There was a press release about a new dog food called Back To Basics, which is testing the waters in the healthy dog food market. Here is more about it in case you see this brand in your store. Read More

Many companies are making new in roads into the healthy dog food market as they see consumers moving there.

It is always a good idea to check for what ingredients are in the foods before trying our a new food with your dog, especially if he is having problems.

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The latest news  today May 12, 2012 is that the Diamond Pet Foods has extended its recall of salmonella-tainted dry dog food after a human has become sick in Pennsylvania. The recalls covers several brands.A quote from a news article in the Philly.com online version of the Philadelphia Inquirer

“The illnesses are linked to at least 11 brands of dog food manufactured in a Gaston, S.C. plant operated by Diamond Pet Foods. Among the brands distributed by the plant is the store brand at Cosco. Other brands affected include Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul, Canidea and Taste of the Wild, as well as several Diamond brands.”

See the entire news item click here  Pet Food Recall

photo credit merfam

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Trey

The other day Trey my dog, had his checkup and the Vet reminded us that raw ingredients in home made dog food can contain bacteria. He also mentioned that , if you are making your dog’s food at home that you should include calcium which may be missing from the main food items.

The Vet explained that some people go to the butcher and ask for raw beef bones to supplement the calcium, but these can carry bacteria; so  that is not a good idea.

There are products on the market that use a pressurized sterilization method for beef bones for dogs. But an easy fix is to include Tumms tablets in the food or along with the food. They can be ground up or the favored ones can be placed in the food as is. Most dogs will eat the flavored ones  as is.

Our Vet did not think any other supplements were really required, as long as you are including vegetables and fruits in the homemade dog food. There are several books out now with recipes for making simple homemade dog food. It really requires very little effort, in fact once a week you can prepare the food all at once and then divide into portions for the week.

Of course freezing is also an option; you could make two weeks worth of food and freeze some and thaw as needed.

As the Vet so wisely said you don’t want to trade one problem for another by introducing potentially harmful bacteria into your dog’s diet.

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There has been a great deal of discussion about grain free dog foods and also limited ingredient dog foods in the hypoallergenic area of dog food. Most Veterinarians will recommend you start with a limited ingredient dog food if it appears your dog is suffering from allergies to to his food.

The reason grains are often the culprit lies in the process or extrusion process, to be more accurate of making the dog food. High heat is used and it can cause changes to grains used. Often you will find a dog that can not tolerate grains in commercial foods  but can eat home cooked rice or barley.

In the case of any suspected allergy of course you should always consult a professional and make sure your dog has a complete examination. Many signs that could be allergies might well be something else that requires immediate treatment. Most Veterinarians will also have you conduct a test starting with a limited ingredient food. This is to see if the dog improves, stays the same or becomes worse.

It is important to keep in mind that allergies can be environment related as well. Your dog could be suffering from an allergy to his bed or carpeting in your home or any number of things just as humans have allergies. Humans undergo rigorous testing to determine allergies and dogs can require the same process. The hardest part is the time frame, often a month or more, and waiting to see if the dog improves. It is always difficult to watch your dog suffer.

So follow your Vets instructions and test out various foods to see the result. If all else fails there is always homemade food which does not need to be expensive or fancy and can be easy to prepare. If that interests you sign up to be notified about our new cooking show. We will be preparing healthy home made meals for dogs that are quick and easy.

(photo credit Len not Lenny)

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A New York Times Article about the raw dog food diets that have helped some dogs.  Below is a short snip-it read the whole article here

“It’s not that pets are dining on hamburger meat straight from the package, but rather on specially prepared foods like uncooked lamb livers and bison, and alfalfa sprouts and kale.

Teresa Logan, a fashion stylist and doting owner of a 2 ½-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix named Penny, recently switched her dog to a raw diet (chicken, rabbit or venison with mixed vegetables; carrot medallions and red peppers for snacks) after some digestive issues. Ms. Logan said she’s been happy with the results. “Her coat looks good, her stomach is good, and she’s even slimmed down,” she said. “It’s like the difference between eating junk food and eating health food.”

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 Interesting article from the Seattle Times about dogs and allergies to their food and more follow the link to read all of the article.

“Dr. Stephen White, a professor of dermatology at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, answers this week’s questions about food allergies.

Question: What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?

Answer: Food allergy denotes an immune response to a food; food intolerance presumes no immune response. In veterinary practice the difference is difficult to distinguish, and probably not clinically important in most cases, and the more general term cutaneous adverse food reaction (CAFR) is often used.

Question: How common are actual food allergies?

Answer: This is debatable, as many cases are probably noted by owners (particularly if there is vomiting or diarrhea involved with the feeding of a new food) and never reported to veterinarians. A rough estimate would be around 5 percent of dogs, probably the same in cats.

Question: How does a food allergy present itself?” READ more HERE

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From BuzzFeed

20 Of The Happiest Dogs Around  

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If You Get A Laugh Please Comment!

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Canucklibrarian

It is an interview with one of the owners of Honest Kitchen Dog Food. Below is a snippet of the post.

“Our human-grade status is a major differentiator. Our products are made in a human food facility on the exact same equipment used to produce various foods people eat. That really strikes a chord with consumers and sets us apart from lower quality, feed-grade manufacturers.

We’re extremely selective when it comes to our suppliers, too. We’ve worked with many of the same producers since we began in 2002 and insist that all suppliers sign an annual “Vendor Pledge” to provide assurance of the quality and integrity of the ingredients we buy. We won’t use GMO or irradiated ingredients, and don’t accept any ingredients from China.

We also don’t allow our products to be sold in stores that sell puppies; I’m strongly opposed to the puppy mill trade and believe that a responsible breeder’s animals would never end up in a shop (or a shelter).”

HERE IS A LINK TO THE POST

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dogfood JNL

The story below that is quoted is not that unusual. In Newport Beach California there is a store that daily makes homemade healthy dog food called REAL FOOD FOR DOGS. They also freeze and ship their food as well as deliver within the local area.

In a bad economy it is a surprise but it may also be dog owners wanting to spend on keeping their dog healthy and saving on Veterinary  and medication expenses.

“  If dogs can have their own travel agencies and social networking sites, then why not their own butcher shops too? Well now they can, at least in Munich, thanks to BeuteFuchs ,a store that creates organic, raw-food diets custom-made for canines.

BeuteFuchs sources its organic meat from verified organic farms all over Germany. Meat varieties include organic beef, organic lamb, organic chicken and organic turkey, as well as venison, duck and goose in season. The complete menu includes offerings such as organic grain-free muscle meat with a vegetable-fruit mix and high-quality oil. The store’s staff are available to offer advice and feeding plans based on each individual dog’s needs, and food is available freshly prepared or frozen. Within Munich, home delivery is also available. Prices run between 65 and 175 euros per month, according to a report…” Here is a link to the original story BeuteFuchs

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