We all know that our dogs will grow older one day, but admitting it is not always easy. Especially when they still rush to the doorbell, their eyes light up for a treat and every now and then they produce an especially joyful puppy jump. Irene and I were recently...
The world is changing quickly, and so is the way food is produced for us and for our pets. One of the biggest changes has been the widespread use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. When we talk about GMOs, glyphosate inevitably enters the discussion. Glyphosate has been classified by...
This time, we are putting chicken under the microscope. Many pet owners avoid chicken almost automatically. Quite often, when a client first comes to us for advice, chicken has already been ruled out. When I ask why, the answer is usually: “this breed has a lot of chicken allergies.” Looking...
Have you ever checked a dog food ingredient list and found the words “cellulose”, “powdered cellulose” or “lignocellulose”? At first glance it sounds harmless: cellulose is a natural component of plant cell walls and therefore a type of fibre. On the other hand, purified cellulose used in pet food may...
Stool color can provide a useful clue, but a color is not a diagnosis. The whole picture matters: what the dog ate, what the stool looks like, how often the change occurs and how the dog feels overall. A dog’s stool is a kind of digestive-system report, but not a laboratory...
An elevated dog bowl may seem like a sensible purchase. A large dog need not bend so far down, an older dog might be more comfortable, and perhaps the floor stays cleaner. But is a raised bowl really better for dogs? Owners' experiences and the scientific findings do not entirely...
Can dry food, wet food and raw food be combined? Yes, combining different types of food is not wrong in itself. It is important to distinguish between complete food and complementary food. Complete food is intended to cover the dog's needs at the appropriate life stage, while complementary food is intended...
I've said for years that dogs can benefit from fresh food. I've fed my own dogs raw meat and other fresh additions, and combining commercial complete food with fresh or raw ingredients still appeals to me. At the same time, I've never believed that every dog must eat exclusively raw...
Should a large breed puppy eat puppy food until 12, 18 or 24 months of age? This question is often given very definite answers. I don’t think you should judge by the calendar alone. A puppy doesn’t become an adult the day it reaches a certain number of months of...
Fish can provide useful nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. Its value depends on the species, preparation, portion and the dog’s overall diet.
