Nutrition & Allergies

Itchy, red skin, runny watery eyes, head shaking, foot licking, and gunky eyes are issue that seem to plague many dogs.

If your dog is experiencing any of these issues, consider how nutrition plays a part in it.

Your vet may prescribe antibiotics, but know that these will temporarily solve the problem, not eliminate the cause. You must get to the root of the problem to know what changes to make in your dog’s diet or environment.

When dogs are fed commercial foods for a long period of time, the body can develop and immune response whereas the body no longer recognizes the food as normal. The allergic reaction is an autoimmune system response.

Prolonged use of commercial foods can lead to digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Colitis, Pancreatitis, Kidney Stones, Suppressed Immune System and now Congestive Heart Failure.

A healthy immune system is your dog’s first line of defense in fighting any illness. This cannot be accomplished with steroids, Apoquel or Atopica, as these suppress the immune system, which is why you see them stop working after a few months and the onset of sometimes terrible side effects.

This is why when many request our help, the first question I ask is, “What are your feeding?” Just like humans, our bodies are products of what we put in them. If you want to see change, you have to make change.

The right diets and supplements can make all the difference in your dog’s health. We’ll talk supplements later.

Want to change the diet but don’t know where to start? Start with a whitefish protein. This is the most non-reactive meat source you can use in keeping it simple.

Whitefish Diet
You can make a week’s worth and freeze/defrost as needed.

  1. Cut the fish up and brown in a stock pot. Set aside.
  2. Do not add any water, oil or salt when cooking.
  3. Cook/steam/boil the veggies separate. Stir frequently so they do not burn. In a minute or so, the veggies will release moisture and create their own broth, or you can add a cup of simple veggie broth.
  4. Add the fish to the veggies and mix.

I do an 80% protein to 20% vegetable ratio. I also use at least three veggies.

Whitefish Sources
Tilapia, Halibut, Cod
(We used tilapia with Tyson)

Green Vegetable Sources

Kale, Zucchini, Broccoli, Green Beans, Bok Choy, Dandelion Greens, Spinach, Celery
Fresh, frozen or canned, but as organic as possible is preferred
(we used green beans, spinach, broccoli and zucchini as our greens).

Stay away from fruits, sugars and starches.

When starting out, we suggest adding a digestive enzyme. Make sure it includes PROTEASE (helps break down and digest carbohydrates and starches), LIPASE (helps breakdown and digest fat) and CELLULASE (helps breakdown fiber).

We also suggest adding a probiotic on an empty stomach. Probiotics are important for dogs that have taken a lot of antibiotics. Don’t take antibiotics and probiotics at the same time, as they negate each other.

You must also add a multi-vitamin such as NuPro (or similar).

Add goat’s milk/fermented Goat Milk as it is a great source of positive bacteria.

Kefir is another source of probiotics your dog can benefit from.

A clove of garlic. The garlic must be chopped up and added after 15 minutes for maximum potency. Once your dog is cured, you can add garlic once a week. It acts as the body’s natural antibiotic. If safe to do so, stop all medications, Benadryl and steroids.

The objective is to make the body stronger, not suppress his symptoms that make it weaker.

2019-05-08T19:07:08+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Nutrition & Diet

Along with our change to the Whitefish Diet and supplements added, we added Golden Paste into each meal. This is great as it has anti-inflammatory benefits as well as it becomes extremely bioavailable and as strong as prednisone!

Add 1 tsp. of Golden Paste into each meal. You’ll have to mix it in to cover the taste so they eat it. For major immune problems and a lot of suppression with drugs, use Trans-Factor (human kind).

Once you’re sure your pup isn’t allergic to common proteins such as beef, lamb, duck, turkey or pork, you can replace the fish and rotate every 3 – 4 weeks.

2019-05-13T12:06:27+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Nutrition – What’s Next?

I Did the Whitefish Diet and Now I Want to Move on to Meats – What’s Next?

There are many ways to feed your dog a real diet. Whether it’s cooked, lightly cooked or raw, I’m here to CONGRATULATE you on taking steps to get your dog healthy. I say any step forward and getting your dog off kibble is a step in the right direction. You have to decide what is the right way to feed, what are you prepared to pay, do you have time to make it yourself, or buy pre-made.

Dogs, like their ancient wolf ancestors, are designed to eat meat.

Simply put, dogs have a high level of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. This acid does the majority of the digestion of the animal proteins, bones and fat and it breaks down and kills harmful bacteria. Dogs are able to eat many goods people cannot digest well. So, when a vet says they do not recommend a raw diet, it’s time to get a new vet.

Tyson’s Story
When Tyson was sick, I didn’t think twice about how to feed him or worried about salmonella that people said he or I would get from raw meat. All I knew as a pet parent was that I wanted to give him the best shot at a healthy life and if that meant raw, that’s what I would do. I will say, we tried and fed both ways. We cooked the tilapia and eventually Ground Turkey, but fed raw Beef, Pork, Duck and Lamb.

We researched, bought some nutrition books, joined some Facebook groups and got overwhelmed! We decided to start with beef. We got a chunk of Beef and put our Kitchen-Aid mixer with a grinder attachment to use. We ground up the beef and the last week of our Tilapia diet, gave Tyson small pieces to see how he would do. Let’s just say we almost lost a few fingers and he was never so excited about food. We gradually increased the pieces until 7 days in, we were feeding it as the whole meal. Green steamed veggies stayed the same (see the last two tips for the Whitefish Diet).

2019-05-09T18:01:16+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Food Sensitivities & Homemade Diets

Addressing Pet Food Sensitivities with Homemade Diets

Because so many pets are having issues with commercially prepared foods, more and more owners are taking control by making their pet’s food. Let’s talk about some of the Do’s and Don’ts.

Benefits of Homemade Diets:

  • Complete control over quality of ingredients
  • No mystery ingredients
  • Fresh ingredients support optimum health
  • Minimally processed
  • Ingredients can be rotated for variety
  • Ability to prepare large batches and freeze for convenient, single serve quantities
  • No worries about pet recalls

Steer clear of ingredients known to cause issues or intolerances. For dogs, the main offenders to avoid: corn and cornstarch, cow dairy, soy, wheat and glutens.

Dogs typically respond well to: Buffalo or Bison, Goat and Goat Dairy, Lamb and Sheep Dairy, Pork, Rabbit, Turkey, Venison, Sardines, wild caught Alaskan Salmon, Pollack, Catfish, Tilapia.

Use grass-fed animal proteins. Avoid Shellfish, Tuna, Swordfish, Tilefish.

Opt for wild caught fish.

Vegetables that dogs typically respond well to are: Kale, Green Beans, Broccoli, Bok Choy, Zucchini, Celery, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Spinach.

Steer clear of high carb items such as: Rice, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pasta and Bananas.

High carb based foods equal sugar, which converts to yeast in dogs.

A carb treat here and there isn’t going to hurt them, but I don’t recommend feeding on a regular basis.

To pump up the protein, you can include Eggs, Quail Eggs (preferably organic), Goat or Sheep Milk, Cheese or Yogurt (they are also a great probiotic for maintaining good gut health).

We’ll talk about other add-ons, supplements, feeding bones and organs, so stay tuned! We want to ensure your pet has a formulated and nutritionally balanced meal plan in place.

We want to ensure your pet has a formulated and nutritionally balanced meal plan in place.

Homemade Fruit Jerky
To make homemade fruit jerky, which is good and safe for dogs and kids alike, use the following:
We bought this organic frozen fruit blend of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and kale from our local Costco (food warehouse). We used the whole bag, added 1/3 C. of honey and blended it until pourable.
Using a square metal pan lined with parchment paper, or a silicone baking sheet, pour in the blend.

If using a stove, bake at 225˚ F for 6 – 8 hours until a fruit roll-up consistency. It should not come off on your fingers when touched – if it does, bake longer. I preferred using the stove over the dehydrator because it was a liquid and did better in the stove. When done, remove, let cool, cut and enjoy!

Homemade treats for your pet don’t get any better than this! Full of anti-oxidants and so yummy!

2019-05-09T18:05:21+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Feed Eggshells

Eggshells. Save them! They’re going to come in handy. If you make eggs, save the shells. Once you have a bunch, you want to let them dry out, or you can always bake them in the oven on a cookie sheet at 300˚ F for 10 minutes. Once you have them dried or baked, crush the shells finely and add them to your dog’s meal daily. You can also crush them up and sprinkle into your dog’s meal. This especially helps if you’re not feeding bone and acts as a calcium supplement as well as benefits joints and bones.

Additional Items of Interest:
Tyson did not eat bone, therefore we supplemented with either bone meal or eggshells. Howie currently eats raw with crushed eggshells already as a part of the pre-blended meal plan he gets. We recommend giving 1/2 tsp. per 1 cup of food given. If you use bone meal, that provides 1,200 mg calcium per tsp. (add 1/2 tsp. per meal). A bone meal supplement is easy to find on Amazon. If feeding bone, this supplement is not necessary.

2019-05-09T18:06:58+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Kefir

What Is It and Why You Should Feed It to Your Pets?

A fermented milk drink with a sour taste made using culture of yeast and bacteria.

Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt. It also contains beneficial yeasts, which control and eliminate destructive yeasts in the body.

Benefits for Your Pet:

  • Has antibiotic and antifungal benefits
  • Restore balance to digestive tract
  • Helps prevent allergies
  • Beneficial for candidiasis and heart problems
  • Helps promote healthy looking skin
  • Helps alleviate gas, bloating and heartburn
  • Helps with IBD, eczema and bad breath
  • Wards off salmonella, e. coli, and kills h. pylori
  • Reduces potential of malignancies, colon cancer, and stops increase of cancer cells

Where can I get it?
Nowadays, kefir can be found in any supermarket, but try sourcing it from your local, fresh farmer’s market to assure that it is hormone/GMO-free.

How much do I give?
Small dogs: 1 tsp. -1 tbsp.
Medium dogs: 1-2 tbsp.
Large dogs: 2-3 tbsp.

Kefir is also awesome for disguising pet pills. Put the pill in the food dish, cover with kefir and right down the hatch it goes!

If your dog is lactose intolerant, find kefir made with water, coconut milk or almond milk. It is also great for dogs taking antibiotics, which can destroy the guts’ good health.

2019-05-09T18:18:18+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Raw vs. Cooked

What’s the Difference?
Raw – it’s just that – uncooked fresh foods that have not gone through a dehydration, lightly cooked or cooked process.

Cooked/Lightly Cooked – fresh foods have gone through a heat process.

How do you choose?
That’s a personal choice. Two-thirds of people feed raw food to their pets, while 1/3 feed cooked or lightly cooked. Some dogs cannot handle raw or have geriatric issues that will not allow them to eat raw.

What would make me choose one over the other?

The reason we chose raw is because it provides the most nutrients for getting and keeping the body healthy. We have done all forms – cooked, lightly cooked and raw and Tyson did well on each one. When you cook the proteins, it depletes the protein nutrients the body needs.

Please Note: Certain fish require cooking, so be sure to check based on the protein of your choice. We cooked tilapia, but fed salmon raw by emulsifying because it did have bones. Just know whatever you choose to feed – cooked or raw – you are making and keeping your pets healthy and providing the best quality of life.


Veggies – Cooked or Raw?

Any veggies you give should be steamed, blanched or grilled and emulsified for better nutrient absorption. Especially when making the switch from kibble so the body can digest and absorb easier while it transitions.

TIP: Cook the veggies in bone broth for additional health benefits. We also used any leftover to add to each meal for added moisture.

Health Benefits of Bone Broth
Good for joints, helps liver detox, promotes healthy gut and good for sick dogs.

2019-05-09T18:20:56+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Nutrition – Omega 3s

Why does my pooch need Omega 3s?
Omega 3s are a great nutritional supplement for dogs. They help with skin conditions, allergies, kidney function, lymphoma, heart disease, cognitive function, arthritis, slows growth of common yeast infections, aids in proper development of the retina, slows certain cancers and more.

The best way to ensure your pet is getting sufficient Omega 3s is through a balanced diet and supplements such as Ultra Oil, which you can get from any specialty pet store or Amazon. We added this to Tyson’s food at each meal and refrigerated the bottle after each use. It is full of Omega 3s, 6s, and 9s.

Why Ultra Oil?

  • We like Ultra Oil because it’s good for both cats and dogs
  • Has just the right ratio of fats
  • Alleviates symptoms of dandruff, dry skin, skin bumps, dull coat, allergies, excessive shedding and digestive issues
  • Has grape seed oil antioxidants to rid your pet of toxins
  • No fishy smell, non-GMO and gluten free!
2019-05-09T18:21:36+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Kibble

My Dog Eats Kibble and Has No Problems

Did you know that over time, a poor diet weakens the immune system? Toxins start to form, poor food resides in the organs and blood issues fester.

A stressed out immune system is also more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. Poor diet doesn’t cause disease, it creates conditions that lead to disease.

But My Dog Is Okay!

How do you know he’s really okay? Do you get yearly blood work and tests? Have you noticed skin issues, dry flaky skin patches of hair coming out, scratching ears? Even the most minor of occurrence, over time, turn into something worse. Do you really know what goes into what you feed?

But My Dog Doesn’t Have Any Issues!
They may not have any issues now, but over time things may creep up. Wouldn’t you feel better as a pet parent knowing you were feeding the best you could? Wouldn’t you want to ward off skin issues, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), congestive heart failure, pancreatitis and worst of all cancer?

All of those issues we just mentioned are caused by and or contributed to by a poor diet. Research has found that the ingredients found in kibble do more harm than good.

Why are we repeating this you ask?

Because many people come to us asking for help with issues after years of being on kibble and all of a sudden, the issues come up and they don’t know what to do. Sometimes, it’s too late, but many times health issues can be corrected. You have options.

Did you know raw and home cooked diets can fix:

  • Dogs with urinary and protein issues
  • Dogs with liver issues and thyroid issues
  • Dogs with pancreatitis, diabetes and cancer
  • Dogs with allergies and heart issues

Back in the old days before kibble, dogs weren’t getting sick with all these diseases, nor were there vets on every corner recommending prescription kibble. Think about it! When did dogs get cancer in those days? Never!

2019-05-09T18:22:25+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments

Turmeric

What’s so special about it?

Turmeric is a super-healing food because it:

  • Destroys multi-drug resistant cancer
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Detoxifier
  • Relieves allergies
  • Prevents formation of cataracts
  • Treats depression
  • Kills parasites
  • Helps with stomach issues, digestive disorders and gas
  • High in fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals
  • Relieve arthritis pain

Did you know that turmeric can replace steroids? Curcumin has been found in some studies to be just as effective as steroids without all the bad side effects.

If you’re ready to try it, know this…
The Curcumin in Turmeric can be hard to digest by itself. It’s important to combine turmeric with a healthy oil like Coconut Oil, which can increase absorption significantly.

You’ve heard us talk about turmeric and making Golden Paste. Did you know adding cinnamon to it helps prevent them smelling like cat pee? Another option is Curacel Curcumin in pill form, which helps with absorption, too!

Turmeric Remedies:
Open Wound Topical Turmeric Ointment

  • 1 tbsp. Turmeric Powder
  • 1 tbsp. Manuka Honey
  • 1 Capsule Bromelain, Opened and Sprinkled In
  • 1 tbsp. Raw Aloe (scraped directly from plant leaf is best)

Mix well, apply to area and cover. Acts as a soothing agent and helps with swelling.

Closed Wound Topical Turmeric Ointment

  • 2 tbsp. Turmeric Powder
  • 1 tbsp. Salt
  • 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
  • 1 tbsp. Olive Oil

Mix well, apply to area and cover. Acts as a soothing agent and helps with swelling.

Did you know?
Coconut or Olive Oil will remove Golden Paste from your fingers.

2019-05-13T12:12:53+00:00April 30th, 2019|Tysons Tips|0 Comments