We’ve been really busy preparing for the house move lately and this is meaning that Beanie & Biggles are getting less attention during the day, and no exciting walks in new places. Of course once we’ve moved they’re going to be in seventh heaven, but to assuage my conscience in the meantime I’ve been making sure they still get regular play sessions with us. There has been the odd quick trip to Pets At Home for new chews and toys though – toys like this battery operated, self-wobbling ball for instance:
Biggles doesn’t get to play with it for long though, because he’s already discovered the little recessed switch that turns it on and off and I don’t think it would stand up to his full attention for more than a few seconds. Fortunately when the balls, tuggies and chews go back in the toy box he still has his sister to play with:
Bonfire night has been and gone since my last post, and unfortunately it was quite eventful for our two Beagles. Just as the fireworks started up Biggles got sick, and continued to vomit repeatedly through the evening. We took him to the vets the next day and he got the magical no-barf shot that Beanie herself has had more than once. It did the trick, and he was soon able to keep down the tasty chicken and boiled rice the vet advised us to give him. I’m not sure whether his “tummy bug” was real or a reaction to all the fireworks outside, but it’s a heck of a coincidence that it should strike right on the evening of November 5th.
A couple of nights later – just as the Biggly boy was fully back to normal – Beanie got a scare from yet another round of fireworks and went off her food for a day. The next morning we fully expected Biggles to make a play for the kibble in Beanie’s food bowl when she walked off and left it, but no, he joined her in her fast and even spurned his own breakfast. The next day Beanie’s appetite returned and she wolfed down her nosh, but Biggles still wouldn’t touch his, except under certain very specific conditions. It took us a while to suss out the Biggles Kibble rule-set, but here it is:
- Kibble served up in your food bowl is not edible, unless your sister’s trying to snaffle some of it (Beanie doesn’t do solidarity). If your sister succeeds in nicking your kibble, wolf down the remainder, grab your bowl and run off with it into the garden.
- When kibble is offered to you in someone’s hand, kibble is not edible
- When there’s a bit of kibble hiding under the tumble drier and you have to scratch the drier to get at it, that kibble is edible
- When you’re excitedly playing fetch in the park and some kibble is thrown your way, that kibble is edible on no more than two consecutive occasions, after which it is not edible
These rules only applied to kibble of course; dentasticks, rawhide, horse poo and even a cold decaffeinated teabag left on a corner of the sink drainer were still fair game. We’d seen this kind of behavior from Beanie when she was very young so we just withdrew all of Biggles’ regular treats until he’d eaten up all his dry food first. As the crazed teacher screams in Pink Floyd’s The Wall, “how can you have your pudding if you don’t eat yer meat?!” It worked, and this morning he practically dived into his breakfast bowl sending kibble flying all over the kitchen floor. What a boy!
I am often asked, "What is the best food for my cat/dog/kitten/puppy?" That is the million-dollar question. What is the best food for our pets? Is it kibble? canned? what brands? raw food?
I don't have the scientific answer, sorry everyone. However, I do have some facts to share, which everyone should consider when choosing what to feed their pet.
Dogs are omnivorous, which means their gastro-intestinal tracts have evolved to digest meat and plant material. Wild dogs are mostly carnivorous but will also eat berries and plant material when available, though one study showed the latter did not exceed 1% of the material in their stomachs. Domestic dogs likely branched off from wild dogs about 100,000 years ago, though this date is highly controversial with hypotheses ranging from 12,000 to 140,000 years ago. I suspect it is closer to the latter, though I certainly have no proof of this. My point is that humans and canines co-evolved in symbiosis, with the humans benefiting from having canines as protection, while their canine counterparts adapted by taking scraps from humans, and with time, precluding the need for the group hunt.
We know from canine behaviour that dogs are quite the indiscriminate eaters, and will often eat things they are not supposed to, including non-food items. Therefore, just because a dog will eat a loaf of bread or your favourite pantyhose, does not mean it should be doing so. Domestic dogs are not wild dogs, but their biology is constrained by their relationship to them. This means that things like their eating habits and behaviour (amongst many other things), evolved from the eating habits and behaviour of wild dogs.
I apologize for my loquaciousness, but having said all of this, and with the knowledge that at least 50% of our companion dogs are obese, I think that dog foods should closely approximate those foods eaten by their ancestors: diets high in protein and low in carbohydrate (such as wheat, corn, etc), and balanced in vitamins and minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus). Protein contains less energy than carbohydrate and carbs are diabetogenic, more so than protein. Combine all of this with a strict calorie-counting diet, and our dogs would be in much better shape (i.e., not the shape of a coffee table).
Cats are obligate carnivores, plain and simple. Their diets should approximate the nutritional make-up of, say, the small rodents they eat. Throw a mouse into a blender and voilà: high-quality canned food! I know the comparison is quite macabre, but it's true.
Most diabetic cats fed a diet that is exclusively a high-protein CANNED diet, will have their insulin requirements decreased and often go into remission.
Personally and professionally, I believe that cats should be fed as much (high-quality) canned food as possible.
More on pet foods in the future...
Not funny, folks...
When your dog is diagnosed with cancer, you may feel a sense of hopelessness. You begin to ask the worrisome question "What can I do?". One of the best things you can do for your dog besides the best proper treatment, love & support is to provide them with a nutritious, healthy diet. Many dogs suffering from cancer will require a special diet high in protein, unsaturated fats, omega 3's and low in complex carbohydrates & sugars. Starve cancer cells by avoiding sugar.Many pet owners have decided to get out their doggy cookbooks. The debate still continues over raw diet and its cancer fighting benefits. Some pet owners opt to feed their dogs a raw diet, while other suggest that raw meat is never good for a dog undergoing chemotherapy and who has a low immune system. Remember, before you start your dog on any diet, you should consult with your veterinarian or holistic vet first and do your research. Every dog is different and each dog requires individualized care.
Its important that after the cancer diagnoses that your dog stays on your vets consistent & strict cancer fighting diet. This will increase your dogs chances of survival & prognosis. Like humans, a good diet also helps to boost & strengthen dogs immune system. Here are some tips to ensure your dog has a healthy and balanced diet that will help in their fight against cancer.
Its important for your dog to have protein rich food. So, what are some good sources of digestible animal protein?
Feed your dog beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, canned fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines, eggs and dairy products such as whole fat yogurt and cottage cheese. Some holistic vets suggest that dogs should eat animal proteins and some vegetables, but no foods derived from grains. They believe plant-based grains or proteins promote, rather than restrict, the growth of cancer cells.
Now on to the topic of fat content..
Its important that your dog has good a amount of fat in their diet. Meat is a good source of fat, and the fattiest meats include lamb, pork and goat. When feeding poultry, leave the skin on, which is where most of the fat resides, and use dark meat, which is higher in fat, rather than light meat. Eggs also contain fats. Canned fish is also a good source of fat. Remember that a diet high in saturated fat is very beneficial. Omega 3's found in salmon, fish & flaxseed oil can be placed in your dogs food daily (not recommended for dogs undergoing radiation therapy).
Fight Canine Cancer with Nutritious Homemade Dog Recipes
Here are some homemade dog food recipes for canine cancer sufferers from our friends at ehow. Dish up! These recipes are better healthy options then processed foods. Dogs with cancer should avoid commercial dog foods which is high in grains, starches and sugars which fuel cancer cells.
Recipe #1. Mix together 1 scrambled egg, 1/2 cup of steamed broccoli, 1/2 cup of cooked yellow squash and 4 oz. of low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese. Then add meat to the mixture. You may add 1 pound of ground beef or 1 pound of chopped chicken. This recipe will make 2 servings for a 50-pound dog or one serving for a 100-pound dog.
Recipe #2. Mix in a large bowl: 1 can salmon, 1 hard-boiled egg, 1/2 cup of chopped spinach or cabbage, 1/2 cup of carrots and 4 oz. of low-fat cottage cheese. Servings are same as above.
A dog with cancer will understandably lose his appetite, resulting in malnutrition. One simple way to stimulate his appetite is to warm his food up to release the aromas in the food. Make sure before feeding that the food is properly cooled down before serving.
Is your dog or cat a cancer survivor? We would love to hear about your pets heroic winning battle. Give someone suffering the gift of hope! Share your pets story by commenting below.
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Written By: Cindy Jacobs (Cyd)
As the pups are soon to be 12 weeks old, I was looking back over some of the video I had taken and never had put up. German Shepherd Puppies are smart, I believe the breed is rated #3 of all dog breeds. They are quite fun to watch.
When you start feeding your pups mush to move them to puppy food, you notice there are always pups that try to hog the full meal. You then look to other means to start feeding the pups to give all an even chance for food. This video clip was done when the pups were 8 weeks, two of the pups had already gone to their homes. I remember when doing this I would often laugh, and seeing the video clip almost a month later I laughed again. Hope you enjoy the clip, puppies are sure fun and funny to watch and see just what they will do.
We all tend to high levels of anthropomorphism with our Dogs. We talk to them, ask them questions and give them many human traits that they simply do not have. Yesterday brought it home to me once again that we must not forget the true nature of Dogs and that is one of being a pack animal and a hunter and scavenger.
Firstly, this is all Mrs. Three Dog Bloggers fault so this time I am guilt free.
Any regular readers of the Dog Blog know we live a pretty remote existence and are fairly Self Sufficient. We grow veggies, preserve food, and keep chickens. Now, back when we first had chickens it was when we just had our old boy Sam. He was getting on (about 16) and pretty deaf and slowing down. At that time we used to let the chickens out of their compound quite often for a bite of grass and to roam around the land. Sam would give them a sniff and that was about it.
Sam, just saying hello.
When we got Daisy and Faye we reverted to keeping the chickens in a fenced area as they were young pups and full of mischief. Anyway, one day the chickens escaped and suffice to say they had a brief yet fairly exciting last few moments.
Fast forward 2 years and we have 4 chickens that give us an egg each most days but are absolutely never let out of a caged area. It is fox proofed and covered top to bottom in chicken wire so they absolutely cannot escape.
Yesterday we were coming back from an evening walk with the three bone munchers when the two that were not on a lead, Daisy and Faye, suddenly ran like loons to the vegetable plot.
Lots of squawking began and I legged it after them. There was the two girls about to dine on a nice free range chicken. I still have a sore throat from yelling at them and they stopped for a second and the chicken flapped over a terrace wall and hid under a Myrtle bush. The Dogs were there in a flash. More yelling and they finally came back to me and in to the house they went.
Now, in over 2 or 3 years of the new rules regarding the chicken enclosure this was the first time one of us had forgotten to close the door and make sure they were secure. They obviously took the opportunity to totally destroy the leeks and onions that are growing on the veg plot and get up to all other kinds of mischief.
My point is that we must not forget the true nature of many Dogs. If something runs they will chase it, and if they catch it a quick shake of the head and it will be dead. For many Dogs this will mean the blood lust takes over and have no doubt that they will eat what they kill. Not all Dogs have this mentality but many do and we should remember this.
It brought it home to me yesterday that yes Daisy may be a shy girl but when she gets a hunting instinct she will be as naughty as the next Dog and close her ears to commands until you shout yourself hoarse. Daisy is a full on hunter which is apparent in the way she stalks the other girls in a stealthy manner and there is no doubt that if she caught something that she chased then she would kill and eat it.
Let’s all remember this when we are out and about with the bone munchers. Think about the animals that may be around you when walking the Dogs on farmland. At least here in Europe keepers of livestock have every right to kill a Dog that worries their animals. Back when we lived in the UK and Sam was much younger he once swam a river so he could chase a herd of Cows. If a farmer were present it would have been the end of him.
So, Mrs. Three Dog Blogger is a very naughty girl but as she is normally the one that works her magic with a perfect poached egg set on a salad with crispy bacon and shavings of parmesan cheese all is forgiven.
(belly rumble)
Related posts:
- Homemade Dog Foods. Natural Homemade Dog Food
- All Natural Dog Food – Homemade Dog Foods
- Dog Training Online – Some FREE Resources
