by Dr Greg on March 7, 2010
Holistic, organic, raw, and homemade whole foods are all attempts to go back in a time machine when food and livestock was grown and served without herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, wormers, growth hormones, and antibiotics. These days most of these chemicals are part of the plants, fruit, and animals we and our pets eat.
Food and animal production levels have increased due to these chemicals, but their effects on our health are questioned by those desiring food without them. Holistic pet foods like Spots Stew (Halo) began because over 15 years the inventor made food for her sick cat, then her friends, then for millions of our pets. The food label on Spots Stew is easy to read, the ingredients sounding like a normal shopping list. Compare that to a can or bag of food in your pantry, garage, or closet. The stabilizers and preservatives almost crowd the food ingredients off the label. Where the human grade ingredients of Spots ; Chicken, carrots, celery, zucchini, green beans, green peas, turkey, calcium citrate, barley, oats , soy sauce, garlic, kelp, pasta, dicalcium phosphate, chicken liver, zinc gluconate, ascorbic acid, copper gluconate are easily recognized as whole foods, minerals, and vitamins.
Grains are also recognized to be unhealthful to dogs and cats and food like evo substitute wheat, corn, and rice with veggies and fruit. Our current obesity and diabetes epidemic in humans, dogs, and cats is in part due to our high grain diets.
Of course the down side to these holistic, organic, raw, and no grain diet is the cost. However if you feed your dog, cat, and yourself better medical care will be less. Trips to the vet for itchy skin, ear problems, and stomach and bowel problems due to the allergenic ingredients and chemicals add to the cost of the food, and take years off our pets lives.
I feel that we should feed our pets the best food we can. I believe that holistic, raw, no grain, and homemade food have their place in feeding our pets. In my book, Dog Dish Diet I help you understand how ingredients can help or destroy your pets health. Strong words yes, but after 30 years seeing animals suffer from the “cost effective” rations, strong words are needed.
by Dr Greg on February 27, 2010
In my book, Dog Dish Diet, I empower people to take their dog’s health in their own hands. Your dog may have different needs than others of his or her breed, or even be sensitive to food ingredients that their litter mates can happily eat. This isn’t any different than brothers or sisters having allergies to different foods. We all know family members that are are allergic to this or that, or gain weight super-easily if they eat too many “high glycemic” foods….grain products like chips, crackers,cookies, pizza, and bread.
Processed dog food contains meat, grains,fruit, and veggies in a mix that have been shown to meet the immediate nutritional needs of our pets. Many dogs do well on the “mix”, just as some people can eat almost anything. However if your pet has skin, ear, bowel,anal gland, urinary, or a seizure problem the ingredients in the diet may be contributing to or causing the problem. Heart disease, obesity, and diabetes and allergies are linked to food ingredients, why should it be any different in our pets?
I am convinced there is a disconnect between vets, breeders, pet food stores and owners that muddy the nutritional waters, and confuse the average owner. Dog Dish Diet will explain nutrition and will help you choose the type of food and ingredients that will keep your dog healthy and happy!
Next I will go over holistic, organic, and hypoallergenic types of dog foods and what the differences are.
by Dr Greg on February 12, 2010
I started cooking dog food to try different ingredients out for clients.Knowing that commercial dog food is usually about 20-30 % protein and the prey that wild dogs eat is more like 60-80% protein, I knew that 20-50% protein would be a good range . Young growing animals, active animals,and nursing mothers do well higher percentages of protein. Fast growing breeds develop bone growth problems if fed high amounts of protein or carbohydrates, the research is not clear yet.
My usual ingredients are generally a mix of meat, veggies, or rice such as whole chicken fryers, pork, turkey frozen green beans, zucchini, baby carrots, yams, and brown rice. I use a crock pot because it is so darn easy and we all know the healthiest thing one can eat is soup.
My experimentation has refined the process. I always add more water in the beginning to prevent burned sludge at the top. The water also thins out the fat a bit. I always get asked if I leave the skins on and the fat in. When you begin, it is always a good idea to cook and feed a small amount to get your pet used to the new food. Do not be too surprised if your dog’s stool is soft for a couple days. Yours would be too, if you ate the same thing day after day then ate more fat than you are used to. Fat is a great source of energy and makes a dogs coat healthy, soft , and smooth.More fat in the diet can reduce shedding in some dogs.
Cook the mixture on high for a few hours, then on low for 8-10 hours. The chicken bones will be soft and crumbly.LEAVE THEM IN!! Dogs get their minerals, glucosamines, chondroitins, and monounsaturates fatty acids from the marrow and cartilage. Some of these nutrients come in a pill, in fact I think most of us forget where these things originally came from and why they are important. Then you can decide if your mixture needs more water , to make it the consistency of a stew. Because I crock it for quite a while, I don’t find the need to blend the ingredients.
Then you can freeze or refrigerate it depending on how much you made and how fast you go through it. My three dogs finish off a batch in 4-6 days. I have found in my practice that this mixture of whole, healthful foods will often do more for medical conditions, than any medication I have. If you are spending a bunch on medical bills for your pet, buy my book to feed differently or cook and understand why your dog may need different ingredients for certain conditions.
“Dog Dish Diet:costs only half the price of an office visit for a lifetime of therapy”
by Dr Greg on February 7, 2010
Now that I have lots of feedback from my clients and readers, it amazes me that there could be any doubt that food allergies have such a great role in skin, ear, stomach, bowel, anal gland, obesity, and seizure problems. Veterinarians are still taught that the incidence of food allergies are low, even though thirty percent of my patients respond to elimination of allergens and addition of healthy food ingredients. That is why we need to spread the word. Successful nutritional management of the above chronic diseases will help convince educators and researchers to take another look at canine nutrition, and help avoid needless misery, medications, and money for millions of dogs. When you buy Dog Dish Diet, you are helping spread the message.
Dogs are individuals, with individual needs
The testimonial from Gene Sakahara, a famous figure in Gilroy, is just one example of hundreds that that I have received.
“Dr. Greg’s book, Dog Dish Diet, is a great resource in understanding your pet dog’s diet. I compare it to having Dr. Spock’s baby book handy. Our mixed Corgi / Chihuahua had a very sensitive stomach. Dr. Greg’s veterinary experience and knowledge helped our Molly with her doggie diarrhea and promoted her diet to foods that were natural.
If Molly were able to read,she would have advocated me reading Dr. Greg’s book from the outset. Thank you, Dr. Greg for a wonderful, helpful book.”
Gene Sakahara, retired educator and Garlic Festival demonstration chef.
Another testimonial talking about the real benefits of the Dog Dish Diet.
Whitney and Rocket
Unfortunately, the advice of many veterinarians and commercial dog food ads is that the diet shouldn’t vary. That situation would be similar to us eating the same ingredients and type of food every day for life. Would we trust that one type of manufactured bland cookie could satisfy our every nutritional need?
Human nutrition has been fairly erratic at advising us how to eat. One year grains and carbs are in, the next they are out. Fats are the bad guy, then they are good for you. After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that the answers to our nutrition questions are all around us. Our native diet consisted of the balance of nutrients and moisture in the world around us.True, we grow and raise most of our food now, but eating it in its “natural state”, balance, and condition is healthier than eating a manufacturers’ idea of healthy food. If human nutritionists can’t agree what is healthy, is it possible that food processing companies and dog food companies have all the answers?
Many veterinarians, breeders, and owners are hung up on percentages, so much so, that they are afraid to vary their dog’s diet. However, that is the way nutrition is taught to doctors and vets. That may make sense if we or our dogs were so delicate. Omnivores evolved to make use of the variety of foods available around them. That is a good thing , and we should help our dog’s keep a good thing going.
A diet from varied sources will provide a better diet, providing the sources are wholesome ingredients. Individuals in both the human and canine species need a bit more or bit less of protein, carbs, fats, and allergens to look and feel their best. That is why I promote wholesome feeding healthful meats , fats, veggies, bones, and fruit.
It is a fact that all dogs do not thrive on one manufactured food source.
Dog Dish Diet:Sensible Nutrion for Your Dog’s Health
Half the price of a veterinary office call for a lifetime of therapy
by Dr Greg on January 24, 2010
At least three times a week, I scour the refrigerator for food that Lonna and I aren’t likely to eat, and that I know our dogs will. I do this because I believe that truly balanced nutrition can only result from a variety of healthful foods. 
For example, I feed canned Halo’s Spot’s Stew and Royal Canin’s Duck and Potato with healthful oils added, or healthful people food. Two of my dogs don’t do well on most commercial kibble; a long story which I address fully in my book. Even dogs that seem healthy on their daily kibble may feel a bit better, have more energy, or have a better coat with a little variety in their diet. Most people think the addition of people food is a no-no, and I have to admit, I used to be one of them. These days I believe that the best diet depends on the individual dog, but variety, ingredients, moisture, and low carbs are most important.
Today I found chicken that we had defrosted, but were not going to use, due to changed plans. Sure, we could save it, but my dogs love fresh chicken meat. I cut and micro-waved the chunks for two minutes on high to cook it about 50% done. I have found that cooking it a bit help reduce the nausea in dogs with sensitive stomachs, and my Bichon, Reggie has a sensitive stomach.
Tonight we are having guests for dinner, and Lonna bought an 8 lb turkey to cook. I oiled it up with canola and spiced it up with Andy’s Rub, and put it in the oven to cook. I would have used olive oil, but we ran out of it, and I had to use the dogs’ canola oil. (I use oils in rotation with eggs and other ingredients to add healthy omegas to my dogs’ dish diet). 
After we have carved off and used what we want, I think I’ll crock the remaining meat, cartilage, and bones on the carcass with water, green beans, and yams, for the dogs. It will take a few hours on high, then eight or so on low to make everything juicy, and the bones and gristle crumbly. My dogs love my crock pot food, and in fact my cats have started eating it regularly too! 
I usually use 50% chicken (whole fryer) and 50% veggies (green beans, carrots, yams) with enough water to make a thick stew( cats like it thicker than dogs)in my crocking. This kind of variety is great for dogs (and cats)
If you want to learn more simple things you can do to help your dog’s chronic medical conditions, you will find it in the pages of Dog Dish Diet:Sensible: Nutrition for Your Dogs Health
“A lifetime of therapy for half the price of a veterinary office visit”
by Dr Greg on January 22, 2010
This weekend I will be in booth 205 on the south end of the cow palace spreading the word about Dog Dish Diet, my book with simple advice about feeding your dog to cure and prevent many chronic problems. Come look me up! All breeds will be there, it should be fun! Come check out our booth to ask questions, check out the book,or get free veterinary and behavior advice. K9 ambassadors (www.k9ambassadors.net) will be in the booth with me answering common behavior questions and talking about their methods of training
The book may save you 100’s to thousands in vet bills over the life of your dog and only cost about 1/4 the price of a vet visit for a lifetime of therapy.
105th & 106th Annual GOLDEN GATE KENNEL CLUB
ALL-BREED DOG SHOWS (January 30th, & 31st, 2010)
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143 Breeds
The Perfect Place To Decide On Your Next Breed!
Breed Rescue Information Available |
by Dr Greg on January 11, 2010
On January 4th, I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the Robin Falls Kids radio show. It was great fun talking about Dog Dish Diet: Sensible Nutrition for Your Dog’s Health and having the chance to reach people with my most important message: Our dogs (and cats) are individuals and need to be fed accordingly. Once pet owners understand this critical fact (and believe me that is a big step [click to continue…]
by Dr Greg on January 8, 2010
Winter has arrived, and with the cold weather we often experience the creaks and groans due to trauma, age, and wear and tear on our joints and bones. And this discomfort is in not only true for us. Our pets can be affected the same way. You may notice your dog’s reluctant to climb stairs, jump up on the couch or go to walks. You may discover that your cat has stopped jumping up on the counter. In fact, an elderly cat with [click to continue…]
by Dr Greg on January 2, 2010
Call-in Number: 646-595-4478
April Robins of the Red River Writers has invited me to appear on her radio show Robin Falls Kids–Chirp with April & Katy the Dog. April is starting the year off with a tribute to animals. It’s going to be great to talk about Dog Dish Diet: Sensible Nutrition for Your Dog’s Health and answer callers’ questions. [click to continue…]
by Dr Greg on December 25, 2009
Winter holiday hazards for pets are a reality. But if you know what to avoid and keep away from your dogs and cats, you can all enjoy a safe celebration. Here are some tips for keeping your pets out of danger during the holiday season. [click to continue…]
