tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559819274018661072024-01-15T21:30:48.812-06:00The Dog ScoopJoin Ms. X and the dogs on Truth's Wild Ride where we explore modern mythology, dish the dogdirt on "ethical" breeding practices, and meld into the minds of the pedigreeites.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-63302150472362151222015-05-15T22:19:00.000-05:002015-05-15T22:25:21.823-05:00Knucklehead, Knuckle Bones, Knuckled OverLet's talk a little about the condition commonly known as "knuckled over". We here behind the scenes of the Dog Scoop recently went on this journey with a pup. In reading up on the condition, I've seen a myriad of conjecture, opinion and theory, so I thought I could try to coalesce them into one rational conversation on the subject. Note, I don't promise any answers! Only thinking points.<br />
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This picture, from a seemingly defunct site, shows a pretty typical expression of the condition. Which brings us to our first point; What is it?<br />
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Carpal Flexural Deformity is a description of a condition wherein the pups' front legs (usually it only affects the front) display visible weakness through the ankles. Shaking or trembling in the front legs can also be a symptom. It is usually considered self-limiting, disappearing within 2 - 4 weeks. Age of onset is typically between 6 and 12 weeks.<br />
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Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst describes CFD well in his book "Grow Your Pup With Bones".<br />
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The pup stands with its carpus (one or both) bent forward. If any weight is placed on the limb, the carpus or wrist gives way and buckles forward. It commonly quivers at the same time. The pup walks on the outer edge of the paw which tends to turn inward. The condition is not painful, and there is no swelling. Upon examination there is no detectable instability. Sometimes only one leg is affected. Radiographs do not show any abnormalities.</blockquote>
According to an article in the <a href="http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2905020" target="_blank">Canadian Veterinary Journal</a>, CFD is a growth rate imbalance, where the bone grows faster than certain tendons. According to <a href="https://quizlet.com/14038128/small-animal-medicine-and-surgery-orthopedics-pediatrics-flash-cards/" target="_blank">this site</a>, specifically it is the "slow growth of the <span class="qDef lang-en">flexor carpi ulnaris tendon relative to the bones and extensor tendons". The below diagram shows the ulnar carpal flexor tendon on the back of the leg. </span><br />
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With this diagram it is easy to see how the back muscles being short and tight and contract the leg.<br />
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In the next post, we'll look at the second thinking point, why does it happen?<br />
<br />Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-66202048871400957072014-05-09T19:23:00.000-05:002014-05-09T19:27:05.023-05:00Do As I Say, NOT As I Do.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The latest fad in pet training leans heavily on what is technically called "social learning" to teach your dog new tricks. Some of us might just call it 'monkey see- monkey do'. <br />
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I tried this with my pup. He caught on really well, but I'm not sure it's such a great idea after all. For example, this morning we were out in the yard and I spotted the first iris in bloom. I bent over to smell it, and as soon as I raised my head pup stuck his nose in the flower. I guess his teeth had olfactory sensors too, because when he drew his head back, the entire blossom was stuck in his teeth. He didn't learn that from me!</div>
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Later, when we were in the kitchen, pup stood right beside me at the counter, with his front feet resting on the countertop, just like me!</div>
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Earlier in the evening he took the lid off of the tray of cookies, just like the kids did!</div>
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So I've come to some conclusions. Dogs have been imitating people for thousands of years. Until now, we've just been to smart to encourage it. In fact, I think the whole point of developing training systems has been to discourage imitative behaviour.</div>
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No! Don't put your feet on the countertop, even if I do.</div>
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No! Don't pick the flowers, even if I do.</div>
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No! Don't stand on your hind legs, "speaking" to and pawing at the guests at the front door, even if I do.</div>
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Et cetera.</div>
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Maybe it is just a system for tiny ankle biters. Unfortunately my pup will be around 100 pounds full grown. </div>
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Perhaps I'll try it with the cats. </div>
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Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-47744893936862433942014-02-20T00:23:00.000-06:002014-02-20T09:55:21.632-06:00If a cricket chirps in a can, Can anyone hear it?<br />
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If you thought kibble was problematic, my furry friend, you ain't seen nuthin' yet!<br />
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Ms. X, your intrepid writer, enquired in a health food store once "Why is it impossible to buy a can of dog food with actual animal fat in it, and without carrageenan?" For a response she got... you guessed it... crickets chirping.<br />
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Do you know what the ingredients are in a can of cricket? Just one. <a href="http://www.exoticnutrition.com/384en.html" target="_blank">Crickets</a>. <br />
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Do you know what the ingredients are in a can of cat food? (No, it's not cat.) Or a can of dog food?<br />
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Keep reading.<br />
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Ms. X doesn't want to tell people what to put in their AAFCO approved dog food, but she doesn't mind telling them what not to put in.<br />
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The list of no-no's are pretty much the same as the kibble. No vegetable oil, no grains (no soy), no carrageenan or gums. And then the other, lesser stuff, which in the case of canned food includes, of all things, dirt. (That's not even in the canned cricket ingredient list).<br />
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Gaining in popularity as a health supplement, "Montmorillonite Clay" or "bentonite clay" will show up on the ingredient labels of canned pet food from time to time. Bentonite is an aluminum silicate that will dissolve in the stomach or intestines (<a href="http://www.raypeatforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=1035&p=11596&hilit=bentonite#p11596" target="_blank">according to</a> Dr. Ray Peat) thereby increasing the body's aluminum burden.<br />
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Just what little Fluffy needs.<br />
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As with the kibbles, I have a sampling of canned foods to review ingredient-wise with you. Let's start on the cheap end, with Pedigree Choice cuts this time. Amazon sells a case for $1.31 per 13.22 oz can.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ingredients for the choice cuts with beef:<br />Sufficient water for processing, Chicken, Meat By-products, Wheat Flour, Beef, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Salt, Caramel Coloring, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Natural Flavors, Guar Gum, Vegetable Oil (source of Linoleic Acid), Minerals (Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Copper<br />Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Sodium Alginate, Natural Smoke Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Onion Powder, Bay Leaves, Vitamins (Vitamin E, A & D3 Supplements, D-calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate {vitamin B1}, Biotin), Garlic Powder, Sodium Nitrite (for color retention).</span> </blockquote>
That's a lot of <a href="http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/01/25/gastric-dilatation-volvulus-or-twisted-stomach-in-pet-dogs.aspx" target="_blank">wheat</a>. And <a href="http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsuitablefats.shtml" target="_blank">vegetable oil</a>. And <a href="http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/04/15/xantham-gum.aspx" target="_blank">thickeners</a>, though guar gum may be somewhat less problematic than carrageenan or xanthan gum.<br />
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Let's move up the price curve a bit. Canidae Grain Free Pure Elements canned dog food, $3.17 per 13 oz can (per Amazon). Ingredients are:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lamb, lamb broth, turkey, turkey broth, chicken, peas, sweet potatoes, suncured alfalfa, cassia gum, carrageenan, salt, guar gum, choline chloride, minerals (dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium<br />selenite, calcium iodate), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid). </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></blockquote>
Whoa! Triple whammy on the<a href="http://raypeat.com/articles/nutrition/carrageenan.shtml" target="_blank"> thickeners</a>. Now, I realize I haven't gone into much detail about what exactly I find so objectionable in these "no-no's", other than to put lots of links up. My goal here is to get through the problem statements and onto the solution, then we'll come back and analyze the problem in more detail.<br />
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So in the Canidae above, we see a lot of cheap protein (peas and alfalfa) and a lot, lot, lot of thickeners. It is impossible to get away from the thickeners in canned pet food. Even the Wysong Au Jus line, which has so few ingredients that dogfoodadvisor.com puts a disclaimer that it is a "supplement only" and "never intended to be fed as a complete and balanced canine diet", has guar gum.<br />
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Yup.. Duck Au Jus - Ingredients: Duck, Water Sufficient for Processing, Animal Plasma, Guar Gum.<br />
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Bloody thickeners Batman!<br />
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Now the Canidae is pricey. $3 per can may not sound so bad, but if you have your average 80 pound dog you will need to feed it 4 cans a day. $12 a day to feed the dog. Now if a dog eats 2-3% of his body weight in meat each day, our 80 pound dog is going to eat about 2 pounds of lamb, which Ms. X priced at the bulk goods store recently in the $4 per pound range. Still cheaper than Canidae. And please, the food quantity numbers are only to play the pricing games. Ms. X is not advocating here any sort of feeding style.<br />
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Now just in case you are made of money, or you are caring for Leona Helmsley's dog (which only lived to 12, btw, despite being a small breed and having - one presumes - the most expensive food in the world), let's look at the upper echelon of canned foods.<br />
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Addiction New Zealand Venison and Apples Entrée, $4 per 13.8 oz can on Amazon. Ingredients?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Venison, Apples, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Carrageenan, Cassia Gums, Dried Seaweed Meal, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulphate, Manganese Sulphate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid</span></blockquote>
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Now I know there is probably not a dog alive that doesn't want to sink his fangs into some New Zealand deer (or bushtail, they offer that too, you know), but look at this for a second. Just like we saw in the kibble realm, the more expensive the more it looks home made. Deer meat, apples, carrots, potatoes and peas. Stew's On! Is it deer season yet?<br />
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What was that T.C. Hawley said?<br />
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The dog will thrive on any diet which will keep man healthy.</blockquote>
<br />Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-17338115160692207762014-02-19T19:02:00.002-06:002014-02-19T19:13:13.326-06:00Food FightsBefore we launch ourselves into the brawl, Ms. X would like to write a public disclaimer. She has no accredited nutritional or medical training. Nothing she writes should be construed as advice. So there. You're on your own. But you all ready knew that. That's why you are here, right?<br />
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Never fear. Ms. X isn't the type to rest on her own laurels anyway. Her only job is to switch on the truthlight.<br />
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Let's focus on kibble first. A lot of pet owners ask, "I can buy a 50 pound bag of Ol' Roy at Walmart for 20 dollars. Why should I buy some expensive bag of kibble that costs more than my family's food?" "What's wrong with kibble?"<br />
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Good question. The answer is "probably nothing". That's right. Millions and millions of dogs (and cats) have lived reasonably long and reasonably healthy lives on crap-in-a-bag, and some argue that pet breeding should focus on pets that thrive on "crapple".<br />
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It really is a difficult position to argue with, so Ms. X will simply say that taking that argument to its logical conclusion, the pet food corporations should also take over the breeding. They just need to expand their feeding trials a bit, team up with the registries and viola! You want a Hills puppy or a Purina kitten?<br />
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We're not actually too far from that, are we?<br />
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Ms. X, being of a more natural bent, would prefer to breed her own dogs (she doesn't), hunt her own meat (she doesn't), and farm her own vegetables (she tries).<br />
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So why not feed kibble? Well, I do sometimes. Overall though, I want better. My requirements for store bought food are simple: No vegetable oil. No carrageenan or gums. No grains. No soy. Easy, right? There are a lot of little things too, but those are the things I simply won't pay for. <br />
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Let's look at kibbles available. On the cheap end of the spectrum is the aforementioned Ol' Roy. The ingredients are pretty benign at first glance.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <u>Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition</u> (ingredient list is from <a href="http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/ol-roy-dog-food-dry/" target="_blank">dogfoodadvisor</a>). Ground yellow corn, meat and bone meal, soybean meal, poultry by-product meal, animal fat (preserved with BHA and citric acid), corn gluten meal, natural flavor, brewers rice, salt, potassium chloride, color added (titanium dioxide, yellow #5, yellow #6, red #40, blue #2), choline chloride, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, niacin, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, manganous oxide, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, cobalt carbonate </span></blockquote>
Of the major "no-no's", soybean meal is the obvious. <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your-health.aspx" target="_blank">Soybeans are awful</a> in 99% of formations. <a href="http://healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/RelatedItems/19,BoneMeal" target="_blank">Bone meal</a> is sometimes high in heavy metal contaminants. <a href="http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/profiles/ButylatedHydroxyanisole.pdf" target="_blank">BHA</a> - love the animal fat, but not fond of the carcinogenic preservative. Corn gluten meal - corn is a grain, corn gluten meal, like the soybean meal, is a cheap low-quality protein. And then there are the added colors. <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/487389-harmful-effects-of-red-food-coloring/" target="_blank">Red #40</a> alone is notorious.<br />
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Well, maybe for a little more money, we can do better.<br />
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For a "middle of the road" kibble, let's look at something we have all heard of. If you own a TV, you have seen the commercials for Blue Buffalo. They advertise constantly, claim they are better than other leading dog foods, and believe it or not, the advertising works! Internet forums are full of people who have "made the switch". So why not Ms. X? Well, here are the Blue Buffalo ingredients.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Deboned Lamb, Oatmeal,
Whole Ground Barley, Turkey
Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Peas, Tomato Pomace
(source of Lycopene), Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty
Acids), Natural Flavor, Canola
Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Alfalfa Meal,
Whole Potatoes, Sunflower Oil
(source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Whole Carrots,
Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries,
Cranberries, Apples,
Blackberries, Pomegranate, Spinach,
Pumpkin, Barley
Grass, Dried Parsley,
Garlic, Dried
Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine,
L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Turmeric,
Dried Chicory Root, Oil of
Rosemary, Beta Carotene, Calcium
Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin
(Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin
(Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron
Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper
Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium
Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Salt, Caramel, Potassium Chloride, Dried
Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae),
Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus
fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation
product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation
product</span></div>
</blockquote>
Wait a sec. Where is the animal fat? Instead, we get Flaxseed, Canola and Sunflower oils. <a href="http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturatedfats.shtml" target="_blank">Yuck</a>. The lamb and turkey meal are okay, though I'm not so thrilled with the cheap pea protein. Then there is a long list of "so what's?". There is nothing wrong with dogs eating fruit or berries or parsley, but are they so critical they need to be embedded in Fido's daily rations? There also is the requisite Alfalfa meal and Dried Kelp. What is the fascination with <a href="http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/07/26/alfalfa.aspx#!" target="_blank">alfalfa meal</a>? People love feeding it to carnivores. It figured prominently in the early days of raw diet formulations. Turns out it is another cheap and plentiful low-quality protein. Then there is the kelp. In other words, supplemental iodine. A topic in and of itself.<br />
<br />
What about a "natural" higher end kibble (that doesn't advertise in PrimeTime), for example? Organix, by Castor and Pollux has a <a href="http://www.castorpolluxpet.com/product/organix-grain-free-adult-dog-food-0" target="_blank">grain free formula </a>that is just the thing. Organix Grain-Free Adult Dog Food:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Organic Chicken, Poultry Meal, Organic Tapioca, Organic Peas, Organic Soybean Meal, Organic Potato, Dried Egg Product, Salmon Meal, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Organic Chicken Liver, Natural Chicken Flavor, Organic Flaxseed, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2 Polyphosphate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium <br />Pantothenate, Niacin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus <br />Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Solubles, Rosemary Extract. </span></blockquote>
There's that soybean meal again, just like Ol' Roy, though this time it is organic. Doesn't matter. Organic soybeans are still soybeans. The cheap protein "peas" crops up again, as well as salmon meal and flaxseed. <br />
<br />
Salmon meal has a lot of problems. There is the high <a href="http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml" target="_blank">omega 3</a> content; if they are farmed salmon there are <a href="http://www.albany.edu/ihe/salmonstudy/" target="_blank">concerns about high levels of toxins</a>; if they are wild caught, well, there is the whole <a href="http://pissinontheroses.blogspot.com/2011/08/fukushimas-radioactive-ocean.html" target="_blank">Fukushima polluting the Pacific</a> problem. <br />
<br />
And why tapioca meal? All this, by the way, is up to $4 per pound.<br />
<br />
This stuff is close to the upper end of the standard cooked kibble pricing, but not the upper end of dog food pricing. Not by a long shot. The absolute upper echelons of kibbles is reserved for a class called "freeze dried".<br />
<br />
Fifteen years ago, the only easily available freeze dried food was Abady, a sort of hippy holdover. Fifteen years ago, the cats didn't really like Abady. They had no appreciation for how expensive it was.<br />
<br />
These days, at almost $8 per pound, Honest Kitchen has one of the most expensive freeze dried foods on the market.<br />
<br />
It has:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dehydrated free-range chicken, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa, organic kelp, honey, pumpkin, green beans, cabbage, bananas, papayas, basil, garlic, rosemary, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate.</span></blockquote>
Pretty simple, huh? Almost throw that together in the kitchen yourself. As long as you have the requisite flaxseed and kelp on hand, that is. Who decided flaxseed was essential for dogs anyway? I think it is part of that whole "Essential Fatty Acid" <a href="http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturatedfats.shtml" target="_blank">fad</a>. And just because the government forces iodine supplementation doesn't mean we have to mix kelp into our homemade dog food. But I digress.<br />
<br />
Flaxseed, kelp (and bananas and celery) aren't the only objectionable quirks to this freeze dried food. Freeze dried food is very susceptible to <a href="http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/import/32142_31QualityofDriedFoods.14.pdf" target="_blank">lipid oxidation</a>.<br />
<br />
It is interesting though, is it not, that the closer the ingredient list gets to something you could easily make in your kitchen, the more expensive it becomes? So why not throw together an oxidized mess of chicken and bananas in your kitchen? Fear. What if it's not BALANCED!<br />
<br />
Remember T. C. Hawley:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The dog will thrive on any diet which will keep man healthy.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-69142586924910453362014-02-17T09:28:00.000-06:002014-02-17T09:28:56.313-06:00Feeding the BeastThe arrival of a new pup or kitten sparks a flurry of research, how to train the new pet? where should it sleep? and most importantly, what should it eat? <br />
<br />
A mere 10 years ago, or maybe 15 now, raw feeders were a fringe group and corn meal was the prominent ingredient in all kibble. Now, feeding a raw diet is widely accepted and for those who won't, there is a rainbow of kibble options in all levels of grain, gluten free, and grain free, organic, holistic etc. etc.. Recipes for raw diets or even cooked homemade diets are plentiful. Science Diet's share of shelf space in the pet supply store has dwindled considerably.<br />
<br />
Vets are getting in on the act, following the famous footsteps of Ian Billinghurst, the Australian veterinarian who brought the BARF acronym into the mainstream. There is constant chatter and worry among owners about a "balanced" diet and IS their furry baby getting enough cranberries and fish oil?<br />
<br />
Times have changed. But like the old adage, the more things change, the more they stay the same. 15 years ago Ms. X took a deep breath and plunged into raw food. She tracked down a early copy of <a href="http://ppnf.org/product/books-1/pottenger-s-cats-a-study-in-nutrition/" target="_blank"><i>Pottengers' Cats</i></a> (which hadn't been reprinted then). She studied Billinghursts' <a href="http://www.drianbillinghurst.com/Products/TheBooks/GrowYourPupsWithBones.aspx" target="_blank"><i>Grow Your Pup With Bones</i></a> and meticulously followed the <a href="http://tcfeline.com/2012/04/27/original-raw-cat-food-recipe/" target="_blank">Feline Future's recipe</a> for raw cat food. She worried about the dreaded bacterial infections from raw meat, would the bones puncture their intestines? And <i>was</i> she giving them enough fish oil?<br />
<br />
Then the furry babies grew up, the fur-less babies arrived and after a few years Ms. X switched the furred portion of the household back to crap-in-a-bag or "crapple" as it is called these days. The pets grew and lived and died and the cycle has begun again.<br />
<br />
And once again, Ms. X is asking (and answering) the question, what should they eat?<br />
<br />
We'll talk about this in detail over the next several posts, but for now I'll leave you with this quote, by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Rhodesian-Ridgeback-History-Standard/dp/B0006BWGVE" target="_blank">T.C. Hawley</a>, the famous Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />The dog will thrive on any diet which will keep man healthy.</blockquote>
Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-5604233391934189792014-02-17T08:04:00.000-06:002014-02-17T08:19:33.361-06:00The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated...Hello Furry Friends! Welcome again! The world has changed a lot in the five years since I last posted on the dog blog, and I'm sure we'll talk about many of those changes in the coming months. Lucky you!<br />
<br />
I jest. Lucky me! To live in an era when I have an ever open forum to pound out my deepest darkest contemplations for the NSA to record for posterity. Forever.<br />
<br />
Hope they like cats.<br />
<br />
Yep, cats. They are just small dogs after all, right? In seriousness, this blog follows the four footed interests of Ms.X and after 5 years those interests have a renewed focus on dogs, and cats, and health and nutrition and the evil of the modern times (that was a freeby for the posterity recorders).<br />
<br />
So put on your sunglasses, that old truthlight is charging up!Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-56996639435239030902009-11-26T06:40:00.008-06:002009-11-26T06:52:25.210-06:00BAT Behaviour Adjustment TrainingOne of the greatest shortages in dogdom is, in this writers' opinion, free dog training resources. Thanks to the internet, we have many more now than just what books your local library has on file. <br /><br /><a href="http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/bat/">This webpage</a> give a detailed description of some training, complete with video of the training in action. The technique is called Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT). The page is from Ahimsa Dog Training in Seattle, where Grisha Stewart describes BAT <br /><blockquote>"BAT is the use of the natural environmental cues and reinforcements (positive or negative) for alternative/incompatible behaviors. This is the core protocol for BAT." </blockquote><br />It seems to be basically operant conditioning, gradually moving the dog through its discomfort zone and rewarding it for progress. Do note in the video the dog is wearing BOTH a head halter and what appears to be a no-pull harness. The harness gets the most leash pressure. Those might be essential equipment to make progress with the dog in this type of scenario.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-33770687725508620512009-11-12T20:40:00.004-06:002009-11-12T21:08:15.203-06:00Allah hates show breeders.Such philosophies certainly explain the <a href="http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/expatinfo/salukis.htm" target="new">fine hunting dogs </a>from Arab countries. How do you keep a breed "pure" for thousands of years? Not by trotting him around a show ring! No. Having a god that forbids turning him into a pet is a much better bet.<br /><br />While it might be an extreme position for most of us, it doubtless gives meat to the dictum '<a href="http://www.spitsvuurboerboele.co.za/boerboel-breeding-policy.html" target="new">form follows function</a>'.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><object width="450" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/fbc_1258064249"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/fbc_1258064249" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="370"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-64231416237623424132009-11-05T20:59:00.003-06:002009-11-05T21:55:59.011-06:00Dog ShortagePet overpopulation? What pet overpopulation? On the contrary, it seems like the shortages are already beginning. <br /><br />A <a href="http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=638571" target="new">new report</a> from the National Academy of Sciences says there is a serious shortage of dogs and cats required for medical research. <br /><br /><blockquote>New suppliers of random-source cats and dogs for medical research are needed to replace Class B dealers, according to a report from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).<br /><br />"Immediate action" is needed to identify and develop new suppliers of these animals to avoid disruptions in research activity, according to the American Physiological Society (APS) in an Oct. 26 statement endorsing the NAS report.<br /><br />"These animals remain critical for health research to alleviate serious and life-threatening conditions that afflict humans and animals," the APS says.</blockquote><br /><br />Well, I'm not going to suggest that anyone run out and volunteer, though, perhaps some of the dedicated environmentalists could see this as the opportune solution for their <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/dog-its-whats-for-dinner.html">carbon-hogs</a>? <br /><br />I have no objections to animal research, if it is done humanely, but this post is more about the interesting fact that there is a lack of available animals. It sounds like they used to be able to source animals from shelters, but now some states have passed laws against that. Hmm. Does that mean unwanted dogs and cats just go straight to fertilizer in those states, without any other contributions to society? Or do the laws reflect a reality in which the numbers of unwanted pets has fallen off dramatically? It's hard to say. I certainly couldn't put it past a peta-tic to prefer <a href="http://www.petakillsanimals.com/" target="new">killing a dog or cat</a> to doing anything else with it.<br /><br />What about the vast colonies of <a href="http://www.littlebuddies.org/feralcats.htm" target="new">feral cats</a> we still hear about? Are none of the 100 million available for research? <br /><br />The shortage could simply be a sign of the times, Class B dealers (those licensed by the USDA to sell animals they have not bred themselves)are rarities in this day and age when every breeder is a "<a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/words-that-have-no-meaning.html" target="new">puppymill</a>" and pet stores are routinely harassed. Unfortunately, governments have gotten in on the act too, siding against individual freedom in favor of the latest political screamers, putting additional squeeze on animal research.<br /><br />If it were societal pressures alone prompting a shortage, I would say so be it. Some of that animal research isn't <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-make-dog-insulin-resistant.html" target="new">worth the excrement</a> the research dogs leave behind.<br /><br />Still, one wonders. Government forces and screamers combined, is this the <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/silence-of-woofs.html" target="new">beginning of the end</a>?Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-33204911757871369832009-10-21T22:02:00.002-05:002009-10-21T22:26:45.172-05:00Dog, It's what's for dinner.This could turn into the most entertaining conflict of the decade. After years of spewing hate on those cultures that eat dogs, animal rights activists, who were often the first to jump on the green bandwagon, are suddenly coming face to face with their conflicting emotions.<br /><br />Bluntly put by a <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/2987848/Save-the-planet-time-to-eat-dog">New Zealand writer</a>:<br /> <br /><blockquote>The eco-pawprint of a pet dog is twice that of a 4.6-litre Land Cruiser driven 10,000 kilometres a year, researchers have found.</blockquote><br /><br />For some time now, we have waited (but breathing comfortably) to see which of the environmentalists would be the first to stop <a href="http://www.infowars.com/ted-turner-wants-you-dead-to-save-the-planet/">talking about population reduction</a> and start practicing it. Perhaps now, the possibility of a slightly less harsh radical approach to planet salvation will appease the conscience of many.<br /><br />We shall see, eh? Who among them will love the planet more than Fido? <br /><br />How do you get out of the conundrum that your useless pet is a bigger Gaia rapist than a Land Cruiser? The moral dilemma must be tearing them apart.<br /><br /><blockquote>Victoria University professors Brenda and Robert Vale, architects who specialise in sustainable living, say pet owners should swap cats and dogs for creatures they can eat, such as chickens or rabbits, in their provocative new book Time to Eat the Dog: The real guide to sustainable living....<br /><br />Professor Vale says the title of the book is meant to shock, but the couple, who do not have a cat or dog, believe the reintroduction of non-carnivorous pets into urban areas would help slow down global warming.<br /><br />"The title of the book is a little bit of a shock tactic, I think, but though we are not advocating eating anyone's pet cat or dog there is certainly some truth in the fact that if we have edible pets like chickens for their eggs and meat, and rabbits and pigs, we will be compensating for the impact of other things on our environment."</blockquote><br /><br />Just a shock tactic, eh? More like a moral beat down between the holy factions of the religion of global warming. <br /><br />NEWSFLASH - People don't eat their "pet" chickens.<br /><br />Still, perhaps they will learn a little tolerance for cultures that have used dogs sustainably for millenia? <br /><br />Any bets?Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-38480041228278645532009-10-01T20:54:00.003-05:002009-10-01T21:05:47.562-05:00How to make a dog insulin resistantOverfeeding kibble is a good place to start. <br /><br />Blog <a href="http://high-fat-nutrition.blogspot.com/2009/09/hepatic-insulin-resistance-through.html" target="new">Hyperlipid</a> recently reported on a study done with dogs in an attempt to prove that saturated fat causes insulin resistance.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14514627" target="new">goal of the study</a> seemed noble enough:<br /><br /><blockquote>the development of peripheral and hepatic insulin resistance relative to one another in the context of obesity-associated insulin resistance is not well understood. To examine this phenomena, we used the moderate fat-fed dog model, which has been shown to develop both subcutaneous and visceral adiposity and severe insulin resistance.</blockquote><br /><br />and the authors concluded:<br /><br /><blockquote>Our results indicate that a diet enriched with a moderate amount of fat results in the development of both subcutaneous and visceral adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, and a modest degree of peripheral insulin resistance.</blockquote><br /><br />How did they achieve these results? To quote Peter (of Hyperlipid)<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Cr@p in a bag: Total calories 3,885kcal/d<br /><br />For "less cr@p in a bag but plus 2g/kg bacon grease": more like 3,945kcal/d<br /><br /><br />This is for a 27kg dog sitting in a cage.<br /><br />Go on, read that again; 3,945kcal/d. I'm not joking.</blockquote><br /><br />The real trick of course, is to blame the subsequent insulin resistance on saturated fat.<br /><br />Peter writes:<br /><br /><blockquote>So this is another study where the introduction and discussion are utterly divorced from the methods and the results (and from reality). It's worth just flicking through the methods and, in your mind's eye, look at how much money was used on these dogs. A clinical MRI was around about £1000 a shot in the UK Home Counties in 2009.</blockquote><br /><br />This study was funded in the US of course, guess we all look forward to such sterling research with our tarp funds.<br /><br />Where's PETA when you need them?Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-35531793060353837982009-08-27T21:29:00.002-05:002009-08-27T21:32:24.507-05:00Art imitating life...This Onion story is almost to scary realistic to be funny. Enjoy it anyway :-)<br /><br />Dog Humiliated In Front Of Entire Park<br />AUGUST 24, 2009 | ISSUE 45•35<br /><br />CONCORD, NH—Banjo, a local border collie mix and loyal human companion, was utterly humiliated Tuesday, when his owner, 34-year-old Michael Ingram, loudly scolded the dog right in the middle of Cold Brook Park.<br /><br />. . .<br /><br />"I just find the whole thing really awkward," said Douglas Lax, who takes his 6-year-old yorkshire terrier every morning to play in the park. "Sometimes Michael and I will be talking about baseball or whatnot, and out of nowhere he'll make some weird joke about Banjo 'being lazy' or 'shedding his hair all over the couch.'"<br /><br />. . .<br /><br />"I used to go over to their place all the time for dinner, but I always felt so uncomfortable," said acquaintance Janet Schrump. "All those comments Michael would make about how 'we'd better keep our food away from Banjo' were rude enough, but when he decided to lock the poor thing inside the bathroom one night, I just couldn't take it anymore."<br /><br />"Honestly, if my husband ever did that to me, I'm not sure what I'd do," Schrump added. "Probably shit in his bed."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/dog_humiliated_in_front_of_entire">Read the whole story here</a>.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-48151338400321012272009-08-13T20:46:00.002-05:002009-08-13T20:58:35.661-05:00Get Happy?Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) is a nauseatingly titled bill making its way through the halls of CONgress. Is that how they're burning through our money, making aides come up with cute names (and sappy acronyms) they can all sign on and say "hey! look how much we love pets!"<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2009/08/05/tax-breaks-for-pet-care/" target="new">WashingtonWatch.com</a>, "H.R. 3501 would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses."<br /><br />Evidently the text of the bill has not been released yet, so the details are completely unknown. At face value, I tend to support anything that puts limits on how much of my money they steal. But a bill like this could easily turn into something that expands the pet health insurance industry, or uses the "companion animal" language and further undermines our property rights with pets. The more I think of it, the less optimistic I am. I mean, what is the motivation for a bill like this? The government desperately needs all the tax money it can get. Sure, there are a lot of pet owners, but they spend a lot of money on pet health care, and the tax loss could be significant. Would it really buy that much favoritism with the pet owner voting blocs? Somehow I don't think so. So what's the motivation? Any good ideas?<br /><br />Guess we'll have to wait and see. <br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://washingtonwatch.com/info/widget.php?id=200519494"></script>Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-14965052432122857652009-07-23T22:10:00.002-05:002009-07-23T22:32:57.571-05:004 Day Old Infant Survives, Barely.<blockquote>"A father was frantically calling 911 to report his missing newborn when he spotted the baby, bleeding from the mouth and clutched in the mouth of a family dog who had carried him from his crib to the heavily wooded backyard."</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/nation/Newborn-injured-when-family-dog-drags-baby-from-crib-51351792.html" target="new">Another baby, another family dog</a>. This infant, luckily, has survived (so far). <br /><br /><blockquote>"Smith said he and his wife, Chrissie, had just put Alexander James (or A.J.) in his crib Monday afternoon in their Nicholasville, Ky., home and were preparing for a baby shower. When Chrissie returned to the bedroom minutes later, one of the doors was ajar and both the baby and their Native American Indian dog — a breed that looks similar to a husky — were gone."</blockquote><br /><br />Apparently the Native American Indian dog is a <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2009526862_petswolfhybrid24.html" target="new">mixed breed of sorts</a>, with some wolf in the lineages. <br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=aee_1248382545">this video</a>, the baby was born 3 weeks early. But the video also says that "according to experts" the main reason dogs turn on babies is out of fear.<br /><br />Yeah right. That old fear excuse. It's way overused, in my opinion. One of Ms. X's furry companions is afraid of balloons. Well, that's anthropomorphic. Let me put it this way. One of Ms. X's furry companions refuses to be in visual range of a ballon. When she (the furry companion, not Ms. X) sees a balloon, drifting gently overhead, she arises and exits the room and or the house, as needed. Even if dinner is on the floor.<br /><br />That's what I call fear. If she grabbed the balloon and dragged it into the woods for an afternoon nibble, I would not call that fear. But what do I know? I'm just a dog owner.<br /><br />Ray Coppinger, noted biologist and author, is <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2009526862_petswolfhybrid24.html" target="new">quoted in the Seattle article</a> - <br /><br /><blockquote>The Smiths made a "classic mistake, out of ignorance, and now they're suffering badly for it," he said. Dogs like Dakota don't recognize infants as people, Coppinger said. "It's no more of an act of violence on the dog's part," he said, "than you eating a steak."</blockquote><br /><br />Ms. X sides with him.<br /><br />In the end it doesn't matter what the dogs motivation is. In true behaviorism perspective, all that matters is what the behaviors actually are. And that is what only parents can prevent.<br /><br />Here's some more <a href="http://www.terrificpets.com/forum/16559.asp">idle conversation</a> about the Native American Indian dogs, including discussion of the Michigan breeder that bred this one.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-5187047337035839612009-07-13T20:54:00.002-05:002009-07-13T21:24:36.496-05:00Soft on cruelty?Ok, I've tried 3 times to come up with a way to start this post off, but nothing I've come up with has adequately expressed the dismay at <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1198957/I-want-come-home-mummy-Aged-Jenny-torn-parents-social-workers-RSPCA-raid-Now-court-says-adopted-.html">this story in the Daily Mail</a>.<br /><br />If it's true, and I realize that is an "if" (but then just about any story posing as "journalism" these days must be prefaced with an "if"), it is a terrible lesson that people here will learn, but likely not learn from. <br /><br />Several years ago in my days of <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/priceless.html">beating my head against brick walls</a> in "discussion" forums, I encountered the fuzzy logic that held private property rights to be a "slippery slope" to a society where <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/puppy-bowl.html target="new"">Animal Planets' Puppy Bowl</a> ratings would skyrocket with the addition of a Burmese Python to the fun. <br /><br />In vain did I plead that turning property rights over to the government would result in humans being thrown to the pythons. <br /><br />Now, some dog breeders in Britain are pleading my case.<br /> <br />The story is not easy to read, especially if you have kids (yes, I know sensationalism in writing is a hallmark of the Daily Mail). The facts as presented are this - a dog breeder is raided, protests the raid, takes every step they can think of to fight back, including taping interview with the authorities, only to have their own daughter seized by the government. That was two years ago. They still have not gotten their daughter back, DESPITE having no charges filed against them.<br /><blockquote><br />They were just a normal, happy family, it seems, until the RSPCA, backed up by 18 police officers, arrived at their house early one April morning in 2007, following a tip-off that dogs were being mistreated, and that there might be guns in the house.<br />No guns were ever found. No criminal charges were brought, nor does Richard have a criminal record.</blockquote><br /><br />And here is what makes this case so unbelievable, yet so portent.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">He was later, however, convicted of docking the tails of his puppies.</span></blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/support-your-local-puppymill.html">Support Your Local Puppymill.</a>Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-83763905884209645832009-07-10T19:13:00.007-05:002009-07-10T21:23:23.065-05:00Nutritional HeresyTonight, I watched that great documentary "<a href="http://fathead-movie.com/">Fathead</a>", by Tom Naughton. In the back, in the extended interviews section, <a href="http://www.alsearsmd.com/">Dr. Al Sears</a> talks about the relationship of grains to heart disease, and he tells a great story. <br /><br />It seems back in the 60's, they were trying to prove that fat caused heart disease. So they fed dogs just tons of saturated fat, but none of the dogs got heart disease! So the researchers concluded that dogs just could not get heart disease, so they abandoned their study of dogs, and turned to rabbits.<br /><br />Well, guess what happened. They fed rabbits saturated fat (not a nutrient you commonly get from grass) and those rabbits developed heart disease in a matter of weeks. <br /><br />"Eureka!" The researchers cried. And they concluded that saturated fat caused heart disease in mammals (humans, rabbits etc.) Except dogs. Dogs just didn't get heart disease.<br /><br />Dogs, just don't get heart disease. <a href="http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/pethealth/canine.asp">Right</a>. <br /><br />Heart disease is a huge medical industry for dogs these days. Weight loss is a huge problem too. What's the connection? Same one humans suffer from, <a href="http://www.drbass.com/eades.html">Carbohydrates</a>.<br /><br />And rabbits are a great model for human cholesterol and saturated fat processing, right? Rabbits are notorious for having bodies low in saturated fat. And their natural diets are, of course, fat free. They are strict herbivores. They even have a disease named after them, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation">Rabbit Starvation</a>. It's what happens when you eat a high protein low fat diet. In short, you get sick and die.<br /><br />I'm quite sure any of my readers are smart enough to figure out that perhaps, rabbits were an inaccurate human model when it comes to dietary fats.<br /><br />Speaking of fat dogs, our second topic for nutritional heresy: Spaying Makes Your Dog Fat.<br /><br />Gary Taubes (of Good Calorie, Bad Calorie and "What if it's all been a big fat lie" fame) explains this phenomenon at <a href="http://www.dhslides.org/mgr/mgr060509f/f.htm">this lecture</a> (beginning about 38:00, but you should watch the whole thing). <br /><br />Removing the estrogen makes the animal accumulate fat in its fat tissues. Because the fat is going into the tissues, there is an energy deficit elsewhere in the body so the dog has to eat more. If it can't eat more (and many owners try to reduce food intake after spaying) then the metabolism and energy expenditure will just slow down.<br /><br />In short, you feed your dog a certain quantity, lets say 1 cup of food per day, and the dog maintains a normal weight. Then you spay the dog. After the surgery you continue to feed your dog one cup of food per day, but now your dog will get fat.<br /> <br />In short, your dog isn't getting fat after spaying because it is overeating. It gets fat after spaying because you made it get fat.<br /><br />Pet owners are lied to about this one on a regular basis. Ms. X has a mission to shine the truthlight on false teachings, and the myth that spaying (or neutering) won't make your dog fat is just that. A myth.<br /><br />Website after website blames the owner when a dog that has been fixed gets fat. I'm willing to blame owners for lots of things, like not training their dog and then turning it into a shelter because it misbehaves. <br /><br />But I like to assume that pet owners are intelligent and responsible, and can handle <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/to-neuter-or-not-to-neuter.html">the truth about spaying and neutering</a>. I like to enable them to make the best decisions for them and their pets. <br /><br />The truth is the best medicine.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-90839208359820756192009-07-03T21:20:00.002-05:002009-07-03T21:35:09.925-05:00More Than You Knewabout fluoride, that is. <br /><br />It seems there is a degree of concern about the <a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/dog-food-fluoride-47063002">level of fluoride in dog food</a>. <br /><br />We already know that our furry friends (unless they sate their thirst with Perrier)are exposed to fluoride in their drinking water, as are we all, and there is <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-finger-pointing-at-fluoride.html">reasonable question</a> as to it's influence on the incidences of osteosarcoma, especially in dogs neutered while they are still growing. <br /><br />Now, it seems that even <a href="http://gutendogpress.blogspot.com/2009/06/beverly-hills-tex-mex.html">Beverly Hills puppies</a> can't escape fluoride by just hitting the bottle.<br /><br /><blockquote>Together with drinking water from the tap that has been fluoridated, some puppies may be exposed at five-times the safe limit, according to Environmental Working Group -- though it must be said that the safe limits were not designed specifically for dogs<br /><a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/dog-food-fluoride-47063002#ixzz0KFmWnwTQ&C">Read more.</a><br /><br />EWG recommends choosing dog food brands free of bone meal and meat by product ingredients like chicken by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, chicken meal and beef meal.<br />Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/dog-food-fluoride-47063002#ixzz0KFn66YSb&C</blockquote><br /><br />I don't entirely agree with the schools of thought that shun "by-products" and "meal", offal and bones are quite valuable food sources for dogs. When my dog gets ahold of a living food source, the only thing she leaves is the ears. Maybe she'd even eat them, if I let them ripen for a couple days. The offal went first, and the bones weren't far behind.<br /><br />However if you are raising puppies, nothing, nothing beats a <a href="http://www.rawmeatybones.com/">raw diet</a>. If you have a large breed, and you plan to neuter early, you might want to filter the fluoride out of the water too.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-76470561348371732432009-07-01T19:13:00.007-05:002009-07-01T20:36:40.259-05:00Tied Up in NotsThou shalt not...um, let's see...today's Tuesday, so...thou shalt not ... tether thy dog.<br /><br />The petatics are once again attacking dog owners and dog sporters (I know, I know, they do it every day) this time in Charleston West Virginia. <a href="http://www.dailymail.com/News/200906290258">According to a news report</a>, a city councilwoman attempted to "show solidarity with dogs" by leashing herself to something stable for a lengthy period of time.<br /><br />After which she and fellow activists shared a water dish and pooped on the lawn. One of the petatics was even said to have peed on the back of the councilwoman. Okay, so maybe that happened later in the evening... <br /><br />Back to the present, this councilwoman claims that tethering is a form of abuse. Maybe she saw the photos of prisoner treatment in Abu Ghraib and did some quick inductive reasoning?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Abu-ghraib-leash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 460px; height: 388px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Abu-ghraib-leash.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />That's how we all reason about pets, isn't it?<br /><br />We see pictures of a horrible *<a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/words-that-have-no-meaning.html">real puppymill</a>* breeding facility, that happens to have over 20 dogs, and we assume all breeding facilities with over 20 dogs are bad.<br /><br />We hear a few stories about pit bulls with bad owners that attack kids, and we try to ban all pitbulls.<br /><br />One kid crawls out a doggy door and drowns in a swimming pool, and suddenly <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/can-you-afford-your-doggie-door.html">doggie doors</a> are a silent, deadly menace.<br /><br />The truth about tethering is like the truth about anything else. It can be done well, or it can be done badly. <br /><br />A lot of people successfully use underground fences. <br />A lot of people use dog crates.<br />A lot of people go to dog parks.<br />A lot of people feed their dogs cheap kibble.<br />A lot of people train their dogs in schutzhund.<br />A lot of people breed dogs.<br />A lot of people with kids own dogs. <br /><br />All "thou shalt nots" to somebody.<br /><br />Working Pit Bull site has an <a href="http://www.workingpitbull.com/tethering.html">excellent write up</a> on tethering.<br /><br />Diane Jessup writes:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Sadly, anti-dog forces, such as PETA, support anti-tethering laws as another step (along with breed specific legislation) in severing the ages old man/dog bond. They know that most serious working breeds such as racing huskies, hunting dogs and bulldogs are often tethered."</blockquote><br /><br />She is spot on the money. <br /><br />I don't want to spend this post walking through the pros and cons of tethering, Ms. Jessup has already done a great job, including describing an ideal tethering setup.<br /><br />I will point out that there are only two ways we can have things.<br /><br />1) Don't restrain the freedom of individuals. Keep the cruelty laws, every state has had cruelty laws in place for a long time. <br /><br />Or, 2) Prohibit everything that someone thinks is wrong. <a href="http://www.tomnaughton.com/?p=216">Tom Naughton presented a good plan</a> for this category. If you choose this option, I'm with Tom.<br /><br />Hang loose.<br /><br />.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-32813888138273960782009-06-28T22:54:00.002-05:002009-06-28T23:08:25.432-05:00Keep pups skinnySeveral years ago I read a statement to the effect that you don't accumulate fat cells as an adult, you just enlarge the ones you have. It was a statement in commentary on a website, with no supporting evidence.<br /><br />It was one of those comments in passing, that rolls around in the brain as having superficial merit, and so you wait, until the evidence catches up with it, or doesn't.<br /><br />In this case, the evidence did. <br /><br />From the magazine "<a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/s/#17M60A/www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7196/full/nature06902.html/">Nature</a>":<br /><br /><blockquote>The factors determining fat mass in adult humans are not fully understood, but increased lipid storage in already developed fat cells (adipocytes) is thought to be most important4, 5. Here we show that adipocyte number is a major determinant for the fat mass in adults. However, the number of fat cells stays constant in adulthood in lean and obese individuals, even after marked weight loss, indicating that the number of adipocytes is set during childhood and adolescence.</blockquote><br /><br />People find roly poly puppies irresistible. Cute little round fur balls are often proclaimed 'what a healthy looking pup'!<br /><br />(Same goes for children too.)<br /><br />But the life time of problems (<a href="http://leerburg.com/hip.htm">Hip Dysplasia</a>, anyone?) that obesity brings with it, are anything but healthy.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-10838794279971505692009-06-23T21:28:00.003-05:002009-06-23T22:09:35.336-05:00Supply and Demand<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1104567.html">Mob rushes animal shelter for Yorkies</a><br /><br /><blockquote>A mob of nearly 100 people gathered at the Hillsborough County Animal Services building for a chance to adopt one of 23 rescued Yorkshire Terrier puppies.<br /><br />The doors opened just before 9 a.m. Thursday and all the dogs were gone by 10:15 a.m. Some people had actually spent the night in front of the building to make sure they got a dog.</blockquote><br /><br />With demand like this, any takers on whether SUPPLY will be increased?<br /><br />Here's the <a href="http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/animal_services_rescues_dogs_061109">story</a> about the raids. <br /><br />The raiders are trying to file animal cruelty charges, and the dogs were adopted a mere week after the raids were conducted. <br /><br />No time for due process! People want their Yorkies NOW!<br /><br />A website called "Yorkie Talk" has <a href="http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yorkie-news-site-announcements/175363-news-dozens-yorkies-rescued-breeders-1.html">a thread</a> on the raids. According to poster "sarahheartmaddy", one 14 year old Yorkie with no teeth and mammary tumors was going to be the most expensive to rehabilitate. A 14 year old Yorkie without teeth. Surely a puppymill. A 14 year old dog with mammary tumors. Only at the worst of breeding facilities.<br /><br /><blockquote>We need to make sure that she is not PTS~which is a real possibility if her vet care will be too high.</blockquote> <br /><br />With demand like that, is there any doubt the criteria for raids will be loosened?<br /><br />The breeder was an 83 year old woman, who's health gave out. No matter! She is still the devil incarnate. These people can't fathom why living conditions deteriorated for these dogs. They can't fathom that maybe the old woman didn't give them up because...she loved them. <br /><br />Maybe that love blinded her to her inability to care for the dogs. It happens. It's pathetic. It's not the devil.<br /><br />Many of those posters wanted to line up to increase their own Yorkie population (wonder how many are all ready violating their local pet ordinance numbers). Hopefully they will never get old.<br /><br />From the <a href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/18/182116/yorkie-mania-fans-line-chance-adopt-dogs-seized-ra/news-breaking/">Tampa Tribune</a>: <br /><blockquote><br />Delaine Bacon of Seminole Heights was first in line.<br /><br />Since 1990, Bacon has had eight Yorkshire terriers, most of which came from a breeder who was raided last week, she said. "I wanted another Yorkie from that breeder and I figured this was my only chance."<br /><br />She said the breeder, who has not been charged, ran a clean operation, but as she grew older, it became harder to care for the animals.<br /><br />"She's a great person," Bacon said. "But she is elderly and I guess it became more challenging."</blockquote><br /><br />Government won't have any problems increasing demand (for a while). Where Governments' always fail is customer loyalty. <br /><br />Quality, you see, is a function of a free market. But in this regulated society, we don't help people. We report them. And for government, it's a win-win.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-89642121728672060932009-06-23T20:43:00.002-05:002009-06-23T21:04:32.003-05:00Melamine Convictions<blockquote>A company and its owners have agreed to plead guilty in connection with melamine-tainted pet food that may have killed thousands of dogs and cats in 2007, according to a court document.</blockquote><br /><br />This is the story from the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090603/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toxic_pet_food">Associated Press</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote>The Millers and ChemNutra, along with two Chinese companies, were indicted in February 2008 on charges alleging they imported wheat gluten tainted with the chemical melamine, which was then sold to pet food makers. Thousands of cats and dogs reportedly sickened or died after eating the tainted food.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>ChemNutra, which imports ingredients from China to the U.S. for the feed and food industries, and the Millers were charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.</blockquote><br /><br />Misdemeanors? How animals died again? Will this company continue to do business in the 'feed and food industries'? <br /><br />Gee. Fail to <a href="http://endangeredowner.blogspot.com/2009/06/arkansas-vets-views-could-you-be-raided.html">get a test done</a> or administer a vaccine and you could lose your ability to own animals for life.<br /><br />Poison thousands, and what, a slap on the wrist?Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-80414803056515034462009-06-14T22:06:00.003-05:002009-06-14T22:14:35.150-05:00Watch the German Shephard Change.I found this <a href="http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/showresults.valist">list of winners</a>, with photos, of the German Shepherd Bundessiegers since 1899.<br /><br />This is 1899.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Pjp84gAXYU-ROKirDYDV3nA2Zt0Bxac7jT8ALLJ_uHFPfgBwu9EnrlgSiPo8A-E3XJsBQZbTHj0TVKULIyOq5B4XLPIHnT-7b2PoXI0sdt2xe4zlSNp6E85ZBnBOfEVxQ4cruH19ug/s1600-h/1989.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 88px; height: 74px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Pjp84gAXYU-ROKirDYDV3nA2Zt0Bxac7jT8ALLJ_uHFPfgBwu9EnrlgSiPo8A-E3XJsBQZbTHj0TVKULIyOq5B4XLPIHnT-7b2PoXI0sdt2xe4zlSNp6E85ZBnBOfEVxQ4cruH19ug/s320/1989.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387056500571394" /></a><br /><br />This is 2007.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxjW7A_DW6Tw9ZzUmvAtO7VatToVlKHjj5XknZwkeUaYCvHzF5guDnynHKYj6EbnY-IFuZqwuuWFLGnE8VKI1heY6SADA8a7TUr_v_NSO8UeP1_19aIPnmC4RsMnPw-Ry_M9nCUDnXno/s1600-h/389137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxjW7A_DW6Tw9ZzUmvAtO7VatToVlKHjj5XknZwkeUaYCvHzF5guDnynHKYj6EbnY-IFuZqwuuWFLGnE8VKI1heY6SADA8a7TUr_v_NSO8UeP1_19aIPnmC4RsMnPw-Ry_M9nCUDnXno/s320/389137.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387172157240482" /></a><br /><br />Look at the progression in between. I wish someone would animate it. The modern version are practically crawling on their knees. <br /><br />Maybe they're begging for help?Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-12406147217748040532009-06-13T18:57:00.002-05:002009-06-13T19:25:22.215-05:00More finger pointing at fluoride.I shared the link between fluoride and osteosarcomas a <a href="http://everydogsblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/osteosarcomas-neutering-and-flouride.html">couple years ago</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/2009/06/03/fluoride-study-raises-fresh-questions-about-the-safety-of-water-fluoridation/">New research</a> has shown a greater level of fluoride in patients with osteosarcomas.<br /><br /><blockquote>The latest cancer study indicates blood fluoride levels were significantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma than in control groups, according to research published in Biological Trace Element Research (April 2009).<br /><br />Osteosarcoma occurs mostly in children and young adults. According to the study, status of fluoride levels in the serum of osteosarcoma is still not clear. Other reports have also indicated that there is a link between fluoride exposure and osteosarcoma.<br /><br />“The more studies that we have which talk about osteosarcoma with fluoride, the more the scientific community will take notice and eventually blind politicians will do the same,” said Paul Beeber, president of the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation.</blockquote><br /><br />The government is still supporting the forced fluoridation of its citizens.<br /><br /><blockquote>"government officials cite scientific studies that prove fewer cavities and no serious risk."</blockquote><br /><br />But the barricades are weakening. <br /><br /><blockquote>A 2007 recommendation from the American Dental Association urged parents not to use fluoridated tap water to mix infant formula. Researchers say the amount of fluoride in safe tap water is still too much for an infant when ingested as the primary source of nutrition. </blockquote><br /><br />The establishment will admit that too much fluoride will cause pitting in the teeth (fluorosis). But so far, that is all. Damaging effects to bones, cancer, Alzheimers and mental health problems are rarely mentioned.<br /><br />Maybe, just maybe, the osteosarcoma relation can push aside the shroud that conceals the danger of fluoride.<br /><br />Some <a href="http://www.mercola.com/article/links/fluoride_links.htm">more links</a> on fluoride.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-47131021316766929552009-06-13T18:26:00.003-05:002009-06-13T18:44:13.177-05:00Gov V. Pets...Lock Up Your Dachshunds.First Chihuahua's, now Miniature Dachshunds. These little guys max out at 11 pounds.<br /><br />Eleven Pounds.<br /><br />No wonder <a href="http://exceptionmag.com/news/law/000629/portland-police-will-get-tanks">cops need tanks</a> these days.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/06/11/Police-chief-defends-dachshund-shooting/UPI-11691244756226/">Police chief defends dachshund shooting</a><br /><br /><blockquote>A Virginia police chief said an officer followed regulations when he shot and killed a miniature dachshund that growled and ran at him. </blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Broadfoot said in a release that the officer was returning to his car when "he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options."<br /><br />The police chief said the dog lunged at the officer.</blockquote><br /><br />At some point, the citizens of this town are going to start asking, "Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy the cops some pairs of boots?"Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-455981927401866107.post-40927698094028956112009-06-10T14:13:00.004-05:002009-06-10T14:23:10.338-05:00I can fly! I can fly!Well, if I were a dog, maybe :-D<br /><br /><object width="450" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/100_1244575914"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/100_1244575914" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="370"></embed></object><br /><br />Now where would you rather spend your weekend? At the show above?<br /><br />Or here?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xdmylmlvw3g&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xdmylmlvw3g&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Now pretend you're the dog. Where do you want to be?<br /><br /><br />.Ms. Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841651748765791866noreply@blogger.com1