Michele Eckermann Michele Eckermann

Who Regulates our Pet’s Food.

Credits in this blog to:

 www.https://thepetparentingreset.com Podcast “Exposing Pet Food Industry Secrets with Roxanne Stone”

blog written by: Suki Meyers

Have you ever wondered who actually cares or regulates the ingredients in our pet’s food? The answers are interesting and very important to think about the next time you are food shopping for your dog or cat. When looking at the ingredient panels on our dog’s and cat’s food we will see the letters AFFCO listed either next to an ingredient or somewhere on the package. AFFCO stands for: American Association of Feed Control Officials established in 1908. (The definition of “Feed” and “Food” are different). AAFCO doesn’t regulate our pet’s food the FDA does. AAFCO officials include: The FDA, The Department of Agriculture, some veterinarians, industry representatives, and state officials. These officials have influences in the pet food arena to write definitions, rules and regulations that individual states to adopt or not called the “OP”. Pet food manufacturers have to register their pet food in the state they sell their pet food in. Companies who sell for human consumption do not have to register their foods. We can’t standardize “whole Food”.

So, does AFFCO have your pet’s health in their best interest? AAFCO allows waste products including byproducts and diesel fuel to go into our pet’s food. Kibble Diets in particular. The ingredient just has to show some type of nutrition and calorie. The National Research Council used to make up the standards and was last updated in 2000. It is 2024.

I want my pet to Thrive not just Survive! And yours, too!

Try Adding up to 20% of fresh food to your pet’s diet is wonderful and healthy (and delicious)! And do your best!

Additional Reading:

www.https://consumerreports.org Article “Produce Without Pesticides.” by Catherine Roberts is a good source analyzing pesticide data on fruits and vegetables.

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Michele Eckermann Michele Eckermann

Signs your pet may benefit from chiropractic treatment

Information taken from “Chiropractic Care For Your Dog”, a brochure published by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).

Written by: Michele Eckermann, DVM

In small animals, there are numerous symptoms of subluxation of the spinal vertebra. The obvious and most common signs include pain, lameness, posture changes, and performance issues. Symptoms can continue to change as the body compensates for the subluxation and more structures become involved.

The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate pain and dysfunction caused by a subluxation:

  • Changes in performance

  • Abnormal posture such as low head carriage or hunched back

  • Reluctance to move, climb stairs, jump on or off of furniture, and get up or lay down

  • Pain response to being picked up or when performing specific movements

  • Sensitivity to touch

  • Changes in behavior

  • Undefined or vague lameness, ambling or slow gait, and uneven wearing down of nails

  • Side-sitting or refusal to sit

  • Dribbling urine or dropping feces

  • Recurrent ear or anal gland infections

  • Digestive issues including sporadic appetite, frequent vomiting, intermittent diarrhea or constipation, gas/bloating, abdominal discomfort

  • Slow or incomplete recovery from injury or illness

The goal of regular wellness chiropractics in not only to reduce or relieve pain, but to avoid compensatory changes to the body that can lead to injuries such as tendon and ligament tears, intervertebral disc ruptures, muscle atrophy and osteoarthritis. Regular activity along with a healthy diet and preventive care is key to a long, happy life. So, let’s insure that our pets are able to continue to move and play as pain free as possible!

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Michele Eckermann Michele Eckermann

How To Use Bone Broth For Dogs

From Fido’s Bone Broth. Fido’s Bone broth.com. November 3, 2022

Written by: Suki Meyers

What is Bone Broth and when, where and why should it be added to your pet’s diet?

Bone Broth is a super food packed with Vitamins. Minerals, Amino Acids, Electrolytes and many more important ingredients.

  • Collagen: For stronger bones, joint health, skin, fur and coat health

  • Amino Acids: Building Blocks of Protein

  • Glucosamine: Natural Anti-inflammatory

  • Hyaluronic Acid: Lubrication by increasing joint fluid.

  • Chondroitin: Maintaining the health of cartilage in dog’s joints

  • Minerals: Sodium, Calcium, Potassium

  • Electrolytes: Are minerals that help regulate fluid balance

  • Herbs: Herbs have been used for thousands of years. Herbs contain biologically active compounds to support or dogs’ health.

When should we add it? “From the cradle to the grave”. Basically, throughout your pet’s life for prevention of inflammation. Bone broth is an additional option to keep our pups hydrated, Bone broth can be found in liquid forms or dehydrated.

Where can we add Bone broth? As a topper to any meal; kibble, wet food or any other type of diet for hydration and extra nutrition. Or on its own.

How? During cooler months warm up the broth when feeding and in warmer months freeze in ice cube trays and serve as delicious treat.

Why should we feed bone broth? Health, Hydration and Happiness.


Bone Broth Part II:

Bone Broth “Liquid Gold”

Credit to Bronwyn Farley. Article written on March 11th, 2019. dolceslegacy.com

The History of Bone Broth. The father of Medicine; Hippocrates recommended bone broth for cleansing and G.I upset. For over 2500 hundred years the Chinese culture has been using bone broth for its medicinal benefits. By adding herbs, it makes it more nutrient dense and powerful for overall gut health.

Benefits

For Gut Health:

  1. Leaky Gut syndrome

  2. Issues associated to diarrhea and GI distress.

  3. Fights against food sensitives and environmental allergies.

    The Immune System:

    1. Bone Broth Boost the immune system.

    2. Heart Health

    3. Aids in cancer, dementia, diabetes and heart disease due to the glycine and arginine.

    Skin and Joints:

    1. Collagen rich

    2. Maintains and rebuilds connective tissue

    3. Natural glucosamine and chondroitin

    Detoxification:

    1. Cell and liver detox

    2. Helps the body expel waste more effectively and efficiently.

    3. Hydration

    KIbble Feeders:

    Kibble is naturally drying by nature! If you can add anything to your pet’s kibble add Bone Broth. Add Moisture back into the body and joints.

    Make sure the bone broth you are serving is appropriate for you dog or cat. Buying from your grocery store is not recommended. Inappropriate and harmful ingredients. Either make your own (appropriate recipes) or purchases form a biologically appropriate pet food store.






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Michele Eckermann Michele Eckermann

6 Boosters to add to your Dog’s Bowl of Kibble

The Information in this Blog Post comes from Dogs Naturally Magazine Article titled: “Can’t Do Raw? How To Make Dog Kibble Better”. Last Updated September28th, 2023

Written by: Suki Meyers

I would like to share some ways we can help supplement your dog’s kibble to boost the nutrition and excitement at feeding time.

Our pets should be very excited when we are preparing their meals.

They are very intelligent creatures and one of the ways they communicate with us is at mealtime. Either they are excited for dinner or not !

I compare it to our excitement at Thanksgiving. If the Turkey is good Yeah! If not, we move onto to the sides.

So how can we add excitement and nutrition at mealtime?

  1. Vary Foods and Brands. Rotation.

    We are not married to a brand or a protein.

    If your pup Isn’t interested in a certain protein, texture or cannot properly digest the new food presented we discontinue serving and move onto something else.

  2. Add Fresh Foods. Fruits, Vegetables, Fermented foods.

  3. Omega’s! Sardines, Green Lipped Mussels. Northwest Natural’s has a Freeze Dried whole Mussels…simple.

  4. Organs, Tripe, Eggs. Cooked proteins.

  5. Hydration!! Raw Goats Milk, Raw Keifer Milk, Bone Broths and Fish Stocks. Water!

    We must remember we need to feed biologically appropriate foods to keep our pets happy and healthy. The confusing part is knowing and trusting brands to add into the bowl.

    Ingredient labels are important. We must make sure the boosters/toppers we feed our pets are digestible and balanced to gain the most nutritional benefits.

    Food is Medicine.










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