A few weekends ago, I gave a nutrition talk at the Dorrington Inn near Angels Camp in California. The Dorrington Inn in beautiful Murphys is a great dog-friendly hotel co-owned by a friend of mine. He thought it would be fun to have an annual “dog event” there. So we decided to have a dog walk and talk!

We started the event with a dog walk to the largest Sugar Pine tree in the world. For many dogs it was their first romp in the snow. Biting the snow and rolling in it seemed to be the most popular activities. However after an hour of walking through the snow, dogs that are used to the low lands and comforts of houses like my little dog Maisy, wanted to be carried!

After the walk, Deleta Jones had a question and answer period on dog behavior. She reminded us that dogs operate under the rules of pack order and a dominant leader. That is the structure some dogs require to behave. Not all dogs require such an order. Remember dogs just like people have very different personalities and needs. One dog may always “go with the flow” where another may need a constant reminder as to who is the boss. She advised several owners to make sure their dogs were not “the boss” on the leash. That is one small way to exert dominance by making them heal by the owners foot, instead of pulling on the lead ahead of the owner.

Then I gave a talk about feeding differently if your dog has allergy symptoms like bad skin or ear infections, is overweight, or has nausea and/or diarrhea that you just can’t control. A better diet also helps keep the body healthier and younger. Human nutritionists advise people to eat more whole food and less processed food. Feeding only commercial food sentences our pets to a processed diet! I talked about adding healthy “human food” ingredients to the diet to ensure that your dog receives more of the healthy oils and essential phytochemicals present in meat and veggies. It is amazing how many people are afraid to feed “human food “to their pets.  Most are afraid of imbalances and poisonous ingredients. There are only a few foods to avoid, and a variety of healthful foods will never cause toxicities or an imbalance of nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are necessary additions to those foods lacking it to start with. Commercial dog foods require the addition of vitamins and minerals because they start with grains and meat by products. If commercial dog food started with the muscles, organs, and bones of the animal, they wouldn’t need to be as “fortified”.

Dog Dish Diet is now available as a kindle eBook! I updated the crock pot recipe and several sections of the book.

I also have several videos for sale at mindbites.com that talk about “feeding your pet to avoid the vet”. These videos contain good information about feeding your dog a healthier diet at very reasonable prices!

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I went to a talk last night given by a Dermatologist, a specialist in treating skin and ear issues in dogs and cats.  I was happy to hear the new information about Atopica, a drug used to control signs of allergies, itching and inflamed ears.

Since I have been also using nutrition to treat many cases, I was hoping to hear about elimination diets and other ways to treat our itchy friends. Turns out the vet giving the talk had been hired by the company making the drug we talked about most of the night. This is really common in veterinary education. The emphasis may be dictated by the sponsor.

However, the specialist gave a good talk with good info. His perspective was that steroids commonly used for itchy dogs and cats will ultimately shorten their life. He lectured that we should use Atopica and other “less harmful” drugs to control the itch and fight infections .

In my practice, I use prednisone, cortisone spray, or cortisone injections on a temporary “as needed” basis for really itchy times.Nothing relieves really itchy dogs like cortisone. However in the last ten years I first  try to use healthy oils, whole healthy human food, hypoallergenic commercial food, or even home cooked dog food combined with medication to relieve those dogs with bad skin or ear problems. When I make sure dogs are fed the right kinds of things, they often need less medication or none at all!.

If a dog does need medication,  I often combine cortisone with antibiotics or other medications to control itch and infection. If a dog does not get better with a 2-4 weeks of cortisone, antibiotics, and a better diet, I consider allergy testing for pollens and molds. At that time, I also consider using Atopica. However, after adding oils and feeding a better diet, not too many dogs need constant medication or Atopica. But if a dog needs it, it’s good to have on the shelf.

How do you know what your dog is allergic too? If a dog chews its butt or anal area, then the problem is usually fleas or food allergy. If they constantly chew or lick on their feet, then hay fever is suspected.Ear problems can be a sign of food allergies or hay fever. So if you treat an itchy butt dog with flea control and the itching subsides, then food allergy might be the cause. An elimination diet testing for food allergy may relieve itching for both the ears and butt. That may mean food allergy is the cause.

Dog Dish Diet on this website comes with a how-to elimination diet download. You can crock pot ingredients easily and economically to find out which ones relieve symptoms and are healthiest for your dog

To rule out flea allergy and control fleas, he recommended using Capstar every other day for a month. It is a short lived medication that is good at immediately killing adult biting fleas that cause the itch. ( Most people can’t really afford to use Capstar in this way because it costs 80.00 per month, but it really kills the fleas) Most people choose topical or oral monthly flea control.He also mentioned that he liked Comfortis, Trifexis, and Advantage monthly flea treatments, but that the kill is slower and allows more bites before the fleas die.He mentioned that Frontline was having a lot of problems controlling fleas. That just goes to show you that natural selection is working. (Over time fleas resistant to Frontline are taking over and Frontline will become less and less effective)

Once flea allergy is ruled out, then food allergy,hay fever (atopic skin disease), or other parasites or infections are  suspected to  be causing the problem.

Mange, yeast infection, mange, or staph infections can also lead to itching and misery. These infections follow flea, food, and atopy or hay fever allergies. That’s the reason we try to find out what is causing the allergies. If the cause of the itching is stopped, then these infections can’t happen. We can do that with flea treatments, avoiding food allergens, or helping treat atopic skin problems or hay fever.For example, allergies to food may inflame the skin and yeast infections will set in. Those that have had it know how itchy a yeast infection can be. It can itch just like athlete’s foot and are commonly located in the neck and foot area. Staph infections can lead to red, bloody, moist, painful hotspots almost anywhere.

After years of talking to clients and treating these problems, I suspect that most vets aren’t always treating the root of the problem. If  the itchy dog eats better less medication is needed. Affected animals often respond to healthy fats and oils, antioxidants, and less chemicals in the food.  I spend a bit more time with my clients exploring nutritional solutions before I start the clients on the medication merry go round. Nutritional changes will not help every pet, but the money and misery saved make it worth trying.

Check out my book, Dog Dish Diet. The second edition just came out this week as a Kindle Ebook. I hope to get the paper edition updated  soon. However if you order the book from this website, I will send you a word doc or pdf download that covers the new material. If you try my suggestions in the book, your dog may be able to get off the medication merry-go-round. Just like with us, the better you eat, the better your health will be.

The new info on Atopica is that it has just been approved for use on cats.  Atopica may be helpful in treating many skin issues that cats routinely are given injections of long-acting steroids for. If your cat has real itchy skin, ulcers on the lips, crusty skin, or red areas on the skin, then Atopica may really make a big difference and help your cat feel a lot better.

Flea allergies, hay fever or atopic skin disease, or food allergy can make cats miserable.Flea allergies cause an itchy body near the tail, belly, or crusts all over the cat. Food allergy is not as common, but  causes a red itchy face or ears. Hay fever and food allergies can cause itchy ears and can be mistaken for a chronic ear mite infection.

First rule out flea problems by using Revolution or Advantage to treat the fleas and you can try to feed a canned cat food with no grains. However, most cats are so finicky that changing the food is almost impossible.  At any rate, if flea control and a different diet don’t help, then consider Atopica. It is a better choice than repeated injections of long acting cortisone for really itchy crusty skin issues.

By the way, Atopica is also a good choice for dogs that don’t improve after flea control and a better diet. Atopica has less side effects than daily prednisone  or repeated cortisone injections. It can be more expensive, but for some suffering dogs it’s worth it. The dermatologist mentioned that he uses half the amount of Atopica mixed with ketoconazole for those dogs that need relief. That is a new dose and type of combined use for Atopica in dogs

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The Holiday season is always a great time to enjoy great food! Our dogs probably know that when festive decorations appear, the feast is soon to follow.

Their very sensitive noses tell them when a great meal is on the way. They are sure to be anxiously awaiting unguarded treasures we leave within reach. (Or jumping distance).Always keep prepared food up or out of reach.

Prescription medications are eaten just as frequently as holiday food and treats. Tell guests to shut doors and keep their personal prescriptions and medications out of harm’s way. Dogs love to chew on bottles with strong human scents, and then eat what comes out. Keep those drugs in cabinets and off the counters.

Most people think that dogs should eat only dog food; however they can eat the right holiday “people food”. Small portions of turkey, pork, or chicken meat, green beans, potatoes, carrots, and apples are generally safe to feed as treats. In fact these healthful foods can be added to the normal diet to provide healthy proteins, phytochemicals, fats, and oils. In Dog Dish Diet, I advise people to feed a variety of healthful ingredients to their dogs.

The problem is that most dogs gorge on a found treasure consisting of the wrong food and become ill. Common examples are chocolate candy, a whole turkey carcass, beef bones and fat, candy, cake, and the plastic or foil wrapping too! It really makes sense that when dogs are used to eating a kibble diet, suddenly getting rich food, protein,  and fat scraps may result in indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea.

Most “people food” emergencies arise from dogs tearing open a garbage bag and snagging spoiled food or eating pieces of plastic, foil, or baked or barbecued bones. Known toxins that also cause illness are chocolate, grapes, raisins, sugarless gum, macadamia nuts, garlic, onions, and bread dough.

It is important to consider that it takes a few ounces of milk chocolate to cause symptoms in a twenty pound dog, whereas less than an ounce of baking chocolate can lead to indigestion, tremors, vomiting and diarrhea, and heart issues. If your dog eats too much chocolate or finds some sugarless gum or medications you can induce vomiting with 1-3 tablespoons (2% food grade) hydrogen peroxide and seek veterinary care if needed.

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I served my tasty crock pot dog food at Woofstock 2011 at Mountain Winery in Saratoga. The event raised money to help save and adopt shelter pets. (www.furryfriendsrescue.org). Some of the dogs and people dressed up to mirror the theme of the event coined after the musical free for all, Woodstock. Woodstock embraced the hippie lifestyle of  drugs, sex, and rock and roll. Woofstock embraced dog ownership, Mountain Winery wines, neutering, and had rock and roll bands. Two out of three isn’t bad.

Many people thought they they could not feed their pets my wholesome whole food crock pot diet because their dogs were allergic and have sensitive stomachs and bowels . That’s just the type of dog that usually does better on home cooked food! I just gave most dogs a taste,however some dogs came back for more…pulling their owners. Most people were amazed that their dog liked it so much. The poor things never have had the chance to taste non-processed real food!

I really like listening to new music as well as the old standards. Some of my current favorites are Lady Ga Ga and Katy Perry. In fact I have rewritten one of Katy’s songs and titled it,”I Kissed a Dog and I liked It” the taste of an old biscuit, I kissed a dog just to try it. Hope my kitty don’t mind it! Sorry Katy!

I took out 2 salmon fillets two days ago  for Lonna and I to have for dinner  and we didn’t. Guess what my three dogs had for dinner. Tucker, the lab relishes all good things, Maisy the silky mix and Reggie the bichon mix liked it but would rather eat my crock pot food.

Skin Health Tip:A piece of salmon a week or sardines are a great skin treat. Another great one is egg yolk…cooked or raw.

Many dogs have dry skin because kibble just can’t provide enough healthy oil. If commercial dog food folks  put a healthy amount of fat or oil in the kibble, it would go rancid, being open for weeks at a time. Remember if your dog itches a lot or has dry skin, they need more fat and oil in their diet! They also need less allergens and more variety! That’s what the Dog Dish Diet is about!

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Halloween candy is a mix of chocolate, sugar, plastic, and foil. If you dog snags a couple pieces of candy, the only thing that may happen is that they may get a big sugar rush. What is dangerous about candy for our pets?

Chocolate is the most toxic, but sugarless gum with the ingredient xylitol may cause blood sugar or liver problems. A piece and one half of sugarless gum can cause problems in a ten pound dog.

As you all know, chocolate is bad for dogs. What you may not realize is that the different types of chocolate have different concentrations of the caffeine type drug in chocolate. Theobromine and caffeine are the active ingredients that we all crave. Combined with the smooth velvety sweet taste, chocolate is hard to beat.  In fact chocolate contains really good antioxidants called flavonoids that reduce antioxidants in the blood. They accomplish this by protecting us against reactive oxygen and nitrogen ions.

So small amounts of chocolate are good for us, where in dogs it can cause “the jitters”, vomiting and diarrhea, disturb the heart, or seizures, or death. Symptoms are totally dependent on the amount and the type of chocolate consumed. Baker’s chocolate is much more dangerous than milk chocolate due to the high amount of Theobromine. 393 mg/oz compared to 58 mg/oz in milk chocolate. A 5 pound dog would have to eat 2 oz of milk chocolate to show signs of toxicity, where they would only need to eat ¼ of an ounce of dark chocolate to get in trouble.

Make your dog vomit if you suspect that they have eaten too much milk chocolate, a little dark or baking chocolate,  or some sugarless gum. You can use 1-3 tablespoons of peroxide(food grade 2%) depending if your dog is a small, medium, or large dog. If you suspect your dog ate enough to get sick, seek veterinary care. It is a great idea to try and induce vomiting since chocolate is absorbed fast and the vet er is usually a little ways down the road. However if your dog only ate a small piece of milk chocolate (less than the toxic amount on the chart), they should be fine. However err on the cautious side if you are unsure.

A 5 pound dog would have to eat over 9 Hershey’s milk chocolate kisses to get sick. A 10 pound dog would have to eat over 18  pieces to show the symptoms. Some dogs are more sensitive then others. I have to abstain from chocolate or coffee in the evening, or I have trouble getting to sleep. On the other hand, many people enjoy an after dinner coffee. Same goes for dogs. Some may eat a small amount and show symptoms.

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We are all thinking about what we eat more these days. On NPR public radio the other day I listened to a program about the benefits of vegetables and fruit in the daily diet. Turns out that vegetables and fruit have ingredients that prevent damage to the cells in our body.  These phytochemicals are naturally occurring antioxidants that protect us from inflammation and harm to the tissues in our body. Infection occurs when the skin, intestines, or bladder become inflamed. Inflammation is really our enemy. Inflammation leads to infection of organs as damaged skin or linings of organs are easier for bacteria to get into and multiply. Cells that are constantly inflamed may turn cancerous. A common example are white cats in sunny climates may develop squamous cell carcinoma of the ears. Skin that is constantly burned may develop into cancer.

Current nutritional thinking is that the more that our tissues are bathed in these natural protective phytochemicals and antioxidants, the better. That is a real good reason to supplement your pets with healthful whole natural foods. Both my dogs and cats get real meat, fish , and veggies often. I feed my cats pieces of chicken, fish, and shrimp  and give my dogs chicken, pork, fish, green beans, peas, and carrots. I am glad to know another great reason to include a variety of ingredients to our dog’s diet. These life saving  and disease preventing chemicals may help our pets feel better and live longer! Many of my clients slow-cook dog food using my ideas and add it as a supplement to a quality hypoallergenic dog food such as Halo Products, Taste of the Wild, and Blue. Dogs are individuals that may do better with one or the other commercial foods listed above. That’s why I always list several diets. Each pet is so different.

Hay fever in people and dogs is really causing runny eyes and sneezing in both dogs and people this time of year. Did you know dogs with itchy feet have hay fever or contact allergies? You can use antihistamines for runny eyes, sneezing, and itchy feet! My download, 11 practical home remedies in dogs helps with common problems like hay fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and sore ears.. Dry skin really wants to itch. Make sure your dog is getting daily oils and some veggies in the diet to supply needed nutrients for healthy skin and less itching!

Check out my video on hay fever or atopy causing itchy feet in dogs

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German Shepherds and Labs really have touchy stomachs and bowels. It is very common for either of these breeds to have a problem with chronic diarrhea. Often times puppies or young adults of either breed will also have a gut infection they just can’t seem to kick. I have come to realize that these “infections” may have two components. An intestine that is inflamed may be much easier to infect.

Giardia or coccidia infections may be harder to cure if the patient is also suffering from an inflamed intestine. Intestines that are inflamed can’t concentrate on invaders. Intestines can be inflamed from food allergies and the thickened inflamed bowel just can’t fight off invaders that are covering the lining. The diarrhea that results is due both from the allergies and the parasites.

You should always treat diarrhea by feeding a bland diet. You can do something as simple as white rice or 25% chicken and 75% white rice for a couple days. Imodium may help with the diarrhea.

Dosages for Imodium are in my 11 Practical Home Remedies download on the upper right hand corner of the website.

Diagel by Van Beek is a natural antibiotic/anti diarrheal medication that sometimes works well after just one dose . Check with your vet or feed store. It may be a handy medication to keep on hand if your dog has a touchy bowel. It works by using the following types of ingredients.

• Van Beek Patented Active Compound (enhanced with unique patent pending proprietary blends) eliminates bacteria on contact, confirmed by research done at Iowa State University
• Pectins & Psyllium Husks soothe the GI tract and slow down the digestive process.
• Tannins prevent bacteria from adhering to the intestinal wall
• Antioxidants bind to and neutralize free radicals
• Microencapsulation ensures palatable administration

For those dogs with chronic diarrhea or sensitive bowels, I always recommend changing to a hypoallergenic diet such as duck/potato or salmon/sweet potato diets. Beware of treats and food containing allergenic grains. Follow the “Dog Dish Diet” for a firmer stool if medications just don’t seem to work. Food allergy makes it hard to get rid of parasites!

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Every day a dog comes into the clinic shaking his or her head and scratching at painful itchy ears. Ear problems are the number one medical problem reported by VPI, Veterinary Pet Insurance in 2010. Why are there so many dogs with red, goopy ears?

Some dogs are prone to ear infections because their ear canals are too small or too hairy and the wax and moisture likes to grow bacteria and yeast. Those dogs need the hair removed from the canals or cleaning 1-2 times weekly with an ear wash to keep the ears free of hair or wax. When stuff blocks the exit of wax, nasty things love to grow.

The rare puppy or adult dog may suffer from ear mites and dogs may get a foxtail or piece of a plant seed deep in the ear canal. Treatment of mites or removal of the plant seed is necessary to ease the itching and pain.

Some dogs are allergic to pollens and molds or have food allergies and the ears get really red and inflamed. Ear problems are very common in dogs because inflamed ears due to either allergy accumulate wax down deep in the ear canal. Allergic inflamed ears ooze wax and moisture. Bacteria and yeast love to grow in these warm, moist areas. These bacteria and yeast infections inflame the ear further, cause infections, and more pain and itchiness. Most people think ear problems are caused by mites or infections by these bacteria and yeast “bugs”. In reality the inflamed ear is susceptible to colonization by those “bugs” because the skin is inflamed and defenseless. When vets treat the infection only, they are treating the effect and not the cause!

I used to treat chronic ear problems as “infections” only with ear washes, ear ointments, yeast and bacterial medications, and anti-inflammatory medicines like prednisone.  That was before I realized how big a part food allergies play in the cure of chronic red, goopy, ears. In veterinary school I was taught what organisms grew in the ears, not how to prevent them from hanging out and causing trouble. These bacterial and yeast infections rarely go away without constant cleaning and medication and sometimes vanish when the diet includes more healthy oils and less allergens. Paying attention to food ingredients in commercial foods and treats, chews, and homemade food really makes a big difference in treatment.

The addition of healthy oils like olive, flaxseed, canola, and fish oil capsules can nourish and prevent skin and ears from getting so inflamed. Other dogs may get better by simply changing to different ingredients or type of diet. (canned, holistic, homemade).Some dogs may be allergic to the glutens, the meat, or to the processing chemicals in certain diets. Does it really sound reasonable that all dogs can eat the same ingredients and stay healthy?

That is why advise that dog owners learn more about dog food and include healthy human food. Whole, non-processed, food contains healthy fats and oils, phytochemicals (antioxidants and vitamins), and better protein than most dog foods. Most commercial dog food is limited in what it can provide. The manufacturers are more concerned with shelf life and cost of by-products than the health benefits to every dog. The average dog may get by without obvious health problems when eating some commercial foods, but I have noticed most dogs look and feel better with the addition of healthy oils, more fat in the diet, less grain in the diet, and more moisture in the diet.

If your dog has skin and ear issues, quit feeding commercial gluten filled treats. I am convinced some treats could be listed as a toxin because I have seen so many skin, ear, bowel, bladder, and seizure problems associated with their feeding.

Feed  healthy Dog Dish Diet treats like pieces of chicken or turkey hot dogs or carrots!!

The Dog Dish Diet encourages dog owners to share  healthy food with their dogs!!

Check out my Home Remedies for the Temporary treatment of Painful Ear Infections!

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