“Like humans, dogs should be eating a variety of nutritious foods, and not living on just one specific formula.”
– Dr Jean Dodds, DVM
“Like humans, dogs should be eating a variety of nutritious foods, and not living on just one specific formula.”
– Dr Jean Dodds, DVM
I often chat with my human clients (the ones who pay the bills) when working on their dog. This week, one my clients and I were chatting about her dog’s nutrition plan. She mentioned that her neighbor was feeding a cheap food that wasn’t balanced. And more importantly, he didn’t seem to care.
She said “I don’t understand why people get dogs, say they love them, and then don’t bother to feed a quality food.”
I, of course, agreed.
And then I got to thinking about the other things I don’t understand:
I have been lucky enough to have some incredible dogs in my life (above are Daisy (now deceased) and Izzy (my retired racing greyhound). I proudly say that they have always come first.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in Dogs, Uncategorized
Tagged abuse, dog care, dog owners, lifetime responsibility, neglect, nutrition
It’s been particularly busy the last few days. I had expected it to be busy – just not this busy.
The planned part of the weekend was my company re-branding. At long last, my business is now The Balanced Dog Ltd – a practice focused on professional dog massage and natural care.
When I started in business in 2007, it was as a maker of preservative-free dog treats and cakes and so the company name of Canine Catering suited…but by 2010, my dog massage practice was growing and it is this aspect of natural dog care that has become my passion.
The new name also reflects my interests in Traditional Chinese Medicine and nutrition. It’s all about balance and health.
But what I didn’t expect this weekend was my first truly viral post on Facebook. A client of mine shared this cartoon with me and it all took off from there:
You see, last month my column about this subject was published in NZ Dog World magazine. I’m increasingly concerned about how people are taking to Facebook for medical diagnosis (instead of seeking professional veterinary care).
It’s okay to seek advice from peers when your dog has a known condition. Support groups for all types of disorders exist on social media; I’ve used them myself.
And I guess a lot of people agree with me – I’ve tripled the number of Facebook likes on my page and have had over 1.5 million views. Not bad for an independent canine massage practitioner from little old New Zealand…
Thanks for reading my blog; I’ve been writing it for five years now and I still enjoy it and the connections I have made with some dedicated dog parents.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Oh…and here’s my column about “Dr Facebook” if you’re interested:
I can claim another culinary victory this week.
I truly believe that good nutrition is the basis of a long life. As I say in my dog massage classes, “Senior dog care starts before your dog is a senior.”
And I have successfully created some dog ice cream for Izzy that is a nutritious treat. It uses probiotic yogurt, fresh pureed pumpkin and cooked liver (lamb’s liver in this case).
Best of all, it looks like orange/chocolate chip ice cream!
I’ve poured this mixture into ice cube trays and Izzy can indulge in it a few times a week.
This is a treat – not a core dog food of course. But I’m very pleased with the result.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Tagged cooking for dogs, dog treats, liver, nutrition, pumpkin, yogurt
Earlier this month, Freshpet Inc, the first and only fresh, refrigerated pet food brand distributed across North America, commenced trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. It’s trading abbreviation is FRPT.
This listing is yet another indication of the growing pet products market in the USA (and worldwide). Pet owners have incredible purchasing power and this power grows every year.
Freshpet’s operations began in October 2006. Their food is delivered to Freshpet Fridges in over 13,000 retail outlets.
All products are cooked in small batches and then refrigerated immediately and come with a best before date.
I don’t live in the USA and so haven’t experienced Freshpet firsthand. If you feed their foods, what do you and your dog think about them?
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
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.
Need to know more? Get in touch with me via my company website.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dog care
Tagged commercial foods, diet, homemade diet, nutrition, raw food, raw food diet