There have been a lot of discussions lately regarding dogs’ diets and what they should be eating. I have seen people recommending that the diet must be grain-based, avoiding exotic meats and grain free foods. They are also recommending the avoidance of “boutique” foods and that the food should be a diet that meets The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines, which would only include Royal Canin, Purina, Hill’s Science Diet, Eukanuba, Iams, and all veterinary prescriptions diets. They are saying companies should have full-time veterinarian nutritionists on staff and that the diets should be complete and balanced.
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Category: Pet Information (page 1 of 2)
Hello Pet Guardians,
By now you have probably heard about the FDA release of updated information related to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Primarily they are reporting nothing new, other than a list of companies that have been reported to be the food source for diagnosed pets. That list includes a few brands that are available in our stores.
Your pooch is smelly and dirty! Time for a bath. It’s easy to pick up any bottle of pet shampoo and wash your dog with it. But have you stopped and read the ingredients on the bottle? Do you know what those ingredients are? Does the bottle even list ANY ingredients on it?
At Tail Blazers we take our product selections very seriously, including shampoos and coat care products. We analyze the ingredients in all the shampoos and conditioners we stock to ensure it meets our strict safety standards.
Continue readingTaurine is an amino acid that both dogs and cats require for health. For cats, it is an essential amino acid because their bodies cannot synthesize it, so it must be acquired from the diet. Dogs however, can synthesize taurine from two other amino acids, methionine and cysteine (which are found in meat). For cats, taurine is necessary for brain, nerves, eyes, heart, digestion, immune function and fetal development. For dogs, taurine is needed for eyes, reproduction, bile acid (for fat digestion) and for healthy heart. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and cats is associated with inadequate taurine levels.
Continue readingWith marijuana (pot) now being legal in Canada, the potential for pets to be exposed to this plant is much higher. For example, in the US, the Pet Poison Helpline has seen a 448% increase in marijuana cases in the last 6 years as more and more states legalize. (source: petpoisonhelpline.com) Let’s discuss the effects of ingestion and what we can do as pet parents to avoid exposure.
Many of you have probably heard about the recent “trendy” ketogenic (keto) weight loss diet for humans (a variation of this diet popped up in the last few decades as the Atkins Diet). It is otherwise known as a Low Carbohydrate/High Fat/Adequate Protein diet or lifestyle. The ketogenic diet, as it is known today, was developed in the 1920s at the Mayo Clinic to treat epilepsy. However, fasting, which mimics ketogenic-type diets, has been used by humans in attempts to treat illness since 500 B.C.
What is a ketogenic or “keto” diet?
The mammalian body (be it human, canine, feline, etc.) has two major metabolic pathways involved in energy production. The body’s main two pathways use either glucose (sugar derived from carbohydrates, and in some cases protein/amino acids through a process called gluconeogenesis) or ketones (derived from fat) to power its cells. We generally think of the glucose pathway as the “standard” pathway for bodies to derive energy.
There is a new wave of pet products hitting the market in Canada. Treats, supplements, and oils, all containing hemp CBD (cannabidiol) oil, are flooding the marketplace. Some made in Canada, and others made in the USA.
What is CBD oil?
Cannabidiol (a cannabinoid) is found in Cannabis sativa, the botanical Latin name for both marijuana and hemp. Hemp is 
higher in CBD oil and contains negligible amounts of THC (approx. 0.5%), which is known for its psychoactive properties producing the “high”. Marijuana contains high (10-30% approx.) THC content and only small amounts of CBD. Despite both plants being Cannabis sativa, marijuana and hemp are different cultivars and are grown in different conditions. The products we are seeing on the market containing CBD oil are hemp products containing CBD oil or CBD extracted from hemp.
DIET SUGGESTIONS
-Diet is an integral part of any leaky gut protocol!
-Eliminate processed foods, grains, starches and sugars.
-Eat a species appropriate diet (raw being the best choice). Beyond being species appropriate, raw food diets are full of enzymes and are easily digested. They don’t contain processed ingredients, help improve overall health and aid to heal the gut. The next best choice would be freeze-dried or dehydrated foods.
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