Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Food and diet play an important role in health. Every day, research in fields such as epidemiology and nutritional biochemistry teach us more about this relationship. Through scientific investigation and effective consumer communication, functional foods are becoming an important tool in promoting health.

According to Health Canada, a functional food is “consumed as part of a usual diet that is similar in appearance to, or may be, a conventional food, and is demonstrated to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutritional functions.”

Functional foods may come from plants or animals. Active ingredients effective in promoting human health include amino acids, fats, dietary fibres, antioxidants, pigments, vitamins and minerals.

If you follow the studies that document the stress put upon our digestive tracts when processed and refined foods are eaten, you will then realize how the body has to respond in a completely unnatural way to digest food matter that the body does not recognize.

Interestingly, when cooked foods are eaten, large amounts of mucus are secreted. Foods that are particularly mucus forming include all processed and refined foods.

When cooked food is eaten, the T-cells, which are so vital to immune function, increase in the gastrointestinal tissue to protect our system from certain foods, which are interpreted as foreign matter. If we consume cooked and processed food day after day without adequately eating raw food and fibrous foods, protective mucus will form in excess and build-up on bowel tissue, similar to the age rings we see in the trunks of trees.

As a result of faulty eating, nature’s protective coating — which was designed for occasional use only — becomes enraged and inadvertently contributes to ill health.

Consequently, the immune system is taxed and the presence of this excess mucus creates a perfect medium for the multiplication of bacteria, viruses, parasites and worms. Autoimmune diseases may develop due to the fact that the immune system has begun to attack the body, rather than invading microorganisms.

Continually eating “lifeless” foods — cooked, refined or processed foods devoid of fibre and enzymes — over-stimulate the immune system in a way that compromises its function. As a result, the animal becomes susceptible to every virus and bacteria.

Raw food is living food. It’s food that has not been processed or heated above 118oC (244oF). It’s food that contains the enzymes necessary for digestion as well as all the natural vitamins and minerals inherent in the specific vegetable or fruit. Raw food is probably the only basis for optimum nutrition. In an article in “Alive” magazine in May of 2000, nutritionist Dr Paavo Airola stated that an optimum diet must be at least 75-per-cent to 95-per-cent raw. And that was a reference to human diets. That would leave little room to doubt that canines and felines should be consuming at least that much raw food.

Dr Edward Howell, author of the definitive book “Enzyme Nutrition” blames the national state of disease on malnutrition due to the consumption of cooked and processed food. This food destroys all enzymes and therefore makes it impossible for the body to metabolize nutrients. More than anything, the raw food revolution is about enzymes.

As I believe in improving health naturally, it is crucial to boost our pet’s immune system to prevent illnesses and allow their body to heal itself.

Here are some things we can do to boost our pet’s immune system.

• Regular optimal amount of Vitamin C. Though dogs produce their own vitamin C, it may not be sufficient to maintain optimal health. Vitamin C is safe and there is no harm in overdosing Vitamin C as excessive amounts will be flushed out of the body. Personally, I prefer powdered form Vitamin C as I can add it into their meals easily without stuffing tablets in them. Solid gold has powdered Vitamin C or you can purchase the human version of vitamin C from pharmacy. Just go slow when introducing Vitamin C and keep to the optimal level amount daily. Too much at one go can cause diarrhea onset as the body purge the excess Vitamin C. If you cook or warm your dog food, add the vitamins & supplement last after the food is cooled and ready for feed. (Avoid microwaving your dog food to warm it as it will destroy the goodness of the foods. I prefer to give my dogs chilled food rather then microwaving it. All I need to do is boil some water quickly and pour some hot water into the food to make it at room temperature, than add the supplements accordingly.

• Healthy meals. Cook for or feed BARF diet, buy fresh meats and vegetables. Daily healthy fresh foods selection is essential for good health. Instead of giving dog treats which can be laden with chemicals and sugar, give your dog fruits and dried meats as treats instead.

• Fatty acids (e.g. Flaxseed oil/powder). Purchase flaxseed that is organic and bottled in dark container. Alternatively, quality supplements such as Missing link for Canine has all the essential vitamins, minerals and omega oils a dog needs. Missing link for Canine supplement is a balanced supplement encompassing omega oils, minerals and vitamins. If you purchase this, you no longer need any additional supplement. When buying any supplements, ensure your pet is not allergic to any of their ingredients.

o Purchase your pet supplies including Missinglink from this site Pet Rescue Petstore. 10% of all purchase goes to animal rescue purposes. Purchase Missinglink with joint support if your pet is elderly or if she has joint problems. Otherwise, the regular Missinglink is good enough for most dogs.

• Colostrums are cows “pre-milk” that is secreted prior to producing milk. Colostrums are given as supplement to provide antibodies, nutrition and to strengthen the immune system. Purchase children’s version of colostrums that is chewable. Dogs love the taste and give them once a day on empty stomach for better absorption.

• Filtered water is preferred. Ensure water bowls are changed, washed and refilled daily.

• Fresh air daily. . Bring your pets to the park regularly to ensure the fresh air and greenery. Going to natural environment has higher levels of anions in the air which inevitably help boost your pet’s immune system and improve blood circulation thus higher level of oxygen in their body. It is necessary to avoid high traffic areas as fumes from the vehicles are bad for their respiratory and can accumulate toxic buildup in their respiratory track. At home, ensure the home is well ventilated. If you are unable to walk your pet daily at natural environment, consider purchasing air purification system or use Lampe Berger (a century old product from France) to ensure good air surrounds the whole family. With daily good air therapy, it aids in boosting your family and pet’s immune system.

For more precious health care tips for pets, visit my site and subscribe to the newsletter today! www.dogcarezone.com

Veronica Eng @ www.dogcarezone.com

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P.S. No amounts of the information should be duplicated in any website or ebooks or books without the author’s permission. Email to pets.for.life@gmail.com if you want to do so. Alternatively, include the author’s website www.dogcarezone.com as a reference site to your book or article. Thank you for your kind co-operation

In this article, “How To Avoid A Dog Ear Infection Or Other Canine Ear Problems”, we investigate the some causes of ear infections and other related ear problems as well as providing some pratical advice on how to keep your dog’s ear in good working order.

Regular examination of your dogs ears should be another integral part of your grooming routine. Your examination should not only be checking for dirt, excessive wax, offensive odors, but also for tears and swellings. There are three main parts to a dogs ears: the outer flap (the pinna), the ear canal, and the middle or inner ear.

The pinna can either be pendulous (floppy) or erect. It can be covered in long hair in breeds such as spaniels and setters or with short hair in breeds such as shepherds and terriers. The ear canal is L-shaped. It starts of at a vertical angle and then makes a horizontal turn. Because of this shape we can only make a cursory examination. A veterinarian can make a complete examination using a device called an otoscope. Using the otoscope the veterinarian can also check the inner ear.

A dog which shakes its head, scratches or rubs it head against the floor or furniture is indicative of a dog with a possible ear problem. Offensive odors could also be indicative of an ear infection. These as well as tears and swellings on the outer ear should be checked and treated by a veterinarian.

Cleaning of the ear canal can be accomplished by using various solutions. There are cleansing solutions, ear-wax loosening and removal solutions and ear drying solutions available through your veterinarian and pet stores. Before putting anything in your dogs ears, consult with your veterinarian.

If the ear flap is dirty, it can be cleaned with a soft moist cloth or gauze wrapped around a finger tip. Q-tips can be used inside the small outer crevices. Gentleness is essential so as not to cause trauma to the outer ear or cause wax or dirt to be forced down the ear canal. Dogs with excessive hair such as spaniels should have the hair on the underside of the flap removed by trimming it, thus causing adequate ventilation and drainage. A build-up of dirty waxy hair can seal off the ear canal creating an environment suitable for bacterial growth such as yeast infections, or a breeding ground for parasites such as ear mites.

Another good time to check your dogs ears is when you come home from exercising in open fields or in the forest (hunting or tracking). Check for bugs such as ticks and for tears. A good brushing and bathing can remove dirt, bugs and allergens, which can also affect the ears.

Because of the shape of the dogs ears damage to the ear drum is rare but caution should be exercised when cleaning the ears. Again, never put anything in your dogs ears unless advised by your veterinarian and use extreme gentleness when cleaning the ears. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you have any concerns. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.