Want to Take your Dog Swimming & Hunting? Beware of Algae!

Algae is a highly toxic substance for both humans & animals. When animal are exposed to this internally (through ingesting the water), it can cause death within a few short hours. Algae forms on the water as a result of fertilizer drain-off from farms, along with periods of drought. Mix these two things with hot weather, & you have a deadly poison luring in the waters.

Please read this article before you decide to let your dogs go swimming in the lake, & before you decide to let you dogs go drudging through waters during hunting season.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33045773/ns/us_news-environment/

Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary - Adoption Center!

In May, 2010 Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary (HEA) opened an adoption center, located at 2065 Holmgren Way in Green Bay (on the west side of town). On the weekends, people can stop in to see the dogs & cats whom are ready for adoption. During the week, only cats are at the center.

If you are looking for a new addition, please consider adopting! There are so many wonderful dogs & cats in need of good homes. Also, if you are able to donate any dog/cat related products (food, beds, leashes, collars, etc.), please contact HEA. Further, if you're interested in volunteering, please contact HEA. www.happilyeverafterinfo.org/

Adoption Center Hours:

Monday through Friday 6- 8

Saturday & Sunday 11 - 4

Vehicle Safety 4 Dogs

A customer just came in & was in a minor car accident. Her canine kid was riding, unrestrained, in the front seat. If you wear a seat belt to keep safe, please protect them as well. They're just like a child, depending upon you to take care of them. www.immioutdoors.com/petbuckle/sledtest.htm

Cocoa Mulch - Dangerous for Dogs

There are a variety of mulches available to use around the yard, but if you have a dog, steer clear of Cocoa Mulch. Cocoa Mulch is made from the shells of cocoa beans, & is a by-product of chocolate production.

Heat Advisory for Canines

80+ degrees outside, do not walk dogs

70+ degrees outside, do not leave dogs in a parked vehicle

Just because you can handle the heat does not mean your dog can. To learn more about how heat effects canines, please visit www.K-9RE.com

Beware of Foods/Treats/Chews made in China

It is very important to avoid providing your dogs/cats with foods & treats that are made in China. Over the past 3-4 years, there have been multiple health issues stemming from products sourced from & made in China. When you are selecting things for your dogs/cats, please look at the ingredients list AND where the products are made. Further, where the product is distributed from versus where it's actually made are two completely different things.

Just because a certain food or treat is sold at a veterinarian office or a private pet supply store, doesn't mean that it's not made in China. Be proactive - look & ask!

Did you know that Milkbones & MULTIPLE other commercial treats/chews/foods are made in China? Did you know that all of the treats by the Dogswell company are made in China?

Every single food, treat, chew, & hygienic product offered at K-9 Royal Essentials is made in either USA, Canada, or Australia!

Large Birds Prey on Small Dogs & Cats

A customer just stopped in & told me that KoKo (her 12-pound dog) was nearly swept up by a large owl the other evening. Be forewarned that owls, hawks, & eagles scout for small prey, which includes dogs & cats. Luckily, my customer saw the owl, in-flight, swooping down to pick up KoKo, so ran at it, & she screamed very loudly. The owl flew off instead of taking KoKo.

If you have a dog/cat 20 pounds or less, be sure you're outside with them and/or have them on a long leash to prevent them being taken away by flying predators.

Do You Want Your Dog to Fly Through the Windshield?

The reality is that seatbelts save lives. This has been proven over & over again. Some may think that no harm could happen from making a quick trip down the street to the grocery store or gas station, but please think again. Accidents can occur at anytime, without warning. If you & your family wear seatbelts to keep safe, why not provide the same safety mechanism for your dog? They will fly right through the windshield just like a human, & during an accident, could cause great harm to the human (& themselves) due to the force of impact.

If our dogs could talk to us, I believe they would ask the following of us:

a) Please do not let me hang my head out the window because it is dangerous for eyes & lungs

b) Please do not let me have free roam of the vehicle because it's not safe for any of us

c) Please do not let me ride on your lap or in the front seat because this is not safe for any of us

d) Please do not leave me in a hot or cold vehicle - I'd rather stay home, but I have to rely upon you to make responsible choices for me.

Please buckle your dogs up & keep their heads INSIDE the vehicle. Come in to check out the Doggie Hook Up vehicle restraint - made in Wisconsin!

Flea Problems: From a Holistic Vet's Perspective

Please read this question & answer forum regarding fleas. The answer provided by the veterinarian is right on!

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ask-Veterinarian-700/2010/3/Flea-control.htm

Natural Insect Repellent for Dogs

There are multiple natural concoctions available today to help repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, & biting flies; however, very few of them are created by veterinarians, & very few have undergone a great deal of research. It is well known that several essentials oils are effective in repelling various insects, but these oils need to be properly formulated (correct dosages) & need to be used with caution.

After researching dozens of different natural insect repellants available, I've decided to go with Vetri-Science's version: Vetri-Repel, which comes in the form of a spray and wipes. Vetri-Science is a company veterinarians & people can trust, with over thirty years of product research & development.

Vetri-Repel utilizes several essentials oils in these products, & because I trust the company's formulation of those oils, I feel comfortable giving this one a try for my two precious golden girls, Goldie & Aspen. I am particularly hoping that it will be really effective against the biting flies since they seem to be very attracted go Goldie. A few days ago, she was laying out in the yard, & when she came inside, her eyelids were swollen from bug bites. I gave her some Benadryl, which helped the swelling to go away, but it certainly would be great to prevent this from happening again!

http://www.vetriscience.com/vetri-flea-tick-repellent-spray.php

In addition to Vetri-Repel, I am also going to try the ShooTag for Fleas & Ticks. Further, when we go camping, hiking, etc. I will apply a small amount of peppermint essential oil along their spines. With these three different repellents, we should be in good shape this year for chemical-free protection! I will post an up date next month.

At our yard home & when we go camping, I will spray the immediate area with Virbac Yard Spray Concentrate. Check it out:

http://www.virbacvet.com/preventic/product/virbac_yard_spray_concentrate/36/

Natura Changes Ownership

Natura, which produces California Natural, EVO, Innova, HealthWise, Karma, & Mother Nature pet foods, will soon be owned by Proctor & Gamble, effective June 2010.

Proctor & Gamble, which produces Iams & Eukanuba, are infamously known for animal cruelty in their pet food research endeavors. www.iamscruelty.com

Here is a letter from the former (come June 2010) president, Don Scott, of Natura:

You may have heard Natura expects to be acquired by The Procter and Gamble Company sometime in June 2010. By joining the P&G family of brands, our intent is that we will have more resources to raise awareness for the benefits of natural and holistic pet foods. Our hope is even more pets will then experience the benefits of Natura’s high-quality, super-premium brands.

P&G has assured us of their commitment to this business and to the people who have been our partners and our advocates over the years. We will continue to deliver the high quality products that have earned consumers’ trust.

For more than 20 years, Natura has dedicated itself to producing healthy, high-quality pet foods, and we will remain true to that philosophy. As we move forward with this change in ownership you can continue to find Natura pet foods at your local independent pet specialty retailers.

Thank you for your dedicated support and advocacy for Natura Pet foods. We have genuinely appreciated your support in the past and we hope we can count you among our valued customers in the future.

Importance of Routine Nail Care

Routine nail care is essentials for dogs’ overall health & safety. Long nails can present themselves in several forms: they can twist & curl around the toe; they can curve off the side; they can just be long & straight; they can even grow into the pads – every time the dog walks, it causes the nail to jab deeper into the pad.

Keeping nails as short as possible has many short and long-term benefits. Long nails hinder the dogs’ ability to walk correctly, flat on the foot. When the nails get too long, it forces the toes upward, causing the dogs to walk more on the back ball pad, rather than evenly on the whole foot. Long-term, this can result in permanent skeletal abnormalities. Long nails also inhibit dogs’ from being able to run, & make them susceptible to having the nails accidentally torn off.

The traditional way to trim the nails is to clip them; however, the more progressive & safer way to trim the nails is to sand them using a dremel device. Both need to be used with caution to prevent getting too close to the quick inside of the nail (a blood vessel). Getting to the quick causes bleeding & a great deal of pain. How often the nails need to be trimmed is very individual. I prefer to trim my girls’ nails with a dremel 3x/week, but for some dogs, 1/xweek is sufficient. Please talk with your veterinarian or groomer for more information.

Benefits of Shampoo Therapy for Canines

It is a common misconception that routine shampooing dries out dogs' skin. Although this is likely applicable when using poor quality shampoo, this is NOT the case with high quality, appropriately formulated shampoos. Routine shampoo therapy is essential for dogs to maintain healthy skin & coats.

Humans shed their skin cells every few days; dogs every few weeks. Just as it is important for us to scrub off our old skin cells, the same applies to canines’ skin. When those dead skin cells are left to accumulate, dogs tend to develop flakes, odors, oiliness, itchy skin, & the list goes on. Most dogs should be shampooed every 5-6 weeks, year-round. Dogs with various skin problems may benefit from more frequent shampoo sessions. And don’t forget to clean the ears afterward with an ear cleaner that dries up the remaining moisture within the ears! The goal is to keep ears dry to inhibit yeast & bacteria growth due to excess moisture within the ear canals. My choice is DermaPet MalAcetic Otic AP.

DermaPet products are top in the industry for chemical-free/natural skin, coat, & ear care. DermaPet products are formulated by a world-leading veterinary dermatologist.

K-9 Royal Essentials proudly offers the following cleansing products:

1) DermaPet SebS Shampoo: Seborrhea; Ringworm; Lick Granulomas (hotspots); Various Skin Infections (or a disposition to acquiring them); Oily & Dry Skin Diseases

-Does NOT contain chemicals, dyes, soaps, or perfumes * Hypoallergenic & conditioning * Balances the skin’s ph level (moisture) * Exceptional Sulfur/Salicylic Acid formula with coconut smell

2) DermaPet DermaLyte Shampoo: Severely allergenic, sensitive skin; severely dry skin

-Does NOT contain chemicals, dyes, soaps, or perfumes * Hypoallergenic & conditioning * Balances the skin’s ph level (moisture) * Enriched with Essential Fatty Acids & Vitamin E * Concentrated so it lasts longer * DermaLyte is the FIRST shampoo in the pet industry made for frequent (daily) use

3) Solid Gold Super Sen Gelle Shampoo: Puppies; adults; normal to dry skin; sensitive skin

-Does NOT contain chemicals, dyes, soaps, or perfumes * Hypoallergenic * Contains Jojoba oil, which penetrates all 3 layers of the skin, healing inside & out. LUXURIOUS! * Very concentrated, so it lasts a long time.

4) Solid Gold Jojoba Oil Conditioner: Puppies; adults; normal to dry skin; sensitive skin

-Does NOT contain chemicals, dyes, soaps, or perfumes * Hypoallergenic * Contains Jojoba oil, which penetrates all 3 layers of the skin, healing inside & out. LUXURIOUS! * Very concentrated, so it lasts a long time.

Canines & Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

More & more people are hearing about people providing their canines with some type of coconut oil, so in this post, I will briefly discuss the many benefits of this supplement. I affirm that organic extra virgin coconut oil is the most beneficial supplement we can give canines.

First, canines, by nature, canines are designed to obtain the majority of their daily nutrients from fat & meat, which is why the raw diet most closely aligns with their body's natural dietary requirements. When canines are provided with a nutritional regimen resembling this, they have a greater chance of possessing exceptional health.

Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid, otherwise known as a saturated fat; the fat on meat is also a saturated fat. When dogs consume raw, unprocessed sources of fat, it is going to benefit the entire body! The most common improvements people notice when adding coconut oil to their dogs' daily regimen are as follows:

a) Improved coat sheen & texture

b) Reduced inflammation of the skin (if present)

c) Increased energy

d) Improved digestive functioning

e) Reduced inflammation of the joints (if pain is present)

f) Quicker healing response to skin problems (if present)

g) Quicker speed of weight loss (if needed)

The list goes on! And, people start noticing improvements in mere few days, in many instances. Why? Because dogs are designed to eat fat! Some may wonder if this additional fat source would lead to weight gain, & the clear answer is NO.

When dogs consume raw, unprocessed fat, that fat is readily metabolized for energy, instead of going into fat stores, like sugars from carbohydrates are inclined to do. Dogs were designed to attain their body's energy needs from raw, unprocessed fat sources. Further, because the addition of coconut oil gives dogs more energy, that in-turn, increases their metabolism, which then helps them to loose weight.

TYPES: There 4 different types of coconut oils. The difference is in the processing of the coconut

a) Coconut oil

b) Organic Coconut Oil

c) Virgin Coconut Oil

d) Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

The kind you want is the last one (Organic Extra Virgin). For a brand, my preference is Nutiva. We have been feeding both Aspen & Goldie 2-3 tablespoons of this for 4+ years now, & will continue to do so for them, & any other dogs we have in the future. For past clients whose dogs I've placed on Nutiva, along with a healthy food regimen, the documented results were astounding:

a) Significantly improved coat sheen & texture

b) Quick hair growth around elbow calluses & areas of raw skin

c) Less shedding

d) Significantly reduced skin inflammation

e) Healthy weight loss

f) Significantly improved energy

FEEDING: Coconut oil can be provided a couple of different ways. At room temperature, it solidifies; when it's warm, it liquifies. You may feed it off the spoon or plop a glob in the bowl, or you can melt in the microwave & drizzle over the food. Provide roughly 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds of weight each day; however, if your dog is unfamiliar with a raw diet or nutrient dense dry diets, you will want to provide very small amounts, & gradually work your way up to however much they should have for their weight. If the stools become too soft, slow it down, & work your way back up again.

For more information about coconut oil for canines & humans, please visit the following websites:

http://www.coconutdiet.com/pet_nutrition.htm

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

Appropriate Nutrition is for ALL Dogs

Three suites down from K-9 Royal Essentials, there is a dog grooming business. All day long, everyday, I watch as the customers come & go without ever stopping at the store. Two weeks ago, I met a woman who told me she takes her two dogs to this grooming shop every six weeks (for the past 6+ months). She said that she always wonders how the store is doing as she drives by the window, but just never stopped in. When I asked her why, she stated that she thought the store was for sick dogs (stomach problems). She said she couldn't explain what it is about the outside appearance of the store that gave her this impression, but that is how she felt: she didn't need to come in & wasn't curious about what was in the store.

As she continued, she said that she just didn't want to come in, & didn't want to make the time to stop in. I attempted to explain that the nutritional products in this store are grain-free, which is ideal for every dog. Plus, the store carries the most unique items in the whole county - things that her dogs would love: toys, puzzles, treats, foods, etc. Why not stop in to see something new???

As the conversation continued, she said that she was taking her dogs to the grooming shop the next morning (the morning after we spoke), so she said that she would definitely stop in. That morning, I saw her drop off her dogs; that afternoon I saw her pick her dogs up. Both times, she drove by the store, slowly, looking in the window, but never stopped in, & still hasn't.

The purpose of this post is to let people know that K-9 Royal Essentials is NOT the "sick dog store." This is the store for people who want to provide their dogs with unique & healthy products. This is the store for the discerning customer who want something different....something better.

Non-Toxic Home Care Products

Now is the time of year when we start to need products for indoor/outdoor pests, lawn care, garden care, shrub care, etc. Please remember that many products available are highly toxic to our dogs & cats, not only when they're first applied, but even after it's dry.

As an alternative, Bayer came out with a brand new line of organic products called Natria. Natria has products for all of these needs, & more! They are non-toxic for animals, but you would want to ensure that the product is fully dry before letting you animals walk on or around them. For example, if you sprayed this on the dandelions or plants, it would need to dry for about 1-1.5 hours before your animals should be around that area - just common sense. But again, this is an organic, non-toxic line of products.

Because it's a brand new line, some stores are still trying to get it on their shelves, but it will be available at Fleet Farm, Walmart, Stein's, & Menards (in Green Bay/De Pere area). I don't know where it is sold in other states. Before you buy anything, please keep your animals' in mind, & consider trying this line of non-toxic products.

Click this link to see their full line of products. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/products

Hello Everyone!

The picture above is Aspen & Goldie with their beloved stuffies! They are the joy of my heart - the most precious gifts I've ever received.