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WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements for Dogs

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WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements are nature's best weapon against inflammation. They can help with immunity, focus, mobility, training, and allergies. We tested Focus for Mauja's anxiety and Allergy for Kiska's skin issues.

I’m going to be honest. When I first heard about blood protein supplements for dogs, I was a bit turned off.

Blood protein.

Just the name gave me a weird feeling. But I started doing some research, and realized just how widely back blood protein supplements are.

So when I was contacted by WINPRO to try their blood protein supplements, I was intrigued.

WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements are:

  • created specifically for dogs
  • produced in the USA
  • fast-acting
  • proven to reduce inflammation

There are five different WINPRO formulas to help with a variety of needs:

We had the chance to try WINPRO Focus for Mauja’s anxiety issues, and WINPRO Allergy for Kiska’s skin issues.

WINPRO Focus for Calming

Watch how Mauja responded to WINPRO Focus

If you’ve been around awhile, you know that Mauja has some anxiety issues. We’ve been working on them since she was about 8 months old.

We don’t know exactly the cause, but we think we moved from California to Montana during a fear period. She would go out with us a lot in Cali, but the first place we went to in Montana resulted in this:

Great Pyrenees | It's Dog or Nothing

We’ve worked diligently with her since, but haven’t made much progress. She’s currently taking Prozac and several CBD supplements to help calm her mind while we work on triggering situations.

Unfortunately, we have to switch up products a lot because they stop working for her after a few weeks. So, I was really excited to learn about WINPRO Focus.

WINPRO Focus contains a blend of animal blood proteins and other key ingredients to help reduce anxiety, improve mental calmness, and maintain mental alertness.

WINPRO Focus helps:

  • reduce anxiety
  • promote mental calmness
  • promote attentiveness—without the Benadryl effect
  • improve behavior and responsiveness

Mauja has responded extremely well to WINPRO Focus. I even took her to work the other day! That’s something we couldn’t have done before—thanks to WINPRO.

WINPRO Allergy for Healthy Skin & Coat

Watch how Kiska responds to WINPRO Allergy

Itching, and scratching, and licking—oh my!

Allergies are definitely an issue in this house, especially for Miss Kiska. Girl is allergic to so many things.

So far, we know she’s allergic to grains, chicken, turkey, and pork. And I’m sure there’s still triggers we haven’t figured out yet.

Trying to feed her is always a challenge, and our cabinets are always stocked with Benadryl.

(That may be because I am also allergic to everything)

There have been many days where Kiska and I have passed out for hours mid-day because we needed a Benadryl dose to avoid scratching our skin off.

WINPRO Allergy has been a game changer for Kiska.

WINPRO Allergy helps:

  • reduce itching and scratching
  • provide relief for issues relating to allergies
  • promote healthy skin and coat
  • ease negative effects of environmental toxins
  • support seasonal and ongoing allergies

Kiska has been on WINPRO Allergy for over a month, and her allergy issues have improved so much.

When we go to pet stores, employees often want to give her treats. I either have to politely decline (which leads to disappointment), or I have to ask a million questions to make sure she won’t be miserable for the next several days.

Now, I don’t worry if someone offers her a treat. She can tolerate small amounts of her trigger foods without an issue.

It has taken so much of the stress away, and I’m sure she feels much better!

Use code “FLOOF15” for 15% off your first order!

Do you think your dog would benefit from a WINPRO product?

WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements are nature's best weapon against inflammation. They can help with immunity, focus, mobility, training, and allergies. We tested Focus for Mauja's anxiety and Allergy for Kiska's skin issues.

Disclaimer: It’s Dog or Nothing was compensated for sharing WINPRO products. Don’t worry—we’ll always share our honest opinion to give you the best information possible.

I Have Celiac, but That’s Not Why I Feed Grain-Free #GrainFreeForMe

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An interesting encounter really made me think about how I feed my dogs. Here's why I feed my Great Pyrenees grain-free dog food #GrainFreeForMe

I Have Celiac, but That’s Not Why I Feed Grain-Free

I have Celiac disease. If you’re not familiar with Celiac, I’m certain you’re familiar with the gluten-free trend. For people with Celiac disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), a gluten-free lifestyle isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity.

Recently, I was out with Atka browsing the pet food aisle. I’m not sure why (maybe I’m a tad weird), but I enjoy looking at all of the available commercial foods, studying the ingredients, and then pulling out my phone to continue the research. Plus, it gives me ample time to work on down-stays with Atka.

This post is sponsored by Wellness® Natural Pet Food and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share Wellness Grain Free options, but we  only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Wellness is not responsible for the content of this article.

An interesting encounter really made me think about how I feed my dogs. Here's why I feed my Great Pyrenees grain-free dog food #GrainFreeForMe

While I was looking through some of the Wellness® products, I ran into an individual I work with. We are not close, but there have been enough events that I’ve declined so she knows I’m gluten-free. She looked at me, looked at my cart, looked back at me, and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me. You even force your DOG to eat gluten-free?!”

I didn’t know what to say. Yes, Mauja and Atka consume a grain-free diet of commercial pet food and homemade food. While they have not always been on a grain-free diet, their switch happened before my diagnosis, when they reached adulthood.

Unfortunately, when this individual commented about my feeding practices, I was so caught off-guard that I didn’t know how to answer. Now that I’ve composed myself, here are my top 3 reasons for feeding my Great Pyrenees Wellness Complete Health™ grain-free food.

  1. Grain-free food provides more of a nutritional punch. Rather than being full of empty calories and nutrients, they get “more of the good stuff”, such as chickpeas, flaxseed, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, apples, and blueberries. In Wellness dog food, this includes natural ingredients with high-quality protein for full energy, prebiotics and probiotics to support healthy digestion, and vitamins A & E to support healthy immune system.
  2. Grain-free food can help alleviate allergies. Great Pyrenees are prone to both food and environmental allergies, so I wanted to be cognizant of that fact when determining their diet. Grains are a popular allergen trigger for this breed.
  3. Grain-free diets can help prevent ear infections, stomach upset, and other gastrointestinal issues. If Mauja and Atka are comfortable and happy, I’m happy too.
  4. A bonus, yet selfish, reason. Feeding grain-free food helps keep me healthy! I can get very sick from simply breathing in the air particles of their food or scratching my face while feeding them. The fluffies do not accept a sick mom who skips walks 😉

Atka’s Wellness Complete Health Update

Atka has been on Wellness Complete Health for just over a month now. We are using Wellness as his food base to ensure he is getting all of his essential vitamins and minerals, but then add a topper of homemade food. The Complete Health line offers everything he needs, but I always like to add a little something extra 😉

As completely shocked as I am to say this, Atka’s itching has disappeared in the last month. We did have Atka on a completely homemade diet and did not see any improvement, so we were getting quite frustrated. I tried a lot of experimenting, but I couldn’t seem to alleviate the itching.

An interesting encounter really made me think about how I feed my dogs. Here's why I feed my Great Pyrenees grain-free dog food #GrainFreeForMe

If I’m being completely honest, I don’t know why the itching has ceased since the switch, but I’m not going to question it! Atka loves the food, he’s not itching, and I know he’s getting great nutrition – I’m a happy pyr mom <3

Interested in trying Wellness food for your dog? Click here for your $3 off coupon and shop PetSmart online!

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An interesting encounter really made me think about how I feed my dogs. Here's why I feed my Great Pyrenees grain-free dog food #GrainFreeForMe

Does your pet eat grain-free recipes? Post a pic of you & your pet using #GrainFreeForMe!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wellness® Natural Pet Food. The opinions and text are all mine.

Itchies & Providing Relief [GIVEAWAY!]

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about the itchies and providing relief.

Itchies and Providing Relief

Poor Atka has been feeling really itchy lately. The most frustrating part? We have absolutely no idea why he’s itching. Every time we think we have the cause narrowed down, something new happens that throws us off. I have dry skin and allergies so I know constant itching is no fun.

Poor Atka.

Itching can be caused by several reasons and sometimes no reason at all. Here’s a brief run-through of the main causes for dog itching.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is probably the most common cause of itchy skin in dogs. It’s fairly easy to determine if your dog is suffering from dry skin. Simply part your dog’s fur and check for any flaking skin in the undercoat. You may also see skin that is tough and visibly cracked. Dry skin can be caused by both environmental factors and diet, making it a bit more complicated to address.

To address dry skin, first consider your dog’s current environment. Do you live in an area with relatively low humidity? It is dry dry dryyyyy here in Montana, which is great in the summer, but boy are the winters rough. We have to keep humidifiers going 24/7 to keep all four of us comfortable in this weather.

Your dog’s diet can also contribute to dry skin. When your dog digests any commercial dry food, it has dehydrating effects on the skin and hair. Choosing a food with added essential oils or adding digestive enzymes can help to negate these effects. Digestive enzymes help to improve the release of nutrients and beneficial probiotics to assist in the digestive process.

Allergies

Allergies can also be environmental or diet related. Unfortunately, allergies are much more difficult to diagnose and ultimately address. This is especially problematic because more dogs than ever before seem to be suffering with allergies. The cause is unknown, but many believe it is due to the increase in poor breeding practices and processed pet food.

A dog’s skin and coat will look slightly different when afflicted with allergies. Aside from the presence of dry skin, the skin and coat may also be greasy or slightly dry and oily. Licking and chewing of itchy areas is also frequently seen.

Many dogs suffering with allergies will see relief with a strict diet change as well as the addition of probiotics, high doses of fish oil, flaxseed, and in some cases, antihistamines. It is important to remember that it can take three months for these changes to take effect, so give the tactic plenty of time to work.

Itch Relief

Our main method for dealing with the itchies is by adding salmon oil to each meal (coconut oil can be extremely beneficial as well). We also use a soap-free shampoo to avoid drying the skin too much during baths. If I see one of the pups itching incessantly, I will also spritz them with some itch relief spray.

Currently, our favorite soap-free shampoo is from the Bayer ExpertCare line, which you can read more about here. Bayer also creates the itch relief spray that I use in between baths. You can read all about the spray here.

Since we love those two products so much, we’re holding a giveaway! Enter the widget below in order to win one (1) bottle of Bayer ExpertCare Itch Relief Shampoo and (1) bottle of Bayer ExpertCare Itch Relief Spray.

Does your dog suffer from the itchies? How do you address the discomfort?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about the itchies and providing relief.

I am not being compensated to talk about Bayer and the giveaway is being hosted by us here at It’s Dog or Nothing!

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Should Your Dog Try a Homemade Diet?

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There are several reasons for wanting to switch your dog to a homemade diet. Do you think your dog would benefit from a homemade diet? Click through to read the rest.

Miss the start of our adventure into homecooked meals? Catch up here and here!

We’re nearing the end of our third week since making the transition to homecooked meals. I will say, things are getting much easier. We still haven’t perfected it (we’ve run out of protein on more than one occasion), but progress not perfection, right?

I know I should be happiest that Mauja’s tummy has been normal for almost two weeks now, but I’m most excited about how much the pups like their food. I know that’s a selfish reason – but it gives me the warm and fuzzies to know how happy they are and I won’t hide it 😉

Anyway, back to Mauja’s tummy.

Her stools have been firm and we haven’t had to hose down her hind end after she does her business. Even with a sanitary trim, we were still having that issue because of her upset tummy. Super gross, I know, so we’re glad we haven’t had to do it in awhile!

Mauja is too – she always finds that process degrading.

I don’t blame her.

Unfortunately, Atka is still itchy. However, he is showing improvement! We haven’t experimented with proteins very much since we are just trying to get the hang of things, but that’s next on our list. I’ve actually created a log to track when and where he is itching.

Crazy dog lady or studying efficiently? 😉

Great Pyrenees
Umm… excuse us. Where is our Veg-To-Bowl?

Today, I have a question for you: Should your dog try homecooked meals?

Here are a few signs you may want to consider the switch:

Your dog is overweight. It’s really easy to overfeed your dog when he’s looking at you with those sweet eyes, insisting that he is starving. Even though you just fed him, how could you resist that face? Veg-To-Bowl provides a hearty base of vegetables to your dog’s meal so you can fill his tummy without all of the calories.

Your dog is experiencing digestive issues. If, like Mauja, your dog is having a bit of tummy troubles, you may want to try a homecooked meal. We varied brands and proteins with Mauja for several months without any success. She would be completely fine for a week, then would have a bout of really loose stools. We could never trace it to her eating anything. Since making the switch to a homecooked meal, we haven’t had any instances of loose stools (two weeks strong!). It may be helpful for your dog with digestive issues to simplify his diet.

Your dog has kidney problems. If your dog has kidney problems or is experiencing renal failure, a homecooked diet is ideal. You can easily monitor and regulate the amount of protein your dog is getting. No more guesswork about how accurate the back of the bag is!

Your dog has allergies. This is probably the most common reason for switching to a homecooked diet. When you prepare your dog’s food yourself, you have complete control over the type of ingredients used. No more wondering if an ingredient snuck in that you weren’t aware it. This makes it easy to rotate proteins to determine if your dog is sensitive to one of them. We’re still working on things with Atka, but I’m confident we’re moving in the right direction.

There are several reasons for wanting to switch your dog to a homemade diet. Do you think your dog would benefit from a homemade diet? Click through to read the rest.

After next week, the fluffies will have been on a homecooked meal for almost a month. I’m really excited to continue to track their progress! Do you think your dog would benefit from a homemade diet?