A few weeks ago a customer brought her two King Charles Spaniels in for their grooming appointment. I noticed they were scratching the second they stood still so I asked her about it. She told me they did that all the time and didn’t know why. A few questions later I realized it was their food causing it. Throughout the entire grooming session the dogs were scratching non-stop. I applied aloe to the skin to see if that would offer any relief but to no avail. When she returned to pick them up I advised her to change to Luath’s, the hypoallergic brand of food I carry, and to also give them a supplement that should cure the itching quickly. The supplement I recommended was called Quercetin.
Quercetin is a phytochemical that is part of the coloring found in the skins of apples and red onions. It has been isolated and is sold as a dietary supplement. It contains natural anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects.
I recommended she give each dog 1 capsule twice daily with food and to come back in 3 weeks for a follow up. When the dogs returned they didn’t itch once the whole time they were there. Their skin even looked better with no signs of dermatitis or dander. Needless to say my customer was very relieved and thankful.
Standard procedure from a vet is to inject the dogs with a steroid to alleviate the symptom. Not only are these injections are dangerous but they can lead to other health problems in the future and don’t actually cure the pet. It’s impossible to know all of your animals allergies so keeping a supply of Quercetin on hand is highly recommended. Give them 2 per day until symptoms reverse. Quercetin can be found at your local health food store.
Dogathon is a fundraising fun walk in aid of COPE Galway, for dogs and dog lovers along the prom in Salthill in Galway City and is taking place on Sunday 18th April 2010 at 12pm. Visit their website for more information like…
It’s about that time of year where seasonal shedding is starting to happen. Usually twice a year your dog or cat will shed it’s entire undercoat leaving a glossy thinner topcoat that’s easier to maintain. I say usually because most pets are kept indoors and the seasonal shed can happen all year long from the heat going on in the house. This is what I refer to as ‘non-seasonal’ shedding. Another example of non-seasonal shedding is when the animal’s topcoat also sheds. This should never happen as it is a prime example of an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency and/or food allergy.
Most of the pet foods on the market don’t provide even the most basic of nutrients, one of course being EFA’s. As noted in a previous post about hyperactivity in pets, EFA’s are necessary for proper brain development as well as moisturizing the skin and coat to keep that vital topcoat from shedding out. Supplementing EFA’s like Cod Liver Oil or Sunflower Oil are a great way to provide proper nourishment but it’s best if the food already contains one of these oils as that may mean the food itself is healthier.
Luath’s and Robbie’s from Land of Holistic Pets is the only food I recommend. I could carry any food on the market right now but that is the ONLY one I will sell as I swear by it. It’s reversed, dare I say cured, so many problems in the pets I’ve put on it that I’ve lost count. Problems like unseasonal/topcoat shed, eczema, pancreatitis, dandruff, hotspots, yeast related ear infections, eye drainage, dull dry coat, and even insulin dependent diabetes in a cat. No joke!
Getting your pet to a groomer on a regular basis, every 4 to 6 weeks, will help keep your home furball free when the shedding season begins.
Grooming will also take your dog from looking like this…
…to looking like this…
See how happy she looks. Show your pet you love them by keeping them healthy on the outside as well as in. (:o3
Here’s another video (and yes I look goofy in the still shot) about a question I had on my Facebook page “Tail Waggers Holistic Grooming and Suppliesâ€. I love answering questions and even more so on video so I can show you what I’m talking about. Please feel free to contact me either by email, comment on my blog, or visit my Facebook page and post a question on there. Thanks for watching and subscribe to my youtube channel to be notified of any new videos.
We had a fantastic time at the Claregalway Market on Sunday. Hundreds of people came and loads of them got free samples of Luath’s Holistic Pet Food from me. Next weekend we’re having a raffle for a Doggie Bag filled with lots of fun stuff for your beloved pet. Stop by the table at the Claregalway Market on Sunday November 22 and enter to win. Also, any bookings I take for a grooming appointment will be 10% off!!
Hey Everybody!! This is the first episode of Tail Waggers TV. In this episode I show you how to make cat food from Robbie’s Holistic Dog food. I have 4 cats and since Land of Holistic Pets haven’t come out with a cat food formula yet I decided to get a little creative and make my own.
1. How much chicken (or fish or other meat) would you suggest to add, in order to make Robbies suitable for cats (grams or % vs pellets)?
I’ve been doing 500g (six chicken thighs) to 150g of pellets (1 small bag). That might be a bit high so you can do a 2:1 ratio of chicken to pellets (300g chicken to 150g pellets). I just have growing kittens so I was doing a higher portion ratio to compensate for growing bones and muscles. Plus they could eat ALL the time and have bottomless pits for tummies so I have to pace them more now.
2. How much is a cat’s Taurine daily need (mg)?
A therapeutic dose is 250mg to 500mg 2-3 times daily. If they aren’t deficient, a normal dose would be 250mg daily. I add 1000mg to the mix as dark meat does contain the precursor to taurine as well. The mix lasts 3 days with 3 kittens fed twice daily. For one single cat that amount would last over a week.
3. How much sunflower oil would you add (ml or spoons)?
I don’t measure the oil really. I just add enough to make the mixture and chicken blend up well.Try not to exceed 1/2 cup. Even though the mixture is a weeks worth of feedings, there’s already some oil in the pellets so best not to overdo.
4. I didnt understand suggested food dose for 1 adult cat: how many grams (more or less) is it?
I use a large tablespoon to feed them with. It measures about 30-40g daily. You can use the same dosage for dogs of the same weight. Kittens need a bit more because they are growing so fast.
Tail Waggers is expanding to offer more products and services. Fill out this quick survey and vote for what you would like to see offered at our location in Kilcolgan, Co. Galway.
Obedience Training
Agility Training
Boarding
Doggie Daycare*
Pet Sitting (in-home care)
Posh Pooch Collars, Leashes, and Clothing
Grooming and Pet Health Seminars
Online Shop
Other_________________________________
Feel free to suggest any other products or services you would love to see at Tail Waggers! We value your opinion and want to be your source for all your pet care needs. Leave a comment here or email me directly at jessi@tailwaggers.ie with your suggestions. Cheers!
*Doggie Daycare has become a huge benefit to both dogs and owners alike. It puts both you and your pet on the same schedule. No more coming home exhausted only to feel guilty that you don’t have the time or energy to walk your dog. And the best part of Doggie Daycare, besides socialization with other dogs, is while they are with us they get taught basic commands like sit, stay, and heel. Brilliant!
Introducing Robbie’s. The other great line of holistic hypoallergenic dog food from Land of Holistic Pets. Available in delicious flavors Chicken and Brown Rice or Lamb and Brown Rice. The food is dehydrated to pack in the nutrients only to be rehydrated minutes before serving. Robbie’s has added seaweed for the highest source of minerals you can provide.
An added benefit to the Robbie’s food is it can also be fed to cat’s but ONLY when supplemented with the amino acid Taurine and extra protein like raw chicken, fish, or lamb.
Robbie’s comes in 150g, 2.5Kg, and 10Kg size bags. All can be ordered/found at my shop in Kilcolgan, Co. Galway.
A few weeks ago a customer brought her two King Charles Spaniels in for their grooming appointment. I noticed they were scratching the second they stood still so I asked her about it. She told me they did that all the time and didn’t know why. A few questions later I realized it was their food causing it. Throughout the entire grooming session the dogs were scratching non-stop. I applied aloe to the skin to see if that would offer any relief but to no avail. When she returned to pick them up I advised her to change to Luath’s, the hypoallergic brand of food I carry, and to also give them a supplement that should cure the itching quickly. The supplement I recommended was called Quercetin.
