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What You Should Feed Your Dog for Better Health

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6 Ways to Boost Your Dog’s Health

Dog Health Tips
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As pet owners, we make health decisions for our dogs every day by choosing what they eat. We’re also responsible for preventing our dogs from getting sick. Boost your dog’s health with these dog health tips! As always, partner with your veterinarian when giving your dog any type of supplementation, especially if your dog is scheduled to undergo surgery.

Fresh Diet

We know fresh whole foods are better for us than ultra-processed or packaged foods, but did you know this applies to our dogs too? Feeding your dog a raw or home-cooked meal is a pretty important step in improving your dog’s health. Raw and home-cooked meals are made with real food that contain nutrients and fiber as opposed to kibble, which is cooked at high temperatures and loses its valuable nutrients.

Feeding raw or homemade meals will drastically improve your dog’s well-being. Within 30 days, you’ll notice:

  • Gleaming odorless coat
  • Supple skin
  • Odorless breath
  • Less itching

When feeding your dog, remember that balance is key.

Digestive Enzymes

If your dog has any type of tummy issues, eats dog poop or dirt, or has allergy issues, then you should add digestive enzymes to your dog’s daily meals. Digestive enzymes help your dog digest his food and utilize the nutrients. Just sprinkle digestive enzyme powder on top of your dog’s food, stir and serve. There are hundreds of digestive enzymes for dogs. Check out my favorites here.

RELATED: Vegetables for Dogs: Why You Should Add Veggies to Their Meals

Probiotics

This is a big one! Your dog’s gut is a vital part of his immune system, so it’s pretty important to keep it happy and healthy. Probiotics introduce good bacteria into your dog’s gut to keep bad bacteria in check. Plus, many foods need good bacteria to assist in digestion.

Most digestive enzymes already include probiotics because it’s good for digestive health. Select probiotics made for dogs because a dog’s gut needs different strains of good bacteria than that of humans.

Multivitamins

For years, veterinarians and pet owners debated whether or not they should add multivitamins to dog food, and I can totally understand their concern. Vets were worried about over-supplementation, which can be harmful and downright deadly when specific vitamins are supplemented. Since kibble (dry dog food) is processed, many vitamins are added back into kibble to meet a dog’s needs. However, not all dogs are absorbing and utilizing those vitamins.

Many veterinarians are now recommending whole food multivitamins for daily use with meals. As opposed to synthetic versions, these multivitamins are made from real foods, which is better for the body. Think about whole food multivitamins this way: our bodies utilize more vitamin C when consuming it from oranges than tablets. Plus, consuming real foods prevents over-supplementation. By far, my favorite multivitamin for dogs is Standard Process Whole Canine Support.

Fish Oil

Omega-3 and DHA are powerhouses for our dogs’ bodies. Just like the human body, fish oil reduces inflammation in the form of arthritis, allergies and chronic pain. Fish oil is also important for brain function of puppies and senior citizens, and promotes healthy skin and coat too.

When choosing fish oil, look for oils containing wild caught fish in capsule or liquid form. Start adding fish oil slowly to your dog’s daily meals. If you add too much too soon, it will cause your dog’s stool to be loose. My favorite fish oils for dogs are Ascenta Fish Oil and Nordic Naturals Fish Oil.

Vitamin D3

We all know the power of vitamin D, but we incorrectly assume that sun exposure provides our dogs with plenty of this vital vitamin. Our holistic veterinarian had recommended checking our dogs’ vitamin D levels, and both dogs had very low levels. Low vitamin D levels can contribute to congestive heart failure, thyroid dysfunction and many other serious health issues.

We started supplementing our dogs with vitamin D3 twice a day with meals. We noticed they seemed to be more relaxed, yet full of energy. Check out this article on the importance of checking your dog’s vitamin D levels and how supplementation will boost your dog’s health.

Choline Supplements For Dogs

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Choline Supplements May Treat Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Choline Supplements for Dogs
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Choline is a seldom talked about supplement, but is actually a powerhouse for your dog’s brain. From what I remember during my college nutrition course, choline was recently considered an essential nutrient and it’s commonly called vitamin B4. Choline is considered an essential nutrient in dogs too. Interestingly, the importance of choline supplements was reintroduced during a recent visit to my veterinarian and I want to share why.

What Choline Does to Your Dog’s Brain

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Older dogs with CCD have odd sleeping behaviors; they’ll wander around at night and sleep during the day. Sometimes, dogs with CCD lose control of their bowels, seem lost in their own backyards or even stare into space.

Choline supplementation can help reverse canine cognitive dysfunction. The supplement prevents CCD from happening. Research studies suggest “[Choline] is only moderately effective, [yet] clinical experience suggests that when used in older pets, it may actually prevent clinical signs of cognitive disorder” (Marsden, Messonnier & Yuill, n.d.). Interestingly, other studies have shown that choline supplementation decreased and even reversed CCD in older dogs (Marsden, Messonnier & Yuill, n.d.).

RELATED: Turmeric for Dogs

How Choline Supplements Helped My Dog

Many years ago, my 17-year-old Bull Terrier was acting oddly. She became agitated quickly and was restless at night. She’d get lost in our bathroom, and then panic when she couldn’t walk forward. She ate and drank normally, but stared at walls and didn’t seem engaged with us and our other dogs. I discussed her odd behaviors with my veterinarian, and my vet recommended Standard Process Choline supplements.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but I noticed a huge improvement in my dog’s behavior within a week of supplementation. Now, my dog was able to sleep through the night and her unprovoked agitation reduced dramatically.

Speak With Your Vet First

Before starting any type of supplementation, please discuss your dog’s behavior with your veterinarian first. Liver and eggs are excellent sources of choline for both dogs and humans, but choline supplementation works well too. Your vet will guide you in the right direction.

My Experience With Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

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Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
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Doggie Alzheimer’s happens in middle-aged and older dogs, and it creeps in slowly before you notice a huge change in your dog’s behavior. While I’m not a veterinarian, I’m a pet owner and dog trainer who works with dog behavior every day. Plus, I’ve shared my own home with dogs that have displayed canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) as well.

Hopefully, this article will help other pet owners recognize canine cognitive dysfunction symptoms, so they can jump-start their research. I’ll admit: this was a very difficult article to write, but I’m grateful I can share my experience with you.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Symptoms

Withdrawal

Fifteen years ago, my older Shepherd-mixed dog started acting peculiar. Magenta, named after the character in “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” started withdrawing from us around 13 years of age. When we’d settle down in the living room at night and watched TV, she’d slink off and sleep in the back spare bedroom. We assumed the TV was too loud, so we ignored her behavior. However, we noticed her hiding in the spare bedroom more and more.

We scheduled a vet visit immediately because I thought she may have been in pain. Our veterinarian thoroughly examined her, completed blood work profiles, took several X-rays to rule out arthritis, and thankfully all results were normal. Our vet suspected our dog was suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction, and told us there was nothing we can do.

Disengagement

Magenta slowly slipped away mentally. She still ate and drank normally, but she’d immediately retreat back to “her” bedroom after each meal. She completely disengaged herself from us and our other dogs. She was in another world.

Wandering

Magenta would get lost in our home. We set up her bedroom with several orthopedic beds, non-skid rugs, a water bowl, toys and chewies, but she still had full run of our home. A couple of times we’d find Magenta wedged between the toilet and bathtub, which caused her to scream and thrash around. We placed a baby gate in her bedroom’s doorway to keep her safely contained at night. I felt horrible containing her, so for the next couple of years, my husband and I would take turns sleeping in the spare bedroom.

RELATED: How to Know If Your Dog Has Thyroid Dysfunction

It Got Worse

At 17 years old, Magenta was still healthy and pain free, but her mental health continued to decline. She lost control of her bladder and bowels, and became confused by simple things, such as which way a door opened. She stared at the wall; and if we tried to pet her, she became confused and screamed. We finally made the decision—it was time for her to cross the Rainbow Bridge. It was no longer fair to her and she passed peacefully.

Prevention and Possible Treatment

Research on canine cognitive dysfunction 15 years ago was limited, so prevention and treatment options weren’t available. Fortunately, researchers have recently discovered ways to reduce and even reverse Alzheimer’s in dogs, and I’ve witnessed these options work. For example, my middle-aged Bull Terrier was starting to act a bit odd too, so our vet suggested adding Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and hemp oil and choline to Stella’s diet. The results were fascinating.

RELATED: Best Joint Supplements for Dogs

Beware of False Promises

While Stella’s symptoms have improved, they don’t completely subside. Now, she acts oddly at night once every two weeks rather than every night. She aggressively becomes startled one to two times a month instead of several times a night. Improvement is key, but be wary of miracle promises.

I’m sure we’ll learn more about canine cognitive dysfunction as science continues to uncover causes, but until then I recommend spending lots of quality time with your dogs. Their only fault is not living long enough. 🙂

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

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A Guide to Dog Pheromone Collars

Dog Pheromone Collars
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Many years ago, I attended a dog training conference where a veterinarian was lecturing about the effects of pheromones on dog behavior. I remember scratching my head and thinking pheromone therapy was some type of woo woo stuff and it didn’t work. Thankfully, I kept digging into the topic. If you’ve never heard of pheromone collars or other products before, allow me to introduce you to the world of calming pheromones for dogs. I’ll also answer whether or not pheromone collars work!

What are Pheromone Collars?

Mammals, and some insects, emit pheromones that affects behavior. When a mother dog gives birth, she releases a calming pheromone that calms herself and her puppies. Since a mother dog’s pheromones are so calming, a synthetic version was created. Pheromones can now be found in dog collars, room sprays and wall plug-ins (Adaptil, 2016).

At first, I wasn’t convinced that a synthetic pheromone would calm a dog, so I purchased the wall plug-in version to give it a try. I’m happy to say, it seemed to calm my dog that suffers from separation anxiety and has helped many of my clients’ dogs too.

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

That’s the magic question, right? Yes, pheromone collars do work—in the sense they reduce your dog’s anxiety and stress. Pheromone therapy won’t change your dog’s behavior though. I’ve heard some pet owners swear that using an Adaptil diffuser (pheromone therapy wall plug-in) stopped a puppy from pottying in the house. That doesn’t seem likely because pheromones won’t teach a dog a new behavior.

I do believe pheromone therapy will reduce worry, stress and anxiety, which will ultimately reduce fear and aggression. Think about it this way: if you’re learning how to drive a car for the first time, pheromone therapy will keep you calm. As a result, you learn better. Pheromones won’t show you how to steer a car. Never underestimate the power of remaining calm; it’s the key to learning in a stressful situation. 🙂

Pheromone Therapy Effects on Dogs and Cats

Over the years, research has been conducted on the effects of pheromone therapy on cats, puppies, fearful dogs and puppy mill dogs. For those who don’t know, puppy mill dogs are puppies purchased from pet stores. Researchers found pheromone therapy reduced stress, which then discouraged fighting between cats as well as prevented inappropriate urination in pets.

Several of my dog training clients swear that pheromone therapy keeps their dogs calm during thunderstorms and stressful car rides. I also know many veterinary practices using pheromone therapy to keep pets calm during veterinary visits. So far, pheromone therapy for dogs looks pretty promising!

It’s Not Magic Though

While pheromone products have proven to work, it shouldn’t be used as a fix-all solution. In my opinion, a combination approach is always best.

Dog pheromone collars should be used in combination with:

  • Prescribed medications
  • Anxiety wraps (Thundershirts)
  • Supplements
  • Behavior modification (changing your dog’s behavior)

How to Use Pheromone Products

Pheromone therapy has evolved and with that comes a slew of dog calming products.

Diffusers or Wall Plug-Ins

It’s best to place wall diffusers in a commonly used room by family and pets, such as the living room or bedroom. That way, your dog is exposed to the pheromone scent, but it’s not directly in his or her face. One pheromone diffuser lasts about 30 days. What I’ve found super interesting is most clients are reminded to replace empty diffusers because their previously calm dogs begin acting anxious again. When they refill the diffuser, their dogs calm down again.

Spray

Using spray pheromone therapy works well if you travel a lot. You can spray a paper towel and place it inside your car, hotel room, RV, or kennel when going to the vet’s office or groomer. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, so I don’t recommend spraying your dog with it.

Pheromone Collar

This is the newest addition to pheromone therapy, and it’s a dog collar that contains the right amount of pheromones. As your dog wears the collar, his or her body heat warms up the collar, which disperses the pheromones. Dog pheromone collars aren’t overpowering; they’re just effective enough for dogs on the go.

Pheromone therapy products are certainly worth a try for your anxious or stressed dog! You can purchase them online or at your local pet supply store. I would love to hear your comments after using these products, so please comment below. 🙂

4 Tips To Make Working From Home With Dogs Easier

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Working From Home With Dogs

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Anchiy/iStock

Working from home is amazing. I’m able to work while my dogs snore happily in the background or share a spot with me in my office chair. I’ve been lucky, as I’ve been working from home for 15 years now. Despite the convenience of a remote job, working from home with dogs can get a bit loud if you know what I mean. Here are four tips that will ensure peace and quiet during calls with the boss and your clients.

Go on a walk before work

For the most part, a tired dog is a good dog. Before your workday begins, take your dogs out for a 30-minute walk. Instead of walking swiftly, take your time and let your dogs sniff and see what “Facebook messages” were left in the grass by other dogs. Sniffing is wonderful mental enrichment, and it’s just as exhausting as walking quickly around your neighborhood or local park. Once home, make sure your dogs have plenty of fresh water available and start up your computer.

Keep your dogs quiet during conference calls

Working from home means you’re on the phone a lot, so it’s important to collaborate with co-workers on projects through individual phone chats and conference calls. During conference calls, I’m pretty good at figuring out which conference call attendees work from home too because I can hear their dogs barking in the background!

Here’s how to keep your dogs quiet while you’re on a conference call. About 5 minutes before a conference call, give each dog a frozen food stuffed toy and separate him or her. This way, they can enjoy their treats without squabbling. Log in to your conference call with confidence that your dogs are happily and quietly licking away at their frozen prizes, which is entertaining and completely exhausting too. Sure, the mute button is a godsend, but food stuffed toys are better! After your call, pick up each toy to refill after work.

RELATED: Summertime Dog Food Recipes for Interactive Toys

Play midday outdoor games

When employees work from home, they usually skip lunch, or worse eat lunch while working. Take it from me, disengage with your computer and phone for 20 minutes and enjoy your lunch. After lunch, take another 10 minutes and sit outside with your dogs, play a game of fetch or even take a short stroll around your neighborhood. Again, a tired dog is a happy and quiet dog.

Toss treats when the doorbell rings

It never fails; the UPS man always happens to ring your doorbell while you’re on an important call with your boss. Be prepared during important calls by keeping a cup of dog kibble, treats or Cheerios on your desk. Bring your dogs inside your office with you and close the door. When the doorbell rings, toss those treats like confetti. It’s tough to bark at the doorbell while devouring scattered treats on the floor. Tossing treats as a distraction also teaches your dogs not to bark at the doorbell.

If solicitors are constantly ringing your doorbell, place a note on top of the doorbell that reads: “Please do not ring the doorbell or knock. I work the night shift.” Believe it or not, a note works very well. My mother was a night-shift nurse, and this little note ensured she slept soundly during the day.

May your workday be swift and filled with dog snores!

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Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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