Paws For Reflection

05/30/2026

Be sure they’re organic, but add chopped apple to your dog’s diet and we know blueberries are great too!

Dogs🐾 benefit from something as simple as an apple🍎. A new peer-reviewed systematic review published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science highlighted quercetin, a powerful flavonoid✨ found in apples, as one of the most promising natural compounds for supporting long-term health.

Research suggests quercetin helps reduce inflammation, protect cells from oxidative damage, support beneficial gut bacteria, strengthen the gut barrier, and promote healthy metabolism, all of which are closely linked to healthier aging.

Choose organic apples🍏 or spray free apples when possible, as conventionally grown apples are among the fruits most commonly found to contain pesticide residues. Remove the seeds and core, but leave the skin on (that’s where the quercetin is) before sharing a few bites with your dog. If you’re choosing a variety, Red Delicious🍎 apples are considered one of the richest sources of quercetin among commonly available apples.

This is also one of the reasons Dr. Karen Becker chose hypoallergenic organic apple fiber as the carrier in the Proactive Paws™ formulas instead of ingredients like beef liver or cellulose. Apple fiber helps make her human grade formulas suitable for pets with food sensitivities, while also acting as a prebiotic that nourishes beneficial gut bacteria and supports the production of health-promoting short-chain fatty acids.

05/18/2026

Super important point by my friend Blair at Primal Needs.

05/01/2026

There are alternatives. Look up Wondercide products.

New peer-reviewed study shows 100% of bird nests tested contained residues of flea and tick chemicals from pets. These chemicals were found not just in nest lining made from treated pet fur, but also in eggs and dead chicks. Researchers also observed that higher contamination levels in nests were associated with more unhatched eggs and chick mortality signals, suggesting a clear exposure pathway from pets to wild birds through nest building materials.

In simple terms, wild birds may be unintentionally exposing their embryos and chicks to pet parasite treatments.

This adds a concerning layer during a period of ongoing bird declines, but it is important to note it is not considered a primary driver. Major causes of bird population declines in Europe and North America are still habitat loss and fragmentation, insect decline and food shortages, climate change, and intensive agricultural practices.

04/29/2026

Just so sweet!

04/23/2026

Coexisting…

04/22/2026

A great alternative to flea and tick medicine. Please avoid traditional oral and topical medicines. Seizures happen frequently. This is an easy and wonderful alternative. Do not spray your animal inside if you have domesticated birds as they are very sensitive to essential oils.

No dyes. No artificial fragrances. Just clean science + nature to protect your pack and the planet 🌿

03/26/2026

Garlic is great to add to a dog’s diet.

Garlic for dogs 🧄…let’s clear this up 👇

Garlic often gets labeled “toxic” because it’s related to onions, but here’s the nuance: garlic contains about 1/15th the amount of the compound linked to toxicity and is actually recognized as a safe ingredient in commercial pet foods (AAFCO).

In small, appropriate amounts, garlic provides allicin, which may support:
❤️ Heart health
🛡️ Immune function
🦠 Antimicrobial support

The studies often cited to claim harm? They used extreme doses…the equivalent of feeding a 70 lb dog ~245 cloves of garlic in one week (yes, really). Even then, no dogs showed outward symptoms, just minor microscopic changes in some red blood cells.

The amounts in this graphic fall well within safe daily feeding guidelines 👍

🐈 For added context: the National Research Council has even set a historical safe intake for cats at 17 mg/kg of body weight, further highlighting that dose matters.

Bottom line:
Garlic isn’t the villain - it’s the amount that matters.

📌 Save this for reference & always stick to proper serving sizes 🐶🐱

03/26/2026

Start with training basics. You want your dog to be fun to be around! Thanks Chad!

“We’ve tried everything!” say the frustrated owners of Jumpy the kangaroo dog. When I get to their home it looks like a scene from a sitcom! They’re staring Jumpy in the eye, snapping and pointing their fingers, shouting and making “Schttt” noises, all while poking, pushing, kneeing the ...

03/21/2026

It’s a ‘both’ approach. Follow instructions for body weight. More is not better!

In a 6-week head-to-head trial, a turmeric extract outperformed glucosamine + chondroitin. Dogs showed less pain and limping, better joint movement and weight-bearing, and improved activity and quality of life. Both helped, but turmeric consistently delivered stronger results.

This wasn’t a combo, it was a direct comparison: turmeric vs glucosamine + chondroitin.

Key insight: managing pain and protecting cartilage are not the same. Most joint supplements aim to support cartilage, not reduce pain. This study highlights the need for both approaches if you actually want to improve how dogs feel and move.