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Q. Do you have a favorite tip or advice that you like to give dog owners?

Q. With so many dog food brands on the market, how do you suggest the best ones for your patients? And how do I know I picked the right one?

Q. What are the top things you recommend not to give your pet?

Answer: Dry food; too many vaccinations; too many chemicals (there are natural options such as my line of PawromaTherapy products); combination flea/tick/heartworm/dewormer medications (I prefer separating them and only using what's needed); not shot-gunning them with a bunch of chemicals they may not need; and other medications/drugs where there may be a suitable natural alternative, such as using acupuncture for arthritis pain.

Q. Can a dog's diet cause personality changes? 

Answer: I have definitely seen hyperactivity and sometimes lethargy with dogs on high-carbohydrate dry foods. I have also seen hyperactivity in dogs on foods containing preservatives and colorings.

Q. I heard a raw diet can prevent or solve health problems in pets. Is that true?

Answer: Anytime dog owners eliminate dry dog food in favor of raw or cooked diets, I see a tremendous improvement in their health problems.

I think raw diets can be good for some dogs but not all dogs. It is great for young, healthy dogs. Older dogs seem to have trouble digesting it and sometimes do better on cooked diets. 

Q. I read the ingredients list on dog food bags, but what should I be looking for?

Answer: Look for human-grade ingredients with an emphasis on meats and non-starchy vegetables. 

For carbohydrates, I prefer root vegetables over grains and beans. Organic ingredients are ideal but cost can be a factor and as always, we don't want any chemical preservatives or colorings.

Q. What are your thoughts on human-grade prepared food for dogs, with whole ingredients and no preservatives?

Answer: I am a fan of human-grade prepared food for dogs. It is what I recommend to my clients. I show them how to do it themselves or they can use a company like Rick's Dog Deli to prepare it for them.

Q. Is it okay to give my dog bones to chew on? And if so, which ones?

Answer: Bones can be a tricky subject. 

You should never, ever give cooked bones to dogs. These can splinter and get lodged in the intestines. Raw bones such as chicken necks, turkey necks, and soup bones can be given safely to most dogs. They should be supervised to make sure they don't crack off large pieces or swallow them whole. 

There is an article on my blog discussing this subject.

Q. I want to feed my pet human-grade food, but I'm afraid to tell my vet. What should I do?

Answer: Feel free to visit my practice in Altamonte Springs, FL. I am am fully on-board with eliminating processed diets in favor of whole food and I am currently accepting new patients. 

I also have a natural pet blog with holistic pet tips and nutrition information along with my line of homemade natural pet products and my favorite vitamins and herbs for dogs and cats.

You may have heard that calculating dog years to human years is as simple as multiplying two numbers, but the answer is a bit more complicated than that.

Dogs reach maturity a bit sooner than humans do (a one-year-old puppy is practically an adult while a one-year-old child is still a baby) and dogs mature at different rates depending on their size.

All of these factors can make it a bit more complex to calculate your dog's age in human years.

Luckily, we've put together a chart that breaks it down for you.

How Dogs Age

Until they are five years old—in human years—all dogs mature at the same rate. One year after birth, they have reached mid-adolescence, or about the equivalent of a 15-year-old human.

By the time dogs are five, they are 36 in human years (even if they still have all that leftover puppy energy!).

By the time they reach six, however, they are basically "middle-aged" and this is where dogs start to age differently.

How Big Is Your Dog?

Before you can calculate your dog's age in human years, you'll need to first look at their size.

Larger dogs age faster than smaller dogs and thus tend to have a shorter lifespan.

The differences aren't that great in seven-year-old dogs, but by the time your dog is 16, the gap is huge. A 16-year-old German Shepherd will be much "older" than a 16-year-old Chihuahua. 

What If I Don't Know My Dog's Age?

If you adopted your furry friend from a shelter (thank you!), you might not know exactly when your pup was born.

Animal shelters and rescue organizations can make guesses, but sometimes these estimated ages can lean toward the "younger" end of the scale to make the dog more adoptable. 

Your vet should be able to give you a better idea of your dog's age at their next appointment, but if you can't wait until then, you can find clues by looking at your dog's teeth.

If you have a puppy whose teeth haven't completely come in, a vet's age estimate should be extremely accurate. But if you have an older dog, it can be a little harder to calculate their age.

Just as with humans, a dog's genetics, habits, and lifestyle can all play a role in the condition of their teeth. A dog who never received adequate dental care will likely have more wear and tear on their teeth than one who gets regular brushings and good nutrition.

Still, there is an average progression that can act as a baseline if you're trying to guess your dog's age.

• By six months, a dog's baby teeth have all been replaced with permanent teeth, which should be clean, white, and healthy-looking.
• By 1-2 years, teeth may appear a little less white and the back teeth may even have started to yellow.
• By 3-5 years, there will probably be tartar and wear on all teeth.
• By 5-10 years, you may notice signs of tooth disease.
• By 10-15 years, you will notice heavy wear and tear, tartar buildup, and perhaps even a few missing teeth.

Even if this information doesn't help you determine your dog's age, it will show you the importance of good dental care. A good calcium supplement can help your puppy develop strong teeth and bones so that they (hopefully) don't lose those teeth later on.

Here at Rick's Dog Deli, we include the eggshells when adding eggs into our meals. Eggshells are 95% calcium, which is essentially the same as taking a calcium supplement. (Of course, the shells are very finely ground, so your dog won't be able to feel or even taste them.)

For another tasty dental hygiene option, our bones are a great way to clean excess tartar from the teeth.

Why Is It Important to Know My Dog's Age?

Your love for your dog won't change based on their age, so why bother calculating it?

Well, part of caring for your dog is knowing how to respond to their natural aging process. Your kids will eventually grow up, take care of you, and ultimately outlive you, but a puppy will be a senior dog before your baby goes to college. 

Diseases and health conditions can often develop as your dog ages, and knowing their age can be a good reminder to take them to the vet regularly to check for things like cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease.

Your dog's nutrition and dietary needs may also change as they age. 

In addition to needing a diet that caters to their health issues, your older (and possibly more toothless) dog might require softer, more nutritious, and more easily digestible food.

Knowing your dog's age can give you a heads up on the changes that will impact your dog's life.

Conclusion

While most of us want to know how old our dog is out of simple curiosity, knowing your dog's age is a good way to gain valuable insight on their changing health.

Dogs have different needs at different stages in their life, and these changes are often based on their breed and unique health concerns.

At Rick's Dog Deli, our meal formulations are specially created with your dog in mind. Our Signature Meals have been prepared with the utmost attention to holistic nutrition, and our Therapeutic Meals can help alleviate the symptoms from allergies, excessive weight gain, and digestive issues.

Use our Custom Meal Builder to find the meal that's just right for your individual pet.  

Humans enjoy their snacks: a bag of chips in the car, a granola bar at work, a handful of popcorn while watching TV in the evening. Some people maintain that grazing throughout the day is a healthier way of consuming calories. "Snackification" is even a growing trend among Millennials, who often don't have time to sit down for a proper meal.

But does that mean snacking is the best choice for your dog?

In this article, we'll go over the trend of "free-feeding" (allowing your dog to graze on food throughout the day) as well as the best types of dog snacks to offer your pet.

The Dangers of "Free-Feeding"

So how many times a day should a dog eat?

Most experts agree on a "twice a day" schedule—once in the morning and once in the evening. Feeding your dog on a regular, predictable schedule creates the expectation of mealtime and helps to whet their appetites.

Your dog might not be able to read the hands on a clock, but they can sense what time it is. The closer it gets to mealtime, the more they will anticipate eating.

Free-feeding, on the other hand, can lead to picky eating. Humans and dogs alike don't get as excited by something that's always available. Rather than looking forward to mealtime, your dog may get bored with the same old food that's always lying around and start to sniff around the kitchen floor.

You might even find that your dog won't eat his food but will eat treats, like a toddler who refuses his dinner but asks for ice cream as soon as the plates are cleared. 

Alternatively, your dog might graze just fine during the day, free-feeding as she sees fit, but end up consuming more calories than if she were fed on a schedule.

Dogs don't always listen to their hunger/satiety cues; sometimes, they'll eat as long as something yummy is available.

Guidelines For Dog Snacks

Your dog's regular meals and calories should be calculated based on their weight, but no more than 10% of their daily calories should come from treats.

Just as humans can reach their optimum level of wellness on almonds and fruit (rather than Cheetos and Chips Ahoy), dogs need hearty, nutritious meals to fuel their bodies.

When giving your dog snacks, it's most important to provide high-quality treats. Snacks with allergens, too much fat, and other unhealthy options will only contribute to health issues.

Most people are surprised to find out that their dog loves raw fruits and vegetables, but dogs are omnivores (just like us).

A steady diet of meat and carbs is no healthier for them than it is for humans.

Another good rule is to not give your dog treats too close to meal time. They'll fill up on the treats and might not eat their meal.

Healthy Dog Treats

Commercial dog treats are no more healthy than commercial dog food. 

They're often loaded with preservatives, sodium, fat, and made from less-than-wholesome ingredients.

Use your judgment when looking for healthy dog treats. If you can't read the ingredients list, that's a good sign you should steer clear.

Jerky or meat bark is a great option for dogs to get a bit more protein in their diet. Just be sure to look for single ingredient versions with no additives and no products that originate from China.

Rice is another readily available food that's great for dogs with a little tummy trouble. Just don't add any salt or oil.

Your dog's diet shouldn't just consist of meat and carbs. Fruits and vegetables are the healthiest treats your dog could get. Also, they'll enjoy them!

When serving produce to your dog, serve it the same way you would eat it. If you don't eat the seeds, rinds, or stem, neither should your dog.

Some healthy things that dogs enjoy are:

• Apples
• Bananas (in moderation; they're high in sugar)
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Green Beans
• Pears
• Pumpkin (cooked or canned, not raw)
• Red Peppers
• Rice (cook up a batch of rice the next time your dog has a stomach upset)
• Strawberries (watch the sugar content!)
• Sweet Potatoes (cooked, to make it easier on their digestion)
• Watermelon

This is not an exhaustive list, by any means, but a good place to start when testing new treats for your pet to nosh on.

Foods Not Safe For Dogs

It's a good idea to experiment in the kitchen and see which fruits and vegetables your dog will enjoy, but there are some foods that, while great for humans, are harmful to dogs.

Keep your dogs away from:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Citrus
• Dairy
• Garlic
• Grapes/Raisins
• Macadamia Nuts
• Onions
• Xylitol 
• Yeast dough

Conclusion

Giving a dog snacks can be a sweet way of expressing your love and appreciation for them, but don't replace love with treats.

Feed your dog healthy portions on a predictable schedule and supplement with the occasional healthy treat and you should see a happier, healthier dog.

At Rick's Dog Deli, our meals and treats are specially formulated to provide the maximum amount of nutrition for any dog, despite their size, breed, or health condition.

Our meals are cooked with human-grade, USDA-inspected ingredients and flash frozen to lock in the nutrients. Simply thaw and serve.

And what's more, dogs real food! 

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