Summit's Story Part 1

As some of you know, this past August (2009), I adopted a rescue dog.

I adopted an Ausky.

For those of you unfamiliar with the breed, an Ausky is an awful, glorious mistake caused by the mating of a Siberian Husky to an Australian Cattle Dog. The result...a small, compact dog, with all the wonderful goofy characteristics of a Cattle Dog and all the trouble and curiosity of a Husky.

I give you the wonder and strangeness that is "Summit"

The reason I post about this curious combination of north and south is this. Summit came to me 6 months after he had been rescued. A little chubby, shy, and terrified. He had been badly abused. Cigarette burns on his nose, concerned and skittish around all people, but especially men, he was anything but what I expected to bring home.

Day 1:
Pick him up in Lansing. We met halfway to save on gas for both of us. There in the front cab of the pickup truck is a small, chubby, absolutely terrified husky-something. We get him in the sation wagon and head out.

He get's home. We go for a walk. Then we don't go for a walk. In fact, we don't move. We crouch down and try to melt into the pavement for 10 minutes.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

After trying to coax, coerce, drag him half a block, I carry the dog home.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

He get's inside. Promptly hides behind the love seat. Won't come out. For anything...He doesn't eat for the first 2 days. Even raw salmon and wet dog food won't coax him out. I drag him out several times a day to go to the bathroom. We try melting into the grass outside. Any noise, any movement, any creature. He is terrified. He is the poster child for un-adoptable.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

Slow-Motion

Check out this slow-motion Pedigree commercial.
The commercial captures dogs catching treats in slow motion.
Brilliance.

better food for dogs

Canines have long been a significant part of my life both in and outside of the realm of veterinary medicine. Kibble or standard dry dog food has always been the assumed answer to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I have begun to ask these questions:

Why?

What are the ramifications of a bland, non-varied diet?

What really is in "dog food"?

Are commercial dog foods really meeting nutritional needs?

Several weeks ago I checked out a book called, "Better Food for Dogs". I am fascinated and encouraged by the work of one veterinarian and two concerned dog owners. Through observations within Dr. Grant Nixon's clinic and Bastin and Ashton's own dogs, the authors began to develop a theory, a study, and a plan. Maybe commercial dog food is over processed and unhealthy. Maybe a diet lacking in variation lacks in important nutritional content. Maybe there is a feeding option that promotes health and vitality in our dogs.

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We feed our dogs commercial dog food because it is:

1. convenient.

2. last forever, does not expire within the week.

3. easy to feed.

4. our dogs don't complain or tell us they have a poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

The ramifications of a bland, non-varied diet can be:

1. obesity

2. weak immune system

3. greasy coat, dandruff, bad odor

4. chronic ear infections

5. GI problems

6. various cancers

7. skeletal diseases

8. dental diseases

9. toxicities from high levels of the same nutrients

10. lethargy 

11. anxiety behaviors

12. poor nutrition behaviors (seeking the lacking nutrition in poor places)

i.e. garbage scavenging, coprophagy, etc.

Even your best commercial dog food may contain:

1. ingredients that have been deemed unsuitable for human consumption by the FDA

*ingredients like udders, intestines, organs or tissue known to contain cancer.

2. synthetic preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin) 

*These preservatives are used in products let jet fuel, embalming fluid, makeup, and pesticides. *They are known to cause liver problems and are suspected of having negative effects on pets.

Nutritional Requirements and commercial dog food:

*One commercial dog food cannot possibly meet the nutritional requirements of a canine throughout every stage of his life (involving drastically different nutritional needs).

*If this perfect diet really existed, we'd be feeding it to humans, not dogs.

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So obviously we have a problem. Our canines are under nourished, over nourished, tired, and bored. They eat the same thing everyday. Receive the same nutrients everyday. Lack the same nutrients everyday. Their coats are dull. They develop health problems early and often. So what do we do about it? How do we provide our canines with excellent nutrition within the constraints of our budget and time? I think Dr. Nixon and friends have begun the journey down the right path. I encourage you to check out the book at your local library, bookstore, or here.

why holistic?

Recently I have been studying and researching a more holistic approach to veterinary medicine. In an effort to compile and share what I've learned, I have decided to start this blog. Feel free to steal ideas or ask questions.