Allergies or Yeast?

Seasonal Allergies? Or Yeast Infection?

Allergies can get pretty expensive with testing, changes in foods, supplements and the list goes on. But, is it really an allergy? Does it appear in the spring and then go away in the fall? You might want to consider yeast being the culprit. Check out the symptoms of a yeast infection: chewing or licking the feet, scratching the ears, or head shaking, cyclic manifestations of symptoms, hair loss (especially on the tail and upper back), Speckles, like black dots on the underbelly, a foul smell and/or greasy hair, baldness and black skin when associated with hair loss. All of these symptoms point to yeast, and when it happens the local immune system doesn't function properly and yeast starts to bloom and invade the body. Veterinarians often miss these early signs of yeast infection. We often recommend a product called DerMagic Skin Hot Spot Salve. It is an all natural product that heals and absolutely makes your pet a happy camper again. So, before you spend all that money and think your pet has allergies try a natural way. Check out DerMagic here

I've Tried EVERYTHING And My Dog Is Still Fat!

I hear that comment on a daily basis. Every dog is unique and every dog can benefit by a custom diet. Just like us people, we don't all respond to the same thing when it comes to losing weight. So, experiment...try a lower calorie kibble, or switch to a raw diet or both. Most importantly, check out the REAL number of calories your furry friend should be eating every day. Feeding a couple of times a day helps the blood sugar stay at an even level which helps a dog feel satisfied and content. This also helps with a dog that has a food anxiety. Rule of thumb, feed twice daily. 
Now, let's talk about that raw diet. I'm not talking about going to the store cooking chicken and adding rice. This can really backfire on you because your dog is not getting the right nutrients. We want a complete and balanced diet that has all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs daily. Check out Nature Variety's line up which we carry at the store and online. Check out a good raw diet here If you have any questions, let me know. We're here to help.

Should I Switch Dog Food?

Today there are several brands, flavors, sizes of kibble, protein sources and variety of dog foods. Sometimes you have to wonder should my dog eat the same thing every day of his life? The short  answer is probably not. Rotational diets have become popular today for good reason.  Dogs eating the same thing all the time can develop allergies or food sensitivities. One of the common protein food sensitivities is chicken.  Today we carry chicken, lamb, duck, turkey, wild boar, duck, bison, venison, whitefish, salmon and the list goes on. Each source provides different nutrients to your furry friends like it does for our human bodies.  Some folks like to stay with the same kibble and add some high quality canned foods. Remember, no sugars and no chemical preservatives. If your dog has a sensitive stomach go extra slow transitioning to a  different food. There are also products available like Switch which makes transitioning to new foods easy. It is a combination of different types of pumpkin and ginger. Check our new foods here
Let me know if you have any questions and mix it up your furry friend will appreciate it.

Where Did All The Chicken Jerky Go?

Safe USA Chicken Jerky Treats

We've had several clients come into the store recently wondering where their dog's chicken jerky treats have gone to. They go to the grocery store and just can't find it anywhere. Let me solve that mystery for you. The FDA continues to get reports of sick dogs sometimes resulting in death from these chicken treats made in China. If you are feeding treats made from China (check the very fine print) you need to reconsider and throw them away. It is not worth the risk!  We have heard of dogs in kidney failure and bouts of pancreatitis that can kill your dog.
If you are feeding duck treats or other treats from China-throw them away!  The FDA cannot seem to find the cause however, there have been some discussions of the glycerin being the culprit in these treats. Whatever the cause, please buy USA treats. Yes, you will pay more, but knowing the safety standards from these treats far outweigh the cost.  I have a few clients dehydrating their own chicken however, I caution that you do that process correctly. One woman came to us telling us she almost killed her own dog when she did not cook the chicken properly. She spent a lot of money at her vet getting her sick dog well.
Please make sure to read the source of the treats. Some companies are putting "packaged in the United States" on the packages however, it does not say MADE in the US.  I know your furry friend is part of your family. So, just like our children be careful and don't be fooled by high level marketing.  Come to our store or look online at our safe and healthy treats for your pet.