The Wagging Tail Pet Nutrition Center

The Wagging Tail Pet Nutrition Center Give your pets the best with our range of high-quality foods, treats, supplements, and toys. Our expert team ensures top-notch nutrition and fun for every pet.

Your pets deserve the best, don't they? Here at the Wagging Tail, we only carry the best. You won't find a better selection to help give your pet the very best products to keep them strong and healthy. Treats for dogs and cats, flea and tick medications, grooming tools, shampoo and conditioner, food bowls, litter pans, cat trees, dog pens, leashes, collars, harnesses, sweaters, toys and more; you'll find it all under our roof.

12/09/2025

HOW DOGS COMMUNICATE TO US

Right now, as I type this, Ebby is being vocal behind my chair. I look around to see if the other desk chair is facing the right way for her to access the seat. That is her usual request. But no, she looks up to where Zoey is in a doggy bed on top of a three-foot cabinet by my side. In the bed are her morning treats she has yet to eat. Ebby wants them. She gives up and mounts the chair. It’s quiet now, except for Christmas music coming out of Alexa. Since retiring I spend many more hours in the day with our pets. The dogs have become even more attached, as if that were possible. And we have developed a more complex level of communication both vocally, facially, and physically- as in hand signaling.
I recently wrote about fear barking. When a dog is frightened and backs up barking or barks and attacks, like ankle biting. Many dogs will growl first in warning. One time a new customer brought a dog into the store and was at the counter. I offered the smallish dog a treat which it took. Then I offered another and the dog shot at me with a menacing cacophony of barks and bared teeth that brought up my PTSD which occurred after I was attacked by an aggressive improperly handled pit bull. (I saw him running towards me. Having turned my back to protect myself, he bit into my butt and then tore my arm open at which point the owner got control of his collar.) Just so you know, I don’t hold that against pit bulls in general. That woman should never have brought such a reactive dog into a public area where a child could have been the one reaching innocently towards it.
Dogs communicate with barking to get their point across: need to go to the bathroom, someone’s at the door, hearing other dogs barking nearby, there’s a strange animal in the yard, the other dog has my toy, I heard you say let’s go for a walk, who are those strangers walking on my turf, I want help getting on the sofa. They also learn to communicate in other ways. Zoey lets me know when she needs the bowls to have fresh water by standing in front of them (upstairs or downstairs) and catching my attention. She patiently waits for me to wash the bowl and refill it. When she wants to sleep under the covers, she awakens me by trying to angle the covers so that I will lift them and she can scoot under.
Sometimes barking dogs can be a nuisance and there are local ordinances against constant annoying barking. I get anxious if my dogs bark before 8:00 in the morning or after 10:00 at night. I make it a point to go out with them in all weather and use my can of behavior controlling spray if they start barking “unnecessarily” and bother the neighbors. Yelling at a dog, which I sometimes do, only excites them more. To them we are joining in the conversation! Yippee.
If you have a subject, you’d like me to research, or a cat that needs its nails cut, or just to say “hello” go to my email [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

11/26/2025

HAVE A WONDERFUL LOVING THANKSGIVING

The following story is from CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, LIFE LESSONS from the DOG
“All, everything that I understand, I only understand because I love.” -Leo Tolstoy
Lori Fuller volunteered at an animal rescue. One evening while delivering donations to the shelter she encountered a man in the parking lot binging in a medium-sized blue Pit Bull. As the dog was charging toward her wagging its tail, Lori allowed the dog to greet her, which she did rising on her hind legs, wrapping her front paws around Lori’s neck, and showering her with kisses. Lori rubbed the dog’s head as she wiggled her butt and furiously wagged her tail. The man asked if Lori knew the dog. She replied that she had never seen the dog before. They walked together into the kennel. (The rest written below is verbatim.)
In the lobby, where there was more light, I noticed that Suede had a lot of scars and had obviously given birth to many litters of puppies. “Was she a fighting dog? “No,” came the curt reply. “She was bait.” My heart sank as Suede ran excitedly between her handler and me asking for love from one and then rushing to the other for more.
Every Saturday for weeks, Suede went to the adoption shows in hopes of finding her forever home. Each week, she happily greeted anyone who walked by. People shopping in the pet store stopped to play with her or just sat on the floor and petted her as her tail wagged non-stop. She was a favorite of kids and adults alike because of her willingness to love everyone she met. Her handlers shared her story with anyone who stopped. She amazed everyone with her tremendous heart and courage to love. Suede’s scars kept some people from considering her, and others feared her breed. But one wonderful Saturday, Suede got adopted! After a thorough home inspection (they couldn’t let her go with just anyone), her new home was approved. She is now in a home where she is safe, and spreads love to everyone she meets. She will never again be abused or have reason to be afraid of people. I think about Suede Someimes. Before she was rescued, her only interactions with people resulted in abuse. Despite that, she happily greeted every stranger she came across and still expected nothing but love. She had every reason to be angry and afraid. Instead, Suede chose love.
Lori ends her story with a challenge for us all: When divisiveness and anger in the world get you down, remember Suede. CHOOSE LOVE.
*************
May your Thanksgiving journey (literally and figuratively) take you into the hearts of family and friends and save you from harm. And may we indulge ourselves and our pets with the feast we helped prepare, just to the point of happiness.

11/20/2025

FEAR/STARTLE BARKING

Our dear neighbor’s adopted granddaughter, now 19, persuaded her grandparents to buy a $1800 dachshund puppy, now a year and half of age. I will refer to him as Opie. He has lived a rather isolated existence; limited socialization involving mostly family. The teenage grandson also living with them, is friendly with another neighbor teenage boy, and Opie literally wants to tear him to pieces. It took me a little while to get him not to want to attack me. I tied Opie by his harness to a heavy table in their living room so that he was not (as usual) locked in the granddaughter’s room where he barks and frets. And I used the PET CORRECTOR behavioral spray anytime he barked. (Constant barking drives the grandfather crazy.) Eventually Opie fell asleep. Frequent visits by me resulted in kisses and body rubs. When he hadn’t seen me for a week, his first instinct was to bark and go for my ankles. Once he realized it was me, he went into a submissive tail wagging pose, and I was able to pick him up and give him kisses. The owner should have had the behavioral spray in hand because he responds very appropriately when it is used. At times all it takes is to show him the can, just like my two dogs. I am afraid the situation is going to escalate with him. Opie is afraid of everything, so I began walking him with Zoey to give him some confidence, but it is not done often enough to make a permanent lasting behavioral change.
The fear barker will usually slink back or sideways, have his tail low or between his legs, and flatten his ears. The best solution is to desensitize the dog to new people and new situations in a positive safe manner to increase the dog’s confidence. Using a head collar like a Gentle Leader would be worth trying. I should have thought of that when we walked. I will ask them if we can try it. Unfortunately, like Zoey, Opie is not treat-oriented at all. Rewards for him must be tactile and verbal. If your dog always likes treats, that will be a big help in inducing change. The grandparents have always had bigger and people-friendly dogs. When Opie came into their lives, they had such a dog but lost him early this year. He never needed special socialization like Opie. I suggested they get a rescue like that which might make Opie, more passive and calmer, and perhaps be a doggy playmate for him.
Zoey and Ebby tend to be barkers when they hear something we cannot hear that concerns them, or when someone comes to the door. But there is no aggression as there is with Opie. And when Zoey’s more high-pitched barking gets on Bob’s nerves, I put Zoey’s no-bark collar on her, and she automatically becomes subdued. That is something I may ask to try on Opie. I am afraid that Opie’s future is not looking hopeful unless there is more consistent intervention. Many owners lose patience and the pet becomes someone else’s problem, or more severe or unpleasant repercussions ensue. Even abandonment.
I can be reached at [email protected]. Say hello. I really miss seeing my regular customers who became like friends. I also still cut cat’s nails-my home or yours.

11/13/2025

COULD A DOG BE ALLERGIC TO ALL PROTEINS?

Apparently, yes, but it is an extremely rare occurrence. A recent new customer told me that her nearly 100 pound 9-year-old Mastiff/lab lost 38 pounds in 6 months before an explanation was found. According to findings by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), each pound a dog loses is equivalent to 5-7 pounds in a human. Gaining and losing weight in a dog is viewed by the size of the dog. If Zoey, my stocky Maltese, gains a pound, that would be equivalent to me gaining 10 pounds but Terry’s labrador gaining a pound, would be equal to her gaining 5 pounds. This may be another article as one must consider physiology and breed. What Corrine’s dog suffered was heartbreaking.
Dogs can develop an allergy to a protein that they have been consuming over a long period of time, so for someone to say, my dog has always eaten chicken-based kibble and never had a problem until recently, that could well be the reason. Although some vets are quick to advise a person to stop feeding chicken if a dog shows symptoms of allergic sensitivity, a dog can be taken off all chicken to see if there are associative improvements, but an allergy test would be more convincing. It makes me wonder why most canned and dry foods (including freeze-dried and raw) manufactured by reputable companies often offer more choices with chicken than any other protein. I have always advised customers to offer assorted proteins to their chicken-based (or any daily protein used) dry food in the form of canned food, not only to help with allergies but for a more positive eating experience. And, even more importantly, lots of cool water or salt free broth with toppers (home-cooked or otherwise) to encourage your pet to literally drink its food down for better digestion and to help avoid bloat.
The most common food allergens in dogs are the proteins chicken, beef, dairy and eggs. Lamb, in some dogs, can trigger a reaction. And wheat, though not protein, has a negative effect on a lot of pets. Dogs are born FREE of allergies. They only develop them with repeated exposure.
There may be skin issues as well as diarrhea or vomiting. Ebby had very loose stools when she ate sweet potatoes, even pieces from my dinner plate, so I eliminated them all from her diet.
A vet may recommend feeding a novel ingredient, like rabbit, kangaroo, or buffalo for example, or prescribe a hydrolyzed protein diet. Hydrolyzed diets contain proteins that have been chemically broken down in smaller fragments (amino acids and peptides) to confuse the pet’s immune system to not recognize proteins, thus eliminating the usual allergen triggers. It is also good for dogs with IBS (inflammatory bowel disease.) Although hydrolyzed diets are helpful, they are not a cure.
Thank you for helping a small business stay in business for over 38 years. We have kittens!

DELICIOUS PUMPKIN OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER DOG COOKIESHappy November. How lucky we have been with the weather. Many of my ...
11/06/2025

DELICIOUS PUMPKIN OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER DOG COOKIES

Happy November. How lucky we have been with the weather. Many of my garden plants are still maintaining their flowers. They are reluctant to give up. That was me after I sold my store to Beacon Animal Rescue. I stayed on for nine months before I realized for my own physical and emotional health, I had to accept the choice that I made and stop second guessing myself about retiring. Not that you won’t see me in the store at least once a week, getting supplies for our pets and visiting the cats. I miss my customers the most. And being able to give “Patsy’s advice and guidance.” Hopefully, much of that will carry on. The staff knows that I am available to them and to you. I don’t mind emails or phone calls. And I will continue to write an article every week, as time allows. I may be on a trip or at a grandchild’s wedding (we have three in 2026) so every now and then there may be a repeat. I have been spending my time doing things with Bob, with friends, getting my art room ready for painting again, and lots of baking cookies, cakes, beer bread, and for the very first time (today) I made my own dog cookies. Owning a store is a 24/7 proposition.
As we look forward to Thanksgiving, it would be worth finding time to bake these delicious cookies for your dogs, or as a gift for a neighbor, or for the host of a dinner party. The recipe makes about 30 cookies. I just shared a cooled one between Zoey, Ebby, and myself. Yum.
INGREDIENTS: 1 CUP PURE PUMPKIN PUREE, 3 CUPS OLD-FASHIONED ROLLED OATS, 2 LARGE EGGS, and I did add 1 TABLESPOON OF HONEY PEANUT BUTTER and1/4 TEASPOON OF CINNAMON.
DIRECTIONS: PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. LINE BAKING SHEET WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. PROCESS THE OATS INTO A COARSE FLOUR CONSISTENCY, THEN MIX IN BOWL WITH THE PUMPKIN, BEATEN EGGS, AND OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS UNTIL STIFF DOUGH. ROLL INTO BALLS ONTO COOKIE SHEET. PUT ICE WATER IN A SMALL GLASS AND DIP A DINNER FORK INTO WATER AND THEN FLATTEN COOKIES CRISS-CROSS. BAKE FOR 20-25 MINUTES.
WARNING: MAKE SURE YOUR PEANUT BUTTER HAS NO XYLITOL, WHICH CAN BE TOXIC TO DOGS.
STORE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER. CAN BE FROZEN FOR A FEW MONTHS.
Our cats are getting their teeth done this month. They are both around 13 years old and are both from The Wagging Tail. Carly, the more relaxed and easier to handle cat, was not cooperative for bloodwork. Thus, she gets that done while she is sedated prior to the dental work tomorrow. Connie, who, as a kitten, was running wild with her siblings, is next week. One of them has been peeing more than is normal, so it must be Carly, as Connie’s bloodwork all came back positive. I just hope it might only be her thyroid. I’ll let you know.

11/01/2025

DOG ACID KNOWN AS GERD OR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

A customer contacted me at home about her dog’s reflux problem. I decided to do further research to enhance the small amount of advice I was able to offer. This morning while I was out in the garden, I noticed the dogs searching for a particular grass that they eat when their stomachs are upset. Which is one of the indicators of GERD-but if done in excess. Other indicators would be vomiting bile-usually a yellowish fluid as apposed to white foam. (vomiting is usually more frequent after a meal), licking the floor, or gulping at night which are loud noises like lip smacking, opening and closing the mouth repetitively, which may mean that the dog is feeling distressed. I have GERD, so I can relate. Other indicators are regurgitation of small amounts of food, especially when using the stairs, getting up or down, or being picked up. It is usually food that has not been sufficiently swallowed. Sour or bad breath is caused by the acid in the stomach.
Nausea may cause a dog to be reluctant to eat anything, especially first thing in the morning. Ebby always gobbles up her treats in the morning, but Zoey is often not interested. I tell Bob to let her be for another hour or so and then see if she has an appetite. Sometimes dogs will start panting or become restless, especially after a meal. I make dinner (their only main meal) for the dogs at around 8 p.m. and sometimes they will finish it within 30 minutes. Sometimes Zoey won’t touch her bowl until I put it with her in my bed and force a piece of topper into her mouth. Sometimes she spits it right out and then eats it. Sometimes she swallows it at once. Then she appears to think “Oh, that was pretty good. I think I’ll eat some more.” I go into the bathroom and get ready for bed, and by that time she has finished it, and will woof at me that she is now ready for her bedtime dental chew. Ebby gets her dental treat after she eats all her dinner; given when Zoey gets hers.
Dogs may get GERD from several causes. *Inefficient digestion which builds up stomach acid. *Dietary inadequacies like too much fat which slows down movement, or difficult to digest ingredients like corn. *Sensitivity to certain foods. Keep a journal of everything you feed your dog each day. That will help key in on the problematic ones. I get reflux especially from spicy foods, and mostly if eaten along with wine and chocolate! *Intestinal Dysbiosis is an imbalance of gut digestion which may be my problem too. I am going to consult a nutritionist. *Also IBD ( inflammatory bowel disease) or other gastrointestinal disorders can contribute to the problem of reflux. *More serious contributors may be cancer, liver or kidney disease. At bedtime, try giving your dog an easily digestible treat, so the dog is not going to bed on an empty stomach, like a little goat milk which has a soothing effect. Check these out on the internet: Soothing Digestive Relief by ASK ARIEL, Their LypoZyme Digestive Enzymes for small and sensitive dogs, and a product called Gastro ULC Acid Reducer which has been proven to help soothe and repair the stomach lining.

10/15/2025

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR DOGS AGAINST DOG-DOG AGGRESSION

A few days ago, Zoey started a fight with Ebby who is double her size. It happened right in front of Bob and me, and our instinct was to yell and try to push them from each other with our legs. I had a neighbor who attempted that with her two Blue Healers, and she looked like she had been in a major car accident. The healers, in their frenzy, took her on as well. She had to put the more aggressive one down. Zoey and Ebby have lived together for four years and maybe once a year they have had a fight but never shed any blood. Ebby has not wanted to play since her knee operation last December and her ACL repairment in July, but yesterday it was like old times. Ebby must finally be feeling confident with her leg. (And the 3 new-now a year- neighbor dogs that inadvertently caused her injuries will be moving; there is a sale sign on the property they were renting.) Figures!
*Stay calm and reduce the impulse to scream or yell, especially when you notice behavior negatively escalating. Unfortunately, with Zoey and Ebby, it happened too fast. The article I read suggested keeping a plywood board handy that can be inserted downward from above to separate the dogs. Screwing handles at both ends will make it more controllable. I told Bob after reading this we should have used our wood and mesh doggy door that was leaning against the wall. It is just hard to think straight when aggression is sudden.
*If you have dogs that tend to be aggressive toward each other on a regular basis, it may be a health issue for at least one of them. Feeling unwell can cause stress like low thyroid levels or joint pain. Get a wellness examination.
*Keeping dogs exercised and tired eliminates the possibility of playing becoming too rough. If you notice that, call for a time out and restrict their interaction until the dogs calm down-tethers, a playpen, or gated off room. Or take them out for a walk or some ball or frisbee catching. (Unfortunately, I have not been walking our dogs because the few times I did during late recovery, Ebby began limping, even short walks.) *Developing a relationship with each dog, separate from the others, may also help to overcome negative interactions. *Sometimes, though it may be contrary thinking, let the dogs work out their problem if it is minor squabbling. *Dogs can take advantage of other weaker, more vulnerable members of the pack. They need protection. *Sometimes drugs may help with aggression (get your vet’s advice.) Because both of my dogs coincidentally have Addison’s Disease, and joint issues, they get a dose of CBD oil (for pets) at dinnertime. CBD helps in other ways too.
*Be realistic, like my neighbor with the blue healers. Euthanasia may be the best for a dog that cannot be managed to the extent that the quality of life for both humans and the other pets in the home has become unbearable. Or you could choose to rehome the pets that are not the problem and keep the problem dog with you. The goal is to find peace.

10/01/2025

A PET DOG IN THE HOME CAN REDUCE THE INCIDNECE OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Before I continue, I would like to let those who read my articles and support The Wagging Tail, that I have taken an extended leave of absence. I am available through my email, patsyrob!.com, if you need help with a pet problem, have an idea for an article, or simply want to say hello. If you need your cat’s nails trimmed, we can figure that out.
There have been several studies done on this topic over the last fifteen years, but a recent article on my computer caught my attention today. I googled and found the one I am using for this article.
Apparently, the presence of a dog(s) and/or assorted farm animals, can alter the gut microbiome in humans. The gut microbiome is a collection of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in our gut, and on our skin. In babies these microbes are still developing and stabilizing. A diverse microbiome increases a child’s chances of withstanding the development of eczema, asthma, allergies, obesity and other chronic ailments. The immune system is strengthened by exposure to various microbes and dander in the environment, especially from infancy through three years of age. “Sufficient exposure to dog allergens in the first year of life may train the immune system to become tolerant rather than reactive, thus preventing an allergic response.”
Pets help youngsters (and adults) in emotional ways too. Pets in the home promote a child’s emotional self-esteem, social skills and can introduce a sense of responsibility. One could spend hours on YouTube looking at photos after adorable photos of children interacting with their pets. Having a pet can help children develop empathy and compassion, confidence, and language skills. Pets encourage more physicality through play and care giving. Pets aid in developing motor skills. Pets also reduce loneliness, whether because of being the only child, or feeling left out if there is a newborn, or a loss in the family. When I feel stressed at home, I will bury my face in Zoey (Ebby would probably growl) and hug her until I feel calmer. When I worked, I would go into the cat rooms and do the same, usually with Squeaks, the cat my friend Pat adopted from The Wagging Tail about 9 years ago. When Pat died, almost three years ago, I brought Squeaks to become part of our forever store cats. (Our two cats at home are witchy with each other. Jealousy over Bob and me I think, so Squeaks would not do well with them.) Animals are great for bringing down your blood pressure and soothing your distress if you let them. I don’t think I could ever live without a pet. I never have.

09/24/2025

BAD BREATH IN DOGS AND CAT CAN BE DUE TO DIET OR HEALTH PROBLEMS

Keeping your pet’s mouth free of plaque, which turns into tartar and may require veterinarian intervention, is tantamount to maintaining good overall health. I had to have Ebby’s teeth cleaned in July (when she had her ACL repaired) because she is reactive and even though she has come a long way since I rescued her in August of 2021, I have only attempted to put my fingers in her mouth when we are playing. At eight years of age, she only accepts, so far, licking a gel off my finger, and I can only hope that the ProDen Plaque Off bones, or Yummy Combs I give them at night will help maintain Ebby’s now whiter teeth. Zoey, my nine-year-old Maltese, has a small mouth and crooked teeth, and yet, because of my frequent use of an oral gel, she may never have to get her teeth cleaned. The important part of using gels is getting all the way to the back teeth, going along the gum line, top and bottom teeth, and no food or water for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. My two remaining cats, Connie and Carly, who are 12 years old have very bad breath and I am planning to have their teeth cleaned sometime in October.
There are several reasons that dogs and cats can have bad breath. Even if the breath smells fruity or sweet that can indicate a problem. Your vet can check for swollen or bleeding gums which may be indicate gingivitis, gum or periodontal disease. Bad breath can result from ailments like diabetes, liver or kidney disease as well as cancer of the mouth, ear, throat or nose. Bad breath in humans as well as pets can be a symptom of underlying medical issues, or undetected cancers. My beloved Papillon, Parker, began to have noticeable changes in his breath, before a more serious decline which led to the discovery of three different, simultaneous cancers, the liver, the spleen, and the kidneys, at the tender age of seven. This was during Covid. And you know I gave him the best diet and supplements. It was from poor breeding practices and the diet of his parents because they never got spaded or neutered and were fed the cheapest possible food like Pedigree. Parker was surrendered along with his brother when they were 8 weeks of age, and I don’t know if his brother suffered the same fate. Our hearts are still broken. Bad breath can be caused by gastrointestinal problems, metabolic diseases (as mentioned above-diabetes and kidney disease), oral disease, foreign objects in the mouth and oral tumors. Your veterinarian should always be consulted if you suspect anything has changed. A friend had a saying I live by, if something doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t.
Dear customer, you will not find me at The Wagging Tail. I have decided for my emotional and physical health to walk away for now. The main reason I stayed on as an employee was to assist pet parents in resolving dietary, skin or other issues. You can email me at [email protected] if you want to say hello or ask advice or request a topic you would like me to write about (which may be every other week.) Thank you for thirty-eight years!

09/24/2025

THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE HYDRATION

Unfortunately for me, I am guilty of not drinking enough water. My rheumatologist tells me, my nutritionist friend, Maria tells me, common sense and the night leg cramps I get, tell me. Do I listen? Sometimes when I have been running around for five or more hours, I realize I have forgotten to drink at all! At 110 pounds I should be intaking about 78-100 ounces a day, or at least 6-160z bottles. I average about two to three. Not good!
Most of us keep fresh cool water in convenient spots for our pets. The bowls should be washed with soap and water regularly, especially to get rid of the saliva slime that builds up on the bottom. Cats that don’t get dental cleanings can have noticeably bad breath which makes their water and food bowls really fowl smelling, even to them. To give my aging cats even more moisture than they get from canned food twice a day (a mixture of good dry foods is kept out 24/7 and those bowls are cleaned-even in our shelter) I add warm water to the residue in the can and swish it around and add to the wet food dish.
Dogs, according to a recent article I read, need approximately 200ml to 3 liters a day based on their size. Dogs that are fed strictly dry food are more likely to miss out on essential water input, which aids in blood flow and healthy heart function, bowl and kidney disposal, and regulating body temperature. That is probably why the Whole Dog Journal has recommended a raw diet, freeze-dried raw, or canned food over even the best dry food. However, with multiple dogs and large dogs, that diet can be super expensive, hence the advantage of dry dog food. A dog in the wild would get a generous amount of organ meat, bones and vegetables which contain around 70% moisture whereas dry foods or kibble only contain 6-10% water. Stay away from dry foods that contain corn, wheat, and soy.
About 12 years ago Bob and I were invited for a weekend to the town in Wisconsin where the Fromm Family Foods is located. Their plant was impeccably clean (we had to wear booties) and we took seminars. One seminar was on good gut health. I have written before, based on what I learned, that COOL water (or bone broth-salt free) needs to be added to dry dog food. Even if you add some wet food, toppers or fresh foods (all of which I highly endorse) add enough water so that your dog will literally DRINK its food. The quicker the better. Do not let the kibble soften as that will make the food go down sluggishly. It also helps in avoiding bloat. (How many saltines could you eat without drinking water.) It is a misconception that dry kibble helps clean the teeth. Nothing but brushing (which I don’t do) or the use of a gel (follow instructions) which I use (you should see my nine-year-old Maltese’s teeth!) and good chews like raw frozen bones and elk antlers, will clean teeth effectively. If your dog is a grazer, chances are it finds its meal boring or unappealing. It is up to you to find ways to up the desirability with a variety of healthy additions.

09/11/2025

WOULD YOUR DOG BENEFIT MORE FROM A COLD PROTEIN OR A HOT PROTEIN?

From the customer’s description of his dog’s behavior in preferring cool or warm spaces in the house and being outdoors, it seemed to me that he should consider switching from a warm protein like the chicken-based food he was giving his dog to a cooler protein like fish.
“Based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), chicken is considered a warming protein for dogs, not a neutral one. This holistic classification is distinct from the Western viewpoint and is based on the food’s energetic properties, not on nutritional content. The suitability of chicken for an individual dog depends on its specific physiology and energetic constitution.” In Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods are classified as hot or cold. Hot proteins provide warmth and energy, while cold proteins are believed to cool and soothe the dog’s body. Hot proteins include beef, lamb, venison, turkey and chicken, and are considered beneficial for dogs with joint pain, lack of energy or poor digestion. Cold proteins are salmon, duck, rabbit, whitefish and cod, and are great for dogs with allergies, skin conditions, or overheating tendencies.
A warming protein increases internal temperature and energy levels which may be good for some dogs and detrimental to others. Chicken is good for dogs that are sensitive to the cold or who may show signs of lethargy, go to areas of heat sources, seem weak, don’t want to exercise, have stiffness and joint pain, or prefer warm cooked food. On the other hand, dogs that have a hot constitution may worsen with warm protein and display such conditions as red inflamed skin, especially with allergies, excessive panting for no apparent reason, anxiety or restlessness, seek out cool places to rest, like tile floors, and get chronic ear infections.
Some foods can also be considered neutral in that they do not significantly change a dog’s body temperature, offering balanced energy. Beef, pork, eggs, salmon, turkey, goose, tripe, bison, carrots, pumpkin, potatoes, rice, green beans, squash, beets, apples, pears, papaya, and raspberries, depending of course on the individual dog.
One article suggests mixing it up with hot and cold proteins to create a balanced diet. I only feed Zoey and Ebby one main meal a day. Bob gives them assorted snacks in the morning like soft turkey sticks, sweet potato wrapped chicken (Zoey only as Ebby appears to be allergic to sweet potato) chicken chips, duck wrapped rawhide sticks, chicken wrapped biscuits, Charlee Bears, whole herring snacks, peanut butter Hide Free, or beef Hide Free Sticks. They get about 5 snacks each.
Dinner is a mixture of fish, beef, and chicken with veggies; I do premium kibble as well as My Perfect Pet (lightly cooked frozen-defrosted) and assorted toppers like Dr. Marty’s, Stella and Chewy, and sometimes what we eat.

Address

337 Route 9
Cape May, NJ
08204

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

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+16098865999

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