Pawty Time! Dog Birthday Party
Our dogs are just part of the family, so why should everyone else have all the birthday fun? Dogs ought to have at least ONE birthday a year...after all, each year of life is equivalent to seven human years, right? So, put on your birthday hats and get ready to help Fido blow out all the candles on his wheat-free carrot-apple cake! Check out this website for some cute dog birthday ideas!
The Importance of Bones and Calcium, Phosphorous in Carnivore's Diet
Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D - Dogs and cats, their kind in the wild, eat a large amount of calcium. This happens because they chew on, and swallow, bones which have large quantities of calcium in their makeup. It is assumed that with time they have adapted to having this kind of diet. It is not completely clear that they must have this much calcium to be healthy. In other words, perhaps they can adapt to lower levels. It certainly seems that way for many of the animals I have known that, for one reason or another, have had small amounts of calcium in their diets. They often seem just fine. There is evidence that the growing animal is the one most sensitive to calcium deficiency. This makes sense if we remember that it is during this time that the bones of the body are rapidly enlarging. They are made up primarily of calcium and phosphorus. In any case, it seems wise to supply the amounts of calcium that are typical of the natural diet and our recipes are formulated with that consideration. To give you some idea of how much more calcium is "required" by a dog compared to a human being, consider this comparison. The amount of calcium the average woman needs is the same as that required by a small 10 lb. dog. A larger dog, say a 100 lb. German Shepherd requires about 10 times as much as this average woman. It is difficult to find sources of calcium that can add this much to the diet. The natural source is bones and we find that this is also the most ample source with which to formulate diets.
"The common practice of feeding meat without bones (or bone meal) is nutritionally disastrous for dogs and cats. There are far too many people giving eggs and meat to their pets without providing a balance to all the phosphorus they contain. Meat contains no calcium, and lots of phosphorus; bones contain lots of calcium. Eggs contain lots of phosphorus; the shells contain calcium. That is nature's balance. If we feed meat without bones or eggs without shells, or aren't sure of the correct ratios of those things to feed, we must use something to replace them. It is a common and tragic mistake to give a diet far too high in phosphorus to cats and dogs." Christie Keith from Natural diet.... what is it? Raw fat is also vitally important in carnivore's diet for optimum health and performance.
Foods to Avoid
Despite a dog's resilient digestive tract, there are a few things you'll want to be sure to avoid feeding him or her.
The best website I've come across listing the foods and substances you'll want to avoid feeding your pet is found here.
A short list of things you'll want to stay away from is listed below.
Onions - can cause Heinz body anemia, which is a deficiency in red blood cells that leads to the blood's reduced ability to transfer oxygen to the body's tissues, causing tissue hypoxia. Can lead to heart failure, poor vision, and a myriad of other issues. My caution? Just keep the onions away from Fido.
Grapes or Raisins - Can potentially cause renal (kidney) failure.
Nuts can be indigestible to dogs in general and Macadamia nuts can be fatal. Avoid giving your dog nuts. Seeds, on the other hand, such as raw sunflower or flax seeds, are very beneficial and are excellent sources of protein when ground up with their veggies.
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in many gums. This too has proven to be fatal to dogs.
Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine, which can be fatal for dogs. It is a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean. Amounts of theobromine vary by type of chocolate with baking chocolate containing the most, and white, and milk chocolate containing the least. The toxicity varies further by the health and size of your dog. Two one-ounce squares of bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog, while the same dog would have to eat one pound of milk or semi-sweet chocolate to have the same harmful effect. To be on the safe side, avoid chocolate all together.
Alcohol - Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Sugar - Even though your dog may seem to have a sweet tooth, keep him out of the sugar!
Honey may contain botulism spores which can be fatal to young dogs, puppies, and senior dogs.
Dogs, like people, can have food intolerances and allergies specific only to them. What one dog thrives on can cause ill effects to another dog. But chances are, your dog is among the millions who seem to be able to eat anything and everything (including some things we prefer they did not eat).
Check out the ASPCA web site: http://www.aspca.org for updated information on foods that can be toxic to dogs, as well as other environmental substances and plants that you do not want them to consume. They also run a 24x7 poison control center at 888-426-4435. A small fee may apply to using this center.
A Very Informative Book for Beginners!
If you're just discovering the benefits of a natural diet for your pet, discerning fact from fiction can be daunting.
A fantastic resource for discovering more about natural nutrition for your pet can be found in this book by Kymythy Schultze in her recent book, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats.
It is the most authoritative, informative books I've found in helping understand why natural nutrition for your pet is so valuable and important. She can be a little cheesy in her approach sometimes, but her advice is solid and easy to follow. Your dog will appreciate you reading this book!
