We follow Dr. Jean Dodds' vaccination protocol. Please read through these articles to learn more about vaccines, which ones are necessary (and which ones might not be), and titer tests.
Nutrition
Please be extra vigilant when choosing a dog food. We highly recommend against BEG diets - boutique brands, exotic ingredients, and grain-free - as these are currently under investigation for causing heart disease (Dilated Cardiomyopathy, DCM). Most frequently named brands in DCM cases reported to FDA include Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, 4Health, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Fromm, Merrick, California Natural, Natural Balance, Orijen, Nature's Variety, NutriSource, Nutro, and Rachel Ray Nutrish.
A high-quality diet is fundamental for health and longevity, but there is so much more to it than tasty sounding ingredients. What's important is proper formulation and balanced nutrition. Making a high quality food that is nutritious is not very easy! It requires the right nutrients in the right proportions, and all the other ingredients need to be considered for their effect, as a whole, in addition to quality control and testing. Not every manufacture is able to do this. It requires the food to be formulated by a qualified nutritionist. An ingredient list cannot tell you if the food is properly formulated to provide a balanced diet of nutrients. After all, our dogs need nutrients not ingredients.
Dog food brands that meet the WSAVA guidelines and recommended by "cardiologists and nutritionists " in response to the sudden spike in DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) cases include ProPlan, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Hill's Science Diet.
WSAVA guidelines are helpful, however it should be noted that Purina, Mars, and Hill's are the sponsors of WSAVA.
All of these brands have also been found to be tainted or had recalls. Many people have trouble feeding a food with corn, wheat, gluten, by-products, etc.. In addition, the quality control has proven to be lacking. Purina was found to have 'above the allowable level' of cyanuric acid and melamine (a deadly combination); Hill's had a recall in 2019 due to toxic levels of vitamin D; and Mars pet care (owner of Eukanuba and Royal Canin) had a recall for plastic pieces being in their food. Read More: https://truthaboutpetfood.com/is-it-any-wonder-pet-owners-are-suspicious/
What to feed instead?
We feed a dry food that is the best of both worlds called LIFE'S ABUNDANCE -
Science-based nutrition with inventory control and quality testing, AND does not have corn, wheat, gluten. Feeding trials are currently in progress.
Why we feed and recommend Life's Abundance
A high-quality diet is fundamental for health and longevity, but there is so much more to it than tasty sounding ingredients. What's important is proper formulation and balanced nutrition. Making a high quality food that is nutritious is not very easy! It requires the right nutrients in the right proportions, and all the other ingredients need to be considered for their effect, as a whole, in addition to quality control and testing. Not every manufacture is able to do this. It requires the food to be formulated by a qualified nutritionist. An ingredient list cannot tell you if the food is properly formulated to provide a balanced diet of nutrients. After all, our dogs need nutrients not ingredients.
Dog food brands that meet the WSAVA guidelines and recommended by "cardiologists and nutritionists " in response to the sudden spike in DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) cases include ProPlan, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, and Hill's Science Diet.
WSAVA guidelines are helpful, however it should be noted that Purina, Mars, and Hill's are the sponsors of WSAVA.
All of these brands have also been found to be tainted or had recalls. Many people have trouble feeding a food with corn, wheat, gluten, by-products, etc.. In addition, the quality control has proven to be lacking. Purina was found to have 'above the allowable level' of cyanuric acid and melamine (a deadly combination); Hill's had a recall in 2019 due to toxic levels of vitamin D; and Mars pet care (owner of Eukanuba and Royal Canin) had a recall for plastic pieces being in their food. Read More: https://truthaboutpetfood.com/is-it-any-wonder-pet-owners-are-suspicious/
What to feed instead?
We feed a dry food that is the best of both worlds called LIFE'S ABUNDANCE -
Science-based nutrition with inventory control and quality testing, AND does not have corn, wheat, gluten. Feeding trials are currently in progress.
Why we feed and recommend Life's Abundance
- We have personally talked to holistic veterinarian Dr Jane Bicks, the product formulator, and are pleased with the quality, safety, and freshness of her products.
- Never had a recall
- Freshest possible, arriving at our door generally within 6 weeks of being made
- Food kept in temperature controlled warehouse before shipped directly to consumer (does not sit around for months or years before being served to our dogs)
- Every batch is tested and a sample retained by the company. If something were to ever happen, they know exactly who received food from a specific batch and will get in contact directly
- We also highly recommend the AGILITY joint supplement and have used this for over 5 years on our Lab with a torn CCL (dog's ACL) and has proven effective in avoiding surgery!!! Labradors are prone to hip and joint problems and we strongly recommend a joint supplement to support their bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.
