This first-of-its-kind study found that feeding dogs food from The Farmer’s Dog can impact metabolic health and support healthier aging in dogs. ChristianaT | Pixabay.com
A year-long metabolomic study led by Dr. Heather Huson, associate professor of animal sciences at Cornell University, found that feeding dogs fresh, human-grade food can impact metabolic health and support healthier aging. The research, conducted with board-certified veterinary nutritionists employed by The Farmer’s Dog, analyzed the effects of fresh, minimally processed recipes versus kibble in 22 senior Alaskan sled dogs.
Results showed dogs fed The Farmer’s Dog fresh food experienced a rapid and sustained metabolic shift after just one month, marked by lower levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) – harmful compounds linked to aging and chronic disease. These dogs also showed reduced sucrose and 1,5-anhydroglucitol (a glycemic control biomarker), and notably lower concentrations of specific AGEs such as N6-carboxymethyllysine and pyrraline.
“For years, people have been telling us their dogs are thriving on fresh diets like The Farmer’s Dog, and this study finally shows what’s happening beneath the surface — a significant metabolic transformation,” said Jonathan Regev, co-founder and CEO of The Farmer’s Dog. “The gap between highly processed pet foods and minimally processed real food may be even wider than we imagined, and could redefine what’s possible for canine health and longevity.”
Additional findings include higher levels of ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant compound, as well as elevated levels of carnosine and anserine (histidine-related metabolites with antioxidant properties). These shifts suggest increased antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress.
Dogs demonstrated elevated branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, with increased levels of leucine, isoleucine, and valine and their derivatives. They also showed higher levels of glycerol and glycerol-3-phosphate (markers of lipolysis), alongside increased long-chain omega-3 fatty acids — including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoate (EPA), docosapentaenoate (DPA), and docosahexaenoate (DHA). Serum 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), a ketone body, rose reflecting enhanced fat utilization and healthy ketosis.
Malonate, a marker of fatty acid synthesis, was decreased in the fresh food group, suggesting a more efficient metabolic profile compared to the kibble-fed group.
“The magnitude and consistency of the metabolic impacts we observed were quick, sustained and striking,” said Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR, DACVIM (Nutrition), one of the board-certified veterinary nutritionists who was involved in the study.
“Fresh, minimally processed food shifted the dogs’ metabolism toward a beneficial alternative metabolic profile in the aging dog with markers for improved muscle and neurological health along with implications for improved antioxidant defense, and diminished AGE formation,” added Dr. Wakshlag. “These results are an exciting milestone for understanding canine metabolic health and nutrition.”
The study was conducted under ethical approval from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and published in Metabolites.
Some insect-based pet foods may not meet nutritional guidelines and may contain species not listed on the label. Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium evaluated the nutritional adequacy of insect-based dog and cat foods and found potential gaps in quality control and labeling accuracy.
The researchers analyzed 29 insect-based pet food products available in European pet food retail outlets. All the products were marketed as complete and balanced and included 24 for dogs and five for cats. These included foods designated for different life stages: four for growth, 17 for adult maintenance, and three for all life stages for dogs; two for adult cats and three for all life stages. Researchers assessed composition, essential amino acid profiles and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, selenium, mercury and molybdenum.
Results showed that 76 percent of the products tested did not comply with their declared nutritional values, with some falling outside acceptable tolerances. When evaluated against nutritional recommendations, only three products (10 percent) met the standards set by the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), while 17 (59 percent) met guidelines from the National Research Council. Just one product fulfilled both its label declarations and FEDIAF recommendations. Nine products (31 percent) had discrepancies in two or more nutrient categories. Common issues included misreported crude fiber levels and metabolizable energy content. Deficiencies were found in selenium, calcium, phosphorus, and taurine, as well as improper calcium-to-phosphorus ratios, all of which could compromise pet health.
Undeclared species in insect-based pet foods
Pets with allergies to mammal or bird meats may be able to tolerate insect proteins, creating a market for insect-based pet foods as hypoallergenic. To evaluate this, the researchers used genetic sequencing on 20 insect-based products labeled as hypoallergenic to detect the presence of mammal or avian DNA. While 75 percent complied with their stated ingredient claims, five contained DNA from undeclared animals, which could present risks for pets with food sensitivities or allergies.
“Despite the potential benefits of insect-based pet foods, this study underscores the need for further research and stricter quality control to ensure safety and efficacy, ultimately improving pet nutrition and consumers’ trust,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Insects and Food and Feed.
As you’ve probably read in this blog before, I’m a self-confessed Science Geek. I like the details. So, it should come as no surprise that label reading is part of my routine as a dedicated Dog Mum and pet professional.
This week has provided some good food for thought – the importance of reading labels.
First up is Sox’s Vitamin B supplement, Cobalazorb. When the latest box arrived, it was immediately noticeable that the packaging had changed:
There were differences that could be alarming for us. I have been managing Sox’s inflammatory bowel disease for years now and this supplement is vital since his malfunctioning gut does not digest all the goodness from food as it should. I emailed the company, ADM Australia PTY Ltd.
I have just received a new pack of Cobalazorb for my dog, who has chronic enteropathy. This pack prominently promotes that the product has a chicken flavour and also does not state that the capsule is a vegetable capsule – only “capsule.”
I’ve compared it to the previous pack, which states a flavouring but with no specific type and a vegetable capsule.
Given his sensitivities, I wanted to check that there have been no ingredient changes to the original product and that this is a change in packaging only.
Great news! The company responded the same day with this reply:
Thanks for reaching out.
I can confirm that only the packaging has changed for Cobalazorb, everything else remains the same as before. The flavouring is still artificial chicken (no actual chicken) and the capsules are vegetarian, so OK to use in dogs and cats with allergies and sensitivities.
Please reach out should you have any further questions.
At this point, I was winning. That was until the delivery the next day of our latest 12 kg bag of Purina Pro Plan Gastrointestinal kibble, our mainstay dog food. Only this time, the bag came with a prominent label announcing “Coming Soon, New Look and Formula.”
New formula…and when you turn over that label there’s a reminder that new foods should be transitioned over 10 days.
I emailed Purina to ask what the formula changes will be, explaining that I am using this food for Sox’s chronic enteropathy (IBD). It took them 2 days to reply, “We have reached out to our wider team regarding your questions about the formula changes and we’ll get back in touch with you as soon as possible.“
This reply doesn’t fill me with great confidence and history shows that whenever pet food companies change formulations, it is usually so they can reduce the cost of ingredients while improving profit margin. Decreasing cost of production often means decreasing the quality of the ingredients. Dog food is a big business.
Time will tell if I am going to need to find another food for Sox, and how long I will wait for a definitive reply from Purina.
I encourage all my clients to read labels – you’d be surprised how often products formulations are changed – a change in packaging is often a good reason to check the label.
P.S. A big shout out of thanks to ADM for such fabulous customer service (plus for not changing the formula of a valued supplement)
Kathleen Crisley is Fear-Free certified dog massage therapist and canine fitness trainer. She has a particular passion for working with dogs and their families to ensure injury prevention and quality of life. She specialises in working with anxious and emotionally damaged dogs. Her mobile practice, The Balanced Dog, is based in Christchurch, New Zealand
Scientists have made significant strides in addressing a common yet concerning issue: overweight pets. This research unveils the potential of specific probiotics to combat obesity in dogs.
Dr. Kim’s team, with a focus on metabolic diseases in companion animals, embarked on a mission to identify probiotics that could offer a safe, long-term treatment for dog obesity.
“The initial challenge involved selecting specific metabolic diseases for examination, leading us to focus on the prevalent issue of ‘obesity in pets,’” Dr. Kim explained.
The global trend of pet obesity is alarming, with about 50% of the pet population across various age groups being affected, particularly older pets.
Many of these pets are already receiving treatments, including dietary interventions. Dr. Kim and his team set out with a clear objective: to find probiotics that could effectively reduce body fat percentage in pets.
Tackling dog obesity with probiotics
Dr. Kim’s vision goes beyond just addressing specific health issues. He advocates for a broader recognition of the therapeutic potential of probiotics across a spectrum of diseases affecting companion animals.
“By promoting this awareness, my aspiration is to catalyze increased attention, funding and collaborative efforts in the scientific community to explore the expansive landscape of probiotic applications in pet health,” Dr. Kim stated.
To pinpoint the right probiotic candidates, the research delved into the variations in intestinal microbiota between younger and older dogs.
This investigation highlighted a decline in certain beneficial bacteria, such as lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacterium species, and Enterococcus species in older dogs.
These findings guided the researchers in selecting specific strains for their experiment.
Two probiotics helped dogs lose weight
The study then progressed to its experimental phase, where two selected strains, Enterococcus faecium IDCC 2102 and Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301, were administered to a group of beagles on a high-fat diet.
The results were striking. “The strains we carefully selected demonstrated remarkable success in reducing the body fat percentage in dogs,” said Kim.
These probiotics effectively reduced body weight, cut down subcutaneous fat, and boosted energy metabolism even on a high-calorie diet, shifting the body’s focus from fat storage to fat consumption.
“What set these strains apart was their ability to not only limit dietary intake or enhance excretion to reduce body weight but, more importantly, activate energy metabolism. Even when exposed to a high-calorie diet, we observed a decrease in body weight, alleviation of subcutaneous fat accumulation and an increase in energy metabolism. This confirmed a shift in the body’s metabolic orientation toward fat consumption, rather than fat accumulation,” Kim explained.
Significantly, this study also highlighted the strains’ impact on systemic inflammation and hormone metabolism.
Long-term benefits of probiotics for dogs
The dogs that received these probiotics showed reduced inflammation and improved metabolic activities, like insulin production.
The strains also increased beneficial commensal bacteria, enhancing the body’s defense mechanisms and immunity.
Dr. Kim emphasized the lasting impact of these changes, indicating sustained benefits for pets incorporating these probiotics into their health regimen. This enduring effect is pivotal in managing long-term health in pets.
With the rise in pet ownership, there’s a growing interest in health functional foods for pets, especially probiotics.
However, research in this area, particularly tailored probiotics for companion animals, lags far behind human studies.
“While types of probiotics suitable for human consumption or commercial livestock have been identified and established, the absence of standardized guidelines for companion animals is a glaring gap,” said Dr. Kim.
“Our study aimed to address this deficiency by striving to broaden the spectrum of probiotics applicable to pets across various environments.”
Promising future of pet probiotics
In summary, this important study led by Dr. Younghoon Kim marks a significant milestone in the fight against pet obesity, unveiling the remarkable potential of specific probiotics to combat this widespread issue.
By meticulously selecting and testing strains, the research team demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing body fat and enhancing metabolism in dogs, while highlighting the long-term health benefits these probiotics offer.
This research paves the way for more tailored health solutions in pet care, encouraging further exploration and development in this vital field.
It stands as a beacon of hope for pet owners worldwide, offering a new, sustainable approach to managing the health and well-being of their beloved companions.
In the realm of health and wellness, probiotics have emerged as unsung heroes, revolutionizing our understanding of gut health and beyond.
As discussed above, these live microorganisms, often referred to as “good” or “friendly” bacteria, play a critical role in maintaining a balanced intestinal microbiome, which is crucial for overall health.
Balancing the gut
Probiotics primarily work by enhancing the gut flora, which is a complex community of microorganisms living in our digestive tracts.
This boost in beneficial bacteria aids in various digestive processes and fortifies the body’s defense mechanisms against harmful pathogens.
Regular consumption of probiotics has been linked to improved digestion, enhanced immune function, and even a reduction in the risk of certain chronic diseases.
Treating digestive disorders
One of the most significant benefits of probiotics is their ability to treat and prevent gastrointestinal issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and antibiotic-related diarrhea.
By restoring the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which can be disrupted by factors like antibiotics or poor diet, probiotics alleviate these digestive disorders.
Furthermore, emerging research suggests that probiotics may have a broader impact on our health than previously thought.
Studies indicate potential benefits in areas such as mental health, where probiotics are believed to play a role in mood regulation and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
This connection, often referred to as the gut-brain axis, opens new avenues for mental health treatments.
Benefits of probiotics on humans and dogs
Probiotics also show promise in enhancing heart health by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
This cardioprotective effect is another feather in the cap of these microscopic powerhouses.
Incorporating probiotics into one’s diet is relatively straightforward. They are found naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and kimchi.
For those who prefer supplements, a wide range of probiotic capsules and powders are available on the market.
In summary, probiotics are a key component of a holistic approach to health, both for humans and dogs alike. Their wide-ranging benefits, from improving gut health to potentially boosting mental well-being, make them a valuable ally in our quest for a healthier life.
As research continues to uncover their myriad benefits, probiotics are set to play an even more prominent role in our daily health regimen.
Meat-based maternal diet during pregnancy and as the puppies’ first solid diet during the early postnatal period (at 1–2 months of age), both showed a significant “protective” effect from atopy in adult age.
Researchers from the international multidisciplinary research group “DogRisk” at the University of Helsinki have found novel early-life risk factors that impact the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in adult dogs. The results are also interesting for human medicine as the disease, atopy, is very similar in young dogs and in children.
The identified risk factors include non-modifiable and modifiable variables in the pre- and postnatal age, being just before or after birth. This new knowledge empowers dog owners, opens up research on processed foods, and advances primary atopy preventive strategies.
So far over 12,000 dog owners have answered the Finnish internet-based DogRisk food frequency questionnaire. The data allows for associating many non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors with owner-reported canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) prevalence.
As partly reported previously, an increased prevalence of atopy in adult age significantly associated with the dog being from an allergy prone breed, its mother having a history of atopy, and more than 50 % of the dog’s hair coat being white. But the most interesting for the owners are the things that they can have an impact on: early life diet had the strongest association with the disease.
Novel diet-related risk factors for atopy in dogs
A non-heat-processed, meat-based maternal diet during pregnancy and as the puppies’ first solid diet during the early postnatal period (at 1–2 months of age), both showed a significant “protective” effect from atopy in adult age. The same diet also indicated protection at a later puppy stage (at 2–6 months of age), but this finding did not reach significance.
On the contrary, an ultra-processed carbohydrate based maternal diet (commercial dry kibble) during pregnancy and as the puppies’ first solid diet during the early postnatal period, increased atopy incidence in adult age.
“As the differently processed diets also have a very different macro-nutrient profile it is, at this stage, impossible to say whether it is the lack of “cooking”, the minimal amount of carbohydrates, preservatives and coloring agents, the different quality and quantity of animal proteins and fats, the non-sterility of the food, or something else, that made raw foods come out as superior for atopy health in our data”, says the study’s main researcher Dr. Manal Hemida from the Helsinki One Health network.
Additionally, de-worming the dam during pregnancy, exposing the young puppies to sun light for at least one hour per day, spending time on a dirt floor or lawn before six months of age, keeping the young puppies at normal body weight, and continuing to live in the same family where they were born, were all associated with a significant decrease of CAD risk at adult age.
“These results, however, only suggest causality, but do not prove it. A prospective diet intervention during pregnancy and at young age is needed to confirm our findings”, says Adjunct Professor Anna Hielm-Björkman, leader of the DogRisk research group.
Original article in PLOS ONE: Identification of modifiable pre- and postnatal dietary and environmental exposures associated with owner-reported canine atopic dermatitis in Finland using a web-based questionnaire. Manal Hemida, Kristiina A. Vuori, Siru Salin, Robin Moore, Johanna Anturaniemi, Anna Hielm-Björkman. Published: May 29, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225675
A surprising number of pet owners, particularly those who are vegan, are interested in feeding their pets a plant-based diet, according to new University of Guelph research.
Researchers with U of G’s Ontario Veterinary College along with colleagues in New Zealand conducted an online survey of 3,673 dog and cat owners from around the world to learn about what kinds of foods they fed their pets and themselves.
Photo by: Rarnie McCudden from Pexels
Published in the journal PLoS ONE, the survey found that 35 per cent of owners whose pets ate conventional diets were interested in switching their animals to a vegan diet.
More than half of them (55 per cent) added, though, that certain stipulations needed to be met before they would make the switch. Those stipulations included needing further evidence that a plant-based diet would meet their pets’ nutritional needs, wanting approval from their veterinarians and wanting plant-based pet foods to be easily available.
Just under six per cent of the survey respondents were vegan — meaning they ate no meat, dairy or fish – and more than a quarter (27 per cent) of them reported they already fed their pets plant-based diets.
Among the rest of the vegans, a full 78 per cent were interested in helping their pets to switch to a plant-based diet if one were available that met their needs.
Lead author Sarah Dodd, currently a PhD candidate at the OVC’s Department of Population Medicine, said even she was surprised by how many vegans had already chosen to eliminate meat from their pets’ diets.
“That percentage, 27 per cent, might sound like a small number, but when you think of the actual numbers of pets involved, that’s huge, and much higher than we expected.”
In total, 1.6 per cent of the 2,940 dogs in the survey and 0.7 per cent of the 1,545 cats were being fed a strictly plant-based diet; only vegans and one vegetarian chose to exclusively feed plant-based diets.
Another 10.4 per cent of the dogs and 3.3 per cent of cats were intermittently fed vegetarian diets or plant-based foods.
Of the 3,673 pet owners surveyed, 6 per cent were vegetarian (meaning they ate no meat but did eat dairy, eggs or honey), 4 per cent were pescatarian (meaning they ate no meat but fish, and may eat dairy, eggs or honey), and nearly 6 per cent were vegan (meaning they ate no animal products).
Dodd performed this study for her M.Sc. degree with Prof. Adronie Verbrugghe in OVC’s Department of Clinical Studies
Dodd said while her team’s research was not designed to assess whether vegan pet diets are a growing trend, she expects interest in the diets to increase.
“People have been hearing about how vegan diets are linked to lowered risks of cancer and other health benefits in humans. There is also growing concern about the environmental impact of animal agriculture.”
Previous studies have also shown that pet owners tend to offer the same kind of diets to their dogs and cats that they adopt for themselves.
“So, while only a small proportion of pet owners are currently feeding plant-based diets to their pets, it is safe to say that interest in the diets is likely to grow.”
However, there has not been much research on the nutritional suitability of vegan diets for dogs and cats, nor on the health benefits and risks of plant-based diets in these animals, said Dodd.
“This study shows there is a clear need for further research in this area.”
I see a lot of dogs in my massage practice who have bad breath and/or other noticeable signs of dental disease. Ask most veterinarians and they’ll tell you that they do a lot of ‘dentals’ during the course of any given week. If your dog requires teeth to be extracted because of infection, cracking, or gum disease, your healthcare bill will quickly increase.
The first line of defense in keeping your dog’s teeth healthy is a good diet of wholesome ingredients. That includes chews and bones. Raw diets excel in this because they use bones as a staple part of the diet but I have also seen dogs with excellent teeth who are fed commercial dog foods – typically supplemented with fresh ingredients – and with bones and chews a regular part of the regime.
Some owners feed a combination of raw and commercial diets; I personally like this balanced approach and it is what I feed my own dog.
But, and here’s the but…bones and chews don’t solve the dental disease problem for a good number of dogs. Why?
Some dogs just aren’t naturally strong chewers; they aren’t motivated by chewing for very long – even on a fresh and meaty bone
Dogs who have been rescued or adopted may already have already experienced damage to their teeth or suffered early in life because of a poor diet or starvation
I believe that some dogs, like people, have a mouth chemistry that pre-disposes them to tartar build-up. Dogs are individuals and we simply can’t rule out that nature deals the bad-teeth card to some dogs
Dogs who have been born with defects such as cleft palates usually have something wrong with their teeth from the outset; bones and chews may be difficult for these dogs
So what’s the next step?
My view is definitely teeth-brushing. We train our children to do this daily. Why would it be any different for a domesticated dog?
[And, with hand on heart, most vets will choose teeth brushing over a special ‘dental diet’ any day.] The issue here is having the patience and persistence to brush teeth effectively. Unfortunately, a lot of owners simply give up because of their dog’s protests and vets then become conditioned to ‘water down’ the advice by saying ‘try it a couple of days per week..’ and ‘feed a dental diet.’
I brush my dog’s teeth daily. Izzy is a retired racing greyhound, a breed known for their bad teeth. By the time Izzy was adopted at age 5 1/2, her teeth were noticeably unstable and worn down from what must have been chewing on the bars of a kennel or some other surface equally as unforgiving. She had teeth extracted as part of her adoption medical visit.
I like this very straightforward video from The Whole Dog Journal on the subject of teeth brushing. The only oversight is that the video doesn’t cover the triple-headed toothbrush design which I prefer. My concern with the long-handled toothbrushes is that it is easy to poke a dog in the mouth with them, particularly if they are fussing with you over getting their teeth brushed in the first place…
There are other natural solutions to dental care which include the use of homeopathics and herbs. All of these are my choice before a dental diet. Why?
Well here’s the ingredient list off the label of a well-known prescription diet product. Does it sound healthy/wholesome to you?
A courier came to the door this morning to deliver several parcels. She said, “What’s cooking – it smells great!” And I replied, “I’m cooking a casserole for my dog in the slow cooker.”
This particular casserole is made with fresh broccoli, lamb heart, lean beef schnitzel, and fresh ginger.
After a brief pause, she smiled and said, “Lucky dog.”
I feed a combination of raw, homemade and commercial foods. It’s important to feed a nutritionally complete diet and so homemade diets will most likely need supplementation.
I consult with dog owners who want feeding advice and I incorporate Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment techniques for food matching. I am not affiliated with any dog food manufacturer and so my advice is completely independent.
This book, inspired in part by the large volume of correspondence Ted received after releasing Merle’s story, documents Ted’s extensive research into the health of dogs and the factors that may determine longevity. So many ‘dog people’ contacted Kerasote asking variations of the same question – ‘why don’t our dogs live longer?’ And since Ted felt the same way, he did what any professional journalist would do – he asked lots of questions.
In Pukka’s Promise -The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs, Ted tackles subjects including nutrition, the politics behind the pet food industry, and what diet is right for dogs. Ted lays out the facts about raw food and commercial diets, the concerns about grains and whether they are appropriate for dogs and a favourite topic of mine – variety in the diet.
Because Kerasote observes his dog so well, he realises that there are times when Pukka (pronounced PUCK-ah) rejects the food that is laid before him. Pukka lets Ted know that he prefers something else one day when he follows him into the pantry. Having rejected raw lamb, Pukka readily accepts some dried elk chips. Ted then listens more often to what Pukka would like for his meals noting, “Today I do not want sardines, I want chicken. Yes, I do love elk, but this evening I prefer dried elk.”
And just as he did in Merle’s Door, this communication between Kerasote and Pukka is not contrived nor do these moments come across as a story book type of anthropomorphism. Kerasote is a keen observer and dog aficionado. When he listens or hears Pukka, it’s because he understands what his dog is trying to tell him and translates it into words. Few authors could achieve this in such a natural way.
An example of the communication between Ted and Pukka comes when Ted is frustrated by Pukka’s excessive barking. Dog trainers should be prepared that Ted’s solution doesn’t come from clicker training or positive reinforcement, although Ted tries these things. Ted’s solution is a direct result of understanding dog behaviour and putting that knowledge to good use. It helps that Ted can communicate in dog. Enough said; you’ll have to read the book for the ending of this tale.
Kerasote covers a range of health topics including vaccinations, the history of the ‘annual vaccination’ recommendation, and the latest research on why over-vaccinating is a concern. A good message to take away from reading the book is to enquire with your vet about having your dog ‘titered’ to determine the amount of immunity they still have from previous vaccinations.
Still other issues that are tackled in a thorough way are the effects of neutering and alternatives to the traditional spay/neuter operation that may help our dogs retain the health-preserving effects of their natural sex hormones. Kerasote also questions the spay/neuter philosophy in a constructive way and whether you agree with his conclusions or not, he does lay out the facts very well.
Another topic that I hold dear is the issue of cancer and the simple message – if you find a lump on your dog, don’t let anyone (including your vet) tell you to ‘wait and see.’ Some lumps, if caught early and tested, can be removed before the disease takes over the comparatively small body of a dog. Take heed!
As a backdrop to the book’s hard facts, we also get to enjoy a wonderful story about Ted’s search for another dog and his choice of Pukka. Once Pukka’s is on the scene, we share some of their adventures.
My only criticism of this book is its lack of photos. Other than the cover photo of Pukka, we don’t get to enjoy any photos of Pukka, Ted, or their other dog friends (A.J., Burley and Goo) nor any of the great scenery from Ted’s camping and hunting trips with Pukka. I don’t think photos would have detracted from the contents and scope of the book, but I guess that’s the publisher’s decision.
With 49 pages of references, this is a thoroughly researched book that took five years to complete. Add it to your book collection and refer back to it as the basis for a conversation with your vet (your dog will love you for it).
Well done, Ted! What are you cooking up for us next?
DoggyMom.com 