All The Best Pet Care

Could the food you serve your companion be stale, or even (heaven forbid) rancid?

Have you ever stopped to think about the impact of improper food storage on your companion’s health? Today’s high quality dog and cat foods have greater nutrient density, higher fat content and fewer preservatives than ever before, and must be stored appropriately, especially in warm weather, to avoid losing nutritional value or going rancid. ‘Best By’ dates are typically one year from the day the food was made, but this refers to unopened bags only.  Once opened, a different freshness clock kicks in, and this is where many people go wrong.  Natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols (Vit E) and citric acid (Vit C) have replaced toxic chemical preservatives, but their stabilizing abilities aren’t as strong. Too often we hear stories of cats or dogs refusing to eat the bottom of the bag. Chances are they’re detecting  an ‘off’ odor our own noses can’t yet perceive. Here are some tips to maintain the quality of dry food after opening the bag:

Store in a cool, dry place.

Heat, light and humidity are the enemies of freshness and nutrition.  Don’t store food outdoors or next to hot appliances. To protect fragile nutrients, keep tightly sealed against moisture and insects by pushing the excess air out and resealing the bag or securing with a bag clip. 

Store in the original bag.  

Most pet food bags are designed with one-way valves or micro-perforations to allow air and moisture to escape, preventing oxidation and mold, and are the best way to store in our opinion.  Transferring to a closed airtight container may ‘sweat’ the food, causing it to go bad.  Another compelling reason  to keep the bag is for the batch and date codes, in case your companion becomes sick and you need to know what he was eating, or in the event of a future recall. 

If you use an additional container, wash out residue between bags.

One way to go is putting the entire bag inside another container, but be aware that old rancid fats can stick to the inside and contaminate any new food it comes into contact with.

Buy food to last no more than 4 to 6 weeks at a time.

Once you open the bag, that is Day One. Buying in volume or taking advantage of sales is of no benefit to your animal if the food will lose potency before it’s been consumed.  Depending on temperature and humidity, your pet food will start oxidizing and losing nutrient content. You can freeze or refrigerate kibble in sealed ziplock bags to extend shelf life, up to 6 months for freezing.

by Susan Moss

Prices for agricultural products are going up across the board, and this has had a major effect on pet food prices as manufacturers pass on the increases. Below are a few tips for feeding your canine like a king without robbing the treasury. In addition to the savings, these steps will bring variety and interest to Fido’s menu.

1. Downsize your kibble - a lower priced kibble may contain less meat, or contain only meat meals rather than fresh meat, and perhaps fewer frills in the supplement category. But you can ramp up the meat protein in less expensive ways as add-ons and toppers (see #4). One price conscious kibble to check out is Pioneer Naturals. Arriving soon, there are three formulas priced under $50 for a big 30 pound bag. (in Chicken, Pork, Whitefish, Venison and Buffalo).

2. Feed whole or ground meaty bones - in place of a few complete raw food meals ($4 to $8/ lb.), substitute our less expensive ROAR ground chicken backs or ground turkey necks for $1.99/ lb. Even better, give your pup whole turkey necks or turkey neck sections for something to sink his teeth into, $1.79 – 1.99/ lb.

3. Serve up some ‘Noble Grains’ - grains have gotten a bad rap, but whole grains can be a good food source, as long as your dog doesn’t have a sensitivity to them (most dogs don’t). It’s wise to stay away from wheat and corn because of their allergy potential, but noble grains in their whole cooked state, like oatmeal, barley or brown rice, can be added to any type of raw food, replacing from 10% to 40%. Or grains can be served the way you might eat a bowl of porridge (perhaps once every fourth day) with a dash of honey and a dollop of cream or yogurt. It’s fun to experiment with different combinations.

4. Substitute ‘real food’ meals a few times a week in place of kibble: scrambled eggs and whole-grain toast, canned fish (sardines, mackerel, salmon), yogurt and banana, cottage cheese, steamed or grated veggies, or healthy leftovers. Basic foods like these are a very good buy, and you will be swapping out processed food for real food.

What About Cats?

Lowering your cat’s food bill is not as simple. Cats are hard core carnivores, eliminating the grain option, and unlike dogs, they don’t like change and they probably wouldn’t eat that new food you put in front of them. But hey, they’re cats. So keep the high meat, high moisture food coming, comforted by the knowledge that the excellent diet you feed them now will pay off later in better health and lower vet bills. 

Three Ways to Safeguard Your Pet’s Teeth

If you want your fur kids to live long and prosper, you’ve got to take care of their teeth!

Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems for both dogs and cats, responsible for bad breath, painful chewing and eventually, loss of teeth. Even worse, continual low grade oral infections can tax the immune system’s ability to deal with new health challenges as an animal ages, shortening the lifespan by an average of two years.

While it’s never too late to intervene, prevention is easier than cure. Good dental care will give you and your companions more happy years together.

1. Brush Plaque Away with a Toothbrush

To safeguard teeth, you must remove plaque, the bacterial bio-film on the tooth surface that causes decay. The most direct way is to brush your pet’s teeth with a brush made for a dog or a cat. There are also finger brushes and even enzymatic toothpaste flavored to appeal to animals. If brushing isn’t your thing, regular use of PetzLife oral spray or gel, for cats and dogs, will kill harmful bacteria with grapefruit seed extract and other natural ingredients. Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste chews contain several plaque-inhibiting substances, and chlorophyll, cinnamon and clove to freshen breath. The chews come in large, small and mini, depending on the size of the animal. The mini size works for cats, too.

 2. Chew Plaque Away with Raw Bones

Raw bones are Nature’s toothbrushes, and our favorite method of cleaning teeth. Most dogs (and some cats) absolutely love them. All bones, whether marrow, knuckle, kneecap or poultry neck, make excellent scrapers and flossers. While chewing, abundant saliva is produced, bathing the oral cavity with  saliva’s natural anti-bacterial action. If your dog is new to raw bones, supervise her chewing to make sure she isn’t trying to swallow it whole, and only give for 20 minutes at a time until you feel comfortable that she is handling it with intelligence. As little as twice a week will make a difference, but daily chewing is preferred. The added benefit of happier canine is a big plus. 

3. Change Your Pet’s Saliva to Inhibit Bacteria

Some dental remedies work internally to make saliva more effective at deterring plaque and bacteria. Kelps and seaweeds are rich sources of mineral nutrients that affect dental health. Tiny servings of Plaque Off, a particular marine algae harvested off the coast of Norway, prevents plaque from adhering to the tooth surface when mixed with food. Wysong Denta-Treat looks and tastes like parmesan, and contains active cheese enzymes and other ingredients that gradually dissolve plaque when sprinkled on top of food. Our newest find, Plaque Zapper, is a tasteless, odorless powder that goes in the water bowl and prevents bacteria colonies from proliferating with a patented enzyme delivery system. All these products work well for cats and small dogs who may not be avid chewers. 

Whether you use one of the approaches or all of them, the preventative steps will go a long way in saving you money in expensive pet dental treatments, and save your pet dental pain.

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Does your pet need even more help with dental maintenance? Click here for information on our anesthesia-free dental cleanings. 

Your dog or cat my not be able to tell you, but all mammals need high moisture diets! Their canine and feline ancestors evolved on fresh food and live prey that was more than 60% moisture. Water plays a major role in every function of the body, especially digestion. Dry food as a sole diet can lead to dehydration, taking a toll on the body’s resources in small ways that add up. Many health problems benefit from wet food, from obesity to intestinal ailments, and there are more ways than ever to incorporate it into your pet’s menu plan. Even using wet food as a topper or a mix-in can yield good results. 

Water – the Most Important Nutrient

Because cats are notoriously poor drinkers, the feline need for wet food to prevent everything from urinary blockages to ‘fat cat syndrome’ is fairly well established. But even though dogs lap water expertly, they too can suffer if moisture is not present in food. Digestion is a moisture intensive process, from saliva to gastric juices, and the body will pull it from other tissues and organs if necessary, leaving less temporarily for flushing toxins and general hydration. This can occur even if the water bowl is right next to your dog’s food bowl.

More Moist Food Options Than Ever

Raw food for both dogs and cats is still our gold standard of nutrition, and there are many choices in our freezers to fit different tastes and budgets. Canned food is a great choice too, especially for the kitties. Dehydrated complete foods that you rehydrate by soaking in water such as Honest Kitchen and Sojos  are cost effective and exceedingly popular with many dog parents.

The newest moist food option is lightly cooked frozen entrees for dogs (and a cat version may be coming) that resemble home cooking in their goodness and ingredient choices.  Natural Pet Pantry, a local company, makes delicious slow-cooked, grain-free meat and vegetable cooked stews in Chicken, Turkey, Venison and Buffalo. My Perfect Pet makes several different recipes in convenient 8oz. dinner bars from restaurant-quality ingredients, combining lightly cooked boneless meats and poultry with raw veggies and cooked starches. One recipe, Snuggles Blend, is a low mineral chicken and rice recipe that is especially good for dogs with intestinal, kidney, heart or liver issues. These lightly cooked meals are easy to transition to, hugely appealing to fussy dogs, and have been well received by veterinarians as highly digestible recovery diets for their patients.