ASK QUESTIONS......the more you know, the safer your pets will be.

Holly & a greyhound friend sharing a Starbucks

I've had the pleasure of working with companion animals for several years, starting my Scottsdale AZ petsitting business in 1995.  Seeing the benefits of feeding natural and whole foods not only to my pets, but to my clients pets and foster dogs we've hosted has been very eye-opening! Let me share with you what I have learned from my extensive personal research involving holistic pet care.  My goal is to help you realize exactly what is in commercial pet foods and treats and how to avoid them and their potential risks to your dog's health. I truly believe many people just don't know about these chemicals and how they are potentially sickening our beloved pets or they would certainly not be feeding them. 
Our first dog Mugzy was a sickly puppy, likely from the brightly colored cornstarch chews I was giving him as an alternative to rawhide. I just didn't know they were dangerous, as probably many of YOU don't. At 12 years old, he still battles pancreatic, joint and digestive issues which I believe are a direct result of these fake chews. He's had both ACL's repaired and is our "million dollar baby."
He is the reason I started researching pet foods and what I discovered made me ANGRY and sad that dogs are suffering from what their humans are feeding them without knowing it.
There is a lot of information on this page and I hope that it will provide you with the guidance you need to help you make an educated decision about pet foods . Please take the time to read through it, or bookmark it to read later.
I'm always happy to answer your emails. hollyjoy@holistic-hounds.com

I continue to be horrified at the inferior quality of commercially available dog foods and treats. Taking a walk down the pet food aisle at any grocery store  (which happens to be bigger than the baby food aisle) is maddening. Preservatives, artificial coloring, inferior by-products and chemicals added that have been reported to cause degenerative illness in dogs. Treats that are so brightly colored, you just have to wonder what's in them. If a dog food resembles candy, it's probably a close equivalent. Dogs don't care what color their food is ! These chemical colorings are added to please YOU....the unwary consumer. Why are these potentially disease-causing chemicals and cheap fillers used, you ask? Money, big money.  Over $10 billion is spent in the US per year on pet food and the competition is steep.

Current marketing research shows that people are seeking natural alternatives not only for themselves but for their pets as well and several large pet food companies were quick to respond with their own version of "natural" or "holistic" dog foods. Just because there is a picture of a vegetable on the pretty glossy bag, or the trendy marketing buzz-words "natural" and "holistic", doesn't mean that anything that closely resembles a vegetable or anything natural is inside. These so called "healthy" foods are not all that healthy and certainly FAR from natural! WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO DO THIS??? This deception has to stop, and only we as consumers can see that it happens. Stop buying those "pretty" bags of dog food and learn what is in them. Call the toll-free number on the bag and ASK! Don't be fooled by clever marketing schemes. There is very little policing of the pet food companies claims of "healthy" and "natural".

Because of the HUGE Menu pet food recall in March 2007, many people are FINALLY paying attention to what they are feeding. I am saddened that it's taken so many pets dying for them to do so, and I blame only the pet food companies for their deceptive practices.

  Herbal Supplements, digestive enzymes and EFA's.
  Click Animal Essentials banner to visit our supplement store!

It is now widely accepted that the alarming increase in cancer among pets is primarily due to the use of chemicals in their food.  Cancer accounts for almost half  of the deaths in pets 10 years and older.

Among those chemicals are BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. These preservatives may also cause liver, kidney and other major organ damage. Many of the chemicals used in pet food are banned for human use, but they are much less expensive to use than their natural counterparts. Cancer is now common in pets, and the rate increases with age. Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans, while cats get fewer cancers. Read this  report about disease in pets and the obvious link to their diet. Over-vaccinating is another probable cause of immune related disease, as is the over-prescribing of steroids and antibiotics.

Most pets eat the same food every day which offers the opportunity to either improve health or to risk degenerative disease. Varying the diet and adding fresh foods (yes, PEOPLE FOOD!)  is another way you can help your pet stay healthy. It's not true that domestic pets need to eat the same thing every day, although many people have been told that they do. This is just another myth being perpetuated by pet food companies so you will buy their products.

Read this important article - "Dead Dog Food"
Did you know that three of the five major pet food companies in the US are subsidiaries of
human  food companies?  
Call and ask them about the ingredients they use.  It's whatever if left over after all the "good" ingredients are used in the human food products. We literally live "downwind" of a major pet/livestock food factory. The stench that comes from that building is sickening.
What a interesting concept.....profit from waste. These pet foods made in the US are banned from several European countries due to their stringent quality control. They will NOT let cheap fillers and by-products from the US into their countries.  I applaud them.                        


Nestle Purina, (our stinky neighbor)  (Dog Chow, Pro Plan, Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Tidy Cat, Purina One, Beneful)    800-778-7462
Procter & Gamble (Eukanuba, Iams), 800-525-4267 Visit www.iamscruelty.com and see how this company is still brutally testing on companion animals for both human products and pet products. Boycott P&G!
Mars the candy company, (Kal Kan, Mealtime, Pedigree, Sheba, Waltham’s) 800-525-5273
Colgate-Palmolive (Hill’s Science Diet) 800-445-5777
Quaker Oats (Kibbles & Bits, Special Cuts, Ken-L Ration) 800-4MY-PETS
Nabisco (Milkbones) 800-NABISCO
 Don't support stores that sell puppies.
 For your pet's sake:
1. Seek out a holistic veterinarian. This link will take you to the American Holistic Veternarian site to find a holistic vet in your area. It could be the best thing you ever do for your pets, besides loving them!  Vaccines, flea and tick treatments and popular steroid shots for allergies have also been linked to illness. There are many natural products and alternative treatments available that work just as well without the harmful side-effects. Are yearly vaccines necessary? These are questions you should be asking. Many vets are now agreeing that yearly vaccines should not be administered.
A holistic vet seeks out the cause of the problem or illness in order to correct it, instead of just prescribing drugs that only mask or suppress the symptoms which can lead to serious illness down the road.
Supressive therapy is commonplace in most medical practices, and where it does seem to temporarily alleviate the symptoms (steroids for itching from allergies, for instance) it's not always in the pet's best interest. How many times has your dog taken antibiotics in the last 5 years? How about Rimadyl, Prednisone/steroids or other drugs that can have potential serious, long-lasting side effects?  If your vet is not open-minded about holistic treatments, find one who is. 
We are fortunate to have Continental Animal Wellness Center here in Flagstaff, and Dr's. Maciulla & Taraba take amazing care of our pets! Dr 928-522-6008
2. Learn about good dog nutrition. They ARE what they eat. Garbage in, garbage out.
This is something that YOU decide on. Doesn't it make sense that what you feed your dog has a direct impact on his/her overall health? Read the reports included on our site and others like ours on our links page so you can make an educated decision regarding what you are feeding your pets. ASK QUESTIONS!!!
3. Support a breed rescue group.
This is something we truly believe in. Rescue organizations are usually run entirely by volunteers who freely give of their time, funds and hearts to dogs in need. These dogs have ended up at shelters by no fault of their own, and usually misunderstood, mistreated or worse by the humans they loved. Over 10 million animals are neglected, abused and abandoned yearly. A very sad statement about our "disposable" society. Many are euthanized because of lack of funds and foster homes.
There are hundreds of online rescue organizations, both local and national, for your favorite breed. We are an approved foster home for the Italian Greyhound Club of America and Wiseguys IG rescue in Colorado, and have fostered several greyhounds, big and small.
Our non-profit group Silver Hounds raises funds for senior Italian Greyhounds in private foster care to help pay for medical bills and other extras that seniors sometimes need. We also host several online fundraising auctions to help other small groups.

Our Observations: ( please be patient and keep reading....we're almost done! )
During our years of working with companion animals, we have found that many of the common problems our clients encounter are due to inadequate nutrition, over-vaccination and exposure to environmental toxins including commercial cleaning products and lawn treatments, to name a few. Try plain white vinegar to clean countertops and floors. We also love Mrs Meyer's aromatherapeutic household cleaners. We use Dr. Bronner's Pepperment Soap diluted as a deterent for insects in and around our home. Organic lawn care is inexpensive and easy.
Hot spots, allergies, ear infections and even cancers are believed to be linked to chemicals and inferior ingredients found in most commercially available dog foods. Here are just a few:
Ethoxyquin, one of the more popular pet food preservatives, has been highly debated the past few years and banned for human use except for trace amounts in paprika. It has been linked to liver cancer and organ disfunction, although not proven, hence it's continued use. Further testing because of public outcry is ongoing.
Propylene glycol is used in 100% concentrations as antifreeze. It is known to cause illness in dogs but still used in pet foods. Why is this allowed? Recent studies have shown that processed foods are a contributing factor in increasing numbers of dogs (and people) suffering from degenerative disease. Cancers are at an all time high in the pet & human population. Could it be from the over-processed foods that we and our pets are eating? Trans fatty acids (hydrogenated fats) are another ingredient we avoid.

In most states, the USDA laws allow 4-D meats to be used in pet food. These 4-D meats are described as "dead, dying, disabled or diseased". These meats can be riddled with cancer and have questionable hormone levels. Rancid, moldy grains rejected for human consumption as well as used restaurant grease can be processed into a pet food ingredient. Why?
They have to get rid of it somewhere, why not make a profit from it? Did you hear about the Diamond pet food recall in December 2005? Several dogs died from a fungus, aflatoxin, that grows on rancid grain (mainly corn) and is not killed during cooking. How about the newest recall in March, 2007? Last I heard almost 3000 deaths have been reported from tainted wheat gluten from China.
If these ingredients had been inspected and passed for human consumption these pets would not have died. Human grains are tested carefully for dangerous toxic molds. Not to mention, corn and wheat gluten have NO business being a main ingredient in dog food.
If they allow "downer" cows to be used for HUMAN food, as recently uncovered in the news with the mad cow scare, just imagine what they send to the rendering plants for pet food. Read this important report about rendering plants and the horrifying ingredients in most commercial pet foods. You will be shocked. Here's another excellent organization and their
Pet Food Report.
The FDA recently reports that sodium pentobarbital, a drug veternarians use for euthanizing companion animals, was found in over 40 major brands of commercial pet food. How did it get there? They say it's safe to injest in small amounts. Do you want your dog to eat even a LITTLE bit of this stuff? We don't think so. The fact is, human and dog health is not all that dissimilar.....eat chemical-laden, over-processed foods and you could be jeopardizing your health. 
                      Are you slowly poisoning your pets and don't even know it? 
Dogs & cats especially, thrive on meat.  If this is the case, why are so many major brands mostly grains and cereal fillers? Are you feeding a horse or a dog? Smell the food.....does it smell like meat, or horse feed? Can they survive on this?.....sure they could, just like humans could survive on unhealthy fast food or dry cereals. Is it the best source of nutrition? Absolutely not. Dogs are not "designed" to eat grains, as their saliva doesn't have the necessary enzymes to aid in the digestion of grain matter. WHOLE grains can be a healthy part of a dog's diet, but it should not be the majority of it, as it is with most commercial dry foods. I will never believe that ANY kibbled diet alone (even the premium ones) are as healthy as a varied, fresh or dehydrated diet for dogs. I also advocate rotating protein sources for optimum health. I do not advocate raw feeding or BARF diets, but will occassionally give my dogs a raw meaty bone. I don't believe that most meats in the US are clean enough to be fed raw.
We use and recommend Flint River Ranch for kibbled food. They use only "good enuf for human" ingredients along with antioxidants and digestive enzymes and it's baked for maximum digestion. We also like the Trout & Potato formula for some variety and the dogs LOVE it! You can visit our Flint River Ranch store by clicking on the banner below.

My advice to busy pet owners? Buy the best dry kibble you can afford and add fresh ingredients to it daily. Do NOT buy grocery store or mass merchandiser brands!!!
There is no substitute for the antioxidants, naturally occurring minerals, enzymes and vitamins found in fresh whole PEOPLE foods.
Modern pets thrive on a variety of natural, fresh foods. Organic is best, but not necessary.
What are good foods to give dogs in addition to dry food? Cooked fresh eggs, whole grain rice, oatmeal, cooked lean meats, fresh cooked fish, canned wild salmon, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, beans and grated raw or slightly cooked veggies. These foods have all the vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants and naturally occurring enzymes to keep your pets in peak condition.
Read your pet food label. The first 4 ingredients are the major components of any food and one of the first two ingredients should be a clean meat source, meaning no by-products, fractionated grains, soy or corn.

Federal guidelines require that manufacturers list their ingredients by order of weight. What many people don't realize is that many list their protein source in it's "wet" raw state when as much as 75% of the weight is water, pushing that ingredient to the top of the list. When the meat is processed in the "meal" state (removing the water) it becomes about 5 times lighter and should probably be listed as the 4th or 5th ingredient. Don't be fooled by deceptive marketing campaigns!!!
Whole meat meals (chicken meal, lamb meal, fish meal) are just the meats with the water removed for ease of blending, and an excellent source of protein. Many "Senior"  or weight management formulas will have a grain first on the label. This is fine too, as long as it's a whole grain such as whole millet, rice or barley to name a few.  Corn, soy, wheat middlings, rice hulls, peanut hulls, corn syrup and the like are RED FLAGS that this is not the most nutritious food you could be feeding your dog. 
The label won't lie, but it can be deceiving.  If the above mentioned chemicals or ingredients are in your dog's food, please re-think feeding it. If you just want the cheapest food out there, be prepared to deal with ill health.  If you have a question about a specific ingredient on your dog's food label, email us. We'll refer you to an unbiased source for an answer. We don't just want to sell you something but want to help you learn as much as you can about pet foods.
Please know what you are feeding your pets.....their life could depend on it.

There are many forums that discuss the horrors of pet food manufacturing and the chemicals used in more detail than we have here.  
We also recommend the books below for more information. If you read nothing else on our site, PLEASE read this report from the Animal Protection Institute. It is one of the most informative.
  The Animal Protection Institutes Pet Food Report

You will not find hundreds of items in our online store  but just a few tried and true products that we use in our home. 
We are not vets, nor do we claim to know everything there is to know about animal nutrition, but we have done extensive research. We are concerned pet parents who, after working with other people's pets for many years, wanted to find out why so many dogs aren't as healthy as they could be.  
Reading through our site, and others like ours listed on our Links Page, will help you make an educated decision about what to feed your furry friends. We do not provide medical advice, but do offer pet food counseling. If you have a medical question or problem, call your vet! 

The books we recommend are listed at the bottom of this page and are both useful and informative for those seeking the truth and more information about natural pet care.  

In conclusion, natural canine care doesn't have to cost a fortune, require a huge inventory of products or require a lot of extra time. If you are feeding your dog a chemical~free dry food, you are already on your way to helping your pet stay healthy and happy, as nutrition is the foundation for good health.
Thank You for reading this far (your dog thanks you too).  You are obviously a caring pet parent and if you are anything like us, your pets are your family.  

Treat them right....feed them natural !

    www.dogaware.com  great informative site with nothing to sell
More scary info on commercial pet foods     
    Info about poison in petfood                                                                               
Yearly Vaccines Unnecessary???? YOU BET!!    
                                                         Our Angels
                
                                Mugzy, Valentino, Vinnie & Speedo, MontiBLUE & Princessa

Mugzy, our"first born", is a Yorkie. Purchased out of the trunk of a car and eating Kitten Chow, he taught us how to be good doggie parents! He's Daddy's best friend and the best ball-player around! Valentino, age 10 was our first Italian Greyhound and started our enchantment with the breed. Vinnie (8 yrs old) came along a few years later via a local hobby breeder. He is our only
AKC registered dog but much bigger than the breed standard. 
Speedo was our oldest family member and sadly, he left for the Rainbow Bridge on October 13th, 2008. We all miss him and are so proud of his Silver Hounds legacy.
He came to us five years ago at 10 yrs old. We were fostering him and his daughter for AZ IG Rescue after his owner could no longer care for him. After extensive veterinary care and dental surgery to removed his rotted teeth, we decided to adopt him (we're sure HE adopted US!) He will live out his golden years as a cherished part of our family. He has taught us that you CAN love again and is the inspiration for Silver Hounds, our fundraising organization to benefit senior IGs in private foster care.
MontiBlue & Princessa are the newest family members, both whom we were fostering for Wiseguys IG Rescue in CO. Monti had previously been bounced around from the Phoenix kill-shelter, two adoption groups and a failed adoption before Wiseguys stepped in!!! He is a 3 yr old IG/Dachshund mix *juvenile delinquent* and we could not resist his puppy kisses, and he's really perked up the old boyz! We adopted him in November '07. He had almost no hair when we met him, but good food and lots of love is helping.
Princessa, or 'Cessa for short, came to us in April '08. She was found in a Utah all breed shelter when her owner died and no one would care for her. She is our FIRST little girl and we are all smitten, especially Tino. She is 7 or 8 yrs old and a tiny little spitfire! Thanks to her angel Tammy for going all the way up there to rescue her!

We also have two ancient kitties, both whom we rescued as strays.

Our fur-kids are the resident "guinea pigs" for every product you see on our site. They are the reason we started researching dog food, natural products and holistic pet care. We thank them for sharing their doggie~wisdom and unconditional love with us every day. They are our greatest teachers.  
                        
A very special, heartfelt thanks to my Mom for showing me that pets make the world a better place to be. And to Buffer, Misty, Cocoa, Sasha, Muffin, Blitz, Schnitzel and the countless other rodent furries, parakeets & fishies whom I lived with and loved as a kid. I can't wait to see them all at the Rainbow Bridge someday.

    Don't litter.....please spay & neuter!!

Books we recommend:
  

   Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural... 
If you only read ONE book about natural pet care, this should be it.  Our "bible" of holistic pet care. Great recipes.

 Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog 
Another important resource for your natural dog library.

 The Allergy Solution for Dogs: Natural... 
Easy  recipes for dogs with allergies and natural remedies to fight that itch.

     The Consumer's Guide to Dog Food: What's... 
All the info you will EVER need about dog food ingredients, labels and manufacturing practices.

 Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About... Pet Food
The title says it all.

NO PIC AVAILABLE The new complete Italian greyhound 
All about our beloved IG's.  A must for everyone owned by an Italian Greyhound.

 Tony, Tony, Tony: Tails of an Italian... 
Fun book for every IG lover! Profits from sale go to Italian Greyhound Rescue.