K9 Instinct: Holisitic Dog Health Care Blog
  • Home
  • Nutrition
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Shop

Natural and Safe Ways to Keep Your Dog's Teeth Clean!

9/29/2013

16 Comments

 
Picture
Dental care is more important for your dogs than you may realize. Periodontal disease has become the most common disease in our furry family members, which is a hard fact to digest since dental disease is extremely easy to prevent.

As dogs enter their golden years, poor dental health is the ticket to a shorter life riddled with illness and potential disease. Bad dental health can cause liver, heart and kidney disease; Infection from ill-kept teeth can travel through the blood stream and infiltrate the body's organs, which inevitably causes disease or failure. Since dental disease in dogs can be easily prevented, it is important to find a cleaning routine that works best for you and your dog.

You can use safe, natural and effective methods to keep your dog's teeth white and clean without having to spend a lot of money or jeopardize your dog's health.

Picture
A RAW FOOD DIET: NATURE'S TOOTHBRUSH
The incredible raw food diet is nature's toothbrush, having been the ancestral diet of all carnivorous and predatory animals for millions of years. A raw food diet does not leave residue or food particles on the teeth, which turn into tartar and plaque, and the natural crushing and chewing of raw bone scrapes the teeth and keeps them clean.

Picture
BRUSHING TEETH WITH COCONUT OIL   
The amazing benefits of coconut oil for dogs are no longer a secret! Coconut oil is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and is a very effective deodorizer! If your dog has bad breath, give brushing with virgin, unrefined coconut oil a try. You will be impressed with the results!

Picture
AN ALL NATURAL GEL FOR DOGS WITH DENTAL DISEASE
If your dog has already developed dental disease, a great option along side a good brushing routine is adding an all natural but effective dental gel. PetzLife Oral Gel works by softening the build up on teeth and beginning to break it down so that you can brush or scrape it away. This is a natural, effective product I often recommend and have used myself on my cats!

Picture
CHEWING SCRAPES THE TEETH
By offering your dog a raw bone, an elk antler chew or a toy designed to help clean teeth via chewing can help reduce build up on the teeth, and is also an excellent preventive. Chewing is a natural, instinctual thing for a dog to do and can benefit them in terms of mental stimulation and enjoyment as well! Get a raw beef hock from your local butcher and monitor your dog as they enjoy this healthy, natural "toothbrush"!

Implementing a brushing routine with good recreational chewing is a great way to prevent dental disease in your canine companions, but there are safe and natural options for fighting dental disease too! If you have more questions about keeping your dog's mouth healthy, do not hesitate to contact me!

Don't forget to like K9 Instinct on Facebook to see new blog updates and news!

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com
16 Comments

The Incredible Raw Food Diet for Dogs

3/16/2013

99 Comments

 
Picture
There is truly no better diet choice for your dog than a species-appropriate raw food diet. Much like their ancestors the wolf, our domestic dogs are biologically designed to thrive on a diet of raw meat, raw bone and raw organ. Wolves and dogs share 99.8% of their mDNA sequence, which also means that they share an identical digestive system and require the same type of raw food diet their carnivorous canine cousins enjoy in order to reach a state of optimum health.

The domestic dog, much like the wolf, is biologically designed to eat a nutritious raw food diet. Dogs have the same attributes that their carnivorous ancestors have that help us identify what kind of food they need to eat in order to thrive in life. You may be wondering what exactly makes a dog a carnivore and how we can identify their dietary needs based on their basic anatomy and physiology. You can learn more by reading one of my previous articles, Dogs and Wolves: Eat like a wolf and live a long and healthy life!
A raw food diet is the most pure, wholesome nutrition you can provide your best four-legged friends with. Raw food is full of living nutrients and enzymes that cannot be matched by any other diet. Commercial kibble diets and even homemade diets involve cooking the ingredients which inevitably destroys a lot of the nutrients and all of the essential enzymes. The additives and chemicals in many commercial kibble diets also have a negative effect on our pets bodies over time.

The benefits of a raw food diet are amazing. Dogs with medical issues, allergies, skin conditions, digestive disorders and other ailments can find relief and the potential for a complete recovery by switching to a healthy, clean raw food diet. Switching your dog to a raw food diet can prolong their life and reduce the frequency and intensity of illness throughout their lifetime; This works by providing proper nutrition to strengthen the body and keep chemicals, additives and junk food from their system. A longer, healthier life is the result of dogs being fed raw food.
Food allergies can be eliminated when switched to a raw food diet. Raw food is very easy on the body and almost effortless for a dog to digest. A pure protein diet can control what the dog is exposed to while dramatically lowering the chances of being exposed to the allergens.

Digestive issues such as EPI, IBD and digestive imbalances can be helped drastically by the change to a raw food diet. Many medical conditions can see an improvement when the afflicted dog is switched off of an over-processed commercial kibble diet and given the chance to detoxify on a raw food diet. While it may not eliminate the condition entirely, it will surely help strengthen the body and may reduce the severity of symptoms or even ease some symptoms entirely.

Feeding your dog a raw food diet is easier than you may think and isn't as time-consuming as it seems. It is also very possible and actually quite common to spend less money on a raw food diet per month than what you would spend feeding bags of commercial kibble. You can read some other fantastic frequently asked questions about raw feeding here!

When all is said and done, raw feeding for dogs is the very best diet choice for all dogs regardless of age, breed, size, medical issues and other ailments. A diet of raw meat, raw bone (never cooked!) and raw organ is exactly what dogs were biologically designed to eat. If you have a dog that isn't healthy and is riddled with problems, switching your dog to raw could change their life forever.

Give raw feeding a chance and you will not be disappointed in the results! You can learn everything you need to know to be a successful raw feeder with my eBook: A Guide to Raw Feeding.


The sky is the limit when it comes to ways in which dogs can benefit from a raw food diet. What we know for sure is that we do see positive changes in dogs who are fed raw. One of the most evident changes occurs with physical condition. Our dogs coats becomes thick and shiny while fur becomes soft to the touch. Color pigment in the coat is also enhanced, which for example can make red fur rich and deep. Raw fed dogs shed less and lose that signature "dog smell" that many pet owners complain about. Raw fed dogs tend to have little odor due to the overall health of the skin and coat when coupled with eating a clean diet free of chemicals and junk ingredients.

A raw fed dog's eyes suddenly become clear and lose the dullness you didn't even realize was there to begin with. Their irises become more crisp and the color intensifies. With that, we see a revitalized spirit shining through their loving gaze.

Another wonderful benefit of feeding raw is dental health. Dogs that are fed raw have fresher breath, and their teeth are kept clean and white. The act of crushing and chewing bone scrapes the teeth and stimulates the gum line. A commercial kibble meal is mashed up between the teeth and crumbles in the mouth. That chewed up kibble mash sticks to the teeth and gets caught between teeth and under the gum line (often the source of bad breath). The raw diet provides nothing that can get caught in and around the teeth; There is no residue to cause a tartar build up and gum disease.
Click here to subscribe to the K9 Instinct Newsletter
Picture
The "A Guide to Raw Feeding" eBook is an informative guide to successfully feeding a healthy, balanced and nutritionally complete raw food diet for dogs.

Whether you are interested in starting a raw food diet with your dogs, want to learn more, or need to ensure you are feeding this diet correctly; This eBook is the perfect companion for anyone interested in a raw food diet for dogs!

99 Comments

How to make your own dehydrated / dried beef trachea chews.

3/3/2013

13 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Dehydrated beef trachea chews make an excellent time-consuming snack and are fantastic for promoting dental health! These crunchy, lean pure protein chews are full of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine and are great for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies.

Purchasing raw beef trachea is extremely cheap! Buying in bulk can be even more inexpensive. Making these great chews will be cheaper for you and healthier for your dog!

How to make your own dried beef trachea chews!

  1. Preheat your oven to 190 degrees.
  2. Place your raw beef trachea on a rack over a cookie tray.
  3. Leave the trachea in the oven for 12 hours.
  4. Once the trachea are dark and hard, they are ready! Store them in a container or large ziploc bag.
  5. If they need more time, put them back in the oven and check them every 4 hours.

If you have a dehydrator, the process will be faster.

Picture
These are really easy to make, since all you have to do is pop them in the oven and forget about them for the day! They are cheap to make as well, since you can often buy them from a butcher or meat processing business for next to nothing.

Don't forget to like K9 Instinct on Facebook to get blog updates and new recipes!

You can also come join our amazing, positive only Facebook Group for
dog lovers: The K9 Connection!



Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

13 Comments

Long lasting treats for your dog to chew on! (Dog Chews)

1/20/2013

21 Comments

 
Picture
We love to keep our dogs busy and the old saying is true: A tired dog is a good dog! When we pair good, age-appropriate exercise with mentally stimulating things to chew on in the house, we can create balance and stability in our canine companions. Giving your dog something to chew on is a great way to entertain them on a instinctual level. Dogs were born to chew bones and antlers, that is what wolves and other wild canines entertain themselves with in the wilderness!

The best long lasting chews are ones that are healthy, grain-free, perhaps single ingredient and easy to digest. They should be made within North America to ensure quality, and should be wheat, corn and soy free!

Elk antlers
and deer antlers are excellent choices for long lasting chews. I've had one that lasted approximately 8 months, but the length in which they last depends entirely on each individual dog. Elk and deer antlers are easy to digest, contain a spongy marrow in the center, are 100% all natural, taste great, don't leave a mess or stain, and are full of vitamins and minerals! It is also fair to mention that elk and deer antlers look pretty cool on your floor!
Bully sticks are one of my favourite options, as they are single ingredient treats made from 100% pure beef muscle (beef pizzle). They are 100% digestible protein and can be given in place of rawhide. They are long lasting, tasty and help promote clean teeth!

Beef tendons, much like bully sticks, are 100% pure digestible protein. These treats are made from the Achilles tendon of cattle, and last fairly long. They are single-protein treats as well, which it good for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies.

Raw knuckle bones and marrow bones are very long lasting, delicious and nutritious chews. Make sure you get the raw bones from a safe local supplier such as a butcher or raw food business. Get a bone sized appropriate for your dog, you don't want them to be able to swallow it or break it apart and swallow the pieces. Raw bones are safe, but some dogs tend to try to crack bones in half and may damage their teeth. This goes for any hard chew, so keep watch and make sure you dog is chewing and gnawing as opposed to trying to break it and swallow it.
Beef trachea chews are lean pieces of cartilage and meat that when dried make for a crunchy, healthy chew that lasts almost as long as a bully stick. This is once again a single ingredient, pure protein treat that is great for dogs with food sensitivities.

Z-Bones by Zukes are healthy alternatives to poor quality dental chews like Greenies, DentaStix or the VET brands. These are grain-free, whole food ingredient treat bones that will last longer than regular treats. Depending on the dog, they can last from 5 to 15 minutes. You also have the benefit of herbs and beta-carotene with the Z-Bones!

Giving your dog something to chew on relieves boredom, helps promote clean teeth, can be a source of nutrition and exercises their genetic instinct to chew on something! A variety of different chews on rotation can prove to be very rewarding and exciting for your dog!


Want to make dramatic positive changes with your dog's nutrition? K9 Instinct provides a collection of great canine diet and nutrition eBooks to help you keep your dog healthy and strong!

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com


21 Comments

Dental Health for Dogs; A guide to cleaning your dog's teeth! 

1/15/2013

15 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Dental health has a major impact on a dog's over all physical well-being and poor oral condition can lead to many different kinds of medical conditions and diseases. With veterinarians pushing their dental chews, dental kibble and expensive surgical dental cleanings, it is hard for pet owners to decipher the best way to promote oral health in their pets.

Good oral health will help your dog live longer, and will make it more pleasant to receive their loving doggy kisses! There are several steps you can take to maintain good dental health with your dog and there are many all natural options for cleaning!

Diet is a major contributor to dental health in dogs. Feeding your dog a species appropriate raw food diet is the very best option for creating good dental health. Dogs who are fed raw food have visibly whiter, cleaner teeth and fresher breath. The reason is that the dog's teeth are being manually cleaned by the act of chewing and crushing bone. The action of chewing scrapes the teeth and stimulates the gums. On top of that, raw food doesn't leave any 'left-over' food in the mouth the way kibble does. Due to the texture and composition of commercial kibbles, the kibble crumbles and sticks to the teeth and all of the areas in between. Many chemicals and oils in the kibble will help the food particles bind to the teeth and promote the build-up of tartar which inevitably leads to oral disease.

"Dental kibble" formulas provided by your veterinarian will not help clean your dog's teeth. Regardless of the marketing behind these expensive vet formulas, kibble will still crumble and turn to mush in your dog's mouth. That mush becomes the debris that clings to your pet's teeth and turns into tartar and plaque. Think about when you eat crackers and you feel mushy left overs sticking to all your teeth; The same thing is happening with kibble plus the added issue of the oils that make it even more sticky.

Giving your dog things to chew on is the best way to start cleaning the teeth and keep them clean! Consider healthy chews like bully sticks, beef tendons, dried knuckle bones, raw knuckle bones and elk antlers. When a dog chews and gnaws on these items, they scrape the teeth clean and assist in breaking up any residue to be swallowed instead of hanging around in the mouth.

There are many toys that act as great chews to promote oral health by also cleaning the teeth. I really like Nylabone products for the added benefit of the flavour infused in the material, which encourages dogs to chew on them. Nylabone breaks off in tiny shavings making it safe to pass through the digestive system without causing any issues. Flossy chews are rope toys that also help clean the teeth as the dog chews and plays with them.

Brushing your dog's teeth is the next best option. All you need is a soft toothbrush or a finger brush designed for pets and some sort of toothpaste. It is important to never use human toothpaste, as there are ingredients in those products that can make your dog very ill. The Triple Pet EZDOG Toothpaste is the most popular one due to being more of an all natural product. I personally like to use extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil as a toothpaste because of all the amazing benefits of this oil. Learn more about the benefits of coconut oil here!
Picture
If your dog's teeth are in exceptionally bad condition, there are several all natural products you can incorporate with the above suggestions to avoid needing expensive dental cleanings with your veterinarian. In my years of working in a pet health food store, there are a couple of products I have personally seen work wonders for many pet owners. One of those products is called PetzLife Oral Care Gel, which you can purchase on Amazon.com or find in most pet stores. You apply a pea sized amount to your finger and rub the gel on your dog's teeth. Your dog's saliva will help distribute the gel throughout the mouth as he or she licks. This gel will help break down built up tartar and plaque and reduce staining, but you need to use this in conjunction with a toothbrush or things to chew on to help scrape the loosened debris off the teeth. Another product I have seen work very well is the Tropiclean Fresh Breath Additive, which when added to your pet's water bowl again helps to loosen tartar build up and freshen your dog's breath. Out of all of the products on the market, those two are the ones I have seen the most success with. I have personally used the PetzLife Oral Care Gel on my elderly cat and saw a 50% improvement, so I can attest to the quality! Check out reviews of these products to determine which is best for your pet.

If your dog is suffering from poor oral health try these NATURAL, non-invasive do-it-yourself methods before you turn to expensive veterinarian cleanings - avoid the anesthetic, the cost and the drugs by cleaning your dog's teeth the safely and naturally.


Want more great information like this, or don't want to miss any of these great articles? Click here to sign up for the monthly K9 Instinct newsletter. Free treat and homemade dog food recipes, tons of information, important recall alerts and so much more are available in our newsletter!

Want to make dramatic positive changes with your dog's nutrition? K9 Instinct provides nutrition consultations and a collection of great canine diet and nutrition eBooks to help you keep your dog healthy and strong!

Angel Leandres

K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

15 Comments
    Follow me on Youtube for more amazing content!
    Picture

    A Guide to Raw Feeding eBook

    Picture
    Proudly fueled by Iron Will Raw Dog Food!

    It Takes A Village Dog Training

    Remote training & in person training for Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.

    Amber is an AbsoluteDogs Certified Pro Dog Trainer, Do More With Your Dog! Certified Trick Dog Instructor and Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach, and Dognostics certified Canine Enrichment Technician.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Bonding
    Chews
    Dental Health
    Diet
    Disease
    Dog Products & Reviews
    Dog Training
    Do It Yourself
    Ebook
    Exercise
    Feel Good Stories
    Flea And Tick
    Health
    Holidays
    Homemade Diet
    Homemade Treats
    Hunter
    Just For Fun
    Natural Remedies
    New Puppy
    News
    Nutrition
    Raw Food Diet
    Real Food
    Socialization
    Supplements
    Treats
    Vaccines


    Looking for a reputable breeder of pet rats in Ontario? Check out Cloverfield Rattery!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.