Dogs have been around for a very long time… long before there was Purina or IAMS, and they enjoyed a healthy happy well fed life thousands of years ago without these companies and the dog food that they make. So how were the canines of the past fed? They were fed with homemade dog food recipes. Homemade dog food came from the human table.

The last 100 years is when we as humans have been conditioned to believe that dogs are not to eat human food. We have been “brainwashed” that human food is actually harmful to dogs. There is a reason that even today your dog is close to the dinner table when you are eating. They are waiting for their serving of home cooked food.

The best way to keep your dog happy and healthy is by making homemade dog food. Just as you take the time to prepare healthy, home cooked meals for your family you can do the same for your furry four legged family member.

I am sure that you are like me, and you are concerned with what foods go into your dog. But if you were honest, you would admit that even you don’t have the faintest idea of what is really going in the commercial dog food. Did you know that most commercial dog foods are made with harmful and unhealthy chemicals. This has been proven by independent research of my own and research articles that have been published by numerous doctors and veterinarians.

Once you find suitable recipes that will help you make homemade dog food, you may want to consider changing your dogs diet slowly. Try different recipes to see what your dog likes and what your dog does not like. Just like with your family, not everyone likes peas and carrots. Below is a sample recipe for you to try your hand at creating your very first dog food recipe.

Apple Crunch Pup Cakes

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup dried apple chips
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 egg, beaten slightly
• 4 tablespoons honey

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray muffin tin with cooling spray. Mix all wet ingredients thoroughly. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add wet to dry slowly , scraping well to make sure no dry mixture is left. Pour into muffin tins. Bake for 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out dry. Store in a sealed container. Makes around 12-14 pupcakes.

Tags: holistic dog food, homemade dog food, dogs, dog, dog food, commercial dog food, dog health, pets

You love your four legged furry friend, your pup has become part of your family. So it is only natural then that you want to do everything possible to make sure that they enjoy a happy and healthy life. Here we are going to give you the top ten tips on how to keep your dog healthy.

10. Recognize when your pet is “old.” When a dog is considered old depends on their breed and their size. A small breed dog, one the weighs less then 20 pounds are considered senior at 9 years of age. Medium sized dogs are considered senior when they are about 10 years old. Large dogs, those that weigh 51 to 90 pounds are considered seniors around the age of 8 to 10 years of age. Giant dogs, 90 pounds or more, are considered seniors by the time the reach about 7 to 9 years of age. The smaller the breed of dog the longer they live.

9. Mental Stimulation – make sure that you play with your dog. Make sure that they have toys to play with. Just as you are never to old to play, neither is your dog.

8. Exercise – proper exercise is important to help maintain a healthy body. Exercise will also help slow the aging process, by strengthening muscles, bones and joints.

7. Weight Control – overweight dogs have a shorter life expectancy. Plus being overweight can lead to a number of other health problems. All that weight can also make it difficult for you dog to run, play and enjoy life.

6. Nutrition – know what your dog is eating. Make sure that you are providing the best possible nutrition for your dog. Make sure that you are over doing it on treats, and that you are feeding them correct portion sizes.

5. Wellness Exams – it is always better to prevent then it is to treat. Make sure that you are taking your dog to their regular schedule checkups. This way your dog’s growth and health and being documented and kept track of. Plus this also gives you an opportunity to talk with your vet about what you should be watching for as your pet ages.

4. Stay on top of illnesses – pay attention to your dog. Dogs are one the best at hiding when they are sick. This is their natural instinctive behavior. Pay attention to the amount of water they are drinking, how often they are urinating, weight gain or loss, appetite changes, coughing or other breathing issues.

3. Monitor your dogs environment – make sure that you are paying attention to the changes in their environment that could pose potential health risks to them. Make sure that toxins are out of their reach.

2. Know where your dog is. It is just not a good idea to let them roam freely. Make sure that they are staying in your yard under your watchful eye. Dogs that are allowed to roam freely have a shorter life expectancy then dogs that do not roam freely. Would you let your child roam the neighborhood on their own?

1. Get your pet spayed or neutered. Simple fact, pets that are spayed or neutered a have fewer health problems. They are also more playful and affectionate once they are neutered or spayed. They are also less likely to roam once they have had this surgical procedure done.

Tags: holistic dog food, dog health, pet, homemade dog food, dog, pets, commercial dog food, dogs

One of the most preventable diseases for dogs is also one of the most serious and potentially fatal diseases known to dogs, heartworms. While dogs are the primary victims of heartworm, it can also affect ferrets, cats and exotic animals. There are a few human cases of heartworm as well.

Heartworms are transferred animal to animal mainly by mosquitoes. A mosquito bites an infected animal, at this point the microfilariae or young heartworms move into the mosquito’s blood stream. In a matter of two weeks, these young heartworms have grown into infective larvae. When the mosquito bites other animals at this point, they pass these infected larvae to those animals.

Once an animal is bitten they are now infected. There is a six month process that begins as the larvae mature into adults. During the first three months the larvae move through the dog’s body until the reach the blood vessels of the lungs. In the next three months they grow into adults and enter the heart. Once the heartworms reach the heart they continue to grow reaching about 14 inches in length.

The worms begin to damage the blood vessels which results in severe heart and lung disease. If both sexes of worms are in the heart, they will mate and create new young heartworms that will spread and begin to destroy other organs in the dog once the immune system tries to attack the infection. Heartworms can live anywhere from five to seven years in dogs.

The likelihood of your dog getting heartworms can increase greatly depending on where you live, your vet will be able to tell you the level of risk in your state. There is a potential threat in every state with the exception of Alaska. Every dog, regardless of whether they are indoor or outside dogs are susceptible. Traveling can also increase the risk of your dog getting heartworms, so talk to your vet about where you are going and see if there is extra protection that you should take to protect your dog.

It is important to know that your dog may not show any signs of being infected at first. As the disease progresses your dog may develop a cough, they may become lethargic, they could have problems breathing and have a decrease in appetite. You might also notice that your dog gets very tired with little exercise.

To find out if your dog has heartworms your vet will do a blood test. They may also request that chest x-rays and an echocardiogram are done to confirm the blood test results. These tests are also done to help your vet determine possible medical treatment.

As we stated at the beginning, heartworms is the most preventable disease known to dogs. It is far easier to prevent the disease then it is to treat. If by chance your dog does become infected there is a treatment that has been approved by the FDA. You need to know that there is a risk involved with treating your dog, but serious side effects are less likely if your dog is otherwise healthy and when the disease is caught in the early stages.

Treatment is designed to kill the adult worms and the young heart worms that are currently alive in your dog. Then your dog is hospitalized for some time afterwards. Your dog will need complete rest as well as medications to help lower the chance the risk of an inflammatory response as the worms are being killed.

You may also wonder if it is possible for the worms to be surgical removed. The answer is yes, they can…however this is an incredibly risky procedure and in most cases this treatment option is only used for severe cases.

As you can see, treatment is considerably more expensive then taking preventive measures. Heartworms is 100% preventable. There are a number of approved preventives that are available and your vet can recommend the best method based on your pet’s lifestyle and risk factors.

Tags: holistic dog food, commercial dog food, dogs, dog nutrition, dog health, pets, dog food, pet

SEVEN REASONS TO PROTECT YOUR DOG FROM FLEAS AND OTHER EXTERNAL PARASITES

Ahhh…Spring and Summer! What joys await you: lazy days of enjoying the great outdoors with your faithful dog by your side. As you hike through the wilderness or walk in the city park, you begin slapping at pesky insects that seek to make you their dinner. What about Rover? Chances are, he’s being “bugged” too. Fleas have long been the bane of dogs and dog owners. Dogs are bothered by other external parasites as well: ticks, mosquitoes, flies, etc. What’s the big deal, you ask? Here are seven reasons that these pests are a big deal to your dog.

Fleas and other biting insects are a nuisance to your dog. At best, fleas and other biting insects cause your dog some discomfort. You don’t like to be bitten by these pests, and neither does your dog!

Fleas can survive through the winter in your house. If your dog has fleas, chances are you will have fleas in your home as well. They can hide and breed in your carpets, drapes, etc. and can be tough to get rid of. Remember, one female flea can lay hundreds of eggs on your pet (or in your carpet).

Fleas can cause allergy-related dermatitis. Many dogs are allergic to the saliva of fleas. If your dog is allergic, you may notice itchy, red bumps, raw, red skin (hot spots), swelling and hair loss. In an allergic dog, the irritation can be so itchy and painful he may scratch or bite at the spots, making them worse. Open lesions can become infected, causing more health problems.

Your dog can get tapeworm from fleas. If your dog is infested with fleas, chances are he will eventually swallow one of them in all that biting and scratching. If that flea has tapeworm larvae (and there’s a good chance it does) the flea can transmit tapeworms to your dog. It only takes one infected flea to accomplish this. You will know your dog has tapeworms if you see little white, slimy, wriggling segments that look like rice on his rear, feces, or on your chair, lap, bed, etc. after your dog gets up. A trip to the vet is required to eliminate the tapeworms. Tapeworms usually do not cause great harm to your pet, but they are disgusting to the pet owners!

Fleas can cause anemia. Because fleas feast on your dog’s blood, they can cause anemia. A single flea can bite your dog over 400 times in one day! Fleas are not light eaters, either. They typically consume more than their own body weight of your dog’s blood!

Ticks are another external parasite that can cause serious health issues. Ticks can spread disease to both you and your dog. They also feed on the blood of their host by embedding their head deep within your dog’s (or your) skin and feasting on the blood. Ticks can give your dog such diseases as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These diseases can make your dog extremely sick and even cause death.

Tags: dogs, homemade dog food, pets, dog, holistic dog food, pet, dog health, dog food

It has been over a year since the massive recall on many different commercial pet foods. Since then what has changed? The sad truth is, not much… since the recalls there have only been a few new safety measures implemented.

Don’t get me wrong, there is legislation being discussed and passed and the commercial pet food industry is making recommendations on how quality and safety can be improved. However, many critics say that even once they new legislation is fully implemented it may not do much good.

Here is why, the federal legislation is going to rely on commercial dog food manufacturers to recall contaminated pet food on their own. The fact that recalls will be voluntary raises concerns that there will be breaches. Advocates of the legislation point out that there are going to be breaches regardless of whether the recalls are voluntary or regulated. Regulated recalls however would be stricter.

Unfortunately we do not currently have a national tracking system that monitors pet deaths. So we do not have a exact number on how many cats and dogs were killed when they consumed the pet food that had been made with the ingredients that were imported from China and tainted with melamine.

The FDA received more then 14000 complaints about pet food in the 30 days that followed the historic pet food recall. The FDA failed to report more then the initial 14 deaths. Of those 14 pet deaths, nine of them were lab animals from a commercial pet food manufacturer.

Where does this leave us? Right now the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians is running an ongoing study and to date they have found approximately 220 certified deaths of pets that lost their life due to the contaminated food. The current belief is that there were thousands of deaths due to the contaminated pet food and that there are approximately tens of thousands more that were affected by contaminated food.

The upside of the massive recall last year is that the commercial pet food industry is becoming more aware of what they need to do to ensure that the proper safety measures are being implemented and that they are being followed.

The Pet Food Institute, the National Pet Food Commission, the FDA and retailers are working together to develop more efficient ways to get recalled food off the store shelves, and a better way to inform pet owners. The FDA Amendments Act of 2007 made it so that the FDA must set up an early warning system that will not only identify contaminated food outbreaks, but it will also pick up illness outbreaks that are associated with commercial pet foods.

The FDA is also working with veterinarians and industry reps to come up with standards for pet food ingredients as well as definitions, updated labeling requirements and processing standards. The FDA has one year from September 2007 to have the early warning system implemented and two years from that date to have the needed standards and definitions in place.

All the legislation is a good start. However many pet owners remain skeptical. This skepticism has led to an increase demand for organic pet products and an interest in learning how to make homemade dog food. There are currently about 20 different companies that are now promoting organic, human grade, natural food products. This isn’t a new trend in the pet food industry, it was simple given a big push after the recalls last year.

There are many pet owners that remain skeptical over how safe commercial dog foods are. The skepticism is understood. After all, your dog is more then just a dog, he or she is a part of your family.

The Pooch Place is dedicated to providing you information on how to keep your pet safe. There you will find information on how to make your own homemade dog food to orthopedic dog beds. Visit The Pooch Place today.

Tags: pet, dogs, dog nutrition, dog health, dog food, homemade dog food, holistic dog food, pets

Being a pet owner is a lot like being a parent of a small child. Both dogs and children love to run and play and be adventurous. All the fun and adventure can lead to injuries. The best thing to do as a pet owner is to make sure that you have a pet first aid kit prepared and stocked so that you can care for your pet in case of emergency.

To make your dog first aid kit you need is a small plastic tackle box or tool box to hold all of the needed supplies. Make sure that you periodically check your first aid kit, to make sure that the supplies are well stocked and to make sure that you do not have any expired medications.

Take a sharpie marker or create a label to place on the outside of the box. Make sure that you clearly write your name, address and phone number on the kit in case it gets lost. It is probably a good idea that you also include your vet’s name and phone number on the box, as well as the number of the local emergency pet facility.

You are also going to want to include other emergency information in your pet first aid kit, such as your pet’s vaccination record, surgical and medical history, whether or not they have any allergies. Put a recent picture of your dog in the first aid kit as well and include their birth date, breed type and sex.

Once you have all the emergency information in your pet first aid kit, you are ready to get the needed supplies. Here is a list of what should be in your first aid dog kit:

• Roll Cotton
• Some Cotton Balls
  
• Gauze Pads
  
• Gauze Tape
  
• Hydrogen Peroxide (check the expiration date)
  
• Hydrocortisone Ointment
  
• Scissors
  
• Eyewash
  
• Silver Nitrate
  
• Tweezers
  
• Oral Syringes
  
• Balanced Electrolyte Fluid Such as Pedialyte
  
• Baby Food – Meat Flavors Work Best
  
• Large Towel
  
• Exam Gloves
  
• 1 inch White Tape (in addition to gauze tape)
  
• Rolls of Elastic Wrap
  
• Emergency Ice Pack
  
• Thermometer (both oral and rectal thermometers can be used rectally)

It is important to mention that anytime you have someone else caring for your pet that you talk to them about emergency pet care for you dog. Make sure that they have a clear understanding of what you consider an emergency. They will also need to have a way to get a hold of you, a phone number and a name of another person they can contact if they are unable to get a hold of you and where they are to take your pet if there is an emergency.

It is also advisable that you leave a credit card number in the first aid kit to cover the unplanned emergency expenses.

For more information on pet first aid kits visit The Pooch Place. You’ll also find videos for Joe The Vet on how to take care of your puppy, including how to make your own dog first aid kit .

Tags: dog health, commercial dog food, holistic dog food, dog food, pet, homemade dog food, dog nutrition, pets

If you are one of the many dog owners that are taking charge of what their four legged family member is eating, then making homemade dog food is the ideal activity to learn. Believe it or not preparing homemade dog food is not as difficult as many people think it is. As a matter of fact the ingredients you’ll need to prepare natural holistic dog food recipes are the very same ingredients you use to prepare your own meals.

Here we are going to give you a simple breakdown of what goes into homemade dog food. You are going to use ground beef or ground turkey; these are available in the meat section at any grocery store. Naturally you are going to want to choose the meat that is most economical for you, but meat that is also going to give your dog the protein that they need.

Also, just as you wouldn’t serve your family ground beef everyday, your dog isn’t going to want ground beef everyday. So consider getting both ground beef and ground turkey so your pet has variety, and so they get use to digesting both types of meat.

Naturally you aren’t going to only feed your pup just ground meat. You’re going to want to add other ingredients, just as you would for yourself. Making sure that you add green veggies is advisable. The choice is yours as to whether you add raw veggies to raw meat or if you add cooked veggies to cooked meat. Figuring out which vegetables your pet likes won’t take long. Whatever vegetables are left in the bowl… those would be the vegetables they don’t like.

There are a number of homemade dog food recipes that also call for adding rice. Rice is good filler and it is perfectly safe for you dog to eat. You might want to cut up some bread and add it to the meat mixture. If you are giving your dog supplements you might also want to grind those up and mix those in the homemade dog food.

Just as when you are trying to new recipes for yourself, experiment and try different recipes for your dog. This will help you figure out the foods that your dog enjoys and the foods that they don’t. If you’re just starting out with making homemade dog food, remember that you need to introduce the natural food slowly so that their digestive systems can adjust.

There a number of sites on the internet that offer free dog food recipes. There are also books available that will guide you on how to make sure that you are feeding your dog nutritional homemade dog food. By feeding your dog homemade dog food you will begin to see a happier, healthier dog.

To find more information on homemade dog food and natural dog food recipes visit The Pooch Place. There you’ll find all kinds of information to help your puppy have long and happy life.

Tags: pets, dog nutrition, dog health, holistic dog food, dog food, dog, dogs, homemade dog food

The origin of the raw food diet came about ten years ago. At that point it was called the “BARF” diet, which stood for the Bones and Raw Food diet. This diet was created by an Australian veterinarian named Ian Billinghurst. As time passed the diet then became known as the biologically appropriate raw food diet. Today we just simply call it the Raw Food Diet.

If you spend anytime at all on the internet, then you will know that there is a lot of information out there about the raw food diet. There are many people that are strongly for the raw food diet and there are some against it. In this article we are going to give you the pros and the cons of the diet so that you can make the best decision for your dog.

I’m sure that you’ll recall last Spring, that the raw food diet received a lot of attention when numerous commercial dog foods were recalled. The massive recalls made many pet owners pause and consider giving homemade dog food a try. The idea of giving your dog a fresh, varied, rich in enzymes and amino acids type diet became very appealing to many pet owners.

While many people tend to switch to a raw food diet in times of stress such as when your their dog becomes sick, or they develop allergies. However as dog owners become more proactive about making sure that their dogs are getting proper nutrition they are beginning to think along these guidelines, “If this is how I should feed my dog when they are sick… why don’t I feed him this way all the time?”

Some veterinarians are still not comfortable with recommending a diet that mimics what a wild dog would eat, raw meat, pulverized fruit and veggies and bones. Their main concern has to do more with the bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalances and the possibility of internal injuries that can be caused by the bone fragments that can come from chewed bones.

The advocates of the raw food diet counter the bacterial objections by saying that good hygiene is essential in handling raw meat. The majority of healthy dogs are able to tolerate bacteria such as Ecoli. With this in mind if your dog is immune compromised in anyway, the raw food diet may not be the best diet plan for them.

Advocates also point out that if you grind the bones into a hamburger type consistency you then eliminate the risk of bone fragments lodging in the intestinal tract and causing problems. A note about feeding your dog bones…never give them cooked bones. When bones are cooked, they become brittle and can splinter.

As with any new diet it’s not advisable to start your dog on this raw food diet without doing proper research and talking to your vet.

To find out more information on homemade dog food and dog food recipes please visit The Pooch Place .

Tags: dog health, dog nutrition, dog food, pet, pets, dogs, homemade dog food, holistic dog food

Here is a quick and easy recipe for you puppy.

• 3 jars baby food, strained chicken, beef or carrot
• 1/4 cup cream of wheat*
• 1/4 cup dry milk

Combine ingredients in bowl and mix well. Roll into small balls and place on wellgreased
cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in preheated 350 degree
oven for 15 min. until brown.

Cool on wire racks and STORE IN REFRIGERATOR. Also freezes well.

* Wheat germ can be substituted for cream of wheat.

This Post is going to be about the puppies and dogs that we have rescued, adopted or fostered.  If you have a story about a dog or puppy that rescued, adopted or fostered let me know and we’ll be happy to have them added to the blog.