Another Interesting Article!

By Lynn Gricus
General Manager

Did you know that there are more than 150 different dog breeds? Or that dogs can see in the dark thanks to a special membrane? Or that the latest research has discovered that dogs actually do see in color?

There’s more than meets the eye about our canine companions and here are just a few of their fascinating physiological facts:

• Dogs curl in a ball to sleep because of an instinct to keep themselves warm and to protect their abdomens and vital organs.
• Dogs have a sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than a humans, with over 200 million receptors in their noses.
• Dogs are as intelligent as a two-year old human child, with the ability to understand over 150 words and hand gestures.
• The paw twitching you observe while your dog is sleeping is a sign he is dreaming. Dogs experience the same slow wave sleep (SWS) pattern and rapid eye movement (REM) as human beings.
• Dogs don’t sweat like humans do…instead, they sweat through the pads of their feet.
• Adult dogs possess 42 teeth.
• The scents in a dog’s urine send messages to other dogs, such as the sex of the dog, his age, and his health.
• The shoulder blades of dogs are not attached to the rest of the skeleton, allowing for a wide range of flexibility.
• Wolves and dogs are classified as the same species. 
• It’s believed that dogs with sharp, pointed faces that resemble wolves live longer.

Dogs have been a part of the human experience for centuries. Here are some intriguing historical facts about dogs: 

• Ancient Egyptians loved their dogs so much, they mourned them aloud for three days.
• Great Danes and mastiffs were donned with armor and used to enter battle or to defend supplies during the Middle Ages.
• The Pekingese breed was worshiped in Chinese temples.
• Kublai Khan owned 5,000 mastiffs!
• The city of Peritas, founded by Alexander the Great, is rumored to have been named in memory of his dog.

And let’s not forget some famous or well-known dogs:

• Two Pomeranians and one Pekinese from First Class survived the Titanic sinking.
• An ultrasonic whistle only audible to canines is recorded in the Beatles’ song “A Day in the Life.”
• A St. Bernard mountain rescue dog named Barry saved over 40 lives back in the 1800s.
• A Great Pyrenees named Duke has won his third term as mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota.
• An American destroyer was sent to the Aleutian Islands to pick up President Franklin Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier, Fala, who had been left behind.
• Chaser is a border collie who understands 1,022 words!

We Americans certainly love our dogs! Of the estimated 400 million dogs on our planet, the US has the highest canine population in the world. It’s no wonder, as our furry companions are so incredibly fascinating!

I received this interesting article!

By Gail Brasie
Editor

Coconut oil is a popular supplement for dogs that has a variety of uses. Giving coconut oil to dogs is supposed to be good for their coats, digestive health, energy levels and even weight loss. Read on to learn more about why coconut oil might be something to add to your dog’s diet.

Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, which are a great source of quick energy. MCTs are burned very quickly, giving your pup an energy boost. Some humans take MCTs too, and coconut oil is a popular option for this.

The lauric acid in coconut oil also has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, which is another reason why including some coconut oil in your dog’s diet could be beneficial. Coconut oil also purportedly helps with skin and coat health. You can also apply a little bit topically, but don’t overdo it or you’ll end up with a greasy dog. Some pet parents use coconut oil as a kind of deep-conditioner for their dog’s coat, and shampoo it out after a few minutes. Coconut oil is also used in DIY paw-protector recipes. Some pet parents have found that a little bit of coconut oil can be helpful on their dog’s hot spots or dry, itchy skin.

How much should you give your dog? This article by SitStay suggests starting slow—if you give your dog too much coconut oil too quickly he may experience digestive upset. SitStay suggests starting with ¼ teaspoon for small dogs and puppies, and 1 teaspoon for larger dogs. After your dog becomes accustomed to eating coconut oil the site recommends one teaspoon per 10 lbs or one tablespoon for every 30 lbs.

Coconut oil can be added to your dog’s food or given directly off the spoon. There are also recipes online if you’re the kind of pet parent who enjoys making dog treats from scratch. Dogs seem to love the taste of coconut oil, so you shouldn’t have to mask the flavor with anything.

There are some concerns with coconut oil as a dietary supplement for dogs, however. As this Pet WebMDpage points out, some dogs are allergic to coconut. Additionally, some veterinarians do not believe coconut oil is beneficial, and that it in fact can cause weight gain or even pancreatitis. It’s always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian before starting any supplement regimen with your dog.

A great article by Elizabeth Lee from pets.webmd.com:

Raw dog food diets are controversial. But the popularity of the diets — which emphasize raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables — is rising.

Racing greyhounds and sled dogs have long eaten raw food diets. Extending those feeding practices to the family pet is a more recent idea, proposed in 1993 by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. He called his feeding suggestions the BARF diet, an acronym that stands for Bones and Raw Food, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

Billinghurst suggested that adult dogs would thrive on an evolutionary diet based on what canines ate before they became domesticated: Raw, meaty bones and vegetable scraps. Grain-based commercial pet foods, he contended, were harmful to a dog’s health.

Many mainstream veterinarians disagree, as does the FDA. The risks of raw diets have been documented in several studies published in veterinary journals.

Potential benefits of the raw dog food diet that supporters tout include:

• Shinier coats
• Healthier skin
• Cleaner teeth
• Higher energy levels
• Smaller stools 

   

  Potential risks include:

  • Threats to human and dog health from bacteria in raw meat
  • An unbalanced diet that may damage the health of dogs if given for an extended period
  • Potential for whole bones to choke an animal, break teeth or cause an internal puncture

  Since Billinghurst’s book,Give Your Dog a Bone, was published, several other types of raw dog food diets have emerged, including commercially processed raw food diets that are frozen or freeze-dried and combination diets that use blends of grains, vegetables, and vitamins that are mixed with raw meat purchased by the owner at the grocery store.

  Raw dog food recipes and meal suggestions are readily found online and in books. Interest from pet owners continues to grow, with the widespread recall of melamine-contaminated pet food in 2007 bringing in new followers.

  Raw dog food diet: What it is

  A raw dog food diet typically consists of:

  • Muscle meat, often still on the bone
  • Bones, either whole or ground
  • Organ meats such as livers and kidneys
  • Raw eggs
  • Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and celery
  • Apples or other fruit
  • Some dairy, such as yogurt

Read the full article…

Last night, the Palatine Park District, spearheaded by Julie Selof, hosted a wonderful event that expressed their appreciation for the many vendors and donors that have helped to make their events successful.   Great food and some nice, short speeches!

Everyone in attendance felt the sincerity of the Park Districts’ intentions and we all felt quite appreciated.  It was a very nice gesture and I’m sure that we all feel the same way about the efforts the Park District staff puts into making the Palatine community a better place to live!

Great Show!   Special Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth and especially to those of you repeat customers who loaded up on on our product at the very reduced “show prices”!

Our little Pula brought so many new customer in to our booth!

The show was very cool, with lots of vendors and tons of dogs, cat, lizards, snakes and chinchillas for adoption!    I heard that MANY of the dogs and kittens did in fact get adopted which is a really great statement for all of you who participated in this!

We hope to see you all again next year and also at some of our other shows still to come this year!

​Primal Pet Products

830 West Northwest Highway
Suite 12
Palatine, IL 60067

Cell: 224-301-7324
http://rawpetproducts.com/
jmark@primalpetproducts.com