Dogs are remarkably talented at finding exactly the thing they should not eat. Chocolate left on a table, sugar-free chewing gum found in a handbag, or rising yeast dough in the kitchen can turn into a veterinary emergency within seconds. At the same time, not all “dangerous foods for dogs” are...
Sometimes it feels as though dogs should never eat anything from our plates. In fact, quite a few fruits and vegetables can be shared as small treats. After reading Dr Karen Shaw Becker's overview of ten such foods, I also looked at veterinary nutrition and safety guidance. There is an...
When I moved into my house and began working on the garden, I was fairly sure that dogs and a beautiful garden could not coexist. With one dog, planning was still possible. With two, gardening began to feel like a landscaping competition: one team builds and the other tests the...
When I once told Irene I was bringing raw turkey necks for the boys to chew, she was, to be honest, rather worried. Peku had a habit of gulping down anything tasty, and the idea of a whole turkey neck, with a BONE inside, was hardly reassuring. With my German...
Some time ago I came across an old video in which Dr Karen Shaw Becker ranks pet foods from best to worst. What stayed with me most was not which food came first. She placed an unbalanced homemade diet last, whether raw or cooked. It is a useful reminder: carefully...
When can liver and kidney support help dogs and cats? A practical look at detox, food, supplements, safety and Faddy’s and Oscar’s experiences.
Stool colour, consistency and amount can flag digestive changes, but cannot diagnose food quality or disease on their own. Learn what to observe and when to seek help.
When a bag of dog food proudly says '60% fresh meat', it is easy to imagine a food made mostly of meat. But does this figure describe the finished product, or the recipe before drying? And if the ingredient list starts with 'lamb', does that mean most of the protein...
A dog cannot tell you when the heat is becoming too much. They may keep chasing a ball, stay beside you in the sun or guard the house even when their body can no longer cool itself adequately. A dog not choosing shade does not necessarily mean everything is fine....
Glucosamine is one of the best-known supplements used to support canine joints. It can be found in tablets, powders, complex joint formulas and sometimes together with chondroitin. At the same time, precursors and structural components related to glucosamine occur naturally in cartilage and connective tissue, while green-lipped mussel contains a...
