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By John MarkIn Uncategorized0 Comment

The #1 Mistake Raw Feeders Make With Organ Meats

Another Great Article by Dana Scott

Sleeping dog dreaming about Organ Meats
If you feed your dog a raw diet, you might be making the same mistake as everyone else …

… you’re likely getting the organ meats wrong!  And, as you’ll find out, your dog will miss out on important health benefits if you get the organ meats wrong.

So let’s take a closer look at organ meats for the raw fed dog, which ones you should feed and how much you should feed.

The two primary questions dog owners have about organ meats are:

  1. Which organs should dogs eat?
  2. How much organ meat should dogs get?

Both are important questions, but let’s start with the amount of organ meat …

How Much Organ Meat Should Be In The Raw Diet?

 

Most raw feeders follow the 80-10-10 guideline … 80% muscle meat, 10% bone and 10% organ meat. They call this diet “prey model” or “species appropriate.” The assumption is that this mimics what dogs would eat in the wild if they were to eat wild prey.

But this just isn’t true …

Muscle accounts for about 50% of most wild animals, while bone would account for about 12%. Of course, this would vary with the type, sex and condition of the animal. Skin would account for about 16%.

This means most animals are about 25% organ meat by weight.

So if your goal is 10% organ meat, your dog is missing out on 15% of his diet … and it’s an important 15%. Look at this …

Table showing vitamins in organ meats

 

This table compares the vitamins in a few organ meats vs muscle meats. You can see that, across the board, organs are more nutrient dense than meats.

It’s true … the organs are Mother Nature’s multivitamins!

But there’s something else I want you to note … each organ is unique in its nutritional composition. Liver is high in retinol (or vitamin A), and folate but not all that high in niacin or vitamin E. Heart is rich in thiamin. Now let’s look at the mineral content of organ meats …

Table showing minerals in organs meats

 

Organ meats are much richer in minerals and trace minerals than muscle meat too. And again, each organ is different. Heart and kidney are rich in zinc while liver is rich in copper.

Pound for pound, organs are much more nutritious than muscle meat. This is why most wild carnivores eat the organs first … they’re the most valuable part of the carcass.

If you feed 10% organ meat, your dog is missing out on more than half the organ meats Mother Nature wants him to eat.

So how much organ meat should your dog get?

I’d say a lot more than 10% … more like 25%. But if you’re feeding more than 10% organ meat, you need a large variety of organs, not just liver.

Which leads us to question #1, “which organ meats should dogs eat?” And the simple answer is, all of them!

Which Organ Meats Should Be In The Raw Diet?

Not only are organ meats more nutritious, they carry other important health benefits. Let’s look at the brain as an example.

This table compares brain to fish. And what’s most interesting is the DHA content.

Table comparing the mineral count of Mackerel vs beef brain

 

DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is an important omega-3 fatty acid that fights inflammation. Most dog owners add fish oil to their dogs’ meals because it’s super rich in DHA. Not only is brain much richer in minerals than fish, it contains nearly as much DHA.

Did you catch that?

If you fed your dog all the organs in the animal, you wouldn’t have to supplement with fish oil. You wouldn’t need to fill those nutritional gaps with a heated and processed product.

DHA is also super important for brain health. Its presence in the diet can make puppies smarter and improve cognition in older dogs.

But DHA isn’t found in any real amount in liver or most other organs. Except for these little organs …

Glandular Therapy

Feeding your dog eyes can be super gross. But eyes are also rich in DHA, just like brain. And if nothing else, it’s fun to have a freezer full of eyeballs for when company comes over!

Now if you were to Google research on the benefits of DHA, you’d find that it’s good for the brain, nervous system and eyes. Is it a coincidence that the brain and eyes are rich in a nutrient that helps them function?

Probably not …

In fact, this is the entire concept behind glandular therapy. Eating brain helps your dog’s brain and eating eyes helps your dog’s eyes.

This isn’t a novel concept. We’ve been using chondroitin for years to support joint and soft tissue health … and chondroitin comes from joint cartilage. So does hyaluronic acid.

So if you want your dog’s joints to be healthy, feed him joints. If you want your dog to have a healthy heart, feed him heart.

Get the idea?

Glands For Glands

If you only feed your dog liver and a couple of other organs that happen to be on sale, he’s missing out. The presences or absence of glands and hormones will impact your dog’s hormones.

Here are some glands that are an important part of your dog’s hormonal (endocrine) system:

  • Adrenal (sits on top of the kidneys and regulates stress and metabolism)
  • Thyroid (located in the neck, it stores and produces most hormones in the body)
  • Parathyroid (located in the neck and controls calcium levels)
  • Pituitary (part of the brain and controls adrenals and other glands)
  • Hypothalamus (part of the brain that links the pituitary to the nervous system)
  • Ovaries (produce the female reproductive hormones)
  • Testes (produce the male reproductive hormones)
  • Pineal (located in the brain, it affects sleep and seasonal cycles)
  • Pancreas (a critical organ that produces insulin and enzymes)

What About The Rest Of The Organs?

Let’s take another look at the ratio of meat, bone and organs in most animals.

  • Muscle 50%
  • Skin 16%
  • Bone 12%
  • Intestines 10%
  • Lungs 3%
  • Liver 2%
  • Brain 2%
  • Heart 1%
  • Kidneys 0.5%
  • Spleen <0.5%
  • Pancreas <0.5%
  • Eyes <0.5%
  • Testicles <0.5%
  • Prostate <0.5%
  • Uterus <0.5%
  • Ovaries <0.5%

While most glands and organs make up a small percentage of the animal’s weight, the tiny thyroid can have a big impact on health and hormone function. So don’t rule organs out based on size. And remember, organs make up about 25% of the animal by weight, not 10%.

That means your job is to find as many organs as possible and feed them as 25% of your dog’s diet. But how do you find glands and organs?

Sourcing Organ Meats

If you have a local abattoir or slaughterhouse, get to know them. Most organs don’t make it to your local butcher, but you’ll get good deals if you go right to the slaughterhouse.

I can buy brain, eyeballs, spleen, pancreas, kidney, liver, heart, lung … and I take it all home and grind it up in my grinder so it’s all mixed up and ready to go.

I buy the organs in the same percentages I’d find in a whole carcass, grind them and put them in containers. Then I add the organ mix to my dogs’ meals daily to make up 25% of their diet.

If you can’t find an abattoir in your area, fish can be your friend.

Fish is rich in vitamin D and minerals and in DHA. For many raw feeders, fish is the only way to get all of the organs and glands into your dog. Add an ounce of fish for every pound of raw food if you can only source one or two organs.

Finally, you can add freeze-dried organs and glands to your dog’s meals. These come pre-made and easy to serve … but make sure any organs you feed are from grass-fed animals.

There are micronutrients in foods we just don’t know about yet … and the more we look at organ meats, the more benefits we’ll discover. Nutrition goes far beyond AAFCO, vitamins and minerals!

It’s true … no guts, no glory!

I hope you’ll find a way to get more organ meat into your dog’s raw diet.

By John MarkIn Uncategorized0 Comment

What is the Best Home Remedy for Dog Mange? – 7 Safe Home Remedies

A great Article by  Your Dog Advisor Staff

When you hear the word “mange,” you automatically think of stray dogs with scabby skin. What you may not realize, though, is that any dog can get mange, even the ones that stay indoors most of the time.

1. Dog with Mange

Mange may look bad, but fortunately it is a treatable condition. While vet-prescribed medication should be your first course of action, there are multiple natural ways you can treat it at home. What is the best home remedy for dog mange, you ask? In this post we will explore seven safe home remedies you can try.

Dog mange is a skin condition caused by parasites. These parasites (mites, in this case) do everything from bite and irritate a dog’s skin to laying their eggs just under its surface. There are two main types of mange, and both are serious in different ways. Which type is present is the main factor in choosing the best home remedy for dog mange in your own case.

Demodectic Mange
Demodex or demodectic mange can be present from a few days after birth. The mites that cause it are usually just an innocuous part of the makeup of a dog’s skin, and are passed on to puppies from their mothers.

Typically, if a dog has this type of mange, you would never know. The mites just live inside hair follicles and coexist with the dog in a way that is not harmful to anyone. It only becomes a problem if the dog’s immune system is compromised, which can cause the mite population to explode.

Dogs most at risk for this are dogs who are sick, old, stray, or dogs who have not been properly taken care of. Puppies can also be born with compromised immune systems, leading to juvenile onset demodectic mange. Dogs with diabetes, cancer, or other long-term illnesses also have a higher likelihood of being affected.

Symptoms of this type of mange include:

Hair loss in affected areas (either patches or the entire body)
Scaly, red skin
Skin swelling
Crusty scabs in patches or all over
Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptic mange, also referred to as canine scabies, is extremely contagious, even to humans. This type of mange is transmitted when the mites move from one dog to another, and it spreads when the mites dig into the dog’s skin to deposit their eggs, which then hatch and begin to eat the poor dog’s skin.

Dog owners usually notice the symptoms of scabies in areas that don’t typically have a lot of hair, such as the elbows and ears, although it may also be noticeable on the chest and belly. Some of the symptoms to look out for are:

Itching
Yellow crusty scabs or sores
Rash and inflammation
Loss of hair
Sores
Infections on the skin caused by yeast or bacteria that get into the sores
Bumps on the skin where mites have buried themselves
When the condition moves into a more advanced stage, you may also notice swollen lymph nodes, thicker skin, and extreme weight loss.

How is Mange Diagnosed?

2. Dog at the Vet

Your veterinarian will do a thorough examination to find out if your dog has mange.

Both types of mange are diagnosed via a skin scraping carried out by a veterinarian, who then checks the scraping under a microscope to see if mites are present.

How is Mange Typically Treated?
Unlike some illnesses that you can treat fully on your own, mange requires a diagnosis from the vet, as well as prompt treatment. The longer you wait, the more mites will grow and thrive, and the worse off your dog will be.

Aside from the best home remedies for dog mange we will explore below, typical treatments include bathing your dog with medicated shampoos and dips, shaving the hair so that the mites have fewer places to hide and grow, special salves and creams applied to the skin, or pills administered orally.

What Is the Best Home Remedy for Dog Mange?
Okay, now that we know all about what causes it and the damage it can cause, what are the best home remedies for dog mange? Here is a look at the top seven:

  1. Benzoyl Peroxide
    If you have ever had an injury yourself, you are probably familiar with benzoyl peroxide’s antibacterial benefits. Shampoos made with benzoyl peroxide can be used to help keep the sores and irritated skin on your dog from becoming infected. While not a home remedy for dog mange per se, it can keep secondary infections and other similar problems at bay.
  2. Olive Oil

3. Olive OIl

Olive oil is one of the best home remedies for dog mange because it is both safe and effective at snuffing out mites.

Olive oil isn’t just good for cooking, it is good for skin problems as well. Dogs with mild mite infestations often find fairly quick relief when their owners apply olive oil to the affected patches of skin. The olive oil helps to smother the mites, killing them off while simultaneously soothing the irritated skin beneath. Plus, olive oil has no known side effects, which means that even if it doesn’t fully fix the problem, it doesn’t exacerbate it either.

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar
    In recent years, apple cider vinegar has been touted as a miracle cure for everything from stomachaches to anxiety. It has also been proven to help skin conditions, although it all depends on how it is administered. Some dog owners find that the best home remedy for dog mange may not be applying apple cider vinegar to the outside of their dog, but administering it orally. Adding two tablespoons of ACV to your dog’s meal once a day gives your dog’s immune system extra strength to fight off the infestation and overcome it.
  2. Lemon and Garlic
    4. Lemons and Garlic
    Lemons and garlic combine to create a formidable weapon in the fight against mange.

This one may not be the “best” home remedy for dog mange if your dog has open sores. Some dog owners, however, say combining vinegar and lemon peels is a very effective way to kill all the mites on a dog’s skin. Simply mix between five and ten average-sized garlic cloves in a half cup of water, along with the cut-up peel of one lemon. After letting the concoction sit overnight, put it in a spray bottle, then spray onto the patches of skin affected by mites.

  1. Aloe Vera
    Looking for something a bit more soothing to heal your pet? Look no further than aloe vera. Aloe vera could be the best home remedy for dog mange overall, because it works in four ways: like olive oil, it can smother the mites, but it also has antiseptic properties, as well as anti-parasitic ones. It is also a known anti-inflammatory, so it calms your dog’s itchy skin so they feel better immediately. Just apply (gently!) twice a day to the affected areas.
  2. Honey
    5. Honey
    Honey is a popular remedy for many things, including dog mange.

Like apple cider vinegar, honey is often advertised as a miracle cure for just about everything, and mange is no exception. Honey has both antibacterial and antifungal properties, which makes it a good defense against infection. The viscosity of the honey also means that it can suffocate the mites on the surface of the skin. The only problem will be that your dog will probably spend all day trying to lick it off!

  1. Yogurt
    Plain yogurt (with no sugar added) is another of the best home remedies for dog mange because dogs can eat yogurt with absolutely no ill effects. In fact, it may even be good for them! Applying yogurt to the affected patches of skin can snuff out mites, and it is possible that the probiotics that make yogurt good for our stomachs may also be good for combatting infections and fungus on your dog’s skin.

Last Thoughts
While these may be some of the best home remedies for dog mange out there, it is still important that you work with your veterinarian to find the right treatment for your dog. Every case is different, and your dog may need a different form of care in order to recover more quickly.

 

By John MarkIn Uncategorized0 Comment

Heartbreaking Study Shows The Long-Term Effects of Yelling at Your Dog

Another great article by Michelle Starr.

(Vanessa Van Ryzin, Mindful Motion Photography/Getty Images)
18 DECEMBER 2020

Your dog may be the apple of your eye, but let’s be honest: she is an animal, with her own instincts and idiosyncrasies, and there are going to be times when she makes you want to tear your hair out.

However much you want to, however, new research suggests that you should never yell at or otherwise punish a mischievous mutt.

According to a study released in pre-print last year and now published in PLOS ONE, aversive training such as positive punishment and negative reinforcement can have long-term negative effects on your dog’s mental state.

“Our results show that companion dogs trained with aversive-based methods experienced poorer welfare during training sessions than dogs trained with reward-based methods” the researchers write in their paper.

“Additionally, dogs trained with higher proportions of aversive-based methods experienced poorer welfare outside the training context than dogs trained with reward-based methods. “

This sort of research has been conducted before, and found that aversive training has negative effects, but it’s primarily been on police and laboratory dogs. In addition, the aversive training tends to be shock collar training, which is only one of several tools used.

So, led by biologist Ana Catarina Vieira de Castro of the Universidade do Porto in Portugal, the international team of researchers conducted their new study on companion dogs.

The animals were recruited from a number of training schools in Porto – 42 dogs from three schools that use reward-based training like food treats or play, and 50 dogs from four schools that use aversive-based training, such as yelling, physically manipulating the dog, or leash-jerking. Two of those schools used mild aversive-based training techniques and two were harsher.

Each dog was filmed during the first 15 minutes of three training sessions, and saliva samples were taken to assess stress levels from training – three from each dog relaxing at home to establish baseline levels of stress hormone cortisol, and three from each dog after training.

The researchers also analysed the dogs’ behaviour during training to look for stress behaviours, such as yawning, lip-licking, paw-raising and yelping.

Unsurprisingly, the dogs in the aversive training classes showed elevated stress behaviours, particularly yawning and lip-licking. Their saliva also had significantly increased levels of cortisol compared to when they were relaxing at home.

By contrast, the positive reinforcement dogs were pretty chill – far fewer stress behaviours, and much more normal cortisol levels.

The next step was to assess the longer term effects of this stress. A month after the dogs were assessed at training, 79 of them were then trained to associate a bowl on one side of a room with a sausage snack. If the bowl was on that side, it always held a delicious treat; if located on the other side, the bowl never had the treat. (All bowls were rubbed with sausage to ensure the smell didn’t give the game away.)

Then, the researchers moved the bowls around the room to ambiguous locations to see how quickly the dogs would approach in search of the treat. Higher speed was interpreted to mean the dog was anticipating a mouthful of deliciousness, whereas a slower speed meant the dog was more pessimistic about the bowl’s contents.

Sure enough, the more aversive training a dog had received, the more slowly it approached the bowl. Interestingly, dogs from the reward-based training group actually learnt the bowl location task faster than the aversive-training dogs.

This suggests that reward-based training may actually be more effective, although the researchers suggest this may be because the dogs already understand treat-based training methods. It’s possible that the other group would learn more quickly were an aversive method applied – more research needs to be done to determine this.

Overall, though, the results seem to imply that aversive training doesn’t necessarily have an edge over reward training, and that reward training is much better for your dog’s happiness.

“Critically,” the researchers said, “our study points to the fact that the welfare of companion dogs trained with aversive-based methods is at risk, especially if these are used in high proportions.”

The research has been published in PLOS ONE.

By John MarkIn Uncategorized0 Comment

Dangerous Human Foods That Your Dog Shouldn’t Eat

Dangerous Human Foods That Your Dog Shouldn’t Eat – Toxic And Safe Foods For Canines.

Whether you have an indoor or outdoor dog, you can be sure he or she wants to eat what’s on your table. Although I support dogs eating dog food, sometimes some human food is allowed. However, if you don’t want to hurt your four-legged house friend, you might want to be aware of what can and can’t be given.

Some human foods are toxic to dogs. Some of them are okay, but only in moderation. And some can be given completely safely. There are also misconceptions about the topic that are worth clarifying. I will cover all three in this article.

foods dogs can't eat infographic

Dangerous And Toxic Foods For Dogs

beautiful dog

It is better not to give your canine the ones listed below. All of them are dangerous, some can even be fatal. You probably already knew about some, but I tried to gather them all.

Alcohol

Alcohol has a similar effect on dogs as it does on humans. However, dogs tend to tolerate it much worse, for example, because of their size. Under no circumstances should you give your dog alcohol. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, problems with coordination, breathing problems, and coma.

Almonds

It’s not as dangerous as macadamia nuts, but be careful with almonds too. If not chewed properly, they can block your dog’s esophagus or the windpipe. The salted version is even worse because of the salt content.

Avocado

For many animals, avocados are extremely dangerous. It is most dangerous for birds, and cause death quite often. Dogs tolerate it a little better, but it is not recommended to give it to them either. The problem is caused by persin, which causes vomiting and diarrhea even in small amounts. The avocado’s pit is full of persin, and it’s a choking hazard. Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog has swallowed it.

Cat Food

The composition of cat food is completely different from that of dog food. If your dog consumes it regularly, he may have health problems.

Chocolate

Perhaps this is the best known of the list. Theobromine (methylxanthine) and caffeine in chocolate do not have a good effect on the nervous system and heart rate. Of these two substances, if dogs eat a lot, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, increased urination, tremors, increased heart rate, seizures, and death. The more cocoa the chocolate contains, the more dangerous it is for your puppy. In this article, I covered this topic more detailed.

Cinnamon

While cinnamon is not toxic for dogs, you better omit it from your puppy’s diet. It can irritate the inside of dogs’ mouths so they won’t be able to chew comfortably. It can also lower dogs’ blood sugar too much, which can also cause health problems.

Coffee And Other Caffeinated Beverages

As I mentioned above, caffeine is not good for your dog. It can cause hyperactivity, vomiting, high heart rate and blood pressure, other seizures, and even death.

Cooked Bones

It is worth giving dogs a bone. It is healthy in many ways. It keeps their teeth clean and they get a lot of nutrients from it. However, never give your dog boiled bones. It can be dangerous because it breaks and splinters into small, sharp pieces. It can cut your friend’s mouth or stomach. In addition, it can cause many more health problems. Examples include choking, vomiting, broken teeth.

Corn With The Cob

Corn alone is not dangerous to dogs. However, if you give your dog it along with the cob, that can cause a problem. The danger of suffocation and intestinal obstruction awaits your puppy.

Dairy Products

Some dogs are lactose-intolerant. Listen to the signs, and if that proves to be the case, you should rather not give your puppy dairy products. Lactose can cause diarrhea and other indigestion in susceptible dogs.

Fat Trimming

Although you may think your dog deserves it, do not give him fat trimmings from leftovers. Fat trimmings can cause pancreatitis.

Garlic

Garlic, onions, chives, and leeks are part of the Allium family. However, garlic is five times more toxic than the others I mentioned. It can cause anemia by killing dogs’ red blood cells. A very small amount shouldn’t be a problem. However, pay attention to your dog if he accidentally ate food that contained garlic.

Grapes

Grapes are extremely toxic to dogs. Even a very small amount can harm them. It can cause kidney failure, so by no means give your puppy grapes. Of course, the same goes for raisins. Other symptoms that grapes can cause: vomiting, depression, low energy.

Hops

Although alcohol has already been discussed and hops are almost exclusively in beer, it is worth mentioning. Hops can cause vomiting, increased heart rate, fever, and even death.

Human Vitamins And Medicines

It is no coincidence that there is a separate version of these for dogs. Never give your own supplements or medicine to your dogs. Human supplements can contain amounts of vitamins and minerals that can even lead to an overdose in dogs. Prenatal vitamins, for example, contain dangerous amounts of iron for dogs. Products containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also be extremely dangerous for dogs.

Liver

Giving your dog a liver can be a smart idea. It contains many useful nutrients. However, it contains a lot of vitamin A, which in large amounts is not good for your puppy.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are also dangerous. Already a few pieces of it can make your dog sick. Watch for these symptoms: muscle shakes, vomiting, increased temperature, and weak back legs. If your dog eats chocolate that contains macadamia nuts, the situation can be even worse.

Marijuana

My view is that this should not even be an issue. Do not give marijuana to your dog. There is not so much research on the subject. But experience has shown that dogs respond worse to this drug than humans. The most common symptoms are slow response times, dribbling urine, heart rate change, neurological stimulation, hyperactivity, coma, and even death.

Onion, Chives, And Leeks

Although they are not as toxic as garlic, it is better not to give them to your dog. They are dangerous to your little friend in every form.

Peppers

In general, colored peppers are edible for dogs. However, strong versions should be avoided, as should black pepper. Dogs are much less tolerant of these than humans.

Peach, Persimmon And Plum

You also need to pay attention to the quantity of these fruits. If your dog eats a lot of them, that can cause problems in his small intestine. And let’s not forget that peach and plum pits are not only choking hazards but also contain cyanide.

Raw Meat And Fish

Raw meat and fish can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning. And some fish (especially salmon) may be full of parasites that can cause so-called “fish disease” or “salmon poisoning disease”. By cooking, however, both fish and meat can be safely given to dogs. However, if you want to give these to your dog raw, make sure you get them from a secure source.

Tomato And Rhubarb Leaves

The edible parts of these plants are not dangerous. However, their green parts contain large amounts of oxalates, which are very toxic to dogs. Oxalates can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, tremors, and bloody urine. Be more careful that if your dog goes to the vegetable garden, he should not eat the tomato along with the green parts.

Salt

Too much salt can also be a problem for humans, and this isn’t different for dogs. Moreover, in many cases they are even more sensitive to it. Too much salt can cause sodium ion poisoning, which can have several serious symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, increased temperature, seizures, and even death.

Sugar

Too much sugar can lead to dental issues, obesity and even diabetes. Always check the ingredients when you give something to your dog.

Xylitol

This sugar alcohol is found in a lot of sweets. You’re best off not giving your dog anything sweet at all. Or if you do, make sure this substance definitely not in that food. Xylitol is very poisonous for dogs. It can cause blood sugar, seizures, liver failure, and even death.

Yeast

Yeast is not good for dogs for two reasons. On the one hand, it can cause digestive problems in the dog’s belly. It can cause a lot of pain or gas. On the other hand, yeast forms alcohol in the stomach due to fermentation, which in turn can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Safe Food For Dogs From The Table

dog eating from table

Of course, there is a lot of human food that can be safely given to dogs. Since there are far more of these than of the dangerous ones, I won’t list them all, but I’ve gathered quite a few.

Lean Meat

If you remove bone and excess fat from meat, there can be no problem. This also includes too thick fatty skin.

Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and contain many valuable nutrients and vitamins for your dog. However, be careful not to serve it raw. This will prevent salmonella infection. Leave the seasoning as well.

Fruits

You can safely give most of your fruit to your dog. Examples of such fruits are:

  • bananas
  • apple slices
  • strawberries
  • blueberries
  • watermelon
  • cantaloupe
  • cranberries
  • mangoes
  • oranges
  • peaches
  • pears
  • pineapples
  • raspberries

If possible, give these to your dog without seeds. This will prevent suffocation or various stomach problems.

Vegetables

Vegetables are very healthy, even for your canine friend. They can even be used as a treat. The following vegetables are safe for dogs:

  • broccoli
  • brussels sprouts
  • carrots
  • celery
  • cucumber
  • green beans
  • peas
  • cooked potatoes
  • spinach
  • sweet potatoes

White Rice

Cooked rice is recommended by many people for dogs who have stomach problems. It solidifies the stool and, along with cooked chicken, feeds the dog properly.

Quinoa

Quinoa is an important ingredient in a lot of dog food. It can be a great alternative to rice, corn, wheat, and soy.

Foods That You Can Give Your Dog In Moderation

There are foods that don’t cause a problem for your puppy, but you still need to pay attention to the quantity.

Cashews And Peanuts

Dogs can eat cashews and peanuts. These are great sources of calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, and protein. However, they are high in calories and fat, so large amounts of them can cause obesity and other problems.

Coconut

The lauric acid in it helps fight bacteria and viruses. It also helps with various skin conditions and bad breath. Do not give the furry outside of the shell to your dog.

Ham

Ham is not the healthiest food, but it is edible for dogs. Although it should not be a regular meal due to the salt it contains.

Misconceptions About Giving Human Foods For Dogs

The internet can be extremely useful as a lot of information is available. However, there are many misconceptions and it is worth separating them from the facts.

Of course, there are also a few misconceptions about the topic of this article. The following foods are rumored to not be given to dogs. However, this is not necessarily true.

Apple Cores And Seeds

Of course, none of us would give our dogs these separately. However, you don’t even have to cut it from the apple.

dog apple

Yes, apple seeds contain cyanide. Virtually every plant contains toxins at some level. If these are below a certain level, your dog will have nothing wrong with it. A medium-sized dog would have to eat about 85 grams of apple seeds completely chewed to make it toxic to him or her.

This means a lot of apples that your dog will definitely not eat at once. Also, if your dog’s liver is working well, the toxins will not accumulate. Apples can be safely eaten with kernels and seeds.

Pork

Surely everyone has heard this “fact” that dogs should not be fed pork. This is usually justified by the following: porks are fatty, eat disgusting things, and contain some mystery component that is toxic for dogs.

Although none of these are really real claims. Pork is less fatty than beef. A well-kept pig doesn’t necessarily eat disgusting things. Or if so, why do we humans eat?

There is nothing in the pork that would have any negative effect on our puppy. There is little chance our dog will be allergic to it.

Plenty of manufacturers put pork in their dog food, which could not happen if pork really had a negative effect.

Grains

Of course, many dogs are allergic or sensitive to grains. As sometimes this can happen with meat too. The truth is, your dog can safely eat wheat, corn, soy if it doesn’t cause a problem.

Summary

dog eating vegetable

Although I tried to include everything in the lists, I may have missed something. It is best to do your own research on the topic as well. Or the other one I emphasize every time: Talk to your vet!

The metabolism of animals can be very different from that of humans. That’s why it’s not worth risking just because your puppy looks nice on you. We save the health of our dogs by paying attention to them and giving them what does best for them.

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By John MarkIn Uncategorized0 Comment

CBD Oil For Dogs: Everything You Should Know About It

Another Great Article by Peter Laskay.

I honestly admit, a few years ago I had no idea that CBD existed. I mean, sure, they taught me in school what chemicals are in marijuana besides THC. But that somehow didn’t stay in my head. Then I came across CBD products. I tried it personally and I really liked the effect. Only later did I find out that CBD products were made for animals too. I guess I’m not alone in wanting the best for my pets. So I went over the topic a little bit.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol (known as CBD) is a compound found in cannabis and hemp. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it’s nonpsychoactive. You or your pet won’t get high. It’s important to mention, most CBD products are derived from hemp and not from marijuana. This compound is under continuous testing and research. But already, some studies have proven that it may be helpful with some conditions. Anxiety, pain, cancer, and arthritis, these are examples where CBD has been useful.

CBD For Animals?

We need to understand that for the time being, these are little results in deciding how effective and safe CBD is. It is also important to mention that most of the researches discussed above were conducted in humans. There are no CBD products approved by the FDA for use in animals. For now, we can mostly rely on the experience of the owners. However, in many cases, they are linked to human cases.

Health Benefits?

cbd dog

Human studies have shown that CBD helps with the following diseases. Let’s see what about pets!

Arthritis

Arthritis is the abbreviation for osteoarthritis. This is one of the most common inflammatory conditions in dogs. One in four dogs has arthritis at least once in their life. And many more of them have some degree of this disease. Research has shown that CBD can reduce pain in dogs with arthritis. You should give your dog CBD twice a day at the right dose.

Pain

As with arthritic complaints, we can treat our dogs with CBD for other inflammatory pains. Human experiments have proven that products containing both CBD and THC are more beneficial for pain relief than when either is given alone. But as I will mention below, it is not advisable to give THC to dogs.

Seizures

Most CBD research in humans is on seizures. Unfortunately, limited research exists for pets. Nonetheless, there are correlations. Especially in epileptic seizures, CBD has been found to be useful in dogs. However, these benefits were noticeable when dogs were given traditional anti-seizure medications.

Cancer

Like seizures, there are many types of cancer with different treatments. There are also CBD researches to treat cancer directly and alleviate secondary symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, little research has been done on dogs, but it seems promising. However, chemotherapy-induced nausea was reduced in CBD rats. This gives us reason to trust that the results will be the same with dogs.

Anxiety

The most commonly reported effect of CBD is to reduce anxiety. Unfortunately, the situation is not too bright here for dogs. There is no evidence that CBD would help them in this case. More research is needed.

Others

Other inflammatory diseases, aggressive behavior and loss of appetite. These are just a few examples of where CBD can still be effective.

Is It Safe?

When it comes to THC, the answer is clear. It does not have the same effect on pets as humans and can be dangerous to them. But what about CBD? Is it better? Probably yes.

According to a 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) report, it’s safe and well-tolerated by animals. Vets, on the other hand, agree that CBD should not be given to a pet who has liver problems. The situation is similar when an animal is taking a medicine that’s metabolized by the liver.

Side Effects?

There is no scientific data on the side effects of CBD on animals. Still, we can infer from examining side effects in humans. These side effects are dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, and drowsiness. Always adhere to the recommended dose and, if possible, start with a smaller amount and increase gradually.

What To Look For?

Alright. You know the potential advantages and disadvantages. Then you decide if you want to give CBD to your dog. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Research

Chances are you will buy CBD online. Remember, on the internet, they want to sell you a lot of things. Don’t fall for the marketing stuff. Look for online reviews. It’s not a bad idea to start with negative reviews. Check the company. How long have they been in business? Have they been sued? Do they work with veterinarians?

Keep Locked

If your dog accidentally comes across an unlocked CBD box, rest assured he won’t eat the prescribed daily amount of it. To keep your dog safe, be sure that you keep any CBD products out of your dog’s reach. Also, do not keep it together with other treats.

Always Choose High-Quality Products

The price of the product should not be the deciding factor in your choice. Higher prices usually mean higher quality. Look for organic, so it’s less likely to have pesticides, fungicides, or solvents. Make sure it is free of additives.

The manufacturer also should provide the documents that tell you the amount of CBD in the product. You also need to make sure there is no THC in the product.

Best Ways

CBD products come in many forms. Treats, oils, creams, like human products, there is a wide selection here too. There is some evidence that the oil form was more effective than the others. Dosing is also much easier with this form.

Dosage

According to one study, the most effective dose with arthritis was 2 mg per kg of weight. However, be skeptical and do not take it as a basic recommendation. Each dog will react a little differently. Most products will offer dosing suggestions. But keep in mind that these are only the manufacturers’ recommendations. Since CBD isn’t regulated, no one will be able to say for sure how safe or effective it is.

The best thing you can do is start with the smallest amount possible. Then increase the dose gradually. Pay close attention to your dog’s reaction. This will help prevent possible overdose reactions.

Always Talk To Your Vet

Last but not least, it is very important to talk to your veterinarian. He will know your dog’s medical history and breed information. He may not recommend giving CBD to your dog. I’m not saying you have to listen to him in this case. But at least you played a sure game and talked to a professional about the problem.

Summary

As you can see, it is very difficult to give clear advice on CBD. It is a very little researched product, especially for dogs. This is likely to change in the future, as demand for it is already high. Personally, I may be going to give it a try in the future. At least if my dog ​​is going to suffer from any of the problems discussed above.