August ’07 Newsletter
Contents
- On Two Legs Or Four, We Are What We Eat by Carol Sumbry
- Where Are They Now?
- Sui Generis - Wearable Art for the Pampered Pet
On Two Legs Or Four, We Are What We Eat
Kibble - the primary diet of most domesticated dogs.
When was the last time you enjoyed a bowl of Total or Special K for breakfast? It may have been earlier this week or even as recently as this morning. But when was the last time you ate that cereal exclusively for your breakfast, lunch and dinner? I bet the answer is never! Still, that is the way we feed our dogs. They face the same bowl of the same brand of kibble meal after meal, week after week, year after year because many of us have been convinced that it is the only correct way to feed them.
Humans and most non-domesticated animals eat a wide variety of fresh food.
When was the last time you went to the doctor for a check up and received a stern lecture about laying off those salads or cutting back on your fruits and vegetables? Again, I'm guessing never. After all, fresh fruits and vegetables and a varied diet are essential to our good health. So why does the same not hold true for our four-legged friends? I'm not going to try to convince you to stop feeding kibble. I do want to encourage you to look more closely at today's commercial canine diets, to start asking more questions, and to incorporate some good old common sense into how we are feeding man's best friend.
The Pet Food Aisle - full of packaged, processed food.
Let's take a look at the history of kibble. Pre-packaged commercial dog food was not even "invented" until after World War II. It was brilliant marketing if you think about it, coming up with a way to turn all those previously discarded, worthless bits and pieces not fit for human consumption into pure profit. The strategy stressed convenience, economy and shelf life. To that end, over-processing destroyed what little nutritional value the offal used might have offered in the first place. Previously, dogs had eaten a mixture of table scraps, leftovers, and foods they were able to scavenge from the woods and fields. You may remember your grandparents feeding their dogs in this manner. It was not uncommon for dogs of that era to live to be 18 or 20 years old, despite rarely ever seeing a veterinarian during their entire lives.
A tasty human meal - part of the wide variety of food we eat to stay healthy.
Over the intervening decades, the commercial dog food industry has convinced us that people food is terrible for our dogs and that only if they eat from a bag will they be getting a 100% completely balanced diet. (Their bag, that is. Certainly not their competitors' bags!) Veterinarians jump on the bandwagon as well. People food will kill your pet! It is no coincidence that vet school curricula typically offers an average of 8 hours of nutrition training over an entire four year program, and the information taught is usually provided by the large pet food conglomerates such as Iams, Eukanuba, or Science Diet. And not coincidentally, those same brands often end up being sold out of the eventual offices of those budding vets in training. I am not saying that you should not trust your veterinarian. In fact, the fat-laden, junk foods of today are no better for our pets' bodies than they are for our own. I am saying that, in matters of nutrition, label reading is not that difficult and your companion's nutritional needs are something you can research for yourself.
The Whole Dog Journal is a publication that does not depend on the good will of deep-pocket advertisers. Each year The Whole Dog Journal rates the top 10 dog foods in an unbiased format. Their list is a must-read, as is the article on Grading Your Dog's Pet Food. A few minutes of reading from the sites listed below and you will be have all the tools you need to begin making educated decisions about what to feed your pets.
Cooked or raw eggs in small quantities are a good protein addition to our dogs' meals.
What about balance? Let's go back to that three meals a day of Total or Special K, or for that matter last night's dinner. Was it 100% balanced? Most likely it wasn't. Balance is achieved with variety and it is something to be aimed for over time, not within each individual meal. You might have cereal for breakfast, a salad for lunch and a steak for dinner, but over the day you achieved a balanced diet. Variety over time is the key to good, healthy nutrition in the canine world too.
Cooking or juicing squash is a good way to add vegetables to your dog's diet.
I can hear it now: "Won't my dog get loose stools if I change his food?" If he has been eating the same diet for years, absolutely! Imagine if you had only eaten a bland diet or nothing but Total cereal for every meal for years and then you went out for a big Mexican dinner! You get the idea. If you have been feeding the same diet for years, you will want to transition or add new foods slowly and gradually. Pumpkin can help with the transition. My dogs eat a huge variety of foods over week's time, from quality kibble to raw to cottage cheese. They rarely if ever have stool problems although they have been fed this way for years. Even my puppy mill survivor who had eaten the same cheap kibble daily for his entire life tolerates a huge variety of healthy foods in his diet today.
Wild animals eat lots of fresh food like this bird eating raw meat.
Not sure you are ready to add fruit, veggies, other meats and proteins to your dog's diet? Start with a few healthy baby steps. Dr. Karen Becker, a renowned holistic vet in the Chicago area, teaches at her seminars that if you are feeding a dead diet (meaning a kibble), at the very least add some pumpkin seeds, oils (fish, tuna, flaxseed to name a few), some fish, berries or other healthy 'people food'. Variety is the key. If you do opt to feed only kibble, at least rotate the brands; if your brand is lacking in certain nutrients and you feed only that food for life, your pet will have serious problems down the road. No commercial kibble is as 100% complete as its manufacturer would lead us to believe. Just remember that there are other good, healthy options to feeding kibble, like raw diets or home-cooking for your dog.
Many dogs in today's world are developing allergies. Could feeding the same food from the same protein source day after day, year after year be one of the reasons? Introducing variety helps minimize the risk of allergies developing later in life. Dr. Becker puts it best when she says, "The only people who want you to feed the same one food for the life of your dog are the manufacturers!"..
Even domesticated cats benefit from fresh foods like this cat eating raw meat.
Last but not least, there is the boredom factor. I know I would quickly grow bored and compromise my health if I had to eat the same thing every day. I enjoy spoiling my dogs but at the same time I want to know they are getting a sound diet with lots of healthy variety. After all, isn't that why we have our companions… to provide for their wellbeing and to make them happy? My dogs eat a broad combination of healthy people food, raw diet, and high quality kibble. Their diet varies daily, keeping them highly motivated eaters right through their senior years. Feeding variety is one of the best ways I know to protect my pets' health and to keep the excitement in their mealtime. And what could be more rewarding than sharing our lives with happy, healthy pets!
Additional information/reading
- Reading Pet Food Labels
- The History of Commerical Dog Food
- Ann N. Martin wrote a very revealing book called "Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food." If you don't want to read the whole book (although I recommend it), here is an excerpt.
- Wording of Pet Food Labels
- Understanding Dog Foods and Dog Food Labels
- The Truth about pet food
- Comparing Pet Foods
- How to Grade Your Dog's Food
- Whole Dog Journal's Top Dog Foods
- Mixing and Rotating Kibble
- Magazines and Professional Sources
- Feeding Raw
I have done sighthound rescue (Greyhound, Whippet and Italian Greyhounds) for over 20 years. A sales food rep in a pet store almost two decades ago talked to me about dog food. Prior to that, like most people, I thought dog food was dog food. Although he was trying to sell me on his food, he did me a great service that day and taught me about label reading and that all food was NOT created equal. About that same time, my adopted dog was diagnosed with early signs of kidney disease. I bought the veterinarian-recommended kidney diet but when I got out to the car with his new food, I noticed that ingredient #1 was peanut hulls... and it was preserved with BHA! How could this be healthy? Since then I have attended numerous seminars by vets, nutritionists and other experts in the field. I read anything and everything I can get my hands on about canine nutrition and have consulted with a holistic vet for additional information. Today I teach basic classes on nutrition and continue to spread the word about the importance of educating ourselves when it comes to food choices for our companion animals!
Disclaimer: The information is not meant to diagnose or prescribe for you. If you or your pet has a medical problem, you should consult your veterinarian and ensure that you are informed about all of the ingredients in anything that is offered to your pet for treatment or maintenance. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Opinions expressed here are those of the author.
Where Are They Now?
We asked a couple of enthusiastic recent adopters to tell us about their new family member. We enjoy updates on the IGs who made their way through rescue to their forever homes, and we hope you do too!
Blue - by Teri
Bluein his new home with brother Gianni.
One of the most rewarding acts a dog lover can do is adopt a rescue. There are so many dogs that need good loving homes and a second chance at life. So, whenever possible, I try to adopt a rescue dog. I have always found them to be so grateful and content to have a new loving home. This past year, two of my previously rescued dogs have gone over the Rainbow Bridge. This was a result of complications that occur with old age, one was 12 years old, the other 13. I was now in a position to offer another rescue a new home and a new chance at life. Since I currently have an IG, I wanted to bring another one into my home for companionship. As I was looking at the rescue section of the Italian Greyhound Club of America's web site, I came across a cute little guy by the name of "Blue". The write up said he is a gentle one year old. He is cuddly, loving, gets along with other dogs and needs a family with lots of praise and confidence building. He sounded like he would fit nicely into my family and home environment. I was excited that I could provide Blue the home he was looking for. I immediately sent in my application.
Blue playing with brother Gianni.
Over the years I have adopted a few abused dogs that needed someone who was patient, understanding and gentle. So I have the experience to build up the confidence Blue would need. One of the best ways to build trust, confidence and give praise to your new rescue is by enrolling them in a basic obedience class. I have done this with every rescue I have been lucky enough to adopt, whether they needed obedience training or not. Involving the dogs in an obedience class is a good way to bond with them and set the stage for your authority over all situations. By taking control and teaching them what is expected of them, they acquire the assurance and security in you, to know you will direct them and keep them safe. This gives them confidence in you and in their surroundings. It also gives you every opportunity to give them something to do where you can praise them. Blue is participating in a beginner's obedience class right now and is doing very well. It is heartwarming to see him becoming more confident around all the other dogs in the class, which are all much larger than he is. He will do whatever you ask him to do for love and praise. Blue now knows the commands: sit, down, stand, stay, heel and most important "wait". Wait is one of those commands all dog need to learn. By learning wait, a dog will not bolt out of the house or car when the doors are opened, which otherwise could put them in a very dangerous situation.
Blue with his siblings Gianni (IG) and Silas (Doberman).
Now that Blue knows he has a permanent, loving home he has settled nicely into his new daily routine. After patrolling the yard several times a day for any intruders, such as chipmunks, squirrels or grasshoppers, and chasing around with his new brother, he is ready to snuggle up with you and take a nap. One of his favorite things to do is chase his little blue ball and proudly prance around with it. Every time we go outside he grabs his blue ball. He also likes to play chase with my other IG and it is such a delight to watch them run. I was a little surprised at how fast they are and how high they can jump. Maybe because they seem so small. But then, they are greyhounds and are designed for speed. I also didn't realize how vocal IGs could be. Not in a barking kind of way, but in the moans, groans and sighs. It makes me laugh every time they do it. Blue and I spend a lot of time together. He loves to sit next to me or follow me around. We play in the yard with the other dogs, which he enjoys very much. It is such a pleasure to watch him eagerly prancing around the house and yard in a way that says - I am very happy and loving life. He has fit into our family so smoothly that it is as if he has always lived here, and I just adore him.
Tristan - adopted April, 2007 by Greg and Tan
Tristan's bump under his chin from his abscess.
Tristan's rescue background - Tristan's rescue story can be found in our January '07 newsletter article, "One Saturday Night: Missouri Rescue". At Tristan's first vet exam, we found he had a bad ear infection and an abscess in his jaw. The abscess was caused by an adult canine tooth growing out over the top of a baby tooth. Italian Greyhound Safehouse Alliance came to his aid and covered all medical expenses which included medicine, surgery to remove his adult canine which had been eaten away by infection, and extraction of the baby tooth. Today, Tristan is in a great home with adopters who love him very much, as you will see from his "Where are they now?" article.
Tristan (back) with brother Dusty
Who: Tristan. Fawn colored with beautiful dark eyes and streaks of darker brown under his ears. At just over one year old, he has grown into a lanky, athletic boy of 16 pounds. Tristan's forever family includes Greg and Tan Moser of Minneapolis, and brother IGs Dusty (also a rescue), and Derfel.
When: Tristan has been with his new family in Minneapolis since April 2007. Greg and Tan had noticed him on the Midwest Rescue web site as far back as last December and fallen in love with his sweet face, but a lengthy, long planned spring vacation overseas made it seem unrealistic and improbable to apply. As the fates would have it, Tristan was still mending and available in Milwaukee when Greg and Tan returned, and they were overjoyed to put themselves forward to adopt Tristan.
Tristan, Derfel and Dusty (front to back)
How (is he doing): Tristan has been doing great with his new family in Minnesota. He loves playing with his brothers Derfel and Dusty, especially Dusty who is a strong and playful guy of two years old who is always chasing the other dogs around the yard or house with a much prized stick or chew toy in his mouth. Tristan has gotten stronger and more confident playing with Dusty. He knows he can get that toy away from Dusty, if he keeps on trying! Tristan's former health issues (ear infection, digestive, teeth) have not recurred. Although sensitive about ear cleanings and teeth cleanings at first, he has been getting much better. He has grown like a weed and loves his new home. He has a sweet way of jumping up on the couch next to Greg or Tan and looking out the living room window at all the excitement outside. He will rest his front legs over your shoulders and just gaze outside for long periods of time. Sometimes he acts like a baby. He'll lie across you chest and rest his head on your shoulder. He is home now, and is ready to face the world head on.
Tristan and Dusty
What: Tristan loves going for walks with his family. Everyone is excited smelling all the new smells and eyeing the other people and dogs. Dusty likes to "mark his territory", but Tristan is too busy pulling on his harness and smelling to notice.
Tristan, Dusty and Derfel
Why: Adopting a rescue dog is a great thing. The folks at Midwest Rescue and similar organizations invest large amounts of time, effort and love in these dogs, preparing them to acclimate into a permanent home. Both of Greg and Tan's rescues have been a breeze to love and take care of, thanks largely to the time invested in them before they were put out for adoption. Tristan and Dusty have brightened Greg and Tan's home and lives immensely, and it is clear Derfel also loves having some running buddies around the house. Certainly it has been a win-win for everyone in the pack in Minneapolis.
Sui Generis - Wearable Art for the Pampered Pet
Example of Sui Generis' products.
Looking for something unique for your IG to wear and want to help Italian Greyhound Safehouse Alliance at the same time? Peruse Sui Generis' catalog for your IG's next fashion statement. Sui Generis is the only e-boutique of its kind to offer you quality, individually designed "wearable art" for your pet, plus the satisfaction of knowing that 100% of every shopping dollar goes directly to rescue.
