by Katie Nielsen on June 23, 2010 in Eco Pets
MEH Readers, meet Oliver.
Oliver the Shorkie, age 3 months
He’s a feisty Yorkie/Shih Tzu mix that joined our little family shortly after my husband and I were married two and a half years ago. As any smitten pet owner does, I like to spoil him, mostly in the form of daily walks to the park accompanied with rousing rounds of fetch with his favorite tennis ball. He also loves scratches behind the ears and early-morning snuggling. Yet despite all the adoration Oliver receives, there’s one area I have failed to give proper care and attention to: his diet.
At the risk of painting myself as a neglectful dog owner, I never gave much thought to feeding him regular store-bought pet food; Oliver’s not a particularly picky eater and he usually will happily devour whatever kind of food we gave him. Recently, however, Oliver’s had some digestive issues (the details of which I’ll spare you from) and the vet suggested switching foods, since what we were currently feeding him was apparently too hard on his stomach and likely lacking essential nutrients.
While it admittedly should have dawned on me earlier, it finally occurred to me that if I’m finicky about what I’m willing to put in my body, why wouldn’t that apply to Oliver? So I decided to do some research to determine what the best and most nutritious types of food for him would be, and while I was at, figure out what exactly is in commercial dog food (I found more than a few sources that offered the gruesome details). Whether you’re a current dog owner or plan to become one soon, here’s what I found that can help ensure you feed your pup nutritious, healthy food.
- Look for food that actually names the type of meat used in the ingredients, like “chicken” or “lamb” instead of just “meat.” This way you’ll know your pet is receiving a nutritious and dependable source of protein.
- Steer clear of foods that contain “byproduct meat” or “meat and bone meal;” such products are typically the most inexpensive type of animal protein and contents and quality can vary greatly between brands, making it an unreliable and insignificant source of nutrition for your pet.
- Speaking of byproduct meat, avoid feeding your dog any food that uses byproducts as the main source of protein. Byproducts are often comprised of animal parts, such as organs, that are not desired or deemed unsafe for human consumption (sounds disgusting, doesn’t it?).
- Stick with brands and foods labeled natural or healthy. They may not be 100% so (some still use a small amount of synthetic preservatives) but they’re typically a better, healthier alternative than regular store-bought food. We try to balance Oliver’s diet with a mix of dry and wet food; so far, he likes Flint River Ranch original oven-baked kibble and Innova canned food (known as “holistic” dog food). Since the canned food is extremely high in protein (its 95% meat), we limit how much he can eat in one serving to avoid stomach issues.
- Another healthy option for your dog is making their food. While it can be time-consuming and in some cases more expensive than purchasing pre-made food, it’s far healthier and better for your dog since you know exactly what’s in it. While I have yet to actually make Oliver homemade food, I have already created his diet plan, which I constructed on PetDiets.com, a free online tool from Veterinary Nutritional Consultations, Inc. Has or does anyone make their own dog food? I want to hear about it!
Since we've change his diet, Oliver's now a healthier, happier dog!
by Kristen Banker on June 2, 2009 in Eco Pets
In recent years there has been a great deal of national attention focused on the improvement of industrial environmental standards. Even as we attempt to rebuild our economy, we seem to be focused on not only restoring industry, but also using this as an opportunity to do it in a way that is not environmentally destructive. This provides us the opportunity to improve all aspects of these industries, including the workplace hazards among workers and the health hazards affecting members of the surrounding communities that were all too common.
What many people may fail to realize is that not only does the health of our planet depend on improved environmental standards, but our health may as well. Health complications of industry can essentially be divided into two categories, both direct and indirect.
Direct health conditions, which have arisen as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, for instant, are increased asthmas rates in areas with high smog indices. Even mild cases of asthma can deteriorate overall respiratory capacity over time and leave breathing seriously diminished if the quality of the air people breathe is unimproved. Release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere has shown to lower our filtered sunlight, increasing ultraviolet light exposure. Ultraviolet light has been conclusively link to skin cancer. Perhaps it is no surprise then that skin cancer incidence in countries like South Africa and Australia, where the atmosphere is most diminished, is much higher than other areas of the earth.
Indirect health consequences include those, which can be attributed to antiquated industrial infrastructure, including toxin exposure among workers. Oil refinery workers, for instance, are shown to have a much higher chance of developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, than those in cleaner industries. While asbestos was banned for most uses in the late 1970s several of these refineries and factories are still using pre-ban equipment, which is exposing workers to harmful asbestos fibers.
We see then, that there is a clear advantage to implementation of cleaner, more sustainable energy policies and environmental attitudes, not only for the health or our planet and our posterity, but that of world’s population even today.
by Kristen Banker on August 2, 2008 in Eco Pets
Celebrity Chef Rachel Ray launched yet another initiative this week. The new product is called Nutrish and this time its for man’s best friend aka dogs.
Rachel has come up with a line of dog food that is made from Real Vegetables and Meat and contain extra virgin olive oil. The health benefits of the product are that they have selenium, antioxidants and Vitamin E, Proceeds from sales will go to Rachel’s Rescue which she founded to help at risk animals.
Rachael Ray Nutrish includes two varieties of all natural dog food featuring real meat as the first ingredient – Real Chicken and Veggies and Real Beef and Brown Rice. There are no by-products, fillers, artificial flavors or preservatives; and each recipe contains:
- Antioxidant nutrients like vitamin E and selenium to support a healthy immune system
- A healthy fiber blend including oatmeal for easy digestion
- Omega Fatty Acids, with a dash of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to support healthy skin and a shiny coat
- High quality proteins to support healthy organs and lean muscle mass
- Calcium for strong bones and healthy teeth
