March is almost over, and Summers have officially kicked in! Summers are particularly difficult for dogs. Unlike us humans, dogs cannot perspire to cool down. Even though dogs sweat through their paws and nose, their primary method of heat exchange or ‘cooling down’ is by panting. And it takes a lot longer for a dog to cool down relative to a human.
 
Overheating is dangerous and can lead to heat strokes in dogs. Hence, it’s important that we keep our dogs cool and safe during the hot season. Here are 6 summer care tips to keep our dawgies cool as a cucumber this summer. (Ps: Cucumbers are great for dogs in summers!)

6 Hot Tips to Keep Your Pet Dog Cool & Safe in Summer

Keep Your Dog Indoors in the Summer

Don’t lock your dog in a hot car, or leash him on a sunny terrace or anywhere outside. Keep him indoors as much as possible or otherwise in shade. Don’t muzzle him up. It obstructs panting and stops him from cooling down. Prolonged exposure to heat and the inability to cool down can lead to heat strokes in dogs.
 
Thick-coated or snow dog breeds such as Huskies, Mastiffs, Akitas, and St. Bernards should be kept in an air-conditioned area. Dogs with shorter snouts like Bulldogs, Pugs, etc may experience trouble breathing during the hot season.
 
Take your dogs out on walks during colder hours like early mornings or late evenings. Avoid hot surfaces like asphalt or concrete that can burn their paws. If the surface is too hot for you to step on barefoot, it’s definitely too hot for your pet. Dog boots or other similar products can help, but it’s best to avoid walking in the sun.
 

Hydrate Your Dog Often In the Summer

Water is the most important nutrient for your pet during the summer season. Always ensure the continuous availability of fresh drinking water for your dog. Keep his bowls clean and change water periodically to ensure there are no insects. It’s normal that your dog may eat less or stop eating completely due to the heat, but make sure he’s getting the fluids.
 
Unsweetened and unsalted lassi (yogurt + water), buttermilk, coconut water, watery fruits and berries like watermelon, melons, papaya, strawberries, raspberries, cucumber, etc are great to keep your dog hydrated. Here are 6 great fruits that your dog can safely enjoy this summer.
 

Get Your Dog a Summer-Friendly Haircut

Get your dog a summer-friendly haircut. A light but breed-appropriate coat can help your dog feel cooler. But remember – the same coat that makes them feel hot also protects them from the sun. A shaved (or over-trimmed) dog is prone to sunburn, among other skin issues in summers.
 
It’s also important to brush your dog frequently in summers. Brushing your dog’s coat removes the dry/dead skin and makes way for air to reach his coat. This helps to cool down your pet. Dogs are also susceptible to many skin infections during hot weather. Frequent grooming can keep a check on that.
 

Try Water Sports to Cool Your Dog in Summers

Take your dog to a pool or just treat him to a puddle full of mud. He’ll know what to do! This is a great way to cool your dog down. But make sure your dog gets a nice wash after every pool or puddle-session. The chlorine in the pool water may cause skin irritation, if not washed off properly.
 
Your dog would love to sit in damp corners in the house. But make sure he’s always clean and dry after all the wet-fun. Any amount of moisture in this weather can grow into a yeast or fungal infection. Read more about itching & skin issues in dogs.
 

Treat Your Dog to Frozen or Icy Treats in Summers

Dogs love ice and frozen treats in the summer. But it’s not advisable to treat them to a human ice-cream bar every time. Instead, you can try simple DIY recipes to make delicious and healthy frozen treats for your dogs this summer.
 
Not only they help your dog stay cool and hydrated, but they’ll also make a nice Snapchat or Instagram story for you. A simple YouTube search will list out some of our favorite recipes.
 

Watch Your Dog’s Food and Poop this Summer

As mentioned earlier, your dog may act fussy with his food in summers. He may eat less or eat nothing at all for a few days. But don’t let that worry you. Keep his food light, and include loads of fluids in his diets. Try cold foods, fruits and otherwise easily-digestible food items.
 
Observe his poop and report any signs of parasites to your vet. Bacterial and viral infections often make their way to your dog’s body by means of spoiled food during the hot season. Read more on what your dog’s poop can tell you about his health.

Summers may be an uncomfortable time for your pooch, but these simple tips will ensure he’s ready to take on the heat like a boss. Think we missed something? Tell us in the comments below!

Summers are one of the harshest seasons of the year; temperatures soar as high as late-40’s in most parts of the country and the scorching sun takes its toll on plants and animals alike. While you may be blessed with a home where you can chill with your furry best friend, things are not the same for the strays outside your home. Here’s how you can make summers a little easy for the stray animals who may not have a house but have a home in your heart.

Offer Water to Strays

It can be incredibly tough for stray animals to locate water in summers. In the urban settings, animals may have to walk miles before they can spot a puddle of water safe to drink. You can help them by placing a bowl of clean water outside your house. Since the sun is on the rise, you can expect the water to dry up quickly; so try to refill the water bowl whenever possible. Do clean the water bowl on a regular basis to avoid contamination and diseases. A water bowl a day hydrates a lot of strays!
 

 

Open Your Gates (and Hearts)

Animals living in urban setups are used to walking on layers of asphalt, concrete and rubble. However, these can become an ‘aag ka dariya’ to walk on during summers. Animals often end up with charred paws by walking on extremely hot surfaces. A cool place with shade can be a huge respite in such a weather. You can open your gates and let them in the front porch of your house, garden, garage, or verandah. Or provide a little bit of accessible space where these animals can rest to protect themselves from the heat.
 

 

Introduce Fruity Treats

You can put out a small plate with some summer-fruits like Watermelons, Muskmelons (Kharbuja), Cucumber, Tender Coconut or other similar hydrating fruits; and watch the furry angels feast upon these and lick the plate clean. Remember that all animals are built differently; make sure you look up if what you are serving is safe for the animals you’re trying to help. Feeding fruits can go a long way to provide strays with the minerals and vitamins they may need to make it through the summer.
 

Look Before you Drive

Stray animals often take shelter under cars and parked vehicles as it provides them with shade. A number of times they don’t know when you’re starting your car and rushing off, and get hurt or run over. Before you enter your car, check underneath it for animals and greet them. It’s a small effort, but it can save a stray’s life.
 

 

Empty the Pool

If you live in a society that boasts of a swimming pool or has any other kind of an open reservoir, make sure that the water is either drained out or the reservoir is kept covered during summers. This is because the sun’s heat can cause the water to turn into steam and raise the temperatures of the surroundings. Animals on the lookout for water may often get burnt skin or coat owing to the enormous heat in the water. If you can’t get the reservoir drained out or covered, at least fence the area so the strays keep away from them.

MUST READ: 6 Hot Tips to Keep Your Pet Dog Cool & Safe in Summer

Stay Alert, Save a Life

As an animal lover, you must be on a 24×7 vigil to watch out for stray animals who may need your help. You may come across cases where you see animals in distress. Call for help immediately when you spot such a situation. There’s a myriad of communities on social media with good hoomans willing to rush and help; use them.

Always remember that animals need our love and even more so in the toughest of times. So this summer, get your water guns out and help a stray in need!

If your dog was a human, how old would he or she be? Like all curious pet parents, we’re sure you’ve also wondered what’s your pet’s age in dog years. Probably that’s why you’re here reading. People have been trying to find a good way to convert dog years to human years since the 1200s. One of the earliest examples of this is an inscription at Westminster Abbey that dates back to the year 1268 and calculates that one human year is equivalent to nine dog years.
 
However, recent studies have shown that your pet’s human-equivalent age is not a simple linear equation. We know that dogs age at different rates than humans. Larger breeds tend to age faster and hence have a smaller lifespan than smaller breeds. Compared to humans, dogs age more quickly at the beginning of their lives and slower toward the end. Therefore, calculating your dog’s age relative to yours is a bit tricky, but luckily it’s possible.

Aging in Dogs

Why is it important to know your dog’s age?

Knowing your pet’s age helps you provide for them appropriately. A puppy needs different care than an adult or senior dog. Their training, exercise, veterinary, dietary and even grooming requirements change with their age.
 
Growing puppies have different training & dietary needs than a senior dog. You also need to keep a closer tab on their vaccination schedules while they’re young. As dogs mature, their training and vaccination needs may settle. Of course, their diet will need to change to suit their adult life stage and lifestyle. Their exercise and grooming needs too, may change with age.
 

 
As our pets get older, they need extra care and attention. Aging is not a disease, though senior dogs may develop age-related problems. While it’s easy to spot the outward signs of aging such as greying hair and a slower pace, the changes in pet’s internal organs are far less evident. But their bodies are constantly changing, and their care should support those changes.
 
An older dog is more likely to develop diseases such as diabetes, heart, kidney and liver diseases, arthritis or even cancer. But good care allows them to live happy, healthy and active lives in their senior years. A healthy and balanced diet lowers the risk of developing such life-threatening diseases. Regular veterinary examinations can detect problems in older pets before they turn life-threatening. Tracking your dog’s age helps you plan for appropriate care, prepare for age-related problems and thereby, improve life expectancy and the quality of life.
 

Aging Profiles & Longevity in Dogs

Do all dogs age the same?

The life of a dog is broadly divided into three main stages: Puppyhood, Adult, and Senior (Geriatric). A dog is considered a Puppy during his early growth period. This is when he grows from a tiny lump of fur to full adult size. This is characterized by rapid changes in size and weight. Bones & teeth grow quickly, and the puppy is extremely active and agile. This life stage is equivalent to the first 15-18 years of human life.
 
The dog is considered an Adult as soon as sexual characteristics start appearing, for example, the onset of heat cycles in a female puppy. The dog undergoes many personality and behavioral changes, attaining full emotional maturity over the period of this life stage. This is equivalent to age 20 – 40 years in humans.
 
The Geriatric stage in dogs is marked by a general decrease in activity levels, tendency to sleep more, and fading enthusiasm in walks or other physical activities. In some pets, it’s also the onset of age-related problems that are less common in younger ages. The dogs become less mobile and may develop joint problems such as arthritis, or teeth and gum issues. They also start losing vision, and other senses. This is similar to humans aged beyond 40-50 years of age.
 
Aging profiles in dogs vary across different breeds & adult sizes. In general, larger dogs grow slower in the puppy stage and age faster in the geriatric stage. They also have a shorter lifespan compared to smaller dogs. However, exceptions may be noted depending on breeds and living conditions.
 

Dog Years VS Human Years

The terms “dog years” and “human years” are frequently used when describing the age of a dog. However, there are two diametrically opposite, almost conflicting nomenclature systems in which these terms are defined. Both systems are correct and widely used.

1. The first system uses “human year” to represent a 365-day long calendar year. “Dog year” is the equivalent time of the dog’s lifetime, as a calendar year would be for a human. For example, a 5-year-old dog would be 5 human years or about 36 dog years old.
2. The second system uses “dog year” to represent a calendar year in a dog’s life. “Human year” is the equivalent age of a human being. In this system, a 5-year-old dog is considered to be 5 dog years or about 36 human years old. This is the exact opposite of the first system, and the nomenclature we’ll use throughout this article.

Calculating Your Dog’s Age in Human Equivalent

For years, people have been quoting the Seven-Year Rule – that 1 dog year is equivalent to 7 human years. However, this rule does not take into account the breed or size of the dogs. The origin of the seven-year rule (read: myth) is unknown. It’s believed that the formula was devised on the assumption that people lived to about 70, and dogs to about 10 years of age, approximately. Similarly, several other formulas have been suggested, but none scientifically proven correct or consistent enough.
 
The American Veterinary Medical Association suggests the following as the most acceptable guideline to calculate your dog’s age equivalent to human years.

1. The first year of the puppy’s life is equivalent to 15 human years.
2. The second dog year equals about 9 human years.
3. Thereafter, each dog year converts to about 4 human years until the dog reaches their geriatric stage.
4. Larger dogs age faster than smaller dogs in their geriatric stage – each dog year in this stage is equivalent to 6 human years for larger breeds, 4 human years for smaller dogs.

There are several factors to consider while estimating the age of dogs and not all of them can be documented precisely. The National Center for Health Statistics doesn’t keep records for dogs. Instead, there are three main sources for data on the longevity of dogs: pet-insurance companies, breed-club surveys, and veterinary hospitals.
 
The longevity studies include studying the lifespans and medical histories of several hundreds of dogs from various size classification, breeds and age groups. The results are compiled and generalized for public use. It is important to understand that these numbers are merely indicative, and do not represent the exact physical and mental state of your furry baby.
 

Estimating Age when Birth Details are Unknown

If you’ve adopted a rescued dog, his exact birth details and history may not be known. This may make it even more complicated to calculate the dog’s age. However, a fair estimate of a puppy’s age can be made by looking at the physical characteristic of the dog – especially the teeth.
 
When a puppy is born, he’s toothless, and his eyes and ears are closed. They open their eyes in about 2 weeks, the ears take about 3 weeks to open. This is also when the first teeth start appearing. The puppy will have a full set of 28 baby teeth by 6 – 8 weeks of age.
 
At about 2 months of age, the temporary teeth will start falling as the adult teeth push them out. By the age of 7 – 8 months, all temporary milk teeth will be replaced with a full set of 42 clean white permanent adult dog teeth.
 
As the dog turns adult, the teeth will become a little dull and yellowing may be noticed in the rear teeth by the age of 1 – 2 years. This is a good time to start a brushing routine with your dog. At age 3 – 5 years, some tartar buildup and wearing are noticed. By 5 – 10 dog years, signs of tooth wear and dental diseases get more prominent.
 
With geriatric dogs, heavy tartar buildup may be noticed by the age of 12 – 15 dog years. Some teeth may be missing or loose. Cloudy eyes, grey hair around the muzzle, eyes, and face, loosening skin and stiff legs are other signs of aging dogs.
 

 

Effects of Aging in Dogs

Dogs and humans age similar in the way their bodies change. Senior dogs are often less active and playful. They love sleeping and avoid running, jumping or other physical exercises. They become more sensitive to changing weather conditions and may develop digestive or skin issues more frequently. They’re prone to a number of diseases and may lose interest in play or daily activities.
 
Some age-related effects observed in aging dogs are:

• Loss of vision and/or hearing
• Loss of teeth and periodontal diseases
• Decreased activity, lower energy levels (partly due to reduced lung efficiency)
• Frequent gastric & stomach upset, and decreased digestive tolerance
• Weight gain & obesity
• Weakened immunity, increasing infections
• Diabetes
• Weakness in muscles & bones
• Drying, darkening and brittle skin, loss or greying of hair
• Thicker and more brittle nails
• Arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other joint problems
• Urinary issues or toilet-accidents (incontinence in both genders and prostatitis in male dogs)
• Cardiac & respiratory issues due to reduced heart and lung efficiency
• Cysts and tumors
• Unusual aggression or irritability
• Dementia or confused/disoriented behavior

Factors Affecting Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy of a randomly-bred dog (also known as mongrel or mutt) is 13.2 dog years. However, it varies greatly across breeds and dogs living in different conditions. As we’ve seen in the table above, larger dogs have a shorter lifespan than smaller dogs. Many attempts have been made to study this relation between breeds/size and longevity, but no conclusive results have been found.
 
The Dog Aging Project is studying the aging process in dawgies, using geroscience research to “delay aging and promote healthy longevity.” Some of the factors that impact life expectancy in pet dogs are:
 

1. Diet – Your dog’s food greatly impacts his life and longevity. Pets that feed on a balanced and complete diet generally live longer and are healthier than those that are fed a packaged commercial, or otherwise unbalanced diet. Read more about how food can change your dog.
2. Spaying and Neutering – Whether your dog is sterilized or intact, and the procedure used to sterilize your pet may impact their life expectancy. While some studies have shown that spaying and neutering may reduce the risk of early deaths in dogs, some other studies show different, rather contradictory results. Thus, careful deliberation is needed before you decide to get your pet spayed or neutered.
3. Exercise – A tired dog is a healthy dog. Your pet is likely to stay healthier when his body and senses are constantly exercised. The exercise your dog receives must be appropriate to suit his life stage. A puppy needs more physical exertion while a senior dog must be engaged in more mental exercises to keep them healthy and happy.

One of the most important aspects of good pet parenting is to understand your dog’s needs. It starts by planning and providing age-appropriate care to your darling. Watching a puppy grow into a beautiful old dog is perhaps the most beautiful experience ever. Participating and positively contributing to the process is the next best.

“My dog has perfect oral hygiene. He brushes his teeth daily. I love him so much. We both even share the same toothpaste.”
 
While it may seem like an absolutely harmless, rather adorable habit, toothpaste meant for humans could prove fatal for your pet. Maintaining your pooch’s oral hygiene is great. But NEVER use the same toothpaste as yours.

Toothpastes contain a substance called Xylitol. It’s what gives the sweet taste to your toothpaste. While it’s completely safe and arguably healthy for hoomans, it’s absolutely toxic for dogs. Xylitol is almost 100 times more toxic than chocolate for dogs. Xylitol toxicity can occur at a dosage of 100 mg per kg of body weight. A typical toothpaste may contain 5 – 35% xylitol by volume. Hence, a standard 100 gm toothpaste tube is enough to make your dog very sick.
 

What is Xylitol and why is it in my Toothpaste?

Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is widely used as a sugar substitute. Chemically, it is a sugar alcohol that is naturally found in berries, plums, corn, oats, mushrooms, lettuce, trees, and some other hardwood trees and fruits. Commercially, most xylitol is extracted from corn fiber, birch trees, hardwood trees, and other vegetable material. Although it has been used as a sugar substitute for decades, its popularity has increased dramatically in the last few years.
 
Xylitol is about as sweet as sucrose but contains only about two-thirds of the calories. As a sugar substitute, it is lower on the glycemic index, a scale that ranks carbohydrate-rich foods by how much they raise blood sugar levels compared to glucose. Being lower on the glycemic index makes xylitol useful for diabetics or people on low carbohydrate diets. Almost all commercial “Sugar-free” products are sweetened using xylitol.
 
With respect to oral health, research has shown that xylitol helps reduce the formation of plaque, inhibits dental cavities, and stimulates the production of saliva in humans.
 

 

Why is Xylitol Toxic for Dogs?

In both hoomans and dawgies, the level of blood sugar is controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. Xylitol does not stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas in humans. However, when non-primate species (e.g. a dog) eat something containing xylitol, the xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This rapid release of insulin results in a rapid and profound decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia), an effect that occurs within 10-60 minutes of consuming xylitol. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can be life-threatening.
 

How to detect Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs?

Symptoms of xylitol toxicity develop rapidly, usually within 15-30 minutes of consumption. Signs of hypoglycemia may include any or all of the following:

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Incoordination or difficulty walking or standing (walking like drunk)
• Depression or lethargy
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Coma

In severe cases, the dog may develop seizures or liver failure, which can lead to almost instant death.
 

What should I do if my dog has eaten something with Xylitol?

Quick and aggressive treatment of xylitol poisoning is essential to effectively reverse any toxic effects and prevent the development of severe problems. If you have a case of xylitol poisoning, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately. The sooner you act, the better chances you stand to save your pooch.
 
If your dog has just consumed xylitol, try and induce vomiting to prevent any further absorption in the bloodstream. If the symptoms of poisoning have started to surface, the treatment will depend on the symptoms being shown and your dog’s glucose levels. Since xylitol toxicity can cause both low blood glucose and low potassium levels, your vet will perform blood tests to determine whether these problems need to be treated. In all cases, your dog will require hospitalization for blood sugar monitoring, dextrose administration, intravenous fluids, liver protectants, and any other supportive care that may be needed. Blood work should be monitored frequently to make sure that blood sugar and liver function remain normal.
 

 

If not for this, how do I ensure my dog’s oral hygiene?

Pets who eat a biologically-appropriate and balanced diet and drink enough water don’t develop dental issues as often. That said, maintaining your pet’s oral hygiene is very important – you just need to use the right procedure and products for it.

SEE ALSO: Pet Dental Health Guide

Consult your veterinary expert for a dawgie-friendly toothpaste brand or YouTube recipes for DIY dawgie-toothpaste.
 

What other products contain Xylitol?

Beside toothpastes, xylitol is widely used in mouthwashes, gums, candies, breath mints, baked goods, cough syrups, children’s chewable vitamins, etc. Basically, anything that reads ‘sugar-free’, ‘low-calorie’, ‘diabetic-friendly’, etc should be avoided for your dog and should be kept out of their reach.

Packaged foods with chemical-based preservatives and additives are one of the biggest causes of oral health issues in pets. Make sure your pet feeds on a biologically-appropriate, balanced and ‘real’ diet. Read more about delicious, healthy meals for dogs and cats from DawgieBowl.

If you’ve stumbled upon this article looking for veg dog food recipes, or are considering feeding your dog a vegetarian diet – you’ve come to the right place!
 
A little part of me dies inside, whenever someone mentions that their dog is a vegetarian. Of course, I want to interject and tell them how inappropriate that sounds, biologically. But I usually excuse myself from such conversations because almost all of them culminate in an ethical dilemma that’s pleasing to nobody. But it’s an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed, sooner than later.

So in this article, we’d like to talk about Vegetarianism as a lifestyle choice for your pet dog. If you still choose for your furry kid to be a vegetarian, it’s your decision as a parent. But we’d strongly encourage you to read through completely before making the choice for him.
 

Are Dogs Omnivores?

Yes and No! The first and most scientific argument that people put forward while justifying a vegetarian diet for their dogs is that they’re Omnivorous animals, like humans. This belief has probably emerged from the increasing humanization of our pooches. Except that it’s not entirely accurate. Sure, a dog can eat and digest a vegetarian diet so he does qualify as an Omnivore by definition; but he’s not! Let’s understand why.
 
Omnivores are animals that derive chemical energy and nutrients from materials originating from plant and animal sources; carnivores survive purely on animal-based food and herbivores eat plant-based diets only. A variety of adaptations in the animal’s body built this capability. They develop different anatomical features relative to their natural diet.
 

Teeth & Jaws

A herbivore’s teeth (Fig. 1), for example, are wide and flat to grind the food well before ingesting. A carnivore’s teeth and jaws (Fig. 2) are designed to tear flesh, break and chew bones. A true omnivore has a mix of both – sharp meat-tearing front teeth and flat molars to crush and chew plant matter. Fig. 3 shows the teeth and jaw of a primate. And you’re not the only one who thinks they resemble your teeth. That’s because humans are omnivorous too.

Enzymes & Digestion

When we chew our food, it’s mixed with saliva that has digestive enzymes. The enzymes start breaking down the starches (carbs) before they even reach our stomach. A dog’s saliva doesn’t have these enzymes. Instead, their saliva contains anti-bacterial enzymes. These enable them to eat and digest raw or even rotting meat, but they’re unable to handle carbs and starches.
 
Dogs’ pancreas produce only the amount of enzymes necessary to process fats and protein. Hence it falls on the liver to produce enough enzymes to deal with the contents of plant matter. Over time, the extra strain on the liver compromises its ability to function well. A starch-based diet is one of the leading causes of hepatic diseases in dogs.
 
The pH levels of a dog’s stomach is around 1 to 2. Most omnivores have a pH of 2 to 3.5. This indicates that dogs are more equipped to handle meat than vegetable matter. Dogs also don’t produce the varieties of gut bacteria that break down cellulose and starch in plant matter. This means most of the nutrients in plants are useless in nourishing your dog.
 
A dog’s intestine is very small (2.5X of his body length) compared to that of a human (5X of body height). Most herbivores tend to have longer intestines because plant matter takes longer to digest completely. A carnivore’s body quickly absorbs all the nutrients from the meat, and pushes the undigested food out of the body before it starts decaying.
 

 

Nutrition & Metabolism

Protein is a crucial component of every cell in your dog’s body. Essential amino acids from high-quality animal protein build healthy cells, organs, muscles, enzymes, and hormones. Dogs need 23 essential amino acids to handle all their metabolic and energy requirements. Their bodies only produce 13 of the 23. The other 10 must come from the food they eat.
 
Unlike herbivores and true omnivores who have longer intestines and a rich gut flora, dogs can’t absorb the amino acids from plant-based protein sources due to their short digestive cycle. A dog’s protein sources should provide a wide spectrum of amino acids available in a simple form, i.e. meat-based proteins.
 
Dietary fat provides energy, essential vitamins, and fatty acids. Fatty acids from animal sources are important for healing, normal cell membrane synthesis, reproduction, and a healthy coat and skin.
 
Plant-based nutrients are more complex than those from animal sources. Veggies and other plant-matter like grains and roots need extensive chewing & grinding. They also need special digestive enzymes and take a long time to digest completely. Omnivores and Herbivores usually have a complex digestive system that helps them digest plant matter effectively.
 
Dogs have a simpler and carnivorous digestive mechanism. That is why, while your dog can eat and enjoy a plant-based diet, it’s not the best for him. A bulk of his protein and fat should come from meat.
 
That being said, a meat-only diet is incomplete and incorrect for your dog too. Dogs also need a variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants to lead a healthy life. These micronutrients are mostly found in vegetables and fruits. Hence, it’s important to supplement your dog’s meat-based diet with veggies and fruits and sometimes other plant-based food sources. That’s the only thing that qualifies them to be called omnivorous, in my opinion. Although, technically, our canine friends (Genus: Canis) still belong to the order Carnivora.
 
 
This is the point where people usually start taking offence and throw ridiculed statements like “We’ve been feeding roti and dal to our dog for 60 years now and he’s still fine!”, “My dog doesn’t like meat” and others. If your dog doesn’t like meat, it’s probably because he’s never eaten it before! And just because we’ve been doing something for several years, doesn’t make it the right thing to do. Maybe your dog could have done better, lived healthier, longer if he was on a meat-based diet instead? Who knows!

Of course, a dog can SURVIVE on vegetarian food but will THRIVE on a meat-based diet.

Can you make a nutritionally balanced vegetarian dog food?
Yes, but it would require a lot of work and planning to devise a plant-based recipe that’s appropriate for your dog’s life-stage. Getting all essential amino acids from plant-sources and making them available in an easy-to-digest form for your dog is complicated. Preparing a complex recipe consistently every day could be challenging. Even if you make your best attempt, there’s always room for error. The adverse-effects often manifest over a long time, and hence difficult to diagnose early. And even the most accurately balanced diets will need some synthetic supplements. Now would you rather have your dogs feed on vegetarian but synthetic food or a species-appropriate natural one?
 

Challenges with a Vegetarian Diet for Dogs

Protein Availability

The most crucial component of a dog’s diet is Protein. Though not all proteins are the same. What works for you on a vegetarian diet isn’t necessarily going to work for your dog. Owing to the anatomical differences we discussed earlier, dogs don’t assimilate vegetarian proteins as well as meat proteins. Given below is a list of foods and their protein digestibility index. Egg whites are a benchmark and given the value of 1 because they are really easy for dogs to digest. All other foods are given in comparison:

	Egg whites	1.00
	Muscle meats (chicken, beef, lamb)	0.92
	Organ meats (kidney, liver, heart)	0.90
	Milk, cheese	0.89
	Fish	0.75
	Soy	0.75
	Rice	0.72
	Oats	0.66
	Yeast	0.63
	Wheat	0.60
	Corn	0.54

This means that if you use soy as a protein source for your dog, it will provide only 75% availability of the protein present in practice. Lowered availability along with an already high RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) creates a huge availability-gap in vegetarian diets. Over time, this results in deficiencies in your dog.
 
Why not use eggs itself, you ask?
Because whole eggs contain fats too. An excess of eggs in the diet (just enough to meet the RDI) can lead to obesity and vitamin-toxicity due to overfeeding of certain vitamins. Feeding egg-whites alone could lead to biotin deficiency. Egg whites contain high levels of avidin, a protein that binds to biotin strongly, making it unavailable to the body. Biotin deficiency could lead to a myriad of skin and coat issues in dogs.
 

Protein Quality

It isn’t just the quantity of protein that’s a challenge. Not all proteins are the same. Unlike meat-based proteins which are usually wide-spectrum proteins, vegetarian proteins often have a limited set of amino acids.
 
There are 23 amino acids which dogs need. Of these, 10 are ‘essential’ amino acids, meaning the dog must obtain them through food. The other 13 amino acids are ‘nonessential’ for dogs. This doesn’t mean the dog doesn’t need them. It just means that the dog can manufacture them out of the essential amino acids.
 
The 10 essential amino acids are: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. All of these can be found in different plant-based foods. However, some aren’t as readily available as others.
 
The two non-essential amino acids that require special attention are Taurine and L-Carnitine. They are not considered essential because dogs can synthesize them in their livers. However, not enough to meet their daily nutritional needs. These amino acids are NOT found naturally in any plant-based food. They need to be synthetically supplemented, should you choose to feed a vegetarian diet to your dog. Their deficiency can lead to serious heart problems.
 

Vitamin D and B12

Unlike humans, dogs cannot synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. It’s not readily available in plant sources and needs to be supplemented. Similarly, there is NO plant-based source of Vitamin B12 and needs to be supplemented synthetically. However, be careful as too much of these could be fatal for your dog.
 
 

Kidney Risks with Vegetarian Food for Dogs

Due to their low availability, vegetarian sources of protein generate a urine in dogs with an incorrect pH level. If the urine is too acidic or not acidic enough, it puts extra stress on the kidneys and can result in renal issues. It’s important that a dog feeding on vegetarian diet drinks copious amounts of water to normalize his urine pH and keep his kidneys in good health. Periodic urine tests ensure that your dog’s uric acid and creatinine levels are in check.
 

Gastric Risks with Vegetarian Food for Dogs

Vegetarian diets, especially those high on carbs and leafy greens could generate excess gas in dogs. Gas could make your dog extremely uncomfortable, resulting in bloating or Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), and even death, if not attended in time.
 
 
Sure, dogs can live a regular life on a vegetarian diet but they’d need planned meals and an extensive exercise routine to stay healthy. Apartment dogs are better off with balanced and complete meat-based diets. Low activity levels along with a vegetarian diet put them at a higher risk compared to their meat-fed counterparts. Working dogs MUST be fed a meat-based diet only.
 
A dog that’s fed a meat-based diet will always fare better than his vegetarian counterpart – be it on parameters of nutritional build up, muscle strength and endurance, agility, stamina, immunity or longevity. Sure, you don’t have put up your dog to a show. Most people never have to run a marathon, they still work out at the gym to stay fit. It’s about making the right choice. Make one for your furry baby today!
 

I don’t feel it’s right to kill one animal to feed another. What do I do?

Get a rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, goat, cow or a horse for a pet, instead of a dog!
 
While I sensitize with the Vegan movement and support kind and ethical treatment of all animals, I feel it’s also important that we respect the food-chain that’s built over millions of years of Evolution. Animals ‘hunting’ other animals for food has been a way of nature since the beginning of time. The shift from ‘hunting’ to ‘farming & slaughtering’ is a by-product of the human civilization and its progression. But that’s a discussion for another article.
 
Given an option, we’d love for all dogs to find and hunt their own prey and feed themselves. However, since the onus of their well-being lies on us, it’s important that we take an informed decision. Denying them a species-appropriate diet due to our religious, cultural or ethical belief is cruel treatment. Forcing our choice on them defies the very intent of that choice. Let’s be honest, given a choice between a piece of fresh meat and a bowl of salad, we know what your dog would pick!

You may be a vegetarian. And we respect that. But your dog is most certainly not. Can we respect that too, please?

The chill season is here! It’s the perfect time to dim down the lights and snuggle into a corner with your pooch. Here’s a list of 13 movies which we believe are a must watch for the dog lover in you:

1. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, 2009

Tissue Alert: This movie is enough to make a grown-up person cry! It’s a tale of a professor (played by Richard Gere) who takes home an abandoned dog, Hachi, and the two form an unbreakable bond of love. You’re in for a treat as it will remind you of all the reasons why you chose the fluff life (or the fluff life chose you!

2. Marley & Me, 2008

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, and their Labrador retriever, Marley and Me is about a couple whose life completely changes after Marley (their labrador) comes into the picture. Watch as they run (literally) through their life with the always energetic and hyperactive Marley!

3. Eight Below, 2006

The plot is about two scientists and their mission to the Antarctic along with their huskies. Owing to the harsh weather conditions, their life is about to take a complete U-Turn. With Paul Walker and his Huskies, this movie is a tale of friendship, love, survival, and adventure.

4. Turner & Hooch, 1989

In the movie, Tom Hanks plays the role of a detective. On his once-in-a-lifetime murder case, the only witness happens to be the victim’s dog. Watch on as the two try to bond and solve the case, and prove to be one of the most handsome couples Hollywood has ever seen! Nothing sexier than a man and his pooch, right Hooch?

5. Red Dog, 2011

In the search of his master, a lovable red dog travels through large areas, making a place in the hearts of people he encounters, and ends up uniting a whole community. Watch how this miracle dog wins his way through life and people!

6. Old Yeller, 1957

If you’re into the oldies, this is a golden one. Set in the countryside of Texas in the 50’s, this movie is about a young boy named Travis, who tries to take care of his family by working on a ranch (farm) with them. A yellow-haired dog pays them a visit, gets adopted by them and changes their life for the better. An adventurous and heartwarming story, this is a must watch!

7. 101 Dalmatians, 1961

If you have a pupper who likes watching cartoons, you can join him on this genius movie about a couple who has a litter of 15 pups. Cruella De Vil tries to kidnap these babies and trap them in their mansion. Watch how the super dalmatians seize the day!

8. Lassie, 1994

To start a new life, the Turner family moves to the countryside. As most little kids, the teenager Matt, and his little sister Jennifer feel lost. The feeling of homelessness is shared by collie dog who is searching for his original owner. Watch as their paths cross and a tale of friendship, love, and loyalty ensues.

9. A Dog Named Christmas, 2009

Find out what happens when a special boy, sets out on a special mission. Starring Noel Fisher, this movie shows how great Christmas can be if we just take that little effort.

10. Bolt, 2008

Always been the star of TV, the dog Bolt believes he has superpowers. This animated movie will take you through his journey as he goes through the real world and despite the harsh reality, finds the magic in life anyway!

11. All Dogs Go To Heaven, 1989

This is one badass movie about a dog who returns from heaven to revenge his death and make sure the culprits pay. If you’re looking forward to seeing a superhero dog who’s the James Bond of the DawgieWorld, you’re in the right place!

12. A Dog’s Purpose, 2017

Watch how a dog tries to find out the purpose of his life as he goes through different owners, experiences and lifetimes. An ultimate mixture of drama, comedy, and adventure, this movie is a MUST watch!

13. Chillar Party, 2011

This is a story about a group of children who fight the odds to protect their stray dogs as their home gets endangered. A perfect combination of comedy and drama, Chillar Party is a light-hearted movie and will leave you wide-eyed-ly happy!

Have a personal favorite that’s not on this list? Share it with us in the comments below!

In the first part of this blog, we learnt why certain dogs are picky about their food. If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend you to read it here.

Last week, we set the context to selective eating in dogs and studied the several causes and myths attached with it. Now let’s learn how to fix fussy eaters.

How NOT to fix fussy eaters?

Do NOT succumb to their alpha game – I know how it feels when your pooch looks down at his bowl and snubs at you with those dismayed eyes. But don’t fall for it, that’s his alpha game. He wants you to feel sorry for him, and guilty for feeding him that dog-forsaken thing for food. He wants you to feed him his favorite treat instead. But hey, those puppy eyes are a trap!

Do NOT bribe them with treats – Do not incentivize your dog to eat his food by topping it up with treats or hooman-food. The food itself should be an incentive for his good behavior. You, I and even the dog knows that he’s only going to meticulously eat the treats off and leave the food behind. If that really worked, Popeye wouldn’t have to go through the troubles to make the kids eat Spinach. He’d just sprinkle some Chana Masala gravy over it and wham!

Bribing him with treats is perceived by the dog as a reward for not eating his food. (After all, that’s what bribes really are, aren’t they?! How thankful we must be that our dogs don’t understand the concept of corruption yet!). Also, these treats are often loaded with MSG and other artificial taste enhancers which only make it worse for your fussy eating dog. Once he’s gotten addicted to their taste, it gets extremely difficult for the dog to switch to anything else.

ALSO READ: MSG: The Hidden Addiction

Do NOT hand-feed them – You don’t want your kids to be dependent on you forever, do you? Ideally, the dog should be made to earn every meal. Food should come as a reward for being a good dog. That’s how the wild works, you either work to get your food, or you starve and become food for others. In our homes, it’s enough that he’s getting the meal without having to scavenge for it. Feeding it by your hands will not only make the dog heavily dependent on you, but may also give birth to a hundred other behavioral issues. I’m all for pampering your furry baby, but only once he’s finished his meals on his own. Let your attention be a reward for his good behavior, not a reinforcement to his disobedience.

How to fix a fussy eater?

The first and the most important thing you need in order to fix your picky eater furiend is Commitment. When you start, there is a chance that your dog may not eat on first few attempts. Sometimes for an entire day or even two. There are a ton of things you can try, but they’ll all fall apart if you cave in at the end of the day and feed him his favorite high value food or top it up with treats to convince him to eat.

You’ll have to understand that the dog will never let himself starve. A typical dog can live up to 24-48 hours without food (smaller dogs, up to 72 hours on moderate daily exercise) which is how long it could take for your dog to start eating. While this may sound daunting, we’ll ensure that your dog has ample opportunities to eat and never has to starve. Let me also assure you, the only and yet the most difficult part of this exercise will be to convince yourself that this is for their greater good. You will have to be a strict parent and stay firm against his stubbornness. If you stay strong, I promise that eventually and gradually your kid will eat. I know this works, because my mom tried this on me every time I refused to eat Aloo Palak and Lauki + Chana Dal as a child. (I still don’t eat torayi because mom didn’t put enough effort there!)

Once you’ve ruled out all medical causes listed in Part 1 of this blog, you can work on addressing the behavioral and physiological causes. Start by breaking out your dog’s daily diet in 4-5 smaller meals, one every 3 hours. Offer each meal in his bowl and leave him alone with the food for exactly 20 minutes. Giving your dog personal space while he’s eating is very important. Sometimes dogs feel threatened, distracted or just shy to eat in front of other people. I’m sure even you don’t like the paparazzi beaming into your dinner plate at weddings, do you?

When you return after 20 minutes, remove the bowl whether or not your dog has finished his food. If he’s eaten only partially, remove whatever is left over. Make sure he doesn’t get any food until the next meal (after 3 hours, or the next morning if this was the last meal of the day) and nothing else apart from his food – no treats, no fruits, nothing else edible. He needs to register that this is the only food he’ll get and it will not remain forever if he doesn’t eat it in time. He won’t take long to understand that he has just 20 minutes to finish his meals. Feeding every 3 hours will ensure that he doesn’t starve for too long. He’ll have the option to eat his meals every 3 hours, provided he eats without fuss.

Every time he finishes his meal in full, pet him, call him a good boy – do whatever you do to appreciate him. If he doesn’t eat, or doesn’t finish in full, don’t react. Don’t rebuke him, don’t scream at him and definitely don’t pamper him or convince him (read: beg) to eat. Just don’t give him any attention if he doesn’t eat in time (Yes, your dog can read your facial expressions and emotions.)  He will soon realize that the best and only way to get your attention is to finish his meal in full. Love > Obstinacy, after all.

Consequently, you should also increase his daily exercise. Take him out for longer walks at least twice a day, engage in physical games and make your puppy spend his energy. Something as simple as climbing a flight of stairs up and down a few times a day is a great exercise for smaller dogs. For medium to larger sized dogs, take them out to the terrace or the park across your street. The more your dog exerts himself, the hungrier he feels, the sooner he’ll start eating.

Sometimes, putting your dog in the company of another similar sized dog who is not a fussy eater also works. Dogs will eat their food immediately (even low value food) if they see it under a threat from another dog. However, try this only when you understand the other dog and the chemistry between the two dogs, lest you might find yourself in the middle of a paw-fight.

What’s the right food to feed a fussy eater?

It’s a common misconception that dogs do not have the sense of taste. It’s true that dogs have only 1/6^th the number of taste buds as that of a human, but most of what we taste is actually taste and smell combined. And since dogs have one the best sense of smell, our estimate is that dogs can taste stuff very well. There are 6 main tastes that a dog identifies: Sweet, savory, sour, bitter, the taste of meat (favorite!) and one other (a taste that’s still unknown to man).

However, it’s recommended that you pick a food that’s closest to their ancestral diet and is predominantly meat based. Dogs need a diet that’s rich in animal proteins and fats. The fat makes the food more palatable and acceptable for dogs, and helps their skin and coat too.

Since you’re conditioning them to eat only one kind of food over time, it’s important that the food delivers all important nutrients including vitamins and minerals necessary for correct growth at his life stage. When he begins to eat without fuss, he’s trusting you with his food. Make sure you choose his food carefully. Steer clear of packaged pet foods that are mostly loaded with synthetic ingredients and toxic preservatives. Like all responsible parents, go natural. Feed real.

If you are looking for fresh, healthy and complete meals for your fussy dog, visit www.dawgiebowl.com and customize his plan now. Get 15% OFF the first month’s subscription, enter promo code DBINTRO15 at checkout.

You know the drill – you set out a bowl of the healthiest and most delicious pet food (or so you think!) in front of your pooch and instead of digging in it joyfully with tongue and teeth, he sniffs it, licks it a little maybe, gives you that disappointed shrug and walks away. And that repeats bowl after bowl, and meal after meal.

I know how heart-breaking it is to try every possible way to feed your dog and still fail. You try hand-feeding the food, topping it up with treats or a little hooman-food to make it more acceptable, even pretend to eat and like the food yourself in the hopes that your dog would reciprocate. But Fido doesn’t seem impressed. I feel your pain!

Every parent wants their kids to eat well and stay happy and healthy. It naturally becomes a huge cause of concern if your dog turns out to be a picky eater, or turns into one.

Fussy or selective eating may have many different facets. Different dogs are differently selective about different things they eat. So it could be a bit tricky to address your dog’s picky eating habits, and may often times require more than one or several attempts and different ways to fix them. Almost all fussy eaters can be conditioned to eat normally, but it requires exemplary patience and dedication (and a little strict parenting) from your end.

First of all, it’s important to understand if your dog is a fussy eater or is just selective about what he eats. Some dogs may like to eat some foods but not others. And that’s normal (except if the only things he likes to eat are unhealthy). It’s just different personalities with different preferences, like hoomans. However, if your pup often gets “bored” of his food after a few days or refuses to eat what he loved until last week, we may have a problem. If your pup is a growing one and is starting to reject only certain food items, he may be developing a taste against them. If you’ve had the dog in your family for a while, I trust you understand the pattern by now.

Picky dogs are often characterized by heaps of food always lying in their bowls, from one meal to the next. And their parents are often characterized by heaps of different brands of pet foods stashed in the house, and internet search history like “my dog won’t eat”, “how to feed my fussy dog”, “how to convince my dog to eat”, etc.

Please note that if your dog has only recently become fussy about his food, or has shown a sudden loss of appetite, it could be a sign of illness. Please take your dog for a veterinary check-up immediately.

Dogs are not born picky. It’s an acquired skill.

Let’s begin by getting this straight, no dog is fussy by birth. Dogs are opportunistic hunters by nature. This means they scavenge food when given the opportunity. That’s how wild dogs became domesticated – it was easy to find food among hoomans, and over time they became less and less wary of us until eventually they became domesticated. This inherent scavenging behaviour continues and is still strong in all healthy dogs today.

However, man’s company has taught them a thing or two. A domesticated dog knows that he’ll never run out of food. Even if he skips this meal, he’ll get the next one. And if he doesn’t eat this one, he has a better chance of getting something he enjoys even more. And that is what happens really, doesn’t it? When your dog refuses to eat his usual meal [low value], you replace it with chicken or eggs (or something else that he loves) [high value]. If he refuses to eat that, you replace it with something more tempting (pour a little gravy on it, or sprinkle some treats on it) [higher value]. Most dogs understand these relative high and low values very well. No dog would starve himself, but he can very well skip a low value food in the hopes of getting a high value food item.

Why do dogs turn picky?

Depending on what the exact pattern of your dog’s selective eating habit is, there could be several reasons driving his fussy nature. Let’s look at some of the probable causes, starting from the least likely to the most commonly observed ones.

Medical – When a dog won’t eat, the condition is called anorexia. If your dog refuses to eat at all or eats only very minute quantities before giving up on food and is rapidly losing body condition (symptoms of starving), there could be medical reasons responsible for it. A blockage somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract or an ulcer somewhere in the mouth or stomach, or even a kidney or liver malfunction could be stopping your dog from eating. A thorough check-up with your vet can help identify the exact cause.

If your dog has only temporarily stopped eating, it may not necessarily be one of these causes, but you may still want to check with a vet for any possible infections, inflammations or illness.

Elder dogs may have trouble with eating food that’s too hard to chew or swallow. Sometimes a broken or loose tooth, severe gingivitis and an oral tumor could also stop the dog from eating.

Behavioral – If your dog prefers some food items over others or only eats when hand-fed, his problem may be behavioral, and not medical. Such dogs will often only eat the chicken, or eggs or their favorite food and leave behind all the veggies or rice or anything they don’t like. Often it’s the high value food versus the low value food conundrum. Some of these dogs may refuse to eat the high value foods after some time, because they would have found another higher value item. I have met parents who have like 15 different brands of dog food in their home now, because their dog stops eating the current brand every 3-4 weeks.

Some dogs won’t eat until hand-fed. I have met dogs who would want you to chase them for hours before they’d finish their meal, and some others who would only eat when someone puts a morsel in their mouth. Otherwise, they’d just pass.

Both of these situations are dangerous, as one day you’d just run out of options for new food to feed your dog. And your dog will starve to death if you’re not around to feed him. It’s important that your dog eats what he’s fed and eats it on his own. Pampering is necessary and important, but parenting should always win.

If it’s a puppy you’re dealing with, sometimes they don’t even know what to do with that food. How many times have you seen him more interested in the bowl than the food that’s in it?! In such situations, you might have to take a morsel and put it in his mouth the first time to get him hooked to the taste. He should start eating on his own thereafter. But do not repeat or continue the hand-feeding for long, else he’ll get used to it.

Physiological – If your dog eats very less or eats rarely, it could just mean he’s not that hungry. A dog’s daily calorific requirement is based on his size, his activity and exercise. If your dog does not exert himself much throughout the day, he’ll have a low metabolism and he’ll feel less hungry. And if he’s offered treats to motivate him throughout the day, he’ll have enough calories by the end to keep him running without food.

This is the reason why we see more small dogs showing fussy behavior than medium sized or large dogs. Smaller dogs have relatively less calorific requirements throughout the day and can derive enough energy to sustain stubbornness even from the small morsels of food they taste, or the treats they’ve conned you into.

Busting some myths around fussy eating

Dogs get bored of their food after a while and need variety. Wrong! Dogs love consistency. Not only their body responds better to a consistent nutritional mix, they also like the routine of eating the same food over and over again. Like humans, most dogs have preferences. Like some may prefer Pizza over Pasta (or the equivalent of it in the dawgie culinary world!). But for dogs, they can eat their favorite Pizza (equivalent of) every day for the rest of their lives, and unlike us humans, don’t crave for a variety.

Fussy eaters can’t be fixed. Wrong! While fussy eaters (particularly the behavioral type) demand time and patience to fix, they can certainly be conditioned with time to eat like normal dogs. Fixing stubborn little brats is not easy, but we know it’s for their greater good. If you’re used to eating junk food for a better part of your life, switching to a salad diet may be difficult, but we know it’s the right choice.

Changing a dog’s diet frequently prevents him from becoming fussy. Wrong! Not only his digestive system has to bear the consequences of the often changing nutritional mix of the diet, you also give your dog more options to choose a high value food item from. While variety may be the spice of life, your dog (and you) may not enjoy it so much after all.

If you’ve read so far, you obviously have questions about how to fix your picky eater. We will cover the do’s and don’ts and some simple steps to condition your fussy dog into eating his regular meals in Part 2 of this blog. Stay tuned for it! (You can follow our Facebook page to stay updated with all the blogs I publish or come back and check our blogs page)

UPDATE: Part 2 is out now! Read here.

Every time I visit a hyperactive dawgie, his parents end up feeding him a rawhide treat to keep him ‘engaged’ or ‘occupied’ for the next few minutes. Not just hyperactive, but most dogs seem to enjoy the chewy treats that are often interpreted as ‘calcium supplements’ or ‘bone alternatives’ by their parents.

Whereas the truth is that rawhide treats are far from being calcium supplements. In fact, they fail at being any kind of supplement, except for toxin supplement, maybe. To be honest, the name rawhide is a misnomer. In the words of world renowned veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker, a more accurate name would be processed-hide, because the skin isn’t raw at all.

Let’s look at what the rawhide treats go through before they reach your dawgie’s jaw. This would probably help you decide whether or not to feed them to your furry baby.

Contrary to popular belief, rawhide is not a by-product of meat industry. It’s not made from bones; it’s not made from dehydrated meat. In fact, it’s a by-product of the leather industry.

As per this article on thebark.com, producing rawhide begins with the splitting of an animal hide, usually from cattle. The top grain is generally tanned and made into leather products, while the inner portion, in its “raw” state, goes to the dogs.

The hides are treated with several rounds of toxic chemicals that ‘preserve’ the leather while it’s being shipped from the slaughterhouses to the tanneries for processing. The hides are treated with a highly toxic solution of sodium sulphide liming to remove residual hair and fat from the hides, and then washed and whitened using hydrogen peroxide and several other bleaching solutions. Few other substances that are known to be used in the processing of rawhides include lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium salts, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals (all of which are known to cause cancer).

In fact, there are reports of dog skins being used alongside other hides for the production of rawhide chewable treats in Thailand.

After the beaching process, the hides are colored, flavoured with synthetic agents to make them look and smell delicious for dawgies. The Material Safety Data Sheet reveals a toxic confection containing the carcinogen FD&C Red 40, along with preservatives like sodium benzoate. But tracking the effects of chemical exposure is nearly impossible when it’s a matter of slow, low-dose poisoning.

Since there is no regulatory authority in India to control the quality of these chews (and they do not fall under the purview of FDA – because they’re chew toys, not food), the manufacturers of these leather strips are free to use whatever chemicals they deem suitable for the process.

Rawhide treats start out hard, but as your dawgie chews on them, they become soft and eventually into turn into a lump of chewy, slimy piece of leathery bubble gum. At this point, they stop offering any dental benefit, and in fact, become a choking hazard. If your dog swallows a large piece of rawhide, it can get stuck in the esophagus or other parts of the digestive tract. Sometimes, abdominal surgery is needed to remove it from the stomach or intestines. If it isn’t resolved, a blockage can lead to death.

Do you still think rawhide bones are a good way to keep your dog occupied? Think again, it’s not worth putting his life at risk.

Got questions? Post them in the comments below or call us at 9452 666 222.

This November marked the largest ever demonetization movement in the history of free world. Black Money is a problem that the world has accepted and is talking about today. It’s not merely an economic theory anymore. It’s a cancer that has spread and infested almost half our world. And thus drastic measures need be taken to treat it.

November is also the National Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Why should you care? Because cancer is a reality. It’s not something limited to movies and TV shows anymore, or something you read about in journals and on the Internet. Cancer is all around you today. It’s affecting the people and pets we know, we care about, we love. According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation of the US, 1 in 3 dogs develop cancer in their lifetime. Indian Urban Dawgies have an even higher risk, with almost ONE in every TWO dogs suffering with cancer, thanks to the unfortunate conditions here (incessant and unorganized inbreeding, unhealthy lifestyle, poor medical-aids, etc).

If that hasn’t sunk in yet, let me reiterate: Every alternate dog around you is either already or will suffer with cancer in his lifetime. Yes, that’s correct! Now, do you think you should care?

Q: What is Cancer?

A body is made up of trillions of cells, the building block of all tissues, each designated to perform a specific task in the body. For example, bone and muscle cells give strength and structure to the body, organ cells make up the different body organs, skin cells protect the others from external environment, nerve cells create the messaging and control system of the body, etc. You can think of these cells as different employees of the company, each part of a different team designated to perform a specific function – HR, Engineering, Marketing and Sales, etc. Each of these cells are capable of reproducing or replicating themselves according to their functional requirements. This replication is called Growth. The Sales team and HR, may both grow, but their growth rates and requirements may be different specific to their function.

How each cell grows and performs, is driven by the DNA information stored in the nucleus of the cell. Every cell is expected to work as per the rules defined in the DNA. Sometimes this information undergoes an unexpected corruption or typo. This mutation causes certain cells to grow out of order. These outlaw cells create tumors and tend to grow and spread across the body. This can be imaged as Radical Groups or Unions created within the company that perform no real function except for defying rules created by the management and disrupting normal business. This is known as Cancer.

Typically, the body’s immune system would identify and fix these cancerous cells. But in the absence of a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition, the body’s natural defenses against such outbursts are weakened and hence, cancer thrives in the body. Much like most radical groups, cancers have the tendency to exploit the body’s resources to support rapid growth of its corrupt cells and finally consume the host body completely. (Does that explain why Terrorism is synonymous to Cancer for our society?)

Q: What’s causing these high cancer rates in our dogs?

The DNA mutation in the cell can be initiated due to a lot of external factors. Exposure to radioactive or otherwise toxic chemicals, genetic defects, an overall poor nutrition and lifestyle greatly contributes to cancer in the body. Sometimes the mutation could be spontaneous and not triggered by an external factor at all. And that’s absolutely normal. What’s also normal is for the body’s immune system to catch the defect and fix it early. However, when the body’s immunity is impacted by genetic or nutritional reasons, or by administering low quality food and/or supplements – the risks are increased manifold.

For years, processed pet foods have been delivering poor quality of nutrition while passing on several toxic chemicals as preservatives and synthetic colors & flavoring agents. This, along with receding activity levels of dogs and uncontrolled & unorganized inbreeding is making the situation worse. The biggest villain here is the lifestyle. The world is becoming increasingly busy and hence, the number of lifestyle diseases among both hoomans and dawgies have increased.

Q: Why did I never hear about this before?

One, not a lot of research and education was available until recent. Two, there has been a natural spike in the frequency of lifestyle diseases for both hoomans and dawgies in the past two decades. Thanks to the processed and junk foods we’ve all been hooked on to, and the exponential growth of knowledge industry – which has resulted in more desk jobs than ever before. The constant urbanization has resulted in smaller homes and even smaller social interaction windows. The WHO has found a clear link between cases of cancer and poor lifestyle in people. Something as common as obesity can increase the risks of 11 cancers.

We don’t eat the same quality of food that we used to, 15 or 20 years ago. And neither do our dogs. We don’t walk or run the same distance that we used to, 15 or 20 years ago. And neither do our dogs.

Three, we never saw so many new breeds as commonly as we see today. While some of these breeds were created for specific task, others were mostly created for aesthetics – not genetic or evolutionary support and stability. Needless to say, the puppy mills are not really run by Experts.

Q: How do I know if my dog has cancer?

The warning signs of cancer in dogs are very similar to that in hoomans. Sometimes these signs are very confusing and that is what makes cancer a little difficult to diagnose early. These are some common symptoms to watch out for in your dog:

1. Abnormal swellings, bumps and lumps that persist or continue to grow
2. Sores that do not heal
3. Unusual and rapid weight loss
4. Sudden loss of appetite
5. Bleeding or discharge from any of the body-openings
6. Unusually offensive odors
7. Difficulty eating or swallowing
8. General lethargy, hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
9. Persistent lameness or stiffness
10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecation
11. Sudden behavior changes
12. Pale gums due to blood loss in body

Q: Are some breeds more prone to cancer than others?

Inbred dogs have a higher risk of inheriting diseases from their parent’s lineage. In an attempt to keep the bloodline pure, breeders tend to overlook the genetic vulnerabilities that inbreeding tends to bring along. Because mixed-breed dogs come from a much larger gene pool, they would be less likely to get genetic-based cancers. But that doesn’t change anything for cancers acquired due to external factors or deficiency of proper nutrients and lifestyle to support a strong immune system.

Q: If my dog has cancer, does that mean he’s going to die?

Absolutely not. A majority of cancers can be dealt with and treated almost completely, if they’re detected in time. A variety of treatments are now available to treat cancers in pets and people, including but not limited to surgical removal, radiation and chemotherapy, etc. Even if certain cancers cannot be cured, a healthy lifestyle and diet can help your dog live a normal and painless life. There are many holistic care practices that are known to have cured dogs of cancers at various stages. But as a general rule, the earlier we can detect cancer, the better chances we stand to treat it.

Q: What can I do to help prevent my dog from getting cancer?

While not all cancers can be prevented, pet parents can take certain steps to help their dogs have a lower risk of developing them. A balanced a healthy diet will help the dog develop a strong immune system to fight against most cancerous formations. Steer away from synthetic and processed food items and supplements and always trust natural food. There is no better food than real food. For you, as well as for your dog.

Every tumor starts will a small swelling. Inflammation offers a favorable condition for cancer cells to grow rapidly. Encouraging food items that have natural anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce swelling and pain in parts of your dog’s body and prevent cancer formation.

Natural and controlled supply of Vitamins A, C, E, beta carotene, lycopene, and the mineral Selenium helps ward off cancer. Having your dog spayed or neutered at a young age can help prevent reproductive cancers.

Finally, there is no alternative to exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

For those interested to read more on canine cancer, a free collection of reading material is available on the website of the National Canine Cancer Foundation.

Got questions about your pet’s health and diet? Call 9452 666 222.