Homemade dog food is becoming a popular option, although hardly a new one, for many dog owners. Every dog alive today can be traced back to dogs who were raised on homemade natural diets. The dog food industry, in comparison to dogs themselves, is young – maybe 50 to 60 years – although canned meat was sold as dog food at the turn of the twentieth century. Originally, the commercial foods were meant to supplement homemade food.

With few exceptions, commercially made dry food is primarily cereal based with the major portion of the protein coming from grains and a dash of animal protein in the ingredients. An amazing number of dogs have been able to exist and adapt to these diets, which have made the dog into a partial herbivore instead of a carnivore. Canned diets, which usually contain more animal protein with a dash of cereal, are also popular, especially among toy breeds. Some people successfully combine these two.

photo credit: deovolenti

Many dogs cannot thrive on commercially prepared rations. However, they exhibit disease states, often mistaken for allergies, which are deficiency diseases caused by cereal-based foods. Dogs in a natural state would eat meat. Their teeth are formed to tear flesh from the bone, and they would share a carcass with a pack of other dogs.

The carcass would be that of a grass-eating animal – an herbivore. Along with the internal organs dogs would eat the predigested grasses and plants of the carcass. Those grasses and plants would consist of no more than 20 to 25 percent of the dogs’ total diet. They would raid nests from ground-breeding birds and eat the eggs, and they would catch the occasional insect. These dogs might forage on certain weeds and grasses.

In formulating a more natural diet we have stayed within these boundaries – with the exception of the insects. A natural diet follows as closely as possible what the dog would eat if still in the wild state. It takes into account the limitations of the dog’s short digestive tract, strong stomach acid and the enzymes the canine system produces to break down food. It consists of two meats: One is a cereal meal plus supplements, which makes up 25 percent of the total diet, and the other is a raw meat meal plus supplements, which is 75 percent of the total diet.

The advantages of a natural diet are many. Health and longevity are increased, there is resistance to disease and the diet can be tailored to individual needs. This is crucial for some breeds of dogs, especially imported dogs or relatives of imported dogs, who have difficulty in digesting corn, which is in the majority of prepared commercial diets. The diet allows individual ingredients to be substituted.

The cat’s food bowl should be placed away from any noise or foot traffic; the water bowl should be placed in the same spot too. The location should be easy to reach and comfortable and the owner must think before choosing the most suitable place. This location is not to be changed unless necessary because the cat will become familiar with her Cat Food being in that particular place. A plastic mat or even newspapers that are put under the bowls are likely to make the cleanup easier. The owner must pay attention that fresh water is to be found all the time because this feature is quite critical to the cat’s state of health.

A proper routine should be established in order for the cat to become accustomed to being fed at particular moments of the day. The cat’s name should be used while feeding because the owner has to help the pet reinforce his own name thus associating it with a pleasant activity. If the owner chooses to feed his cat with dry cat food, he will have to put a daily supply at a particular moment of the day. The morning is to be preferred, especially if the owner is a working person. There is another advantage that should be taken into account when it comes to dry cat food; this type of food may actually help the cat in order to maintain the gums and teeth quite healthy. The feeding instructions that are to be found on each label should be followed in order to provide the cat or dog with the necessary nutrients.

The owner must be aware that he must not feed his pet with another animal’s food; every cat is likely to have unique needs when it comes to its nutrition and these nutrients are found only in the Cat Food. The cat must not be fed with chicken, pork or fish bones because these bones can lodge and splinter in the cat’s throat. They can even pierce the pet’s stomach or its intestines. The cat should not be fed with milk because milk can cause diarrhea. The cat does not need any milk in order to develop a strong bone system. Onion and chocolate are to be avoided in a cat’s diet because they are very toxic. Therefore, these foods should be stored in places that are out of the cat’s reach. The owner may even ask the veterinarian in order to find out more about the foods that can be very harmful when given to a cat.

Every owner should avoid the constant temptation of spoiling his pet; dogs and cats are not to be fed with table scraps because this habit can lead to a finicky eater who becomes accustomed to refusing his food in order to receive the high-calorie tidbits. The weight control should be performed on a regular basis because every weights gain can signal a certain negative change when it comes to the cat’s wellbeing. In order for you to keep your cat in a good state of health, you should control its weight because many cats are likely to become obese or overweight especially in the later years. A healthy cat should not have a hanging stomach. Extra weight is likely to be signaled especially in the cat’s stomach. The rib check should also be performed because if you do not feel the cat’s ribs when touching it, your cat is likely to be overweight.

The presence of a double chin is another reason for becoming worried about your cat being obese or overweight. Every extra weight will place an additional strain on each of the internal organs; the cat’s health may worsen thus leading to the aggravation of the already existing health problems. Prevention is always to be considered when it comes to keeping your cat from gaining extra weight. Calorie requirements are to be followed and these requirements will depend on the true needs of your cat. The veterinarian can help you in order to establish these requirements and his advice is to be considered as a true guideline when it comes to choosing your cat’s diet. Any dietary change should be made in a gradual manner because every dramatic change may cause severe problems. Every cat will need time in order to get accustomed to a new type of food; but snacks, table food and foods that are rich in calories are to be avoided. The owner can also choose to feed his cat with food that is formulated for older adults because this food has reduced amounts of calories.

All You Need To Know To Keep Your Dog Safe – Are Grapes Safe For Dogs & Other Poisonous Pet Food

Some of the most common pet injuries and accidents that can occur in your home are choking, electrical shock, household chemical poisoning, puncture wounds,and fractures – all of which can be prevented by applying simple, common-sense actions. Below is a list of ways to prevent injuries to your pets.

First and foremost, it is important to keep in mind that in an event of an emergency, even minor situations, you should always call your veterinarian and have your dog examined to ensure that you didn’t miss a serious problem.

In addition, make sure that he is getting his yearly check-up so the vet can check for any problems to take care of it before it gets worse.

Electrical Hazards – Puppies and dogs are attracted to electrical wires and may chew on them, causing a severe burn in their mouths. Make sure that all wires are safely put away, secured with a duct tape, or out of your dog’s sight. Food

And Exercise – Table scraps are usually loaded with fat and should not be given to any dog. The best diet for your dog is homemade foods that are recommended by your veterinarian or a high-quality commercial dog food. In addition, make sure that his bowl is always filled with fresh water. Wait at least one hour after this meal before taking him out for exercise.

Also, do not exercise him for too long or too hard. Depending on his breed, a 15 minute walk each day may be all that his body needs. Consult your vet if you are unsure about the amount of exercise your dog requires. Toxic Chemicals

And Poisons – Keep your dog away bleaches, detergents, cleaners, polishers, and all household chemicals. Houseplants should also be out of your dog’s reach. Several plants can make your pet sick, severely ill, or even lead to death. In addition, keep all medicines out of reach. Below is a list of some of the foods that should not be given to your dog:

1. Alcoholic beverages and caffeinated foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, and chocolate. 2. Dairy products such as milk and cheese. 3. Raw fish and raw eggs. 4. Tobacco. 5. Raisins and grapes. 6. Vitamin supplements for human that contains iron or too much liver. 7. Vegetables such as mushroom, onion, garlic, and potato. Rubbish – Keep waste containers tightly closed both inside and outside your house. Restraint – Keep your dog on lead when you take him out in public. Traveling In The Car – Have a carrier or a kennel that is securely placed in the car. Do not put him in the back of a pickup truck and do not let him stick his head outside the windows.

Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs: A Warning
Saturday 7th July will be a day I will never forget. I woke to sunshine and what I deemed to be a perfect family day – visit the park with my fiancé, our little boy and our dog – Oojie.

Little did I know what Oojie had been through in the night until I came downstairs to what looked like a murder scene. There were faeces, urine, vomit and blood throughout the lounge and our dog was cowering looking very timid. We assumed a case of vomiting and diarrhoea and began to clean up the mess, but within the hour Oojie appeared to have worsened and his condition deteriorated dramatically. Still vomiting he was now shaking and dribbling considerably as well. It was at the point I rushed him to the vets.

Saturday 7th July will be a day I will never forget. I woke to sunshine and what I deemed to be a perfect family day – visit the park with my fiancé, our little boy and our dog – Oojie.

Little did I know what Oojie had been through in the night until I came downstairs to what looked like a murder scene. There were faeces, urine, vomit and blood throughout the lounge and our dog was cowering looking very timid. We assumed a case of vomiting and diarrhoea and began to clean up the mess, but within the hour Oojie appeared to have worsened and his condition deteriorated dramatically. Still vomiting he was now shaking and dribbling considerably as well. It was at the point I rushed him to the vets.

Upon initial examination he clearly had a slowed heart rate (just 56bpm) and some abdominal pain and the Vet made the decision to keep him in for monitoring and to rehydrate him on a drip – just as a precaution.

No more than two hours after I left the Vets I received a phone call – Oojie had a massive internal bleed and had a suspected case of rat poisoning or something similar. He was not responding well and was not given a very good chance of survival with a potential case of DIC which would mean his body shutting down very quickly overnight.

I spend the next few hours racking my brains as to what he could have eaten that could have poisoned him. All medications were kept well out of reach, cleaning products locked away, no chocolate in the house and all anti-freeze and such chemicals kept in the garage. I checked with our neighbours to find out if anyone had used rat or mouse poison and since no one had the source of the poison remained a mystery.

As it happened, despite renal failure, significant blood loss and a dramatically slowed heart rate Oojie made it through the night, still vomiting however and seriously ill numerous blood tests were run that Sunday and a suspected case of Addison’s crisis was suggested. Oojies blood cells were breaking down and the haematology of his bloods meant that the Vet was unable to run the tests he needed on the equipment at the surgery – they needed to send them to a specialist laboratory but since it was the weekend we had to wait another crucial 24 hours for this to be done. The vet continued him on the drip and was closely monitored – although stable, he was still proving a mystery case and his chances still looked bleak.

A long and emotional few days drifted past with Oojie showing no signs of improvement. Now bear in mind that he is a 2 year old Cairn/Westie cross who has always been very healthy and full of beans, loved playtime, adored a cuddle and enjoyed his home cooked treats of roast beef, liver and a drop of milk. Now I was faced with a dog that couldn’t eat, had barely enough energy to lift his head to greet me and was showing all the signs of a chronic illness. But I couldn’t give up on him – not yet.

Oojie continued on the drip and was given medication for Addison’s disease incase that was to be the diagnosis. He was having blood taken each day and all we could be told was that he had a form of renal failure. The drip was effectively dialysis flushing the kidneys through and until he was well enough to come off the drip there would be no way of knowing if it as acute of chronic failure.

May I just mention that stupidly we didn’t have Oojie insured and so then came the predicament with the uncertainty of his condition, how much we could afford or indeed should spend before making the decision to remove the drip and see how he coped and indeed if he would survive? It was the Vet who suggested that two weeks was a realistic treatment time and therefore an estimate of £2000 to cover medication, hospitalisation and investigation.

The following weekend and exactly one week after he first collapsed and Oojie seemed to be deteriorating and now refusing to eat despite the vomiting having stopped; he was now depressed and anaemic as well. But we had agreed two weeks and I was not about to give up on him. I was visiting twice a day taking him out into the yard to soak up some sun and trying to encourage him to eat by hand feeding him. He loved his cuddles but unlike the dog we know so well was still happy to go back to his kennel and lie down at the end of my visit.

I will never forget the relief though on Thursdays visit (12 days after hospitalisation) when I say Oojie prick his ears up as I said hello and he jumped into my arms – he was pleased to see me but not only that was interested in playing and even managed to eat some of his food.

Come Saturday he had continued to improve and as agreed with the Vet we removed the drip and bought Oojie home. It is only now that we will find out the extent of the damage to his kidneys. He has to continue to be closely monitored indefinitely with regular blood test to check the haematology within his blood. We may never what caused his kidneys to fail, whether it was a deliberate poison, or whether he ate something toxic or even the possibility that he has a kidney disease all his life. The vet has suggested that he could have eaten grapes or raisins (something our son eats regularly). As few as 7 raisins can be enough to cause this near fatal crisis to his body. Many people give their pets raisins as a treat and could infact be unknowingly killing them.

I want to raise awareness of these foods which can be toxic to dogs and can cause effects as mild as a single vomit, as severe as Oojie has suffered or in the worst case scenario can be fatal.

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