Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:
If only I’d known then what I know now, my Truman might still be here today. Like most pet parents, I thought I was being a good dog mom. But what I didn’t know eventually killed my beloved Great Dane, Truman. I didn’t hurt him on purpose, but what I knew then about caring for a dog wasn’t enough to protect and prolong his life. Looking back now, I can only accept what happened and know I gave him all … Read more
When Rick Woodford received the news from his vet that his best friend, Jackson, was diagnosed with lymphoma, he wasn’t too surprised. He had noticed Jackson’s health had been going downhill quickly. He refused to eat and had no energy. The vet gave him less than a year to live. Determined to help his friend enjoy what was probably his last days, Woodford “lured him back to the bowl with a mixture of food that I just threw together—mostly turkey … Read more
Excess weight on a dog can pose many health risks including damage to joints, bones and ligaments, and create heart disease and diabetes–just to name a few. Luckily, there are some super simple ways to trim your dog’s waistline. Holistic Animal Nutritionist Marc Ching of The PetStaurant sheds some light on helping your dog shed some pounds. #1 – Treats A lot of people don’t realize that most dog treats are full of starch and sugar. Like human diets, carbohydrates … Read more
Today we have a wonderful sweet & savory recipe for your pups! I think making special treats for our dogs is so much better than buying something at the store not knowing what could be in it. This is a sure way to make sure your wiggle butt gets a healthy, nutritious and safe treat to enjoy! This one is ideal for the hot days where we all could use something frosty to cool us down. Ingredients: One Ripe Chopped Banana … Read more
If there is one thing on this earth that dogs love more than anything, it’s probably bacon. That salty, savory treat that has them licking their chops and wagging their tails at the slightest wiff. Now, imagine combining that adored snack with yet another favorite among the canine crowd, cheddar cheese! Yum! These simple DIY bacon cheddar bites will have your pups begging and barking while they’re still cooking in the oven! Ingredients: 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour 2 Slices Crispy Bacon … Read more
Nestle Purina announced the voluntary recall of several Beneful and ProPlan wet dog food meals. The company issued the recall after their own internal testing found that some of their 10-ounce wet dog food tubs may not contain “the recommended level of added vitamins and minerals.” Products Affected The affected products were from one Purina facility on one production line in St. Joseph, Missouri, and were sold in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The following chart is from Purina … Read more
With all the recalls and dangers about where your dog’s food is being made, it’s no wonder that many people are turning to home-cooked meals. Even if you feed kibble, you may be adding fresh foods to your dog’s meals to make sure they are getting the right nutrients or to help digestion. However, this can be daunting if you have never fed your dog anything but store-bought food – how do you what is safe and what is not? … Read more
Blue Buffalo has reached a class action settlement after being sued for false labeling. Testing of their food revealed that by-product meal was used in “a ‘substantial’ and ‘material’ portion of their pet food.” Even though Blue Buffalo’s advertising and marketing campaigns – including labels on their products – said they did not. “A proposed settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit claiming Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. (“Blue Buffalo”) pet foods (the “Products”) labeling was false and deceptive and that … Read more
These cookies are a recipe my husband (a vet tech) and I developed to give our own dogs a special Valentine’s Day treat! They are made with all the things dogs love, like peanut butter and pumpkin, and even have pink icing that is naturally colored with beet juice! They are a snap to make and we are sure your dogs will love them! I’m taking a bunch to my classmates in agility class as Valentines – they are a … Read more
Buying products for your pet (and your whole family) is just about to get a whole lot easier thanks to a new technology, SmartLabel, announced this month by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. The tech will enable consumers to have easy and instantaneous access to detailed information about thousands of products, with more than 30 major companies (not all pet-related) already committed to taking part in the transparency initiative. This transformative new program, created by manufacturers and retailers, enables consumers to … Read more
Carnivore Meat Company is voluntarily recalling a single limited lot of Vital Essentials Frozen Chicken Patties Entrée for Dogs. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) selected and tested product as part of a national collection initiative, which was issued by the Center of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) on June 3, 2015. The FDA notified Carnivore Meat Company that one of the samples collected, tested positive for Salmonella, bacteria commonly associated with fresh and frozen poultry, in human and in pet … Read more
The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) just announced that Big Dog Natural of Brick, New Jersey is voluntary recalling a select production lot of Big Dog Natural raw dehydrated dog food Chicken Supreme potentially contaminated with Salmonella and Fish Supreme potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Big Dog Natural became aware of a potential issue after receiving notification from the FDA that a sample of Chicken Supreme tested positive for Salmonella and a sample of Fish Supreme for Listeria monocytogenes. Affected Product These products were … Read more
Celebrating the holidays just isn’t the same unless you include your fur babies. But finding ways to incorporate your pups into the festivities without stressing them out can be difficult. The stress of having a Christmas tree in the house alone can be enough to send even a well mannered dog over the edge. All those smells, food, and people can be enough to overstimulate most dogs. That’s why planning ahead with a few dog-friendly activities can be good for … Read more
Bravo Pet Foods of Manchester, CT, is recalling a select lot of Bravo Chicken Blend Diet for dogs and cats due to concerns of a possible salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated after routine testing of a 2lb. chub of Bravo Chicken Blend diet for dogs and cat (Item #21-102) by the Colorado State Department of Agriculture, collected at a single retailer, revealed the presence of Salmonella. According to a release made by the company, they are also recalling three … Read more
We all know that what we feed our dogs can affect their coat and skin. That’s why we often see dog food products that advertise “coat and skin health.” However, even the best commercial dog foods can’t provide the right balance of nutrients for every dog out there – especially those with allergies or sensitive skin. Knowing how your dog’s food can affect their skin will help you identify problems and get them fixed faster with the help of your … Read more
Cranberries are a wonderful food with many health benefits including lowering risk of urinary tract infections, improved immune function, decreasing blood pressure and even helping prevent certain types of cancer. In addition, a half cup only contains 25 calories! Sounds great doesn’t it? So next time you are at your vet’s, ask if your dog would benefit from having a bit of cranberry added to their diet. They can tell you how much your dog should get a day. Here … Read more
Loving an old dog is truly a privilege. We’ve all seen heartbreaking stories of old dogs whose “owners” discard them on city streets or deposit them at the local pound in favor a new, bouncy puppy. These individuals have a lot to learn about loyalty and love yet in life. Senior dogs are a wonderful part of the family. If you’re sharing your heart and home with a senior dog, you know their needs change as the years tick by. … Read more
If you love your dog like I do, the idea that she won’t be around for the rest of your life is excruciating. I can’t make her live forever, but I can help her live the healthiest, happiest life possible for as long as I have her. Years ago, it was not uncommon for a dog to live for ten years and die of some unknown disease because we honestly didn’t take very good care of our dogs. We didn’t … Read more
Can you imagine how wonderful life would be if our dogs could live forever? Sometimes it seems like a cruel joke that our dogs live such short lives, and most of us will care for 5-10 dogs in our lifetime. Each one takes a huge piece of our hearts with them when they go. But thanks to scientific research, our dogs can now live longer than ever (and no, I’m not talking about cloning your dog). We now understand how … Read more
I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “sorghum” I think about old-fashioned recipes and The South, sorghum on pancakes and lazy Sunday afternoons. Which is why I was so surprised to see a whole booth just for “sorghum” at a recent pet industry trade show. Why would I want my dog (or cat) to eat a food with a sugary syrup in it? My curiosity was peaked. Sorghum – the grain It turns out, that sorghum … Read more
If only our pets could talk. Sometimes I wonder what my dog would say and other times I’m glad she can’t talk because I’m sure I’d hear an earful about what our cats and potbellied piggy did all day. Some things are just better left unknown. But when my dogs have a problem or seem sick, I would give anything if they could talk and just tell me what’s wrong so I could fix it. I have to play detective … Read more
Nutrition is vitally important to the health, happiness and longevity of your pet. The old adage “You are what you eat” still applies whether human, dog, or cat. The impact of proper nutrition at all stages of life both in health and sickness has been proven by many studies. When choosing a pet food, be sure that you read the label. Any product that is not labeled “complete and balanced” for your pet’s life stage should surely be avoided. Labels … Read more
Some experts say a lonely, bored or stressed out dog may eat poop. Others immediately check to see if the dog has internal parasites. Some vets might even suggest over feeding could be causing your dog to eat poop. This school of thought teaches since your dog can’t absorb all the excess food they have eaten, they might try to consume the ‘food’ again. And while there are varied opinions on the disgusting habit of dogs eating poop, half-heartedly eating … Read more
The “what should I feed my pet” conversation is one of the most heated in the pet industry. Doesn’t matter who you ask (even non pet owners!), they are going to have their own very strong opinion on the subject. We met Bette Schubert, Bravo! co-founder and senior vice president of sales, new product development and education at a trade show last month and were impressed – not just by her passion (all pet business owners have that) but by … Read more
Wouldn’t it be great if your dog obeyed your every command? Studies show the average dog is quite intelligent and understands a vocabulary comparable to a two-year-old human. So if your dog understands what you want him to do, why doesn’t he do it? The answer may be lack of proper motivation. Dogs, like humans, are motivated to take action for two basic reasons: to earn a reward, or to avoid a punishment. Dog experts have determined that dogs respond … Read more
If you’re a pet parent, the thought that your dog will live somewhere between 10 and 13 years is not something you like to think about. We don’t ever want to face life without our pups! But did you know your dog can have a longer, happy life simply by adjusting a few things in his lifestyle right now? Your dog’s longevity depends (largely) on you and the decisions you make for him. Your dog loves you so much, … Read more
More and more reports are coming in around the country as a photo from social media has brought something to the attention of pet owners across the country: There may be wire in Pedigree Dog Food. The images were posted on the Pedigree Facebook page, as well as to the Dog Food Advisor site, all showing what appear to be tiny wires (or in some cases, plastic tubing) sticking out of the pieces of kibble. For example, the following image … Read more
In today’s market we definitely have choices when it comes to dog treats. In fact, there may be too many choices – it can easily be overwhelming if you are wondering what treats to buy your dog that are safe, within budget and that he will like. Tommy Gay, president of Look Who’s Happy Dog Treats, provide us with the following tips on how to buy dog treats so you and your dog will both by happy. (NOTE: pictures shown … Read more
When I first heard about the idea of making pet treats out of crickets, it caught my attention. I had visions of the smelly little creepy crawlers that my parents fished with when I was a girl. But then I remembered the attentiveness my childhood pets always showed to leftover crickets. They seemed to want those bugs, though I never considered actually offering them back then. But now that I am a pet expert, I am always thinking about natural … Read more
Toledo, United States.