Scratch and Sniff - Ballina & Yamba

29/08/2025

Freeze Dry Australia restocked

28/08/2025

Canine Country restocked in Ballina today & Yamba on Saturday

28/08/2025

27/08/2025

27/08/2025

WHO PROFITS FROM YOUR PET’S FOOD?

Let’s cut through the noise.
Raw feeding vs. kibble isn’t just about “personal choice.”
It’s about billions of dollars, and who gets them.

Pet food giants have spent decades telling us kibble is “complete and balanced.”
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
They also bankroll vet schools. Sponsor conferences. Fill clinics with glossy brochures.
And in that world? Raw feeding doesn’t exist.

Meanwhile, countless owners who do make the switch to fresh, whole, species-appropriate diets see massive changes:
Shinier coats. Better digestion. More energy. Longer lives.

So ask yourself, is kibble really the gold standard, or just the most profitable product to push?

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about informed choice.
Because at the end of the day, the ones who pay the price aren’t the companies, it’s our pets.

Agree? Disagree? Tell us below.

📍 1016 Stanley Street East, East Brisbane QLD
🕗 Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm (Closed Sundays & most public holidays)
📞 (07) 3393 1359
🌐 animalwellness.com.au

Want to explore what’s right for your pet? Book a consult - we’re here to help.

27/08/2025

Thursday is bagging up day with meats, organs & bones… 🥩🦴🫀 Plus it is delivery day for Canine Country, with an early delivery this week..

27/08/2025

𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬, 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐅𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐭

Pancreatitis, defined as inflammation of the pancreas, is a debilitating and often painful condition in dogs. It impairs digestive and endocrine functions, potentially leading to internal bleeding, necrosis of pancreatic tissue, and broader organ damage. Proper dietary strategies can significantly influence both recovery and long-term pancreatic health.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒔?
The pancreas has two principal roles:
▪️ 𝐄𝐱𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞: production of digestive enzymes such as lipase, amylase, and protease to break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
▪️ 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞: regulation of blood sugar via hormones such as insulin and glucagon.
Pancreatitis arises when digestive enzymes become prematurely activated within the pancreas, triggering autodigestion of pancreatic and adjacent tissues. This results in inflammation, necrosis, edema, and hemorrhage.

There are two main forms of pancreatitis:
▪️ 𝐀𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬: sudden onset, frequently severe, often necessitating emergency veterinary care.
▪️ 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬: low-grade, persistent inflammation that may go unnoticed until the pancreas is significantly compromised, often leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).

𝑪𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔
Factors that predispose dogs to pancreatitis include:
▪️ 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: High-carbohydrate, ultra-processed dry food. Excessive circulating fat (hyperlipidemia), a known trigger for acute episodes.

▪️𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬:
▫️Obesity
▫️Dietary indiscretion (eating rich or fatty foods)
▫️Endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism or diabetes
▫️Breed predisposition
▫️Certain pharmaceuticals
▫️Infections, toxins, and stress.

𝑭𝒂𝒕 𝑰𝒔 𝒂 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓—𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆
While high-fat meals can trigger acute episodes, diet quality is more important than fat content alone. Dogs are physiologically adapted to thrive on protein and fat, not starch-heavy processed diets. Chronic inflammation is more strongly associated with ultra-processed foods than with fresh fat sources.

Elevated blood fats are often a symptom of pancreatic stress rather than the underlying cause. Feeding species-appropriate, fresh diets can reduce pancreatic burden and inflammation.

𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈-𝑻𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝑳𝒐𝒘-𝑭𝒂𝒕 𝑫𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

Veterinary management of acute episodes often involves a temporary low-fat diet to reduce pancreatic stimulation. However, permanent restriction of dietary fat—especially if replaced with starch-heavy foods—may perpetuate low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress rather than resolving it.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒚
Long-term management of pancreatitis focuses on reducing systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. This can be achieved through:
▪️𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
- Eliminate ultra-processed carbohydrates.
- Feed fresh, species-appropriate foods rich in protein and moderate fat.
- Keep starch intake minimal.

▪️𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬
- Bone broth and gut-soothing foods.
- Fresh muscle meats and organ meats.
- Raw pancreas for enzyme support.

𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬
Thse are essential and highly supportive when beginning the the transition to a wholefoods diet.
- Digestive enzymes.
- Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.
- Anti-inflammatory botanicals including turmeric, boswellia, slippery elm, and milk thistle.

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
During the acute phase (emergency management):
- Feed low-fat, highly digestible food.
- Offer small, frequent meals.

During chronic or recovery phases:
- Transition to fresh/raw, low-carbohydrate, moderate-fat diets.
- Reintroduce fat cautiously.
- Provide gut-supportive foods like bone broth.
- Supplement with enzymes, omega-3s, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory herbs.
- Focus on lowering inflammation and oxidative load to restore pancreatic resilience.

Always share your dog’s dietary changes with your vet.

Pancreatitis in dogs is an inflammatory disorder with multiple causes. While fat can be a trigger, chronic inflammation from inappropriate, ultra-processed diets is often the true underlying problem. Long-term management does not come from permanent fat restriction, but from feeding fresh, species-appropriate diets that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, helping restore pancreatic health.

27/08/2025

Canine Country is restocking on Thursday this week.. as for the Gold Coast show holiday on Friday.