Vicky's Dog Care : November 2014

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Vickys Dog Care is now on Bloglovin

Monday 10 November 2014

What do I feed my dogs?

I am frequently being asked what I feed my dogs and where I get my dogs food.

I firmly believe in feeding a diet, which is as natural as possible. Feeding a diet of raw meat, raw bones and raw vegetables. This is what dogs and their wolf ancestors have been eating for millions of years and benefits include: a glossy coat, healthy skin, lean muscle tone, robust immune system, sweet smelling breath, healthy teeth and gums, better digestion, strong heart and more energy.

Dogs eating a raw food diet can be expected to live longer and to suffer less illness, allergies and disease.

It doesn’t matter which brand of dog food you use or how much it costs, its never going to be as good for your dog as raw, fresh meat, bone and vegetable. The key problems with processed dog food are:

It’s cooked. Cooking destroys 70% of the nutritional value of the food from a dog’s perspective and makes it exceedingly difficult to digest.
It can contain inappropriate and damaging chemicals (binders colourings, preservatives and other additives.) These may be absorbed through the bowel wall and transported to other organs, with a range of harmful effects.
The quality of the ingredients is usually poor. Even expensive dog food often has very, very low-quality ingredients.
Most dog foods contain a high percentage of grain (including rice), which is unsuitable for the canine digestive system and causes allergies.
It generally fails to clean the dog’s teeth and gums, allowing plaque to build up. This gives rise to periodontal disease and worse.

What is BARF?

You may of heard people talking about the BARF diet. This is the same thing as natural feeding. BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food an acronym thought up by an Australian vet called Ian Billinghurst. The other big natural feeding hero is Tom Lonsdale (also a vet) who leads up the Raw Meaty Bones Lobby.

So where do I get the meat and bones from to feed my dogs?

Here at Vicky’s dog care I only recommend using ethically sourced meat when searching for a raw food supplier. So for me that is my first priority when looking for good meat and bone to feed my dogs.

I avoid as much as possible any meat containing antibiotics and chemicals and recommend others do the same for their dogs. During my work I regularly see the affects contributed by the overuse of chemicals so for me this is a very important factor to consider when choosing a supplier.

Apart from Intensively farmed animals leading short, painful lives in appalling conditions. Intensively reared meat is much more likely to be packed with harmful chemicals since they are given many more drugs to keep them alive. Animals reared on feed such as corn and soybeans that may be GMO is also a big issue as it increases the need for chemical and antibiotic use. All of this then goes into your dog if you feed meat and bone from this source.

So for me my first step is to ensure that the meat and bone I buy for my dogs has NOT been intensively reared and is as free as it can be from chemicals and antibiotics.

I always insist that:

. Chicken, pork and turkey are free range

. Rabbit and venison are free range or wildMany times

. Lamb and beef have been grass fed or are free range.

Ok I will agree buying meat from compassionately farmed animals is more expensive. However I look at it as an insurance policy for my dogs and my family. The more we avoid unnecessary antibiotics and chemicals the better. Also as an animal lover I will never support intensive farming. Sadly having a conscience these days does cost that little bit extra.

I source my meat and bone for feeding my dogs from Honeys real dog food.

If you give Honeys a call and mention Vicky at Vicky’s Dog Care I know they will bend over backwards to help you.

Tel: 01672 620 260 Email: info@honeysrealdogfood.com

To those of you who perhaps don’t know me that well please be assured that here at Vicky’s Dog Care I do not earn commission for introducing customers to any dog food company. I only recommend products and services I would be prepared to use myself. I can only give my personal opinion. This is based on over 25 years of owning, grooming, showing, handling and breeding dogs. My advice is always based on my personal experience and knowledge.

I particularly like Honeys as a company as they are a traditional, family-run, old-fashioned, ethical business. They most certainly DO NOT support intensive farming and for the experienced raw feeder who enjoys a bit of DIY dog food style, they can supply ethically sourced ingredients including free-range meat, wild meat and organic meat which is sourced as locally as possible (never from abroad) and are as good as you would eat yourself.

For the dog owner who wants to feed raw but prefers the no DIY approach they are also able to supply and make your dog’s food to order, meaning they can adjust the ingredients and quantities to suit your needs.

Vis it Honeys Real Dog Food

Recommended reading

Honeys Natural Feeding Handbook For Dogs By Jonathan Self

ISBN 978-0-9570753-0-6

This plain English, comprehensive, easy to follow guide contains everything you need to know about natural feeding.

Why naturally fed dogs lead longer, happier and healthier lives.
How to switch your dog to a natural diet in three easy steps
How canine digestion works
Why tinned and dried food is 'junk food' for dogs
Lots of tips, recipes and advice
Special diets for poorly dogs
How to give your puppies the best start in life
Details of popular BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diets

Saturday 8 November 2014

Can Feeding Your Pet This Raw Food Cause Thyroid Problems?

If you are a raw feeder be mindful of the quantity and type of raw meat and bone you choose to feed your dog.

Feeding too much of the same cuts of meat such as necks, gullets, and head meat still containing the active thyroid tissue may produce dietary-related hyperthyroidism caused by ingesting active thyroid tissue contained within the raw meat and bone.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid glands over-produce thyroid hormone, causing a constant state of metabolic hyperactivity. Clinical signs include increased thirst and appetite, excessive urination, vomiting, weight loss, and increased heart rate.

Feeding your dog raw is undoubtedly the best diet you can give your dog. Make sure you are feeding a variety of protein sources and cuts of meat (thigh meat, etc.) so that your dog isn’t just eating a steady diet of raw meaty bones/necks that could contain active thyroid tissue.

Click on this link for detailed information by Dr Karen Becker at healthypets.mercola.com

Friday 7 November 2014

Archie - Border Terrier

A regular visitor to Vickys Dog Care. Archie was Hand Stripped, bathed and blow-dried. Not sure who enjoyed it more, him or me. A great way to start a Friday morning, he is always such a pleasure.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

This looks brilliant and it's due out February 2015. PAWSCOUT Pet Finder

Worth keeping a close eye on this exciting technology, it’s certainly less invasive than a microchip.

Smartphone owners who download the Pawscout app will be alerted when a lost pet wearing a tag strays near them.

The battery-powered tags, which cost £19, send out a Bluetooth signal that can be detected by smartphones up to 200ft away. If an owner loses their pet, they can flag them on the app as missing, which activates the finding function.

If the app detects a lost pet, the finder automatically receives details about the animal and the owners contact information. The owner receives a notification, including the location of their lost dog.

The app stores health, behavioral and dietary information about each dog you have, allowing a finder to care for a lost dog before they are reunited with their owner.

Pawscoat also allows owners to set up a “virtual leash” that alerts them when their animal strays outside a predefined boundary.

The Pawscout tag itself is powered by a standard watch battery that should last a year, and the app will warn you before the battery dies. The back of the device can also be patterned or engraved, like a normal pet tag. It attaches to a collar, or you can buy a separate flush mount so the tag lies flat against your pet’s neck instead of dangling.