The document outlines an all-day workshop on canine lifestyle, health, wellbeing and nutrition. It provides an agenda, topics to be covered, presenters and demonstrations. The workshop will cover relationships, socialization, mental health, exercise, training, coat/skin care, health, food, diet, home remedies and more. There will be regular breaks and lunch is from 12:30-1:15pm. The class aims to educate owners on holistically improving their dog's wellbeing through nutrition, lifestyle and care.
2. Administration
Class meets today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be a short break every hour
Lunch will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Restrooms are out the door and to the left
Smoking limited to parking lot away from door
Please turn cell phones off or to vibrate only
Lots of information and handouts
There will be regular Q & A opportunities
Canine Lifestyle
3. Topics Include
Canine Health
Dog Food History
Dog Food Facts
Feeding Options
Diet & Weight Loss
Natural Remedies
Cooking Demos
Q & A Session
Canine Wellbeing
Relationships
Socialization
Mental Health
Exercise & Play
Training
Coat & Skin Care
Grooming Demo
Canine Lifestyle
4. Class Syllabus
Wellbeing
Relationships
Socialization
Mental Health
Exercise & Play
Training Talk
Coat & Skin Care
Health
Food & Treat Info
Diet & Weight Loss
Home Remedies
Canine Lifestyle
Cooking Demos & Activities
Home-Cooking Demo
Treat Preparation Demo
Raw Food Demo
Feeding Options
Activities
Samples
Doggie Bags
Q & A During Demos
5. Relationships
Canine Lifestyle
Dogs are members of the family
Yes? No? If not, why not?
Healthy relationship based upon trust
What dogs expect from us
What we expect from our dogs
Building trust with a damaged dog
When love just isn’t enough
Making time to build that relationship
Working together, as a family
6. Socialization
If you have (or get) a puppy . . .
Most important socialization window is between 6 & 17 weeks old
Things learned (or not learned) during this time will often stick for life
Can you teach and old dog new tricks?
Yes . . . within reason, with patience and with caveats
Specific Fear/Aggression/Anxiety Issues
Humans
Other Dogs
Separation Anxiety
Thunder/Loud Noises
Car Rides
Other
Canine Lifestyle
7. Mental Health
Mental health care isn’t just for humans
Improve your dog’s outlook . . . and health
Environment Enrichment
Interactive toys & individual attention & playtime
Radio/TV when away from home
Out and about
A walk is the best thing ever . . .
Road trips and socialization
Separation Anxiety
Tips & Techniques for helping an anxious dog
Canine Lifestyle
8. Exercise & Play
Dogs need exercise just as much as humans
Will create and maintain health
Relieves stress and anxiety
Helps improve mental health
Makes for calm evenings and good sleep (for both of you)
Exercise ideas
Fetch – Frisbee – Tag – Swimming – Agility Course – Other dogs
Walks – important to a dog’s mental and physical well-being
Not just good for the body, but for the mind . . . and the nose . . .
A dog needs to interact with the world around him (and not just his own
yard/family) for good mental AND physical health
How often – at least once a day
How long – depends upon breed, age and activity level
Road Trips
Dog park – play dates – trail hikes
Visiting friends and family . . . And more!
Canine Lifestyle
9. Training Tips & Techniques
Dog Mobility
Collars & Harnesses
Leashes
Who is Walking Whom?
Leash pulling
Socialization
Leash Aggression
Dominance
Jumping
Fear/Anxiety
Canine Lifestyle
10. Coat & Skin Care
Improve coat and skin & reduce shedding
Regular home grooming - brushing & baths
Dry Skin? Supplement diet with salmon oil
Partner with a professional groomer
A healthy coat is important to a dog’s well-being
Coming Up Live Demo – Crista of Zoe Girl Pet Services
Using the right grooming tools for your dog’s coat
No mats, please!
They cause discomfort – and can lead to health issues
Demonstration of proper home grooming methods
How often does your dog need to see a professional?
Regular nail care is important to your dog’s health
Canine Lifestyle
11. Grooming Demo
Professional groomer shows how its done
Proper tools for your dog’s coat
Tips & Techniques for home grooming
Reducing shedding
Nail Care
Christa Parady of Zoe Girl Pet Services
185 Boston Post Road
Orange, CT
203-606-9220 – www.zoegirlpet.com
Canine Lifestyle
12. Home Remedies
Simple remedies for common health issues
NOTE: These tips are not meant to replace a visit to your vet for
serious or ongoing health issues
Natural & Holistic Treatments
Many herbal remedies available at quality pet stores
Alternatively, do your own research and/or partner with a holistic
veterinarian
Alternative Treatments
Massage
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Water Therapy
Other modalities
Canine Lifestyle
13. Canine Health
“I can tell you that there is no greater obstacle to canine health than
the poor diets we are told to feed our dogs. From the ingredients to
the additives to the processing, instead of creating health, we are
creating problems. The importance of proper nutrition for dogs
cannot be overstated. Not every disease can be cured with nutrition,
but all conditions can be aided…”
~ Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC, The Holistic Health Guide
Commercial Food & Treat Options
Overview of Pet Food Industry
Identifying Quality Foods & Treats
Samples & Activities – and lots of handouts . . .
Supplements
Improve your pet’s condition, inside and out
Diet & Weight Loss
Canine Lifestyle
14. Dog Food History
75 years ago, most dogs ate table scraps
50 years ago, cereal companies began mass
producing commercially prepared dog food
40 years ago, grocery stores began filling an entire aisle with food
and treats made specifically for pets
20 years ago, smaller, independent companies began producing
premium quality pet foods
More meat, less grains, fewer or no by-products or chemicals
Often only carried in specialty pet shops or direct from company
6 years ago (2007), major pet food recalls occurred
Thousands of pets died and 10’s of thousands were sickened
Recalls continue, different times/company’s, ever since then
The recalls have prompted a new awareness among dog owners that
quality matters – and can’t be taken for granted
Canine Lifestyle
15. Time to Make the Dog Food
Kibble - Early kibble was made from grains, flours, meat
meals, dairy products, vitamins & minerals and baked in large pans
After baking, food was broken up into bite-sized pieces
Extrusion method later applied to pet food – revolutionizing industry
Dough pressed through a rotary machine that molds or shapes it into various
pieces before baking
Today, most kibble is prepared in a mixing pressure cooker and then sent
through a modern extruder called a ‘die’ machine
Food is expanded with air or steam and formed into nuggets
Nuggets are then coated with a liquid fat, carbohydrate and/or milk product for
added calories, vitamins and/or taste
Semi-moist foods - Cooked combinations of soybean meal, sugar, meat
or by-products, animal fat, preservatives and humectants (wetting agents that
allow the food to stay moist, but not spoil)
Coloring and special shapes are added to appeal to the owner
Avoid – as they are high in salt, sugar and chemical preservatives
Canine Lifestyle
16. Time to Make the Dog Food
Commercial Canned dog food – 4 Types
Ration – ground, cooked into semi-liquid, then canned
Animal tissue – not liquefied before canning
May include chunks of identifiable by-products such as veins and
arteries
Chunk style – ground and shaped into chunks, usually to
disguise by-products, and then covered with gravy
Stews – similar to chunk style, but with added vegetables and
thicker gravy – designed to appeal to owner
Naming and ingredients matters – more on this later
Rule of thumb – if its in the grocery store, chances are its
made by a major manufacturer, often using inferior
ingredients, chemical preservatives, poor sourcing, etc.
Canine Lifestyle
17. Recalls & Contamination
Poor quality ingredients, lack of quality control and
cheap sourcing of ingredients most common
causes of contamination resulting in a pet food recall
Amazingly, there is no legal requirement for pet food companies to recall
contaminated pet food – it is totally voluntary!
Some companies have a much better track record than others . . . and
they tend to be the higher quality food manufacturers.
The massive contamination of pet food in 2007
Grain ingredients sourced from China – melamine
Melamine added to increase the tested nutrient content of the grain
Per AAFCO, only the nutrient content counts . . . more on this later
Recalls weren’t enacted until thousands of pets had died
As recently as this year, several pet food manufacturers have
refused to recall brands of treats linked to thousands of cases
of illness and hundreds of deaths in dogs across the nation
Canine Lifestyle
18. Does Quality Count?
Recalls Common – Contamination Issues
Shelly & Maggie
Ingredients Matter
Don’t feed your pet ‘fast food’
Vitamins & Supplements
Is good food enough? Does my pet need more?
Diet & Health
How important is diet to your pet’s health?
Groundhog Day
What’s wrong with the same food, every day?
Canine Lifestyle
19. Diet & Health
Canine Lifestyle
How important is diet to pet health?
“A poor diet is the biggest obstacle to canine health.”
~ Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC, The Holistic Health Guide
You are What You Eat
In the past 20 years, health professionals have made the connection
between human health and diet
Humans counseled by their doctors about the importance of a healthy diet
Emphasis on preventive medicine – how to keep patients from getting sick
Your Pets Are What They Eat
Some vets are only now making the same connections between pet health
and a quality diet – Why?
Vet schools still emphasize ‘presentation medicine’ (PM) - treating illness and
require very few classes on wellness and nutrition
Too busy treating illness (PM) to research holistic wellness/nutrition
Prescription diet foods provide a source of income for some vets
20. Importance of Quality Food
“I can tell you that there is no greater obstacle to canine health
than the poor diets we are told to feed our dogs. From the
ingredients to the additives to the processing, instead of creating
health, we are creating problems. The importance of proper
nutrition for dogs cannot be overstated. Not every disease can be
cured with nutrition, but all conditions can be aided…”
~ Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC, The Holistic Health Guide
“Although AAFO profiles are better than nothing, they provide a
false sense of security.”
~ Dr. Quinton Rogers, Professor of Physiological Chemistry, UC
“The recommendation to feed one food for the life of an animal
gives nutritionists more credit than we deserve.”
~ Dr. Tony Buffington, Professor/Nutritionist, Ohio State Vet College
Canine Lifestyle
21. AAFCO . . . Who?
But the food I feed is certified as nutritionally complete
by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)!
AAFCO = a private advisory board whose members are mainly pet food industry
professionals, who, in consultation with federal and state agencies, work to
regulate animal feed. Their mission is to develop uniform definitions for pet food
ingredients. They DO NOT monitor quality of or source of ingredients.
They use two testing methods:
Food Trails – feeding a food to as few as 8 healthy animals for 26 weeks. If the dogs still
seems healthy at the end of the trail, they certify the food is fit to feed any animal, every
meal, for life. I.E. the food becomes AAFCO certified…
Food analysis – a chemical analysis of the food is made and the food must have the 36
nutrients that AAFCO considers essential to life.
Does not account for the hundreds of known nutrients
Only makes changes after a nutrient deficiency is proved to cause illness
Examples: Taurine (cats), DHA (an omego-3 fatty acid)
Does not need to prove that the nutrients in the food can be absorbed by the pet’s body
Canine Lifestyle
22. Premium Pet Foods
Increasing connections being made
between diet & health – for both humans & pets
Sales of premium pet foods have exploded
More & more specialty companies have entered the
market and/or expanded their sales
More specialty pet stores have opened, catering to
health-conscious pet owners with quality food
Other feeding modalities gaining notice
Raw Food
Home Cooking
Topping
Canine Lifestyle
23. Premium Pro’s & Cons
State of the (Pet Food) Union
Pro’s - More and more people are educating
themselves about the quality of their pet’s food . . .
and attempting to feed a better quality food
Cons - Smaller & specialty pet food companies have struggled to keep
up with demand – often making poor choices to do so
This has lead to continuing recalls even amongst ‘quality’ manufacturers
Choices, (bad) choices
Sub-contracting the manufacturing to third parties (Diamond)
Lowering supplier standards in order to meet ingredient demand
Selling out to major multinational corporations
Delmont buys CA Natural – 2011 ~ P & G buys Natural Balance – 2012
Choices, (good) choices
Some are staying small, limiting sales, keeping up with quality
Some are growing, but keeping all manufacturing in-house
Sourcing ingredients locally – implementing tight quality controls
Canine Lifestyle
24. Ingredients Matter
You are what you eat . . . and so is your pet
Canine Lifestyle
Whole Foods or Fast Food
25. You Are What You Eat
Identifying a quality pet food
Food & Treat Options
Choosing Quality Foods & Treats
Samples & Activities – and lots of handouts . . .
Supplements
Improve your pet’s condition, inside and out
Diet & Weight Loss
Maintaining a healthy weight can add years to your
dog’s life and life to his years
Canine Lifestyle
26. Feeding Options
Kibble
Pros: Easy to feed, long shelf life
Cons: Highly processed, fillers, stripped of nutrients
Canned
Pros: Less processed, lower in calories
Cons: Cost, fillers, preparation time, etc.
Raw Diet
Pros: Whole foods, no fillers, lots of micronutrients
Cons: Cost, contamination, preparation time
Home-Cooked
Pros: Whole foods, no fillers, lots of micronutrients
Cons: Preparation time
Canine Lifestyle
27. What’s in a Name?
Pet food manufacturers are required by federal law to list ingredients
in order of quantity, based on pre-cooked weight
The Rule of 5
The first 5 ingredients on the list are the most important – and most
abundant, in the food - they are considered the ‘main ingredients’
The problem can be determining the proportions of each!
Naming Rules
The All-Meat Rule – food must contain 95 % of named meats
The Dinner Rule – food must contain 25 % of named ingredients
Plus a descriptor such as ‘dinner’, ‘nuggets’ or ‘formula’
If a non-meat item is listed, product can contain as little as 3 % meat!
Example: Chicken and Rice Dinner . . . rice may be main ingredient
The With Rule – food must contain 3 % of named meats
Chicken Dog Food (95 % meat) vs. Dog Food with Chicken (3 % meat)
Canine Lifestyle
28. Ingredient Indignation
The games people (pet food manufacturers) play
Ingredient Splitting
Can make a poor quality food look like a higher quality one
Euphemisms and vague naming of ingredients
Covers up what a particular ingredient can include
Misleads about the quality of specific ingredients
The Made in America Myth
Most large companies import most of their ingredients, with the possible
exception of the meat, which is often not the largest ingredient in the food
(usually less than 30 %)
If a company mixes and bags the food here, no matter where the ingredients
came from originally, it can be labeled “Made in the USA”
The Nutrient Nutshell Game
Per AAFCO, a nutrient is a nutrient is a nutrient . . . no matter if a dog can
digest it in the particular form the company uses
Canine Lifestyle
29. Ingredient Splitting
Before Splitting
Rank Ingredient Content
1 Corn 30 %
2 Rice 20 %
3 Chicken Meal 18 %
4 Other Ingredient
5 Other Ingredient
6 Other Ingredient
7 Other ingredient
Canine Lifestyle
After Splitting
Rank Ingredient Content
1 Chicken Meal 18 %
2 Corn Meal 15 %
3 Corn Flour 15 %
4 Rice Gluten 10 %
5 Rice Bran 10 %
6 Other Ingredient
7 Other ingredient
30. A Different Standard…
Unfit for humans . . . legal for pet food
Animal By-Products
Slaughterhouse waste
The Four D’s
Dead, Dying, Diseased & Downer Food Animals
Dead non-food animals
Spoiled supermarket food
Contaminated grains and grain ‘sweepings’
Used restaurant grease
Preservatives and artificial ingredients
Banned or limited in human food
Canine Lifestyle
31. Animal By-Products
Canine Lifestyle
Left-overs from human food industry
Slaughterhouse waste – skin, head, hooves, beaks, feet,
feathers, blood, bones, non-food organs
The 4 D’s – dead, dying, diseased and downer animals
Contaminated or spoiled meat
Non-food animals
Road kill, dead zoo animals and euthanized dogs & cats
Mixed, ground, rendered, baked, powdered and sold as
proteins and fats to the pet food industry
On label – listed as meat by-product meal, poultry by-
products, animal meal, animal fat, bone meal, etc.
32. ‘Extra’ Ingredients
By-product meals can contain . . .
Pesticides
On animals, in their feed, flea collars, etc.
Pharmaceuticals
Antibiotics and growth hormones
Sedatives given to euthanize animals
Metals
Surgical pins, needles, pet collars & ID tags
Residues from all of these have been found in
animal meal and fat products
Canine Lifestyle
33. Other Red Flags in Food
Canine Lifestyle
Propylene glycol
Moisture preservative - common in semi-moist foods
Used in non-automotive anti-freeze
Proven risk of blood toxicity & other negative health effects
Banned by the FDA from cat food BUT allowed in dog food
Ethoxyquin
Chemical preservative in many low quality pet foods
Other uses: pesticide, hardening agent for rubber
Under investigation by FDA as a possible cause of certain types of canine liver
and kidney cancer
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) & Butylated hydroxytoleune (BHT)
Chemical preservatives
Listed by WHO as suspicious cancer-causing compounds
Banned from human food in several countries
Levels in pet food often many times those considered ‘safe’ in human food
Bottom line – avoid artificial preservatives & additives in pet food
34. Where’s the Beef?
What you want to see in the first 5 . . .
At least one single-source protein
Chicken, lamb, chicken meal, lamb meal, kidney
A high quality whole grain or named carbohydrate
Brown Rice, Sweet Potato, Oats
What you don’t want to see on the list
General animal by-products or by-product meals
Animal by-product meal, animal fat, animal bone
Single-source by-product meals MAY be acceptable
Chicken by-product meal, turkey by-product meal
Low Quality grains, ‘Sweepings’ or ‘Digests’
Corn, cereal fines, grain millings, animal digest
Split ingredients
Rice germ, rice gluten ~ wheat germ, wheat millings
No artificial ingredients, colors or preservatives
Canine Lifestyle
35. Looking at Labels
Let’s take a look at some dog food
labels to try to interpret their meaning – and
determine the quality of the food
Remember the ‘Rule of 5’
Bye-bye to by-products
Watch out for ingredient splitting
Beware artificial preservatives, softeners,
sweeteners and colors
Where is it made and by whom?
Canine Lifestyle
36. Ancestral Diet
“We are going at canine nutrition from a totally wrong direction. We start with
ingredients that [canines] were never meant to eat, then we strip out all the
nutrients with our processing, and finally, we sprinkle in some synthetic vitamins
and supplements to try to balance obvious deficiencies. A more intelligent
approach would be to look at what canines have evolved eating over the past 5
million years. Evolution is a slow process, and dogs have certainly not adapted to
processed foods during the past 70 years they have been available.”
~ Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC, The Holistic Health Guide
Ancestral diet consisted of raw meat, bones, earthworms, grasshoppers,
fruit, berries and other vegetation
The carnivore vs. omnivore debate
Pre-processed foods (last 100,00 years)
Meat and bones plus human ‘table scraps’ (fruit, grains, etc.)
Processed food (last 70 years)
Grains/Carbs, meat by-products, usually dried, with nutrients (usually synthetic)
added back in after processing
Canine Lifestyle
37. Nutrition Nitty-Gritty
Our pet’s nutritional needs are different
from ours
Dogs - limited omnivores with carnivore ascendance
Meat-based with some added grains, veggies, etc.
Cats – obligate carnivores – diet must be primarily meat-
based
Dogs have short/hot digestive tracts
This is to enable proper processing of meat
Means non-meat food ingredients must be carefully
selected or processed to be sure nutrients are readily
available
Choose grains wisely (no corn or soy)
Chop veggies so skins are not intact
Canine Lifestyle
38. Proteins
Necessary for healthy growth and development
Should account for a major portion of your dog’s diet
Composed of amino acids, the building blocks required for
growth and tissue repair
Dogs need 22 amino acids and can only produce 12 – the
rest need to be included in the dog’s diet
Essential – cannot be produced by dog – needed in diet
Stored in muscle and fat – used as needed
Non-essential – dog’s body can synthesize
Excess excreted each day
Animal-based proteins are best, but can/should be
complimented by non-meat ones including grains,
vegetables, eggs and dairy
Canine Lifestyle
39. Carbohydrates
Starches are carbohydrates
More readily available as an energy source than protein
Carbs create structure, texture & form in dry dog food
Nutritional availability and value varies
Good – rice, barley, oats
Look for whole grains vs. ‘separated’ ones on ingredient list
Bad – corn, wheat, soy
These are especially hard for a dog to digest
Provide limited or no nutritional value – used as cheap fillers
Often cause digestive upset, including gas and bloating
All are common allergens – skin and/or stomach
Canine Lifestyle
40. Fats
Provide more than twice the energy of proteins or carbs
Most concentrated form of energy – essential to health
Fats make certain vitamins available for use in the body, cushion
organs, make up part of all body cells and help maintain body
temperature
Too much of fats are not good, can cause health issues
Essential fatty acids
Cannot be synthesized – must be part of the diet
Omega 6 and 3
Can reduce inflammation associated with skin allergies, arthritis and
intestinal issues
Omega oils – fish, whole grains, most veggies, food oils, eggs, fruit &
poultry
Fat content should be less than 9 % of a prepared food
Sources of fats should come naturally from ingredients and not be
added separately
Canine Lifestyle
41. Minerals
Neither animal or vegetable – minerals are inorganic
Must be obtained through the diet
Vital to keep the body running smoothly
Iron – sources include meat, liver, egg yolks, dark green leafy
vegetables
Calcium – sources include hard cheeses, leafy greens, nuts,
small fish (sardines, anchovies) egg shells
Phosphorus – found in most foods suitable for dogs – works
with calcium to strengthen bones and teeth
Best to be found in foods included in the diet, rather
than added separately
Canine Lifestyle
42. Vitamins
Essential for growth and health
Most cannot be manufactured by the body
Vitamins work together with minerals and enzymes to insure normal
digestion, reproduction, muscle and bone growth, healthy skin and
fur, clotting of blood, and proper use of fats, proteins and
carbohydrates
Two types of vitamins
Water soluble – stored in very small amounts – need to be eaten daily
Fat soluble – stored in liver and fatty tissue – can use reserves if not fed daily
Careful not to overdo it with vitamins – too much of a good thing . . .
Hypervitaminosis (too much) is more common then hypovitaminosis (not enough)
Excess Vitamin A – bone & joint pain, brittle bones, dry skin
Excess Vitamin D – very dense bones and/or joint calcification
If feeding a quality commercial food, vitamin supplementation is usually not
necessary
If part or all of the diet is raw or home-prepared – supplementation good
Discuss your pet’s individual health issues, age, activity level, diet, etc. with
your vet to determine if supplementation is advisable for your pet
Canine Lifestyle
43. A Vitamin a Day . . .
Multivitamins
Whole food vs. pharmacy synthesized
Supplements
Fish Oil
Omega 3/6, Skin, Coat, Internal Organs
Digestive Enzymes
Help maintain digestive health
Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM
Healthy Joints, Improved Mobility
Probiotics
Balance gut bacteria, which aids nutrient uptake
Canine Lifestyle
44. Water
Should always be available – even in crate
Best bowls
Ceramic or stainless steel is best – never plastic
Wipe out well daily – wash at least once a week
Can include ice cubes in summer to cool water
Bring water and a bowl for your dog when traveling or hiking
with your dog
Offer water frequently in hot weather or if your dog’s activity level is
high – hiking, agility, etc.
Tap water vs. filtered water
Water additives
Dental cleanser
Herbal/calming/other
Canine Lifestyle
45. Ground Hog Day
The same old thing . . . Isn’t just boring
Different nutrient contents
No two foods contain exactly the same nutrients
Round out your dog’s nutrition with 1 or more of the following
Rotation Diet – Kibble &/or Canned Dog Food
Switch quality foods on a scheduled basis
Helps ensure proper nutrition & promotes digestive health
Reduces risk of developing food allergies
Topping
Adding select ‘human’ foods to your dog’s dog food
Home Cooking
Replacing dog food with home-cooked ‘human’ food
Raw food – feeding raw meat, bones & some veggies
Canine Lifestyle
46. Rotation Diet
Involves varying a dog’s menu on a daily,
weekly or other periodic basis
There is no one perfect food
Every product is deficient or excessive in some way
Traces of dangerous chemicals can differ by food
Built-in flaws magnified when the same food is fed continuously
Rotating foods can level the nutrient/contaminant playing field
Other benefits to the rotation diet
Reduces ‘food fatigue’ and ‘bowl boredom’ for your dog
Promotes a more healthy digestive system
Reduces risk of developing food allergies
Different methods – some dogs can go cold turkey, others may need
a transition period
Canine Lifestyle
47. Whole Foods
Canine Lifestyle
Whole foods are healthy
For humans . . . and pets!
Even the best kibble / canned is still heavily processed
Top up your dog’s nutrition with whole foods
Topping
Adding cooked or raw ‘human’ foods to kibble or canned
The easiest way to add extra nutrition
Home-cooking
Replacing some or all of your dog’s dog food with home-prepared
meals made with human-grade ingredients
Raw Diet
Feeding raw meats, bones and some veggies
Can be purchased ready-made (usually dried or frozen) or made at
home with human-grade ingredients
48. Treats & Chews
Canine Lifestyle
Don’t forget the treats!
Quality counts with treats and
chews, just as much as with food
Watch those ingredients
Pet treats made by major manufacturers tend to be full of all
of the ‘bad’ things . . . and little of the ‘good’
Please NEVER give your dog rawhides
Not digestible, no nutrition, blockages, contaminants
Alternatives include: dried tendons and jerky, deer antlers,
bones, Nylabones
With all treats & chews, look for source country
Treats – USA, Canada, UK – only . . .
Chews – As above – and NEVER from China
49. A Healthy Weight
Canine Lifestyle
“Keeping your dog slim can add years to his life
and life to his years.”
~ Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC, The Holistic Health Guide
FDA estimates that 25 to 30 % of pet dogs are overweight or obese
Healthy weight test
Should be able to feel ribs under the fur, with a thin coating of muscle
Should have a ‘waist’ when viewed from above
Should tuck in and up between rib cage and hind legs
The Biggest Losers . . .
Feed less food or switch to a low fat variety
Can top up food with green beans or some canned to avoid a hungry dog
Cut back on the treats – way back – or switch to healthy alternatives
Green beans, fruits, low fat snacks or treats
Exercise
Start slow, but increase as endurance builds - must be regular
Play is good, but walks are the best for overweight dogs, less stress on system
50. To Eat – or Not to Eat?
Not to eat . . . ever – chocolate, caffeine, grapes, raisins,
macadamia nuts, mushrooms, onions, citrus oil extracts,
xylitol, many common house and yard plants
Not to eat . . . if allergic or intolerant
Allergies can be immediate or develop over time, usually from
continuous exposure to a particular food ingredient
Common allergens include: wheat, chicken, dairy, beef, eggs,
soy, additives & preservatives and fish
Symptoms include itchy, flaky skin, rash, scratching, biting at feet
and legs, irritated/infected ears and/or gastric upset
If you suspect a food allergy or intolerance, discuss the issue with
your vet to eliminate other causes related to health
If a food allergy or intolerance is suspected, an elimination diet is
one way to test which foods your dog is allergic to
Canine Lifestyle
51. Conclusion
Quality counts
Feeding a quality food will improve health
and help prevent illness now & later in life
Ingredients Matter
Read the labels – check the food analysis on-line
Whole Foods
Supplement or replace dog food with whole foods
Holistic Care
Supplements ~ Food Allergies ~ Whole Dog Care
Weight Control
Add years to his life and life to his years
Canine Lifestyle
52. Demos & Activities
Canine Cooking Demonstration
Cooking a canine meal from scratch
Can be used as a ‘topper’ or whole meal
Home-made Treat Demonstration
Raw Food Demonstration
Samples & Doggie Backs
Recipes
Activities
Canine Lifestyle
53. Home-Cooking Demo
Canine Lifestyle
Home-cooking benefits
Add healthy whole foods to your dog’s diet
Make up nutrient shortages in processed foods
Improve digestion and balance gut flora
Relieve the dog bowl blues
Great for weight loss and maintenance
Meal Replacement or Topper
Substitute some or all of your dog’s meals with home-cooked food
Use as a topper for dry kibble
Today’s Recipe
Gizmo’s Grelch (aka Turkey Stew)
Volunteers for Food Prep Needed
54. Gizmo’s Grelch Recipe
Ingredients
1 ¼ lb ground turkey or chicken
2 cups rice (mix of white and brown)
6 cups water
3 eggs (scrambled)
8 ounces peas and carrots (or spinach, kale, green beans, squash, etc.)
Herbs (Italian seasoning – with no garlic or onion or basil and oregano)
¼ can pumpkin (must be 100 % pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix)
1 cup rolled oats and ½ cup instant oats (can add more instant if needed)
Optional – blueberries, yoghurt, lentils, chick peas, eggshells
To Cook
Put all but eggs, veggies and pumpkin into a large pot
Break up turkey
Cook on high until boiling – reduce hear and simmer for 40 minutes
Add rest of ingredients and cook until the right consistency
Add any supplements (eggshells, etc.) after cooking to maintain nutrients
Store 3 to 4 days in fridge – freezes well
Canine Lifestyle
55. Gizmo’s Grelch
Nutrition Information
Canine Lifestyle
Nutrient Analysis Value
Calories 294.6
Total Fat 10.1 g
Saturated Fat 2.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.1 g
Cholesterol 132.9
Sodium 99.3
Potassium 223.2
Total Carbohydrates 29.5
Dietary Fiber 3.5
Sugars 2.1 g
Protein 20.6 g
Nutritional Information based on
10 Servings per recipe
Vitamins/Minerals Value (%)
Vitamin A
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Calcium
Copper
Folate
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Niacin
Pantothenic Acid
Phosphorus
Riboflavin
Selenium
Thiamin
Zinc
49.1
2.8
13.8
5.0
2.3
1.8
3.4
5.6
6.4
16.2
8.3
21.6
17.5
6.8
14.1
6.6
30.0
8.3
12.2
• Percentages based on human diet and are for comparison only
• Based upon a 2,000 calorie a day diet, so values higher for dogs
• Calculated with Sparkrecipes.com nutritional calculator
56. Home-Made Treats Demo
Canine Lifestyle
Benefits of Home-made treats
You know where they came from
You know what is in them
Your dog will love them . . . and you!
Add healthy whole foods to your dog’s diet
Make up nutrient shortages in processed foods
Improve digestion and balance gut flora
Not all or nothing – make when time allows
Batch preparation
Most can be frozen for future use
Volunteers for Food Prep Needed
57. Yoghurt Yummies
Canine Lifestyle
Ingredients
2 cups plain low-fat yoghurt
6 ounces of any one of the following
Tuna or salmon in water (with water)
Berries (blueberries, strawberries, etc.)
To Make
Tuna/Salmon
Dump fish and water into bowl, break up chunks and mix in yoghurt
Berries
Puree berries, place in bowl and mix in yoghurt
Both
Spoon mixture into small (3 or 5 oz) paper cups and freeze
Serve by removing from cup
Advise serving outside or in non-carpeted area, as things can get messy . . .
Source: The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook by Liz Palika
58. Raw Foods
Pros
Advocated by many professionals involved in pet health
Closest to Ancestral Diet
Cons
Bacterial Contamination (mostly for the humans)
Time Consuming (home prepared) - pricey (if purchased)
Some dogs can’t tolerate or won’t eat raw
Canine Lifestyle
Nutrient Content Compared
Nutrient Ancestral Diet Dry Dog Food
Protein 56 % 18 – 22 %
Fat 25 – 30 % 8 – 22 %
Carbohydrates 14 % 46 – 74 %
59. Raw Food Demo
Canine Lifestyle
Protein Sources
Meats & Organs
Grains, Legumes, Dairy
Vegetables
Green/Orange/Yellow
Fruits
Blue/Red/White (no citrus)
Other Ingredients
Supplements, bones and more . . .
60. Canine Lifestyle
Canine Lifestyle
Things to Take Away
Take an active role in your dog’s health &
wellbeing
Mental Health makes for a happy dog
Exercise . . . fit not fat . . . get your dog moving
You are what you eat . . . and so is your dog
Don’t forget your doggie bag & cookbook . . .
Your canine’s lifestyle depends on you!
61. Class Conclusion
Before we leave for day, let us say . . .
Thanks so much for attending!
Call us with any questions or suggestions for future classes
Individualized in-home training available
Upcoming classes
Trainers on the Trails
4 weeks – 4 different trails – lots of fun!
Sundays in May – 10 to 11 a.m.
Trainers available throughout the hikes for advice and demos
$ 125.00 – Family Rate – bring the family!
Sign up today for a 10 % discount!
Your class instructors were:
Mandy Oram & Lisa Spinelli of Paws & Kisses Pet Services
203-922-2643 - www.pawsandkissespetservices.com
Canine Lifestyle
62. Sources – Further Reading
Feed Your Best Friend Better
Rick Woodford
The Everything Cooking
For Dogs Cookbook
Lisa Fortunato
Home Cooking for your Dog
Christine M. Filardi
The Ultimate Dog Treat
Cookbook
Liz Palika
The Whole Pet Diet
Andi Brown
Canine Lifestyle
Cooking & Diet Health & Wellness
The Holistic Health Guide
Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CAC
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to
Natural Health for Dogs & Cats
Liz Palika
The Goldstein’s Wellness &
Longevity Program
Robert S. Goldman, VMD
Websites
www.dogfoodadvisor.com
www.dogfoodscoop.com
www.dogfoodanalysis.com
