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Great Dane Lady Approved: Tips for treating stomach disorders

by on April 19, 2012

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 40 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

It can be frustrating and discouraging when a pet is suffering from poor health and traditional treatments seem to be failing. I recently received an email from a disheartened pet owner who was desperately looking for answers when it came to her dog’s poor health. Suffering from vomiting, gas and diarrhea, the Great Dane was not responding well to a new diet. If your pet has tested positive for food allergies, I recommend trying the Precise Sensicare formula. The Precise Sensicare Lamb & Rice formula is a “single source protein” formula and was specifically developed for dogs with food allergies and contains no wheat, corn, soy, beef or poultry products. The balanced combination of natural antioxidants, vitamins and chelated minerals, and important prebiotics and probiotics provide all the nutrition for your sensitive dog’s needs.

However, if your pet is experiencing diarrhea like the dog mentioned above, it may be due to giardia which is a waterborne protozoa and difficult to detect. Here is more info on giardia. Another problem could be systemic yeast problems rather than food allergies. Your pet might be experiencing a systemic yeast overgrowth in the gut. This article from my website helps to further explain systemic yeast overgrowth. There are several Precise foods suitable for systemic yeast issues, and the Grain Free lineup is highly recommended for dogs with this problem.

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Switching your puppy’s food safely

by on January 24, 2012

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com

Recently, I have received many comments and questions about a previous blog post on the different approaches used for switching your dog’s food versus your puppy’s food. Many puppy owners have heard it’s better to switch food slowly to allow adjustment. However, in my experience, it’s better to switch your puppies quickly.

Large and giant breeds grow very quickly from birth to six months of age. At times, you can see a significant difference in just 24 to 36 hours, so changing foods can be tricky with these dogs. It is best not to stretch out the transition period on very young puppies (8 to 20 weeks of age) because it can throw them into developmental orthopedic disease. One such condition is hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), a bone disease that usually affects young, rapidly growing, large breed dogs. Puppies could also experience panosteitis also known as Pano, “self limiting” bone disease characterized by wandering lameness that switches from leg to leg. A faster food transition tends to avoid these problems, but probiotics are essential to the process as well because switching foods quickly can often cause digestive upset so probiotics help prevent this problem.

Each dog food company uses different vitamin/mineral premixes, and there can be an enormous difference in the “quality” from brand to brand. This is another reason why it is important not to stretch out the transition past three meals on very young dogs. By mixing together different foods (adult & puppy) or different brands, you are sacrificing the integrity of each diet diet. This can be very problematic and cause a drastic growth spurt. Additionally, inferior minerals can tie up other quality minerals needed for development.

As long as you use a high-quality, multiple bacteria-based probiotic product combined with digestive enzymes, the transition will be very easy in the early ages, often better than with a mature dog, which may take a little longer. Probiotics that I recommend to ease the transition are ProBio Pac, BakPakPlus or 4 in 1 Probiotic from www.firstchoicenaturals.com.

Remember, Precise Pet Products are rich with nutrients and made with quality ingredients your puppy or dog needs. Each of our lines of dog food also comes in formulas specially made for specific sized puppies.

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Variety is the Spice of Life – Pt. 4

by on December 15, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

In my previous posts, I’ve discussed how eggs, berries, fruit, homemade yogurt, sardines and dairy products can make your pet’s meal time new and exciting. In my last variety post, I focus on spicing up the mix by adding vegetables!

Vegetables

There is nothing on the planet that my dogs love better than Mom’s homemade veggie soup chocked full of veggies. By using cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower and adding the foods listed below, you can make a delicious and healthy snack for your pet:

  • Tomatoes
  • Celery
  • Squash
  • Green beans
  • Wax beans
  • Carrots
  • Peas
  • Zucchini
  • Cabbage
  • Kale

You can even add flavor with garlic – but not onions. Garlic is very safe!

Remember to use spinach very sparingly due to the oxalates in it, which are not good for dogs prone to bladder stones. Once a week in small amounts is ok. As long as these are cooked in a veggie soup, there really is not issue with gas, especially if you are using a probiotic/dietary enzymes combination product. Using 1 in 4 Probiotics or ProBio-Pack helps break down foods for easy digestion.

Other things I use as mixers for my kibble are Precise Canned Meats. I will often rotate that with The Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw meat, which is tested for pathogens and parasites before sold.

Rotating Precise food is good for dogs that are past growing, especially the giant breeds over 8 months old. They have a nice variety like the Lamb/Rice Sensicare, the Precise Holistic Complete Wild at Heart Duck/Turkey and Precise Holistic Complete Wild at Heart Salmon, which can be rotated with their regular Adult formulas to add variety to a diet.

We have lots of healthy options for our pets because variety is the spice of life! If you missed them, make sure to check parts 1-3 of my posts about how to spice up your dog’s meal time!

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Variety is the Spice of Life – Pt. 3

by on November 17, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

In my previous posts on variety, I discussed how berries and fruit could be used to spice up your pet’s meal time. There are a few ways you can add fish into the mix!

Fish: Sardines/Salmon/Mackerel

Thanks to the omega-3’s and high levels of DHA and EPA, sardines are one of the best foods on the planet for humans and pets! Sardines, along with salmon and mackerel are good for skin, coat and brainpower. Use those packed in water, not in oil.

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Variety is the Spice of Life – Pt. 2

by on November 1, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

In my previous posts on variety, I discussed how eggs, homemade yogurt and dairy product benefit your pet’s health. Now I’m excited to tell you how to incorporate berries and fruit into the mix!

Berries
Berries are a great way to increase real antioxidants. Freeze blueberries and use them as treats. Strawberry slices are a big hit in our house. Raspberries and blackberries are full of Ellegic Acid, which has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.

Fruit
In addition to berries, I use apple slices, small amounts of banana, peaches, pears, plums and tomatoes for treats. These do not add extra calories. Start slow because too much can cause loose stools until your dogs are used to these foods. Also remember that grapes or raisins are a no-no for dog and cat consumption!

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Variety is the Spice of Life – Pt. 1

by on September 27, 2011

 The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

Would you like to eat the same bowl of cereal every single morning and evening of your life? No, and neither does your pet! That’s why using certain human foods to top their kibble is a good way to incorporate some “living nutrition” without a lot of calories.

Eggs

Wash the shell first and put it in a blender – shell and all. The shell is a natural form of calcium, and my latest feed trials on Egg Shell Membranes (ESM) have shown there are many benefits to ESM for joint and cartilage support. Take the whole egg and put it in the blender to have a complete nutritional package. Scramble it in a little olive or coconut oil and give to your pet 1 -2 times a week.

Homemade Yogurt

Use only a culture from a natural food store – not a regular grocery store because that yogurt is not processed as well. You can buy large containers at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other privately owned natural food stores.  A dollop per day is a healthy treat. However, it should not be used as a sufficient replacement for probiotics, especially if your dog is on antibiotics or under stress.

This is why I prefer to provide my dogs with a powdered probiotics, like 1 in 4 Probiotics or ProBio Pac (which I designed) for First Choice Naturals.

Dairy: Cottage Cheese/ Cheeses/ and Buttermilk

Many pets love these products. They can be higher in calories, so if you have a dog with weight issues, cut back a bit on the kibble if you are using cheese of any kind.  Again, buy your milk products from a good health food store such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or other natural food stores that have organic and all-natural products.

Please note: Some dogs can’t tolerate milk products due to lower levels of lactose, an enzyme that helps the body digest lactose.

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Grady the cat

by on August 23, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

I’m always discussing dogs, but Precise is great for cats, too!

Some colleagues found a cat on the streets of Louisville, Ky. while attending a dog show. They named him Grady, and when he was 2 years old he went to live at their office and served as the office “guard cat.”

When the office adopted Grady, the employees decided to feed him Precise Plus Adult Cat food (kibble and canned), and they saw incredible results. They never expected that after a year on Precise, Grady’s coat would bloom so magnificently!

Here are pictures of Grady before:

Below are photos of him after he had been feed Precise Plus Adult Feline kibble and canned or Precise Feline Hairball Formula kibble and canned, over the last year:

The pictures explain it all. It’s amazing the improvements in Grady’s appearance and health since eating Precise. Additionally, the individuals who found Grady have noticed the same thing at home with their Persians and other retired cats.

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Switching food safely

by on August 12, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

I have a lot of people ask me how to safely change the type of food they are feeding their pets and if it is ok to use a combination of formulas. I discussed the difference for transitioning puppies versus adults in a previous blog post. To change food it is important to gradually incorporate the new formula over four days:

Day One:
First meal: 1/4 new food – 3/4 old food
Second meal 1/4 new food -3/4 old food

Day Two:
First meal: 1/3 new food – 2/3 old food
Second meal: 1/2new food – 1/2 old food

Day Three:
First Meal: 1/2 new food – 1/2 old food
Second meal: 3/4 new food – 1/4 old food

Day Four: All new food

After transitioning, be sure to throw out the old food or donate it to a shelter near you. DO NOT feed it in combination with your new kibble or diet plan. Also, do not combine formulas even if they are within the same brand name (for example: mixing adult and senior food together 50/50). Once they are established on the food for a couple of weeks it is ok to rotate flavors (for example, rotating Precise Holistic Complete Wild at Heart Duck, Turkey or Salmon, which are all the same formula).

Each formula is “designed” on a matrix system of vitamins and minerals. When you mix two-formulas you can over-do or under-do required nutrients and disrupt the delicate balance of the food. This is especially true with minerals, which are critical to the body’s nervous and skeletal systems. Problems may not occur immediately, but show eventually as a slow deterioration of the animal’s health.

Please stay with one type of food and, more importantly, stay with one brand. Precise formulas are made to supply all the necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients your pet needs in each formula to ensure a healthy, happy pet!

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Dangerous Foods for Your Pet

by on June 30, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

Chocolate, fruit and nuts may sound like tasty delights to you, but these foods can be downright deadly to our four-legged friends. Below is a roundup of common household foods and items that pose a threat to your beloved pets. Avoid these common toxins to help your dogs and cats live long, healthy lives.

Grapes and Raisins
Healthy for you? Yes. Healthy for pets? No. If consumed, grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs and cats. Experts suspect it has something to do with a chemical in the fruit’s skin. Raisins are even more dangerous because they contain a concentrated supply of toxins. Keep this snack out of the reach of your pets.

Chewing Gum
A dog might be attracted to the sweet-smelling gum that your kids are chewing or that’s tucked away in your bag, but the artificial sweetener, xylitol, can be deadly to pets. This sweetener is found in many types of gum and breath mints and can cause a low-blood sugar crisis in your pet. In fact, just a piece or two of gum can kill a dog.

Nicotine
It may seem unlikely that a dog would eat cigarettes, but those nosy little creatures will gobble them without a second thought. Nicotine is highly toxic so it doesn’t take much to cause a health crisis for your pet, including seizures, coma and death.

Continue Reading »

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Great Dane Lady Approved: Pet safety in the scorching summer heat

by on June 3, 2011

The Great Dane Lady, Linda Arndt, has more than 38 years of experience as a canine nutritional consultant and breeder. In our Great Dane Lady Approved series, Linda will talk about her research and work with Precise. You can explore Linda’s website at GreatDaneLady.com.

Our pets are our best friends and with hotter weather approaching, just a reminder that heat can kill your pets. Never leave your dogs or cats in the car for any length of time, even if the windows are cracked.

Perhaps summer is not the time to take your pets with you when you run errands due to the potential deaths from over heating and it does not take long or much for this to happen. The temperature inside of a vehicle with four windows cracked can reach 108 degrees with an outside temperature of 83 degrees.

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