Forever Yours Collies

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

Well not much going on this week. I’m just trying to figure out how to house train eleven puppies at one time. They are finally “little kids” now and understand a little better about their environment. I don’t have to worry so much about them falling and breaking a leg. Even though they still jump around a lot, they seem to understand they need to be a little careful anyway, and that they can get hurt if they overdo it.

It is fun to watch them run around the house after they’ve been outside. They soon take over the living room and confiscate all the bones!

Mugsy Update

Mugsy is doing great. He has gained back all his weight and regained his muscle mass too. He still has a little scabby stuff on his nose, probably from a cactus needle we couldn’t get out, but it is slowly healing.  Since he is healthy again and as strong as a chiweenie can be, I have been letting him out with some of the girls so he can make friends.

The first friend I introduced him to was Lipa. I was still afraid to let lipa out in the yard with her puppies because they were so small and she would get so excited! I was afraid she would hurt them, so instead one day I let her out with Mugsy. She was in heaven! She was so happy to run and play with him. I don’t know if she thought he was a puppy because he was so small, but she befriended him instantly, running around, encouraging him to chase her and rolling over so he could play the “big dog.”

Now I let him out with Lipa, Honey and Sausage. It is great that he has companionship now too. Way to go Mugs!

OK, I Was Asked, So Just Briefly…

After talking about dog food as garbage and worse, I was asked, “What is worse than garbage?” so, very briefly I will tell you. I think of garbage as spoiled food that is no longer safe for people to eat, but other things are purchased by pet food manufactures as the ingredients for their food. Here is a short list:

• Outdated and spoiled meat from the supermarket—including the plastic and styrofoam packaging;
  
  
• Sick and diseased animals that are unfit for the human market;
  
  
• All the unsellable parts of the animal, including the carcass, the hide (generally caked with manure), hoofs, brains, intestines, and the internal organs—again, because of contamination, unsafe for people;
  
  
• Dead animals and road kill, including any plastic used to haul them away;
  
  
• Euthanized animals—yes, including dogs and cats from veterinarians’ offices and shelters that are put down.

Do you all remember the melamine poisonings a few years ago where dog and cat food manufacturers instead of using meat as a protein source, used melamine, a plastic, as an ingredient in their foods as a cheaper way to increase the protein content of the food? Many animals died as a result. Well, did you know that the melamine actually made it into the human food chain as well? Here’s how--

In addition to probably never wondering where the ingredients in your pet food come from or where all that unusable stuff from manufacturing our food goes, you probably have never wondered what happens to pet food that doesn’t meet even the pet food manufacturers’ quality standards. Well, the unusable--oh my God, how bad can that be--pet food is sold as salvage to livestock farmers as a cheap food source—yes to the people who raise the animals YOU eat.

The melamine contaminated pet food, taken off the market for pets, was sold as salvage to hog, chicken and fish farmers. It was fed to pigs, chickens and fish intended for human consumption. In this case, the FDA decided that the quantity of melamine found in the pork chicken and fish was not high enough to be a concern for humans, because of a dilution factor-- unlike pets, who generally eat the same food for every meal, no one eats just pork, chicken or fish. Isn’t that comforting?

When the melamine was finally tracked, those animals were taken out of the human food production market. I wonder who bought those unmarketable animals? Do you think it might have been pet food manufacturers? Hmmm!

Well, that’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more—Isn’t that a quote from Popeye just before he ate his spinach, muscled up and took after somebody? Anyway, that’s all I can stands! For all of you who didn’t want to know any of that, sorry; and for those that did, hope that helps. I wish we could do better. We need to.

Hopefully, more upbeat stuff next week. Take care and keep the yard clean!

 
Saturday August 6, 2011

Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

Well! I have not been doing a good job of keeping up this newsletter have I! For the past several months I have been a little busy and preoccupied. On May 10 we (actually Lipa) had puppies. She had twelve cutie ones! And I have been busy taking care of them all and getting everything updated on my website so that I can find them good homes. Know anyone who wants a beautiful collie puppy? Please direct them to my website: foreveryourscollies.com, for information and pictures.

During the last few months I also did a bunch of research and reading on dog food and human food production. I had hoped to be able to pass on what I learned to you all in this newsletter, but I have found it so disgusting and disturbing that I still can’t talk about it. I actually have become a vegan as a result of what I discovered. I no longer want to support an industry that handles our food and the animals we eat so poorly.

Today, I thought I would tell you a little bit about life with twelve puppies, give you a microchip update, and describe what it is like to be a vegan.

 Poopie Scoopies!

I think puppies have to be the best thing in the world. They are so adorable and cuddly and just darn cute! We have been very fortunate. Lipa has easy deliveries and is a good mother. She managed to nurse all twelve puppies until about six weeks when their teeth got to be just a bit too much.

The babies came at about 1:00 pm in 10-15 minute intervals until we had 10. Last time Lipa had nine pups, so I figured we were done, but about 40 minutes later she had two more. Finally, sometime after 4:00 pm we were really all done. Phew!

At first the puppies just look like little fat sausages. Their eyes and ears are sealed shut and don’t open for two weeks. They can’t walk, but kind of push themselves across the floor. In addition to being blind and deaf they are not able to control their body temperature for three weeks. It is a challenge to keep their pen at a constant 85-90 degrees, but it is very important because cold puppies die.

There are many things to watch out for, including being smothered by their mother. The puppies instinctively crawl close to their mommy for warmth and food but they can get under her and be too weak to crawl out, so every hour you have to go in and count puppies and pull out the ones who have crawled under her. Yes, even at night! So at least for the first few weeks there’s not a lot of sleep going on.

Gradually you can begin to sleep for two or three hours at a time. And finally, as they grow, you can get a full night sleep at about eight weeks when feeding times are about 8 hours apart.

We have been very fortunate with both our litters because all of our puppies lived and all were and are healthy. Statistically 30% of puppies in a litter die. I am so grateful none of ours did!

The puppies are twelve weeks old now. They are really more like little kids than babies but still cute as heck. It is great to wake up to all those little eyes and faces and I love watching them bound around and play in the yard or run through the house driving all the big dogs crazy.

Microchipping

I decided I would microchip all of my dogs and all of the puppies before I placed them. I know I talked to you before about it and described the process. Now, after having purchased the chips and chipped the dogs, I can be more specific.

I ordered the chips form Microchip ID Systems. Of course, because I have so many, I ordered a package of 25, but smaller packages are available for about the same price. I got the package that came with a collar ID tag with the chip number on it. I think it only cost a dollar or so more and I felt it was worth it because it would let anyone who found the dog immediately know the dog was chipped.

I also purchased prepaid registrations which came as prepaid forms that I filled in for each dog and sent in to the HomeAgain registration center. The registrations are transferable and can be updated for life at no extra charge.

I have to admit when I saw the syringes I wasn’t sure I could do it. The needles are so much larger that those used for vaccines. They are small pipes really. I was so nervous I asked everybody how to do it—my two vets, another breeder, and the vet from company that sold me the chips. All said I could do it, that it was just like giving a vaccination. So one morning I lined up all the paperwork and syringes and got started. That day I chipped 21 dogs.

I was amazed. It really was just as easy as giving a regular old shot. The needles must be really sharp. They went in easily and I did not have one dog or puppy struggle or cry. They all acted like nothing was happening. Wow!

So if any of you are thinking about it, but still on the fence, let me tell you, you really can do it yourself. Total cost of the chips, tags and registrations came to  $19.20 a dog.

OMG I’m a Vegan!

A long time ago (1994) I decided I would become a vegetarian. I can’t remember if I did it for health reasons or just because I didn’t want to kill animals anymore in order to eat, maybe for both. Being fat most of my life I always seemed to be trying one sort of diet or another. I was a vegetarian for about a year, but I didn’t do it well. I think I mostly subsisted on Doritos, and so finally, after becoming the world’s fattest vegetarian, I gave it up.

This time I have become a vegan, not to be healthy or to lose weight, but to protest how the animals we eat are treated and to not subsidize that treatment with my money. I also am disturbed by the quality of the food sold to us and by what I consider dishonest advertising of our food products and the products we feed our animals. 

I don’t want to eat meat that comes from animals that are abused and mistreated by people who have no respect or compassion for a living creature. Nor do I want to eat meat that is contaminated by salmonella and e-coli because of our manufacturing process and then is rinsed in Clorox or ammonia. I’d rather the manufacturers changed the process to avoid the contamination in the first place—but, alas, that costs money and a change in attitude.

And, excuse my French, but it really chaps my ass to see someone cutting up top sirloin on a cutting board in an immaculate kitchen to feed to a happy, tail wagging dog, when I know that packaged the food they are advertising is literally, and I do mean literally, garbage and worse.

And so, as a result, I am now a vegan. If you are thinking that that it is extreme, you are right, it is; but it isn’t enough just to go back to being a vegetarian. If you don’t like the way animals are treated, you have to give up everything that involves the production of food from animals, even eggs and dairy--so, no meat, no milk, no ice cream, no cheese, no yogurt, no butter, no mayonnaise. (Damn, I really miss mayonnaise!)

I do eat well, I must say--no more Doritos! Lots of fruit and lots of bread, pasta and vegetables, OMG--LOTS of vegetables! “Hey sweetie, what’s for dinner, Vegetables? Yummy! We haven’t eaten any of those since lunch!”

Anyway, it’s been three months now and while it is difficult, I can’t give it up. Bored as I am with VEGETABLES, I still have no desire to eat meat--still too angry. It does feel good not to kill people to eat anymore and you would think that at least now I would lose some weight, right? No such luck. Looks like now I get to be the world’s fattest vegan!

Oh yes, by the way, I have not made my dogs into vegans! I still have to buy meat for them, but at least the ingredients in the Life’s Abundance food I feed them is human grade, so at least I can be sure they are not eating garbage.

That’s all for now pooper scoopers! Keep the yard clean.



Wednesday April 20, 2011

 Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

 Well, I am late getting the Scoop out again this week. If any of you are fellow procrastinators, you know what I was doing last weekend—you guessed it, taxes. OMG! And this year I had to do them all by my little old self. I recoiled a bit after the $450 dollar bill the accountant sent me for last year’s taxes and decided if I didn’t know how, I’d better learn cause that is just too much money to be giving away. Yes, I am a cheapskate. Actually, you have no idea. I am really cheap. Maybe I was Scottish in a past life!

Today I am still thinking about money and the rattlesnake I just killed. So I will talk about that.  Now that my taxes are done, I am starting to research the quality of dog food and how you can tell what exactly you are feeding your animals. It is a huge topic and there is no way I can get anything out if I try to tackle it this week. Hopefully you will look forward to learning about it with me in the next few weeks.

 Be Frugal but Don’t Pay for Garbage

Being cheap brings up an interesting point, and something that I can talk about this week. Namely, answering why, if I am so cheap, I am willing to spend so much money on an “expensive” dog food, like Life’s Abundance, especially when I have so many mouths to feed—eleven at last count.

Well, like you I am sure, I care deeply about my animals and I want to feed them the best, most healthy food I can possibly afford. They are my babies and their health and happiness are my foremost concerns.

The other reason is because I AM cheap. I want to get my money’s worth--more if I can get it, and I am willing to pay a little more for quality. But, the only thing I hate worse than spending a lot of money, is spending any money for crap. Have you guys seen how much crap is out there these days? It seems that, unless you have really deep pockets, crap is all there is to buy. Needless to say, with the economy as it is, I barely have pockets anymore, let alone anything in them, so I watch every dollar.

Back to Life’s Abundance. This “expensive” food actually costs me less than the crappy food I was forced to start feeding my troop when I could no longer afford either my homemade recipe, which cost me $1,000.00 a month and took two hours a day to cook; or the other premium food I downgraded to, which cost me $500.00 a month. The crappy food I ended up feeding, which came close to being garbage, cost me $270.00. Life’s abundance costs me $240.00 a month and the quality is fantastic.

Maybe some of you who don’t personally know me are shocked at those totals. Calm, calm, calm, remember I am feeding eleven dogs and it does add up. Just think of me next time you are paying a dollar for a pig’s ear to treat your dog—for me, that would be eleven dollars! Now, if I were a normal person with only one 50 lb dog say, Life’s Abundance would cost me about $28.00 a month, or 94 cents a day. Wow! I have way too many dogs!

I feel Life’s Abundance dog food even surpasses my homemade meals because of the high quality, human grade ingredients; the holistic balance of the food; the care in the manufacturing process, which preserves the food’s nutritional content; and their quality control. Did you know that in the 12 years they have been doing business, they have never had one recall!

So the answer to the question: “Why am I buying this “expensive” dog food?” is--because I am getting a steal! I am buying a food that is better than the best food I can make, and paying one quarter of the price! And of course the whole point is that now I can afford to feed my animals a healthy nutritious food—not garbage!

 If any of you are interested in more information on Life’s Abundance products or think you might like to try some, feel free to call or email me, or go to my website: foreveryourscollies.com and click the link on my Life’s Abundance page.

Yippee--The Snakes are Here!

It is rattlesnake season here in Arizona! As you probably know, snakes and lizards hibernate during the winter and come out as the weather warms up. They have been around for a while now, but I call the months of April and October rattlesnake seasons because that is when they travel between their hunting and nesting grounds. Because they are on the move, you are most likely to come across them during those two months, or maybe I should say, you are likely to come across more of them then. So for those of you who live nearby, watch out!

I took a picture of this beautiful rattlesnake as I went out to feed the horses last week. He was right in the middle of my path, either hunting or resting after eating a big meal—he does look pretty full. He was very sweet and let me take pictures of him from all sides. He only raised his head as I took this last pic.

I didn’t take a picture of the two snakes I have had to kill this spring. Snakes who managed to get into the dog yard past my “snake fencing” (2-1/2’, 1/4” mesh hardware cloth). It always makes me enormously sad to have to kill them. They are so mild and they are even kind enough to warn us to leave them alone. When they get in the dog yard though, I really haven’t got a choice. My snake wrangling skills are just not there yet. Here is to hoping I shored up the fencing well enough to keep them safe and out of the yard!

If you live in the area, you may know that there is snake training available for dogs. The training teaches them not to be curious about snakes and to leave them alone. It has been a few years, so I don’t remember the cost, but it is well worth the time and trouble.

The training won’t necessarily keep your dog from eventually trying to get close to a snake—curiosity eventually will out, but it will keep them away initially when the snake first rattles and will give you time and space enough to get them out of harm’s way.

I have had all but the three newest of my dogs snake trained and it does work. The wrangler uses a de-fanged snake and a shock collar. You walk your dog on a leash past the snake a few times and every time the dog shows interest or the snake rattles, it gets a shock.  I don’t like shock collars, but this is one instance in which I feel they are well used and worth the momentary scare. There is nothing worse than hearing a rattlesnake and watching five or six excited, barking dogs run toward it.  Better they bark, stay away and come and get you!

OK everyone, remember Desert Rules: Don’t stick your fingers or toes anywhere you haven’t already stuck your nose! (Look first!)

That’s all until next week pooper scoopers! Till then, keep the yard clean.

4/10/11

 Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

This week I am little late getting the scoop out because yesterday we packed up all the samples and signs and banners for Life’s Abundance and headed out to Grand Desert Days in Morristown. Our day at the fair is my first topic.

Also in today’s Scoop, I have more information about micro chipping your dog, last week’s topic; and have looked into GPS systems for dogs.

I have been forgetting to include the links for the Life’s Abundance pet food and the NuVet supplements. Some people are having difficulty finding the right place to order. The easiest thing to do is to go to my website foreveryourscollies.com. From there you can go to the Life’s Abundance page or the NuVet page and click on the correct order links.

If it sounds confusing, you are right, but due to search engines and advertising on the internet, people are not getting to the correct site even when they type in the address correctly.  You can get to the correct site if you type the address into your browser’s address bar—the space at the top of your browser window with ”http://“ at the beginning. But if you type the address into the Yahoo or Google search bar the correct site will not come up. Only the highest paid-for sites come up on search engines, and since my Life’s Abundance and NuVet sites are not paid ads, they do not come up. It is very frustrating! Don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any questions!

Grand Desert Days

We had a really good time in Morristown Saturday although the turn out at the fair was small due to the cold and the rain.  I know you folks who live elsewhere in the country are shaking your heads, saying, “it doesn’t get cold in Arizona.” But you have to remember that we here in Arizona are weather weenies, not used to cold. Just last week we hit our first 100 degree day. 

Yesterday the temperature started out below 40 only got to 45 degrees by the end of the day. I think that was a record for the high temperature, and even though we had two really brutal cold snaps this winter that did-in a lot of trees, I think yesterday’s high was the coldest daytime temperature of the year. Add in wind and rain and Brrrr! we were all shivering at the fair.

The cold and rain did not deter the kids from entering the ice cream eating contest though. OMG! Other entertainment for the kids included a kids’ parade, train rides, fair games and rides, a scavenger hunt.

There were booths for arts and crafts and writers as well as for some non-profit organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy that owns our local Hassayampa River Preserve and the Vulture Mine Preservation and Restoration Association (VMPRA). Of course our booth was the best, but like a true senior citizen, I forgot to take a picture for the Scoop! I did take a picture of the VMPRA booth, which next to ours being best, ran a close second.

Entertainers on the grand stand played and sang country music, but the best entertainment of the day was a middle schooler who very impressively danced a great Michael Jackson moonwalk as, unfortunately, the rain began to seriously fall and people started packing up.

Microchips

 Last week I encouraged you to be brave, save money, buy microchip kits on line, and chip your own dogs. Since then Sausage, my little aussie rescue dog, managed to find her way out of my fence. She gave me quite the scare, as the last time she did this I could not find her, and only after a heartbreaking afternoon for me did she manage to straggle her own little butt back to the house just before dark.

This time it was just getting dark, so I laced up my shoes, grabbed my keys and flashlight and headed out down heartedly to search. I had just stepped outside and was calling for her when she stuck her head out from under the solar panels. She had stayed in the yard! Thank God! I guess she must have remembered the last time too and decided it wasn’t worth getting lost again. Maybe she just needed a little space from the boys.

I grabbed her up, gave her a big hug, stickers and all, and took her inside. Then I got back on line determined to buy microchips for everyone.

When I looked into the kits available on the site more closely, I found that in addition to the price for the injections there can also be a registration fee which, if not included in the injection price, can be as much as $25.00. Also, some companies are set up to allow you to register or change registration information on line and some require you to do so by mail. 

The last interesting thing I found out is that some needles are slimmer than others and therefore easier to use.  Based on all these differences, my suggestion to those of you who think you might give it a shot (Ha!) is to be sure you have all the information you need before you choose what kit to buy, even if that means calling the company to ask.

 I haven’t purchased any chips yet, because I want to make one more call in to the company to be sure I am buying the right kit for us, and that I know the full cost and registration procedures before I buy.  Again--Good Luck! I still think it is worth it, but do some homework.

GPS Systems for Dogs

A friend of mine, the one who just recently lost and found her dog, voiced her wish that they had GPS systems for dogs. Well, they do! However, there are serious limitations with the systems that, in my view, make them unusable.

The first limitation is the cost. GPS systems range from just over $200.00 to $400.00 to $3,000.00. Any of those prices are seriously out of my price range.   But, so you will know, I will tell you what else I found out about them.

They are not “injectable,” but come attached to collars. Some systems can be activated by cell phones; others require a GPS device—which is where the great cost difference comes in. They also require batteries that only last about 10 hours and their tracking is limited in range to about 3 miles.

I think everything about these systems makes them unusable. The price is outrageous, especially given their limitations: Collars come off; 10 hours is not nearly a long enough battery life, especially if you are out messing around with your dog in the toolies for some time before it manages to get lost; and a dog chasing something could be out of a 3 mile range in no time. Really, I think they must be a joke. Maybe they will come up with something better some day. I hope so. Being able to track your dog would be awesome!

That’s all until next week pooper scoopers! Till then, keep the yard clean.

Saturday 4/2/11

Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

Hi ya’ll! We have had a busy and eventful week.

I have been busy ordering promotional materials for Life’s Abundance so that we will have some banners etc. for Grand Desert Days in Morristown next Saturday. Hope you can stop by if you are in the neighborhood. The fair will be held from 9-4 behind the Morristown post office at the intersection of US 60 and Gates road Saturday April 9. They have all kinds of booths and rides for the kids and last year a chili cook off—it was great.

As I mentioned last week, I wanted to talk about micro chipping and vaccines, but before I do that we had big news on the home front.

On the Home Front

Last weekend a friend of mine in Tucson was visiting friends of hers up north—somewhere south of Kingman AZ. The day before she was supposed to head back home, coming see me on the way. She lost her beautiful doggie! I guess she had taken her and a couple other dogs for a run along the river. Her dog, one of my collie puppies, now almost two, took off and was gone. They looked for two days and couldn’t find her. Finally my friend had to return to Tucson for work—heartbroken, as we all were.

It just takes a second for those guys to get interested in something and take off. You would think they would be able to find their way back, but I think they get so focused on whatever it is they are chasing they forget to even look or think about where they are going, and the next thing you know they are lost.

Well, they put out posters, asked everyone in the area to keep an eye out and notified all the shelters and vets offices in the area.  Three days later, a rancher up river called saying he had seen the dog.  They found her! After another trip up north to get her, she is finally safely back home, muddy, sore, and full of burrs and cholla, but back home. All her friends are so relieved and grateful to the people who helped find her. Losing a dog is absolutely heart wrenching!

We are glad you are home Ms Girl! You stay close to your momma now—no more squirrel chasing!

Microchips and Vaccines

Even though she didn’t need it this time, my friend had her dog micro chipped. I am sure you all now about them by now. They have been around for a long time, but, just briefly as a reminder, a small chip is injected with a syringe under a dog’s skin, normally between the shoulder blades. The owner then fills out a registration card which is kept by the company who makes the chip. When a stray is found and taken to a vet or a shelter, the vet or shelter uses a scanner to see whether the animal has a microchip and if it does the chip gives them the information necessary to find the owner.

I think it is a great system. It does cost a bit though. The last time I checked, and I can’t remember when that was, I think it cost about $50.00 to have a dog chipped at the vet’s office. With eleven dogs, I just haven’t been able to afford that so I still have been using collars and ID tags.

The problem with the collars and tags, however, is that they can come off and then the dog has no ID whatsoever—really not good. My dogs, when they are out playing in the yard, tend to use each other’s collars as instruments of torture and I have found myself taking collars off to prevent someone from getting hurt. I have also found collars strewn around the yard—again really REALLY not good!

The GOOD news is that I have found out that you can actually purchase syringes with microchips yourself, and you can chip your animals and register them yourself! The smallest kit I have found is one with five syringes, but guess what the cost is? It is $55.00 for all five—that’s right, $11.00 a chip.

Many of us have more than one dog so, for the price of one, you can chip five.  If you don’t have five—and most of you don’t, because you are not crazy like I am, you could share the expense with your friends and help each other chip your dogs.  Even if you didn’t use all of them, doing it yourself is still cheaper than having it done for you, and you can save the extras for when you bring home a newbie!

I know you are thinking that that is too hard and too scary, but it is really easy to push a needle under the skin.  As you know with your dog, you can pull their skin up quite a bit around their shoulder blades. That is all you have to do--pull the skin up and push the needle in far enough so that it reaches underneath the skin, and then push the plunger on the syringe to inject the chip.  It is exactly the same as giving them a vaccination. I know, you probably haven’t done that either, but that is the next topic, because you can do that too!

All of us take our animals in for yearly vaccinations against distemper, parvovirus, paranfuenza and sometimes other diseases, such as coronavirus or leptospira, and of course, we take them in every three years for rabies.

But did you know that, except for rabies, which is usually controlled by the state or county, you can purchase vaccines and vaccinate your dog yourself? Again it is a very simple procedure. I am sure you have watched your vet give your dog a vaccination. It takes about two seconds and the dog, most of the time, doesn’t even notice, right? Well, you can do that too! And if you do, you can save yourself some money and a trip to the vet.

You can buy vaccines on-line or at feed stores in individual packages which come complete with the needle and syringe and cost around $5.00—yes, $5.00! Or you can buy them on-line in packages of 25, which cost, depending on what combinations of diseases the vaccines cover, between $75.00 and $150.00.

The vaccines have a two-year shelf life, so you can get two years of vaccinations with one package of 25. You just store them in the fridge. The 25 packs do not come with the needles and syringes, but these cost about 20 cents apiece so if you needed all 25 that would be an extra $5.00.

So how do you know what to buy?  Ask your vet! Ask for the brand and what specific vaccines he gives. He will actually tell you! You want to try to buy the same brand of vaccine he uses, but that isn’t absolutely necessary. You do want to buy the same combination of vaccines he uses though, because not all vaccines are necessary in all areas and some areas require more. Once you have that information, you are all set!

Sometimes the individual vaccines are not available in the combination you need. It that is the case, consider buying a 25 pack. Even if you don’t use all the vaccines in the package, you will still save money.

I think I paid about $100.00 with shipping last time I ordered a 25 pack, which is, again, only $4.00 a shot.  I know what you are thinking—“I don’t have 25 dogs or even 12!” But what if you only have two? Four trips to the vet—maybe $50.00 a visit. That is $200.00. You can save half by doing it yourself.  Be brave! You can do it! Good Luck!

Saturday 3/26/11

Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

This week I thought I would include a description and explanation of the ingredients in Life’s Abundance dog food so that you can see the quality of the ingredients and the care that goes into these foods for yourselves.  I hope you will be impressed.

On the home front, we have been busy and we are pooped! I have information I want to share with you about vaccinations and micro chipping, but because this article from LA is so long, I will wait to include it until next week.

Explanation of Life’s Abundance Dog Food Ingredients

OVERALL PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Life Abundance dog food is made for puppies, adults, and seniors. All the food is made from USA Ingredients and has NEVER been recalled. There is none of the following ingredients commonly found in other dog foods.

• NO Hormones/Steroids
• NO By-Products
• NO Corn, Wheat, or Soy
• NO Artificial Colors/Flavors
• NO Chemical Preservatives

Life’s Abundance Premium Health Food is veterinarian-formulated with select ingredients to help your dog achieve and maintain optimum health. We use a “fast-cook” process to help preserve the nutritional value of each and every wholesome ingredient. And we maintain strict inventory controls to ensure the quality and safety of our foods. Our foods are made with the finest ingredients, including …

• A proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals
• High-quality protein from chicken and catfish meals for strong muscles
• An antioxidant system including vitamins A, C and E
• A selection of nutritious vegetables and fruits
• Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and a shiny coat
• Calcium and phosphorus for healthy teeth and strong bones
• Dietary fiber to help maintain a healthy digestive tract

Since we use only wholesome ingredients, this formula contains …

• No artificial flavors
• No artificial colors
• No corn or corn gluten
• No wheat or wheat gluten
• No Soy

Life’s Abundance kibble has tested extremely positively with both puppies and adult dogs, regardless of breed or size. It is concentrated nutrition in every bowl, containing…

• Optimal protein levels for growing puppies and adults
• A unique blend of antioxidants that support dogs throughout their life cycle
• A balanced blend of calcium and phosphorous to support growing and aging bones

INGREDIENT EXPLANATIONS

Life’s abundance dog food has superior ingredients beyond the first five! While the first five ingredients play a significant role in the nutritional make-up of your dog’s food, every single ingredient is important. For nearly a decade, tens of thousands of dogs and cats have been eating and thriving on Life’s Abundance foods. We attribute this success to our painstaking attention to the detail. Each and every ingredient in Life’s Abundance food is carefully chosen to work with the other to supply your companion animal with a highly nutritious and perfectly balanced meal every day, every year over a lifetime.

HIGH-QUALITY PROTEINS 

Proteins are the building blocks of all living organisms. Protein is essential for all bodily functions including those of the brain, heart, skin, skeleton and many others. Life’s Abundance dog food contains at least 26% of high-quality protein. Many dog foods contain unidentifiable animal proteins.

Chicken Meal 

Some foods contain chicken meat or chicken parts, which naturally hold a fair amount of water. We prefer to use chicken meal because most of the water has been removed, which makes it a concentrated source of protein. This means that there is a greater “protein content” in one pound of chicken meal versus one pound of chicken meat. That’s why high-quality chicken meal is a key ingredient in Life’s Abundance foods.

Eggs 

Eggs are one of nature's most nutrient-dense foods and play an important role in a balanced diet. They are considered a complete protein source, providing essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, B, E, K, Biotin, and Sulfur). Eggs also provide healthy fats, such as omega-6 for healthy skin and a glossy coat.

Catfish Meal 

Our top-quality fish meal is made by drying the freshest catfish at a low temperature, creating a concentrated, highly-digestible protein source. In addition to being an excellent source of protein, catfish meal provides natural DHA and EPA, the most important of all the omega-3 fatty acids.

CHICKEN FAT 

We believe the primary fat source in dog food should be animal fat because these fats contain a profile of fatty acids that are easily metabolized and generally more available to the body. Chicken fat is more easily digested that other animal fats. Again, many dog foods list generic “animal fat” on their labels and you can not be certain of the kind or quality of fat your dog is eating.

WHOLE GRAINS 

Whole grains are an excellent source of protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc and other essential minerals. They also provide the kind of carbohydrates that deliver sustained energy to your dog. We include the natural goodness of ground brown rice and oat groats in Life’s Abundance Dog Food.

Ground Brown Rice 

Ground brown rice is the entire grain with only the inedible outer husk removed. This whole grain contains manganese, selenium, magnesium, as well as tryptophan and vitamins B1, B3 and B6.

Oat Groats 

Oat groats are whole oats that have been cleaned, toasted, hulled and cleaned again. Amazingly, they retain nearly all of their original nutrients after this process. Oat groats contain seven B vitamins, vitamin E, and nine minerals, including iron and calcium.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS 

The proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals in Life’s Abundance foods was carefully selected to work in concert with all of the other ingredients to enhance the overall nutritional value of the food.

Vitamins 

Ascorbic Acid, vitamin E Supplement, Inositol, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Citric Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Minerals

Potassium Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate Monosodium Phosphate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide.

ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM

Among other nutrients, our antioxidant system includes vitamins A, C and E plus vegetables and fruits. The colorful skin and flesh of different vegetables and fruits contain phytonutrients, essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Each vegetable and fruit was carefully selected for its unique nutritional properties.

VEGETABLES and FRUIT

Beets

Beets contain folate, manganese, potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, tryptophan, iron, copper and phosphorus. The phytonutrient called betacyanin is responsible for the purple-crimson color of the beet.

Broccoli 

Broccoli contains vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, dietary fiber, manganese, trytophan, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, phospshorus, magnesium, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B5, iron, calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, zinc and vitamin E. Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli contains the phytonutrients sulforaphane and indoles.

Carrots 

Carrots contain beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamins C, D, E, and K, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium and Iron.

Celery 

Celery contains fiber, potassium and vitamin C. It also contains some vitamin A, calcium, and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.

Lettuce 

Lettuce contains thiamin, vitamin B6, iron and potassium. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and manganese.

Parsley 

Parsley contains vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin A, folate and iron. It also contains antioxidant phytonutrients called flavonoids including apiin, apigenin, crisoeriol and luteolin.

Watercress 

Watercress contains folate, pantothenic acid and copper. It is a very good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E (Apha Tocopherol), vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and manganese.

Blueberries 

Blueberries contain vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and dietary fiber. The antioxidant phytonutrients called Anthocyanins are responsible for the blue-red pigments found in blueberries.

Pomegranate 

Pomegranate contains vitamin C and potassium. The polyphenols in pomegranate (hydrolyzable tannins called punicalagins) are responsible for the red color.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS 

Omega-3 fatty acids are some of the most extensively researched natural nutritional ingredients in the world. Among its many health benefits, the omega-3’s in Life’s Abundance help support healthy skin and a shiny coat. We also included flaxseed meal for its outstanding nutritional profile and its contribution to healthy skin and coat.

FLAX SEED MEAL 

Flaxseed meal is the richest plant source of antioxidant lignans and Omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seed meal also has a very high level of highly-digestible protein and essential amino acids. In addition, flax seed meal contains significant amounts of fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and is extremely rich in the minerals potassium, calcium and phosphorus.

BREWER’S DRIED YEAST 

Brewer’s dried yeast is loaded with highly-digestible protein with an exceptional amino acid balance. It also contains an abundance of natural minerals and vitamins, featuring B complex vitamins (except B12).

BEET PULP (SUGAR REMOVED) 

Fiber is required in every diet to maintain healthy intestinal tract and proper nutrient absorption. We use beet pulp, which is the fiber from the gray sugar beet (sugar removed). Many studies have demonstrated that beet pulp performs better than many other types of fiber.

DIRECT-FED MICROBIALS 

These ingredients are similar to those found in supermarket yogurts. Direct-fed microbials help support healthy immune and digestive systems. Life’s Abundance contains the following direct fed microbials: Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product.

Saturday 3/19/11

Hey Fellow Pooper Scoopers!

This week I have included Dr. Jane’s thoughts on the latest trend in dog food: no grain or low grain foods.

I am not convinced this is a healthy diet. In my experience, dogs are not strict carnivores. Mine at least are “opportunivores,” meaning that they will eat just about anything they can get their mouths around! But seriously, foods with very high protein formulas are not necessarily better and can be harmful to your dog’s health—this is especially true for growing puppies.  

On the home front this week, I let Mugsy tell his story.

This week from Dr Jane

The food manufacturers are responding to the customer’s desire of low grain food. We have never made this type of food and don’t know the short or long term consequences of it.

As per the dog, there are NO studies to show that there is a benefit without carbohydrates. On the contrary, litters are smaller and there are more deaths with food that are carbohydrate low or free. If a company wants to make a grain free diet then I believe they must support it by doing studies to prove that it will “do no harm.” Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Grains offer a lot of good nutrition. Think about our breakfasts--oats contain protein, B vitamins and many minerals.

Last, when companies say grain free there are still carbohydrates in the food. What makes fruits and vegetables (carbohydrates) more digestible or desirable than grains?

My food has been selling for more than twelve years with tremendous results. I will change formulas when and if I see scientific proof that I will not harm an animal.

Dr. Bicks

On the Home Front

This week, hearing that people were interested, Mugsy wanted to tell his story:

Ya well, see, about a month ago I was in bad shape see. On my way out, see. I hadn’t had any food or water for I can’t even remember how long. Somehow, see, I just ended up in the desert and I didn’t know where I was.  I couldn’t find anything to eat or drink, see, and then something chased me, see. Don’t get me wrong, see, I’m plenty brave, see, but I am pretty small and I had to get away. The only trouble with my plan, see, was a great big cactus!  I ran right into it and suddenly was full of cactus needles. I even got some in my eyes! That really hurt, see.

Now I was in real trouble, see. I don’t know how long I wandered, but I couldn’t find any help, see, and then I found this house with a warm spot to lie on. I was so tired and feeling so bad, see, I just laid down thinking, “this is it I can’t go any further, see.”

Next thing I knew, this dame came out of the house and spotted me. I was too weak to run, see, but she brought me some food and some water.  I bit her pretty bad--but I was still scared, see, and I couldn’t see to well, see, and I was too weak to run, see. I didn’t have a choice, see. I have a good set of choppers and I used them as my last line of defense, see.

But the dame didn’t try to hurt me, see. She brought out a towel and wrapped it around me to keep me warm that night and then the next day she took me for a ride in her big black truck. I didn’t know it, see, but she took me to the hospital and they filled me back up with fluids and got out as much of the cactus as they could, see.

The next day I still felt pretty sore and weak, see. But the dame brought me home and took care of me. She brought me in the house and gave me a nice soft bed and a blanket to keep me warm, see, and I got to eat all day long! I didn’t try to bite her again, see, even though she put ointment and drops in my eyes every few hours. I figured, she was trying to help me, see, and seemed to want to take care of me.

I had to have one more surgery, see, but now my eyes are healed and most of the cactus needles are out. I still feel a few of them, but I can handle it, see. I seem to be missing something else, see, but I haven’t been able to figure out just what.

I am getting stronger, see and I’ve gained my weight back, see, so now I only get a couple squares a day. Me and the dame are going to have to have a talk about that, see.  And as soon as I get strong enough, see, I’m going to tell all these other dogs around here who’s boss, see.

I’ve gotten used to this place now, see. I figure I’ll let the dame take care of me, see. And as soon as everyone around here understands who’s really the boss, I’ll have it made, see!

This week I received the following email on raw food diets from Dr Jane Binks, who is a holistic Vet and pet product formulator for Life's Abundance:

There is no question that a raw "BALANCED" diet delivers optimum nutrition. The problems with raw diets include:

1. The potential of salmonella, E. Coli and other micro-organisms. There is no cure for either bacteria other than medical support. Raw food diets have been tested and found to have these micro-organisms. There is a myth that dogs can eat raw meat that has these microbes. The dog’s intestine does not have any special defense against them.
2. All raw meat contains parasites in various forms which are passed to the pet. The parasites travel throughout the body and can make cysts in organs such as the brain and liver. Depending upon the temperature and rate of freezing, the parasites can survive and infect the pet. 
3. Before the pet owner buys the raw meats they are transported through various channels of distribution. If they unthaw and are frozen again a pet will get sick.
4. Most of the raw meats are NOT BALANCED diets.
5. A pet may be healthy but can shed harmful micro-organisms in their feces. Any immune compromised person, or young or old person can become infected.

I understand that some pet parents want to feed fresh food for dogs and
cats. I suggest that you use our Life’s Abundance as a 100% nutritional
foundation. Meats and other foods can be added to that dry food foundation. I suggest that you cook the meats.

The biggest news at home is that Lipa finally came into heat and we have had two, count them two, successful ties! I am so happy. Our chances for a litter of puppies are pretty good now. Keep your fingers crossed!

Mugsy, my new chiweenie stray, is doing very well. His eye has completely healed and he is barking and wagging his tail along with the rest of them.

Precious, my little old girl (14) has an oily scabby skin condition many older dogs get. This week I put her on the NuVet supplements to test them. After four days her skin has completely, and I mean completely healed. I am impressed.

My friend will be testing the kitty formula on her cat who has severe allergies and really hasn't been helped by any medication. I will let you know the results as soon as I know.

Finally, Sunny, my new collie pup, is almost 5 months old. He is the best puppy I have ever had--either that or I have become immune to puppy shenanigans. With 11 dogs now, not much phases me anymore!