Pet Sitting by Marisa

08/28/2025

In conclusion, this study shows that the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs is linked to how long they are exposed to natural s*x hormones, and the relationship isn’t simple or linear. The highest risk was seen when females were spayed before about 1054 days (just under 3 years) and males before about 805 days (a little over 2 years). These results may help define what counts as “early” spay or neuter when it comes to cranial cruciate ligament disease risk.

Veterinary reproduction specialists now recommend hormone-preserving sterilization: preventing unwanted litters & less risk of torn cruciates.

08/26/2025

Your pet’s food and water bowls can be a hotspot for bacteria?🦠

Research shows that while 67% of pet owners use metal bowls, only about one-third actually wash them after meals, some just give them a quick wipe. That’s exactly how the bacterial party begins 🤢. And that slimy layer that forms in water bowls after a day? That’s biofilm...a coating of bacteria that’s extremely hard to remove. Biofilm can harbor harmful pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and MRSA, making it easy for infections to spread from your dog to your family.🦠⚠️

The type of food matters too. Wet food tends to harbor more bacteria than dry, and the leftover moisture mixed with dog saliva creates the perfect environment for bacterial growth.

Here's a quick break down of the pros and cons of different types of bowls:

🥣Plastic: Chemicals in plastic can leach over time and interfere with melanin production, potentially causing “Plastic Dish Nasal Dermatitis,” which leaves your dog’s nose and lips pink and irritated.

🫖Ceramic: According to Hartpury scientists, ceramic bowls can harbor dangerous bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and MRSA, especially if the glaze is cracked and the bowl keeps being used.

🥄Stainless steel: Low-quality steel bowls have occasionally been recalled for heavy metal contamination. Stick to high-grade stainless (18/8 or 304 steel) from trusted brands.

🥛Glass: Durable, borosilicate glass (like Pyrex) is a safe, kitchen-friendly option for both food and water.

🧼 No matter the material, the best way to protect your pet (and your family) is simple: wash bowls after every meal with hot water and soap. Once a week, run them through your dishwasher’s hot cycle. You can also disinfect by coating with hydrogen peroxide, waiting five minutes, then rinsing.

For more on picking nontoxic, safe bowls? Comment FOREVERDOG, and we’ll message you a link to our book The Forever Dog LIFE. Check out part one, The Forever Kitchen, section “Food & Water Bowls,” for all the tips on keeping your dog’s mealtime safe and healthy 🌱⚠️.

08/16/2025

The PURR Act of 2025 is back in Congress—and it could change pet food regulation as we know it.

On the surface, creating one federal system might sound like progress. But hidden in the fine print are risks that could impact transparency, safety, and your right to know what’s in your pet’s food. If passed, this bill could:

⚠️ Remove state oversight in favor of full federal control with even poorer engagement
⚠️ Permit vague ingredient labels using “and/or” statements
⚠️ Make it harder for pet parents to identify exactly what they’re feeding

What’s at stake isn’t just regulation—it’s trust, safety, and accountability in the pet food industry. Email your Representatives in Congress (House of Representatives) to not support the PURR Act— sample email and more info in comments ⬇️

08/10/2025

New dangerous vaccine.
Dogs don’t need to be vaccinated ever year. Do a teeter test before vaccinating your fur baby.

Just came across this… fan fact the little black box warning states we do not vaccinate unhealthy dogs. This means neurological, gastro, autoimmune conditions, allergy and ye**ty dogs, CANCER! I personally do not do rabies until after the one yr mark or after the age of 5. If you have a cancer babe your dvm should be giving you a medical waiver! If they dont, they are not the vet you want!

🚨 IMPORTANT NEWS from Dr. Will Falconer, DVM 🧬🐶
I’m sharing this urgent update from holistic vet Will Falconer, DVM, who just covered this in his newsletter — and it’s something every pet owner needs to know. ⚠️

👉 Merck has launched a new rabies vaccine called Nobivac NXT, now rolling out across North America.
It uses self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) technology, similar to what we saw with the Covid vaccines — but now in our animals. 🧪

💉 Claimed “benefits”:
• Only 0.5 ml dose
• No aluminum (adjuvants)
• No mercury (preservatives)

But what’s the catch?

⚠️ This lab-created RNA replicates inside the body.
Once injected, it produces rabies virus proteins that trigger the immune system — and this RNA can spread throughout the body, including vital organs and the brain. The long-term effects? Completely unknown.

🧬 No independent long-term safety studies
📄 No transparency
💊 Research conducted by Merck’s own Intervet — not peer-reviewed or publicly available

We’ve seen what can go wrong with fast-tracked RNA tech in humans. Now it’s being pushed onto our pets.

🐾 What you can do:
✅ Ask to see the vaccine label before ANY injection.
❌ If it says “Nobivac NXT,” say NO.
✅ Request the older “thimerosal-free” version instead.

❓Why the rush? Rabies isn’t a widespread crisis in the West. Let’s not gamble with our pets’ health.

📌 Summary: Until we have real, independent, long-term safety data, this RNA vaccine should not be blindly accepted. Let’s protect our animals with informed decisions.

https://www.dolceslegacy.com/articles-written-by-bronwyn/we-do-not-vaccinate-unheathy

08/09/2025

Dogs are glyphosate sponges, and this time of year it’s hard to avoid chemical exposure, it’s everywhere.😷

They walk barefoot, roll in grass, lick their fur—and rarely shower off environmental contaminants. Inside the body, Glyphosate (Round-Up) mimics the amino acid glycine, hijacking protein function and disrupting health. Glycine is an amino acid that supports detoxification by helping the liver produce glutathione, a key antioxidant involved in removing harmful substances like glyphosate.
💦Yes, rinse those paws after exposure to sprayed areas, but supplementing with extra glycine 💊 can help block glyphosate’s effects inside the body by occupying those sites and supporting healthy protein synthesis and detox pathways. This amino acid does more than build proteins—it defends them 🦾.

08/05/2025

Posted • Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it’s time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.

08/04/2025

08/04/2025

Insects being used for pet food and the health dangers…

Thinking about feeding one of those new insect based pet foods? Eating a food made with concentrated number of insects carrying this bacteria will directly impact your pet's gut bacteria profile and health.

"Erwinia persicina (U80205) – a bacterium usually found on rotting vegetables and in soil. Insects like black soldier fly larvae and mealworms are often raised on composted plant waste — and Erwinia is a natural part of that environment."

From Carol Hughes - Biome 4 Pets and Gerald Pepin The Canine Nutritionist

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AhaW5Tqrc/

Disclaimer. ''The views expressed are my own''

This is my opinion based recent results, and compared to my extensive microbiome database.

As the major manufacturers of pet food enter the market with insect based diets for dogs and interest is forecasted to rise in the future (currently 5% of dog owners feed insect food). How is that likely to affect us all as bacteria are released into the general environment. These bacteria are opportunistic ie as percentages increase they take the opportunity to cause disease and illness in compromised dogs.

🐛🦠 Is This Bacterium in Your Dog’s Gut Coming from Insects?

👉 Erwinia persicina (U80205) – a bacterium usually found on rotting vegetables and in soil.
So how did it get into your dog’s gut?
🔬 Insects like black soldier fly larvae and mealworms are often raised on composted plant waste — and Erwinia is a natural part of that environment. It can:
✔️ Live inside the insect gut
✔️ Stick to the insect body
✔️ Survive food processing methods

💡 The microbiome reflects what your dog eats, including the bugs!

🐶 If Erwinia persicina shows up at high levels:
✅ Check your dog’s diet
✅ Rotate protein sources
✅ Add gut-friendly fibres (like pumpkin or inulin)

The gut never lies — it’s just reporting what went in 🧬


We are seeing levels at 17% of the total microbiome, causing imbalances, dysbiosis and inflammation.
Please check your dogs diet and I'll keep you updated!

Thanks, The Canine Nutritionist

07/17/2025

New peer-reviewed study by Washington & Kansas state University shows dogs treated with antibiotics were 3 times more likely to develop knee ligament tears (CCLD), and those given steroids were 3.5 times more likely, compared to dogs not given these medications.

"Results: 419 dogs (216 cases and 203 controls) were enrolled in this study. The odds of CCLD after systemic fluoroquinolone exposure was 3.00 times (CI 1.01-8.90) higher than odds of CCLD without fluoroquinolone exposure. The odds of CCLD after systemic glucocorticoid exposure was 3.51 times (CI 1.94-6.37)) higher than odds of CCLD without glucocorticoid exposure. Topical administration was not found to pose the same risk. Conclusions: These data suggest that administration of systemic fluoroquinolones or systemic glucocorticoids were identified as risk factors for the development of CCLD in Retriever breeds. Prospective studies are needed. Clinical Relevance: Although not all risk factors for CCLD can be mitigated, systemic fluoroquinolones and/or glucocorticoids should be used cautiously in Retriever breeds."

02/21/2025

ATTN PET OWNERS! These are good to know when dealing with your vet.

02/10/2025

Watching Super Bowl 2025 with friends with a shmedium beer 🍻

02/04/2025

Attention pet parents: In an emergency situation, having these 10 items is critical for the safety of your pet. You can purchase these items here: https://chwy.co/3EhDQGf