Soup Kitchen for Pets 02/18/2011
 I think one of the best best diet pills for women is a puppy to play with and take for walks. It is a part of responsible pet ownership to only purchase a dog suited to the lifestyle you lead. There is a soup kitchen in Berlin that provides pets of the homeless and unemployed with a free meal. The soup kitchen also caters to other pets including cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and budgerigars. Twelve volunteers hand out food and advice, while keeping an eye on the health of the animals. I wonder if this is done anywhere else. In Europe's biggest economy, poodles, terriers and sheep dogs are queuing up for rations at Berlin's soup kitchen for pets. Pensioners and those on the dole qualify for the free pet food buffet, allowing those with no disposable income the chance to hold on to their beloved dogs and cats. Berlin, has some 100,000 registered dogs, many of them owned by pensioners. Pet proof At the Treptow soup kitchen, animal owners must initially turn up with their pet in order to register. And they must show proof the pet has been vaccinated. They must also prove financial need by showing their welfare papers, unemployment registration or pension card. Poverty isolates people who sometimes must rely on their pet for their sole company, Ms Holm said. "Half our customers are old people for whom a cat or dog is their last social link," she said. It also quickly became obvious that people needed more than just a tin of animal food, Ms Hollm added, pointing to the need to make sure pets stay healthy. During the holiday season, the association called for extra donations so that volunteers could lay out bones, pigs' ears, toy mice and scratching posts under the Christmas trees set up in each of its soup kitchens. Add Comment Dog Food. 12/29/2010
 I am alarmed at how often I find out about pet food that is being recalled for food safety laws. Also the very fact that pt food is frequently sold as unfit for human consumption makes me ask WHY? Our pets are valuable to us and we do not want them consuming unsafe chemicals, bacterial levels or foreign bodies like sawdust in the food. Frankly safe dog food should be fit fort human consumption. Today's dogs have grown up eating the scraps from humans have fed them for centuries. A good dog's diet is the same as a healthy human's diet. Every meal should contain a mix of unrefined healthy carbohydrates like grains and vegetables and a small amount of healthy oils, wonderful for the dog's coat and a good protien source which ca be a mixture of egg, poultry fish or red meat, the same way health concise humans vary the diet. Processed pet food is convenient and economical our Indigo has her favorite brand and we try to choose a brands with a good mix of ingredients, nonetheless we compliment with a mix of healthy table scraps making ourselves aware of those foods humans can eat but dogs should not, like milk (lactose intolerance) onions, and those that are poisonous to dogs like chocolate, not that we would feed our dog sweets. A good dog food mix for an allergy prone dog is a mix of whole grain rice, carrot, cabbage and eggs. Add to that basic mix a variety of what ever is going, including dog kibble if you choose. While your dog may love to live of a pure red meat diet, just like I could easily live on prime grilled streaks, it isn't healthy for them long term. This was the mixture I was told to cook and feed the Labradors at the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School when i was training the dogs there. When I was veterinary Nursing the recipe was similar they added soaked kibble biscuit, oily fish and some red meat or poultry to the mixture and less rice and a wider range of mixed vegetables. Has your dog eaten his vegetables and grains today? Eat healthy and well balanced and Fido may not need his best acne face wash Here are the latest Pet food recalls.   Kroger Recalls 10 Pet Food Varieties in 19 States The Kroger Co. is recalling multiple brands of pet foods sold across the United States because they may contain a toxin produced by fungi. The Kroger Co. said today it is recalling select packages of pet food sold in some of its retail stores because the products may contain aflatoxin, which poses a health risk to pets. Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins producted by many species of the Aspergillus family of fungus, and are considered as among the most carcinogenic substances known. Ingestion of aflatoxin can potentially lead to liver disease in dogs, but consumption of a small amount would need to be repeated for weeks or months for signs of liver dysfunction to appear. Some scientific studies have suggested that aflatoxin would need to be present at 100-300 parts-per-billion for a prolonged period for the substance to have toxic effects. Kroger has so far declined to release any information on the level of aflatoxin that may be present in the recalled pet food. Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia are affected. The recall also includes Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker’s stores in Nebraska; Food 4 Less stores in Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana (Chicago area); and Jay C, Hilander, Owen’s, Pay Less and Scott’s stores in Illinois and Indiana. The company is recalling selected packages of Pet Pride Cat Food, Pet Pride Cat Food, Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food, Pet Pride Kitten Formula Food, Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food, Kroger Value Cat Food and Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food. The best-by dates and UPC codes of the affected products are available from the company's website. The Kroger Co. has asked consumers of the affected products to monitor their pets for symptoms of illness, including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, yellowish tint to the eyes and/or gums, and severe or bloody diarrhea. If any of these symptoms appear, they recommend consulting your veterinarian immediately. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/general/kroger-recalls-10-pet-food-varieties-in-19-states.htm   The only way our dog Indigo's diet changes with the seasons is through the slight change in our own diets as Indigo gets a few table scraps. Indigo's favorite table scrap being the parts of animal and poultry that is edible but we do not eat, like a bit of steak gristle of chicken skin. She doesn't mind a bit of bread if we are enjoying some, but unlike our previous poodles she will not eat oatmeal or vegetables. She isn't a fussy eater, her main diet is a well balanced dry dog food mix, not one of the cheapest though not the dearest brand either. I did some careful fine print label checking and found a mid price brand that seemed identical in content to one of the more expensive vet recommenced brands and it is one she likes and I can manage to buy in most larger cities as we travel around Australia. I just need to carry about 40 kilo of it with us when we are touting outback towns, our Indigo would not forgive me if I ran out of her favorite basic everyday food. If we did not stock Indigo’s favourite food we would think she was taking phentermine as I know she eats less. New Company Produces World's First Climate-Specific Pet Food A new pet food company has created a dog food designed to address the changing metabolic requirements of pets caused by changes in weather. Since 2006, when the United States National Research Council (NRC) published "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats", it has been known that changes in weather affect the nutritional needs of pets. Seasons Natural® Petfood has now created a unique patented process to manufacture the world's first climate specific pet food. The company will offer two blends to address both warm and cool weather nutritional needs. The premise behind their unique patented blends, one for cool weather and one for the warmer months, is based in part on the NRC report. As ambient temperatures rise or fall, the amount of energy a pet needs for normal metabolic function changes. With as little as a 20 degree Fahrenheit temperature fluctuation, a pet's metabolic needs may change by as much as 40%. It has been scientifically proven that pets require more energy in the cooler months, and less in the warmer months. To address this effect, Seasons Natural® has created two dog food blends - one is formulated for cooler temperatures by providing an increase in proteins and fat; and the other is formulated for warmer months when less protein and fat are required. The patented process properly regulates the amount of digestible metabolic energy available in each formula, providing it to pets when they need it, as directed by nature. The blend designed for cooler weather, Cool Weather Blend™, also contains L-Carnitine, which utilizes fat efficiently to help provide extra energy. And the Warm Weather Blend™ contains a blend of electrolytes to foster healthy heart function, muscle function and hydration, as well as helping provide a healthy skin and coat. Both blends deliver the proper amount of protein, fat, and climate-specific nutrients when the pet needs it most. Both blends are also similar in base ingredients so that the conversion between warm and cool weather formulas is easier on the pet's digestive system. "This is the first truly unique dog food to be introduced to the pet food industry in years," said Tom Kapocius, Seasons Natural® Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. "Consumers now more than ever want the best, most nutritious food for their pets. They know their animals deserve the very best foods for their nutritional needs, to help sustain a long and healthy life. With our climate specific formulations, we are confident Seasons Natural® delivers exactly what pets need and will enjoy." View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/new-company-produces-world-s-first-climate-specific.htm  They need some good Elkay sinks and stricter hygiene to prevent food contamination. Merrick Dog Treat Recall Expanded Further Merrick Pet Care Inc. has expanded it's recent recall to include all lots of the affected products, following possible Salmonella contamination. On July 2nd 2010, Merrick recalled selected lots of its 10 oz "Beef Filet Squares for Dogs (Texas Hold'Ems)" because they had the potential to contaminated with Salmonella. The affected lots were # 10084TL7 with a "Best By" ate of March 24th 2010. Then in early August it expanded this recall to include lot # 10127 with a "Best By" date of May 6th 2012. Now, the company has expanded the recall again, without further explanation, to include all lots of it's 10 oz "Beef Filet Squares for Dogs (Texas Hold'Ems)". The affected lots were all sold in 10 oz plastic bags, and the products could have been purchased anywhere throughout the United States, and distributors have been notified to return their stock. The recall comes after a sample of the product tested positive for Salmonella. However, no illnesses have been reported to date for either of the recalled lots. This is the third recall this year that has affected Merrick's Beef Filet Squares. In January, the company recalled a larger amount of the product also due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers who have purchased affected Merrick products are asked to return the product, or any remaining portion of it, to where it was purchased for a full refund. Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross-contamination caused by handling of the dry food, in people as well. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals of humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms you should contact your veterinarian. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/merrick-dog-treat-recall-expanded-further.htm Home Made, Dog Biscuits. 05/03/2010
 Mum was looking at the supermarket receipt from the epson tm-t88iv printer and she said that my store bought doggie treats were breaking the budget so she would stop buying the readymade ones and make homemade liver treats for me. She will store them in the freezer so they keep well, then let me have one each time I give her a good idea for a doggie blog. J. I thought that was a great idea. Homemad Doggie Breath Mint Recipe (This is 100% Safe and Effective For All Breeds): 1/4 cup mint leaves 3-5 salt-free crackers 1-2 cups of water Finely chop up all the mint leaves by hand or with afood processor, just make sure it's ground up finely. Next in a bowl pour in the water with the ground up crackers and mint leaves. The crackers will stick to the mint so add a cracker or take some out as needed. Now roll them up into small 1/4 inch balls. Lay on wax paper, pop them in the freezer and that's it! Give one to your dog whenever he needs a fresher breath. Remember, you can go by hand measurements for this recipe since nothing has to be exact. Play around with it until you find a mixture just right for your liking and put that into balls and pop in the freezer and you're go to go. Whenever you can choose fresh mint over the dried form of the herb because it makes a stronger product. The leaves of fresh mint should look vibrant and be a rich green color and be free from dark spots or yellowing. Homemade Gourmet Dog Biscuit Recipe •12-16oz raw liver, •1 1/2 lbs white or whole wheat flour, •8oz Quaker oats, •3 bouillion cubes (beef or chicken), •Appoximately 1 cup of water, •2 beaten eggs Preheat your oven to 350 and grease about three baking pans, use a food processor to chop the liver finely, or you can do it by hand. Mix the flour and oats together in a bowl, crumble the bouillion cubes, add the chopped liver and eggs, then add enough water (approx 1 cup) to make the dough firm and slightly sticky. Spread the biscuit dough out with a rolling pin until it is about an inch thick, then you can use a cookie cutter dipped in flour to cut out your biscuits. Bake your treats for an hour then put them into an airtight container and refridgerate them for about two weeks. Your dog can enjoy these anytime after they have cooled, they have to be refrigerated because of the liver that is used to make them.  These poodles are hanging around, waiting for the food to be cooked. How When and Why, to Give a Dog A Bone. 04/26/2010
 Indigo is a little too busy to chat today. She feels that chewing her bone takes priority over blogging. She did not mind me talking about why she should be allowed to have more bones. lol :-) I know that as a former dog owner and breeder and vets’ nurse more dogs die as a result of chewing plastic toys that they do from eating bones but bones that splinter and fragmented with sharp edges are dangerous to dogs. Uncooked chicken wings are usually safe as the bones are soft yet they will massage the gums and the chewing action helps clean the dog's teeth. Raw marrow bones are excellent if the dog does not chew splintered pieces of bone. We give Indigo these bones to chew all the gristle off them and get the marrow out of the center as she is doing with this lamb leg bone in the photos then we take them off her or she will eat bone chunks. It is a balancing act of what is good about eating bones versus the dangers involved. Raw bones were a part of the natural diet of dogs though dogs are much evolved, since they were primary hunters.  She said she was quite happy for me to reference reasons why she should be allowed more bones. :-) Here is some advise about bones and dogs, I found 'on the internet'.
Weight Loss Pet Foods Not Consistent 02/04/2010
 By Daphne Reid View Biography Weight Loss Pet Foods Not Consistent A recent study has indicated that weight-control diets for pets have different calorie densities and recommended intake, and that in most cases pets will not lose weight or will actually gain weight if owners follow the labels' feeding guidelines. With almost 50% of domestic animals being overweight or obese, weight-loss diets are becoming increasingly popular in the pet food industry, and this is illustrated by the choice available to consumers. A new study, carried out by Lisa M. Freeman, professor of nutrition, and Deborah E. Linder, DVM, of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, and published in this month's Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, indicates that these diets will have varying results for pets. The study examined nearly 100 commercially available diets with weight management claims. Among the report's findings is that dry dog foods range in calorie density from 217 to 440 kilocalories per cup (kcal/cup) and a recommended intake that ranged from 0.73 to 1.47 times the dog's resting energy requirement. The diets also varied wildly in price - from 4 cents to more than $1.10 per kilocalorie. Similar findings were made in wet dog food (189 to 398 kcal/can) and cat food (235 to 480 kcal/cup) marketed for weight control. "There is so much information - and misinformation - about pet foods, it's understandable that people are confused about what to feed their dogs and cats," said Freeman. "To counteract these myths, people are accustomed to turning to the labels on food - but, as this study shows, packaging might not always be a reliable source of information." Under federal guidelines, pet foods labeled with the "lite", "light" or "low-calorie" designations must provide the caloric content, and must adhere to a maximum kilocalorie per kilogram. More than half of the foods evaluated in this study exceeded the maximum. Based on feeding recommendations of these brands, most of the diets would not lose weight or would actually gain weight if owners adhered to the labels' feeding guidelines. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/general/weight-loss-pet-foods-not-consistent.htm  My typical day involves checking if my bowl of nibbles is full and throwing the bowl around to gain attention if it is empty. Then I move on to sitting and looking intently into mum and dad’s eyes, during dinnertime, waiting for my serve. If mum forgets about dinner, this is why I have dark eyes and a long nose, I can stare intently at her with a serious face, and as soon as I have her attention, I turn sharply and point my nose toward the kitchen door. She usually gets the message. I have even helped with a nudge or too, giving her a gentle push toward the kitchen door. Sometimes I rush over with enthusiasm and tell mum, I love her (flattery gets you everywhere), and then do the stare into the eyes, sharp twist of neck toward the kitchen door, fixed stare at the kitchen ,.repeat the procedure if necessary, and I am usually most efficient at organizing on time meals in this house.  Indigo's training commands, to her humans. I have an important role to play in mum’s healthy eating plan; I volunteer to eat chicken skin when she will not. Then I require my ‘good girl’ rewards. I do after all contribute to the household economy as a professional writer, dog blogger, enough to pay for my own bags of ‘Schmackos’, these days. Anyhow, mum has not been very nice about all this lately. She is calling me names and making nasty threats to me. Names like ‘NIBBLER, BEGGER, FAT DOG and GORMET GUTS’ and she has not only threatened to, but she has cut back my allowance of chicken skin and my Schmackos servings, and tells me to accept it or it will be best weight loss products not leftovers for me to vary my diet. L She told me to look at these descriptions and see if I recognise myself in any of themL. Gee whiz, it is scary reading; they all describe me, though my mum has never allowed me to eat sweets, not that I have not asked for them. At four years old, I need to watch my weight now, to protect my joints later, if I want to be able to chase ball for years to come. I am glad mum is looking after me after all.  Type I: THE NIBBLER: "But doctor, she hardly eats a thing." (My first thought is that whatever she is eating, it is too much!) This pet probably has food out for it all day and nibbles a little at a time. When dinnertime comes and the pet picks at the left-overs, it will take the choicest morsels, leave the rest, and still appear not to have eaten very much. However, over a 24-hour period, "THE NIBBLER'S" total calorie intake is excessive and it gains weight. Hardly eats a thing, eh? Type II: THE BEGGAR: "But doctor, this rascal won’t keep quiet unless she gets her treats. And she won’t go to sleep at night until she gets her little dish of ice cream." What has happened here is that the pet has discovered that the more noise and fussing it produces the more likely it is to be rewarded for this behaviour. The owner finally "gives in" to keep the pet quiet and the pet sees the food as a reward. In effect the owner is training "The Beggar" by rewarding its behaviour. It turns into a fun game but the pet’s health may suffer if obesity is the result. Type III: THE GOOD DOG: "But doctor, she’s such a good dog we don’t want her to go hungry." This pet became overweight because the owner’s signal of affection for their pet has focused on feeding. (Usually each family member secretly offers treats to the pet...and does not know the other family members are doing exactly the same thing!) It is an understandable trait but unfortunately, for the pet it can be a case of too much of a good thing. The owners' method of showing affection should be directed more toward physical activity than feeding. Think, "FETCH" not "FOOD"! Type IV: THE GOURMET DOG: "But doctor, she just refuses to eat dog food." In this case, the pet has trained its owners to feed it such things as chicken, liver, ice cream, cookies, etc. Although most table scraps are just fine to feed, ((stay away from bones) http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/bones.html of any kind!) this pet has been given a choice of what it wants to eat and has chosen certain people food. If a child is given a choice it would probably choose cake and candy over vegetables, and its health would suffer. This Gourmet Dog usually overeats because it is not getting a proper balance of nutrition, plus everything tastes so good there is a reward factor in eating. The solution is . . . you choose, not your pet. Depression in dogs. 11/26/2009
 I am a bit ‘flat’ this morning. I take my home care, seriously and believe that home decor should express your personality and mood. My responsibility is setting the sofa in particular, to match my mood; today, it is DOWN L Ggggrrrrrr. Just call me moody Indigo blues Last night was very disappointing for me. Mum and dad set themselves up with dinner and a wine in front of the TV to watch Celebrity Masterchef and the whole conversation was about chicken. The melt in my mouth, Salt Baked Chicken with Hay by Chef: Andrew McConnell sounded like the best meal of my life but it was all talk, and once again, my human pets, adopted mum and dad, totally ignored me. What am I expected to do this morning but show my displeasure and to try to reinforce a few house rules? House Rules. There are two adults and one Indigo in this house that means I get 1/3 of the chicken. If you are not on a diet, I get 1/3 of the chicken. If you go on a diet, you give me 1/3 of the chicken. If you go out, you come home with cooked chicken. If you are home all day, you cook chicken. If the word ‘chicken’ is used, I get 1/3 of the chicken.  | Follow me on Facebook, Kathy Shell
Indigo tours Australia reviewing Dog Friendly Caravan Parks.
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