Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer

FRESH WHOLE FOOD FOR YOUR DOG'S HEALTH

2012-02-18T17:03:00.000-08:00

Fresh whole foodssuch as fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat, healthy oils, herbs and spices offerour dogs digestible, nutrient rich food without the dangerous additives foundin many pet store food products.

Some people like toremove kibble completely from their dog’s diet and go to a completely whole fooddiet. My dogs get kibble in the morning and early evening and then, later inthe evening they get their bowl of fresh food. Weight and volume-wise they eatmore fresh food than they do kibble.

As an example mylarger dogs (German Shepherds and my Boxer) eat 1 cup of kibble a day, but theyeat about 3 cups of fresh food a day. My medium size dogs (Australian Shepherdand a smaller female GSD) eat 2/3 cup of kibble and 2¹/₂cups fresh food. My small dogs (Sheltie and a Cocker Spaniel) eat 1/3 cup ofkibble and 1 cup of raw food and my Chihuahua eats 1/8 cup kibble and 1/2 cupfresh food a day. My 4lb Pomeranian eats 2 tbs of kibble and 1/4 cup fresh food.Their daily ration of fresh food is shown below.

If you would like to learn more about what makes acommercially produced dog kibble good or bad for your dog you can click here.

In his book Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to NaturalHealth for Dogs, Dr. Pitcairn states that his clinical experience over the last27 years confirms that a diet of cooked foods alone will not maintain yourdog’s top notch condition. He also states that ‘the difference in many animalsgiven a home-prepared, raw food diet after eating processed foods most of theirlives is nothing short of amazing’.

Protein

Meat is a rich source of protein, amino acids andcontains many nutrients necessary for the health of dogs. Organically raised orchemical free raised is always a better choice than meat coming from farms thatuse antibiotics, steroids, pesticide and herbicide grown feed etc. Some peoplelike to feed their dog raw meat, while others prefer to provide their dog withcooked meat. I feed my dogs cooked fish and cooked chicken rather than rawmeat. They all get yogurt on a daily basis, some get cheese as well.

Lean red muscle and organ meat such as:
Beef
Lamb

Pork

Poultry such as:
Chicken
Duck
Turkey

Fish (cooked or canned) in particular fatty fish such as:

Anchovies

Salmon

Sardines

Shad

Smelt

Mackerel

You can also add other forms of protein such as:

Eggs

Dairy

Cottage Cheese

Hard Cheese such as cheddar cheese, mozzarella forexample

Yogurt

Seeds
Flax Seeds (brown or golden, use ground flax seed as opposed to whole flaxseed)

Pumpkin Seeds (best if pulverized or ground)

Legumes

Split Peas (cooked)

Lentils (cooked)

Peanuts - Peanut Butter

There are some facts that you need to be aware of when it comes to whole food protein...

Raw pork…Never feed your dog raw pork as doing so cancause trichinosis - a parasitic disease caused by eating raw of undercookedpork or wild game infected with the larvae of one species of round worm.

Raw fish…Never feed your dog raw fish as it may containflukes - a parasite that infests the liver.

Dairy products…Just like with people, some dogs arelactose intolerant. None of my dogs have any adverse reaction to cheese oryogurt. Yogurt is a good source of protein and also a source of acidophiluswhich helps to prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the digestive track.Plain yogurt or yogurt with natural fruit sweetened with honey is best. Yogurtsweetened with sugar is alright but your dog does not require sugar. Yogurtsweetened with artificial sweeteners should be avoided. Xylitol is especiallydangerous for dogs and can result in liver damage.

Raw eggs…Some people advise that dogs should not be givenraw eggs due to the chance of salmonella poisoning. It is also true that adog’s stomach acids are stronger than a human’s and a dog produces more bilethan a human does. While dogs are better at fighting salmonella than humans,dogs still get salmonella poisoning, but they can tolerate higher levels ofsalmonella than we can. If you want to be on the safe side you can cook yourdog’s egg. Also, it is important to note that eggs contain avidin, an enzymethat decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). Bioten deficiency canlead to hair and coat problems - so don’t give your dog eggs on a daily basis -once a week is ok.

Peanuts… Aflatoxinsgrow mainly on grains but they also grow on legumes - like peanuts, walnuts andpecans. aflatoxins cause liver cancer. This is one reason why you will hearsome people say do not give your dogs nuts. While there are some nuts that youshould never give your dogs ( like walnuts and macadamia nuts) it is fine togive your dog peanuts and peanut butter - they are a good source of nutrition -just make sure you are giving them human grade peanuts products. Peanuts soldfor bird and livestock feed are permitted to contain aflatoxins, while humangrade peanuts are banned from containing aflatoxins.

Too much protein? Yes, the ongoing debate about how muchprotein is too much for a dog’s diet. While I think it is best to provide avariety of foods to dogs, I think we need to fixate less on worrying about toomuch protein and be more concerned about the quality of the protein. Inparticular the protein source in kibble! Ingesting and processing high qualityprotein does not strain and damage a dog’s organs the way poor quality proteindoes. This is one reason why you need to be mindful of the protein source inthe kibble you feed your dog. If you would like to learn a little more aboutthis subject you can click here.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruit and veggies contain a lot of good soluble fibre,vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, are naturally low in fat while beingfilling. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of developing heartand vascular disease, stroke and cancer while they help boost the immunesystem, keep organs, eyes, teeth etc. healthy. While delivering great qualitynutrients they also help keep weight under control - thereby reducing risk ofdiabetes and stress on joints. Inflammation of joints is another contributingfactor to the onset of cancer. They help the body eliminate toxins. These arejust a few of the many benefits that fruits and veggies offer to our dog’shealth.

In the wild, dogs eat pre-digested fruits and vegetableswhen the consume the digestive organs of herbaceous prey, as well they alsoconsume some plants, fruits, vegetables to self-heal and boost their immunesystems. Grass is one such example.

The fruits and vegetables that I give to me dogs on a dailybasis vary a little depending on the season,for instance watermelon in the summer and oranges in the winter. The followingprovides a partial list of fruits and vegetables that are good for dogs. Youcan use fresh, canned or frozen fruit. If you are going to give your dog cannedfruit, make sure it is packed in juice not syrup - sugar is not good for dogs.You can use fresh, canned, frozen and/or cooked veggies.

Fruit
Apples (remove the seeds, as they contain arsenic which is toxic to dogs)
Apricots
Avocado (remove the pit)Bananas
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Canary Melon
Cherries (remove the pit)
Clementines
Cranberries
Coconut (fresh or dry non sweetened, shredded)
Grapefruit
Honeydew Melon
Kiwi
Mangos (remove the pit)
Nectarines (remove the pit)
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches (remove the pit)
Pears (remove the seeds)
Pineapple
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Thimbleberries
Tomatoes
Watermelon

Vegetables
Alfalfa Sprouts
Apricots
Asparagus
Anise
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Celery
Chicory
Cucumber
Green Beans
Green or Red Leaf Lettuce
Kelp
Yellow Beans (wax beans)
Tomatoes
Squash
Sugar Snap Peas (in the pod or out)
Sweet Green Peppers
Sweet Red Peppers (yellow, orange and purple peppers)
Peas
Pumpkin
Romain
Zucchini

Roots Vegetables
Beets
Carrots
Corn
Parsnips
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Yams

When feedingyour dogs fruits and veggies…

Don’t give your dog produce that is going bad - moldy, rotting, slimy, youcan make your dog ill;

Wash the food item to remove dirt, contaminates, and asmuch pesticide/herbicide as can be removed if the produce is not organic;

Cut/chop/shred (as appropriate) the produce into smallpieces. It is easier to digest and you would not want your dog to choke on apiece that became lodged in their throat. If the dog is very small - 15lbs to 2lbs cut the produce in finer pieces. Zoey my 12 lb Pomeranian once got a pieceof cauliflower caught in his airway - completely blocked. Zoey quickly becameunconscious and if I had not administered the Heimlich manoeuvre and mouth tomouth resuscitation he would have died in front of my eyes;

When youintroduce new fruits and veggies to your dog's diet it is best tointroduce each new food one at a time. If there is any kind of negativereaction, such as stomach upset or allergies you will be able to pinpoint theculprit. None of my dogs have any allergies to fruits and veggies with theexception of Robbie my Boxer. Robbie is allergic to some green vegetables.

Herbs

People have used herbs and spices to add flavour to food and to treat ailments for thousands of years. So it should not be surprising that there are many herbs and spices that are good for our dog's health. Herbs and spices can boost the immune system and are rich in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidents to name just a few benefits. If you would like to find out more about herbs and spices you can add to your dog;'s diet click here.

Grains

Make sure that you only provide your dog with human qualitygrains. If the grains are not from human grade they will contain aflatoxins.Aflatoxins cause liver cancer. Grain that is sold for bird and livestock feedis allowed to contain aflatoxins. Always cook the grains. Grains absorb liquid,so ingesting uncooked or grains that have not been pre-soaked can lead toswelling and bursting of the stomach…dangerous at the least, lethal at worst.Good grains for your dog are…

Oatmeal
Barley
Bulgur
Millet
Brown Rice

Fats

The first type of fat we will take about are Omega 3 andOmega 6 fatty acids. These are veryimportant for the overall health of a dog.

Omega 3 fatty acids help avoid and treat:

Arthritis
Asthma
Atopy
Flea allergies
Behavior problems
Learning difficulties
Cancer
Heart disease
Digestive disease
Immune-mediated skin disease
Kidney disease
Seborrhea
Military dermatitis
Eosinophilic granuloma complex

Omega 6 fatty acids help avoid and treat:

Seborrhea
Dry coat
Mycoplasma

Virgin Coconut Oil - a Saturated Fat

Although saturated fat has received a very bad rapit is well worth taking a second look at coconut oil as a nutritionalsupplement for your dog’s diet. While virgin coconut oil is 90% saturated fat,when added to a dog’s diet in small quantities, on a daily basis virgin coconutoil has many beneficial qualities. It is also veryaffective as a topically applied treatment on cuts, wounds and for ailments ofthe skin. To learn about the extensive benefits of adding coconut oil to yourdog’s daily diet click here.

Good Sources of Omega 3 fatty acids:

Atlanticmackerel
Pacific or Atlantic herring
Salmon
Sardines canned in water
Anchovy
Sprat
Menhaden fish
Flax seed

Good Sources of Omega 6 fatty acids:

Canolaoil
Corn oil
Peanut oil
Olive oil
Borage oil
Black current oil
Flax seed

Note that most cornand canola oil in North America are derived from GM crops.

Removing Commercially Manufactured Kibble From Your Dog’sDiet
If you are thinking of completely removing commercially manufactured kibblefrom your dog’s diet you need to now a few things first. To make sure your doggets a well balanced diet (without kibble) you need to include the followingfood stuffs in the right amounts:

Protein
Carbohydrates (from starchy roots such as sweat potatoes or from grains)
Fruits and veggies…you can also include herbs
Fats
Minerals such as calcium, you may also need to add vitamins such as A, Bcomplex and E and enzymes depending on the type of food you make.

If you would like tolearn more about making your own dog food in order to completely eliminatekibble from your dog’s diet this site lists many excellent bookson the subject. Dr. Becker’s book ‘Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs andCats’ is another good choice.

HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD KIBBLE FOR YOUR DOG

2012-02-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

The number of obese dogs hasincreased in recent years. As well, so many dogs are getting cancer and other diseases.

There are three mainreasons for this downturn in the health of dogs - diet, lack of exercise, and, andenvironmental contaminants.

Your dog’s bestdefense against cancer and other diseases is a strong immune system. Diet plays a big role in a dog’sability to maintaina healthy immune system. If you are feeding your dog commercial dog kibble,knowing how to choose aquality dog kibble isessential for your dog’s health and well being.

Manycommercialdog kibblesare comprised of ingredients that are seriously bad for our dogs. A kibble thatprovides poor nutritional value, contains cancer causing and otherwise toxicingredients provides little hope of attaining and maintaining day-to-dayenergy and health. In addition toxins will build-up in a dog’s bodyovertime. This puts great strain on the organs - such as the liver and willeventually cause organ damage and failure. Poor quality nutrition can also lead to eitherbeing underweight or overweight / obese - either of which can also trigger theonset of disease.

Justbecause a product is for sale in a pet supply store oron-linethrough a pet supply dealer don’t ever assume that the product is actually good foryour dog.Also, just because the manufacture labels the food as ‘natural’ or ‘holistic’,does not mean that the product is made up of good ingredients. Natural can simply mean theingredients were derived from a plant or animal. Holistic may mean that theproduct has a few vegetables in it. But the vegetables may have been rotting -not fit for human consumption so they were used for pet food. There is no lawcurrently in place that prevents a company from saying that the ingredientsthey are using in their kibble is first quality - they do not have to provethat this statement is true.

Unknowinglyyou may be paying a manufacturer to seriously compromise the health and shorten the lifeof your dog.On the other hand you may be feeding your dog a very good kibble product. Unless you know a little moredetail abouthow todiscern true quality in a kibble product it is very difficult to identify good frombad. The same principles discussed in this article are also applicable to dog treats.

Before we get into thefacts regarding what makes a kibble a good food or bad, I just want to brieflyaddress the issue of cost to the consumer - you!

Let’s Define‘Quality’ In Broad Terms

In broad terms whatis meant by ‘quality’ as pertains to this discussion? Well…

Are the ingredientsthat make up the kibble inspected by authorities havingjurisdiction, i.e. CFIA (for Canada) or USDA (for the USA);
Is the ingredienthuman grade or feed grade? Feed grade can contain many ingredients from lessnutritional sources and many contaminants;
Is the ingredientantibiotic-free, steroid-free, organic…you get the idea.

So, as an example -while corn is not the best source of nutrition for dogs justbecause there is corn in a kibble it does not make the kibble bad.If the corn is human grade it is good quality, but if the corn is not humangrade it may contain contaminants such as aflatoxins.This is one of the core principles of good vs. bad.

Please also note thatjust because a kibble is AAFCO (Association of American FeedControl Officials) approved does not mean that it is a good product.Although this group does regulate the pet food industry and the board doesinclude some members of the US state and federal representatives it is not agovernment body and is partisan as it includes people directly involved in thepet food manufacturing industry. AAFCO is directly responsible for the unclearlabeling on pet food products including kibble…responsible for the confusion aroundpoor vs. goodquality.

Does a Good Quality Kibble Really Cost you More than Poor Quality Kibble?

I have seen many petsupply storesand large retailers selling a poor quality kibble for the same or more than they areselling a better quality kibble. And yes, better and really good quality kibbles maybe more expensive to purchase at the cash register (thaninexpensivekibbles) but the actual cost of these products is not necessarily higheronce you get home and open that bag of food.

What do I mean bythis statement? Well, a dog kibble that is comprised of poor qualityingredients offers less digestible high quality nutrition so you have to feedyour dog considerablymore kibble to atleast part way met his/her nutritional needs than you would if the kibble wascomprised of quality ingredients. You will go through a 40lb bag of poor quality kibble muchfaster than you will go through a 30lb bag of good quality kibble.

Now Let’s Look at Good vs.Bad in Detail

What we really want to makesure of is that we don’t purchase product a) comprised of poor qualitynutrition, b) minimize the carcinogens and other toxiccomponents.

SyntheticAdditives, Preservatives & Colouring Agents

Many off-the-shelf dog foodsand treats contain synthetic additives, preservatives and colouring - many areproven carcinogens. These substances are added to the kibble to helpstabilize the product and enhance its appearance. The most common of thesepreservatives are BHA, BHT, EQ (ethoxyquin), propyl gallate. Then there areartificial colouring agents and additives such as glycerol monostearate,phosphoric acid and propylene glycol (this is used in antifreeze - antifreezekills dogs!).Read product labels - if the product you are looking at contains theseingredients put it back on the shelf! Instead look for products that contain‘natural preservatives’ and antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and mixed tocopherols.

Minimize the Poor Nutrition andthe ‘Unknown’ in Your Dog’s Diet

Once again, manyoff-the-shelfdog foods contain food stuffs from unknown sources. These food stuffsare cheap source fillers that provide poor quality nutrition and can be full ofunknown chemicals, steroids and antibiotics, petroleum derivatives, aflatoxins,etc.

Grains and Legumes

In thelast decade the percentage of grain products used in kibble hasincreased dramatically. Manyof these grain products are added primarily as fillers. These products areincluded for the benefit of the manufacture’s cost margin and profit, not forthe benefit of your dog. The digestibility of many grain productsis negligible. Your dog ends up consuming a lot of filler withvery little nutrient value. This is very deceptive as you think you are feedingyour dog enoughand his stoolsare sizable (due to the high filler indigestible fibrecontent), but his nutrient intake is low. Here is a list of some of these lownutrient, cheap fillers…brewers rice, cereal food fines (leftoversfrom human grade cereal production - junk), feeding oat meal, grainfermentation soluble, maltodextrins, fermentation solubles, potato product(leftoversfrom human grade potato product production - nutritional value,nil), soy flour, corn bran, corn cellulose, oat hulls, peanut hulls, ricehulls, soybean and wheat mill run (wheat middlings), corn germ meal, corngluten meal, soybean meal (these last three ingredients are often included as asource of protein - very poor quality protein!).

Whilesome of these fillers are derived from the leftovers ofhuman food processing -as the product at the end of the line, they can be full of chemicals. They canalso be from non-human grade sources. If the grains/grain derivatives are notfrom human grade sources they will contain aflatoxins.Aflatoxinscause liver cancer. Aflatoxins grow mainly on grains but they also growon legumes - like peanuts, walnuts and pecans. This is one reason why you willhear some people say do not give your dogs nuts! Actually it is fine to giveyour dog peanutsor peanut butter - they are a good source of nutrition - just make sure youare giving them human grade.

Aflatoxins canalso be found in cottonseed oil, fish meal and peanut oil. Humangrade foods are monitored closely for aflatoxins, ifthey are present the raw product (such as grain) is not allowed to besold as human grade. There are no such regulations for animal grade foods soaflatoxinsso most commercial grade dog, cat and bird food will have some aflatoxins...thebody can usually detoxify small amounts.

Anotherthing to consider…cornand soybeans in the USA and Canada are almost all grown from GeneticallyModified (GM) seeds - the long term affect of ingesting GM food is not known.

Look for off-the-shelf dog foodthat specifies that the ingredients are from first grade or human gradesources. As far as grains go, whole corn is ok if your dog is notallergic toit but the other corn derivatives (i.e. corn bran, corn cellulose, cornmeal are just fillers offering little nutritional value if any). Rice offersbetter nutritional digestibility than many of the grain products notedabove…although some dogs are allergic to rice.Human grade whole oats do pack a lot of nutritional value, but again some dogs areallergic tooats. Sweet potatoes are a great alternative to riceand oats. Millets and barley for example, are also good alternatives.

Fiber

High quality fibersuch as the fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables is very different from thelow quality fiber found in many off-the -shelf dog foodproducts. Again, low grade fiber is added as cheap filler for the benefit ofthe manufacture’s cost margin and profit, not for the benefit of your dog.Cellulose derived from dried, processed wood is the most common form ofcellulose (hard to believe but true!), corn bran (GM product),oat hulls, peanut hulls, rice hulls, soybean middlings (GM product) and wheatmiddlings. These ingredients may also contain aflatoxins. Ifthe product has a lot of these ingredients put it back on the shelf.

Protein

Proteinshould be the first ingredient in your dogs kibble…but there are issues to beaware of withprotein sources too. Protein may come from poultry (chicken,duck, etc.), cattle, swine, lamb…the problem is often what goes into the kibble isnot the quality cuts of meat - lean muscle tissue. Instead the animal partsthat are added to a lot of kibble is the by-products - the bones, blood,intestines, ligaments, and many other parts not sold for human consumption.Here is a list of protein sources that you should avoid - again, if these arelisted in the product, put it back on the shelf…beef and bone meal, blood meal,chicken by-product meal, corn distillers dried grains with solubles, corn germmeal, corn gluten meal, fish meal, liver meal, meat and bone meal, meat meal,pork and bone meal, poultry by-product meal, poultry meal and soybean meal. Asthese ingredients are loosely regulated they may be from 4-D animals (dead,diseased, disables, or dying prior to slaughter), road-kill, animals euthanizedat ‘shelters’ (euthanization includes the use of harmful chemicals, also theanimals may have been diseased), the ingredients may also include pus,cancerous tissue, decomposing tissue, ethoxyquin, etc.

Again, look foroff-the-shelfdog food that specifies that the ingredients are from first grade orhuman grade sources. I have heard people say dog food should have bone and blood meal in it- wrong - dogsdo not require blood and bone meal, especially the fertilizer grade qualityadded to manyoff-the-shelf pet foods.

Fats

Animaland poultry fat is added to a lot of kibble. Again these are the rancid fats andoil by products that are not sold for human consumption. Waste from restaurantsand food manufacturing is saved and then refined by rendering companies, whothen turn around and sell it to pet food manufactures. The manufactures addthem to theirpoor qualitykibble to give it taste and to helpthe ingredients bind together. The following are the ingredientsyou should avoid…animal fat, beef tallow, lard, poultry fat, vegetable oil.Again the source of these fats can also be from 4-D animals and the vegetableoil is likely to be poor quality and/or GM.

Sweeteners

Sweetenersare not required in your dog’s diet! In fact they are not good foryour dog.They areadded to manypet foodsto make the food more attractive - think about it, some of theseproducts have a lot of fillers - no taste…so the sweeteners give the food sometaste. If the product you are going to buy has these ingredients you know want to do -re-shelve it: cane molasses, corn syrup, fructose, sorbitol, sugar, di-alpha tocopherolacetate. Remember daily intake of sweeteners is just as bad for dogs as itis for humans. Sugar suppresses the immune system - making it easier for cancer to takehold. Sweeteners also cause of allergies, arthritis, cataracts, hypoglycaemia,heart ailments, nervous energy, tooth decay, obesity and so on. The more you dog’shealth is compromised the harder it is for your dog’s body to fightcancer!

If you would like to see amore comprehensive list of ingredients to avoid you can click here.

If You Are Going To SwitchYour Dog's Kibble

If youare goingto switch your dog’s kibble don’t switch his food overnight. Add a little of thenew food tothe old food. Gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease theamount of old food until the old is completely replaced by new. This processshould be carried out over several days to several weeks depending on the hardiness ofyour dog’sdigestive system. Some dogs are very sensitive to changesin their diet while others dogs are not.

I cheat on this ruleas all of my ten dogs have good tolerance for food changes; if I want to try anew kibble Ican do so as an immediate switch. If you have switched your dog’s foodbefore with no deleterious affects and you know your dog’ssystem is hardy you can shorten the phasing in of the new food.

To LearnMore About Discerning Good vs. Bad Kibble

Ifyou would like to look at the subject (of what makes a kibble good orbad) in further depth I recommend that you take a look at the Dog FoodProject’s website section on CommercialDry Foods.

An Independent Reviewof 100's of Brands and Types of Kibble

If you would like to see anextensive listing of Dry Dog Food reviewed by an independent group Irecommend that you take a look at the Dog Food Advisor’s website page on Dry Dog Food.

Learn More AboutEnriching Your Dog's Diet

Ifyou would like to learn about more about additional ways to increasethe good nutritionin your dog’sdaily diet you can take a look at these articles…

Fresh Whole Food For Your Dog's Health

Coconut Oil is Good for Your Dog’sHealth

Herbs and Spices for Your Dog’s Health

Foods That Dog’s Should Never Eat - dangerous, toxic,lethal

If you would like to helpfeed ShelterDog’s for free you can do so by clicking on these links…when you go to thesesites and click on the button corporate sponsors donate kibble to homelesspets on your behalf. I click on all three sites every day.

Care2 Click to FeedPets in Need

Free Kibble.com

The Animal Rescue Site

FOODS THAT DOGS SHOULD NEVER EAT - Dangerous,Toxic, Lethal

2012-02-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

The following provides an extensive list of foods /plants that dogs should never eat. These items when ingested by a dog can causeminor to major illness, organ failure and even death.

Avocado
The leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark contain persin, which can cause vomiting anddiarrhea.

Alcoholic Beverages
Any type of alcohol can be poisonous to your dog and aside from intoxication,can cause a coma or even death.

Bones
Employ caution when giving bones to your dog. Some bones can be very dangerous -as they can splinter and cause obstruction or laceration of the digestivesystem. Bones from many types of fish are dangerous for dog just as they arefor people. The cooked bones of salmon are not harmful.

Candy containing the sweetener Xylitol
Xylitol can cause liver damage and even death.

Chocolate
Dogs should never have any type of chocolate. Milk chocolate is not asdangerous for dogs as semi-sweet or unsweetened bakers chocolate. Chocolate poisoning can cause irregular heartrate and rhythm, restlessness, hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, panting,muscle tremors, abdominal pain, bloody urine, increased body temperature,seizures, coma and death.

Coffee
Can result in increased breathing and heart rate, restlessness and affects thecentral nervous system.

Dairy Products - in large amounts, small amounts are OK for most dogs
If consumed in large amounts may causediarrhea. Some dogs are lactose intolerant. If your dog is not lactoseintolerant, plain yogurt is good for your dog. A little hard cheese or cottagecheese is also good.

Fat - in large amounts, small amounts of good fat are beneficial
Butter,margarine, lard, fat trimmings and excessive amounts of oil. Ingesting anysubstantial amount of these fats can cause failure of the internal organs suchas the liver. I do feed my dogs a small amount (1/2 tablespoon for the reallylittle guys like Carmen and Jacob; 1 tablespoon for my dogs who weigh 15lbs to30lbs and 2 tablespoon for all the larger dogs) of oil. A good quality oil(containing Omega fatty acids) in these small amounts is as good for the dog'shealth as it is for humans, when ingested in proper quantities on a dailybasis. Coconut Oil in small daily amounts is also good for dogs.

Eggs - raw can be a hazard, cooked in small amounts are beneficial
Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a Bvitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may alsocontain Salmonella, although the chance of contamination for your dog is low asa dog’s stomach acids are very strong and dog’s also produce a lot of bile. Youcan cook the eggs to avoid this issue. Due to the avidin it is best not to giveeggs every day, but a couple of times a week is fine.

Fish - in large quantities are dangerous, small quantities are beneficial
If fed exclusively or in large amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leadingto loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. A small amount of cooked or canned fatty fish such as anchovies,salmon, sardines, shad, smelt, mackerel arevery good for your dog (on a daily basis is fine - in small amounts) as these types of fish are nutrient rich and a goodsource of omega fatty acids.

Fish - Raw, can be dangerous, use caution

Raw fish can contain flukes, a parasite that infests the liver of animals including dogs. This parasite can cause liver damage and subsequently death. Granted in some places around the world dog's are fed raw fish. Just be aware that in doing so you may put the health of your dog at risk. If you know for certain that the fish in your area is not infested than there is no threat to your dogs health. But remember if fish is fed exclusively or in large amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leadingto loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. A small amount daily is fine.

Food Coloring

Avoid treats and kibble that contain conventional food coloring. Conventional food coloring is concocted from chemicals that are carcinogenic and cause numerous health issues such as bladder cancer, brain tumors and the inability to concentrate.

Grapes, Currents
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite andkidney damage. Grape seed extract is safe for dogs.

Hops
May cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and death.

Liver - in large amounts, small amounts are beneficial
In large amounts can cause Vitamen A toxity, leading to kidney damage/failure.

Macadamia Nuts
Can cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints,lameness and tremors.

Marijuana
Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.

Meat - Raw can be dangerous, use caution
May contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting, diarrheaand even death. Dogs are able to fight off Salmonella and E. coli much betterthan humans can, however some dogs are severely affected and do die. Raw porkcan have worms that may be transferred to your dog by eating raw pork. Manypeople do feed their dogs raw meat and experience no issues. Working dogs such as sled dogs regularly consume raw meat without issue. Just take precautions - make sure the meat is fresh and has been kept in the refrigerator for no more than a few says or was frozen fresh. Reduce the risk of contamination and don't feed your dog raw pork.

Moldy Foods
Can have varied effects on pets including vomiting and diarrhea.

Mushrooms

Depending on the type of mushroom. The symptoms may vary - depression, diarrhea,nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liverfailure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage,hyperactivity and in some cases, death.

Mustard Seeds
Can have varied effects on pets.

Onion, Chives, Leeks, Shallots are dangerous, garlic in small amounts is beneficial
Containthiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing ‘Heinx Factor’ anemia indogs. Can also cause gastrointestinal problems such asvomiting and diarrhea. The amount of thiosulphate found ingarlic is much lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barelytraceable! When garlic is ingested inreasonable amounts there are no harmful affects, only beneficial ones! Garlicis known for its antic cancer, diabetes, liver, heart, kidney disease fightingproperties as well as its use as a natural flea repellent and de-wormer fordogs.

Pits from Apricot / Cherry / Peach / Plum, etc.
Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Plants that are toxic if ingested by dogs
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants(ASPCA)

Potato Leaves and Stems
Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Raisins and Currents

Can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting,diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Rhubarb Leaves
Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Salt
In large quantities can cause electrolyte imbalances.

Seeds from Apples / Pears
Contain arsenic and can have a variety of bad affects on dogs.

Tea - non decaffeinated

Can have varied effects in pets.

Tobacco
Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can resultin rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.

Tomato Leaves and Stems are dangerous, tomatoes are fine
Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Vitamins made for human consumption that containiron
Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organsincluding the liver and kidneys.

Walnuts
Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well asrespiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing.

Yeast Dough - raw, not baked
Can be dangerous as it will expand and result in gas, pain and possible ruptureof the stomach or intestines.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol -- an artificial sweetener created from birch, raspberries, plums and corn.1 This sweetener is found in many human "sugar free" products, such as gum, candies and other sweets. Signs of toxicity can be seen as quickly as 30 minutes after xylitol ingestion in dogs. The xylitol causes a rapid release of the hormone insulin, causing a sudden decrease in blood glucose. The following are symptoms of Xylitol poisioning: vomiting
weakness, ataxia (uncoordinated movements), depression, hypokalemia (decreased potassium), seizures, coma, liver dysfunction and/or failure. Ingestion can be fatal.

IfYou Think Your Dog Is Suffering From Poisoning (food, chemicals, insect/snake bites)

The following provides a list of someof the interventions that they may ask you to do, they may also request thatyou bring your dog in ASAP.

To induce vomiting, give your pet 3%Hydrogen Peroxide (1 tablespoon per 15 pounds of the dog’s body weight) with aneye dropper, syringe, or turkey baster by dribbling the liquid onto the back ofhis tongue or into his cheek pocket until swallowed. Collect any vomit and takeit, along with the poison container or other substance that you think you dogmay have ingested and take it to the veterinarian

To dilute caustic poisons such as pineoils, detergents, bleaches, and swimming pool chemicals, feed your dog largequantities of water, milk, or egg whites. Activated charcoal (or even burnedtoast) may be recommended to absorb insect repellents like DEET.

To remove absorbed poisons...absorbedpoisons are substances that get on your pet’s paws and coat and are absorbedthrough the skin. This type of canine poisoning can happen through ingestionwhen the animal grooms himself. Wash the area with large quantities of waterand visit your veterinarian to prevent long-term effects and discomfort. Foroil-based toxins (petroleum products) use a gentle dish washing liquid. Dust orvacuum powdery poisons away because water can activate certain toxins. If thepoison is in your dog’s eye, carefully flush the eye with water or sterilesaline solution.

‘Inhaled poisons’ include aerosolsprays, carbon monoxide, gases, and other fumes inhaled by your pet that youmay not consider poison to dogs because you use them safely on a regular basis.Quickly get your dog into fresh air and administer Rescue Breathing ifnecessary.

For snakebites, carry your dog if atall possible, to prevent increased circulation of venom throughout his body viawalking. Get him to an animal emergency centre ASAP.

For insect bites, administer 1 mg ofDiphenhydramine (i.e. Benadryl), an antihistamine, per pound of your dog’s bodyweight—but do check with your veterinarian first. Applying a cold pack to thebite can alleviate swelling, but immediately seek professional medical help ifyou detect breathing problems. You can also wipe or spray the bite with AppleCider Vinegar.

If you think your dog is sufferingfrom symptoms related to poisoning from any of these foods, plants or chemicalscall your veterinarian or contact a pet poison control centre right away.

Pet Poison Help Line 24/7(800-213-6680)

COCONUT OIL IS GOOD FOR YOUR DOG'S HEALTH

2012-02-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

Although saturated fat has received a very bad rap it is wellworth taking a second look at coconut oil as a nutritional supplement for your dog’s diet. While virgin coconut oil is90% saturated fat, when added to a dog’s diet in small quantities, on a daily basis virgin coconutoil has many beneficial qualities.

Most of the saturated fats in coconutoil come from Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). The MCTs are the source ofmost of the benefits of coconut oil. One of the MCTs is lauric acid - lauricacid has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. As a dog’sdigestive system metabolizes MCTs with great efficiency coconut oil is used asan immediate source of energy and it gently raises the metabolism - there byaiding physical performance and weight loss - for overweight dogs and for dogssuffering from thyroid problems. Coconut oil also improves a dog’s skin andcoat, aids digestion and reduces the severity of allergic reactions.

The following provides a more detailed list of the benefitsof coconut oil.

Aids Digestion

Digestion/absorption of nutrients

Healing of digestive problems (i.e.inflammation of the bowls);

Reduces and may completely eliminatebad breath;

Helps eliminate hair balls and relatedcoughing.

Bones, Immune System, Metabolism

Anti-bacterial,
Anti-fungal,
Anti-viral,
…three important attributes in thefight against infection, cancer and other diseases;

Antioxidant;
Balances, regulates insulin,
Helps reduce weight,
…diabetes prevention and control;

Increases energy;
Aids in health of ligaments;
Helps with arthritis relief;
Improves brain energy metabolism;
Reduces risk of brain lesions inolder dogs.

Skin and Fur Conditions

Helps to clear-up…

Eczema,
Fleaallergies,
Dermatitus,
Itchy Skin;

Improves health and appearance of...

Skin,
Fur,
and deodorizes;

Prevents and treats topical yeastand fungal infections;
Disinfects cuts and supports healingof wounds;

As a Topical Application

Supports the healing of:

Cuts;
Dry skin;
Hot spots;
Insect bites;
Insect stings;
Wounds.

WhatKind of Coconut Oil Should You Buy

It is important thatyou give your dog only Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO)or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) both are also called unrefined-oil. Cold-pressed VCO is best. Organic and non-GMOcoconut oil is even better. Despite what manufacturers and people may say the difference between VCO andEVCO is simply a marketing campaign borrowed from the olive oil manufacturingcommunity - there is no real difference between the two (EVO and EVCO).

Different brands ofcoconut oil will have different tastes - some faint, very subtle coconut taste toothers that will have a much stronger taste of coconut. Remember the one sensewe humans have that is stronger than our dog’s senses is taste. Your dog hasabout 1700 taste buds, while we have about 9000. Don’t worry about the taste -concentrate instead on the quality of the product…that it is VCO or EVCO.

Daily Dosage

It is best to give coconut oil with food. You can drizzle the coconut oil on top of your dog’s kibble or other food.The recommended maximum dosage is:

¼ teaspoon for every 10lbs of body weighttwice daily, or
½ teaspoon for every 10lbs of body weight once daily.

When firstintroducing coconut oil to your dog’s diet it is best to use a lesser amountthat the maximum dosage indicated above. The dosages above represent a typical maintenancedosage. Introductory dosages should be in the range of ¼ tsp per day for smalldogs and puppies and 1 tsp per day for large dogs. If you know that your doghas a sensitive digestive system then start off with a few drops of coconut oila day. You can then gradually increase the amount of coconut oil over severalweeks.

Large amounts ofcoconut oil given to a dog can cause diarrhea or greasy stools while his bodyadjusts to the change in diet. Start with small amounts, such as ¼ teaspoon perday for small dogs or puppies and 1 teaspoon for large dogs, or even just a dabif your dog's constitution is sensitive. If your dog seems tired oruncomfortable or has diarrhea, just cut back the amount temporarily. Graduallyincrease the amount every few days.

The reason for this phased-in approachis because coconut oil kills bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeasts, and fungi,your dog may respond negatively to the detox aspect of coconut oil. Signs ofdetoxing too rapidly may include lethargy, headaches, flu-like symptoms,fatigue, and diarrhea. If your dog does have any such reaction, just temporarilycut the daily amount back to allow your dog’s system to gently adjust. This isanother reason why dividing your dog’s intake of coconut oil between twofeedings a day is a good approach.

Related Links

Fresh Whole Food For Your Dog's Health

How To Choose Good Kibble For Your Dog

Herbs and Spices for Your Dog’s Health

Foods That Dog’s Should Never Eat - dangerous, toxic,lethal

Care2 Click to FeedPets in Need

Free Kibble.com

The Animal Rescue Site

HERBS AND SPICES FOR YOUR DOG'S HEALTH

2012-02-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

Humans have used herbs andspices to add flavour to their food and to treat ailments for thousands ofyears. So, it should not be surprising that there are many herbs and spicesthat are good for dogs. Holistic medicine for dogs includes the use of herbs andspices to treat and ameliorate ailments and diseases.

Herbs and spices can also beadded to your dog’s food as part of a healthy diet. One of your dog’s best defenses against ailments and diseases is healthy immune system. A healthy dietsupports a healthy immune system. Whole raw foods can be an excellent additionto your dog’s daily diet - fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, eggs, yogurt, herbs and spices.In addition to the health benefits, dogs do like the taste of many herbs andspices.

Herbs and spices should notbe indiscriminately given to dogs. Some herbs and spices are very powerful andcan have side affects will others are mild and less likely top cause issues.Before you decide to give a herb or spice to your dog make sure you know itsuse, side affects, toxicity (if any) and safe dosage.

Ona daily basis, my dogs eat the following herbs and spices...Aloe Vera, Basil, Caraway Seeds, Flax Seed, Fennel Seeds, Garlic, Green Tea, Parsley,Rosemary, Turmeric and Ginger. These herbs are all non-toxic and beneficial fordogs, but like any other food stuff should always be provided in a safe amount.You can refer to the dosage chart at the bottom of this article. While theseherbs are non-toxic, they can interfere with conventional western medicines -this is discussed further below.

Hereis a little information on the benefits of each of these herbs/spices…

AloeVera contains aminoacids, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, C andE. It has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agents and is ananti-oxidant. 100% pure Aloe Vera juice can also be taken internally to boostthe immune system, help reduce the symptoms of allergies and to help thehealing of wounds. Aloe Vera gel can be used topically to help wounds heal -100% Aloe Vera Gel is best. Daily dosages for my dogs are as follows ½ tbs formy 4lb dog, 1tbs for my 8 lb to 25 lb dogs and, 2 tbs for my larger dogs 30 to70 lbs.

Basil is rich in essential vitamins,minerals, phyto-nutrients, electrolytes and oils that are essential for optimalhealth. Basil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. Basilis well known for its multiple disease preventing and health promotingproperties. You can use fresh basil or dry basil.

CarawaySeeds are rich indietary fibre, vital vitamins, and minerals, anti-oxidants (cancer and diseasefighting). Caraway seeds are considered a warming herb - meaning they help thebody stay warm. Caraway seeds are also good for muscle health(anti-contraction).

Cinnamon is an anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-septic, warming and soothing, calming, carminative(anti-flatulent). Cinnamon is said to have one of the highest anti-oxidant levelsof all food sources. Cinnamon can help remove the alfatoxins present in foods.Cinnamon is also good for keeping teeth clean and fighting bad breath. I usethe powder form ( ground cinnamon).

FlaxSeeds are rich inomega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants, nutrients, minerals and vitamins that areessential for optimal health. Flax seeds also help pass toxins out of the body.There are two types of flax seeds - brown and yellow (golden), both are similarin nutritional value. Daily dosages for my dogs are as follows ½ tbs for my4lb and 8lb dogs, 1tbs for my 10 lb to 25lb dogs and, 1 heaping tbs for my larger dogs 30 to 70 lbs.

FennelSeeds are rich indietary fibre, anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory, rich in vitamins, minerals. They also help protect the bodyfrom infection, disease and caner. Fennel seeds are good for the urinary tract.They also help in the absorption of food stuff - thereby helping to keep yourdog’s teeth clean and helping with digestion.

GarlicYou may have heardthat garlic is bad for dogs. Well, garlic has been used for many years byholistic veterinarians. The confusion about whether garlic is good or bad seemsto have arisen from confusion with its close cousin, the onion. Both garlic andonion contain thiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing ‘HeinxFactor’ anemia in dogs. However the amount of thiosulphate found in garlic ismuch lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barely traceable! The fear of garlic is a new one - propagatedby rumor on the internet and not proven by any facts or study. For an extensive list of founds that dogs should not eat you can click here.

When garlic is ingested inreasonable amounts there are no harmful affects, only beneficial ones! Garlicis known for its antic cancer, diabetes, liver, heart, kidney disease fightingproperties as well as its use as a natural flea repellent and de-wormer fordogs.
Please do not add garlic in amixed form to your dogs diet (i.e. garlic steak spice - this is not pure garlicand can make your dog very ill). When I refer to garlic I am talking aboutgarlic in its pure form - garlic cloves. A safe dosage for garlic is 1clove/10lbs of body weight per day. I use finely chopped freshgarlic, you can also use dried, ground garlic.

Ginger is an anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory,anti-bacterial, carminative. Ginger also Ginger helps in the absorption of foodstuff - thereby helping to keep your dog’s teeth clean and helping withdigestion. Ginger also helps in treating nausea such as motion sickness. Ginger helps boost healthy blood circulation, so it is veryhelpful for a dog that is prone to vascular damage of the extremities. MyBoxer, Robbie has very short fur and is particularly susceptible to vasculardamage (i.e. frost bite of the extremities, including ears). In the winter I add about 1 tbs of finely choppedginger root to his daily salad. You canalso use dry, ground ginger.

GreenTea is rich in anti-oxidantsand is helpful in fighting some cancers. It isalso calming. Make sure you use de-cafinated Green Tea.

Parsleyis high in fiber, richin anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals which help fight cancer and enhance thefunctioning of all organs. It also helps the body pass toxins and fights badbreath. Fresh Parsley is best but you can also use dry parsley.

Rosemary is high in fiber, rich in vitamins,anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti fungal, anti-septic,disease preventing and health promoting properties. You can use fresh or dry rosemary.

Turmeric is high in fiber, anti-inflammatory,anti-microbial, rich in vitamins and minerals and offers protection againstcancer, stroke, anemia, neuritis, memory disorders. You can use powder (mostcommonly available), crushed or fresh root. I use the powder form (groundturmeric).

IntroducingHerbs to Your Dog’s Diet
My dogs have ever hadan allergic reaction to the herbs or spices that I give them, but just likewith any other food stuff, some dogs may react to a herb or spice when otherdogs will not. I always recommend that if you are going to introduce a new foodstuff to your dog, introduce only one new item at a time. Wait a few daysbefore introducing the next new item. Allergic reactions can range from runnyeyes and nose, sneezing, itching, swelling, diarrhea or vomiting.

WhenShould Herbs & Spices Not be Introduced to Your Dog’s Diet
Certain herbs and spices donot create a hazard by themselves however they can interfere with theconventional medicines. If your dog is on any of the conventional medicinesplease make sure you consult your veterinarian before you introduce herbs orspices to your dog’s diet.

Anti-inflammatory (i.e. Rimadyl)
Aspirin
Antibiotics
Cardiac drugs
Central Nervous System drugs
Chemotherapy drugs
Diabetic / Hypoglycemic drugs (i.e. Insulin)
Diuretics (i.e. Furosemide, Diazide)
Hormones (i.e. Thyroxine)
Steroids

Herbs& Spices That Are Safe for Dogs
The following provides apartial list of herbs and spices that are safe for dogs.
Alfalfa
Aloe Vera
Burdock
Calendula
Catnip
Cayenne
Chamomile
Cinnamon
Dandelion
Echinacea
Eyebright
Flax Seed
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger
Gingko
Green Tea
Hawthorn
Licorice
Milk Thistle
Mullein
Nettle
Oat
Oregon Grape
Parsley
Red Clover
Sage
Sarsaparilla
Skullcap
Slippery Elm
St. John’s Wort

Herbs& Spices that Are NOT Safe for Dogs
The following provides a list of some of the herbs that are harmful to dogs…
Cocoa
Comfrey
Paprika
Pennyroyal
Pepper
Salt
Tea Tree Oil (must only be used in diluted carrier such as almond or olive oilin a ratio of 50:50)
Nutmeg
Mace
Ma Huang (Ephedra) use under supervision of a holistic veterinarian only.
Wormwood(a dewormer that should only ever be used under the supervision of a holisticveterinarian)

DailyAmounts Based on Dog’s Weight
The table below provides ageneral guideline for herbs/spices based on your dog’s weight. The informationprovided in the table is an extract from Dr. Kidd’s Guide to Herbal Dogs Care.

Dog’s Weight	Sprinkles (on dog's food once/day)	Teas	Capsules/Tablets	Tinctures
1-10 lbs	a small pinch	less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2 capsule, 1-3 times/day	1-3 drops, 2-3 times/day
10-20 lbs	a bigger pinch about	1/4 cup, 1-3 times/day	1/2-1 capsule/tablet, 1-3 times/day	3-5 drops, 2-3 times/day
20-50 lbs	2 pinches-1 teaspoon	1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 2-3 times/day	5-10 drops, 2-3 times/day
50-100 lbs 10-	2 pinches-2 teaspoons	1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times/day	1-2 capsules/tablets, 3-4 times/day	20 drops, 2-3 times/day
Over 100 lbs,	up to 1 tablespoon	up to 1 cup 3 times/day	adult human dose	adult human dose

COMPANIES THAT TEST ON DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS

2012-02-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

While I understand that it may be difficult to avoid all products,any effort you make to cut back on purchasing from these companies will savethe lives of many animals including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, monkeys,pigs, rabbits, rats, sheep and other innocent animals from pain, cruelty anddeath.

Please don't use me for research & then kill me, I deserve better!

33 animals die in laboratories per every second that passes -world wide. Yet there are around 450 alternative methods to test productwithout using animals - and many successful companies round the world use thesealternative methods.

Companies that do test on animals commonly use the DraizeTest (all animals that receive this painful test are killed after the testis administered and when the test is administered the animals are not given anytype of painkiller) and the LD-20Test (Lethal Dose 50 Test). Many companies also use vivisection - thepractice of cutting into or using invasive techniques on living animals.

Research has shown that testing on animals is a highly ineffectiveway to identify products and drugs that are harmful to humans.

In fact most ofthe tests done on animals are actually discarded! So, if you are still under theimpression that testing on animals is an unfortunate necessity to protecthumans from harm you now know otherwise! Most researchers and doctors admit thatdue to the anatomic and physiological differences between humans and non-humananimals the tests are irrelevant! For answers too many frequently askedquestions (FAQ) about animal experimentation and why it is not effective ornecessary you can click here.

AsAga Khan (Prince Sadruddin) said in 1933, "Thephilosophy behind vivisection, the sacrifice of creatures weregard as'inferior' beings, differs little from that behind theconcentration camp or the slave trader."

Take a look at the logo’s below - you will recognize many of them- including pet food manufacturers!

You can then scroll below for a morecomprehensive listing which includes many companies that are common householdnames. Below that listing you can click to see an even more extensive international listing. If you would like to search for a specific company to see if they teston animals - but do not see hem listed below you can click here to doa custom search by company name.

Conversely if you would like to see an extensive list of companies world-wide who do not test on animals you can click here.

Alcon Labs

Allergan, Inc.

Answer

Arm & Hammer

ArmorAll

Arrid

Axe

Aziza

Bain de Soleil

Ban Roll-on

Banana Boat

Bausch & Lomb

Benckiser

BenGay

Biotherm

Block Drug Co. Inc.

(The) Body Shop

Bounty

Boyle-Midway

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Cacherel

Cargill

Carpet Fresh

Carter-Wallace

Chesebrough-Ponds

Church & Dwight

Clarion

Clairol

Clear Choice

Clorox

Commerce Drug Co.

Consumer Value Stores

Coppertone

Coty

Cover Girl

Crest

Dana Perfumes

Dawn

Del Laboratories

Desitin

Dial Corporation

Diversey

Dove

Dow Brands

Drackett Products Co.

Drano

EcoLab

Eli Lilly & Co.

El Sanofi Inc.

Elizabeth Arden

Erno Laszlo

Faberge

Fantastik

Fendi

Final Net

Finesse

First Response

Flame Glow

Garnier

Giorgio Armani

Givaudan-Roure

Glade

Glass Plus

Helena Rubinstein

Helene Curtis Industries

Herbal Essences

Huggies

ISO

Ivory

Jhirmack

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson Products Co.

Jovan

Kaboom

Keri

Kimberly-Clark Corp

Kiwi Brands

Kleenex

Lady's Choice

Lancaster

Lancome

Lava

Lever Brothers

Lipton

Listerine

L'Oreal USA

Lubriderm

Lux

Lysol

Mars (candy company)

Matrix Essentials

Max Factor

Maybelline

Mead

Mop & Glo

Nair

Naturelle

Neutrogena

Neutron Industries, Inc.

Olean

Orange Glo

Oscar de la Renta

OxiClean

Pantene

Parfums International

Pearl Drops

Pennex

Pfizer, Inc.

Pine-Sol

Plax

Playtex Corporation

Pledge

Polident

Ponds

Post-It

Prestige Brands

Prince Matchabelli

Proctor & Gamble Co.

Quintessence

Raid

Ralph Lauren Fragrances

Reckitt Benckiser

Redken

Resolve

Richardson-Vicks

Sally Beauty Supply

Sally Hansen

Sanofi

SC Johnson & Son

Schering-Plough

Scotch

Scott Paper Co.

Scrub Free

Sensodyne

Signal

SmithKline Beecham

Snobal

SoftSheen

S.O.S.

Stanhome Inc.

Sterling Drug

Suave

Sun Star

Sunsilk

TCB Naturals

Tegrin

Tide

Tilex

Trojan

Truvia

Unilever

Vaseline

Vichy

Vidal Sassoon

Visine

Vivid

Warner-Lambert

Westwood Pharmaceuticals

White Shoulders

Whitehall Laboratories

Windex

Woolite

If you would like to view a more extensive world-wide listing you can click here.

POUND SEIZURE - BETRAYING DOGS FOR PROFIT

2012-01-31T17:17:00.000-08:00

Pound Seizure - Using Dogs for Research, Testing & Teaching

Dogs like these rescues (members of my own dog pack) shown below should have the opportunity to have the life that they deserve to have. Dog's don't get to choose who they live with and what is done to them. Their welfare and their lives are at the mercy of human beings - will they end up with someone who truly respects and loves them or with someone who uses and abuses them - then discards their life as if it is trash, abandons them, leaves them stray. Dogs that end up in shelters, stray, homeless have been let down by society once, making it all the more tragic when they are let down twice. What a dog wants most is to have the opportunity to live the life it deserves to live - to be loved and to give love like only a dog can.

In this day and ageof technology there is no need to test product on dogs and other animals - many othercompanies are no longer doing so and they are profitable.

So why do thesecompanies you see listed below still carry out this barbaric practice?

Whatpossible excuse can there be to justify the ongoing suffering of non-humananimals - including dogs - for thetesting of product?

The only real reason is that so many humans are greedyopportunists. To these people making a dollar is everything no matter theconsequences, no matter the cost to others, particularly non-human animals -the road to abuse lies wide open.

At the bottom of this article you will find a link to an extensivelist of companies that test on animals. Unfortunately the list is very long andyou will see many companies listed who you are very familiar with…producingmany products that people use and wear on a daily basis.

If you have never had the opportunity to stop and thinkabout this topic, or do a little research you are probably not aware of thefundamentals of this practice. And let’s face-it the information is not loudlyand proudly broadcast by the manufacturers and governmental regulatoryauthorities who allow and ‘oversee’ the industry. So here are a few facts thatyou may not be aware of and some things you can do to help ensure the safety of dogs...

What is Pound Seizure?

Animal shelters/pounds and animal control facilities are permitted to sell lost,abandoned, homeless dogs and cats for use in experimentation (research,testing, teaching). This practice is called ‘Pound Seizure’.

Where is PoundSeizure Legal in North America?

Pound Seizure is legal and occurs every day in Canada and the USA.

Ontario is the only province left in Canada where poundseizure is the law. What does this mean?

Well, inOntario, pounds must hold dogs for three days, and then they can sell the straypets to Class 'B' Dealers who then sell the dogs and cats to labs that use them for experiments. If there is an order from alaboratory, the pound is required by law, after the three-day waiting period,to provide the animals ordered to the laboratories rather than euthanize orcontinue to hold them. There are some municipalities in Ontario who understandthat this law is wrong and refuse to surrender dogs for research, but there aremany more that comply to the law.

In other provinces selling dogs to laboratories is not alaw however it is also not against the law - so pound dogs are sold by sheltersfor research. This means that shelters can choose to do so or not as they wish.Of all the provinces where this practice is a choice, Quebec is the worstoffender for selling dogs for research.

Look at TheseStatistics

In 2007 Companies and Universities in Canada used 15,726dogs and cats in experimentation. How does this number breakdown by province?

4% Atlantic Canada, (585dogs and cats);

11% Western Canada - Manitoba,Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC, (1,662 dogs and cats;

33% Ontario (5,130 dogsand cats);

52% Quebec (8,159 dogsand cats).

It should be noted that backyard breeders are also a source of dogs for Class 'B' Dealers. The following provides some statistics reflecting known numbers of dogs acquired and sold to labs by Class 'B' Dealers in 2008 as noted by the USDA. One must always remember that there are always sales of dogs that are not reported - black market sales.

In the USA, 4,643 dogs were acquired by Class B Dealers in 2008 - the numbers breakdown as follows:
49% from hobby breeders (back-yard breeders) and other individuals;
31% from Class 'B' Dealers;
20% directly from government pounds or shelters.

The USDA has not issued comparative data for subsequent years. Although the reported numbers show a decline in the number of dogs being used for research, dogs are still being used and killed in the name of research. In the USA, ten-year average 1978 to 1987 -187,464 dogs were used for research; 1998 to 2007 69,223 dogs were used for research.

How Much Do TheseCompanies/Universities pay for a Pound Seizure Dog?

Pound or shelterdogs (also termed ‘random source dogs’) provide a cheap source of supply atabout $6.00/per dog. And the available supply is endless.

Can this Research,Testing, Teaching Be Done Without Harming Dogs?

Many researchers, prestigious research facilities,medical schools, etc. in North America, the UK and other parts of the worldchoose not to experiment on dogs and other animals for moral as well aseconomic and scientific reasons or simple to obey law. These companies andinstitutions are proof that products can be developed safely and profitably,students in medical and veterinary colleges can efficiently and fully acquireall required knowledge and skills without causing the pain, suffering and deathof innocent living beings.

Supposed human entitlement is a very weak reason to sentenceeven one dog's life (let alone many) to suffering and death.

What Research,Testing & Teaching Means Pertaining to Dogs

Every year, tens of thousands of dogs are used indrug-toxicity studies in Europe and North America. The researchers start their testing program bygiving the dogs a dosage that will kill. Then they take another group of dogsand scale the dosage back so it causes severe suffering but not immediate death. And so on, reducingthe dosage on other dogs until they achieve the result desired. All of the dogssuffer terribly and then die.

Cosmetic companies, companies producing householdcleaners and so on do the same kind of testing. Dogs are left to suffer withmajor parts of their bodies chemically burned, internal and external wounds,induced failure of organs and so on. Again, the dogs suffer and die - most often their death is slow and painful.

Many Universities use dogs for veterinary learning -operating on the dogs so the students can learn procedure and then they euthanizingthe dogs when they are still under anesthetic. Some of the dogs are operated on more than once - depends on the university. Some universities put the dogs ontreadmills forcing them to exercise until the dog's heart bursts. The Universities carry out many such atrocities on dogs - and to think that they where all someones 'pet' at one time. What a betrayal of a sacred trust!

So, If You Have to Give Your Dog-up for any Reason…

Make sure you DO NOTsurrender your dog to a shelter unless you are 100% certain that they do notparticipate in Pound Seizure.

Instead surrender your dog to a reputable, certifiedrescue group. Many people have given their dog’s up to Shelters because theyfelt another person would be able to give the dog a better life - moreattention, exercise and so on. When they check back to see the adoption statusof their former dog some of these people have found out that the dog was eithersubject to Pound Seizure or he shelter choose to sell the dog to a researchlab. Although the people surrendered the dog with the best intention - for thedog’s welfare - the dog ended up dead.

At least if the doghad been simply euthanized by the shelter, the dog would have passed away insome sort of peace rather than alone in confusion and agony.

Dogs Should be Cherished by Humanity

How can we have laws for to prevent cruelty to dogs and then turn around and allowdogs to be used for 'research'.

How many times does a dog have to suffer?

Dogswho end up in 'shelters' have already been let down by humanity. Dogs don't getto choose who they live with and what is done to them. Their welfare and theirlives are at the mercy of human beings - will they end up with someone whotruly respects and loves them or with someone who uses and abuses them - thendiscards their life as if it is trash, abandons them, leaves them stray. What adog wants most is to have the opportunity to live the life it deserves to live- to be loved and to give love like only a dog can.

All though I see allof the terrible things that mankind does to dogs, I will never understand how ‘civilized’people and a ‘civilized’ nation can:

A - Sanction PoundSeizure;

B - Not make itillegal to sell of stray, abandoned, homeless dogs for research, testing, teaching;

C - Not make itillegal to breed dogs specifically for research, testing, teaching - this isjust as wrong.

To endorse orsilently allow any of these things is no different than using dogs as bait andfight dogs in dog fighting - another brutal painful and deadly connivance ofmankind. It is no different than killingdogs for meat (as the Chinese, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, etc.).

Are There any Organizations Striving to See Pound SeizureReform?

Groups such as the Animal Alliance continue to work tirelessly to createawareness and push reform. As a result of their ongoing efforts GuelphUniversity and the Ontario Veterinary College have voluntarily made reforms totheir policies to ensure that no more pound dogs will be used for teaching orexperimentation, that dogs who are used for skills training will be ‘recovered’and adopted out, and that no more dogs will be killed for practice surgeries.While this is a great step forward, there are many other institutions andcompanies in the province of Ontario who have not made any such reforms.

What You Do to Help Affect Change

One - Well you canbecome an advocate of change by spreading the word about Pound Seizure - mostpeople do not even know that this occurs!

Two - You can signpetitions. Although you may not think this worth the time and bother - I cantell you that it is. When enough people sign governments are forced to payattention. I have and will continue to sign many petitions against PoundSeizure in Canada, the US and around the world. Here are some sites that youcan visit which host a lot of animal welfare petitions.

TheAnimal Rescue Site

Three - You can reducethe number of products that you purchase from companies that test on animals;

Four - If you live inthe Province of Ontario Canada, Animal Alliance has laid out some steps thatyou can follow to take action. The following is an excerpt from their site:

Animal Allianceprepared a document entitled The Political, Animal Services, and Scientific Case AgainstPound Seizure regarding thearguments against pound seizure and how such practices stop the implementationof progressive animal services programmes. To find out about animals in yourarea, you can mail your municipality a Freedom of Information request - asample letter is available by clicking here. Also available for download is a documentregarding teaching alternatives for veterinary students.’

We need to keep the pressure on the Honourable DaltonMcGuinty, Premier of Ontario, and the Honourable Jean Charest, Premier ofQuebec, to bring in legislation banning the use of lost pets in research. Soplease, mail and call them. Hand-written letters are best but you can alsoprint our sign-on letter by clicking here.

The Honourable Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Tel: 416-325-1941
Fax: 416-325-3745

Email: www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp

The Honourable Jean Charest

Premier of Quebec
Édifice Honoré-Mercier, 3e étage
835, boulevard René-Lévesque Est
Québec (Québec) G1A 1B4

Tel: 418-643-5321 /514-873-3411
Fax: 418-643-3924 / 514-873-6769

Do you know if the manufacturer of your dog's food tests on animals? Even some pet food companies test on animals! The same type of cruel, abusive, lethal research that I talked about above! If you would like to make sure that the pet food products that you are buying are not tested on animals (including on dogs)...

A - if you live in North America, you can click here to see a list of pet food companies that DO NOT test on animals;

B - if you live in the UK, you can click here to see a list of pet food companies that DO NOT test on animals.

If you would like to see a comprehensive list of companies that manufacture many common household and personal hygiene products that DO test on animals just click here. You will be shocked to see how many of the products that you use daily have been tested on animals!

If you would like to further action to stop Pound Seizure and the Class 'B' Companies who purchase dogs to sell for research/testing you can visit this site to sign petitions and learn more.

ALL ABOUT PIT BULLS

2012-01-23T16:50:00.000-08:00

First,Did you Know…

A Pit Bull is not a breed ofdog, instead it is a term used to generally describe three individual breeds ofdog that all have similar characteristics…

One - American Pit BullTerrier;

Two - AmericanStaffordshire Terrier; and

Three - StaffordshireBull Terrier, short form name - ‘Staffy’.

If you would like to further testyour ability to identify a Pit Bull you can click here.

The Pit Bull breeds wereoriginally developed during the 19^th century by crossing Bull Dogs andTerriers. Breeding focused on attaining characteristics to attain a good ‘fighting’dog (if indeed that can be good at all - to me it is shameful that any humanwould want to use dogs to fight each other or another animal for humanentertainment and monetary gain). To this purpose breeding was tailored todevelop traits that were desirable in a fighting dog. Traits such as…

- High tolerance for pain(this just makes me very sad);

- High prey drive (like manydogs such as hounds);

- Strength and agility (likemany dogs such as the German Shepherd and Boxer).

Despite the fact that manypeople today - upon hearing the word ‘Pit Bull’ immediately think of aggressiontowards humans - this was one trait that the three breeds did not have…and that this till holds true for Pit Bulls of today. Back in the 19^th century PitBulls were family ‘pets’ and pre-fight / during the fight they required a lotof handling by their humans - so reactive-aggressive behaviour to humans wasnot bred into the Pit Bull. And as to Bully Breeds being more aggressive than other breeds of dogs...in 2002, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta Georgia carried out a study that proved there are no specific dog breeds that are inherently viscous.

Some people believe also believe that Bully Breeds have superior jaw strength enabling them to lock down on a victim like no other dog can. In 2005, National Geographic conducted a study to measure the bite force of various breeds of dogs. The bite force of the Bully Breeds proved to be less than that of other breeds such as the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler...and both of these breeds are no less likely to be great companions than the bully and other breeds!

The term 'Pit Bull' originated in England. During the Medieval period of the 1200's, bull baiting arrived in England - bull dogs were used to bait the bulls. Both bull and bear bating were a popular form of 'entertainment' considered as a sport and opportunity for gambling. In the 1800's Bull Dogs were breed with Terriers to create a faster more agile dog for bull baiting events. In 1835, both bear and bull baiting were prohibited when an act was passed in Parliament to stop the brutal sport. Unfortunately, today there are many places in the world were dog fighting still occurs legally and illegally. Pit Bull's are used both as bate and fighting dogs - having no choice but to participate they are cruelly treated, live a short life of pain and suffering all for the entertainment of humans. I am often struck by the thought that humans have advanced very little over the ages.

Today, Pit Bulls are probably themost feared and legislated-against (restricted and banned) dog in the world. Yet,in locations were they are not so treated, Pit Bulls are well known and lovedfamily pets who not only get along with children but with other animals. Theyalso excel at Agility, Fly Ball, Soccer and other such activities. Many PitBulls also work as Registered Therapy Dogs and other occupations such as Searchand Rescue.

Sohow did the Pit Bull get such a bad rap?

Well, years ago it was theRottweiler, the Doberman, the German Shepherd, the Boxer and the list goes on.All it takes is one incident and the media’s quest to sell their copy fuels thefire. The media knows humanity’s lust for blood and sensationalism and themedia will get as much mileage out of a story as it can. The end result - the populaceshifts their fear from one breed to another. And the more stories that can befound the bigger the stigma grows.

It really is that simple.

The sad thing isthat most people do not even know what a Pit Bull really looks like and most reported‘Pit Bull’ attacks - at least eight out of ten are not actually Pit Bulls!

Thinkabout this statistic…in 2006, an estimated 72 million dogs lived in householdsin the U.S. (U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2007 Edition)How many of these dogs are purebred, pedigreed, and registered, less than youmight think - the very liberal estimate is maybe 25%. So 75% of the dogs inNorth America are not purebred. Further supporting the fact that most dogsattacks reported as being perpetrated by Pit Bulls simply are not.

Overall fatal incidents fromdog attacks in general are extremely rare. About 75 million dogs reside in the UStoday. About 32 fatal dog attacks occur each year. To better understand how out-of-kiltermost people’s concept of dog attacks are take a look at purely human attackfatalities. The human population of the US is about 300 million (4x the dogpopulation). Humans in the US murdered 16,000 humans (500x the number of dog-related deaths).

So one the whole, not onlyare dogs much less dangerous to humans than humans are, but the number ofactual Pit Bull related attacks are extremely low. Here is a great bit ofinformation to put things in a little more perspective…

In 2002 the AmericanTemperament Testing Society statistics showed that American Pit Bull Terriers,American Staffordshire Terriers (both ‘Pit Bull breeds’) and Rotweillers passedthe good temperament test +80% of the time. A very high passing grade! Othercommon family dogs did not fare as well. For example Golden Retreivers andBichon Frise received a 77% rating, Chihuahuas and Lhasa Apsos received 71% (youcan view the test results at the AmericanTemperament Test Society .

So,How About Taking a Look at Just How Sweet Pit Bulls Really Are…

Well, you can start with thisYes, Pit Bulls Suddenly Snap;

And then take a look at this Gentleman Duke - A bait Dog’s Salvation;

And lastly this Pit Bull Bigotry - Public Perception and Legislation.

For those of you who are notsure what a bait dog is - Pit Bulls are still used to day in legal (in some USStates) and illegal (in other US States and Canada) dog fights. To train thedogs to attack another dog ‘bait’ dogs are used. Dogs that are submissive,sweet natured dogs are used as bait dogs. They end up severely injured, live ashort life of torture and pain and then are killed - some are lucky enough tobe rescued. Duke is one such dog.

So,the next time some one says something bad about a Pit Bull, I am hoping you will stand-up andsay - ‘hey wait a minute, you are wrong and here is why’.

I will be following thisarticle up with one on Breed Specific Legislation - which sees a lot of PitBulls condemned to death in Canada and the USA.

OneLast Thing - You Can Help Pit Bulls In Ontario

If you agree Pit Bulls arenot the evil demons that the media and others have made them out to be, andwould like to see them treated as they should be in Ontario - as loved andrespected canine members of society - you can help make sure that the ban on PitBulls is repealed by signing this petition. You may not be aware but (shame) Ontariois one of those places that instituted Breed Specific Legislation against PitBulls.

Breed-specific legislation restrictspeople from having dogs based on dog breed.This requires breed identification of each and everydog. As noted above, this gets into murky water as there are far more crossbreed dogs in North America than there are pure breed registered dogs. Mostmixed breed dogs are a genetic conglomerate resulting from more than onegeneration of mixed breed dog interbreeding. In addition, a dog that doesn’t meetany single breed standard may be categorized as a type of dog rather than aspecific breed, i.e. a Shepherd, a Terrier, a Pit Bull. This means that theprimary means of identification for a mixed-breed dog is a visual glance followed by a guess - very subjective.Pretty much the same way the media identifies a ‘Pit Bull’ as the guilty dog inan attack.

Ontario Attorney GeneralMichael Bryant, who pushed for this ban on Pit Bulls in Ontario, proposed thismanner of identification:

“I’ve said before and I willsay again, if it walks like a pit bull, if it barks and bites like a pit bull,wags its tail like a pit bull, it’s a pit bull.” (Ontario Hansard 38-1, November 4, 2004.

And so it stands. Make nomistake BSL is racism, to make things worse it is racism born of ignorance andit is lethal. Many Pit Bulls and dogs who people think may be Pit Bulls are putto death because of this legislation. Euthanized, gassed to death, heart sticked and so on.

Sohere is how you can help…

Randy Hillier, MPP forLanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, tabled a bill in Queen's Park to repealthe breed-specific legislation passed by the McGuinty government in 2005,commonly known as the “pit bull ban”. Subsequently Randy created a website and a petitionto help support the bill to repeal the ban, just click here .

Thanks for reading this,every little bit we do to help change the perception of Pit Bulls can save asweet misunderstood dog’s life! We can change the future and make it a betterplace for dogs.

References:
Stop BSL http://stopbsl.com/
KC Dog Blog http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/
American Temperament Society http://atts.org/