Healthy Dog Snacks

Planet Paws posted a nice diagram of snacks that are healthy for your dog.

A Visit to Sky, Sandy & Bobby's Home

Today's visit was a major success. Hehe! Although, it's very sad to find out my beautiful and handsome Sky has not improved much in health. His fungal issue seems to be getting worst.. right now, even his ears and face has been infected.

The success was that.. I cooked a meal for Sky, Sandy and Bobby. They love it!! Check it out!

After More than 2 Weeks...

We're going to visit Sky & Sandy. Haha! So, I decided to cook for them again this time. I heard, Sky's paws have improved but apparently, there seems to be another infected area. I'm not sire until I see him later.. Well, in the mean time.. here's the recipe..

 This recipe is for 2 puppies and an adult dog (Sky, Sandy & Bobby)

Prepare cut vegetables and some chicken necks with organs to make the soup tasty.

Pumpkin

• Pumpkin is a rich source of vitamin A.
• Pumpkin is one of the best-known sources of the antioxidant beta-carotene.
• The potassium contained within pumpkins can have a positive effect onblood pressure.
• The antioxidants and vitamins contained within pumpkins could prevent degenerative damage to the eyes.

More about pumpkin here.

Turmeric

• Aids in fat metabolism and weight management;
• Allergic respiratory disorders - Ashthma;
• Arthritis;
• Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties relieves aches and pains associated with arthritis (see additional information under curcumin below);
• Beneficial for trauma from accidents as it helps lower serum levels which would otherwise cause massive inflammation leading to the shutdown of the heart and other organs;
• Brain Health;
• Artherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries – heart disease) by lowering bad LDL cholesterol;
• Bacterial infections – the volatile oil is an external broad spectrum antibiotic which acts to prevent bacterial infection in wounds;
• Blood purifier – beneficial in the treatment of skin disorders;
• Cancer inhibitor;
• Cardiovascular conditions;
• Chemotherapy – reduces the negative side-effects of chemotherapy;
• Detoxifier – turmeric is a natural liver detoxifier;
• Disinfectant for wounds and burns (antiseptic and antibacterial);
• Digestive disorders;
• Turmeric induces the flow of bile which acts to breakdown fat;
• Protects against injuries caused by some medications;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Helps prevent gas/bloating;
• Inflammation (turmeric’s anti-inflammatory quality has been compared to topical hydrocortisone);
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD;
• Memory disorders;
• Neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve)
• Peptic ulcers;
• Skin disorders;
• Strengthens ligaments.

More about turmeric here.

Broccoli

• Helps fight/ prevent cancer
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Aids in bone health
• Aids in detoxification

More about broccoli here.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene). They are also a very good source of vitamin C, manganese, copper, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6. Additionally, they are a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and phosphorus. Sweet potatoes also are Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory.
More about sweet potatoes here.

I don't agree feeding my dogs rice as grains are not supposed to be in a dog's diet. So, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots & broccoli will act as their source of carbohydrates. While chicken will be their source of fats and

Make sure the water is at a just right level. 

A teaspoon of Oregano, Thyme & Rosemary.

Oregano
Oregano contains: fiber, iron, manganese, vitamin E, iron, calcium, omega fatty acids, manganese, and typtophan. Oregano also are:

• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Help prevent cancer

More about oregano here.

Thyme

Thyme is packed with minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Its leaves are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Thyme is also a rich source of many important vitamins such as B-complex vitamins, beta carotene, vitamin-A, vitamin-K, vitamin-E, vitamin-C, and folic acid. The herb is also:

• Anti-fungal
• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Aids in immune system
• Helps prevent cancer

More about thyme here.

Rosemary

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Aids in digestion
• Has a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6. 
• Helps prevent cancer and tumor.

More about Rosemary here.

1/2 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil.

Organic Coconut Oil (Cold Pressed & Unrefined)

• Anti-fungal
• Anti-viral desease
• Aids in digestions
• Aids in weight loss for overweight dogs
• Reduces allergic reaction
• Prevents and treats yeast fungal infection
• Anti-bacterial

More about coconut oil here.

Boil at 160°C

While you're at this, steam sweet potatoes in a different pot. It takes ages for sweet potatoes to soften so yea... and make sure you take out the vegetables once they've gone soft.

Along the way, throw in the chicken organ first and followed by chicken necks or meats.

You're just going to half cook the chicken meats, necks and organs. You don't need to completely cook it.

When you're done (it takes at least 1 hour until you're done with everything), blend all vegetables with a little bit of organs.

And then you gotta mix them with the chicken.

Add 1/2 table spoon each of Chia Seed & Flax Seed. Their source of omega-3.

Flaxseed
Flaxseeds (also called linseeds) are a rich source of micronutrients, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin B1, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. Flaxseed also are antioxidants and helps lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

More about flaxseed here.

Chia Seed
Like flax seeds, chia seeds are very high in Omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, chia seeds contain more Omega-3s than salmon. Chia seeds are also;

• Antioxidant
• Rich in fiber
• Has decent amount of protein
• Aids in bone nutritions

More about chia seeds here.

and 1 table spoon of organic apple cider vinegar and garlic (garlic has to be use within 1 hour after cho. Mix well!

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (Unrefined, unpasterurized)

• Acetic acid (the primary active ingredient);
• Amino, Lactic and Propionic Acid;
• Anti-bacterial – when used topically and ingested, ACV inhibits the growth of bad bacteria;
• Anti-fungal;
• Anti-viral;
• Vitamins and minerals including:
• Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2 and B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pro-vitamin Beta-Carotene, Vitamin P (bioflavonoids);
• Potassium – protects against tooth decay, heart-healthy as it helps to keeps blood pressure in-check – ACV is an excellent source of easily-absorbable potassium;
• Pectin – helps lower LDL (bad cholesterol);
• Potash – source of fibre.

More about organic apple cider vinegar here.

Lastly, if your pup is above 6 months of age.. you can add a clove of garlic. Chop and mix with the recipe. Garlic has to be consumed within an hour after chopped.

***Please understand that all the ingredients you feed them has to be organic.

I have the exact same recipe for Korra & Leyna. Without garlic and thyme. Hehe! and so far... Korra & Leyna loves it! They are also very healthy now. Korra's nappy rash and Leyna's fungal issue has also improved. If you would like to know more about holistic way of feeding and caring for your fur babies, you can visit the blogs below;

1. Ottawa Valley dog Whisperer
2. Planet Paws
3. Mercola Healthy Pets

Sky & Sandy's Doggie Food Recipe

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Wild Alaskan Salmon Fish Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Rosemary, Organic Oregano, Organic Chia Seed

Organic Broccoli, Turmeric, Organic Pumpkin, Garlic, Carrots (not in picture)

Preparing Chicken & Broth:

1. Wash & put every ingredients in the pot.
2. Boil 15 minutes (boil at 160°) and take all vegetables, chicken organ and parts out. Leave a few pieces of chicken organs, chicken parts, tumeric, wolfberry and some vegetables in the pot to make broth.
3. Boil another 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Chicken Broth

Before Serving:

1. Blend vegetables and mix with chicken.
2. Add a table spoon of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Add Wild Alaskan Fish Oil Supplement
4. Add 1/2 table spoon of freshly chopped garlic

Vegetables before blended

Chicken Neck & Liver

Blended vegetables mixed with the chicken neck & liver

Have You Ever Wonder.. Why Their Life Experency is Going Downhill?

If you ask me.. you need to see how your dog spend its life. That means you need to monitor their diet, activities and what you supply that aids to their health. When a dog became a pet, it pretty much does not have the rights to decide what it needs. This especially in regards to their diet and supplements. You can't say, "I don't even monitor my diet.. but I am still alive. So, why do I need to see to my dog?" Well... then don't get a dog. That means, you can't even take care of yourself.. then why bother getting one?

To most of us, diet is very important. It is supposed to be very important. It's the same for animals too. Have you ever wonder what's the ingredients to your food? Well... I always wonder (even though one of my favourite food is pizza). From time to time, I would look at the ingredients to my meals. That's how, it actually occurs to me about checking my pet's food. 

Leyna & Korra at 1 week old.

My research at first started with "which is the best doggie kibbles brand?". This is because Korra and Leyna is a Golden Shepherd. They might have the traits to either a Golden Retriever (their father) or a German Shepherd (their mother). One breed that lives maximum of 10 years and the other a maximum of 12 years. Both are prone to hip dysplasia and cancer. From there... it gotten deeper and deeper. I am still in the midst of research. I learmed a lot thanks to Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer, some books I bought and Dr. Karen Becker's Youtube channel: Mercola Healthy Pets. I will go deeper when time comes.

At first, I basically chose Blackwood.. and then I thought of going for Mera Dog and Taste of the Wild. All these changes after I started going deep into the ingredients. I'm still making my research. I will do deep into it when I have time to write about them.

I just hope.. pet owners realize about the conspiracy behind commercial dog food. Just imagine you have to eat dry food your whole life with some supplements... how long can you last? I doubt you can.. so does animals. It's very depressing..

Here are studies conducted on dogs current life expectancy:

• Golden Retriever News
• Another Website About Golden Retriever
• Current Life Expetency (by breeds)

A Tribute to Loki (Our First Family Puppy): #4 Loki's Diet

Loki was on a pure dog food diet when he was with us. We first put him on Dr. Hart's Best Breed Puppy Diet but the kibbles were too hard for him and he refuse to eat them when we mixed with a little bit of water. Here are the ingredients in Dr. Hart's Best Breed Puppy Diet;

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat [Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E)], Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Flavor, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lecithin, Menhaden Fish Oil, Kelp Meal, Sea Salt, Flax Seed, Canola Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, DL Methionine, Ascorbic Acid, Glucosamine, Garlic Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

Dog Food Advisor Review HERE.

Highlighted are the ingredients that does not exceed my likes. Heh! However, that wasn't the reason I took Loki out of this dog food brand. I din't know about ingredients then. I wasn't aware about the conspiracy behind every dog food ingredients until recently. 

That includes my effort to make some research and I realize that, when the brand mentioned "pure meat diet", it's not entirely meat. If you notice the ingredients, it's only one of them and that was mentioned first. Well, at least.. Dr. Hart's Best Breed Puppy Diet did not include corn and soy (summary about why these two ingredients are not recommended HERE). 

When I decided to change Loki's dog food to make it easier for him to munch on, we chose Bil Jac Puppy Select Formula because one of my friend was using this doggy food product and her dogs seems okay. Also, because it's the nearest pet store to my home. Besides that, the decision was made also because we notice that the kibbles were more puppy friendly (as in, more easier to munch for puppies). Thinking back, I'm pretty sure we just made a terrible mistake there..

Here are the ingredients to  Bil Jac Puppy Select Formula;

Chicken, Chicken By-Products (organs only, source of arginine), Corn Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Oatmeal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Monocalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Salt, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Sodium Propionate (a preservative), L-Lysine, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, Copper Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Manganese Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Mixed Tocopherols and BHA (preservatives), Manganous Oxide, Cobalt Proteinate, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.

Same.. Highlighted are the ingredients that does not exceed my likes. First of all, the Copper Sulfate and Copper Proteinate. You just have to Google copper sulfate in dog food to know more. Use in pesticides, it's toxic and it's a kind of salt. Don't think that you dog live up to 1-2 years there's nothing wrong with it. Salt is basically, one of the cause of allergies in dogs. With this ingredient inside, it's enough to make me say no... but I didn't know at the time. I wasn't aware of this until I make my own research recently. Same goes to Corn too..

Well.. at least Bil Jac doesn't have soy in it.. but everyone should know that buying dog food, means u have to deal with the GMO ingredients in them... Whether, you like it or not.

Eat, drink and fell asleep...

I think Loki doesn't like his food that much at the time. He wasn't gaining puppy weight. So, I had to put him on puppy milk as well.. and the only puppy milk available back in my hometown was some I don't remember what brand product.. but here are the nutrition facts;

Well, it's good enough.. temporarily.

But thinking back.. I realize I should have at least cook for Loki. Check what nutrition he lacks upon and provides with the additional needs for him. If I had done that, he would have had a more happier life then and a more healthier too.

To live a long life, you have to have a healthy diet.. and this applies to animals too. If you're just getting a pet for fashion, trend or later complaining you don't have time for it.. YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST DON'T GET ONE! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THINGS YOU CAN'T HANDLE OR JUST DON'T BOTHER TO KNOW! I find these reasons are very disappointing! Especially that part where people who have pets, but have no time for it. Plus, don't bother to get additional knowledge about their pets. Hence, the reason a pet is so undisciplined.. because the owner is the same!

The History of Dog Food: EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW!