What do premium, lamb and rice, and veterinary really mean on dog food labels? A closer look at ingredients, nutritional purpose, evidence and integrative veterinary criticism.
A while ago, when I was updating FendaF’s article about chemical tick treatments, one seemingly very simple word kept bothering me: safe. We use it all the time when talking about medicines. “This medicine is safe.” “A lot of dogs use it.” “Side effects are rare.” “The medicine is approved.” But...
August was a very different time for Faddy. Around 2.5 litres of fluid had accumulated in his abdomen and had to be removed. His heart was enlarged. He had very little stamina, and our walks were mostly 1–1.5 kilometres, slow, with pauses and entirely at his pace. Then came the medication,...
Complete feed vs complementary feed can look like a tiny wording difference on a can of wet food, but it actually tells you a great deal about how that food should be used. From the outside, a can of wet food may look like a perfectly ordinary dog dinner. Meat....
Maltodextrin is one of those ingredients that can look completely harmless on a dog food or supplement label. A white powder, almost tasteless, highly soluble and technologically convenient. It is used as a carrier, filler, texture improver, stabiliser or processing aid in powdered products. It is also very common in...
If you know or suspect that your dog has eaten a product containing xylitol, contact a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. Do not wait for symptoms, and do not induce vomiting at home unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so. Xylitol is one of those substances that can turn...
Are human supplements for dogs a good idea, or is it better to choose a product developed specifically for dogs? This question often comes up when a dog needs something such as milk thistle, vitamin D, a herbal preparation or another supplement, and the only suitable-looking option already at home...
When a dog is diagnosed with IBD, chronic enteropathy or another serious digestive condition, it can feel as though the illness appeared overnight. Not long ago the dog seemed “perfectly healthy”, and now they suddenly have ongoing diarrhoea, foods no longer agree with them, their skin is itchy and digestion...
Collaboration between a veterinarian and a pet owner can be far more important in resolving an animal's health problems than it may first appear. The past few weeks with Faddy have shown me very clearly that the best care does not happen only in the clinic. A veterinarian has medical...
When discussing a dog's health, we tend to talk more about the liver, kidneys and digestion than the lymphatic system, although in my view even those subjects do not receive enough attention. The lymphatic system is often overlooked despite its important role in the body's clean-up processes, immune defence and...
