Foods Not to Feed Your Canine

Sometimes we love our pets to death. Literally!

The question arises:  should humans be concerned  with foods not to feed canines. It is not uncommon for humans to spoil their four-legged family member by sharing table scraps or maybe just sharing a small piece of a snack with them. After all, if it is safe for a human it must be safe for a canine. Right? Not necessarily.

What may be safe for a human, even good for the human may be unhealthy even deadly for the canine. Canine’s digestive system is quite different from a humans. Eating the wrong foods can lead to long-term health problems and even death.

Are ALL human foods off limit?

This does not mean that all human food is off limit for canines. However, because you love your pet, you must know what is good, okay or bad and even deadly for your canine. Therefore, we have included a short list to start you thinking on the matter.

Some of the NOs are:

  • Grapes
  • Tomatoes
  • Avocados,
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Cherries
  • Asparagus.

First of all let us look at Grapes for a minute. comm_grapesGrapes and raisins have proved to be very toxic for canines no matter the dog’s breed, sex, or age. In fact, grapes are so toxic that they can lead to acute sudden kidney failure.

Next let us consider Onions. Onions, leeks and chives are part of a family of plants called Allium that is poisonous to most pets, especially cats. Eating onions can cause your dog’s red blood cells to rupture and can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea. Poisoning onions is more serious in Japanese breeds of dogs such as Akitas and Shibu Inus, but all dogs are very susceptible to it.

Another, oh yes,

  • Chocolate!chocolate

Most people have heard not to give chocolate, but do they no why?

Now that you are sure you are feeding your four-legged best friend the best, do you know how much is  to much? Do you know what an overweight canine must deal with?

Reference:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_identify_overweight_pet

Reference:

Find the answer why not to feed chocolate and what to do if your dog every stole some chocolate:

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dogs-and-chocolate-get-the-facts

Reference:
http://www.caninejournal.com/foods-not-to-feed-dog/

http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=yourakc-20161024

TO VACCINATE OR NOT

Should you vaccinate or not? You have taken the time to find the right breeder. You have received the beautiful, elegant puppy. Now you want to follow the right protocol for him. But what is the right one? You have heard “Vaccines cause cancer”, or “We vaccinate our animals way to much”, or “If you vaccinate your puppy he will not live long” or “If you do not vaccinate your puppy he will not live long”, and the quotes can go on.

Even among the Veterinary community there are large variance in opinions. So what can you do?

Get educated.

  1. Learn what vaccines do and do not do.
  2. Learn about what you are vaccinating your puppy from.
  3. And learn how to know if your puppy has the appropriate vaccines and when you do not need any more vaccines.

We are going to discuss what the puppy vaccines protect our puppies from.

What Exactly are Vaccines?

Vaccines help prepare the body’s immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens, which look like the disease-causing organism to the immune system but do not actually cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced to the body, the immune system is mildly stimulated. If a canine is ever exposed to the real disease, his immune system is now prepared to recognize and fight it off entirely or reduce the severity of the illness.

FIRST – the Core Vaccines by the Task Force

There are 4: Rabies, Canine Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus.

Core vaccines are considered vital to all canines based on risk or exposure, severity of disease or transmissible to humans. The diseases involved have significant morbidity and mortality and are widely distributed, and in general, vaccination results in relatively good protection from disease.

  • Rabies – A virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including canines and humans. Though preventable this disease evokes fear in people. Why? According to the ASPCA the disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii, and everywhere throughout the world except for Australia and Antarctica. The ASPCA says that annually, rabies causes the death of more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals worldwide. As soon as the symptoms of Rabies begin to surface – the disease is inevitable deadly. Passed on to humans through the bite or even the scratch of an infected animal, the virus rapidly advances to the brain and central nervous system. THE LAW requires that your canine is vaccinated against rabies!
  • Canine Distemper – A virus that affects a canine’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems, as well as the conjunctival membranes of the eyes. Coughing, nasal discharge, vomiting and diarrhea and seizures are all symptoms of canines that are infected with canine distemper. Direct contact with a sick canine, or with an area contaminated by that canine, will cause other canines to become infected with the disease. Every puppy should be vaccinated against canine distemper, which usually start before they leave their breeder.
  • Canine Infectious Hepatitis (Adenovirus) – A virus transferred through urine or secretions from the eye or nose of an infected animal. Canine infectious hepatitis is a viral disease of the liver and can lead to serious and potentially long-lasting damage. It is important to vaccinate against this disease to ensure that your puppy does not have to experience permanent complications. This also should have been given to the puppy before it leaves the breeder.
  • Canine Parvovirus – A highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells in a canine’s body, most severely affecting the intestinal tract. Parvovirus also attacks the white blood cells and when young animals are infected the virus can damage the heart muscle and cause lifelong cardiac problems. Life-threatening dehydration, vomiting and bloody diarrhea are common symptoms associated with this incredible contagious virus. Since this virus continues to be infectious in particular environment, it is strongly suggested that canines are vaccinated against this disease to avoid severe problems and even death. All good breeders start this vaccine on their puppies.

SECOND – the Non-Core Vaccines

Some vaccines considered as non-core vaccines are canine parainfluenza virus, canine influenza virus, distemper-measles combination vaccine, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Leptospira (leptospiral serovars – grippotyphosa, pomona, canicola and icterohemorrhagiae) and Borrelia burgdorferi (lyme). Vaccination with these vaccines is generally less effective in protecting against disease than vaccination with the core vaccines.

Non-core vaccines are optional vaccines that should be considered in light of the exposure risk of the animal, for example based on geographic distribution and the lifestyle of the pet. Several of the diseases involved are often self-limiting or respond readily to treatment.

Become educated! Talk with your Veterinarian about what vaccines your puppy will need based on your area and your life style. Make an informed decision!

Resources:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Miracle of Pumpkin

Another breeder once told me her breeder friend told her to use canned pumpkin or cottage cheese in the food she feeds her whelping girls. I asked her why, but she did not really know.

Well, I am the kind of person that needs to know why I do what I do. So I did research and experimented with canned pumpkin. Here is what I found:

One of the most common canine ailments is diarrhea. My puppy mom’s will always have loose stools after birthing and then sometimes it turns into constipation. Often the puppy owners take their puppy home one of the first calls I receive from them is, “My puppy has diarrhea, what do I do?”

About Diarrhea

Please remember that diarrhea is more of a symptom rather than a disease. Diarrhea is typically a sign that something is wrong with your canine’s digestive system. The problem may be simple or an indication that something serious is going on.

Some of the things that can cause diarrhea are:

  • The puppy/dog may have eaten something that disagreed with its body
  • It may have food allergies
  • Or it may have a bacterial or viral infection or even a worm infestation. Bacterial and viral infections could be something minor or it could be something major, even fatal.
  • Diarrhea also could be cause by something as simple as a change in diet.
So here is the Miracle of Pumpkin.

In most cases, what is often referred to as “Normal cases”, the solution is canned pumpkin.  Canned pumpkin is rich in fiber that can help the digestive process in your canine. Besides the good fiber it will also absorb the excess water present in the stool. This will make your canine’s stool firm up. The results can happen in just a few hours!

Look what pumpkin can do:

  • If your canine has constipation problems, pumpkin can soften its stool and can cure an upset stomach very quickly.
  • The miracle is that whether your canine suffers from diarrhea, constipation or upset stomach canned pumpkin, becomes one of the best natural remedy to your canine’s digestive problems.
  • Canned pumpkin also becomes the gauge as to whether the problem is just “normal” doggie problems, or whether there is a larger underline serious problem.
  • Canned pumpkin is also good for weight loss in canines. One of the most difficult problems with lowering you canines food amount is that it thinks it is still hungry. So outside it goes to find something else to eat. Or it may simple keep looking at you wondering where the rest of its dinner is. Because pumpkin is high in fiber a couple tablespoons in the reduced food will make your canine feel fuller that it would if you just simple reduced their caloric intake.

In other words, if canned pumpkin does not take care of the problem then it is time to take your puppy/dog to the Vet.

But wait there’s more!

Canned pumpkin is low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. It is a good source of vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium. Pumpkin also has beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. Because vitamin A is stored in the body, is not water soluble like say vitamin B or C, you do not want to give your puppy/dog to much. Giving your puppy/dog to much  A is highly toxic.

Pumpkin is also a very good source of dietary fiber. However, remember that your canine system is not like a human’s digestive system, therefore it does not require a high fiber count. So a little is all that is needed.

How to administer canned pumpkin:

  • Give a small canine or puppy 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin.
  • For a large canine give two tablespoons.
  • For the canine in between adjust accordingly.

Pumpkin is a Miracle to keep on your shelf.

References:

  • https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/nutrition/dog-nutrition-a-to-z
  • http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-health/Canned-Pumpkin-for-Dogs-and-Cats.aspx

 

 

 

 

5 Important Tips for Canine Nutrition

There is so much information regarding canine nutrition, it is impossible to sort through it all. Much of it is contradictory and confusing.

So what is the best canine nutrition? Let me help unmuddy the waters. As a full-time professional breeder, I know first-hand what is essential and what is propaganda. I owe my allegiance only to the dogs, am not trying to sell anything, and have years of seeing what actually does work.

Here are my list of Top 5 Tips:

  • First you could make and feed your dog a well balanced raw food diet. What do I mean by that? Well, you can feed them raw meat, fresh vegetables and grains. (You can have the whole chicken ground so the bones and gizzard, heart and liver are included. You can also do this with beef, goat, and turkey.)
  • Second, if the raw meat is hard for you to handle, you can feed them cooked meat with fresh vegetables and grains. However, NEVER feed them cooked bones! Canned Salmon and Mackerel are excellent additions for canine diets!
  • Third, if you do not like cooking or your time is limited, you can buy dehydrated, freeze dried or frozen products (but caution: not all are created equal.)
  • Fourth, if you have to resort to dry kibble at least add canned food and water to the meal. Better yet, make your own ‘chicken soup’ or ‘beef stew’ to add to your dry kibble.

Poodle Mojo actually implement both raw and cooked meat. Making our own “Canned” foods help us control all ingredience. We have many different homemade formulas, however, we do keep Life’s Abundance canned food on hand in case of emergencies or for our pet sitter for the rare occasions we are able to take a couple of days off.

More information here.