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Blog Cancer Dog Nutrition Featured Health Specific Kidney Prescription "Vet" Food

Ramsey the Blue Staffy – Nutrition for Cancer Case Study

Many of you will know of the Blue Staffy Ramsey, an absolute beauty of a grey (“blue”) Staffordshire terrier who has an enormous Instagram following, over 250k fans, and even his own line of collars, leashes and harnesses at company called Bully Billows. Check it out.Ramsey has cancer. It’s painful to say, painful to hear and painful to read. Ramsey’s cancer is also a particularly aggressive form, called Hemangiosarcoma. I reached out to Jason, Ramsey’s human, offering to help and I am extremely happy to say that he accepted my offer. I’m happy because I know I can actually help, and I’m going to talk about how.

Ramsey’s position is precarious, he recently had his spleen removed by the Vets to slow the metastasis (spread). But the reality of Hemangiosarcoma is that it forms in cells, and whilst it does form growths in particular organs, it’s at a cellular level (the endothelial cells) where this cancer develops and needs addressing. This may sounds like a terrifying thing, but it’s at a cellular level where diet can impact health. I see and know, that there is a great opportunity for nutrition science to support Ramsey, to be a major part of this therapy and to maximise the time he gets on this earth, and potentially see him recover.

In my opinion, cancer is hugely misunderstood. For so long we’ve assumed that cancer is about bad luck, that outcomes are down to doctors and vets, and the only way to fight cancer is to inject poison into the blood stream to kill it off (and in doing so, a lot of the patient with it). The reality is 90% of cancers are due to lifestyle and environment factors, choices that we make for ourselves or choices we make for our dogs cause tumour growth. Studies have shown that diet causes around 30% of cancers in humans, this will be higher in dogs as they don’t smoke, drink alcohol etc. (All research references provided here). If lifestyle affects the growth, then lifestyle can inhibit growth. Ketopet, a wonderful organisation has proven that diet can be the cure to many cancers. They even have a case study of a dog recovering from Hemangiosarcoma, Cali, you can read her story here. When I had a dog running company, many moons ago, my best friend and colleague at the time got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. It was a brutal awakening to real life, at such a young age we all thought we were invincible, but we actually just knew nothing at all. Oli, my friend, utilised diet to help him recover despite the recommendations from doctors to eat donuts and pasta to fatten him up for chemo, he went the other way. The same doctors said they’d never seen tumours shrink like his. Oli happens to be the main reason I got into canine nutrition, it’s another story but it highlights that medicine hasn’t caught up with reality. That nutrition works.

When approaching cancer therapy there are some general steps that need to be taken:

Feed the best quality diet you can.
Give immune supporting supplements.
Give your dog chemical-free water (filtered or spring water).
Avoid other toxins, garden, kitchen etc.

Move the lifestyle to being as natural as possible.

Make specific dietary adjustments.

The rate of cancer growth and effectiveness of antitumor immune responses are determined by nutrient availability in the tumour microenvironment (TME). It is believed that the "tumour microenvironment is not just a silent bystander, but rather an active promoter of cancer progression”.

In the case of hemangiosarcoma, the high metastatic (spreeding) rate and vascular origin that can make inflammation and angiogenesis important processes in the pathogenesis of tumours and cancer metastases. We all know what inflammation is, but angiogenesis is something that you may not of heard of. It is the formation of new blood capillary vessels and these blood vessels provide expanding tissues and organs and tumours with oxygen and nutrients (food), and remove the metabolic waste. Deregulated-angiogenesis plays an essential role effecting diseases, in feeding tumour growth. The first stage in tumour angiogenesis is the activation of endothelial cells, which is where hemangiosarcoma develops.

How can you attack the tumour micro-environment, to reduce inflammation and angiogenesis and effectively stop the spread of hemangiosarcoma with diet? I love this job. This is how: The acidic tumour microenvironment has been associated with the degree of cancer aggressiveness and highly metastatic cancers, like hemangiosarcoma. The tumour acidic environment negatively affects the immune system, leading to a state that prevents the immune cells from exploiting the tumour shrinkage and the exposure of tumour antigens that follows a successful chemotherapy. Using diet to manipulate the acidity of the cancer cells microenvironment is way to prevent the progression and the spread of cancer. Proton pump inhibitors (alkalinising agents) have been used to reduce the production of acid. I have used a mixture of honey and bicarbonate soda. Research has shown the antitumor effects of sodium bicarbonate is related to acidosis in the tumour microenvironment, the honey provides a delivery system.

Cancer cells eat sugar – and mixing and heating bicarbonate of soda with sugar-rich honey, binds the two together such that the honey targets the “sugar hungry” cancer cells (which consume 15x more glucose than normal cells), and thus it carries the baking soda (alkaline) into the cells, it’s like a “Trojan horse”. Other than that, we remove all glucose from the diet. No carbs at all, a ketogenic diet must be implemented, with one or two meals a day (within a 6hr window). Copper initiates tumour vasculature, so we’ve removed all organ meat from the diet. It’s important to note, a complete diet is the furthest thing from an anti-cancer diet. Complete diets are appropriate for healthy dogs, not for dogs needs specific therapy. We’ve included anti-angiogenic ingredients like turkey tail, a supplement which is frequently used in anti-angiogenic therapy, and has also shown to massively increase the survival length of dogs with hemangiosarcoma. These are the necessary steps to fight Ramsey’s cancer with diet.

Another amazing thing that I’m proud to say that we are doing, is we’ve also got Ramsey signed up to take TWO gut health test kits. Ramsey will be providing incredible data on the impacts of this diet on his gut microbiome, to help future dogs get the diets they need to manage or recover from this cancer. Not only is Ramsey able to help spread the message of the importance of diet, but he will forever be part of the contribution to help future dogs. What a champ. If you’d like help with your dog’s diet, please get in touch with Cam here.

Royal Canin Renal Diet- Prescription Dog Food Review

This is a review article of the Renal diets produced by Royal Canin, both their dry and wet food. In this review, it will touch on the following topics surrounding the kidney care diets.

Kidney issues and nutrition, why diet is so important to your dog’s health.
The ingredients in Royal Canin renal food?
Is it healthy for your dog and their kidney issues?
How does Royal Canin renal food work?
Why do Vets push this food so hard?
Prescription diets are being sued.
Your next steps.

Did you know that Royal Canin is made by Mars chocolatiers? Kidney problems and canine nutrition Most kidney issues are related to a loss of kidney function, this causes the kidneys to have a reduced ability to filter the blood, which leads to a build-up of waste. This can be excessive amounts of creatinine, urea, or imbalances to the phosphorus, calcium, potassium and sodium levels. It’s also highly likely to see raised liver enzymes as well. Many dogs prescribed renal food by Royal Canin will have kidney disease. A progressive disease that is extremely variable depending on how early it is diagnosed and by how well it is managed. The most important factor in the management of the disease is the diet that you feed your dog. Digestion is the breakdown of food and distribution of nutrients via the bloodstream around the body. All blood is filtered by the kidney, so what you feed your dog is vitally important if they are suffering from kidney issues. If you’d like to know more about Canine Kidney Disease and nutrition, I’ve written a research article here. What’s in the Renal Diets made by Royal Canin?

There are quite a number of issues with the ingredients in Royal Canin Renal Dog Food.

Highly processed food
High in human waste ingredients
Terrible Recipe formulation
Generic, should be different depending on stage/ issue.

What are animal by-products?

What causes canine kidney disease, and does Royal Canin renal food address these causes?

Overall bodily inflammation - Inflammation reduction requires a natural, fresh and correctly balanced diet. Not a long shelf life processed food, which in fact will have the opposite effect.
Increased waste in the food - Processed food made in massive factories is much higher in waste products, synthetic additives when heated create waste.
Gut Microbiome dysbiosis (wrong diet) – A natural balance of the gut microbiome can only be achieved with a natural fresh food diet.
Chronic bacterial infection - Bacteria levels are managed by the gut microbiome and the food that nourishes it.
High blood pressure – High blood pressure levels come from too high carb diets and low quality fats, which can be found in this food.
Congenital or at birth malformation of the kidneys - this is extremely unlucky, but fresh food support is vital.
Vitamin D deficiency – Prescription diet dog food has killed dogs before due to vitamin D toxicity.
Prolonged periodontal disease - Kibble gets stuck in a dogs teeth (if you’ve ever eaten a biscuit you’ll know that you have to use your finger to get rid of the remnants. Processed wet food has more waste that stains the teeth.

It’s unsurprising that their food isn’t healthy, here’s what Mars normally make. How does Royal Canin Renal food work? Royal Canin renal dog food may reduce certain markers in the blood test as it’s super restrictive, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium etc. but your dog will likely suffer in other areas of their health due to the extreme levels of restriction. E.g. the low quality and extremely low quantity of protein will reduce creatinine in the short term, but could easily cause reduced mobility, skin issues, hair loss etc. in the future. This is also not a recommended option for earlier stage dogs at all, who don’t need such high levels of restriction. The reason why Royal Canin have chosen to be so limiting in nutrients is so all dogs, at any stage, show a decline in blood markers, causing vets and owners to assume it’s working. The truth is, you’re wasting around £10 per 1kg or $14 per 1kg on a generic food, high in human waste ingredients, in a smelly and bland meal that’s not really any different to a normal dog food. If you want the best nutrition for your dog, please get my Homemade Renal Diets for Dogs Recipe Book. Why is Royal Canine Renal Food recommended by Vets? It’s crazy to think that healthcare professionals are recommending “therapeutic diets” that are made with human waste ingredients by chocolatiers, to sick dogs. Here’s how it go to this stage: In the UK there are seven universities offering degrees in veterinary science. Nutrition however, plays a minor role in their education. The average Vet only receiving 19 hours of nutrition training for all animals. I’ve spent around 910hrs learning about dog nutrition, just dogs. A lack of education and chronic underfunding (or in some cases just greed), many universities are very open to external sources of revenue and are happy to accept 'sponsorship' from companies despite glaring conflicts of interest, has meant that over decades, The Big Three (Colgate, Mars and Nestle) have exploited this situation to develop ever closer ties with vet schools around the world, providing funding and education. The Nutrition Textbooks Royal Canin's best-known texts are the Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition and the Encyclopedia of Feline Clinical Nutrition. It probably won't surprise you to hear that these texts are not what most people would call 'impartial' on the subject of pet food. As an example, the Canine Encyclopaedia dedicates more space to promoting Soy Protein Isolate Hydrolysate (a common Royal Canin ingredient) than it does to exploring the entire subject of home-preparing a fresh food diet. The very last sentence in the entire textbook perfectly summarises how Royal Canin consider your sick pets: "Ideally, space should be organized in such a way that owners are led to buy a new supply of food for their dog, and even to buy new products for the dog that they have not seen before (e.g., chewing bars for dental hygiene)". This book is one of the primary sources of information on pet nutrition for vets. Unfortunately, your Vet knows little to nothing about nutrition. Legal action against prescription pet food

Because the foods are so low quality, their association with Vets is being considered as deceptive and their marketing as being different to normal dog foods, as fraudulent. MOORE V. MARS PETCARE US – California Court of Appeals 2020 The panel concluded that under the reasonable consumer test, plaintiffs sufficiently alleged that the sale of the prescription pet food exclusively through vets or with veterinarian approval was a deceptive practice. Also, plaintiffs satisfied the heightened pleading standard for fraud because they alleged sufficient facts to show that prescription pet food and other pet food were not materially different.” Your next steps The power of food is that it can make a dog healthier. Just like with us humans, when we start eating a super healthy diet, it undoes the damage of an unhealthy diet. Read my blog post on making homemade diets for dogs with kidney disease. Or check out my specifically formulated recipe book, for every dog and their specific stage. The healthiest and most cost effective way to feed your dog is homemade food.

Kidney Care Prescription Dog Food

This is a review article of the kidney care diets produced by Hill’s, both their dry and wet food. In this review, it will touch on the following topics surrounding the kidney care diets.

Kidney issues and the importance of diet
What’s in Hill’s Kidney Care food and does address the causes of kidney problems?
Why do Veterinarians prescribe a processed food?
Prescription diets, legal action and food recalls.
Your next steps.

Disclaimer, I am not a medical professional or Veterinarian, I’m a certified dog nutritionist. This video is for educational purposes and should not be confused for medical advice.

Kidney problems and renal support with dog food Kidney issues or chronic kidney disease in dogs are related to a loss of kidney function, this causes the kidneys to have a reduced ability to filter the blood, which leads to a build-up of waste like excessive amounts of creatinine, urea, or imbalances to the phosphorus, calcium, potassium and sodium levels. It’s also highly likely to see raised liver enzymes as well. Many dogs prescribed kidney care food by hills will have chronic kidney disease. A progressive disease that is extremely variable depending on how early it is diagnosed and by how well it is managed, particularly when it comes to nutrition and diet. Digestion is the breakdown of food and distribution of nutrients via the bloodstream, to nourish your dog. All blood is filtered by the kidney and therefore what you feed your dog is vitally important if they are suffering from kidney issues and the rate of progression. If you’d like to know more about Canine Kidney Disease and nutrition, I’ve written a research article here.

Long term, low grade inflammation
Increased waste in the food
Gut Microbiome dysbiosis
Chronic bacterial infection
High blood
Congenital or at birth malformation of the
Vitamin D
Prolonged periodontal disease

What’s in Hills kidney care food?Unfortunately, nothing that’s going to support their overall health.

There are a few problems with the ingredients in Hill’s Kidney care dog food:

Long shelf life dog food
High in human waste ingredients, animal by-products.
Generic Recipe formulation
No variation by stage (not all stages should be managed the same).

What are animal by-products?

The eight causes of canine kidney disease in dogs, does Hill’s renal food address these causes?

Overall bodily inflammation - Inflammation reduction requires a natural, fresh and correctly balanced diet. Not a long shelf life processed food, which in fact will have the opposite effect.
Increased waste in the food - Processed food made in massive factories is much higher in waste products, synthetic additives when heated create waste.
Gut Microbiome dysbiosis (wrong diet) – A natural balance of the gut microbiome can only be achieved with a natural fresh food diet.
Chronic bacterial infection - Bacteria levels are managed by the gut microbiome and the food that nourishes it.
High blood pressure – High blood pressure levels come from too high carb diets and low quality fats, which can be found in this food.
Congenital or at birth malformation of the kidneys - this is extremely unlucky, but fresh food support is vital.
Vitamin D deficiency – Hill’s dog food has killed dogs before due to vitamin D toxicity.
Prolonged periodontal disease - Kibble gets stuck in a dogs teeth (if you’ve ever eaten a biscuit you’ll know that you have to use your finger to get rid of the remnants. Processed wet food has more waste that stains the teeth.

How does kidney care food work? Hills kidney care dog food might reduce certain markers in the blood test as it’s highly restrictive; creatinine, phosphorus, calcium etc. But there is a consequence to such high levels of protein and nutrient restriction. Your dog will likely suffer in other areas of their health E.g. the low quality and extremely low quantity of protein will reduce creatinine in the short term, but could easily cause reduced mobility, skin issues, hair loss etc. in the future. This is also not a recommended option for earlier stage dogs at all, who don’t need such high levels of restriction. The reason why Hill’s have chosen to be so limiting in nutrients is so all dogs, at any stage, show a decline in blood markers, causing vets and owners to assume it’s working. The truth is, you’re wasting around £10 per 1kg or $14 per 1kg on a generic food, high in human waste ingredients, in a smelly and bland meal that’s not really any different to a normal dog food. If you want the best nutrition for your dog, please get my Homemade Renal Diets for Dogs Recipe Book.

Hill’s is actually made by Colgate, not known for their health food products Why do Veterinarians recommend Hill’s Kidney Care Dog Food? In the UK there are seven universities offering degrees in veterinary science. Nutrition however, plays a minor role in their education. The average Vet only receiving 19 hours of nutrition training for all animals. I’ve spent around 900hrs learning about dog nutrition, just dogs. A lack of education and chronic underfunding (or in some cases just greed), many universities are very open to external sources of revenue and are happy to accept 'sponsorship' from companies despite glaring conflicts of interest, has meant that over decades, The Big Three (Colgate, Mars and Nestle) have exploited this situation to develop ever closer ties with vet schools around the world, providing funding and education. The Nutrition Textbooks The most popular text on the subject, entitled "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" is made by Hill's. They also make the accompanying "Quick Consult" guide and the "Key to Clinical Nutrition". Royal Canin's best-known texts are the Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition and the Encyclopedia of Feline Clinical Nutrition. It probably won't surprise you to hear that these texts are not what most people would call 'impartial' on the subject of pet food. As an example, the Canine Encyclopaedia dedicates more space to promoting Soy Protein Isolate Hydrolysate (a common Royal Canin ingredient) than it does to exploring the entire subject of home-preparing a fresh food diet. The very last sentence in the entire textbook perfectly summarises how Royal Canin consider your sick pets: "Ideally, space should be organized in such a way that owners are led to buy a new supply of food for their dog, and even to buy new products for the dog that they have not seen before (e.g., chewing bars for dental hygiene)". This book is one of the primary sources of information on pet nutrition for vets. Unfortunately, your Vet knows little to nothing about nutrition.

Legal action against prescription pet food Because the foods are so low quality, their association with Vets is being considered as deceptive and their marketing as being different to normal dog foods, as fraudulent. MOORE V. MARS PETCARE US – California Court of Appeals 2020 The panel concluded that under the reasonable consumer test, plaintiffs sufficiently alleged that the sale of the prescription pet food exclusively through vets or with veterinarian approval was a deceptive practice. Also, plaintiffs satisfied the heightened pleading standard for fraud because they alleged sufficient facts to show that prescription pet food and other pet food were not materially different.” Food Recalls – it get’s worse. In 2019, Hills had one of the biggest food recalls ever. Around 22 million cans of their food had to be recalled because Vitamin D levels in tested lots were 33 times the recommended safe limit. Attorney Nyran Rose Rasch - “We believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of pets have died or become seriously ill as a result of eating Hill’s foods with toxic levels of Vitamin D,” The FDA investigation found that the vitamin premix had not been analysed and that the final product had not been tested to determine that it met Hill’s specific formulation. Plus, Hill’s failed to obtain certificates of analysis from the supplier of the vitamin. Are these diets really formulated with your dog’s best interest at heart? Your next steps The power of food is that it can make a dog healthier. Just like with us humans, when we start eating a super healthy diet, it undoes the damage of an unhealthy diet. Read my blog post on making homemade diets for dogs with kidney disease. Or check out my specifically formulated recipe book, for every dog and their specific stage. The healthiest and most cost effective way to feed your dog is homemade food.

Homemade dog food for Labrador Retriever

Introduction

Benefits of a homemade diet for Labradors
Balancing a homemade diet for a Labrador
Labrador breed predispositions and functional nutrition support
Make it bespoke to your Labrador
Reduce the chances of your Labrador developing digestive issues.
Supplements for Labradors

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” Ann Wigmore Benefits of a Homemade Dog Food for Labrador

Healthiest way to feed your Labrador.
Diet can help to mitigate breed predispositions.
You know what ingredients are being used, you control the quality.
You can personalise the recipes to include foods that your dog enjoys.
Homemade diets minimise the chances of digestive issues for Labradors.
Use appropriate and specific supplement for than extra boost.

In this article we’ll discuss these components of making the healthiest homemade diet possible for your Labrador. Written by me, the dog nutritionist (Cam).

Balancing a diet for your LabradorThere is so much worry about making a complete diet for dogs, and this anxiety can be really useful because it will ensure you get it right. However, it’s very misplaced because dog nutrition is actually very simple. Your dog needs a high proportion of meat in their diet, which includes organ meat. They require some calcium from either bone, eggshell or a supplement and a range of grated vegetables and fruits. You can buy a multivitamin supplement like the one I sell to ensure you’re not falling short, or you can get my homemade dog food recipe ebook for Labradors, which comes with a full nutrition guide with raw bones quantities. Meat (sometimes fish) 50-70%Organ Meat 10-20%Raw Bone or Calcium Source 10% OR more meat & 2000mg of calcium per 1kg of foodVeggies 10-15%Fruits 5-10%Carbs max. 20% (Some days there should be no carbs in the food)Oils 1 tbsp per 1kg of food/ 1.5 tbsp if no carbs in the food)

You’ll notice these figures don’t add up to 100%, that’s because it’s a guide and it really doesn’t matter if you don’t get it exactly right. But again, if your one of those dog owners who does feel the stress of the situation more, you can get specific recipes for Labrador’s here. Here’s a video I’ve made on Debunking Complete Dog Food – Please watch it, it will relieve some stress! Labrador breed predispositions and functional nutrition supportNutrigenomics is using specific foods to minimise the expression of unhealthy genes, and maximising the expression of healthy genes. This doesn’t need to be overcomplicated, so I’ll keep it simple; the healthier diet, the less likely your dog will suffer from disease. This is where functional foods come in, and again, let’s not overcomplicate things. All foods have a nutrition profile, a range of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols etc. and these nutrients have the ability support certain areas of a human and canine health. Some ingredients have nutrition profiles that are more suited to supporting eye health, some for joints, some to help keep the skin and coat of dog nourished and even be anti-cancer or beneficial for the liver health. Creating a natural fresh food diet, using specific foods and functional foods in the right proportion, can protect your dog from health issues they’re more predisposed to. That’s the power of food!

What are Labrador’s common health issues?Hip & Elbow Dysplasia: Joint support comes from weight control, making sure your Labrador is lean, but also avoiding inflammatory ingredients like carbohydrates and cereals. Providing a natural fresh food diet that’s anti-inflammatory, using fish etc. Utilizing high collagen foods, like raw meaty bones (chicken feet or wings, duck necks etc. or eggshell membrane), can help to regrow cartilage and ensure that they stay mobile and out of pain for as long and as often as possible. Lumps: Keeping high glycemic foods starches foods or low quality cereals to a minimum is the best way to mitigate cancer. Overfeeding your Labrador, particular meals and not just quantity of food can impact tumor growth, feeding once a day at least occasionally is recommended. Utilizing cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, and anti-angiogenic ingredients like berries and mushrooms can also create an anti-cancer diet. Skin Conditions: Labradors can suffer from dry skin as well as allergies that lead to dermatitis (skin inflammation). Again, minimise starchy carbs and use the proteins (meats) which you know work best for your Labrador. Make sure they’re getting a few portions of fresh fish, raw salmon, mackerel or sardines, as this will supply them with a the natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids to boost the health of their skin. Using ingredients your Labrador digests the best, in the right balance.Every dog is different and your Labrador is not the exact same as the next dog owner’s Labrador. It’s the same for their dietary needs and abilities, as sometimes one Labrador is better at digesting a certain ingredient than another Labrador. This is particularly the case for proteins (meats/ fish/eggs), but can also be the case for vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates.By learning what your dog digests the best, and using these ingredients as often as possible, it puts minimal stress on your Labrador’s digestive system, this maximises the absorption of nutrients from the foods and minimises gastro-intestinal inflammation. It makes for a better balance of gut bacteria, basically, everything will work more efficiently and your Labrador will be healthier.

It’s very common for dogs to have food intolerances, certain ingredients that they struggle to digest. It’s important you learn what these are and avoid them. The common intolerances are to specific meats, but some dogs struggle to digest other ingredients like carbohydrates. Here’s a video I’ve made on: What are healthy foods for dogs?Here’s a video I’ve made on: The foods your dog CAN NOT eat A massively understated part of creating a healthy diet that your Labrador is enjoyment. Studies have popped up recently in human nutrition showing how much the power of the mind impacts the overall health of our diets. If your dog is getting the right smells from the food, if it tastes good, it will stimulate them and provide enjoyment on a daily basis, this will massively improve the healthiness of the meal and therefore their overall health and longevity. Reduce the chances of your Labrador developing digestive issuesFor Labradors that suffer from digestive issues, this is an indication of an inflamed gut or one that needs some additional support. From my experience of working with hundreds of dogs with IBS or similar symptoms, inflammation is generally caused by an incorrect diet for the individual dog (rarely it's a bacterial infection). Generic dog foods often contain an improper balance of protein/ fats/ carbs (mainly carbs) and/ or ingredients that certain dogs struggle to digest. Over time, a dog who is sensitive to these imbalances or ingredients, develops inflammation along the gut as well as a dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, further reducing the guts ability to function in a health manner. Eventually it all becomes too much and the gut rejects the food. The symptoms can be explosive, coming out from either or both ends, or I can result in your Labrador developing anal gland problems, pancreatitis, skin issues and general irritation. Avoid incorrectly balanced meals and ingredients that your Labrador could be intolerant too. For any digestive issues, please get in touch with Cam to organise a consultation. Another classic error, and misconception in the canine world is the dogs need numerous meals every single day. This is not the case and can put additional pressure on your Labrador’s gut. Food abundance is not natural, and by provide your dog with too many meals means their digestive system is constantly in use, and never getting time to rest.A Labrador should be eating ONE meal per day or a maximum of TWO meals within a 5hr eating window. Supplements for LabradorsDepending on the lifestyle and current health condition of your Labrador, will determine what supplements we’d recommend. Nutrition is not only there to support the overall health of a dog, but can be used specifically to support the life of the individual dog. For those more active Labrador, or those older dogs who are in need of joint support, we’d recommend the multivitamin and the joints supplement. For those who are more prone to skin conditions, we’d recommend the multivitamin and the skin and coat supplement. Hope you’ve enjoyed this, and found it helpful. Send it to your friends with Labrador’s so they can also have this knowledge. Food really is medicine, and it can help all Labradors live a longer and healthier life. Here’s the recipe ebook for Labradors if you’d like it.

Homemade dog food for Chihuahua

Introduction

Benefits of a homemade diet for Chihuahuas
Balancing a homemade diet for a Chihuahua
Chihuahua breed predispositions and functional nutrition support
Make it bespoke to your Chihuahua
Reduce the chances of your Chihuahua developing digestive issues.
Supplements for Chihuahuas

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” Ann Wigmore Benefits of a Homemade Dog Food for Chihuahua

Healthiest way to feed your Chihuahua.
Diet can help to mitigate breed predispositions.
You know what ingredients are being used, you control the quality.
You can personalise the recipes to include foods that your dog enjoys.
Homemade diets minimise the chances of digestive issues for Chihuahuas.
Use appropriate and specific supplement for than extra boost.

In this article we’ll discuss these components of making the healthiest homemade diet possible for your Chihuahua. Written by me, the dog nutritionist (Cam). Balancing a diet for your ChihuahuaThere is so much worry about making a complete diet for dogs, and this anxiety can be really useful because it will ensure you get it right. However, it’s very misplaced because dog nutrition is actually very simple. Your dog needs a high proportion of meat in their diet, which includes organ meat. They require some calcium from either bone, eggshell or a supplement and a range of grated vegetables and fruits. You can buy a multivitamin supplement like the one I sell to ensure you’re not falling short, or you can get my homemade dog food recipe ebook for Chihuahuas, which comes with a full nutrition guide with raw bones quantities. Meat (sometimes fish) 50-70%Organ Meat 10-20%Raw Bone or Calcium Source 10% OR more meat & 2000mg of calcium per 1kg of foodVeggies 10-15%Fruits 5-10%Carbs max. 20% (Some days there should be no carbs in the food)Oils 1 tbsp per 1kg of food/ 1.5 tbsp if no carbs in the food) You’ll notice these figures don’t add up to 100%, that’s because it’s a guide and it really doesn’t matter if you don’t get it exactly right. But again, if your one of those dog owners who does feel the stress of the situation more, you can get specific recipes for Chihuahua’s here. Here’s a video I’ve made on Debunking Complete Dog Food – Please watch it, it will relieve some stress! Chihuahua breed predispositions and functional nutrition supportNutrigenomics is using specific foods to minimise the expression of unhealthy genes, and maximising the expression of healthy genes. This doesn’t need to be overcomplicated, so I’ll keep it simple; the healthier diet, the less likely your dog will suffer from disease. This is where functional foods come in, and again, let’s not overcomplicate things. All foods have a nutrition profile, a range of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols etc. and these nutrients have the ability support certain areas of a human and canine health. Some ingredients have nutrition profiles that are more suited to supporting eye health, some for joints, some to help keep the skin and coat of dog nourished and even be anti-cancer or beneficial for the liver health.

Creating a natural fresh food diet, using specific foods and functional foods in the right proportion, can protect your dog from health issues they’re more predisposed to. That’s the power of food! What are Chihuahua’s common health issues?Anxiety and stress can caused by a situation of chronic oxidative stress and inflammation, especially in brain and immune cells. Therefore, including herbs that are aromatically calming, like rosemary, thyme and sage in the diet can reduce stress levels. To help reduce stress, a diet for Chihuahuas should also contain strong anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories and immune boosting ingredients. These come from using quality ingredients, organ meat, and a range of vegetables and fruits proportioned appropriately. Joint issue support comes from weight control, making sure the dog is lean, but also avoiding inflammatory ingredients like carbohydrates and cereals. Providing a natural fresh food diet that’s anti-inflammatory, using fish etc. Utilising high collagen foods, like raw meaty bones (chicken wings, duck necks, eggshell membrane), can help to regrow cartilage. Using ingredients your Chihuahua digests the best, in the right balance.Every dog is different and your Chihuahua is not the exact same as the next dog owner’s Chihuahua. It’s the same for their dietary needs and abilities, as sometimes one Chihuahua is better at digesting a certain ingredient than another Chihuahua. This is particularly the case for proteins (meats/ fish/eggs), but can also be the case for vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates.By learning what your dog digests the best, and using these ingredients as often as possible, it puts minimal stress on your Chihuahua’s digestive system, this maximises the absorption of nutrients from the foods and minimises gastro-intestinal inflammation. It makes for a better balance of gut bacteria, basically, everything will work more efficiently and your Chihuahua will be healthier.

It’s very common for dogs to have food intolerances, certain ingredients that they struggle to digest. It’s important you learn what these are and avoid them. The common intolerances are to specific meats, but some dogs struggle to digest other ingredients like carbohydrates. Here’s a video I’ve made on: What are healthy foods for dogs?Here’s a video I’ve made on: The foods your dog CAN NOT eat A massively understated part of creating a healthy diet that your Chihuahua is enjoyment. Studies have popped up recently in human nutrition showing how much the power of the mind impacts the overall health of our diets. If your dog is getting the right smells from the food, if it tastes good, it will stimulate them and provide enjoyment on a daily basis, this will massively improve the healthiness of the meal and therefore their overall health and longevity. Reduce the chances of your Chihuahua developing digestive issuesFor Chihuahuas that suffer from digestive issues, this is an indication of an inflamed gut or one that needs some additional support. From my experience of working with hundreds of dogs with IBS or similar symptoms, inflammation is generally caused by an incorrect diet for the individual dog (rarely it's a bacterial infection). Generic dog foods often contain an improper balance of protein/ fats/ carbs (mainly carbs) and/ or ingredients that certain dogs struggle to digest. Over time, a dog who is sensitive to these imbalances or ingredients, develops inflammation along the gut as well as a dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, further reducing the guts ability to function in a health manner. Eventually it all becomes too much and the gut rejects the food. The symptoms can be explosive, coming out from either or both ends, or I can result in your Chihuahua developing anal gland problems, pancreatitis, skin issues and general irritation. Avoid incorrectly balanced meals and ingredients that your Chihuahua could be intolerant too. For any digestive issues, please get in touch with Cam to organise a consultation. Another classic error, and misconception in the canine world is the dogs need numerous meals every single day. This is not the case and can put additional pressure on your Chihuahua’s gut. Food abundance is not natural, and by provide your dog with too many meals means their digestive system is constantly in use, and never getting time to rest.A Chihuahua should be eating ONE meal per day or a maximum of TWO meals within a 5hr eating window.

Supplements for ChihuahuasDepending on the lifestyle and current health condition of your Chihuahua, will determine what supplements we’d recommend. Nutrition is not only there to support the overall health of a dog, but can be used specifically to support the life of the individual dog. For those more active Chihuahua, or those older dogs who are in need of joint support, we’d recommend the multivitamin and the joints supplement. For those who are more prone to anxiety issues, we’d recommend the multivitamin and the a calming supplement. Hope you’ve enjoyed this, and found it helpful. Send it to your friends with Chihuahua’s so they can also have this knowledge. Food really is medicine, and it can help all Chihuahuas live a longer and healthier life. Here’s the recipe ebook for Chihuahuas if you’d like it.

Low Purine Diets for dogs with Leishmaniasis

Low purine diets, does it get any more confusing?

Purines are natural substances found in plant and animal cells that are vital to the chemical structure of genes. Purines can be found in any food group (i.e. meat, vegetables, fruit etc.), but are higher in meat and fish, than other food groups. Having spoken to many owners of dogs with Leishmaniasis, I can certainly understand their confusion. How can you put together a LOW PURINE diet that is natural and healthy for your dog, when meat is high in purines and dogs need meat? To answer this question we need to look at why your dog is being recommended a low purine diet, and then what is actually a low purine diet for a dog? There is ONE reason for a dog owner wanting to put their dog on a low purine diet. Risk of Bladder/ Kidney Stones Leishmaniasis and low purine diets for dogs Acquired xanthinuria (bladder/ kidney stones) is a common complication in dogs that are being treated with the drug allopurinol for urate urinary tract stones or leishmaniasis. The only reason a dog with Leishmaniasis is being recommended a low purine diet is because of the allopurinol. However it’s worth noting that allopurinol is not always necessary then nor is a low purine diet. A dog who is in remission from Leishmaniasis should be on a management dose of allopurinol, which is taking it for ONE WEEK PER MONTH. Studies have shown that administration of allopurinol is an effective way of maintaining clinical remission in dogs with leishmaniasis. (1) In the LeishVet guidelines:Allopurinol can be discontinued when:

The presence of complete physical and clinicopathological recovery evaluated by a thorough physical examination, CBC, full biochemistry panel and urinalysis.

A marked decrease of antibody levels (to negative or borderline by a quantitative serological assay).

If it is not possible to control or decrease the xanthinuria with low purine diets or by reducing the drug’s dosage, to avoid the risk of urolithiasis, if massive xanthine crystalluria is present.

How to reach a point where allopurinol can be discontinued

Diet

It has long been established that a dog’s nutritional intake is intrinsically connected to the immune response and, therefore, the progression of Leishmaniasis (2,3). Unfortunately, the majority of tinned dog foods provide sub-optimal dietary benefits due to the fact that protein levels are lessened due to intensive food processing, denaturing proteins, reduced nutrient availability, and low-quality food sources. As well as a low-quality, low-protein diet, obesity can also contribute to the advance of Leishmaniasis.

Weak Immune System

Having a weakened immune system plays a crucial role in the clinical manifestations of canine Leishmaniasis and is a fundamental aspect in the development and progression of the disease (4). Both Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmaniasis protection relies on cell-mediated immunity.

Inflammation

As inflammation is related to progressive diseases, reducing inflammation decreases the likelihood for both the emergence and resurgence of the disease (5,6,7,8). Inflammation is reduced by the specific fresh food diet plan detailed below, as well as a reduction in stress, exercise, and increased oxytocin (more time gazing lovingly at your dog) (9).Inflammation is caused by:

An incorrect or incomplete diet, leading to high blood sugar levels, high glycaemic carbohydrate levels, gluten sensitivity, and deficiencies in Magnesium, Zinc, and Vitamin D.
Obesity
Oxidative stress
Lack of exercise
Lack of sleep

Dangers of long term allopurinol use Allopurinol is associated with clinical relapse and its side effects include urinary conditions, with one study finding that 45% of dogs taking allopurinol develop urinary issues There are also several side effects in the case of long-term usage of allopurinol, such as xanthinuria, renal mineralisation, and urolithiasis. (10,11). How to make a low purine diet for a dog with Leishmaniasis using allopurinol? The recommended methods of minimising the risk of urinary stone formation are:

A complete fresh food diet obligatory, processed dog foods are higher purine forming compounds. Avoid all HIGH purine ingredients, see here.

Use MEAT or FISH from beef, cod chicken, duck, pork, lamb, rabbit, turkey, vension

Dogs with a history of stones must only consume low fat meats; lean beef, cod, venison and rabbit.

Organ meat should be liver or heart from beef, chicken or lamb. Organ meat should only make up 5% of the diet for sensitive dogs and 10% for healthy dogs (Ideally chicken liver or lamb liver or heart)

If your dog has had issues with crystals/ stones, a low fat diet should be implemented. Using appropriate, not excessive, amounts of carbohydrates (10 – 15%) and increasing meals per day if your dog is losing weight.

Using small amount (10-15%) of grated low purine vegetables is generally great for all breeds with a purine metabolism problem. (Avoid higher purine veggie, check here)

Adequate hydration (some evidence suggests that bottled, distilled or filtered water can be beneficial. Techniques such using bone broth to the water to encourage more drinking can be used.

Encourage the animal to perform frequent urination (just take them out a bit more often than normal)

Here is a list of foods and there purine content

A. F. Koutinas and C. K. Koutinas, “Pathologic mechanisms underlying the clinical findings in canine Leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum/chagasi,” Veterinary Pathology, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 527–538, 2014.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
Malafaia, G., 2009. Protein‐energy malnutrition as a risk factor for visceral leishmaniasis: a review. Parasite immunology, 31(10), pp.587-596.
Nweze, J.A., Nweze, E.I. and Onoja, U.S., 2020. Nutrition, malnutrition, and leishmaniasis. Nutrition, 73, p.110712.
J. Alvar, C. Cañavate, R. Molina, J. Moreno, and J. Nieto, “Canine leishmaniasis,” Advances in Parasitology, vol. 57, pp. 1–88, 2004.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
P. M. Kaye and T. Aebischer, “Visceral leishmaniasis: Immunology and prospects for a vaccine,” Clinical Microbiology and Infection, vol. 17, no. 10, pp. 1462–1470, 2011.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
F. Y. Liew and C. A. O'Donnell, “Immunology of leishmaniasis,” Advances in Parasitology, vol. 32, pp. 161–259, 1993.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
S. Hosein, D. P. Blake, and L. Solano-Gallego, “Insights on adaptive and innate immunity in canine leishmaniosis,” Parasitology, vol. 144, no. 1, pp. 95–115, 2017.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
C. L. Barbiéri, “Immunology of canine leishmaniasis,” Parasite Immunology, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 329–337, 2006.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
https://selfhack.com/blog/supplements-lifestyle-factors-influence-tnf-interleukin-6-il-6/
L. Manna, R. Corso, G. Galiero, A. Cerrone, P. Muzj, and A. E. Gravino, “Long-term follow-up of dogs with leishmaniosis treated with meglumine antimoniate plus allopurinol versus
Torres, M., Pastor, J., Roura, X., Tabar, M.D., Espada, Y., Font, A., Balasch, J. and Planellas, M., 2016. Adverse urinary effects of allopurinol in dogs with leishmaniasis. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 57(6), pp.299-304.

Homemade dog food for German Shepherd Dog

Low Purine Diets for Dalmatians

Low purine diets, does it get any more confusing? Purines are natural substances found in plant and animal cells that are vital to the chemical structure of genes. Purines can be found in any food group (i.e. meat, vegetables, fruit etc.), but are higher in meat and fish, than other food groups. Speaking with many dogs owners, I can certainly understand their confusion. How can you put together a LOW PURINE diet that is natural and healthy for your Dalmatian, when meat is high in purines and dogs need meat? To answer this question we need to look at why your Dalmatian is being recommended a low purine diet, and then what is actually a low purine diet for a dog? Dalmatians are recommended low purine diets to reduce the chances of Bladder/ Kidney Stones. Dalmatians have a genetic defect that results in excessive uric acid excreted into the urine. It then can form crystals, sludge and stones and, if large enough, can cause obstruction. (1) THREE important pieces of information Dalmatian parents need to know are:

Nearly all Dalmatians have the genetic defect
Not all Dalmatians with the defect form stones

97% of Dalmatians who do form stones are male (females don’t need a low purine diet)

(2) What is actually a low purine diet for a Dalmatian? A dog is a facultative carnivore, meaning, in all aspects they are evolved to eat diets high in meat. The answer to creating a low purine diet for a dog, is not avoid meat, but to avoid HIGH purine meats and foods. There are meats that are HIGH in purines, and meats that are MODERATELY HIGH in purines. For example, sardines have nearly FOUR times the amount of purines as cod. Pork heart has TWICE the amount of purines as sheep heart. How to make a low purine diet for a Dalmatian? The recommended methods of minimising the risk of urinary stone formation are:

A complete fresh food diet obligatory, processed dog foods are higher purine forming compounds. Avoid all HIGH purine ingredients, see here.

Use MEAT or FISH from beef, cod chicken, duck, pork, lamb, rabbit, turkey, vension

Dogs with a history of stones must only consume low fat meats; lean beef, cod, venison and rabbit.

Organ meat should be liver or heart from beef, chicken or lamb. Organ meat should only make up 5% of the diet for sensitive dogs and 10% for healthy dogs (Ideally chicken liver or lamb liver or heart)

If your dog has had issues with crystals/ stones, a low fat diet should be implemented. Using appropriate, not excessive, amounts of carbohydrates (10 – 15%) and increasing meals per day if your dog is losing weight.

Using small amount (10-15%) of grated low purine vegetables is generally great for all breeds with a purine metabolism problem. (Avoid higher purine veggie, check here)

Adequate hydration (some evidence suggests that bottled, distilled or filtered water can be beneficial. Techniques such using bone broth to the water to encourage more drinking can be used.

Encourage the animal to perform frequent urination (just take them out a bit more often than normal)

Here is a list of foods and there purine content

Sampson, E., 2011. OVERVIEW OF BACKCROSS PROJECT: NORMAL URIC ACID IN DALMATIANS.
Ling GV, Franti CE, Ruby AL, Johnson DL. Urolithiasis in dogs. II: Breed prevalence, and interrelations of breed, sex, age, and mineral composition. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 1998 May;59(5):630-642. PMID: 9582969.

Prescription Diet.001 | Homemade dog food for French Bulldog breed

The Truth about Prescription Dog Food

This is a review article Prescription Diets. In this review, it will touch on the following topics surrounding the Food Sensitivity diets.

Legal action against prescription pet food
The companies behind prescription diets
What’s in prescription dog food?
Why Veterinarians sell this food?
Research proving it's deceptive nature
Your next steps.

Legal action against prescription pet foodBecause the foods are so low quality, their association with Vets is being considered as deceptive and their marketing as being "different to normal dog foods" as fraudulent. MOORE V. MARS PETCARE US – California Court of Appeals 2020"The panel concluded that under the reasonable consumer test, plaintiffs sufficiently alleged that the sale of the prescription pet food exclusively through vets or with veterinarian approval was a deceptive practice.Also, plaintiffs satisfied the heightened pleading standard for fraud because they alleged sufficient facts to show that prescription pet food and other pet food were not materially different.” Not to mention the foods recalls due to dog deaths.In 2019, Hills had one of the biggest food recalls ever. Around 22 million cans of their food had to be recalled because Vitamin D levels in tested lots were 33 times the recommended safe limit.Attorney Nyran Rose Rasch - “We believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of pets have died or become seriously ill as a result of eating Hill’s foods with toxic levels of Vitamin D,” saysThe FDA investigation found that the vitamin premix had not been analysed and that the final product had not been tested to determine that it met Hill’s specific formulation. Plus, Hill’s failed to obtain certificates of analysis from the supplier of the vitamin. Who makes the prescription diet?Hill’s (Colgate) began selling its “Prescription Diet” pet food in the 1960s through vets. In 2004, when Hill’s became a significant player in the prescription pet food market, Royal Canin (Mars) introduced its own line of prescription pet food. At an unspecified time prior to 2012, Purina (Nestle) entered the prescription pet food market.Hills – ColgateRoyal Canin – MarsPurina – NestléNot known for their health food products or trustworthy marketing tactics. What's in the food?Here's an example of what you might find in a diet for digestive health. For a start, prescribing a dog with digestive issues a processed food, is the equivalent of sending a human with stomach problems to McDonalds. It makes no sense.

Animal by-products - animal fats, digest (see how bad these are below)
Brewers Rice - Low quality carb filler, unnatural for dogs.
Dried whole egg – powdered egg, extremely low quality protein source
Maize gluten meal – Connected to allergies and intolerances by holistic vets

Animal by-products - digest (see how bad these are below)
Caramel – “coloured with caramel”
Dried beet Pulp – Horse feed
Maize – which dogs should not ever consume.
Rice and rice flour – too high in rice, high grain diets are unnatural for dogs

Here’s a look at what can go into animal-by products:

Why is it recommended by Vets?In the UK there are seven universities offering degrees in veterinary science. Nutrition however, plays a minor role in their education.The average Vet only receiving 19 hours of nutrition training for all animals. To put that into context, I’d say I’ve spent 1hr per day learning about canine nutrition (low end), 5hrs per week (not weekends) for the last 3.5 years.I’ve spent around 910hrs learning about dog nutrition, just dogs. A lack of education and chronic underfunding (or in some cases just greed), many universities are very open to external sources of revenue and are happy to accept 'sponsorship' from companies despite glaring conflicts of interest. Over the decades, The Big Three (Colgate, Mars and Nestle) have exploited this situation to develop ever closer ties with vet schools around the world, providing funding and education. The Nutrition TextbooksThe most popular text on the subject, entitled "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" is made by Hill's. They also make the accompanying "Quick Consult" guide and the "Key to Clinical Nutrition". Royal Canin's best-known texts are the Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition and the Encyclopedia of Feline Clinical Nutrition.It probably won't surprise you to hear that these texts are not what most people would call 'impartial' on the subject of pet food.As an example, the Canine Encyclopaedia dedicates more space to promoting Soy Protein Isolate Hydrolysate (a common Royal Canin ingredient) than it does to exploring the entire subject of home-preparing a fresh food diet.The very last sentence in the entire textbook perfectly summarises how Royal Canin consider your sick pets: "Ideally, space should be organized in such a way that owners are led to buy a new supply of food for their dog, and even to buy new products for the dog that they have not seen before (e.g., chewing bars for dental hygiene)".This book is one of the primary sources of information on pet nutrition for vets. Unfortunately, your Vet knows little to nothing about nutrition. Evidence of how deceptive these diets are, is now coming out in canine nutrition research:

13/14 Vet foods use for food elimination diets contain ingredients that weren’t on the label. (1)
7/8 Vet diets use for weight loss were deficient in nutrients according to guidelines. (2)

Your next stepsThe power of food is that it can make a dog healthier. Just like with us humans, when we start eating a super healthy diet, it undoes the damage of an unhealthy diet.Let's sort out a diet that works for your dog.Get in touch, help@thedognutritionist.com to speak to Cam Wimble (certified dog nutritionist) References

Ricci, R., Conficoni, D., Morelli, G. et al.Undeclared animal species in dry and wet novel and hydrolyzed protein diets for dogs and cats detected by microarray analysis. BMC Vet Res 14, 209 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1528-7
Olivindo, Rodrigo FG, et al. "Evaluation of the nutrients supplied by veterinary diets commercialized in Brazil for obese dogs undergoing a weight loss program." Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition.

Blog-cover | Diet for Digestion | Homemade dog food for Pomeranian

Hill's Digestive Care Dry & Wet Dog Food Review

This is a review article of the Digestive Care diets produced by Hill’s, both the dry and wet food. In this review, it will touch on the following topics surrounding the Food Sensitivity diets.

Legal action against prescription pet food
The companies behind prescription diets
What’s in Urinary care dog food?
Why Veterinarians sell this food?
Your next steps.

Animal by-products - animal fats, digest (see how bad these are below)
Brewers Rice - Low quality carb filler, unnatural for dogs.
Dried whole egg – powdered egg, extremely low quality protein source
Maize gluten meal – Connected to allergies and intolerances by holistic vets

Animal by-products - digest (see how bad these are below)
Caramel – “coloured with caramel”
Dried beet Pulp – Horse feed
Maize – which dogs should not ever consume.
Rice and rice flour – too high in rice, high grain diets are unnatural for dogs

Here’s a look at what can go into animal-by products:

Why is it recommended by Vets?In the UK there are seven universities offering degrees in veterinary science. Nutrition however, plays a minor role in their education.The average Vet only receiving 19 hours of nutrition training for all animals. To put that into context, I’d say I’ve spent 1hr per day learning about canine nutrition (low end), 5hrs per week (not weekends) for the last 3.5 years.I’ve spent around 910hrs learning about dog nutrition, just dogs. A lack of education and chronic underfunding (or in some cases just greed), many universities are very open to external sources of revenue and are happy to accept 'sponsorship' from companies despite glaring conflicts of interest. Over the decades, The Big Three (Colgate, Mars and Nestle) have exploited this situation to develop ever closer ties with vet schools around the world, providing funding and education. The Nutrition TextbooksThe most popular text on the subject, entitled "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" is made by Hill's. They also make the accompanying "Quick Consult" guide and the "Key to Clinical Nutrition". Royal Canin's best-known texts are the Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition and the Encyclopedia of Feline Clinical Nutrition.It probably won't surprise you to hear that these texts are not what most people would call 'impartial' on the subject of pet food.As an example, the Canine Encyclopaedia dedicates more space to promoting Soy Protein Isolate Hydrolysate (a common Royal Canin ingredient) than it does to exploring the entire subject of home-preparing a fresh food diet.The very last sentence in the entire textbook perfectly summarises how Royal Canin consider your sick pets: "Ideally, space should be organized in such a way that owners are led to buy a new supply of food for their dog, and even to buy new products for the dog that they have not seen before (e.g., chewing bars for dental hygiene)".This book is one of the primary sources of information on pet nutrition for vets. Unfortunately, your Vet knows little to nothing about nutrition. Your next stepsThe power of food is that it can make a dog healthier. Just like with us humans, when we start eating a super healthy diet, it undoes the damage of an unhealthy diet.Read my blog post on making homemade diets for dogs with digestive issuesOr check out my specifically formulated recipe book, for every dog and their specific stage.The healthiest and most cost effective way to feed your dog is homemade food.

Cover-blog-Diet for Digestion | homemade puppy food

Hills Food Sensitivities Dry & Wet Dog Food Review

This is a review article of the Food Sensitivity diets produced by Hill’s, both the dry and wet food. In this review, it will touch on the following topics surrounding the Food Sensitivity diets.

Legal action against prescription pet food
The companies behind prescription diets
What’s in Urinary care dog food?
Why Veterinarians sell this food?
Your next steps.

Chicken liver hydrolysate - powdered chicken liver (animal by-product, see details below)
Dried beet Pulp – Horse feed
Maize – which dogs should not ever consume, connected to allergies and intolerances by holistic vets
Soybean oil – Soy connected to allergies and intolerances by holistic vets.

Chicken liver hydrolysate - powdered chicken liver (animal by-product, see details below)
Dried beet Pulp – Horse feed
Maize – which dogs should not ever consume.
Soybean oil – Soy connected to allergies and intolerances by holistic vets

Here’s a look at what can go into animal-by products:

Why is it recommended by Vets?In the UK there are seven universities offering degrees in veterinary science. Nutrition however, plays a minor role in their education.The average Vet only receiving 19 hours of nutrition training for all animals. To put that into context, I’d say I’ve spent 1hr per day learning about canine nutrition (low end), 5hrs per week (not weekends) for the last 3.5 years.I’ve spent around 910hrs learning about dog nutrition, just dogs. A lack of education and chronic underfunding (or in some cases just greed), many universities are very open to external sources of revenue and are happy to accept 'sponsorship' from companies despite glaring conflicts of interest. Over the decades, The Big Three (Colgate, Mars and Nestle) have exploited this situation to develop ever closer ties with vet schools around the world, providing funding and education. The Nutrition TextbooksThe most popular text on the subject, entitled "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" is made by Hill's. They also make the accompanying "Quick Consult" guide and the "Key to Clinical Nutrition". Royal Canin's best-known texts are the Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition and the Encyclopedia of Feline Clinical Nutrition.It probably won't surprise you to hear that these texts are not what most people would call 'impartial' on the subject of pet food.As an example, the Canine Encyclopaedia dedicates more space to promoting Soy Protein Isolate Hydrolysate (a common Royal Canin ingredient) than it does to exploring the entire subject of home-preparing a fresh food diet.The very last sentence in the entire textbook perfectly summarises how Royal Canin consider your sick pets: "Ideally, space should be organized in such a way that owners are led to buy a new supply of food for their dog, and even to buy new products for the dog that they have not seen before (e.g., chewing bars for dental hygiene)".This book is one of the primary sources of information on pet nutrition for vets. Unfortunately, your Vet knows little to nothing about nutrition. Your next stepsThe power of food is that it can make a dog healthier. Just like with us humans, when we start eating a super healthy diet, it undoes the damage of an unhealthy diet.Read my blog post on making homemade diets for dogs with allergies and food sensitivities.Or check out my specifically formulated recipe book, for every dog and their specific stage.The healthiest and most cost effective way to feed your dog is homemade food.