Archive for the ‘Pet Health’ Category

Probably the calls we get most at A Place For Paws are in reference to Raw Green Beef Tripe and Raw Green Lamb Tripe.  Why is everyone so interested?  Likely because more than anything else, tripe is THE best food for your dog!

Lamb tripe can make a nice alternative to beef tripe and is especially great for dogs with beef allergies that include beef tripe

If you could feed absolutely nothing else, the best choice you could make would be an exclusive diet of tripe.  Its pretty near complete, great for iffy digestive systems, a low allergen (in fact, some dogs who can’t tolerate beef muscle meat CAN eat beef tripe without issue), great for sensitive pups and full of digestive enzymes and probiotics.  Its tasty enough so that even the most picky of dogs gobble it up.

How about dog who just won’t eat?  Tripe often does the trick.  Sometimes dogs are just picky – like a lot of people are!  While you don’t want to cater to them giving them all sorts of weird and strange concoctions and five different things at every meal, how about finding something perfectly healthy for them that they actually will like?   Often this lack of appetite is true of a dog who has an illness.  Just like people, the appetite is often the first thing to go – dog doesn’t eat, dog gets weak, dog can’t fight off whatever the sickness might be.  Dogs with terminal illnesses have actually lived far longer than expected because they retained the ability to eat and stay strong.  Tripe can often be the answer you’ve been looking for.  It incorporates something your ailing dog will eat along with something that is actually good for him – better than good.

While tripe in THIS form looks a bit scary, the ground easy to feed tripe from A Place For Paws should cause no fears if you decide to feed it to your lucky dog

Yes tripe smells sort of…iffy.  Sort of a barnyard smell reminiscent of drives in the country….Okay, well maybe that’s putting a little bit too much “poetry” to the smell BUT its honestly NOT THAT BAD!  Since dogs tend to gobble it up as quickly as you put it down it only last for a few seconds anyway!  Rest assured – you’ll get used to it.

Tripe is also a great thing to wean puppies to when they are starting to venture away from mom’s milk.  Watered down tripe is gentle enough for young pups (as young as 3-4 weeks even!) and no worries, any mess left behind on the ground or on the puppies will be cleaned up by mom with GUSTO!  Less work for you, good nutrition for your new babies.

The way that some people talk about tripe gives the impression that it has some sort of magical qualities.  While we can’t confirm that there is any “magic” involved, its about as close to natural perfection as you can get.  Using tripe as the basis for your dog’s diet is smart, savvy and what is BEST for your dog.  Don’t let it scare you either by virtue of what it is or because of how it smells.  If its what is best for your dog, does any of that matter?  Tripe….its what’s for DINNER!

There are so many supplement out there – you can buy them virtually anywhere including your vet’s office (where they tend to be a BIT on the expensive side).  How do you choose and do you really understand what the ingredients are, what your dog actually needs, what is actually going to help?

At A Place For Paws, after investigative research, decided on supporting and selling products from Liquid Health’s line of animal supplements – most notably,  their three joint formulas.  Overkill?  We think not.  Each formulation has a specific audience  – something for YOUR dog’s individual needs.  Liquid Health follows the guidelines set forth by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), a  nonprofit organization that sets standards for the quality, purity, identity, and strength of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide.

K9 Glucosamine, the original formula, is perfect for most dogs with basic issues or the hint of basic issues.  It has recently been reformulated to include hyaluronic acid, and unlike MOST joint supplements it contains the clinically studied and recommended amounts 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin.

K9 Vegetarian Glucosamine is recommended for any dog with common allergies including those to animal based products and shellfish.  It replaces chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine along with minerals, omega fatty acids and antioxidants to provide a full spectrum of beneficial joint ingredients.

K9 Level 5000 is Liquid Healths most potent formula yet.  5200 mg of glucosamine Hcl per fluid ounce, 100 mg of hayaluronic acid, 1000 mg of Opti-MSM and 1000 mg of chondroitin make for exceptionally high doses of the most widely used joint products in one convenient bottle.  Level 5000 further contains a laundry list of support ingredients to enhance effectiveness like bromelain, grape seed extract and boswellia.

But what do all of these ingredients mean?  Its great to know that your dog NEEDS them but its even better to know what the main ones are and what they actually do.

Glucosamine Hcl and glucosamine sulfate provide the actual building blocks for healthy connective tissues in the bod – especially in the joints and both are derived from shellfish.

Green Grown vegetarian glucosamine is produced from a unique fermentation process and contains NO animal products whatsoever.  It performs the same function as regular animal based glucosamine but is purely vegetarian for those allergy dogs.

Chondroitin sulfate is used for it properties in maintaining joint flexibility when used in conjunction with glucosamine.

Keep your dog happy, healthy and flying with Liquid Health joint supplements - don't let anything slow him down again!

Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in both the extra and intracellular matrix of soft connective tissue.  It is the primary constituent of synovial fluid (joint lubricant) found naturally in all joints.

OptiMSM is actually the ONLY MSM that is manufactured in the USA.  Non-toxic, hypoallergenic and always 99.9% pure.  MSM has been show, when used with glucosamine, to reduce inflammation in the joints helping the glucosamine work more efficiently and to bring about faster relief.

Manganese chelate is a mineral necessary for the synthesis of bone and the formation of synovial fluid and cartilage in joints.  Liquid Health specifically uses a form of organic chelated manganese.  Chelated organic forms of inorganic mineral elements increase the probability that the digesting organism (your dog) will absorb the mineral for its use and benefit.

Aquamin is harvested from a sustainable source off the coast of Iceland.  It is a seaweek derived mineral source rich in calcium, magnesium and 74 other trace minerals including zinc, iron and selenium.  Studies have shown its positive effects on both bone and joint health.

Liquid Health is a company that prefers to take the extra step and to adhere to testing  that they aren’t even required to.  Most companies simply take the easy way out and pass.  With their in-house lab and strict standards you can rely on the fact that these products are better than most you find out there.  Liquid Health products, because they are liquid, are made for maximum absorption as well as easy administration – just drizzle over your dog’s food and voila – done!  Much better than powders and pills – no muss, no fuss and you never have to wonder if your dog actually ate that pill or just pulled a fast one.  All natural sources are used wherever possible ensuring that your pet is getting a top quality product.

When a joint supplement is needed you can BET that Liquid Health is what we, at A Place For Paws, give our own precious dogs.  Finally, a joint product that you can have utter confidence in!

Pet owners are always looking for new things that will enrich, enhance and otherwise make their dogs’ lives better.  We spend hundreds of dollars on this toy and this treat and this new fangled product guaranteed to make our dog jump for joy and entertain him for hours.  While all of these things have their place and some may even become a favorite cherished item to any dog, what about keeping it simple – going back to the basics?  Want to give your dog hours of

Marrow bones are a superior recreational bone that can give your dog hours of enjoyment - even after the marrow has been gone for weeks!

healthy enjoyment?  Get em some raw bones!

Nylabones, Kongs, Buster Cubes and their ilk are great items for any dog owner to have on hand.  They can give a crated dog something to occupy their time, can make feeding time easier, keep a dog stuck indoors on a rainy day happy and busy.  There is something even better – something to provide entertainment, exercise, dental health and pure bliss – raw bones.

While many raw feeders give their dogs what are known as “raw meaty bones” for meals, these consist of things like chicken backs, turkey necks, beef and pork ribs etc.  Yes, these are indeed the makings of a GREAT raw meal, without question.  What about bones just for fun?

Beef bones make some of the GREATEST boredom busters in the world.  Marrow bones, stripped rib bones, knuckle bones – heck, ANY bones!  Giving a dog a size appropriate bone to while away the time is one of the best things that you can do for you pup.  Raw bones are safe and healthy unadulterated goodness.

Dental health is a concern for all pet owners.  Granted, raw fed dogs generally don’t have any issues and often go their entire lives without having or needing a dental cleaning.  The same isn’t true for kibble fed dogs – the nature of kibble itself makes certain that a dental will eventually be in the dog’s future even with a regime of brushing their teeth.  Raw

Rib bones are a great example of edible bones that are appropriate for just about any size dog. Due to their relatively soft nature, rib bones are also great for puppy teeth.

bones can often negate the need for such measures – which can only be a good thing.  Any time that anesthesia is used on our furry friends there is a risk involved.  Most dentals require that the dog be put under sedation.  Each time we allow our animals to be sedated we run the risk of complications – even for something as simple and commonplace as teeth cleaning.  This risk elevates as our dogs (and cats) age and their internal systems don’t work as well or they are suffering from the common ailments of old age.  Why take the chance when giving raw bones a couple of times a week – or even ONCE a week – can possible help us to avoid the whole process?  Just because your dog isn’t fed a raw diet does NOT mean they cannot eat raw bones.  In fact, raw bones are one of the safest “chew toys” that you can give and your dog will definitely thank you!

For any dog, chewing a raw bone can be a great way to occupy them – I throw several pounds of them outside on the back porch (weather permitting) and take advantage of the empty house to scrub my floors!  It seriously works!  The dogs are so busy chewing, carrying and burying that they hardly have time to get in my way as I clean up.  They also make a great distraction for a dog who has to be crated during the day while you are working or out and about.  Most dogs hardly notice that you’re leaving when they are engaged with a big old marrow bone!

Always remember to give size appropriate bones – you want them large enough so that they can’t just be swallowed

Raw bones give your dog something to occupy them as well as maintain their dental health in a natural way

whole and large enough to actually give them something to work on.  Many bones are going to be somewhat edible while others are going to be purely recreational (though with some edible parts).  Ribs, necks and various other bones will be eaten at different rates depending on the size, type and chewing strength of your dog.  Other bones – marrows and knuckles – are pretty much just for chewing fun – there is generally some meaty, fatty, tendon, marrow goodness to gnaw off but the bone itself will stay intact.  The first time you give your dog bones, keep an eye on him.  By observation you will soon be able to judge what sort of chewer your dog is as well as if you have indeed given him the bone that is the right size for him.  Once you know than have at it – raw bones will not only give him a way to break the boredom cycle, but they will also keep their smile bright and white without the use of medical cleanings.  Don’t be afraid – just go for it!