergies in humans.

We all know someone who has an allergy to something or other. Research has been suggesting over the past few decades that allergic diseases are increasing: Asthma has tripled in prevalence since the 1970's and food allergies have doubled (1). Some humans carry the presumption that having a clean, sterile household, free of pet dander will ward off allergies. This may be true for adults (and older children) that already have allergies, but may not necessarily be true for a baby yet to be born or a young infant. It seems that exposure to pets in infancy, especially while in utero through the first three months of life, influences the child's immune development and may decrease the probability of certain allergic diseases. Researchers are finding that there could be a critical period in an infants life in which the immune system rapidly develops. Having a pet present in the household, during this critical period, seems to increase the abundance of two bacteria in the gut microbiome of a child: Ruminococcus and Oscillospira. Both of these bacteria  have been linked with reduced childhood allergies (2). Scientists are still working out the nuts and bolts of this new research. As of right now, they are pointing towards the hygiene hypothesis (3): that having a pet in the household offers the opportunity of a more diverse microbial community at home. This in turn, offers infants an opportunity, during the critical immune system development period, to be exposed to infectious agents, symbiotic microorganisms and parasites in order to build immune tolerance.

For more information, you can read these fascinating links!
  1. Recent Understandings of Pet Allergies, Ownby, Dennis and Johnson, Cole Christine, NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4755411/ 
  2.  Pet Exposure May Reduce Allergy and Obesity, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170406143845.htm
  3. Infants With Siblings and Pets Less Likely To Develop Allergies, Koplin, Jennifer, The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/infants-with-siblings-and-pets-less-likely-to-develop-allergies-9523 
  4. Man's Best Friend May Boost Immune System: 6 Health Benefits of Owning a Dog, Borrelli, Lizette,  Medical Daily: http://www.medicaldaily.com/mans-best-friend-may-boost-immune-system-6-health-benefits-owning-dog-328414
  5. Infants Exposed to Dogs Less Likely To Develop Allergic Reactions, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine and Public Health: https://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/featured-stories/allergies

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

8 Ways To Save On Your Vet Bills





 Let's face it: The dreaded vet bill. It brings knots to our stomachs, marital arguments and a general all around uneasiness. But, we love our four-legged family members and when it all comes down to it, they are family. So here are 8 ways you can ease a bit of your anxiety and save on vet bills:


  1. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle for your pet. This means that you should exercise your pet, mentally and physically AND keep their weight under control. Over weight dogs can lead to a myriad of health problems such as: diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and various forms of Cancer. Keeping your dog healthy reduces the risk of treatments that add up to A LOT of money. 
  2. Nutritional Supplements  help promote a healthy immune system and are wise to use in moderation to maintain a healthy canine. BUT, you must use common sense. Do your research and find real foods that naturally include the vitamin, mineral, amino acid, fatty acid, ect... you are looking to supplement. If a real food is not found or convenient, look for a bottled supplement that does not have any harmful "inactive ingredients". Here is a helpful link on what to look for and avoid in supplements--> http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/supplements-for-your-dog-hidden-ingredients/  Talk to your Veterinarian/ Canine Nutritionist about what supplements are right for your dog and skip the rest, because you will be wasting your money on the promises of the fountain of youth.
  3. Keep up with your annual exams. Pets aged 1-6 should have a standard yearly physical exam once a year. Pets 7+ should have their yearly exam plus blood and urine tests. Regular check-ups keep the probability of  "surprise" vet expenses at bay. 
  4. Feed your dog premium food. Giving your dog high-quality food specifically for their breed and size will help eliminate vet visits due to vomiting, diarrhea and all around food allergies. Did you notice that I said "food" and not "pet food"? Ideally, a canine should be fed a real food diet, meaning minimal kibble. But sometimes, that doesn't bode well for the pocket book or convenience. Deciding on what to feed your canine can be complicated and tricky. If choosing a kibble (or canned food), you should look for a dog food that has multiple meats in the top three ingredients. Additionally, there should be less starchy foods and NO CORN OR SOY.  Kibble should also be stored in the freezer in order to avoid the oils in the food from going rancid. A good resource when looking for a dog food is to look up brands on the Dog Food Advisor. They have been researching and rating dog foods for years. You can look up a specific brand and it will give you a breakdown of each ingredient. It's amazing and just what is needed to make a conscious consumer choice.
  5.  Be honest with your vet about your finances: I know it's awkward to talk to your veterinarian about how much you can and can't afford. But by doing this, you will open up communication and maybe your vet will be able to find alternative solutions that best fit your financial budget. 
  6. Ask for a written estimate before treatment: When you are at the vet, you should ask for a written estimate before your dog is treated. Once the statement is in front of you, go through it with your vet and have them validate why the treatment is (or isn't) necessary. This will give you more power in deciding what is financially feasible. 
  7. Make sure you give your dog heartworm medication regularly.
  8. Set aside money from your paycheck for an "emergency account" in case something unexpected happens. It may also be wise to invest in a pet health insurance. Price shop for insurance plans that fit your needs as well as prescription medications.
With a little pro-active care and saving for the future, Fido's vet visits can be (almost) stress-free!