Educate
Occassionaly we'll post information to help educate dog owners on a variety of topics. Please review available topics below:
Canine CPR | Dog Nutrition | Vaccinations
Canine CPR
Dog safety expert Melanie Monteiro demonstrates how to perform CPR on a dog:
Dog Nutrition
We know it can be a daunting task to weed through all the information out there on dog nutrition. There are now hundreds of different dog foods all claiming to be complete and nutritious. Without going into too much detail the basic things that a good quality food should not contain are corn, wheat, artificial coloring or preservatives (BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, etc.) and any kind of by-products. These ingredients can be harmful to their health and cause allergic reactions and/or digestive problems. Some of these ingredients are not even digestible by a dog so they serve no purpose and therefore go right through the dog causing more waste. This will also require your dog to eat more in order to feel full which makes foods with these ingredients more expensive than originally thought.
These items are put in dog food because they are inexpensive. But don't be fooled, you may be feeding
"expensive" food to your dog but still not getting good quality ingredients ... please read your labels, if you don't know what an ingredient is, then look it up. The main ingredients in dog food are the ones listed prior to the fat ingredient (such as animal fat, chicken fat, etc.). We do not claim to be experts but we have listed for your convenience several types of food that our members and volunteers have recommended that are good quality foods and do not contain any of the above ingredients.
IF YOU FEED DRY KIBBLE, PLEASE CHECK THE "PRODUCED BY DATE" IF ITS MORE THAN A COUPLE MONTHS OLD, FIND A BAG THAT IS NEWER OR FIND A NEW SUPPLIER. Most bagged food is marked with an expiration date of a year out. The older the food the more of a chance the nutrients have diminished greatly. Its best to use bagged food within two weeks of opening the bag to prevent mold, bugs and additional breakdown of nutrients. Keep all food/treats in an air tight container.
Dry Kibble
Natural Balance – http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/
Blue Buffalo – http://www.bluebuff.com/
Canidae – www.canidae.com
Merrick – http://www.merrickpetcare.com/
Eagle Pack (Holistic Select formulas only) – http://www.eaglepack.com/
Taste of the Wild – http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/
By Nature (http://www.bynaturepetfoods.com/)
Solid Gold
Flint River Ranch
Dehydrated Food:
Semi-soft rolled food:
Natural Balance food rolls (also great as a treat)
Fresh Food (requires refrigeration):
Fresh Pet – http://www.freshpet.com/
Raw (Frozen):
Nature’s Variety - http://www.naturesvariety.com/
Primal
Bravo
Suggested Whole Food (unprocessed) Supplements:
Nupro Gold or Silver – http://www.nuprosupplements.com/
Missing Link – www.missinglinkproducts.com
Nzymes Antioxidant Granules - www.nzymes.com
Suggested Snacks/Mix Ins:
Broccoli, brussel sprouts, celery, green beans, raw or lightly cooked eggs, apple, banana, spinach, sardines (in water only), canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix), plain (unsweetened) fat-free yogurt or kefir, caned salmon (never raw), cottage cheese, organic unrefined coconut oil, salmon oil. No nightshade vegetables (eggplant, etc.) for dogs with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
Always Use Filtered Water (free of chlorine or fluoride). Top 10 Fruits & Vegetables. Please note, many vegetables will need to be slightly cooked or pureed in the food processor for your dog to be able to digest them.
Probiotics and Enzymes are a must. Try Nzymes Bac-Pak. A little goes a long way.
Whole Dog Journal article regarding benefits of coconut oil for skin/yeast issues. No grains (rice, rye, barley, wheat) for dogs with yeast infection problems (dirty ears, hotspots, etc).
Dog Food Watch Group - The Dog Food Project
Check on the synthetic supplements you feed your pets - National Animal Supplement Council
Vaccinations
Weimaraners puppies suffer from an auto-immune issue that prevents them from being able to receive vaccinations prior to 8 weeks old. It is very important that you discuss this issue with your vet prior to your puppy receiving any vaccinations.
Vaccination Schedule for Weimaraner Puppies
Do Dogs Really Need Yearly Vaccinations?
Understanding Blood Test Results
For more accuracy, fast your dog 12 hours prior to blood tests.
Health Issues
Weimaraners do not have many illnesses or disorders that are exclusive to the breed. Many health issues experienced by Weimaraners are those illnesses that strike most large breed dogs.
Bloat (The #1 cause of death in weimaraners)
Glucosamine is a common supplement recommended for joint pain. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT GLUCOSAMINE SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN TO A DOG WITH DIABETES.
Entropion - turned in eyelashes.
HOD (growth plate deformity in joints)
How to test for thyroid problems
Behavioral Changes and the Thyroid
We strongly recommend having your vet send your dog's blood sample out to Dr. Jean Dodds for a complete thyroid panel as opposed to relying on their normal laboratory. Dr. Dodds is an expert in her field and has discovered that not all dog's thyroid results can be read the same. A normal test result may not be "normal" for your particular dog. Use the links above on more information regarding testing for thyroid problems, symptoms and contact information for Dr. Dodds at Hemopet in California.
We often see weims that the vet has diagnosed with skin allergies when in fact its really an overgrowth of yeast. Please see the link above on how to reduce the amount of yeast by simply switching foods. Adding probiotics to your dog's food is another great way to help boost their immune system and keep yeast at bay....great for dogs with chronic ear infections.
