Food Rotation for Dogs and Cats

Food Rotation, in my opinion, is an important part of a healthy pet diet. (Human too, I would think) For Raw Feeders or Commercially fed companions, rotating the protein source from time to time more closely mimics the natural diet, and helps prevent food allergies.

It is easy for Raw Feeders to rotate by simply buying different meats when making their mix. For those who purchase their pets food, a bit more work is involved. Just because a bag of food says it's "Beef", doesn't mean that is the only protein source used. Look on the label of other meats, such as chicken, chicken broth etc. Many dog food manufacturers throw in whatever is cheap to fill out their food.

The dog and cat food I offer to my clients, Evo, has a chicken and turkey blend, or a red meat blend. The red meat blend has 4 different red meats in it. So I suggest to those who purchase from me that they shift every 2 or 3 bags over to the other protein source. Then stay on that one for at least 1 bag, maybe 2. I feel this really gives the companion's body a chance to rest from the other protein.

I discovered this for myself from experience with my own highly sensitive schnauzer who has food allergy. If I left him on a "safe" protein for too long, the allergy would start to return. So I fumbled onto the rotation system and I worked perfectly. After that I discovered many other people follow the same routine. I makes sense to me.

Keep a close eye on the canned foods as well, and make sure it only contains the protein you want.

I also recommend rotating any other foods you add. For example, if you use pumpkin in the raw feeding, switch to sweet potato for awhile. Just keep it different and interesting.

For commercial feeders, some same is suggested. Most of you know I strongly recommend NO grains for dogs and cats. However, if you choose a grain-based food, make sure you rotate the grain source as well. That may even be more important the rotating the protein because our companions can be very sensitive to grains.

Here is a link to Evo by Natura. Their site explains some of the details about species appropriate diets.

My website also has a growing body of info.

Pets Suffer from Mortgage Problems

I was saddened to see how pets are suffering from the national mortgage crisis. When people lose their homes, they are sometimes electing to drop off the family cat or dog at at shelter. Or they may simply leave the family pet behind in the yard or house. These practices are placing the animal is danger, as well as leaving shelter overcrowded.

This article suggests we be extra watchful when when a neighbor moves, and peek into the house or yard to see if a pet has been abandoned. Listen for the barking or meowing of pets left behind. Then call the local shelter for help.

I won't place a judgment on the actions of people who make this choice. I simply want us all to be aware that people DO make these choices, and try to fill in the gap in care for the sake of our beloved companions.

Or perhaps we can go one step further and adopt a "foreclosure pet" from a shelter.

I personally know of someone who moved and left their pets behind. They sent someone by to feed and water them, and otherwise left them alone for months. When a friend of mine made this discovery, she was able to adopt one of the dogs. I never heard what became of the other dog, but I sometimes think of that poor dog and hope it also found a wonderful home. I wonder if in these cases, we could contact the owner and ask if we can help. If we can't do that, then I feel a call to animal services is in order. Companion care is more than just shelter, food, and water.

Colonel Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue

Cairn Terriers are darling little dogs. I first in love with them while watching Toto in Wizard of Oz. My heart was stolen by a Schnauzer, but I still adore Cairn's. My neighbor has 3, plus foster dogs from Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue. They are an amazing group of dedicated champions of the Cairn Terrier. Some of the dogs are surrendered to them, others are rescued from shelters, and many are saved from puppy mills and dog brokers. I am inspired by their work.

No matter what my neighbors foster dogs have endured in their past, they maintain a big heart and spirit. After some time in a healing foster home, they are ready for their forever home. It's a sweet process to watch from over the fence.

10 Most Popular Breeds in USA

Here is a list of the 10 most popular Breeds of dog in the USA in 2007...according to the AKC.

• 10 bulldog

• 9 shih tzu

• 8 poodle

• 7 dachshund

• 6 boxer

• 5 beagle

• 4 golden retriever

• 3 german shepherd

• 2 yorkshire terrier

• 1 labrador retriever

In my area I see a lot of my favorite breed...Mini Schnauzers! But perhaps it's just that I'm looking for them. I almost never see a beagle or bulldog.

My personal list spot list:

• 1 Labs / Retrievers
• 2 Mini Schnauzers
• 3 Australian Shepherds (or what's that other herding dog?)
  
• 4 Shih Tzu
• 5 Cairn Terriers
• 6 Boxers
• 7 Jack Russell Terriers
• 8 Poodles (small ones)
  
• 9 Chihuahua
• 10 Cockapoo

How did Cairn Terriers reach the middle of my list? My neighbor has 3, plus she is involved in Cairn Terrier rescue and has fosters. So I see plenty of Cairns right over my fence. But I also run into quite a few around here when I'm out.

What do you see around your area?

Place to Show the LOVE

I stumbled across the sweet testament to love. People are invited to post a photo of their companion and say why they love them.
Check it out.

Harp Music Soothes Anxious and Suffering Animals

As we have long suspected, music can be a powerful tool for healing. A recent study conducted with Harp music proves there are dramatic benefits, such as reduced anxiety, and lower heart rate and respiration.

“The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instruments next to human voice,” said Boone, an Oregonian who plays for ill family pets and produced a CD "Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast."

The article includes a poignant story of Cassie the Cow who escaped a slaughter house by defeating a 7 food fence and now lives on Maple Farm Sanctuary. Though now safe in her Sanctuary, she still suffers from anxiety. The Harp music of Alianna Boone took Cassie from a stomping, snorting state of agitation to one of sleep within 20 minutes.

I would like to see a follow-up study on the possible negative effects of music. Are some types of music as damaging to animal health as Harp music is helpful?

In my own experience, my companions tolerate most of my music, enjoy some of it, and show definite discomfort and nervousness with a few selections. However unscientific my findings may be, they are somewhat suggestive to a harmful component to music as well.

Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise for Pets

I was amazed to see the advances made in the treatment of arthritis in dogs . In this process they take stem cells from the dogs own body fat, do their magic in a lab, and then inject the cells into the dog hip.

“We’re kind of reverting the body back to a younger age or a younger stage when we were more of a regenerative stage,” said Bausman. It is a fairly easy procedure. Hunter was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. The long article I read can be summarized by saying, they CAN treat hip degeneration in dogs successfully, and they do. It is much less expensive than hip replacement surgery, though still pricey for most of us. Hip replacement would have cost $10,000, while stem cell therapy was only $2500 in the case of Hunter the Golden Retriever.

It is a puzzlement that this kind of therapy is available and largely successful for dogs, horses etc, but is not available for humans.

To those who feel dogs and other non-humans are not worthy of such costly treatment, do not post here. Your post will not be added.