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Going Mutts Pet Services and Nutrition

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Fort McMurray, AB
Going Mutts Pet Services and Nutrition

Certified in advanced canine nutrition with a terrain-based approach to skin, gut, and behaviour.

Helping dogs feel better from the inside out — one meal, one protocol, one transformation at a time!

08/14/2026

Who’s ready for the weekend? 🥳

08/13/2026

🖤 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹: 𝗔 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀?

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I always keep activated charcoal on hand…

Mostly because I live with Jazz 😅

Garbage? Interesting.

Random mushrooms? Delicious!

Questionable outdoor snacks? Apparently gourmet.

Activated charcoal is one of those supplements I hope I never need… but I’m very glad to have when I do.

🧪 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀

Activated charcoal isn’t absorbed into your dog’s bloodstream.

Instead, it stays in the digestive tract where it adsorbs (sticks to) certain toxins before they can be absorbed—or in some cases, before they’re reabsorbed through the gut.

It can be useful for some toxins…

But not all!

☎️ 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹? 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹

If your dog gets into medications, chemicals, toxic foods, or anything you’re unsure about, call your veterinarian or animal poison control first if at all possible.

Not every toxin should be treated with activated charcoal, and in some situations it may not be recommended.

🚗 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗼

If I knew my dog had eaten something that was toxic, and I was hours away from veterinary care (or couldn’t immediately reach a veterinarian or poison control), I would personally administer activated charcoal while making every effort to get veterinary advice as soon as I could.

That’s my personal first-aid approach—but it isn’t a replacement for veterinary care.

⚠️ 𝗔 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

🖤 Timing matters—it generally works best soon after ingestion.

🖤 It can also bind medications and supplements, so keep that in mind.

🖤 It may contribute to constipation in some dogs.

🖤 Quality matters—not all activated charcoal products are created equal.

Activated charcoal has legitimate uses in veterinary medicine.

The key is knowing when it’s helpful… and when another treatment is the better choice.

🧠 A good first aid kit doesn’t replace your veterinarian—but it can buy valuable time when the unexpected happens.

08/11/2026

Do you think that dogs feel guilt? Serious question. I see this one get debated a lot!

I think that they do, but whether they also experience an internal, self evaluative emotion comparable to human guilt is still much harder to determine scientifically!

08/11/2026

⚡ 𝗘𝗠𝗙𝘀 & 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼 𝗪𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄?

EMFs (electromagnetic fields) are one of those topics that tends to split people into two camps:

"It's complete nonsense"

Or...

"They're responsible for everything"

As usual, the truth is probably much more nuanced.

EMFs are real. They're simply electromagnetic energy produced by both natural sources (like the Earth and the sun) and human-made technology such as Wi-Fi, cell phones, Bluetooth devices, and power lines.

The question isn't whether EMFs exist.

The question is whether the levels we're exposed to have meaningful biological effects.

🧬 Some laboratory and animal studies have reported changes in things like:

• oxidative stress
• inflammatory signaling
• calcium homeostasis
• mitochondrial function
• sleep biology

However...

That doesn't automatically mean everyday EMF exposure is causing disease in our dogs.

That's a very different question, and one researchers are still trying to answer.

Could certain animals be more sensitive than others?

Possibly.

Should we blame every allergy, ear infection, behavioural issue, or gut problem on EMFs?

Probably not!

There are usually much bigger factors to investigate first:

🥩 Nutrition
😴 Sleep
🌞 Natural light
🏃 Exercise
🦠 Infection
🌿 Allergens
🧬 Genetics
⚖️ Body weight
💊 Medications

That said, reducing unnecessary exposure is generally low-risk.

Simple habits like avoiding having your dog sleep beside a router, encouraging time outdoors, and supporting overall mitochondrial health aren't unreasonable—but they should complement good nutrition and veterinary care, not replace them.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 🤓

EMFs are an interesting area of research, but it's important to separate what has been observed in laboratory studies from what has been proven to cause disease in real-world dogs.

As the science evolves, I'll continue following the evidence rather than the headlines.

08/09/2026

Giving the dogs some marrow bones!

Jazz is a little demon, spot the lip just starting to curl 🙄

08/09/2026

🌼 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 🦴

When most people think about pain, they think about damaged joints.

But pain isn't just happening in the joint...

It's also happening in the nervous system.

As pain becomes chronic, the nervous system can become more sensitive, meaning even normal movement may feel more uncomfortable than it should.

That's where herbs like California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) can sometimes be helpful.

Unlike stronger pain medications, California poppy isn't about completely blocking pain. Instead, it's traditionally used to gently support the nervous system, helping some dogs feel calmer, more relaxed, and less reactive to discomfort.

It may be worth considering for dogs that:
• Have mild stiffness or age-related aches
• Seem tense when moving
• Have difficulty settling because they're uncomfortable
• Become more restless in the evenings
• Need gentle support alongside a broader joint protocol

That last point is important...

California poppy isn't rebuilding cartilage or treating arthritis.

Think of it as one piece of the puzzle.

For many dogs, the bigger picture may also include:
🥩 Maintaining lean muscle
🐟 Omega-3 fatty acids
🦪 Green-lipped mussel
💪 Therapeutic joint supplements when appropriate
⚖️ Healthy body weight
🏃 Appropriate movement and exercise
😴 Good sleep and recovery

It may also have a role beyond joints. Because of its relaxing effects on the nervous system, herbalists have traditionally used California poppy for occasional muscle tension, restlessness, and mild discomfort associated with smooth muscle spasms.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 🤓

The nervous system plays a huge role in how pain is experienced, which is why supporting both the tissues and the nervous system can sometimes lead to better outcomes than focusing on the joint alone.

As always, herbs aren't one-size-fits-all. The right choice depends on the individual dog, their medications, underlying health conditions, and the reason they're in pain!

08/08/2026

Happy Saturday! 🥳

08/08/2026

🧬 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘄 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 😅

These packages are definitely my least favourite 😂

They look like you’re supposed to be able to peel the plastic open… and every now and then you get lucky.

Most of the time though? Out comes the knife or scissors ✂️🔪

When I first started raw feeding years ago, I used the frozen 1 lb tubes. If you thawed them inside the packaging and forgot to be careful when cutting them open…

💦 Let’s just say you were at serious risk of getting sprayed with meat juice 🫣

Raw feeders… I’m curious!

💬 What’s your favourite raw product or packaging style, and why?

08/06/2026

🐶 🦴 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁… 𝗩𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

I absolutely love using whole foods like green-lipped mussels, chicken feet, trachea, cartilage, skin, tendons, and bone broth in a dog’s diet. They’re fantastic additions that provide natural collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, and other beneficial compounds.

But here’s where I think some of the confusion starts…

🍗 Whole food sources are food first

They contribute nutrients and can absolutely support long-term joint health as part of a balanced diet.

🐕 They’re usually not enough to provide therapeutic amounts of glucosamine or chondroitin for dogs already dealing with arthritis, hip dysplasia, cruciate injuries, or significant joint degeneration.

Think of it this way…

🥦 Broccoli contains vitamin C… but we wouldn’t rely on a few florets to correct a vitamin C deficiency.

The same concept applies here.

If we’re trying to achieve a therapeutic effect, we often need doses that are much higher and more consistent than what food alone can realistically provide.

That doesn’t mean whole foods aren’t valuable—they absolutely are! ❤️

It simply means that food and therapeutic supplementation serve different purposes, and many dogs with painful joint disease benefit from both.

As always… feed the dog in front of you!

08/04/2026

🐟 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗻… 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀! 🍽️

The other night I smoked some salmon for supper and, of course, I left a few pieces aside for the pups before adding any seasoning.

💡 A quick note: plain smoked foods are tolerated by most dogs, but some may be more sensitive. If you want to share a little with your dog, keep it plain and introduce it slowly to see how they do.

I didn’t make salmon the main feature of their meal since they usually only get around 40–50 g of cooked fish per day.

The girls enjoyed their salmon with:

🥔 Potatoes

🥚 Eggs

🥩 Big Country Raw (I think it was beef or pork… I honestly can’t remember! 😂)

🥦 Plus some chopped frozen mixed vegetables.

🐺 Treble kept things much simpler. He just got a small amount of skinless salmon mixed into his regular meal. I don’t get too fancy with him! He has tolerated canned salmon in the past, but we actually haven’t tested it in a few years, so I kept his portion small while we see how he does.

⚖️ I did add a little bone meal powder to the girls’ meals to help balance the calcium. Since this batch made two meals, I wasn’t too concerned about every nutrient being perfectly balanced in each bowl.

🧠 One thing I always like to remind people is that, for healthy adult dogs, nutrition is best viewed over time rather than meal by meal. If the majority of nutrient needs are consistently met over the week, one slightly imperfect meal isn’t a problem.

That said… I’m a nutrition nerd 🤓 I still enjoy trying to hit nutrient targets every day, even when I’m just throwing something together from what’s in the fridge!

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