Scientific Pet Wellness

Diet & Your Dog is part 1 in a series of videos that will explore ways not only CBD can help your pet, but how incorporating other techniques is beneficial too.

Food can affect your dog's anxiety, pain, inflammation response system, overall wellness, allergies, and disease. What you do for your dog at a young age makes a big difference in the future. 

I was talking to someone this past weekend who is to be what I would consider health and fitness-savvy. But when the topic of pet nutrition came up, she admitted, she was struggling. She had 2 young children and 3 dogs at home. As we all know, that is a lot to juggle on its own merit. Then you learn that one is a senior pup, and one is a food picky puppy who also goes through vomiting bouts. Against the advice of her vet, she took her new puppy off the “Vet recommended Science Diet” and put all of her dogs on a dehydrated coated kibble, where they all are doing much better. I gave her some other tips on things she could do to incorporate a little extra nutrition to all of her dog's food, such as topping it with some raw goats milk. Not only had she mentioned she was struggling in streamlining everything, she really did not have the knowledge about it either.

This makes sense though. Sometimes because I try to live and breathe health and wellness for pets, I forget that not everyone has the same exposure to the same resources I do. A pet nutrition blog is not next to the “Top 10 Vegetarian Recipes” or the “Sugar Is Bad For You” article. But did you realize the carbs in your pet's kibble also breaks down into sugar, and it’s bad for them too?

It’s easy to assume that a person who cares about their own wellness will transfer this the same amount of attention into their furry family members. The individual may have an up to date pet binder with all their latest vaccinations, schedule annual vet visits, or even establish their pet’s own section in the bathroom medicine cabinet. But the truth is that a handful of us, despite claiming we would do anything for our pets, may not remember the last time our beloved pooch received that important vaccination—or that one time when our family veterinarian strongly insisted that Coco should have her teeth cleaned more often and lay off on those beef treats.

The unfortunate reality is this: we love our pets, but sometimes this love struggles between the balance of too much or too little when it comes to overall wellness. A prime example is the following.

A dedicated dog owner admits they often feed their dog more than the suggested serving amount of treats per day; however, because the brand claims to use all-natural ingredients they found it perfectly safe to offer five or six more treats despite the original two daily. Now we take a look at the label. Surprise! Ironically, the main ingredient is corn flour, with bacon and other meat bi-product as the fifth and sixth listed ingredients. To this the owner finds themselves stuck in a moment mixed of bewilderment and embarrassment. The nutrition label was always there. Why didn’t they read it or, better yet, compare brands instead of carelessly gravitating towards how the item is marketed. Unfortunately, because of how AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) sets nutrition guidelines for pet ingredients, we must do a lot of our own due diligence or ask for guidance from trusted sources in the pet nutrition field. Their guidelines are not always in the best interest of the pets, but that is for a different blog.

Another reality is this: as owners, and as long as a person isn’t intentionally abusing their pet(s) health, we should never feel ashamed for not knowing something we didn’t know before. Creating a wellness regimen takes dedication and practice—and in many instances, it’s only until we’re exposed to other owners, or consider the advice offered by someone in the integrative field, that we truly start to reflect upon our own. It’s a learning process. It’s about acknowledging what works best for your pet(s) and knowing how to incorporate their own wellness schedule into your own. Just like for yourself, wellness plans are not a “one size fits all” for your pet either.

In many ways, this also isn’t as complex as it seems. Think about it like this. A simple regimen would be implementing the EEVNG checklist, an acronym that stands for exams, exercise, vaccinations/titer, nutrition, and grooming. In a broad sense, these are the five most prominent wellness traits that we, as humans, acknowledge on a yearly basis, if not daily.

·When was our last doctor’s visit?
·What did we have for breakfast?
·Was that bowl of sugary cereal truly nutritional, even though the label claimed it   was?
·What about our hair?
·Did we shampoo it recently? 

Similar to our pets, the overall theme of these questions stimulates self-reflection and awareness. As a dog owner, for example, knowing the main ingredient of any brand of treats may rub off as a useless gesture. We may not have even considered this before; however, when we take a look at the bigger picture, feeding our pooch anywhere from five to six treats per day, in addition to the main ingredient being corn flour, can possibly lead to health or even weight problems in the future. Now that we’ve taken note of this, we will likely feel concerned—and this is actually how our own attitude towards wellness reflects in how we treat our pets.

In other words, if we show signs of caring about what goes into our bodies, it is likely we will also carry a natural longing to acknowledge our own pet’s wellness. ‘’If there’s one thing every dog or cat owner has in common, it’s the desire to ensure a long and happy life for their pet. We want as much time as possible with our four-legged friends. Time for playing. Time for cuddling. Time for just being in the same room with them’’ (Banfield, 2019).

So why wouldn’t we care about our pet’s wellness? You will find that most animal lovers do. It’s just, at the end of the day, it really boils down to how often we acknowledge our own EEVNG—the exterior and interior aspects of our lives that embody a balance of proper nutrition, protection against disease, and hygiene. 

  Part of Blooming Culture's mission is to make sure we are educating pet parents on a variety of modalities when helping their loved ones. CBD is just one tool available for helping your pet live their best lives. CBD is not a "one size fits all" or a band-aid cure for every pet problem.

We have some great pet wellness resources to help you navigate your journey further, and if you are looking to learn some amazing tips on integrative pet health check out Dr. Tori Countner, founder of The Balanced Pet Vet. 

Many pet parents mistakenly think their dog is allergic to chicken when they experience bad reactions from eating it...when the real culprit is the chicken’s diet. That’s because chickens are fed the waste from starch-based processed foods. That old saying “you are what you eat” couldn’t be more true. 

It’s Friday afternoon. You’ve just left work and are heading to your local pet store to buy food for your furry friend. As usual, you load the twenty something pound bag of packaged kibble into your cart, check out, and drive home. Seemingly all is well. But the big question is: Did you notice that the first ingredient listed on the bag of kibble is corn flour? And, did you know that is one of the leading causes of disease in dogs? 

Dr. Ian Billinghurst, Australian veterinarian and proclaimed ‘’modern father of bones and raw food diet for dogs” once stated that, ‘’It’s biologically impossible for the dog’s digestive system, the dog’s basic physiology, to have been altered to such a degree in such a short period of time that it cannot deal with real food.” In other words, the dog species has not evolved fast enough to digest processed foods and that’s why he believed that degenerative disease is so common in modern dogs.

But, if you must feed kibble due to reasons like cost, personal preference or the age of your pet, adding fresh food or raw whenever you can is better than not at all! In the long term, it will help their overall wellness. 

 

The importance of a raw food diet really starts with the benefits, some of which include:

 

• Improved Coat Condition. Did you know that up to 40% of the protein your dog consumes contributes to the condition of their skin and coat? When feeding your dog a kibble based diet, which is known to have lower protein levels, your dog will potentially not have enough protein left to support a healthy exterior.

 

• Cleaner Teeth. Allowing your dog to chew on small raw bones reduces the chance for plaque build-up due to the amount of calcium they provide. Contact with the bone, also known as roughage, naturally cleans the gums and teeth. It is important to exercise caution when providing your dog with raw bones, however, as larger pieces can potentially be swallowed, leading to choking, punctured intestines, and broken teeth.

 

• Lower Risk of Cancer. The amount of chlorophyll found in raw green vegetables has the potential to prevent the onset of signs of liver cancer caused from aflatoxin –a toxin caused by mold associated with soil, hay, grains, decaying vegetables, and even dry food.

 

• Improved Stool Quality. The biggest difference of a raw food diet is the digestion process itself. Upon consumption, your dog will take more time to chew at the meat and vegetables, leading to increased production of gastric juices within the stomach. This not only leads to firmer, smaller stools but increased nutrient absorption levels. Not only that, a raw food diet has the potential to increase overall energy levels, promote better digestion, and improve eye health.

 

RECIPES

It is extremely important to transition to a raw food diet slowly because every dog is different. In fact, it may require some trial and error and the process could be frustrating. Primal Pooch says that, ‘’for most dogs, this is a one – two week period. But for others, it can last up to 4 weeks or even 6 months, depending on the circumstances.’’ But, keep remembering that your goal is long term wellness and quality of life. 

Here are some good starter recipes. Although the 5:1:1 method is the most practical guide to follow with your dog's diet containing five parts of meat with the bone, one part of fresh organ meat, and one part of cooked vegetables.

These are four other examples of raw diet meals:

#1  Chicken and Carrots

35%-50% chicken thighs or breasts

10%-30% chicken hearts and liver

12%-15% ground chicken bone

5% raw or lightly boiled chicken eggs

5%-20% organic carrots

5%-20% organic green beans 

  

#2  Chicken and Beef

20%-25% chicken thighs or breasts

20%-25% beef – ground, chuck, or stewing

10%-30% beef hearts and liver

12%-15% ground chicken bone

5%-10% organic green beans

5%-10% organic broccoli

 

#3  Chicken and Leafy Greens

35%-50% chicken thighs or breasts

10%-30% chicken hearts and liver

12%-15% ground chicken bone

5%-10% organic broccoli

5%-10% organic spinach

5%-10% organic carrots

 

#4  Turkey, Chicken, and Fish

12%-15% chicken and turkey (ground or whole)

35%-50% mackerel or other oily fish

10%-30% chicken, turkey hearts, and liver

5% slightly boiled chicken eggs

5%-10% organic spinach

5%-10% organic broccoli

 

REMINDERS

• Overall, the raw food diet requires correct portioning and monitoring.
• When preparing food that is raw (and not commercial), it’s important to include supplements (such as magnesium or iron) to ensure a nutrient-balanced meal.
• If your dog shows signs of unusual side effects or behavior, contact your veterinarian immediately. If your dog already has digestive problems, consult your vet before switching to a raw diet. 
• A balanced raw food diet is equally as important as the freshness of the ingredients. Just like people, dogs like variety.  

 

For more in depth information on raw feeding and complete diets check out Primal Pooches feeding guide. 

Educating and creating awareness around using CBD as a preventative tool is something at Blooming Culture we believe in. You can dose CBD daily to help with future age-related problems and to help ensure your pet is living their best life.

There are so many advances in western medicine, that we are seeing our animals living longer lives, which is great! As I saw many older dogs and cats come through the clinic because their arthritis, chronic pain, and quality of life was getting the best of them. Eastern medicine helps heal the entire pet, balance out their systems, and acupuncture helps with chronic pain and aches that decrease their quality of life. Reducing the number of medications they have to take by implementing eastern medicine has helped improve their quality of life as well.

For people or pets to reap the optimum benefits from CBD, it needs a carrier. Saturated fat is best because of its unique molecular structure composed of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are unique in that they bypass the regular digestive process and are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

"Goat's milk is the most complete food known." Raw goats milk is so beneficial that it can be used in lieu of a mother's milk for newborn puppies and kittens. It changes the health of pets with allergies, coat and skin problems, along with IBD. Raw goats milk can be incorporated as an addition to your pet's diet.

We wrote this blog to share a terrifying experience that might help other pet parents. Vestibular Syndrome can happen to any pup. It does not discriminate. Even with years of pet health research, I had never heard of it until it happened to our family. You will learn in this blog and through our links that it is a common occurrence. Vestibular Syndrome can have multiple root causes. I hope the following helps raise awareness. If it ever does occur to your pup, know that you will get through it!

Organic, raw blueberries are best for your pet. But, whether cultivated, wild, fresh, or frozen, they are full of essential nutrients and fiber and high in antioxidants. A one-cup serving of wild organic blueberries is 11g of sugar and 42 calories. An average size dog can have up to 10 berries per day. Research has shown that blueberries help improve mental acuity in older dogs. And, a recent study reveals that blueberry vinegar improves the memory of mice with amnesia. The fermented product could potentially be a promising food to help treat age-related amnesia/dementia. 

What do hemp seeds have to do with dogs and nutrition? First, Hemp Seeds Do Not Come from Marijuana. Hemp seeds are easily digested, becoming an alternative source of protein in pet food, it is the only plant in the world that is a complete protein. No other plant compares with the nutritional value of hemp seeds.