tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71755117102245744922024-03-22T01:54:53.639-07:00The Dog Food DudeRick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-38129338051617705262017-01-12T12:24:00.000-08:002017-01-12T12:24:00.501-08:00Trimming Down by Understanding CaloriesOne of the most important contributions to keeping your dog at a healthy weight is understanding how many calories your dog needs.<br />
<br />
Most dogs need far fewer calories than we provide them because we overestimate their activity level. When you consider how active your dog is, think about whether they are truly active.<br />
<br />
An Active Dog plays hard for 1-2 hours a day. Your dog would be a dedicated athlete.<br />
<br />
An Extra Active Dog is an endurance athlete that spends most of the day in activity.<br />
<br />
Be sure to check how many calories per cup of food your dog food has and then divide the number in the chart below by the number of calories per cup to determine how much to feed your dog.<br />
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In the winter months if your dog is receiving less exercise, consider trimming back by another 10%.<br />
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<br />Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-22230506010333762582015-11-09T20:48:00.001-08:002015-11-10T07:38:44.347-08:00Be Seen! It's Dark and Your Dog Still Needs a Walk.This is the most difficult time for walking dogs. By the sun starts to shine in the morning, you're on your way to work. In the evening when you return home, it's already dark.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbui1HmomiK3m8tgqPtfxrbnniHsoW45m0jmECY0gLvKZ4p6F5ux8gHUXlCZDRwU-MQBT3n4Mj41APavU9M-OjumkmZaMH1ElolkLb7wDyFzDX49lkBhyw9U9v0M0foDu7W04OxaCh5q6E/s1600/257976-stock-photo-human-being-dog-dark-body-walking-to-go-for-a-walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbui1HmomiK3m8tgqPtfxrbnniHsoW45m0jmECY0gLvKZ4p6F5ux8gHUXlCZDRwU-MQBT3n4Mj41APavU9M-OjumkmZaMH1ElolkLb7wDyFzDX49lkBhyw9U9v0M0foDu7W04OxaCh5q6E/s320/257976-stock-photo-human-being-dog-dark-body-walking-to-go-for-a-walk.jpg" width="320" /></a>There are days when I get home later than planned, and it's just too dark and cold to go for a walk. Then I think about what the dogs need. Earlier in the morning they walked me to work and Gregory walked them home. For the next six to eight hours, Flynn and Frank are sequestered to the kitchen <br />
while Duncan is given a respite from the others sleeping in his kennel, atop a heating pad. (When we return home, Duncan is reluctant to leave his personal spa, and only does so when we mention that dinner is served.)<br />
<br />
Most of the day the dogs are waiting for us to return, anxious to experience the neighborhood and feel the fresh air whirl around them. Fall evenings seem to ramp up their excitement because musty smells abound and the tracks of squirrels criss-cross our path. I know that I owe it to my boys to take them for a walk despite the hour or the lack of visibility. <br />
<br />
Before I leash up the dogs, I search my wardrobe for a jacket. I'm looking for color and brightness; the lighter the color the better. I also dress for warmth, using an underlayer. Dressing requires a planning for the event; I want to be seen, so darker underlayers are definitely less important than what people see. Think about your neighborhood; how far do you walk between streetlights and how well are you seen? More importantly, at intersections how well are you lit up. The weather comes and goes, but in the rain will a driver's vision be obscured? When you are driving around, how well do you see other pedestrians? When they are wearing dark clothing, it's pretty difficult. It's time to ante up and make sure that both you and your dog can be seen. Walks are essential no matter the season or weather, here are some of my favorite ideas to keep you both safe.<br />
<br />
Headlamps: Okay, I'm a little vain. When I run into neighbors, I don't want to be the dork with a headlamp on my forehead. Instead, I strap a headlamp to my bicep and position it so that I can direct it around and see the "items" that I need to pick up. Here's a number of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3180291%2Ck%3Aheadlamps&sort=price-asc-rank&keywords=headlamps&ie=UTF8&qid=1447130063&rnid=2941120011" target="_blank">alternatives</a> from amazon.com.<br />
<br />
<br />
There are also some great alternatives that send<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Doutdoor-recreation&field-keywords=flashing+led+lights&sprefix=flashing+led+lights%2Caps%2C204" target="_blank"> a flashing light to signal </a>to both other dog walkers and car drivers that say "Hey, watch out! I'm walking here."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjabh-8ni_0ZITYOVY3i9w58_0WZn_oDyyr43mkfT4zPF_hXZeynZrqJFhYRxX-B1LYsZXJg1FwBc4BozTzqLXRmYLcWOWHeohTjMuvdBpAX983OwLOBpKtbqSs82umXE9sUJ2Zy2dL3WR/s1600/dog-hivis-collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjabh-8ni_0ZITYOVY3i9w58_0WZn_oDyyr43mkfT4zPF_hXZeynZrqJFhYRxX-B1LYsZXJg1FwBc4BozTzqLXRmYLcWOWHeohTjMuvdBpAX983OwLOBpKtbqSs82umXE9sUJ2Zy2dL3WR/s320/dog-hivis-collar.jpg" width="320" /></a>At the minimum consider a<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Doutdoor-recreation&field-keywords=reflective+leash&rh=i%3Aoutdoor-recreation%2Ck%3Areflective+leash" target="_blank"> reflective leash. </a>(Quite honestly, I'd rather have you wearing a visible light.) <br />
<br />
No matter how dark it is, your dog needs a walk. When you're out and about, please be safe and visible.<br />
<br />
Just so you know: I provide the amazon.com links above so you can search out quality products for yourself. I haven't tested all the products provided in the search results, but want you to find the product that works best for you and keeps you safe. No advertising or link fees are received, they are simply suggestions. If you find something you love, let me know.Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-37013833130582588842015-10-27T22:08:00.003-07:002015-10-27T22:10:50.770-07:00Pumpking Carving - Do You Have the Guts?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oW1qmlap8azpWqbH-abI8d_KGxV3R6kF_jw0NMH28t7LRcRQdLc0Rkd3tk4ClbE1_gnYrx2q63AIfoCAMKJJgsKd12FX0hdx5xQw_CVFwZmM1DyeKWhOfmjWAfpEWk3ZoTcXATIb9XJP/s1600/20151027_213846_resized.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oW1qmlap8azpWqbH-abI8d_KGxV3R6kF_jw0NMH28t7LRcRQdLc0Rkd3tk4ClbE1_gnYrx2q63AIfoCAMKJJgsKd12FX0hdx5xQw_CVFwZmM1DyeKWhOfmjWAfpEWk3ZoTcXATIb9XJP/s400/20151027_213846_resized.jpeg" width="225" /></a>It's that time of year and and over the next few days millions of pumpkins will meet their demise as we spill their guts all over the dining room table and transform the squashes into grotesque or humorous faces. One of the best parts of pumpkin carving is having all the seeds to toast. Soak them overnight first and then follow my recipe for <a href="http://dogfooddude.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-pie-seeds.html?q=pumpkin" target="_blank">pumpkin pie seeds</a> (for you).<br />
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That doesn't mean you have to leave your dog out of the fun or the treats. When you separate the <br />
stringy insides from the seeds, transfer them to you slow cooker along with any of the noses, eyes or goofy grins that you are discarding. Just be sure to throw away any parts with mold, pen or pencil marks into the compost. If you're carving 2-3 large pumpkins you'll easy end up with a pot full of pumpkin insides to fill the slow cooker. <br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Sprinkle over 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and add 2-3 cups of water (you don't want it to be watery, just enough to keep everything steaming). </li>
<li>Put the lid on firmly, then set the slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours. </li>
<li>When it's soft and cooked down, mash with a potato masher or use an immersion blender to puree. Freeze in 2-cup measurements for when your dog needs a little something interesting added to the bowl or to help firm up your dog's digestive system if diarrhea hits. </li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feed Your Best Friend 2 tablespoons per 10 pounds per day. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">P</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">umpkin has a ton of beta-carote, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Lutein+Zeaxanthin, and if filling even though it's low in calories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're looking for ideas for carving your pumpkin, use inspiration from <a href="http://twolittlecavaliers.com/2012/10/halloween-fun-for-dog-and-cat-lovers.html" target="_blank">these dogs</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-12696910555133253262015-06-28T14:37:00.001-07:002015-06-28T14:37:32.313-07:00Time for a Haircut<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
old Barber moved, without leaving me an indication where to find him, and I needed to get a haircut before leaving on a business trip. We booked at a new place and I hoped for the best. Traffic was a bear and I spent an extra 15 minutes giving
instructions to other drivers. I am not sure whether or not they heard me since
both our car windows were rolled up. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZDk_-F2chr-rO1DRpG3liBUynCRhH8dXyYlEqSVPl9J5KqPdW6cAap8mauc89XjBkx2T7kOK1LEj21dpxM2pW-UMZu0u80uS9IQsDdRM_RmivcmF-ykZbrxXVwMeLWCSUVx0bWcDTn_B/s1600/20150624_182011%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZDk_-F2chr-rO1DRpG3liBUynCRhH8dXyYlEqSVPl9J5KqPdW6cAap8mauc89XjBkx2T7kOK1LEj21dpxM2pW-UMZu0u80uS9IQsDdRM_RmivcmF-ykZbrxXVwMeLWCSUVx0bWcDTn_B/s200/20150624_182011%257E2.jpg" width="186" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I
walked in 15 minutes late, I met my barber. He was cool about my tardiness and
handed me a beer. I sat down and explained what my last barber did and he
swirled me away from the mirror and went to work. A few minutes and a reversed
swirl later I was amazed at what he had done. All of my hair was gone. (Stubble
does not count.) He apologized, but there wasn't much to be done about it other than to make the remainder match and finish the beer. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shorn more deeply than a lamb, I
left in shock.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During
dinner we talked about the weather; with temperatures climbing over one-hundred or
at the minimum the high nineties. Flynn and Duncan, having very short coats would be in heave. Frank however, was already panting heavily and the temperature was only in the low eighties. I decided that Frank needed a haircut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Up
until this point Frank has not let us clean his eyes or inspect a paw. There have been snaps and angry growls with even the hint of something other than a pet or a scratch. Not everybody agreed a haircut was a good idea, but I figured it would help Frank.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inside
the house, I let him smell the clippers. He was okay with that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
ran the clippers, unplugged, through his hair. It was weird, but he was okay
with it. Then we went outside, and I plugged the clippers in and held it
away from his face so he could smell it. Still, good with it. I turned the clippers on and Frank gave me a sideways glance, obviously not as sure about the buzzing. Nervously, I
started to run the clippers through the hair of his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
boy, Frank." I reassured him. His eyes told me this was an odd experience
for him. Frank just stood still while I continued running the clippers through his
back and mentioning the reasons why this would be beneficial; "It is going
to be really hot Frank, this will feel good." "You're going to look
great. All the chicks love a sharp looking guy." Despite being a little tense, there was no indication that a growl or bite were likely as long as I kept talking. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Does
it tickle, Frank" Even without his collar on, Frank stood still. The back, sides, legs and undercarriage were taken in stride. When I neared the top of his head and eyebrows, Frank tried to follow the motion of the clippers with his eyes. It seemed likely that his eyes were going to roll back into his head as he watched the movements of my hand.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I talked so much through the haircut that I'm sure Frank was tired of hearing me talk. Kind of like when you go to a stylist and they have to tell you about their day -- when you also have had a day. Frank stood relatively motionless; with a small turn to the side as I completed each part of his body. Was he telling me to make sure it was even?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBT0ULmyJLnh2mfRk3VZ_3jTm6MsxAtIaLz_Oq4kd1DUHr3XrIIdE8u7S3S6apX3bxJuiLJNSVsSDAFD9iEKchiRoCgSPoVHK2C9nqrkWHOAeXTqkXI6X4DSgXQLexdoRUETzYQNa7PKF/s1600/20150625_075714%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBT0ULmyJLnh2mfRk3VZ_3jTm6MsxAtIaLz_Oq4kd1DUHr3XrIIdE8u7S3S6apX3bxJuiLJNSVsSDAFD9iEKchiRoCgSPoVHK2C9nqrkWHOAeXTqkXI6X4DSgXQLexdoRUETzYQNa7PKF/s200/20150625_075714%257E2.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took extra time on the ears and neck, actually stalling to give me some time before moving on to the muzzle. With a pile of fur at our feet and nothing else to trim it was time to trim his face. Frank and I both
stiffened as I was caught in the first tangle. I reversed the trimmer and took
off the guide; the remainder would have to be done with trust and without a
guide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You're looking good, Frank." I doubt he even understood what I was saying since he
was standing completely frozen. Nevertheless, I kept talking to him and slowly stroked away tangles, matts and what I think was evidence of breakfast. Frank was looking pretty dapper I could only find a couple spots I wanted to touch up. Frank however had enough and started to move away. I caught him with my hand and we locked eyes. Rather than looking into a mirror to see if he was done, Frank looked into my eyes and asked if he could go. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo7RWHDHMCkMgPJ9Nuq76H1PzOnXv8hnN0V8Gk18TFOhjUzvkXQQjOqTlZoE48scjLyfau9pMxIP1h6xEpWrzMiCEMmxds_m6w4ogozyiQzAhgDOzF0M0dC5UdEH59GP3UvR-7fmTsyK0/s1600/20150625_075453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo7RWHDHMCkMgPJ9Nuq76H1PzOnXv8hnN0V8Gk18TFOhjUzvkXQQjOqTlZoE48scjLyfau9pMxIP1h6xEpWrzMiCEMmxds_m6w4ogozyiQzAhgDOzF0M0dC5UdEH59GP3UvR-7fmTsyK0/s320/20150625_075453.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>I dropped my hand from his collar and Frank turned away. </o:p></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
three cycles of vigorous shakes, Frank went looking for a ball. It was time to
celebrate. Tearing through the yard, Frank was pleased with his new haircut. He
must have been able to feel the wind rushing through a little bit better. Even
if the wind was only at his meager three miles an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>Frank not only looks more like a puppy, he's acting more like a puppy. My hair was cut by a licensed professional, and his was cut by an amateur -- and he still looks better than me. I'm pretty impressed with Frank's patience and believe that every little experience like this builds on the trust we are establishing. And me? I'm still looking for a new barber to trust. </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-17543908708726760892015-02-21T17:00:00.000-08:002015-02-21T17:00:35.388-08:00Study Break<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since the first of the year I've been either holed up in the office at work or in my home office where I'm surrounded by piles of books on nutrition. Progress on my next book (Chow! Feed the Foods You Love to the Dogs You Love) has been good, but I feel the pressure of the impending deadline. I have been working every weekday evening and throughout the weekend to complete something which I hope will be a benefit to dogs and the people who love them. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last night I completed two large phases of my research and find myself a little giddy with what has been accomplished. With sufficient notes taken, it was time to clear my desk of the fifteen books I've borrowed from the library. (Total books referenced to date is over 50.) So this morning I did a clean sweep of the office and went about running errands. It was time for a study break.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I ran into the store owner of a local pet food store and we exchanged ideas and she sent me home with fermented fish stock to try and give her my feedback. It's an interesting idea, but I'm eager to learn more why it may be beneficial to dogs. I stopped at the library to return my books and found another three books to add to my knowledge base. Later I ran into a local bookstore and pillaged their shelves for another four books with interesting concepts. I'm eager to see what gems I can pull from each volume. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I drove down my street I saw neighbors tending to their yards and stopped to talk with them. Watching my neighbors I caught the gardening bug. There would be no more research or writing done today. </div>
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After unpacking my books and a few groceries, I grabbed my gardening gloves and pruners and went on gardening blitzkrieg. Frank & Flynn rolled in the grass and sunned themselves while I made a concerted effort at removing the debris of fall and winter. With a few hundred snips the hydrangeas are now displaying the promise of minute green buds rather than the dead blossoms of last summer. Tending for the garden pays me back similar to the way that caring for the dogs does; although I exert an extra effort, if I'm patient and take the time to notice the progression through the seasons I'm rewarded by the changes I see. I talk to the dogs and ask them what they are doing, then interrogate sprouting plants that surprise me with their new location. </div>
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I call out to the dogs to see what they're doing; Frank is tossing a ball into the air for himself while Flynn is chasing a fly. I watch them chase each other and follow each other around the yard and feel pleased that I'm not in such a hurry that I miss just watching them being dogs. When the wind picks up and rustles through Frank's coat I spy him lifting his nose to capture the scents blowing by. I'm charmed not only by vision of Frank's locks tumbling in succession from nose to tail but by the pure pleasure he receives from enjoying the wind. Flynn meanwhile has found a sunny spot that is shield from the wind by our outdoor furniture and he's leisurely reclined in the sun.</div>
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With my work done I decide to teach Frank (the new dog) a favorite game. I toss a ball onto the roof, where it rolls down so that they can catch it. Flynn is familiar with the game and dashes off to retrieve the fluorescent yellow ball. Frank meanwhile acts like I'm some kind of magician and insists on a thorough investigation of my hands. He's obviously puzzled about how the ball can just disappear when suddenly it reappears in the jaws of my assistant; across the yard Flynn has somehow made the ball materialize. We play the game a few more times and Frank just doesn't catch on, he's not tracking the ball and becomes more insistent on smelling my hands, demanding to know how I perform this trick.</div>
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The weather feels more like March at 55 degrees than last weekend's April-like 65 degrees. I'm unsettled by the unseasonable temperatures but with an approaching storm in the next week, I know that I need to make the most of it. I take a long walk with the dogs so we can soak up the sun and stop to talk with neighbors. Then we come home to nap. I didn't get enough work done today on my book, but I feel more accomplished in living a good life and enjoying the companionship of my dogs.</div>
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Today I studied on how to take a break.</div>
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Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-91661693367155726422014-11-02T12:46:00.001-08:002014-11-02T12:46:19.961-08:00Raleigh 2005-2014<div style="text-align: justify;">
Three weeks ago we went to cabin for a week and spent our time hiking, napping and exploring with Raleigh and Flynn. It was Gregory's fall break from teaching and it just so happened to coincide with Raleigh's 9th birthday on October 14th. We decided it would be a great way to celebrate her birthday and life. On Sunday, two days into our vacation, Raleigh become extremely ill and I was worried that she wouldn't make it to her birthday only two days away. I held her all night and prayed for two things; that she would make it to her birthday so just the two of us could go on a hike and that when it was Raleigh's time, her last moments would be at the home she's known all her life. Somebody was listening, because the next day Raleigh bounced out of bed and was eager to get out and play. </div>
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We went on our birthday hike through a wilderness glowing green with moss and ferns. As we hiked higher the air turned silver from clouds streaking in through the trees. We heard birds hiding in the treetops until we reached the crest of our hike and the sounds of birds were far below. We had ascended to a height that birds dare not consider and we pushed on. Raleigh led our expedition with an eager trot and maintained a close eye on me, looking back every ten to twelve steps to ensure I was keeping up. When I stopped to tie my shoe or fiddle with the camera, she came back to grab the leash and pull me onward. My pants became a gauge of the time; in the first half hour the underbrush had soaked the cuffs, as it started to rain the dampness climbed to my shins, my knees and soon my thighs until my pants weighed three times their original weight. Water ran off Raleigh's fur and when she "did her boogie" the effort of the rainclouds looked meager in comparison. The rain didn't bother us, we just pushed onward breathing a little harder due to the elevation and our exhilaration. When we made it back to the car, I cut open a watermelon (my birthday present to Raleigh) with a pocket knife until red juice was dripping down the front of her while water continued to pour down the back of her. </div>
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It was my favorite hike I've ever shared with Raleigh. Her look of devotion afterwards told me she might feel the same. </div>
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A week ago, Raleigh stopped eating. I tried every trick in the book (you know the one) and any tricks that I plan on putting in the next book. She adamantly refused all food. Despite an empty stomach, Raleigh was getting sick rather regularly. Yet she still wanted to go for our nightly walks, so we continued those. As we reached each street corner Raleigh stopped grabbing the leash to "hold my hand" as we crossed. I asked her again and again, but she just continued looking forward. Her message was clear, she was okay to walk alone. She waited for my "ok, go!" and trotted slightly ahead of me. </div>
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On Tuesday night Raleigh walked with vigor and rolled in the green grasses soaked in rain with her usual joy. When we returned home, we cuddled on the couch for a few hours. I read a book with one hand and concentrated on massaging her with the other. Slight groans of contentment stopped when I turned a page and continued when Raleigh nudged my hand and I returned to my work. In the middle of the night Raleigh became extremely ill and it was obvious our shared time was coming to a close. </div>
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I gently carried Raleigh to the guest bed, her favorite napping spot and called a veterinarian to come to the house. We lit some candles and cleaned Raleigh up then spent hours cuddling her and telling her what a good girl she is. Raleigh's gaze stayed fixed on my own until the veterinarian gave her the first injection to ease her pain and slowly make her consciousness fade. Raleigh stretched and groaned with pleasure as the pain lifted from her body then returned her gaze to my own. I urged her to go find Jackson, Chloe, Baxter and the dogs of friends that we had known. However, I kept repeating, "Go Find Jackson." Before she lost consciousness, I told her for the last time, "ok, go!" Raleigh looked at me, took a deep breath, exhaled and fell asleep. </div>
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We were blessed to have Raleigh for the extra months and we had our best summer and fall ever filled with adventure. We are very grateful to <a href="http://www.tworiversvet.com/" target="_blank">Two Rivers Veterinary Clinic</a> and the <a href="http://www.vcsspdx.com/" target="_blank">Veterinary Cancer & Surgery Specialists</a> for making it possible for us to have the extra time with our loving, intelligent, funny, loyal and beautiful companion. A piece of me has died with her but a piece of her will always live within me. </div>
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Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers. Mine were answered, I believe in part because I wasn't the only one making the request. I would like to propose a toast to Raleigh. Please fill your dog's Kong with treats and vegetables like I'd do for her and tell your dog's it's in honor of my girl. </div>
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I'll end with a song that I used to sing to her:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: start;">You are my sweet little girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And one quarter girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And one quarter squirrel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I love you my, girl.</span></div>
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Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-6183469690253528012014-10-26T09:46:00.000-07:002014-10-26T10:53:37.249-07:00Bugged by Poor Product QualityLike many people, sometimes life is too busy to make homemade treats for the dogs. I'm sure you wouldn't expect that I buy store bought treats, but sometimes I want to reward the dogs with something that I know they will enjoy even if I'm strapped for time. When I do buy homemade treats, I make sure that they are made in the U.S.A. and are primarily meat based.<br />
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A few weeks ago I ordered the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smokehouse-100-Percent-Natural-Munchies-16-Ounce/product-reviews/B000633Z8A/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending" target="_blank">Smokehouse 100 Percent Natural Munchies</a> made of lamb lung from amazon.com. When the ordered arrived, I opened the package and we celebrated the arrival with a few chunks in the dog's kongs. The package was a full pound which volume-wise was about a gallon. There's no way that we could go through the entire package in a short time so I took out a few handfuls and put into a ziploc bag because we were going on vacation. The bulk of the treats went into an airtight container and remained sealed until last night. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQPk1tuo6wei1dxdYfWU-DVez-MucDWnFKIne1xrFBGcbooNZEkax5kqwPK3cxoYHv7hbOUUNLj-nts-FYwlZ2yvPADaE4CJtbqyGgt8zo73j4tvCUddiiFkMMXebxEb8KQnt_40jsDps/s1600/IMG_20141025_232950590_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQPk1tuo6wei1dxdYfWU-DVez-MucDWnFKIne1xrFBGcbooNZEkax5kqwPK3cxoYHv7hbOUUNLj-nts-FYwlZ2yvPADaE4CJtbqyGgt8zo73j4tvCUddiiFkMMXebxEb8KQnt_40jsDps/s1600/IMG_20141025_232950590_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
I have been giving the dogs the treats every few nights and was just about at the end of the contents of the siphoned off quantity (which had been transferred to another airtight container when we arrived back from vacation). Last night I gave Raleigh a piece and then went to find a smaller piece for Duncan (our Chihuahua) when I noticed a couple bugs, the likes of which I have never seen before in my house or my yard. Then I went to the backup container and checked and it was crawling with bugs and little brown worms. I took a picture through the bottom of the container, but quite honestly you can only see one bug. I wasn't going to open this in my house. I threw all the product into a plastic bag and sealed it tightly.<br />
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When I went to amazon.com to report the problem and request a refund, what I discovered disturbed me even more. We ordered the product on October 2nd and amazon.com had already received another review of the product complaining of bugs on September 26th, also from a customer in Portland. The reviewer posted better pictures than I did and it's the same bugs. Another customer left a review last night of the same problem. Apparently the incubation period of the bugs is over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWCVSAob_zzG9siEcm3XdDr2MvtZ3krEAkCVrqKxLLC1bayKk9WVPhiQ5VOtTunB4jPGJ_ir8ja7mfOSmxHvXVONnJ4M89TVlOfqgxZH_WT-T7RylbCKXSnV-I-3VckzYTlDgn7wSj8t8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-10-26+at+10.31.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWCVSAob_zzG9siEcm3XdDr2MvtZ3krEAkCVrqKxLLC1bayKk9WVPhiQ5VOtTunB4jPGJ_ir8ja7mfOSmxHvXVONnJ4M89TVlOfqgxZH_WT-T7RylbCKXSnV-I-3VckzYTlDgn7wSj8t8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-10-26+at+10.31.17+AM.png" height="131" width="320" /></a>I would have hoped that amazon.com would have pulled the product when the issue was first raised, but I also understand that they sell millions of products and I doubt that every review is read by an amazon.com staffer to notice such issues. In addition, this product is fulfilled by a company called Ozbo, so it's not completely under their control. Today I called amazon.com and asked them to check their inventory and pull the product as well as inform me of the results of their investigation. I fully expect that amazon.com will react appropriately now that they have been advised and will provide an update when I learn more. <i>(Update, just 45 minutes after talking with an amazon.com representative: I just received an e-mail that they are asking their pet food team to investigate and the product will not be available for purchase. Thank you, amazon.)</i><br />
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I've also written to <a href="http://smokehousepet.com/">http://www.smokehousepet.com</a> and asked them for a recall of their product.<br />
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Our dogs have been fed these products for three weeks, and now I worry that they need to go through a round of deworming or if they will suffer any additional problems due to these bugs. Raleigh is already fighting cancer, she doesn't need another health crisis piled on top of it.<br />
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When Raleigh was diagnosed with cancer, I made a vow that our dogs would never touch commercial dry food again. I used to believe a half commercial/half homemade diet could be okay, but no longer. With this incident my faith in the oversight of commercial dog food and treats is shaken even further. It only takes me 30 minutes to put together most homemade treats, plus a little extra time for baking and heck, something as simple as a carrot doesn't need any preparation. It may not be as convenient to make homemade treat as it is pulling something from a bag, but at least I know that when I do make treats I can trust the quality.<br />
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Feed Your Best Friend Better,<br />
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RickRick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-4794342235011347462014-10-25T11:15:00.004-07:002014-11-13T19:47:21.779-08:00Daily Servings of Supplement Stew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I'm pleased that so many readers use the Supplement Stew in Feed Your Best Friend Better and have received quite a few questions on how it can be used. Ideally, I'd just mix it into a finished batch of food by adding 1/3 cup of Supplement Stew into the book's completed meal recipes along with 2/3 cup water to help balance out the calories. However, some people have asked about how they can add Supplement Stew to other meals they make. Below is a guideline. </div>
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<li><span style="color: #073763;">You don't necessarily have to add water to balance out the calories, because you're really just adding calories. This also means needing to cut back a bit on meal size. However, adding water does help it mix in better.</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #073763;">If you're heating food, add the Supplement Stew after the meal is heated.</span></li>
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Feed Your Best Friend Better,<br />
RickRick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-47189947992550082912014-10-18T09:01:00.001-07:002014-10-18T09:01:24.345-07:00Dear Automobile ManufacturersThis last week in the middle of our vacation our car broke down and we were stranded on the side of the road for two hours. The dogs were with us. Luckily they had new antlers to keep them busy. They had to experience a terrifying tow to the dealership and once there they were overjoyed to be out of the car. While waiting for diagnostics to be performed we walked around looking at new cars. I haven't purchased a new car in over a decade and was a bit surprised at the $40,000 price tags. Our time is coming soon to purchase a new car and if I'm laying out that much cash, I want some features that will really make a difference when carting around dogs. With the number of people who take their dogs with them, adding these features would really make it a dog-friendly vehicle.<strike></strike><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2Sbl7KarEUcAUK2E5Lea8WZdRglHL_Kg-r42WW7XryGyU5QxiGwLEabFwluq5j7mC6-1lejD1jsxTltWlpObwWraHPLqeMOrd5VT5AVya69r9PffDZooWkEeoUN1S7xQxNJV-zun58g/s1600/DSC07157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2Sbl7KarEUcAUK2E5Lea8WZdRglHL_Kg-r42WW7XryGyU5QxiGwLEabFwluq5j7mC6-1lejD1jsxTltWlpObwWraHPLqeMOrd5VT5AVya69r9PffDZooWkEeoUN1S7xQxNJV-zun58g/s1600/DSC07157.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>
<li>Please replace that fuzzy lining on the backs of seats and in the cargo area with something smooth and that won't make it impossible to clean all the dog hair out of the car. I vacuum, I brush with a rubber glove, I use a special pet hair eraser and none of them eliminate all the dog hair. It drives me crazy.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Let's find a way to vent some air into the back area so the dogs can safely get a whiff of all the smells we rush by without having to stick their heads out the window. A moonroof in the back or just windows that can be cracked a bit would do it.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On hot days we really need air conditioning that can reach back to the cargo area. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Tinted windows in the back definitely to help block out some of the sun. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Hooks for dog seat belts. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>How about a built in cushion on the dog bed that can be flipped over for a hard surface for actual cargo when I'm not transporting the dogs but providing them a comfy place to rest when they are with me. I don't want to have to haul out a dog bed each time we go for an hour or two trip for a hike and on the return trip they'll appreciate a comfy bed. Don't forget that the bed part needs to be removable and washable - our dogs get muddy.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A gate to separate the cargo area from the main part of the car built into the back seat and that secures to the ceiling. Let's see if Flynn can escape from that.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>As dogs get older, many need help getting into our SUVs. Maybe that same dog bed unit can also house a ramp. I'd give up 8-10 inches of height in the back if this could all be included.</li>
</ul>
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How about you, what features above do you like and what features would you add?</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-5887610609814283532014-09-06T11:17:00.001-07:002014-09-06T11:24:40.138-07:00One Last R.U.N. Are You In?Raleigh is sleeping on the bed with her legs up in the air when I ask her "R.U.N?" I say it so it sounds like "Are You In?" Raleigh's head snaps to attention and her eyes lock on mine. I repeat it and she jumps up with enthusiasm. Although I haven't asked Raleigh to go for a run in three years she remembers what it means. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2LYFMKubgY7AlE3QDnL-WYS6unikmHFwihHGQAPF4FIljh5yDxObpvFVQ9UQugpjAoX0wJZMVD4R4lLgMEx9CSNF9XHiLasyVqWnErlgUPLJrsB-IYWNz2w0-oR6gzaw7y-1o7wlEtS9/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2LYFMKubgY7AlE3QDnL-WYS6unikmHFwihHGQAPF4FIljh5yDxObpvFVQ9UQugpjAoX0wJZMVD4R4lLgMEx9CSNF9XHiLasyVqWnErlgUPLJrsB-IYWNz2w0-oR6gzaw7y-1o7wlEtS9/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" height="320" width="248" /></a>We stopped running because my knees are shot, a visit to the orthopedist confirmed it earlier this when he said, "You have the knees of an 80 year old man." My knees had already given me that impression when walking became painful. To alleviate my discomfort I was given a series of <a href="http://www.orthovisc.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand+-+Orthovisc&utm_term=orthovisc&utm_content=Orthovisc+-+General+-+Exact|mkwid|sVwFY9xH1_dc|pcrid|33025973152" target="_blank">Orthovisc</a> injections. The doctor told me that running was out of the question, but I miss it like the three sisters in a Chekov play miss Moscow. I work at adidas and everyday I see people return from a lunchtime run and I'm jealous. The injections have made a tremendous improvement in how my knees feel so I've been plotting one final run with Raleigh.<br />
<br />
Raleigh has been my running partner since she was one year old. Our running club of two enjoyed early morning runs in the sun or rain. We were well matched for speed and distance and it had always been a great bonding and dog training time. Raleigh runs by my side without a leash. She doesn't disturb people or other dogs and always waits at the end of the block for me so that we can cross the street. Her energy and enthusiasm for running around has returned now that we stopped her chemotherapy treatment and recent hikes have proven that she is ready for one final run.<br />
<br />
I stretch then grab a leash and we exit our gate. Flynn is disappointed; he's never been part of the running club so he's staying behind. Raleigh and I pick a slow pace to start out and we chase our shadows that that are stretched out before us. As we pass oncoming runners they smile at Raleigh's playfulness and raise a hand in greeting to me. An gentleman maybe twenty years my senior shuffles toward us at a pace probably half of my own and I admire him for his tenacity while wishing that I would be able to run at his age.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_kdsFFHRnqYxMyhBGAvQq3C7HYAfTmygXZKXbZa2OVuONWEpiPY3dDi0Np8UYQC-6kWkfgjb3Xjr7eX5DKWe28vYE_hfjKZ5clbKl-Bg6o4jwQH_evxOOuft8NYH23pScWvbrR0nxhdc/s1600/IMG_20140906_082156329_HDR-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_kdsFFHRnqYxMyhBGAvQq3C7HYAfTmygXZKXbZa2OVuONWEpiPY3dDi0Np8UYQC-6kWkfgjb3Xjr7eX5DKWe28vYE_hfjKZ5clbKl-Bg6o4jwQH_evxOOuft8NYH23pScWvbrR0nxhdc/s1600/IMG_20140906_082156329_HDR-EFFECTS.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>After ten minutes I feel I've reached a comfortable pace and I love the feeling of each footfall. Raleigh runs at a different wave length; running ahead of me, running back towards me and running ahead again before stopping at the end of the sidewalk. At each intersection I tell Raleigh "Hold my hand" so she grabs the end of the leash and we can cross together. When our feet find the next sidewalk I release her with "O.K. Go" and she dashes ahead but never more than twenty feet.<br />
<br />
We run to the University of Portland and pause in the shade of tree that is just beginning to show the signs of fall approaching. Raleigh rolls in the dewy grass 8...9...10 times, then a few more for good measure. I watch her while feeling my pulse race and noting the perspiration that is beading up all over my body. My legs feel great. Raleigh does "her boogie" to shake off the dew and a surprising amount of water is returned to the lawn. Her face is filled with happiness and her tongue hangs out of her mouth. Raleigh grabs the leash and pulls me up. It's time to run back.<br />
<br />
After a few blocks I tell Raleigh to stop. The next two blocks are clear of people and there is nobody behind us. It's time to run a couple sprints or as we call it "Man Against Dog." "Ready? Go." We rush to the end of the block and Raleigh easily beats me to the finish line. Raleigh loves the game and so do I. As we begin the next contest Raleigh grabs the leash. We run hard and cross the finish line together.<br />
<br />
We return home with our shadows now behind us.<br />
<br />
I just stopped running one day because it hurt to much. Then it hurt in a different way not to run. Since running has always been an important part of my life, I wanted the opportunity to say goodbye to running. Our pace today wouldn't have won any races. I ran a little slower to stretch out the run and just enjoy the morning, the companionship and the thrill of feeling my body exert itself. Hours later my body feels grateful. Raleigh is passed out and I see her legs twitch, is she running in her sleep?<br />
<br />
Thanks to running for being such an important part of my life and my relationship with Raleigh. In the future, maybe I won't feel as jealous when I see other runners. We've had our final run and our running club is now turning into a walking club. We'll even let Flynn join.<br />
<br />
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<br />Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-79865559864628567662014-09-04T07:53:00.002-07:002014-09-04T08:09:02.858-07:00No Appetite for ChemoLast week we met with Raleigh's <a href="http://www.vcsspdx.com/" target="_blank">oncologist</a> and made a decision that was obvious but difficult: we're taking Raleigh off chemotherapy. <br />
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<div>
Raleigh's first chemotherapy regimen after surgery was a Doxorubicin/Cytoxan/5-Fluorouracil combination that didn't have the intended effect on her cancer but had serious effects on her well being. On weeks that she had the cancer treatment Raleigh was wiped out, excessively startled and her appetite was waning. Some days we'd find Raleigh outside laying in a puddle of her own urine (Lasix was given to help flush out the cancer.) For a dog with very tidy toilet habits it was one of the signs that she was taking it too hard and really not caring. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZ53imARAg3QRnrbvehmlKdUSNsogPX9YXsL1KPk5PYfKEw5418hfrwj7JAv0Q5v0-NDC_Y2vp8gcrTE5_wj5gml5hFrjRg-TmFBZhik7XFLEd2efeB7_Vf3d-wloVHgvVwjv0fUb6TkL/s1600/IMG_20140831_101859729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZ53imARAg3QRnrbvehmlKdUSNsogPX9YXsL1KPk5PYfKEw5418hfrwj7JAv0Q5v0-NDC_Y2vp8gcrTE5_wj5gml5hFrjRg-TmFBZhik7XFLEd2efeB7_Vf3d-wloVHgvVwjv0fUb6TkL/s1600/IMG_20140831_101859729.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Raleigh on a recent hike.<br />
Her energy and spirits are much better<br />
now and we're making the most of the<br />
time we have together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
We moved onto Palladia with the understanding that she'd be on this for the rest of her days, hoping that it would stretch them into months. The Palladia treatment was given Monday, Wednesday and Friday. By Monday morning Raleigh's vomiting and diarrhea would abate, her energy would increase and her personality would be restored, but then it was back to the regimen. She seemed depressed, scared and worn out. Our concern for Raleigh's well being and determining her care is based on the quality of her days, not the quantity. After lowering the dose with no change to the symptoms we were noticing we knew that this wasn't how we want Raleigh to spend her days.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the guidance of our holistic veterinarian and a good friend, <a href="http://www.rodneyhabib.com/" target="_blank">Rodney Habib</a>, we're trying out a natural, softer, gentler approach.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Our standing question twice a day has been, "did she eat?" It's bewildering and frustrating when a dog won't eat. Encouraging Raleigh to eat has been challenging as she went through the chemotherapy protocols, but I developed some good tricks that I'd like to share:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Lamb Lung Powder - many dogs find Lamb Lung an irresistible treat. Raleigh was no exception, even when she wouldn't eat her food. I pulsed this in the food processor until it was a fine powder and mixed it into her food then topped the food with an additional amount. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Salmon Oil - it's great for dogs and it makes their food enticing.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Bacon Grease - I'm not proud of this, but it works. Just a little bit heated up and mixed into the food can add an aroma of deliciousness. Don't do this simultaneously with the Salmon Oil, it's just too much added fat and can lead to digestive upset at one end or the other.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Change it Up - Switch up foods on a regular basis to keep things interesting. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Individual Ingredients - serving different foods individually helped; sometimes just meat or a good serving of watermelon to help keep Raleigh hydrated. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Forget Foods - When your dog starts to turn his or her nose up at foods, find something else. Raleigh has thrown up on chicken so many times that it has become "her tequila". She'll never touch it again.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Meat Based Treats - when nothing else works, often treats will be devoured. Rather than have your dog eat nothing, give them something that is both nutritious and gives them a little boost. Good Girl Gizzards and Roasted Chicken Hearts are still a favorite - I don't tell Raleigh that they are made from chicken. Both recipes can be found in Feed Your Best Friend Better (just substitute chicken for the duck hearts.)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Commercial when you need it - When we had a guest dog visiting the dog left some commercial wet food in his bowl. Raleigh refused her meal but ate the remainder with gusto. We bought commercial food just to keep her eating.</li>
</ul>
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Raleigh's eating well again. I'm going to see how long we can keep it going and you can bet that I'll be using some of these (or rotating through all of them) to keep her eating. </div>
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Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-31968504241855337122014-08-25T07:35:00.002-07:002014-08-25T07:37:03.326-07:00Feed Your Neighbors Better<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5151RDuY3WO-lhvsTivWP8ETnT0U6dDoQMW4wwU0GWOnj0Jl4ncrNq8VSYn3s1DTT2fKTAKQeSfGf88NRHlEJlzZVTGUmlrnVpQEMwI36MBBSbp9FWDYkJZrigsNSfpZQdsGmRrkwyqO/s1600/IMG_20140824_182516901_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5151RDuY3WO-lhvsTivWP8ETnT0U6dDoQMW4wwU0GWOnj0Jl4ncrNq8VSYn3s1DTT2fKTAKQeSfGf88NRHlEJlzZVTGUmlrnVpQEMwI36MBBSbp9FWDYkJZrigsNSfpZQdsGmRrkwyqO/s1600/IMG_20140824_182516901_HDR.jpg" height="640" width="100" /></a>Last night I was able to attend a fantastic dinner set in an orchard. The dinner was made by chef Anthony Cafiero of <a href="http://racionpdx.com/" target="_blank">Racion</a>. If you're in Portland, you will not believe what he does with food. The event was a benefit for <a href="http://portlandfruit.org/" target="_blank">The Portland Fruit Tree Project</a>, an organization that harvests fruit from neighborhood trees and orchards throughout Portland, Oregon and donates the harvest to nearby food banks. It's an incredible organization an<br />
d they also train people on how to take care of their own trees for bigger yields and healthier trees. If you have a fruit tree in your yard and can't possibly can everything and your dog is full of pears, check them out.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3Opo82ANnY/U_tJo00NxDI/AAAAAAAALb8/oj-rwSa0vL0/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-08-25%2Bat%2B7.28.49%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3Opo82ANnY/U_tJo00NxDI/AAAAAAAALb8/oj-rwSa0vL0/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-08-25%2Bat%2B7.28.49%2BAM.png" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food Banks in Portland where you can donate fresh produce.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you don't have a fruit tree in your yard, there's still another way you can donate to local food banks and help provide fresh produce to people in need by visiting <a href="http://www.ampleharvest.org/find-pantry.php">Ample Harvest</a><span id="goog_23775527"></span><span id="goog_23775528"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>. They have an easy to use search tool that popped up dozens of food banks in my area that I didn't know about. We're in peak season now with zucchini and tomatoes it would be great if we get some of that bounty onto the plates of people in need. Take a picture of what you're donating and share it with me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dogfooddude?ref=hl">Facebook</a>. <br />
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Feed Your Neighbors Better,<br />
RickRick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-45290552432568937132014-08-18T20:22:00.000-07:002014-08-18T21:57:13.540-07:00Still Creek<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ8ZmbKSwMJ2dHUKsUZAtNijuMeizDOZQQ2e49NJ6W03EyNiExPcjyzyX5WwmmL9riiqDrocpm3ieMGQAAnWA9bHswFpNwTeHMxeekVvCOX3KNoYkLVb0O8d_2SqGD2AYW1yWbsAox_us/s1600/1535755_710866822293883_5876223839079031483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ8ZmbKSwMJ2dHUKsUZAtNijuMeizDOZQQ2e49NJ6W03EyNiExPcjyzyX5WwmmL9riiqDrocpm3ieMGQAAnWA9bHswFpNwTeHMxeekVvCOX3KNoYkLVb0O8d_2SqGD2AYW1yWbsAox_us/s1600/1535755_710866822293883_5876223839079031483_n.jpg" height="180" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Raleigh had been exhausted Friday night. Our hike earlier in the day had been along paved roads and fir needle padded paths but the three hours of her triangular trajectory, hopping over logs and climbing over slippery wet rocks had given Raleigh quite a workout. Her slow appetite and stiff and lethargic gait on Saturday morning called for a slower afternoon. Rather go on our scheduled 8.2 mile moderate McIntyre trail hike without my girl, I elected for a short walk to our special spot we had found on Still Creek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although I brought along a book, it seemed wasteful to spend the time staring down when I could be looking out. Raleigh immediately ambled over the rocks to find her way into the water whereupon she greedily drank. Still Creek at our post had some slow pools but within inches from the rocks it betrayed its name with determined currents and widely spaced stairs where salmon would be climbing a month from now. Despite the arthritis developing in her hips, Raleigh jumped from one pool to another chasing sticks and swimming in circles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuE3SfndXEzluSaqLS089hSNszfOnrFbrVCDuI0tS9CMZ_VpRB7_nC8cB-avKC0ZdmmMVNyfYH-EaioxWebhJZY6OcRAyWlbqiVI9aMQDeF_E8iBsaHIf2Mf0dq1ONZ6P2cNmon1g3eov/s1600/IMG_20140815_115615036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuE3SfndXEzluSaqLS089hSNszfOnrFbrVCDuI0tS9CMZ_VpRB7_nC8cB-avKC0ZdmmMVNyfYH-EaioxWebhJZY6OcRAyWlbqiVI9aMQDeF_E8iBsaHIf2Mf0dq1ONZ6P2cNmon1g3eov/s1600/IMG_20140815_115615036.jpg" height="179" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Raleigh found displeasure in simply sitting still; in this way we are cut from the same cloth. I joined her in climbing over rocks to make our way upstream. We displayed our advantages over the other in the number and physiology of the limbs we used. Raleigh's shorter legs required narrower crevasses and preferred flatter surfaces but took them regardless of the condition. Moss and pools of water meant nothing to her, while my bare feet gripped angled stones and trespassed far quicker over the immediate territory while attempting to stay dry and unfrozen. When the boulders became too large and the creek's pools became too deep we traversed our way downstream until we found the same obstacles to bookend our adventure.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6pwndPWHpcJTYCSVy-q4YaDBsGJ8WESx84t7EWXKQRaSMhOC4rVW8u3_X38YF0k9YeivdzdbbMkEj4KVKm6Hc7HH8qREDj8787BqsSQI2GbzkFdYc9f4br8YAtRVq3BUS2lZysicUQdN/s1600/10487418_710855942294971_3977536551611269238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6pwndPWHpcJTYCSVy-q4YaDBsGJ8WESx84t7EWXKQRaSMhOC4rVW8u3_X38YF0k9YeivdzdbbMkEj4KVKm6Hc7HH8qREDj8787BqsSQI2GbzkFdYc9f4br8YAtRVq3BUS2lZysicUQdN/s1600/10487418_710855942294971_3977536551611269238_n.jpg" height="400" width="225"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I abandoned my camp chair for a moss covered recliner luckily formed by three different boulders and felt simultaneously more and less comfortable. Although the bubbling water carried only a few leaves at the moment, fall, winter and spring would most likely rearrange the furniture and the boulders of my chair would be repurposed downstream. Raleigh too found a spot to sit in a slowly refreshed pool of water. Her hips being iced in the shallow water must have brought her some relief because she grinned and panted the slow and shallow pattern of relaxation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We watched the water for different reasons but didn't question one another's motives. A leaf fluttered down to the middle of the creek and I placed bets on its path only to be surprised by the alternatives taken. While I sat in my throne of stone, time started to mark itself by the intervals of leaves falling. Faster than minutes but slower than the quarter of an hour the green boats that dropped into the water seemed to occur at regular intervals. Throughout the day I questioned whether the interval shortened slightly as if to indicate the approaching end of summer. It made sense that in a few weeks the leaves would be falling faster and in another month even more rapidly than that. If you simply sit and watch the day pass by maybe it is possible to see the slow and inevitable surrender of summer increase its pace with every falling leaf.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL-kv36_DvAAqK0NFyU4Qz5X3xSDRyKLx0uuWv-98ljEachi9BEgcKW2L6-CcIfBK90yAWu1dMARBF_BN6_-c4uCrbWIQfWsTLmWHBtiwkmI7Ok10aqM7m4NOmqFZlo2LP_btvhtfzJ2z/s1600/IMG_20140816_145129315_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL-kv36_DvAAqK0NFyU4Qz5X3xSDRyKLx0uuWv-98ljEachi9BEgcKW2L6-CcIfBK90yAWu1dMARBF_BN6_-c4uCrbWIQfWsTLmWHBtiwkmI7Ok10aqM7m4NOmqFZlo2LP_btvhtfzJ2z/s1600/IMG_20140816_145129315_HDR.jpg" height="400" width="225"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While there was no breeze, there was some movement in the air that Raleigh inhaled just before she swayed to the side and inhaled deeply again. I wondered if she was following one particular scent or collecting a variety of smells. I took a similar deep breath, but found myself without the resources to duplicate her analysis. Raleigh's gaze bobbed along the water but never raised up more than a few feet from the surface. I felt at a greater advantage to be able to peer below the water's surface and far above to the tops of trees. If we could only combine our experiences we might show each other undiscovered aspects of the world around us. Having one another nearby seemed enough at the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The taller fir trees swayed actively at their tips while lower branches and shorter trees led me to believe Still Creek's name was much more a reference to the immobility I shared with Raleigh. With minimal interruptions we sat and watched the infinite cascade of water and one another for three hours. As she looked at me, Raleigh gave me a happy grin that I feel must have said, "Isn't this great?" It certainly is.</span></div>
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Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-55579375177406286442014-07-13T19:40:00.002-07:002014-07-13T19:40:38.713-07:00Supplemented Supplement StewWhen Raleigh was diagnosed with cancer the first decision I made was to throw out all commercial food in the house. Sure, it's made cooking easier these past few years to do 50% homemade and 50% high quality kibble, but my girl needs all the help she can get in her fight. Since we're now back to 100% homemade food that means it's time to start making Supplement Stew again. I included this recipe in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Feed-Your-Best-Friend-Better/dp/1449409938/" target="_blank">Feed Your Best Friend Better</a> because it rounds out the nutrition in real food and adds important nutrients like Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium and many more that your dog won't be receiving enough of just through natural foods. Putting the nine different ingredients is pretty easy, but it takes a bit of time so I often make a quadruple batch and freeze it in muffin tins. Once it's frozen, I pop them out into a large storage container and use throughout the month.<br />
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Raleigh however needs an extra boost and some powerful cancer fighters added to the Supplement Stew so I'm supercharging her meals with some additional ingredients. By adding them to the Supplement Stew I don't need to try and add them to each batch of food I'm making. Below are the cancer fighting ingredients that I'm adding to the standard recipe in Feed Your Best Friend Better (page 14 for anybody flipping through their book looking for it). If you making a double, triple or quadruple batch of Supplement Stew, then increase the amounts below accordingly.<br />
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<li>8 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped </li>
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Garlic <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/garlic-and-cancer-prevention" target="_blank">is touted for it's cancer fighting properties</a> so I'm adding a healthy amount. For those of you who still are a little nervous about garlic - <a href="http://dogfooddude.blogspot.com/2013/08/is-garlic-safe-for-dogs.html" target="_blank">read my previous blog</a> on the topic.</blockquote>
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<li>4 tbs fresh Rosemary, finely chopped. </li>
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Yeah, I know, people talk about Rosemary being dangerous for dogs too. However, it's a bunch of hype and hysteria <a href="http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/dog-food-ingredients/" target="_blank">without any science to back it up</a>. Besides, the hype is about Rosemary Extract, of an unknown potency, not the plant I'm growing in my garden. Rosemary has powerful cancer fighting compounds and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92774/" target="_blank">is believed to also help fight chemically induced cancers</a>. </blockquote>
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<li>1/3 cup Turmeric powder</li>
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Turmeric is a potent cancer fighting addition because of the curcumin it contains. This is also a good ingredient to include to help fight inflammation. The turmeric gives the Supplemented Supplement a vivid orange color and will definitely stain anything it comes into contact with so I recommend using a glass or ceramic bowl for mixing everything together.</blockquote>
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<li>1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper</li>
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The piperine in black pepper increases the effectiveness of the curcumin by 2000%. Using a modest amount to boost the turmeric's power will also help prevent any stomach irritation. </blockquote>
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<li>5000 mg Vitamin C from tablets that are crushed up.</li>
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Raleigh's loving her food and we're hoping it works alongside her chemotherapy to give her a fighting chance. I'll do anything to help her and that means also finding new ways to feed my best friend better.</div>
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Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-82151031351286296222014-05-23T10:58:00.001-07:002014-05-23T10:58:59.965-07:00Raleigh's Cancer<div dir="ltr">
Early this year I noticed that Raleigh was sporting a gray whisker in her muzzle. My girl is getting older and I wondered how she would fare in old age. Sadly, we've found she won't be getting much older, she has an aggressive form of intestinal carcinoma.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUFhpIWjNxpnvMPENL8zjF8K9T_iDvoqPq8_Atn7Vv35idZcvm6WtCCofBQ06yWNJRbJqDXkqtwZai2P5jJXsm17QthuD5IMEKNqecUiebkcOYOuQsEpbF9SvjPbXFuYz-WI-BTIsqIRq/s1600/IMG_20140523_102943242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUFhpIWjNxpnvMPENL8zjF8K9T_iDvoqPq8_Atn7Vv35idZcvm6WtCCofBQ06yWNJRbJqDXkqtwZai2P5jJXsm17QthuD5IMEKNqecUiebkcOYOuQsEpbF9SvjPbXFuYz-WI-BTIsqIRq/s1600/IMG_20140523_102943242.jpg" height="299" width="320" /></a>Until recently, Raleigh has always been adamant that she would only do "her business" in her own yard. When she began urinating on our walks and having prolonged periods of diarrhea, we immediately visited our veterinarian. Treatment resolved the diarrhea for a while but Raleigh continued urinating on walks with an increased frequency, sometimes eight to ten times on a 20 minute walk. A second round of both blood and urine results came back <br />
clean and it was suggested that Raleigh's behavior was psychological. "I know my dogs, there's something wrong," I countered. Then I added the capper that made me sound like a lunatic, "Our other dog Flynn keeps smelling her backside with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension." The veterinarian didn't flinch, laugh or roll her eyes. Instead she outlined a plan: we'd acidify Raleigh's time with cranberry tablets and if symptoms didn't lessen in two weeks we'd do an ultrasound on her abdomen.<br />
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Three weeks later an ultrasound revealed a mass in Raleigh's bladder and another in her small intestine. It was most likely cancer. Aspirations confirmed the diagnosis and we scheduled surgery to remove the offending part of the intestine and the section of the bladder that is infected. Biopsies of these plus one of the lymph nodes revealed that it's much worse than we could have imagined and Raleigh's prognosis is 3-4 months. We're weighing the options of chemotherapy, but what's most important right now is quality of life. The mass in her intestine had almost blocked off her entire digestive tract. Without the surgery, we most likely would have lost her by now. I'm grateful that we have at least the few months ahead.</div>
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Raleigh is bouncing back from surgery, feeling better every day and more like her old self. She may be unaware of what lies ahead, but as her guardian, I'll endeavor to make every day count. </div>
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In the first few days of learning that cancer had once again darkened our lives, I wanted a reason why, but it's cancer and it happens for it's own reason. Was it the dog food I fed her as a puppy? Flea treatments? Fertilizers on the green neighborhood lawns that she likes to roll in? Or was it just in her genes, and bound to happen? I will never know for sure, but I do know that we gave her every advantage through nutrition and who's to say that we didn't delay the onset of this disease.</div>
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May is <a href="http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/canine-cancer/" target="_blank">Canine Cancer Awareness Month</a>, and we're all to well aware of how it has filled the month for us. Fifty percent of the dogs over the age of ten are diagnosed with a form of cancer. That's a statistic that is far to high in my opinion. We're donating to cancer research so that we work towards finding ways to prevent other pets and their guardians from the same devastating news. I would encourage you to make a donation if at all possible.<br />
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Until we know more why cancer is so prevalent, we can just do our best to reduce the risk. A few years ago we switched to <a href="http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/non-toxic-flea-and-tick-control/" target="_blank">natural flea treatments</a>, eliminated chemicals in our garden and in our housecleaning products. And then of course, there is the one thing you can do inside your dog's body that will make a difference: Feed Your Best Friend Better.<br />
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Thank you to all the readers who have offered their well wishes, thoughts and prayers. You are in ours as well.<br />
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Rick & Raleigh</div>
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Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-40993782419208539592014-05-17T10:37:00.001-07:002014-06-28T07:14:27.233-07:00Beef So Dang Easy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I'm in the kitchen, I try to find ways to share some of the ingredients that I'm using for my dinner with our dogs. Many people ask about meals that they can share with their pets and unfortunately the middle ground is usually bland tasting for people or too rich and spicy for dogs. Instead, I recommend cooking a main dish for your plate (that stays on your plate) and using a couple of the ingredients to make a side dish for your dog. I call it Plate & Bowl. </div>
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Here's a recipe for a beautiful beef dish that I learned about when I was traveling in Asia. Yes, there are a lot of spices in it, but the dish is actually quite simple to prepare because it's all done in a slow cooker. And the results are fantastic. You can also make this with chicken or pork if you wish.</div>
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Then for your dog, it's a simple preparation that takes minutes to put together. Drop me a line and let me know which took longer: preparing this side dish for your dog or for your dog to finally stop going back to lick every last morsel out of the dish. </div>
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<br />Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-53153205029261313652014-04-20T15:27:00.002-07:002014-04-20T15:27:37.744-07:00This is how I hide "Easter eggs" for the dogs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To keep the dogs busy while company is here for Easter dinner I'm stuffing scrambled eggs (hard boiled eggs can give dogs gas) carrots and green beans in their Kongs. That should keep them busy.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-67101341414824727792014-03-31T20:23:00.000-07:002014-09-14T07:19:40.366-07:00What Goes Down Must Come Up<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmUZs2yH0lr33gPhFY02zYGvmGlpBY49Ol2VZw1S-ZfYlns_EBAAeqxaKArH-GHxDqq6rdr7ab28X-SqtA30oLBURHERdKBtm63Bb72ZFhmKqYf-Hy0shCKcrnRzr5yR6YT_arJH9JtA/s1600/What+Goes+Down+Must+Come+Up+-+Hey+Barista.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmUZs2yH0lr33gPhFY02zYGvmGlpBY49Ol2VZw1S-ZfYlns_EBAAeqxaKArH-GHxDqq6rdr7ab28X-SqtA30oLBURHERdKBtm63Bb72ZFhmKqYf-Hy0shCKcrnRzr5yR6YT_arJH9JtA/s1600/What+Goes+Down+Must+Come+Up+-+Hey+Barista.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ve
been<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> extra vigilant about watching any food
left out on the cou</span>ntertops, coffee tables or accidentally dropped on the
floor. The problem is our dog, Flynn, is even more vigilant about looking for
opportunities. Last week a freshly made
double cappuccino was left on the coffee table and Flynn eagerly lapped it up
when nobody was looking. If there is one dog that doesn’t
need a morning pick me up, it’s Flynn. </span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because caffeine can cause an elevated
heart rate, hypertension, seizures, collapse or even death and Flynn at 25
pounds ingested such a large amount, we had to act fast and induce vomiting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do you know when to induce
vomiting?</span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To induce vomiting, you should only
use 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, nothing stronger. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took the full amount to get the job done and we rushed him over to the veterinarian. The veterinarian told us to watch his heart rate and check his gums and even said no charge for the visit. We took her a pound of coffee as a thank you. Flynn, however, will not be getting a free refill. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-60018959444753710892014-03-08T11:03:00.001-08:002014-03-08T11:03:45.809-08:00Quiet ConversationOur friends are quite generous and invite not only us for a visit, but also our dogs. We travel up to Bellingham for various events and their large house fills up quickly around dinnertime. Post dinner one night we sat in the living room with a fire going and a glass of wine bringing out old stories. Six dogs lay strewn about the living room requiring exceptional grace to walk across the living room and avoid stepping on a tail.<br />
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I sat in front of the hearth as much for the warmth as a backrest. Some sound outside caused a ripple of action to spread across the floor and five of the dogs went running and barking to the back door. Bear, the senior of the group, raised himself up, took a few steps, then reconsidered and collapsed beside me. While someone else rounded up the dogs, I turned to Bear and gently lowered his head into my lap. Starting with slow, long pulls of his ears, I easily convinced bear to relax. While laughing at the stories of my friends, I began to tell a story of comfort and affection to my audience of one using only gesture. After the ears, I turned to Bear's eyes and forehead; massaging his temple then moving down his neck and back. Bear grumbled with appreciation when I reached his hindquarters and massaged his hips and legs. His thick Labrador undercoat covered my lap, but I figured if I'm in for a penny, I'm in for a pound. After another twenty minutes Bear was a big brown puddle.<br />
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Raleigh had been running through the field behind the house whenever the weather broke and was walking a little stiff. I called her over and gave her a similar treatment with the pile of discarded dog hair browning on my other side. When called upon to provide my own details to a story being told I stopped my massage therapy for a moment and Raleigh lifted her head as if to ask whether that was all. I resumed storytelling and massaging until I had reached the tail end of both.<br />
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Ranger, an oafish lug with a big square head, came over startling both Bear and Raleigh and convincing them to locate elsewhere. I entreated Ranger to lay down but he made no effort to comply. Starting slowly with my new customer's ears, I earned his trust and eventually he sat. I massaged his head and throat but he still wouldn't lay down, acting almost puzzled at what I was doing. I leaned into Ranger and he toppled over in surprise. The tough guy didn't put up a struggle and submitted to a long back rub. When I scratched his chest, Ranger started to growl causing me a bit of concern, but it turned out the growl was out of satisfaction. <br />
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When Ranger moved away, I called over the Golden Retriever, Riley. If I wasn't already covered in hair, now was my chance. Riley didn't understand the concept of massage and instead through I was trying to play, which in turn made Flynn want to get in on the game. With my left hand on Riley and right hand on Flynn, I attempted to keep the two apart while also giving them as much of a massage as they would allow. My final customer of the evening was our Chihuahua, Duncan. My hands are built more for the rough play and deep tissue massage of large dogs, so Duncan just received light scratching and tickles.<br />
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I easily gain a dog's favor with homemade treats and surprises of meat. However, it's moments like these, giving each dog individual attention and making them feel comfortable that earns their trust. A few months later, we're back in Bellingham, but this time without our dogs. Bear, Ranger and Riley are constantly at my side. Bear and Ranger seek out the same attention, while Riley and I roughhouse until he's worn out enough for me to give him a quick massage of the temple. I may not pay close attention to the verbal conversation sometimes, but it's because I'm having a silent dialogue with dogs.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-61198222991380555172014-02-21T15:59:00.001-08:002014-02-21T15:59:28.446-08:00Flynn: Canine FelonHere's what I witnessed last night:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWhiTYwoouQEy3zs6nZIyhTHRv5j-nlwhiMJpmfKFDoFk0XHzvBVYiUJnFeg5EHLhD2H37He8IlQMAFdK7PQWi7EzkiImAg68YuxsCDCI854FeQHMbCCjs2N6SczY39jgRdnWt17kT_g/s1600/Flynn+the+Felon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWhiTYwoouQEy3zs6nZIyhTHRv5j-nlwhiMJpmfKFDoFk0XHzvBVYiUJnFeg5EHLhD2H37He8IlQMAFdK7PQWi7EzkiImAg68YuxsCDCI854FeQHMbCCjs2N6SczY39jgRdnWt17kT_g/s1600/Flynn+the+Felon.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-72369246890894232092014-02-09T11:24:00.001-08:002014-02-09T11:32:37.446-08:00Costco & Del Monte: A Bad Bargain on TreatsI was in Costco a few weeks ago and saw the huge display of Jerky Treats. I used to buy similar treats for my own dogs because they were an easy snack to give and the treats never went bad. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNv5wt7mL54vGJCqAtXG6P9yj_ZuJzIYZn2RQWeXnGSgQtw-NsflsTONy_3uButQ6sbGy-AHDmgHkDDYRGDuEhwtJWvkaRrpz1WSjTEG9oHReoJDuTqJnpN5BJj-H302494slv_W27H-B/s1600/IMG_2990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNv5wt7mL54vGJCqAtXG6P9yj_ZuJzIYZn2RQWeXnGSgQtw-NsflsTONy_3uButQ6sbGy-AHDmgHkDDYRGDuEhwtJWvkaRrpz1WSjTEG9oHReoJDuTqJnpN5BJj-H302494slv_W27H-B/s1600/IMG_2990.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Now that I'm more informed on canine nutrition my curiosity urged me to look at the ingredients. I was appalled to see the ingredient list contained chemicals known to cause diseases in dogs and linked to cancer as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2Z4dHYtM0Evxn5jLDCTe7_iPm9PAKrc-_cbMT-10mQixBJaYms6qsCNhz98jwiXc6LGzgxh4Q18M_an6m74bfoSwoTl_D0rpJsVmTVeIR6Twka9mCtacMWU33-mjQ9AL6ezhvMwG4DJk/s1600/IMG_2989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2Z4dHYtM0Evxn5jLDCTe7_iPm9PAKrc-_cbMT-10mQixBJaYms6qsCNhz98jwiXc6LGzgxh4Q18M_an6m74bfoSwoTl_D0rpJsVmTVeIR6Twka9mCtacMWU33-mjQ9AL6ezhvMwG4DJk/s1600/IMG_2989.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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When you look at the ingredients, you'll know why the treats never went bad, but you'll also discover why they're bad for your dog.<br />
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The fact that the first ingredient is Lamb is great, and a specific meat as the first ingredient is definitely what we should look for in food or treats for our pets. However, the ingredient list quickly deteriorates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJCPnnlXcGaUUrePCAHUNMxEA9yvYXbMjEHyk88Nqn02TTaIg3OONzcean4orWX9OpfFy81tgfbbJ_lv9gGoYvRF11snuan-moZimadHp6EtOKyuCWih49gPSXNi7xHeU12SnC75t_fcj/s1600/DelMonte+Jerky+Treats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJCPnnlXcGaUUrePCAHUNMxEA9yvYXbMjEHyk88Nqn02TTaIg3OONzcean4orWX9OpfFy81tgfbbJ_lv9gGoYvRF11snuan-moZimadHp6EtOKyuCWih49gPSXNi7xHeU12SnC75t_fcj/s1600/DelMonte+Jerky+Treats.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Rye Flour - not such a bad ingredient.</li>
<li>Soy Flour and Corn - two common allergens, not preferred but</li>
<li>Corn Syrup - okay, now the downhill speed is increasing - do we really need to provide our dogs syrupy sweeteners?</li>
<li>Propylene Glycol - you have to be kidding me. This is a chemical used in antifreeze and is a known cause of Heinz Body Anemia. This chemical has been banned in the use of cat foods.</li>
<li>Caramel Color - dogs don't care what color their food is, so why introduce additional additives?</li>
<li>BHA (used as a preservative) - it's one of the reasons why the treats go bad, but it also a probably carcinogen.</li>
<li>Red 40 - another unnecessary food coloring linked to cancer in animals.</li>
<li>Onion extract - Onions are known to cause Heinz Body Anemia, combined with the Propylene Glycol it causes extra concern.</li>
</ul>
<div>
These treats might seem like a bargain, but is your pet's health really worth taking a risk?</div>
Rick / Dog Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07475231485349702803noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-84064459856118527452013-11-08T18:57:00.001-08:002013-11-08T19:14:34.604-08:00Witness for the Defense: Calcium vs. SpinachA reader wrote me today about a warning that he had seen from a well respected veterinarian: "Avoid feeding pets vegetables high in oxalic acid, a compound that interferes with calcium absorption. These include spinach, swiss chard and rhubarb."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm0jQfNIyzXD6YPlf85OE5NYFTU0ioeZltNe1ZW04CKq6y6q1TKQeTUFGPmwne4HeTFApXvArnz97YqoZpcCEizIFf_RGpaTNX2QuRS_q2cX31EtyL_x-X6zqJbJFZW6PbB3CIvpbhwI/s1600/Calcium+vs+Spinach2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm0jQfNIyzXD6YPlf85OE5NYFTU0ioeZltNe1ZW04CKq6y6q1TKQeTUFGPmwne4HeTFApXvArnz97YqoZpcCEizIFf_RGpaTNX2QuRS_q2cX31EtyL_x-X6zqJbJFZW6PbB3CIvpbhwI/s640/Calcium+vs+Spinach2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Really, no spinach at all? Seems like a serious accusation that feeding any of these leafy greens will prevent calcium from being absorbed by your dog's body. I mean how can that be? Spinach and other leafy greens are touted as being being high in calcium. It's obviously time to dig a bit deeper.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">The prosecution's evidence:</span></b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Spinach and other leafy greens are loaded with oxalic acid, a compound that is responsible for the bitter taste, especially in older leaves. </li>
<li>Oxalic acid is known to bind to calcium where it is then excreted in the urine. </li>
</ul>
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If we stop there, it would probably be best if we all just left spinach in the occasional spinach dip.</div>
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<i><br /></i>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The defense's evidence:</span></b><br />
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<ul>
<li>The oxalic acid binds with 88% of the calcium in the spinach, as calculated from <a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400344/Avoid-Vegetables-with-Oxalic-Acid.html" target="_blank">information from Dr. Andrew Weil.</a> Dr. Weil states that it would take 16 cups of cooked spinach to equal the bioavailable calcium in 1 cup of yogurt when factoring in the effect of oxalic acid.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfhEa9An311EPsNo86IJ4BmVjBf-U4GWo3WnZ-kdDaufgXoxX8BkXwz6LxKItQ1R3qPGFKrMnNLJXNYeFEwNTNCq-fFSUAgW-a6VPj0U_fw7NzV1jIcUS8qPsLsA2HIxSNbkqejiBk7Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-08+at+7.13.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfhEa9An311EPsNo86IJ4BmVjBf-U4GWo3WnZ-kdDaufgXoxX8BkXwz6LxKItQ1R3qPGFKrMnNLJXNYeFEwNTNCq-fFSUAgW-a6VPj0U_fw7NzV1jIcUS8qPsLsA2HIxSNbkqejiBk7Q/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-11-08+at+7.13.48+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Spinach and other green leafy vegetables provide a power house of fiber, vitamins A, B, K, calcium iron, magnesium and manganese, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, carotenoids and glycolipids which are all beneficial compounds and worth having in the diet. </li>
<li>There is no further evidence that demonstrates the oxalic acid in green leafy vegetables affect the remaining calcium in the diet.</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">The Verdict:</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Guilty of a misdemeanor. Sentenced to probation. </li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Probation Sentencing:</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Dogs with liver disease should not eat spinach, kale, beet greens and even carrots because of their high vitamin A levels that could cause complications since Vitamin A is stored in the liver.</li>
<li>Dogs with kidney stones should not eat green leafy vegetables due to the fact that the oxalic acid and calcium bound together in the urine can lead to the formation of kidney stones. </li>
<li>All dogs on homemade meals should have calcium supplemented in their diet whether or not green leafy vegetables are included in the meal.</li>
<li>Spinach, kale, swiss chard, parsley and the rest of the gang can be incorporated into a dog's diet but like with all foods, it's wise to rotate through a variety of fruits and vegetables so that your dog receives a wide array of nutrients.</li>
<li>For dogs and people, look elsewhere for sources of calcium</li>
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Feed Your Best Friend Better,</div>
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Rick</div>
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<i><br /></i>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-24202117312394475902013-09-07T22:29:00.001-07:002013-09-08T09:10:55.689-07:00Commercial Dog Food Can Be Loaded With Antioxidants - But You Might Have to Do It Yourself!Just because you buy a bag of commercial doesn't mean you have to serve it as is. There are a lot of easy additions you can mix into commercial food with little effort. Commercial foods often say they contain antioxidants, but it's usually Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium they are including to meet other requirements.<br />
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Here's a spice mixture that adds a variety of antioxidants to your dog's bowl to help with inflammation and general health. It's a modest amount for a large bag of 25+ pounds, you could even double it, but start out small to see how your dog tolerates these additions. Use any or all.<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1 tablespoon cumin - regulates blood sugar, fights cancer</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1 tablespoon cinnamon - inflammation and heart health</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1 tablespoon ground ginger - inflammation, fights cancer, digestive issues</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1 tablespoon turmeric - fights cancer, relieves nausea, inflammation</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1/4 teaspoon black pepper - empowers turmeric</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1/4 cup dried mint - antimicrobial, fights cancer, heart health, digestion</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1/4 cup dried parsley - fights cancer, freshens breath</span></li>
</ul>
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Mix spices well in a small bowl. Sprinkle into the bag of commercial food then seal the bag and go to town on shaking it up and distributing the spices. Just when you think you're done, shake it for a couple more minutes.</div>
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Other additions you could include are:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1-2 cups dried cranberries</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1-2 cups dried banana chips</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1-2 cups dried apple chips</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;">1/2 cup dried seaweed, crumbled</span></li>
</ul>
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Even when you're just feeding your dog commercial food, there's always a way that you can <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1449409938/" target="_blank">Feed Your Best Friend Better</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-33668985275432996832013-08-23T04:06:00.001-07:002013-08-23T04:16:59.272-07:00Is Garlic Safe for Dogs?<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a great deal of information on what foods are dangerous to dogs, and invariably garlic appears on the list next to its cousin the onion. Holistic veterinarians recommend including a small amount of garlic for its valuable anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties provided by the phytochemical allicin and the cancer fighting power from the coumaric acid it contains. With 50% of dogs developing cancer, a fact that I confirmed with <a href="http://www.drsuecancervet.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Sue, The Cancer Vet</a>, I really want to get a reasonable amount of garlic in your dog's bowl. In addition, garlic can contribute to the prevention of fleas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The argument against garlic is a little medieval in its thinking and is based on two elements:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Onion and Garlic are Relatives</span></b>: Onions are loaded with thiosulphates which can cause a condition known as Heinz Body Anemia - causing your dog's red blood cells to break down. Garlic on the other hand has a trace amount of thiosulphates so it would take a lot of garlic to cause the same issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>A Research Study Found that Garlic is Dangerous</b></span><b style="color: #660000;">: </b> <a href="http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1446" target="_blank">A Study by a Japanese University</a> gave 4 dogs "<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>1.25 ml of garlic extract/kg of body weight (5 g of whole garlic/kg) intragastrically once a day for 7 days." </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">There are a number of things about their protocol that cause me concern:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The dogs were given an extract of garlic, not the garlic on your kitchen counter. What parts of garlic were extracted and used is not specified.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was no chewing involved, the garlic extract was injected directly into the dog's stomach.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since they were given the equivalent of 5 g of whole garlic per kilogram of body weight, the dogs were overdosed on garlic to over 60 times the recommended amount. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a chicken recipe (for people only) that uses 40 cloves of roasted garlic and it's delicious, but it's a dish that I only make once a year. I couldn't imagine eating the whole recipe every day for a week, or worse yet giving the equivalent to my 60-pound dog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking into other foods that could cause problems when fed at 60 times the normal amount, I saw that one of our dogs' favorite treats, baby carrots, would cause Vitamin A toxicity. Eggs are one of the best sources of protein for dogs, but the fat in 60 times the normal amount of eggs would certainly risk causing pancreatitis. Good foods in moderation provide tremendous support to our bodies, as long as we don't overdo a good thing. However, if you never put them in your body, or your dogs, they can't do their work at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The japanese study confirmed that garlic is dangerous, but only if you're taking your dog to a garlic festival. In a reasonable amount, garlic is a safe addition to your dog's bowl. However, because garlic comes in many different forms and strengths, I put together this chart to show you how much is safe.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV2RvFen3jp12v5lL68Uls90ri4ArbBm_WuxVC5zxcUfq1kZUp5LtRAmSj12G8uA2pLqfOtrdb0raoZ5AuMeVl1bqXR_hlXIteIE1-ROEQgNpAx6kKWq-vVEREPJVdwb4Xb7wPTO7AQI/s1600/Garlic+-+Is+it+Safe+for+Dogs+-+Dog+Food+Dude.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV2RvFen3jp12v5lL68Uls90ri4ArbBm_WuxVC5zxcUfq1kZUp5LtRAmSj12G8uA2pLqfOtrdb0raoZ5AuMeVl1bqXR_hlXIteIE1-ROEQgNpAx6kKWq-vVEREPJVdwb4Xb7wPTO7AQI/s640/Garlic+-+Is+it+Safe+for+Dogs+-+Dog+Food+Dude.png" title="How much Garlic per Day is safe for my dog?" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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When we get down to the smaller dogs it's just a smidge or sprinkle, but that's all it takes to Feed Your Best Friend Better. As long as your best friend isn't also a vampire.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7175511710224574492.post-24001694452587729202013-07-31T05:53:00.001-07:002013-07-31T05:53:11.832-07:00Baxter: Tough Little DudeAs our dogs rush through their lives it's easy to look back and remember how they were. As puppies they enamor us with their antics. By age three their loyalty is firmly cemented and clearly displayed. Routine is firmly established over the next couple of years which also causes dogs to be taken for granted. For many dogs the first signs of aging start to occur around the seventh year of their life in the form of a little reduced mobility and maybe some teeth that need extra attention. Days blend together so quickly that it's often surprising when another year passes, but for dogs it's like seven have passed. As our dogs's bodies age we regret the passing of their youth and cringe at the onset of old age.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbcQcllF20jIhknoa9Z-1jsQOiyGecLBLS-1ZENC6U_SNeXuikzY-7Kl_F9Sqzv812AD2D6VsZgmDRZXJftjkIJJuJgZH1y6G2jMbpF6j4RrDASG8jXras_sXRCRXzPtHAb3Nflmw6iI/s1600/IMG_0085+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbcQcllF20jIhknoa9Z-1jsQOiyGecLBLS-1ZENC6U_SNeXuikzY-7Kl_F9Sqzv812AD2D6VsZgmDRZXJftjkIJJuJgZH1y6G2jMbpF6j4RrDASG8jXras_sXRCRXzPtHAb3Nflmw6iI/s320/IMG_0085+-+Version+2.jpg" width="174" /></a>When Baxter was diagnosed with diabetes a couple years ago it seemed like he was on the slippery slope of old age. As each day robbed him of his sight it also stole a little of his vitality and willingness to fully enjoy himself. Walks became unbearably slow and for a time Baxter showed no interest in leaving the yard or sometimes even the house. With the help of our veterinarian we were able to stabilize his blood glucose levels with a couple of insulin injections each day.<br />
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Over the course of the last three years I saw a remarkable change in Baxter. Completely blind, he maintained a meticulous map of the furniture in his head. He navigated a great deal by using area rugs and the change in the surface below his pads as an internal GPS. I was astonished to find that his canine cartography extended to many of our familiar walks; Baxter stopped just inches short of a raised sidewalk and began testing for a ledge that would otherwise trip him without my warning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPhKqXmgRYUIRsiP7fFMAEmHsbMEWQiTV2e4bIHLT9y2ERRQpz-hFJV2sfWtspB4B8ZRiTOsIzGSV6oIy6wkiRzHQ5Kc-9ArupDrHYz8DvLpUkhHdvVHQz8YXZ9zPRbVQ6bP9yjDzMPg/s1600/Baxter+in+the+Bush+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPhKqXmgRYUIRsiP7fFMAEmHsbMEWQiTV2e4bIHLT9y2ERRQpz-hFJV2sfWtspB4B8ZRiTOsIzGSV6oIy6wkiRzHQ5Kc-9ArupDrHYz8DvLpUkhHdvVHQz8YXZ9zPRbVQ6bP9yjDzMPg/s320/Baxter+in+the+Bush+-+Version+2.jpg" width="251" /></a>Baxter enjoyed being off leash and exploring the neighbor's yard when we went for a visit or bumping around the dog park guided only by my voice. When my assistance was extended with a guiding hand Baxter responded with a familiar growl telling me, "I've got this. Let me do it." And he usually did quite well.<br />
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I didn't have those early years with Baxter, he was already eight when we met. Being a Lhaso Apso, he was a one person dog and heavily entrenched in the guarding of my partner, Gregory. My relationship with Baxter was tenuous and slightly antagonistic on both sides. However, when he went blind, a new deal was cut and I was reluctantly accepted as a co-guardian. I still received growls if I didn't execute to his demands, but they were more from habit than genuine displeasure. It became my responsibility to carry him downstairs each morning in the "football carry" position and I gave him a couple of quick pats after setting him down outside. I'd get a quick "Grrreah" from him and off he went. We called him "The Colonel" for good reason and he always had the last word.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3mqUIcSJ1QCevo1fY5Je-q_YXZ-HOFepNXH0GuDhPM6lB4DhU3Wmk75gbP8Be4xSa0K_k8l_Up7dGf5JIzwu-be4F4KSQsxR7hx2AbVF55uiNnWG9IW3dHj8FVGF-H7pLZVZZ_vY3kI/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3mqUIcSJ1QCevo1fY5Je-q_YXZ-HOFepNXH0GuDhPM6lB4DhU3Wmk75gbP8Be4xSa0K_k8l_Up7dGf5JIzwu-be4F4KSQsxR7hx2AbVF55uiNnWG9IW3dHj8FVGF-H7pLZVZZ_vY3kI/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a>Baxter was one tough little dude and I'm glad that I could shepherd him through his senior years. I just wish that I could have seen him in his younger years. Last week Baxter had started having seizures and by the end of the day he'd racked up somewhere north of 15 of them. Knowing that the seizures would be hard to control, we had to say goodbye. Unfortunately, Gregory was traveling, so it was up to me to hold him in my arms as he took his last breath. I'm honored that after all we went through, I was the one to comfort him in his final hours.<br />
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For me, Baxter was a difficult dog to love. But once I started loving that tough little dude it was impossible to stop. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866885285089151869noreply@blogger.com2