This month, I’d like to talk to you about a subject that’s near and dear to my heart. Finding the perfect pet food that reflects both your expectations and represents the best veterinary science has to offer. In particular, we’ll be addressing the top three concerns of pet parents when it comes to grain-free dog food and cat food.

Are these concerns valid or are they misrepresentations of reality? The truth may surprise you!

1. Are Grains Responsible For Pet Allergies?

While your pet could have a grain or gluten allergy, the chances are rare. Food allergies or adverse food reactions are abnormal reactions to ingredients found in everyday foods. Recent estimates indicate that less than 5% of skin diseases in dogs and cats are accurately diagnosed as being caused by a food allergy. Even though the incidence of adverse food reactions remains unclear, a lot of pet parents believe that grains are prime suspects. However, the most commonly identified food allergens among dogs and cats are proteins in beef, dairy, chicken, soy and corn. Food allergies can cause itchy skin alone or even gastrointestinal problems as well.

The place where many pet parents get confused is comparing canine or feline food reactions to celiac disease in humans, which is a heritable autoimmune disease associated with a hypersensitivity to gluten proteins in wheat, barley, and rye. There has been a very rare similar heritable gluten sensitivity described in a small number of dogs with the symptoms being weight loss, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea, but celiac disease and adverse food reactions in companion animals are rare.

2. Do Grains Have Any Real Nutritional Value?

Whole grains, like the ones used in many of our foods, contain the entire kernel. Whole grains are used in human and pet food because they pack a nutritional punch. Not only are they a good source of carbohydrates, they also contain essential fatty acids, amino acids, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein and even antioxidants! They add to the nutritional profile of the food, which means that they add to your pet’s nutrition as well. The grains used in our foods meet or exceed the criteria of the European Community, which currently exceed U.S. standards for quality.

3. Do Pets Digest Grains Well?

Some pet parents believe that carbohydrates from grains are not easily digested by dogs or cats. Like other mammals, cats and dogs have a metabolic need for carbohydrates in the form of glucose. Glucose fuels many parts of the body, including the brain, nervous system, red blood cells, the kidneys, and the female reproductive organs during pregnancy and lactation. If the diet fails to provide sufficient carbohydrates, the body can manufacture glucose by robbing it from amino acids (the building blocks for protein) and triglycerides (in fat), but this is hardly ideal. Both dogs and cats will utilize glucose from ingested carbohydrates to meet their needs. Additionally, both species have sufficient digestive enyzmes to allow for the efficient digestion of properly cooked carbohydrates. We know that not only is the quality of the grains important, but also the manner in which they are cooked. Our foods are prepared in such a way that the grains are broken down during the cooking before they enter the intestines, allowing them to be digested more easily.

So What is the Truth?

The key take-away from all of these points … you must feed the food that most closely meets your own standards and expectations for your pet kid. After all, you know them better than anyone! For all of you who want the best grain-free option for your companion animal, I’m pleased to tell you that we now carry a grain-free dog food and cat food! 

Grain-Free Formulas That Are Nutritionally Balanced

Like all our foods, our grain-free dog food and cat food offer excellent, balanced nutrition. Rather than relying on grain content, these natural formulas do have carbohydrates such as peas, potatoes and a selection of healthy vegetables in the grain-free dog food and cat food. Ideal for all life stages, our newest nutritious foods provide another great option for pet parents who want the best for their dogs and cats. For detailed information about these products, including ingredients, guaranteed analyses and more, check our website today!

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

  Dr. Jane Bicks

 

More good news from our non-profit charity, The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month, we’re excited to reveal another financial award, this time to an amazing group of rescuers based in New Mexico. A breed-specific rescue group, this organization places abandoned collies and Shetland sheepdogs with foster homes until appropriate adoptive families can be located.

Founded in 2001, the rescue has grown to handle incoming dogs from New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. Thanks to the working relationships they’ve cultivated with other shelters and rescue groups in this tri-state area, they are able to locate and save dogs according to their breed-specific mission. For example, last year when a massive hoarding situation was uncovered by law enforcement in Tomball, TX, SW Collie Rescue helped with the intake (147 collies were saved). More...

Like children, pet kids are susceptible to changes in family dynamics. Sometimes, stress can cause them to act out in unexpected ways. Changes in the household, such as separation and ‘empty nest syndrome’, can be particularly painful for companion animals. A dog has every reason to believe that their pack (humans and canines alike) will remain intact. When one member essentially ‘disappears’, it can lead to significant pet stress. More...

A relationship with a companion animal can be one of the most rewarding experiences we encounter in our lifetimes. If you are a pet parent for the first time, or if you just want to do more to improve your pet kid’s quality of life, this month’s episode of Pet Talk was made just for you.

In this video, Dr. Sarah reveals the top five do-it-yourself tasks to ensure the health, longevity and happiness of dogs and cats. Our staff veterinarian covers record-keeping, grooming, dental care, nail trimming and even evidence collection (you’ll see). Given that dogs and cats are living longer than ever before, these are definitely things you should add to your regular routine. Plus, you’ll be setting a fantastic example for your pet-friendly friends!

Be sure to check out the two tutorials referenced in this month’s episode …

Maintaining Your Dog’s Dental Health
http://blog.lifesabundance.com/post/2013/03/26/Oral-Health.aspx

Tips for Better Nail Care
http://blog.lifesabundance.com/post/2010/06/17/Tips-for-Better-Nail-Care.aspx

Also, be sure to submit your comments below. We want to know if you have something to add to our top five list!

Thank you so much for watching and check back next month for a new episode of Pet Talk with Dr. Sarah.

It’s time once again for an update from our non-profit charity, The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month, we’re excited to share news of another financial award to an amazing group of rescuers based in Ohio. A breed-specific rescue group, this organization places abandoned coonhounds with foster homes until appropriate adoptive families can be located.

American Black & Tan Coonhound Rescue (ABTCR) is a not-for-profit association that’s been in continuous operation for a decade, and we congratulate them on celebrating their 10th anniversary this year! In their many years of operation, ABTCR has helped to rescue and find forever homes for untold numbers of hounds, not just locally but all across the nation. More...

Many pet parents report that problem leash behavior is the main reason they avoid outdoor time with their companion animal. If you’ve experienced these explosive bouts of unruly behavior, stemming from aggression or fear, you know it’s no fun at all. But, take heart, because this episode of Pet Talk addresses these very issues.

In this short video, Dr. Sarah will help you to gain a basic understanding asserting leash control. If your dog can trust that you’re able to handle any oncoming ‘threat’, both of you just might be able to start enjoying the outdoors together … possibly for the first time. Wouldn’t that be lovely!

Be sure to share this video with friends and family, especially if you know that leash reactivity is a pressing problem for them. And, please leave your comments if this Pet Talk episode is helpful to you!

Fish oil supplements are an ideal complement to your pet’s diet because they supply omega-3 fatty acids, which your dog or cat’s body cannot sufficiently produce on its own. Still in doubt? Here are the top 10 reasons why it’s important to supplement your dog or cat’s daily intake with a quality fish oil supplement. More...

Most of the rescue organizations who receive funding from our non-profit spend the majority of their energies trying to find loving homes for the animals they've saved. The harsh reality is, despite these heroic efforts, some animals will never be adopted.

In the last couple of decades, there’s been a dramatic drop in the rates of euthanasia. One of the consequences of more humane treatment by shelters is that the same animals who would’ve been put down are now living long lives, thanks to significant advances in veterinary medicine. Providing for their physical and emotional care can be costly, and divert resources from homing efforts. More...

As long as people have shared their homes with pets, dog and cat lovers have debated which animal is more intelligent. Canine enthusiasts tout that dogs have been trained and bred for thousands of years to herd, hunt, assist, protect, perform tricks and obey verbal commands. Cat aficionados, on the other hand, say that cats are simply too smart to do the sort of tricks that dogs eagerly perform. Whereas dogs have been bred for utility, cats have been bred mostly for appearance, leading many to believe that dogs have superior intellectual capabilities. But, really, is it feasible to accurately compare the intelligence of these two species? More...

Are you convinced your pup is smarter than the average canine, but weren’t sure how to prove it? Well, now there’s an easy way to estimate your dog’s cognitive powers.

In this episode of Pet Talk, Dr. Sarah reveals exactly how to conduct this test at home, with help from her canine assistant.

Download our free doggie IQ test to keep score- Simple 10-Minute IQ Test for Dogs. Afterwards, you’ll have a ‘report card’ to post on your fridge.

It’s so much fun you’ll be asking yourself if it’s a test or a game. [Spoiler alert: it’s both!]

We encourage you to share this video with your pet-parent friends, so they can do the doggie IQ test, too! And check back next month for another brand new episode of Pet Talk with Dr. Sarah.