Archive for the ‘Diet’ Category

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Shiny coats = happy, healthy dogs

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Hair matters. Remember that old shampoo commercial: “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful?” as the model swung her luscious, full, shiny mane of hair in slow motion towards the camera? It was pretty darn effective: sales of that brand of shampoo soared, and the tagline is still memorable today, at least 15 years later.

Even as styles and even ideal weights and body sizes have varied throughout cultures and different eras, shiny, full, bouncy hair has always been desirable, and a sign of youth, health, and attractiveness.

The dog with a pretty, shiny coat and the sparkly eyes will always be adopted first, over the dog with a scruffy, patchy coat with bald spots and dull eyes.

…Oh, did you think I was talking about women?

Well, maybe I was initially. But just as in humans, in dogs, how supple, smooth, and shiny the skin and hair (or fur) appears is an externally visible reflection of overall health.

If your dog has a dull, dry coat, this is an external indication of poor nutritional health. A good diet is essential to good coat health, but just as in humans, a good skin and haircare (or coat care) routine is necessary to supplement a good diet.

Key (food) ingredients to good hair and coat health (take notes, not just for your canine friend, but for yourself too!) are:

  • Linoleic acid: This is an Omega-6 fatty acid that supports the proper functioning of the sebaceous glands in the skin. Without the proper production of skin oils, over time, the coat will look dry and lusterless. In addition, linoleic acid helps to prevent water loss from the skin.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (notably, EPA and DHA): These are considered to be the foundation of healthy skin, and are also recommended to support organ function such as heart and kidney function and joint health. EPA and DHA are the Omega-3 fatty acids that work at the cellular level to help the immune system react optimally when it faces challenges.
  • Vitamins A, C, and E; and Zinc: These vitamins and the mineral Zinc help to neutralize free radicals that can harm cells.
  • B vitamins (including biotin): B’s are critical to proper cellular functioning, including skin and hair health.
  • Choline and Inositol: These substances help to maintain the integrity of skin cells.

Of course, ideal hair/coat-care consists of a two-pronged strategy – from the inside-out (what you eat shows up in your glowing skin and shiny, lush hair/fur), and also, from the outside-in. Your hair (and coat-care) products really do matter. That’s why we’ve spent so much time crafting the best quality shampoo and conditioning products possible. Here are some key things to look for in your pet shampoo and coat care products:

Because dog’s skin and coat is so sensitive, it’s crucial that you never use harsh cleansers - soap can dry skin, remove necessary skin oils, and leave irritating and drying residue behind.

  • The cleansing agents used in earthbath shampoos are hypo-allergenic, soap-free, renewable coconut-based cleansers, which are excellent at cleansing, without drying out the skin or coat.
  • Use a pH-balanced cleanser. Dogs’ skin pH is almost neutral, meaning that the pH balanced shampoos for HUMANS will be much more acidic and as a result, highly irritating to their much more sensitive skin.
  • Moisturizing ingredients and conditioners are key to replacing the nourishing oils that can be washed away, and skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal promote healing of skin irritations and re-moisturize sensitive, dry skin.

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Posted in Breeds, Canine Health, Diet, Dogs, earthbath, Grooming, Pet Owners, Shedding, Skin Care | No Comments »

Keep yourself – and your pet – sharp & fit with a daily walk!

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

The benefit to our bodies from physical exercise is a fact we are all aware of, yet most of us still choose to relax on the couch than head out for a run. Yet, regular moderate exercise has been found to be healthy not just for our hearts, but also for our heads. And the same goes for our dogs. For those of us that share our lives with one or more dogs, and walk them daily, chances are we are doing wonders for our brains and our canine friends’ brains, without thinking too much about it.

Many of us are all too aware of the increasing memory loss that is associated with normal aging (those “senior moments” of forgetfulness become all too familiar as the years pass), and fear the extreme form of memory loss and cognitive dysfunction that is Alzheimer’s disease. And memory decline is not an affliction of humans alone: there is a similar syndrome now identified in our pets, known as cognitive dysfunction disorder (CD). If you are curious about identifying symptoms of CD, remember the acronym DISH:

D: Disorientation and confusion, such as attempting to walk through the wrong side of a doggie door.

I: Interactions (changes in interactions, that is), such as an outgoing pet becoming withdrawn.

S: Sleep disturbances, like dogs pacing back and forth or cats yowling through the night for no apparent reason.

H: Housetraining Regression: or Having Accidents.

Of course, if your dog or cat exhibits any behavioral changes, the first step is to consult your veterinarian to rule out any other health problems or diseases first, before attempting to diagnose your pet with CD. CD is further complicated by the fact that, just as in humans, as animals age, they often develop physical problems in addition to cognitive problems, many symptoms of which can actually exacerbate other growing health problems.

But it’s not all doom and gloom: keeping active throughout one’s life (both mentally and physically) has been shown to delay, minimize, or potentially even prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in humans. Since cognitive decline in dogs is very similar to the pattern of mental decline in humans, it’s highly probable that the same kinds of stimulation in the form of mental and physical exercise can help keep your dogs mentally (and physically) fit for life.

In fact, a study conducted at the University of California-Irvine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center looked at cognitive decline in both dogs and people. One group of dogs was enrolled in “continuing canine education” that included more social interactions with other dogs and people, followed a specific exercise regime and ate a special anti-aging diet. The control group of dogs was simply fed the anti-aging diet (but didn’t receive additional mental or physical exercise and training). All of the dogs were given a variety of tests to assess cognitive skills over the study, and the results were definitive: the dogs that received more social interactions, exercise,  and cognitive “enrichment” in the form of learning new tasks and skills did much better than the dogs simply fed the anti-aging diet.

The best thing you can do, right now, for your health and your dog’s health is to take your dog for a walk: The 30-60 minutes a day outside will do both of you good! And remember: old dogs CAN (and should) learn new tricks! It will keep them young!casino aussie

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Posted in Breeds, Canine Health, Diet, Dogs, earthbath, Pet News, Pet Owners, Staying Active, Training | No Comments »

earthbath features a “how-to” video on brushing your dog’s teeth for Pet Dental Health Month!

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

February is Pet Dental Health Month! You might buy your pet the best organic, locally-sourced food, all-natural treats, walk him daily, and maybe even dress him in designer doggie duds, but do you also give the same level of attention to his doggie dentifrice? Most people don’t know that the most common health problem in dogs is actually periodontal disease. In fact, over 75% of all dogs show symptoms of oral disease by the time they are three! Poor dental hygiene isn’t just about “doggie breath!” In fact, bad breath shouldn’t be an acceptable norm for dogs or cats. Tooth and gum problems can become painful and serious if left untreated and could cause a whole host of health problems, even aggression. Over time, unchecked dental problems can result in plaque and bacteria build-up that can enter the bloodstream and cause serious disease in the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.

The best thing to do is to start a dental hygiene routine as early as possible (puppies who have been raised with regular grooming, nail trimming, socializing, etc. will treat these routines like it’s no big deal, and teeth-brushing is no different), but it’s never too late to start!

Unfortunately, once periodontal disease sets in, there is no way to reverse it, although its progress can be slowed or stopped with consistent dental care. Given the unpleasant and painful nature of the symptoms of periodontal disease, including:

  • Bad breath
  • Discolored and yellow teeth
  • Swollen gums
  • Changes in behavior including:
  • Difficulty in chewing (including reluctance to chew/disinterest in toys and treats)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Broken or missing teeth
  • Nasal and eye discharge
  • Blood in the saliva
  • Drooling

…you probably want to do all that you can to prevent the disease from taking hold, or to stop it if it’s already present. Here are the best ways to start a dental hygiene routine with your dog:

1) Brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week.

  • You can buy a special toothbrush made especially for dogs, or a soft child’s toothbrush, a finger toothbrush, a gauze pad around a finger, or a cotton swab all also do the job well.
  • Use special dog-specific toothpaste specially formulated for dogs, as this toothpaste is flavored to taste appealing to dogs, and, much like human toothpaste, also contains ingredients that continue to fight plaque formation and tooth decay long after brushing.
  • Focus on the back molars as they tend to develop plaque more quickly than frontal teeth.
  • DO NOT USE human toothpaste because human toothpaste contains foaming ingredients that can be toxic to dogs. In addition, the taste of human toothpaste, baking soda, or salt are all unpalatable to dogs and could upset their tummies or create an allergic reaction.

Here’s a handy 5 minute how-to video by the American Veterinary Medical Association on how to brush your dog’s teeth. It’s so easy!

2) Feed a good quality, excellent dry dog food, without the wheat and corn that can act like decay-causing sugar to the teeth. Dry dog food also acts like mini scrubbies that brush away plaque and tartar, whereas wet dog food creates sticky tartar formation. If you feed wet food to your dog, make sure that the majority of his diet is made up of dry food.

3) Give your dog dental chew toys and bones like knobby toys, rope toys and flossy toys – all of which help to scrape plaque and tartar off of the teeth. Pork skin is also a great choice as it is more digestible and nutritional than rawhide but still scrapes off tartar very effectively.

4) Just as you get yearly dental check-ups, make sure your dog also gets a yearly dental exam by the vet. Most vets actually honor Pet Dental Health month and offer specials on teeth checkups and cleanings during February!casino aussie

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Posted in Canine Health, Cats, Diet, Dogs, earthbath, Grooming, Helpful Pet Hints, Pet News, Pet Owners | No Comments »

Exercising with your dog: Keep Your New Year’s Exercise Resolution!

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

We’re already into the second decade of the 21st century (Remember Y2K? How faraway and quaint that unnecessary panic was!), and it’s almost the end of the first month of 2011 (Happy New Year!). Are you sticking to your New Year’s Exercise resolution? Most people drop off within the first two months, and it may not be surprising to hear that many people fall of the exercise wagon within the first two WEEKS after nothing but good intentions and fat gym membership fees!

However, if you’re a parent to a slobbery, furry kid, aka a DOG, you have a live-in exercise partner that will help you keep to your daily dose of exercise, in the form of daily walks. The NYTimes Well Blog even featured a story about how owning a dog yields the most consistency in exercising and gaining overall fitness improvement.

Interestingly, however, simply having a dog doesn’t automatically correlate with being in shape (shocker!). This is because most people choose pets with a similar activity predisposition to their own, or if pets don’t share their owner’s (low) activity levels to begin with, they often become unwittingly “trained” to live a typically-human sedentary lifestyle. No dog was born to be a couch potato and eat pre-made food regularly dispensed neatly into a bowl!  Some even observe that people choose pets that physically resemble themselves. This means that the overall level of physical activity in a pet ends up correlating to that of their owner, as does their waistline!

One scientific study that looked into the relationship between weight loss (in both people and dogs) and exercising together showed that people who regularly exercised with their dog stuck with their workout plan better than people without dogs. Even celebrities have used their dogs as motivation to lose weight. Remember Nia Vardalos, from My Big Fat Greek Wedding? She said that following the advice of her vet to help Manny, her 6 year old Labrador Retriever, lose weight, also helped her to slim down.  “The two of us lost weight together. The vet had just told us that he was a little bit overweight, so we called it the ‘Manny 6-Lb. Challenge.’ ” She stayed active with daily walks and play time with Manny, which involved chasing a tennis ball.

If you’re just starting out on an “exercise plan” with your dog, or trying to increase your and his activity levels, take it slow. You wouldn’t hit the gym for 3 hours the first day of your membership, would you?  The last thing you want to do is put unnecessary and possibly damaging stress on your dog’s joints and muscles. If your dog has been inactive or is carrying extra weight, just like in humans, high intensity and/or long exercise sessions can be too much for the body and joints, and cause injury.

Start with an evenly paced, low-impact activity, like a short walk or hike, and then begin to increase the length and challenge as you and your dog gets accustomed to the exercise routine. Especially for dogs with joint problems or osteoarthritis proclivities, it’s much healthier to undertake no- or low- impact activities like swimming, paced hiking or walking over high-intensity exercises, like running , jumping, and twisting.

Set attainable and sustainable activity goals for yourself and your pet. If you commit to going on a daily walk, your dog will start to expect it and look forward to it (which will also help to keep you on track!). If you are starting to feel bored with your normal route or type of activity, change it up by trying a new path, or a longer walk. Explore a different park. Drive to a dog-friendly hiking trail. Don’t be afraid to get your paws wet and go for a swim!

And of course, before you start on an exercise program with your dog, make sure you consult with your veterinarian.casino aussie

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Posted in Canine Health, Diet, Dogs, earthbath, Helpful Pet Hints, Pet News, Pet Owners, Staying Active | No Comments »

Give thanks for (and to!) your pet with our top 3 Thanksgiving treats!

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

This Thanksgiving, as you gather round the table with loved ones, friends, and family, we know you won’t forget to give thanks for your furry family members! After all, who loves you unconditionally, doesn’t ever talk back, is always happy to see you, and can be counted on to cheer you up no matter how dark your mood? Even though your perfect Thanksgiving may consist of gorging yourself to the gills before collapsing in front of the TV, don’t make the mistake of indulging your dog or cat in the same way. Remember, your pet might know something special is going on, with the increase in company and holiday hubbub in your house, but he doesn’t need excess food, especially not the rich holiday treats or sweets that are toxic to his sensitive stomach, irrespective of season. However, there are some great pet-safe Thanksgiving treats that are guaranteed to make your furry family member feel extra-thankful for such a loving pet parent. Here are our three favorites (with corresponding DON’Ts):

1) A taste of the Thanksgiving table: If you feel too guilty indulging in your Thanksgiving feast without sharing at least a little of it with your pet, go ahead… a taste of “people food” today as a special treat won’t hurt him (as long as you keep it at “just a taste”). A few small skinless, boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a bite of mashed potatoes or even a tiny sliver of pumpkin pie would all be welcome to your pet. However, don’t allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of upset tummy, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. Cooked nutrient-rich vegetables like pumpkins, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, and peas are wonderful “treats” for cats and dogs – the same wonderful vitamins that make these so good for humans are equally nutritious for animals (in the right quantity). We take no responsibility, however, if your “one time indulgence” for Fido creates a little begging monster from here on out!

BUT DON’T: Give him sage (the essential oils in sage and other herbs can cause digestive upset, especially to cats), raw bread dough (why you’d feed raw bread dough to anyone I don’t know, but the ASPCA warns that it can rise in a pet’s stomach, causing severe GI distress and even life-threatening bloating), chocolate (always toxic to dogs and cats), or too much of anything (duh).

2) Bones/Chews and Special Treats: You can find special Thanksgiving-themed/turkey-flavored bones or chews that will let you feel as though you and your pooch are sharing the same Thanksgiving flavors together without the risk of splinter-prone turkey bones. Pay a special trip to your local pet store or doggy bakery and grab a turkey-flavored bone for Fido! In addition, you can find many dog treats around the holidays that are made with natural, organic ingredients such as pumpkin, sweet potato, and apple with ginger or cinnamon for a special Thanksgiving or Christmas twist.

BUT DON’T: Give him poultry bones of any variety. Cooked turkey, duck, geese and other bird bones are dangerous to your pet. They are hollow, and can break and splinter easily. Because they are so easily breakable, they aren’t usually chewed thoroughly, which results in sharp pieces that can cause choking, or even block or tear the intestines.  A pet that has a bone or fragment of one lodged in his intestine may not even show symptoms for a few days, and when they do, in the form of listlessness, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, surgery may be required.

3) Turkey treats: Some nibbles of skinless, boneless turkey is a great treat for most cats and dogs. Cut up a few pieces and add it to your dog’s regular food to give it its own Thanksgiving meal. For cats, try pureeing some turkey with sweet potatoes or pumpkin and adding it to their regular food or giving it to them on its own as a special tasty treat. And if you don’t like turkey giblets, your pet will feel differently: try boiling them up for a yummy pet treat that you can dole out over several days. You can also try stuffing a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy to keep them happily entertained (without the danger of overindulgence) while you entertain your guests. By the time your furry friend has gotten all of the treats out of the toy, you’ll be in the midst of post-dinner cleanup and ready to spend the rest of the afternoon curled up with your pet in a turkey-induced coma.

DON’T: Give turkey skin or bones, or any meat that’s been sitting out longer than two hours to avoid risk of salmonella poisoning. Also make sure you don’t feed any foods containing garlic, onions, sage, raisins, or chocolate… all are toxic to animals.

The best Thanksgiving treat of all: Spend some quality time together, with loved ones of both human and canine or feline variety!

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Posted in Breeds, Canine Health, Cats, Diet, Dogs, earthbath, Helpful Pet Hints, Holidays, Pet News, Pet Owners, Pet Safety | No Comments »

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