Peru'vn Around Ranch

08/25/2026

It’s not just us who believe in the importance of mental enrichment for dogs—there’s research behind it! 🐾

Dr. Karen Becker has highlighted the benefits of giving dogs opportunities to use their incredible sense of smell through what’s often called a “Sniffari.” Rather than focusing on distance or speed, a Sniffari allows your dog to slow down, explore, follow their nose, and process the world around them. (Ben Greenfield Life⁠)

Think of it as a mental workout for your dog—and one they get to enjoy at their own pace. 🐶🌿

That’s why we offer private Sniffari reservations at our ranch, giving you and your dog a peaceful space to explore, sniff, and enjoy some quality time together.

🐾 Let them follow their nose. Let them be a dog.

Book your private Sniffari today!

https://www.sniffspot.com/to/o7691

Did you know one of the simplest ways to make your dog happier is to let them sniff?
A 2025 study showed that dogs who spent just two weeks doing daily nose work approached new situations with greater optimism, confidence and curiosity.
Why? Because sniffing isn’t just how dogs explore the world; I t’s how they think, solve problems, and satisfy one of their most important natural instincts.
Every walk doesn’t have to be about covering distance. Slow, strolling “sniffaris,” scent games, hidden treats, and nose work activities give your dog’s brain the enrichment it craves while helping reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your dog’s mental health is simply giving them permission to stop... sniff... and experience the world the way nature intended. 🐾
🐾 Let your dog lead the next walk. You might be surprised how much happier you both become.

08/25/2026

Excited to share we’ve added more brands to the line up!

08/24/2026

Brick starts the obstacle course and others join in.😂

08/21/2026

Info on herbs.

HERBS & SPICES FOR YOUR DOG’s BOWL! 🌿

Here are some of our favorites:

• Parsley — Supports glutathione production and antioxidant defenses.

• Turmeric — Rich in curcumin, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studied for joint, brain, and eye health.

• Rosemary — Packed with antioxidant compounds that may support brain, cognitive, and eye health.

• Cumin — Traditionally used for digestion and contains antioxidant and antimicrobial plant compounds.

• Cinnamon — Supports collagen production, making it especially interesting for aging dogs and their joints. Also provides antioxidants.

• Basil — Contains plant compounds that may support heart health and help regulate the body’s stress response.

• Oregano — A powerhouse of antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant compounds.

• Thyme — Contains plant compounds with potent antimicrobial properties.

• Ginger — Best known for supporting digestion and easing nausea, while also providing antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits.

🥄HOW TO SERVE: Finely mince fresh herbs and mix into food. Dried herbs are more concentrated, so use less. Avoid essential oils and concentrated extracts.

⚠️ AVOID: Nutmeg, chives, and other members of the onion family—with the exception of garlic, which is safe in small, proper amounts.

📌Save this for reference and always stick to proper serving sizes.

08/19/2026

🎒🐾 Back-to-School Fun for the Whole Family! 🐾🎒

We’re prepping for this weekend’s Back-to-School Event Wellington Manor Events from 10 AM–2 PM, and we’ll be there with plenty of goodies for your four-legged family members! 🐶🐱

We’ll have toys, treats, enrichment items and more to help keep your pets happy and occupied as everyone settles into a new school-year routine.

📚 New schedules can be a big adjustment for pets, too. Changes in daily routines can sometimes lead to stress or anxiety, but there are plenty of tools and enrichment options that can help make the transition easier and keep those tails wagging!

🐾 Be sure to stop by and see us! We’d love to help you find something perfect for your pet.

📍 Wellington Manor
🕙 10 AM–2 PM

Come shop, learn, and get your pets ready for back-to-school season, too! ❤️🐾

08/19/2026

Never had a dog get sprayed by a skunk…but here we are at 4:30 AM. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

08/18/2026

Ear infections are no fun for our pets! 🐾❤️

As shared here, many ear issues can sometimes be prevented or reduced by supporting your pet’s overall health and addressing their individual needs.

Every pet is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Connect with us today so we can help evaluate your pet’s individual situation and nutritional and wellness needs.

Healthy pets start with a whole-pet approach! 🐶🐱✨

Does your dog keep getting ear infections?
A large UK study of more than 900,000 dogs under veterinary care found that 7.3% of dogs, about 1 in 14, developed otitis externa (ear inflammation) in a single year, making it one of the most common conditions veterinarians treat.
Researchers discovered that breed and ear shape matter. Compared to dogs with upright, erect ears, dogs with pendulous ears had 1.76 times the odds of developing ear infections, and dogs with V-shaped drop ears had 1.84 times the odds. Some of the highest-risk breeds included:
🐾 Basset Hounds (nearly 6x the odds of crossbred dogs)🐾 Chinese Shar-Peis (over 3x the odds) 🐾 Labradoodles (almost 3x the odds) 🐾 Beagles (2.5x the odds) 🐾 Golden Retrievers (over 2x the odds)
Interestingly, some breeds actually showed lower odds of ear infections than crossbred dogs, including Chihuahuas, Border Collies, Yorkshire Terriers, and Jack Russell Terriers, a good reminder that ear shape and breed genetics really do shift risk in both directions.
The good news? Ear infections are often preventable with proactive care.
✔️ Check your dog’s ears weekly for redness, odor, discharge, or excessive wax. ✔️ Keep ears clean and dry, especially after swimming or bathing. ✔️ Address underlying allergies, because chronic inflammation often starts from the inside out. ✔️ Feed a fresh, anti-inflammatory diet and support a healthy gut microbiome, since allergies and ear disease frequently go hand in hand.
Remember, floppy ears don’t cause infections, but they can create a warm, humid environment where yeast and bacteria thrive. If your dog’s breed is on the higher-risk list, that’s not a guarantee of trouble; it’s just a sign to be a little more proactive with routine ear checks.
Healthy ears start with healthy skin, a balanced immune system, and good preventive care. Read my blog on tackling ear issues, link in comments 🐕

08/14/2026

At the ranch we believe in some Whole Foods are better than none. Adding Whole Foods are a critical part of optimum health, below is just one reason why.

It’s also never too late to start!! Even a senior dog, dogs with health issues, puppies- it does not matter age or condition if done right.

Not sure where to begin? Connect with Julie for a more individual plan for your pet.

We create healthy bowls to promote pet optimum health through small additions up to guiding to full whole food diets while working as best we can to keep it as cost effective as possible.

www.peruvnaroundranch.com

🧬 WHAT DOGS EAT MAY CHANGE HOW THEIR SKIN PROTECTS ITSELF... AT THE GENETIC LEVEL.

A peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a well-respected international veterinary journal, suggests that a dog’s diet can influence much more than the appearance of their coat; it can also affect how their skin functions from the inside out.

Researchers at DogRisk Research Group compared dogs eating a minimally processed raw diet with dogs eating an ultra-processed kibble and found that the raw-fed dogs showed greater activity of genes linked to healthy skin, natural immune defenses, and the body’s own antioxidant system, including glutathione. They also found that dogs with allergies had changes in hundreds of genes involved in skin barrier function, inflammation, and skin cell repair, highlighting how important a healthy skin barrier is for protecting against allergens and environmental irritants.

One possible reason is the food matrix—the natural structure of whole foods, where nutrients, fats, proteins, fiber, and thousands of naturally occurring compounds work together in ways that isolated nutrients or highly processed foods may not fully replicate. While this study wasn’t designed to determine why these gene changes occurred, the food matrix is one of several factors researchers believe deserves further investigation.

This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that nutrition can influence health all the way down to gene activity. That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker recommends feeding a balanced, fresh, minimally processed diet whenever possible. Whole foods provide nutrients in their natural form and may help support healthy skin, immune function, and overall well-being as part of a healthy lifestyle.

And remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you’re currently feeding kibble, simply starting with a teaspoon of fresh, whole food added to the bowl is a great first step. Small changes can be a simple way to start adding more fresh food to your dog’s diet.

08/06/2026

Colorado sunsets are breathtaking, and our sunrises are just as incredible. Every single day, we’re reminded how blessed we are to call this place home.

What we’ve built together is something I’m incredibly proud of, but neither of us has forgotten where we came from. Those experiences keep us grounded, grateful, and remind us never to take this life for granted.

Here’s to appreciating the journey just as much as the destination—and never losing sight of how far you’ve come. ❤️🌅

07/21/2026

We are committed to helping pets achieve optimal wellness through nutrition and evidence-based products. As part of that commitment, we regularly follow leading veterinarians, nutritionists, and pet health experts, including Dr. Karen Becker, and stay current through professional newsletters and continuing education.

One of Dr. Becker's recent newsletters focused on chronic itching—a common issue that can significantly impact a pet's quality of life. While itching is often treated by addressing the symptoms, it's important to also consider the underlying causes, including diet, environmental factors, gut health, and other individual needs.

If your dog or cat is struggling with chronic itching or other ongoing health concerns, we'd love to help. Julie has decades of experience in pet nutrition, including raw feeding, gently cooked diets, high-quality kibble, supplements, and whole-food approaches. She works one-on-one with pet owners to develop a personalized plan tailored to each pet's unique needs and your budget.

Our goal is simple: to help your pet thrive—not just survive.

Reach out today to schedule a personalized nutrition and wellness consultation. Your pet deserves to feel their best.

Article:

The Hidden Connection Behind Chronic Itching

Have you ever wondered why your dog's allergies keep coming back, even after changing foods or trying medications?

This week, we discussed fascinating new research showing that chronic itching may have much more to do with the gut than we once thought. Researchers found that the more severe the gut damage, the worse a dog's allergies became. As gut health declined, the skin barrier weakened, making dogs more vulnerable to everyday environmental triggers like grass and pollen, and creating a cycle of ongoing inflammation that's difficult to break.

"You have to include in your protocol a gut permeability sector. You can't ignore the gut." - Dr. Becker

If your dog struggles with seasonal or environmental allergies, here are four practical ideas worth discussing with your veterinarian.


🐾 Treat the itch...but don't stop there.

When a dog is miserable, medications like steroids, Apoquel, or Cytopoint can absolutely improve quality of life, no dog should suffer. But...

"What are you doing at the same time that you are administering drugs for quality of life?... You better be addressing the gut." - Dr. Becker

Symptom relief is important, but rebuilding gut health may be one of the best long-term strategies for reducing the cycle of inflammation. You can't effectively treat chronic allergies by focusing only on the skin.


🥣 Freshness may matter more than you think.

Dogs with allergies may have lower levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), an enzyme that helps break down histamine from food. When histamine builds up, it triggers major flare-ups.

This means allergy management isn't just about what ingredients you feed, but how fresh they are. Histamine naturally spikes as proteins are processed, aged, or stored. This explains why some dogs fail to improve on shelf-stable elimination diets but thrive on fresh food.

If your dog is highly sensitive or currently experiencing an allergy flare, keep these two everyday ingredients in mind:

Fermented Foods: Exceptional for the microbiome, but high in histamine. Avoid or reduce them during active allergy flares.
Bone Broth: Highly nutritious, but long cook times accumulate histamine. Try a short 4-hour simmer instead of a 24-hour cook.

🐠 Don't confuse fish with fish oil.

This was an important distinction.

Whole fish and seafood proteins are naturally higher in histamine precursors, but omega-3 oils are a completely different story. Fish oil, squid oil, krill oil, and mussel oil provide EPA and DHA without the histamine concerns associated with the protein itself.


Finally, remember that every allergic dog is different. These aren't one-size-fits-all recommendations, but they are exciting new areas of research that may help explain why some dogs continue to struggle despite our best efforts.

"Everything is connected." - Rodney

As our understanding of the gut-skin connection grows, so should our approach to allergies. The goal isn't just symptom relief, but a long-term plan that supports gut health, strengthens the skin barrier, considers dietary histamine and food freshness, and helps reduce inflammation from the inside out.

Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Becker

Peru'vn Around Ranch and Pet Supplies