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Higher Protein Foods and Our Canine Companions

3/5/2013

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Greetings!  The natural dog food industry has come a long way in recent years in terms of formulating foods with healthy whole ingredients designed to be processed and utilized much more effectively by our dog’s digestive systems.  In this article we are going to address the question: Are foods with high protein levels too much for some dogs?  Yes, some foods with high protein levels can be too much for some dogs.  For the purpose of this article, when we mention “dogs”, we are referring to adult dogs (1+ years) and not puppies.  Depending on the breed size, puppies may have very specific protein requirements as they grow to adulthood, especially large-to-giant breed puppies.   

So, what are some things to consider when looking at feeding foods with higher levels of protein (i.e. 32%+)?  While breed, size, overall health and activity level does factor into the equation, we will be discussing the actual ingredients in the foods.  Whether or not the higher protein level of a food may be too much for a dog depends on a key factor: the quality of the protein.  The quality of the protein used in a dog food has a bearing on how a dog is able to process it with their liver and kidneys.  If the dry food includes a high quality meat protein and the dog gets enough water (dry food only averages approx. 10% moisture), then dogs can break it down without asking their liver and kidneys to work too hard.  Of course, some dogs may contend with liver and/or kidney issues, so this will need to be considered when it comes to the amount of protein he/she should have in their diet as well as the need to increase their water intake.  But again, the quality of the protein is the key factor.  Lower quality pet foods, which tend to be grain heavy and get most of their protein from a low quality source, can tax a dog's system over time.  Of course, always consult with your veterinarian to discuss your dog’s specific dietary needs. 

The liver processes protein and any waste is filtered and excreted by the kidneys.  Some may have heard that high protein levels can be hard on the kidneys.  Well, with high quality super premium natural dog foods that contain high quality specific meat proteins, there are no large amounts of waste that need to be removed from the body.  However, dog foods made with low quality ingredients and poor quality proteins (corn, soy, meat and plant byproducts, etc) are difficult to digest and this does put stress on the kidneys.  But just as important as it is to feed food made with high quality proteins, it is important that our dogs take in enough water.  The key is ensuring that they have enough water so the waste products passed on by the liver to the kidneys are less concentrated.  Many dog owners add some quality super premium canned food (high in moisture) to a dog's dry food.  We also recommend adding some water to the dog's dry food at feeding time.  This, along with always having a clean source of water available to our dogs, is a very good way to help increase our dog's water intake and ability to process their food in a less taxing way on their organs, whether they are enjoying a moderate or higher protein natural pet food.  



Until next time, may your pet be a happy pet!
Ralph & Sandi
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Help! What is the Best Pet Food to Buy?

10/14/2012

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Often we are both asked by fellow pet owners, “What is the best food to feed my dog(s)?”  Before we share the answer we give each time we are asked that question, let’s take a moment to look at the realm of dog food today.  As mentioned in our introductory blog post, we both have extensive training and backgrounds in pet grooming, pet nutrition, and healthy pet lifestyle.  We also have a lifetime of experience in pet care and management. 

Like you, we are concerned about providing the best nutrition we possibly can for our beloved pets.  According to a poll conducted by Catalyst Direct Inc., 89% of American pet owners said their pets help them deal with the stresses of life and 83% valued the steady presence their pets provide in an uncertain economy.  Yes, our pets are worth it.  Over the years, we have made it our goal to learn as much as possible about pet foods and nutrition and then pass the benefit of what we learned on to our fellow pet owners. 

Answering the question, “What is the best food to feed my dog(s)?” is not so simple.  Why?  Well, because there are a number of variables involved in feeding pets today.  One of which is sorting through all of the marketing hoopla that we are being fed via multi-million dollar advertising campaigns and the emotions they elicit.  The majority of these high dollar campaigns are run by large corporations that manufacture pet food with low quality ingredients.  We have been quite surprised to see just how expensive these low quality ingredient pet foods have become.  Their prices are right up there with some of the much healthier, high quality and natural pet foods available today.  Of course, all of this has led to quite the heated pet food debate among pet owners, pet food retailers, and the pet food manufacturers.

With so much information out there, what is a concerned pet owner to do?  Does it really matter what is in our pet’s food?  Is it possible for everyone to agree on something?  We believe that it is possible for many to agree on something.  That is, which ingredients we do NOT want to see in our pet’s food.  We will now look at some commonly found ingredients in commercial pet foods.  We hope that the following will help each pet owner in their path of research.   

“MEAT MEAL”:  This is made of a non-specific meat source and not to be confused with specific meat protein meals like “Chicken Meal”, “Turkey Meal”, “Lamb Meal”, etc.  “Meat Meal” is a mixture of animal parts that can be obtained from any source.  Any kind of animal can be included, like “4-D animals” which are all varieties of Dead, Diseased, Disabled, or Dying animals prior to slaughter, pigs, horses, dead zoo animals, miscellaneous road kill, etc.  And brace yourselves; there are concerns that even euthanized pets have been discovered in “Meat Meal”.  Obviously, there is little if any control over quality or contamination.  You will be surprised how many of the low cost pet foods and treats found at many retail stores have “Meat Meal” as a main ingredient.    

BY-PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCT MEAL: Much less expensive and less digestible than muscle meat.  The ingredients of each by-product batch can vary significantly in quality and ingredients.  This means that consistency in its nutritional value can be difficult, if not impossible, to measure.  What are by-products?  Heads, snouts, bones, feet, feathers, fur, etc.  By-products are basically everything that would otherwise be thrown away as refuse.  

CORN PRODUCTS: Whole Corn, Corn Meal, and Ground Corn are commonly used as a low cost protein source in pet foods.  Corn products are considered to be the number 3 common cause of food allergies in pets.  Is corn the actual allergen?  No.  Petroleum residue and aflatoxins due to molds are the actual allergen in corn products.  The majority of corn products used in pet foods is from grain that is not acceptable for human use.  Corn is not only difficult to digest for us, but also our pets.  Plenty of the low cost foods are heavy on corn products.

BREWERS RICE: Another common ingredient found in commercial foods used by manufacturers looking to keep their costs down and margins up.  It is a rice product that has had many of the nutrients found in whole ground rice and brown rice processed out of it.  Commercial pet food manufacturers tout it as a high quality ingredient.  It is not a high quality ingredient.  It is just a much more inexpensive alternative to using whole grain rice. 

BHA/BHT: Chemically derived antioxidants used to preserve fats and oils, especially in human and pet foods.  Both are banned from human use in many countries, but they are still permitted in the United States.  Because they have shown themselves to be carcinogenic in animal experiments, they are considered to be possible carcinogens for humans.  Do we really want to offer this to our pets?

Pet food has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.  More whole food, fresh ingredients are used in the manufacturing of natural pet foods and strict quality checks are in place by these natural pet food manufacturers.  There are also freeze dried and raw pet food options out there.  But, yes, the sky can be the limit when it comes to the price points of some of these pet super foods.  Of course, we recognize that all of us have to be mindful of our budgets, too.  One should not feel that they would somehow be a bad pet parent if they were unable to afford some of these pet super foods.  Don’t worry.  There are healthy, natural pet food options out there for every budget both at brick and mortar stores as well as online, natural pet foods that you can feel good about feeding your beloved pet.   Natural foods devoid of low quality stuff as mentioned above.  Savvy shoppers may also be able to find manufacturer coupons online as well as special in-store or online promotions!    

Some may wonder, “But Pet Food Company X is all over the TV, the web, dog show events, etc.  Their food must be good for my pet.  After all, so-and-so actor does their voiceovers and I feel like he/she is talking to me personally.”  All we can say is do your research.  Read their labels.  What kind of ingredients do they put into their food?  Advertising costs money.  And these well known and old school pet food companies are owned by corporations that commit millions and millions of dollars towards marketing, advertising, and sponsorships.  We admit, though, that some of these pet food companies contract some great advertising agencies.  Some of their commercials touting their low quality ingredient pet foods at premium prices are really moving.  But can we see beyond the tug on our heart to their product with inferior ingredients, that we may end up feeding to our beloved pets?

In this day and age, it is disturbing to see so many of the commercial pet food manufacturers making claims of how “healthy” and “superior” their foods containing these very types of ingredients mentioned above are.  But are they really? 

Although this is a simple and brief overview, we hope it can help you in your search for healthy pet food and treat choices for your beloved pet(s).  And remember to consult your veterinarian if you are looking to make a change to your pet’s diet.  Especially if your pet is getting treated for any type of condition.  Do your research on ingredient panels and bring it with you when speaking with your veterinarian.  Knowledge is the key.

So, what is our answer when asked “What is the best food to feed my dog(s)?”  Our answer will always be: The healthy, natural pet food that your pet does the best on.

Until next time, may your pet be a happy pet!

Ralph & Sandi
Haute Paws Grooming and Boutique
http://www.hautepaws.com







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Summer Heat and Our Pets

9/20/2012

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“Mr. and Mrs. Petparent, we are very sorry to inform you that your Reggie is gone.  We did everything we could for him, but in the end, the damage was too much and he succumbed to serious heat stroke.  We are so very sorry.”



No pet owner would ever want to find themselves on the receiving end of such words.  The sheer shock and heartbreak would be overwhelming.  One would wonder, “How can this be?  All we did was…”  Sadly, when it comes to pets and hot weather, this scenario can become all too real for too many families and their beloved pets.  With summer here, we wanted to take some time to review some hot weather safety tips for our pets.  It does not take long at all for our beloved pets to find themselves in some very dangerous situations when the weather gets hot.  In fact, as the temperatures go up and stay up, the chance of our pet suffering from heat stroke increases.  Unlike their owners who can sweat to cool off, our dogs cannot.  Our 4-legged pals must rely on panting to try and cool down.  This is not an efficient way to cool down, especially when it gets very hot outside as it has been lately.   As a result, our pet can easily overheat. This is especially true of dogs that have a short muzzle, a thick coat, have heart and lung problems, or are overweight. 

During a recent drive through town heading to an appointment, we happened to catch sight of someone riding their bicycle in the opposite direction with their dog trying to keep up with them at the end of a leash.  It was the hottest time of the day and that dog seemed to be doing all he could to keep up.  Most likely the owner was not purposely placing his dog in a harmful situation, but that is what it had become.  What may have started innocently as just a bike ride with the dog through the neighborhood was heading towards a potential emergency situation for that dog.  Heat stroke may have been right on the heels of that pup.

Heat stroke is very dangerous, but preventable.  Let’s review some practical tips that we can apply to minimize the chances of our pets suffering from heat stroke.

THE CAR: Please DO NOT leave your pet in the car in warm/hot weather.  Even with the windows down on a hot day, our pets could die of heat stroke in as little as 10-15 minutes.   If your dog does not really need to be with you, please leave him at home when it is hot outside.  When traveling with your pet, you want to make sure that you keep a bottle of water and a bowl in the car with you.

WALKS/EXERCISE: During summer, asphalt/cement can become 15-20 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.  Hot asphalt/cement is very uncomfortable for bare paws.  You may want to schedule walks and outdoor playtimes in early mornings and late evenings.  One thing you can do to check if it is safe for your dog to go out for a walk is place the palm of your hand or your bare foot on the asphalt/cement.  If it is uncomfortable for you to rest your hand or foot on the cement/asphalt, then it is not safe for your dog.  Now, if your schedule only allows you to walk your dogs during the heat of the day, consider walking on the grass instead of the hot street.  Be sure to take with you water, both for drinking and misting your pet down . 


How do you know if your pet is overheating?  Look for sluggish behavior and bright red, dry tongue and gums; very hard panting and elevated heart rate; vomiting or diarrhea.  If your pet is showing any of these signs, bring him to a cool room and contact your veterinarian immediately.  On the way to your veterinarian, use wet towels, ice cubes held under chin and on belly and paws, and mist down with cool water in a spray bottle.  You MUST begin reducing their body temperature.  Heat stroke is as an emergency!  Within minutes pets that overheat can develop brain damage, kidney problems, and bleeding disorders; go into a coma and die.  Remember: heat stroke is preventable.


Here are some additional practical tips that can be applied for the safety and health of our pets during the heat of summer.


COOLANT SPILL WARNING: Antifreeze is deadly.  Your pet does not need to lick up much antifreeze off of the asphalt/cement for him/her to become deathly ill.  So in addition to the dangers of hot asphalt when out on walks, be sure to be on the lookout for coolant spills when walking your pals in hot weather.  Antifreeze is deadly.


SUMMER TRIP TO THE VET: Nice, hot weather tends to bring out creepy critters like fleas, and ticks.  With the hot and humid weather we have had, ticks seem to be a bit more common in our area than before.  Ticks like to hop on our pets when the weather is nice out and if they are carrying disease, the damage can be devastating.  Prevention is always better than treatment, so you will want to consider getting your pals on some safe flea and tick preventatives.  And when using preventatives, always be sure to follow the directions of your vet and the products.  Why?  Because the ASPCA reported that the misuse of insecticides came in 2nd place in the 2011 List of Top 10 Pet Toxins.


We hope that these tips prove beneficial to both you and your 4-legged pals.  Taking the appropriate precautions with our pets during the heat of summer will ensure that a fun and safe time will be had by all.  Until next time, may your pet be a happy pet!


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Welcome to the Haute Paws Grooming and Boutique BlogĀ 

9/20/2012

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Greetings Fellow Pet Parents!

Sandi and I are the proud owners of Haute Paws Grooming and Boutique, which is located in the beautiful community of Suncrest in Nine Mile Falls, WA.  We both have extensive training and backgrounds in pet grooming, pet nutrition, and healthy pet lifestyle.  We also have a lifetime of experience in pet care and management. 

Stay tuned as we prepare to start publishing pet-related articles of interest, covering topics such as pet grooming, pet health, pet nutrition, pet fun and safety.

Our passion is pets and their people.

Welcome to our blog,

Ralph & Sandi
Haute Paws Grooming and Boutique
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    Author

    Husband and wife owners of a professional pet grooming business in Nine Mile Falls, Washington.

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