5 Healthy Foods You Can Feed Your Dog

There are several different “human-foods” that dogs can in fact eat that are beneficial to their health. There’s a lot of information out there, but some of it is false or misrepresented. Below we will outline five healthy foods that your dog can eat.

1. Fish

Fish is an excellent source of protein for your dog and provides your pet with amino acids. Be careful to make sure that the fish is fully cooked before giving it to your pet as feeding them raw fish can be harmful.

2. Carrots 

Carrots are a great healthy, affordable snack for your dog to consume. I know my dogs will hardly touch vegetables, but carrots are an easy favorite for them. They like anything with a crunch to it!

Brianna Elliot, RD with Healthline writes: “Carrots are low in calories and a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.” View the full article here. This means carrots are a go-to snack for your dog that won’t have them struggling to fit into last year’s Christmas sweater.

3. Applesauce

Applesauce is full of vitamins that are great for your pet. Applesauce contains vitamin C, which can boost your dog’s immune system. Your dog naturally produces vitamin C but sometimes dogs have trouble making this immune-boosting vitamin on their own. 

Bob Griswold and Nancy Kerns with Whole Dog Journal writes: “that when dogs are sick or stressed, they can rapidly deplete their bodies’ output of vitamin C”. View the full page here.

4. Turkey

Turkey is another great source of protein for your pet. When it comes to this delicious food it is best to give them just the meat. This means that any seasoning or skin should be removed before feeding this to your animal.

 Do not give your dog any turkey bones as it can be very harmful to them. Colleen Williams with PetCare Blogs writes that turkey bones can “lacerate different areas of the digestive tract, and are also a choking hazard”. View the full article here.

5. Watermelon

 This may seem like an odd food to feed your pet but it can be very nutritious. Watermelon contains vitamin A, which can be used to promote a healthy coat. Also, make sure you keep the seeds out as too many of them can hurt their tummies.

 Conclusion

  Above we mentioned five simple foods that your pup can benefit from. There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding what foods your dog can and cannot eat, so be sure to do thorough research before giving your dog something new.

If you are concerned it is always best to consult with your veterinarian. What interesting foods have you fed your dog? Leave a comment below.

Dogs are just one part of your life, but to them, you are their whole life.

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Joint Pain In Dogs

and how it is often overlooked during the busy holiday season

This time of the year may be a rough time for your four-legged friend. The winter months can have an effect on your pet’s joint pain due to colder weather and a lack of physical exercise.

It’s an easy problem to overlook, especially with how busy we are at this time of the year. As you will read in this article, you will see there are many ways to help alleviate physical stress for your dog including the use of CBD.

It’s Cold Outside

When exposed to colder temperatures and drops in pressure, our muscles and tendons expand, putting more strain and inflammation on our joints. “Because of the confined space within the body, this can cause pain, especially in joints affected by arthritis,” writes Kenneth Chakour, MD, who specializes in comprehensive joint care.

The same can be said for our dogs. Thankfully, there are many simple remedies to get your four-legged friend to feel more comfortable this winter. 

How you can help:

If you’ve got a pooch with shorter hair, consider walks with a stylish new sweater to help them stay warm. Due to the colder weather, your puppies may not be getting as much physical exercise as they need. One of the things I like to do is take my puppies with us on car rides, walks, and family trips.

This promotes activity and physical/mental stimulation. More exercise and muscle building can also help relieve stress on their joints caused by everyday activities. Another potential remedy that can be overlooked is the use of CBD.

CBD & Joint Pain

A recent study has shown that CBD can have real benefits for your pet. Researchers from Frontiers in Veterinary Science conducted a study on CBD for Osteoarthritis in dogs. They gave cannabidiol (CBD) to dogs with joint pain and reported that the “Veterinary assessment showed decreased pain during CBD treatment”. View the full article here. 

Cannabidiol works with your dog’s natural, internal “system” which can help alleviate things like emotional stress and pain. With holiday months affecting us all, CBD for your dog might just be the simple remedy you and your furry family member are looking for. 

 Conclusion

    The cold weather matched with the busy holidays may be affecting your dog’s health. Unfortunately, this is something that is often overlooked by dog owners everywhere. Just be aware of it and utilize what you can to help. You always want to consult your veterinarian for any health concerns, but physical activity and the use of CBD for your pet might be a good place to start. What kind of problems come up for your dog during the colder months? Drop a comment below!

Dogs are just one part of your life, but to them, you are their whole life.

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Dogs are Not Just a Christmas Present

make sure you are ready for the commitment

Christmas time really isn’t so jolly for some of our beloved animals. We have a serious issue with animal abandonment this time of the year due to the “gifting” of dogs to unprepared owners. Experienced dog owners understand that their dogs require a lot of time and attention. It is crucial for the new group of holiday “dog enthusiasts” to understand one major point. That “gift” you received that brought you joy at that moment, is a 12+ year commitment to another living, breathing animal. Buying a dog is a decision that must be made with proper planning and commitment.

Why does this happen?

Local shelters see a spike in return rates in just the first week after Christmas, and through much of the month of January. It may be that these “dog owners” don’t fully understand the commitment that comes with getting a new dog. Kristy Wilkinson with The Holidog Times writes that many of these dogs are “bought impulsively, or after barely any research.”. View the full article here. The decision to add a new addition to the family should be carefully thought out.

(Look into it, your future dog thanks you.)

Preparation is Key

Before making the decision to adopt, consider if everyone in the family is ready for a new addition. You may be giving the dog to your young son/daughter, but you will ultimately be the one responsible for its care until your child is old enough to understand your dog’s needs. Try sitting down with your family and discussing who will be responsible for each basic need that your dog will have for the next 12+ years (like food, exercise, and playtime).

It Can Wait

If you are not prepared to have a new dog right now, that’s ok. There are many special occasions where you can “gift” a pet. Your child’s birthday would be a great opportunity to light up their world or maybe even Father’s Day to introduce a “man’s best friend”. You can use the time from now until then to research and prepare for the full scope of taking care of a pet.

The point is that we should make this decision based on understanding and preparation, not just the holidays.

 Conclusion

A dog placed in a home that isn’t ready for it increases the chances of that dog being placed in a shelter. Make sure you’re ready by researching and preparing for the challenge of taking care of a new pet. It doesn’t have to be a rushed decision to “light up” the holidays. There are many fun occasions every year to “gift” a pet. We know they are amazing animals, just make sure you’re ready. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more amazing content.

Dogs are just one part of your life, but to them, you are their whole life.

Click here to donate to the ASPCA and help animals all over the world find new homes.

What has your experience been like with your beloved fur babies? Drop a comment below, we love feedback!

The Role of CBD for Your Dog

And how emotional support is not replaceable 

Oftentimes, humans find themselves grappling with a number of emotional and mental struggles. These struggles can be anxiety, stress, mood swings, and depression. In most cases, they are treated with medication, but sometimes medication alone isn’t an end-all solution to these problems.

The same applies to our dogs. Dogs are a reflection of their environment, and if a dog is behaving negatively it may be time to take a closer look at the environment that they are being subjected to. CBD can help calm your pet, but that doesn’t mean we ignore the emotional support that our canines require from us.

Their Environment Matters

As we mentioned in our previous blog post, the environment our pets live in can have a huge impact on their emotional and physical well-being. CBD does not “heal” the emotional gaps in your dog. Really reflect on how emotionally supportive the surroundings are in your home and whether or not they are meeting the needs of your dog.

Your Dogs Might be a Reflection of You 

Ever heard the saying, “Dogs look like their owners”? Your home life, your personal stress levels, and the way your home is structured all play a part in the emotional support your dog requires.

Think about it, if you prefer a clean house and feel like you always come home to a mess, how does that start to make you feel? Do you become easily frustrated? Do you find yourself struggling to find common items in the morning? This may cause you to express frustration by storming around the house or yelling.

Your dog can sense that agitation, and oftentimes they think that agitation is directed at them. CBD will not fix this issue.

Play Works Wonders

One easy way to combat outside stress in your dog is to give them plenty of physical stimulation. Alyssa Castle with Jet Pet Resort writes, “Proven over time, a tired dog is better behaved, calm, focused and understanding”. (View the full article here.) CBD may calm anxiety, but it does not relieve the need to burn pent up energy.

Dogs of all breeds thrive off of physical exercise and proper socialization, just like humans. A quick jog can make you feel ten years younger, imagine what it can do for your dog.

(it’s all natural)

Finding the Balance with CBD

Through research, we now understand that dogs have a specific system geared toward the active component CBD. It is called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), and Robert J. Silver with MDPI writes how the ECS “Provides homeostatic balance to the nervous and immune systems…” (Click here for the full article.) CBD positively affects things like anxiety, stress, and joint pain, by filling in the gaps when your dog’s ECS doesn’t produce enough of “the stuff” on its own.

 Conclusion

 Emotional support for your pet is a requirement if you wish to have well-behaved dogs. Things like a nurturing environment and mental stimulation cannot be replaced. CBD can help calm your pet, but it will not “fix” your pet’s behavior problems. Now that we understand that CBD can help alleviate unwanted symptoms, what steps can we take to eliminate the core issues our dogs might have? If the emotional support of your dog, on all fronts, is already a priority, why not add in CBD for the things you can’t help with?

How are you emotionally supportive for your puppy?

Dogs are just one part of your life, but to them, you are their whole life.

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Dogs are not a household item.

Are you ready for a dog?

Like a son or a daughter, our four-legged friends have their own place in the family. Not as objects, not as “furniture”, but as a real, living member of your household. Dogs have their own limb on your family tree. In some cases, when a dog is brought into a home it may not be receiving the love and care it needs to thrive. Instead, they are used as props, as items to be used to protect the image of what a “home” is. It is vital for dog owners everywhere to fulfill the emotional, physical, and mental needs of their pets.

What Does That Mean?

Dogs, just like humans, experience a wide range of emotions. They may not be able to express those emotions as easily as we can, Simon Worrall from National Geographic writes “They [dogs] have feelings very much like we do, even though they don’t have words to describe them”. To see the full article click here.

As a dog owner myself, the emotional range my dogs are able to express is self-evident. They express excitement when they see me grab a leash, they express love through wet kisses all over my face, and they even express anxiety when I get ready to leave for work. 

Dogs are emotional creatures with very real emotional requirements. 

How Do You Meet That demand? 

How do you express love when they chew up your favorite pair of shoes?

How do you express patience when they try to knock over your guests at the front door?

How do you express compassion when they tear something up every time you leave for work?

I, myself, have a dog with these very real issues. Moose, my pitbull/lab mix, has torn through the drywall in several corners of my house, every time I leave for work. Each incident has happened next to a door as if he is trying to scratch himself out of the house in order to come to find me. The fear stems from thinking I will never come back, as his previous owners did once. 

It Takes Work

It takes work, but they are more than worth it. Now more than ever we are faced with challenges in our lives that may be hard to cope with. But dogs do not understand the “tough times”. Dogs understand energy. Gillian Scarpino with Off The Beaten Trail Canine Facility writes, “Dogs read body language. They literally read the energy of the room, of people, of other animals, then reflect that energy back”. View the article here.

Simple at-home hacks to try with your dog:

• Our dogs love to “watch” TV with us. Try laying a thick blanket out on the couch (protection against sharp nails and shedding) and snuggle up for a few episodes of your favorite show.

• Dogs require physical stimulation daily. They need on average at least thirty minutes of exercise a day to release pent-up energy. If sticking to a walking routine proves challenging, try out a dog park.

• Invest in good quality chew toys. Dogs also need mental stimulation throughout the day, and waiting for their favorite person to come home can get boring pretty quickly.

 Conclusion

    Dogs experience a range of emotional and physical needs just like humans. Through experience, we understand how negative emotions can have a lasting effect on our dogs. But so can positive emotions. Love is a universal language, spoken by both humans and dogs, and through love, we connect on a truly exceptional level. Before you take home a dog, consider that they will need more than just food and a roof over their heads. They will need a real emotional commitment from you and all members of your family for the next 15-20 years. 

Dogs are just one part of your life, but to them, you are their whole life.

What has your experience been like with your beloved fur babies? Drop a comment below, we love feedback!

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