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Power Your Pyrenees with Complete Health #GrainFreeForMe

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Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!

Power Your Pyrenees with Complete Health

It’s no secret that we love Wellness Pet Food. The fluffies have tried so many of their products over the years. They’ve had (and loved) several flavors from the TruFood and Core lines – both grain-free options. However, there was one line they haven’t had in quite some time – the Wellness® Complete Health™ line.

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

As puppies, Mauja and Atka were both on the Large Breed Puppy Complete Health formula. This is not a grain-free diet, but since grain-free diets are generally not recommended for giant breed puppies, this was perfect. The fluffies loved and thrived on this food.

However, as they got older I wanted to switch them to a grain-free diet. Even though we loved the Complete Health line, there weren’t any grain-free options for us. That’s when we switched to Wellness Core and eventually tried TruFood.

Recently, something I never thought would happen finally did – Wellness Complete Health finally went grain-free! Obviously, we just had to try it.

Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!

Mauja and Atka really like fish-flavored foods, so we decided to go with the Complete Health Whitefish and Menhaden Fish Meal Recipe. This recipe features a balanced blend of proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, and select fats to help your furry one thrive. In fact, Wellness guarantees the 5 Signs of Wellness.

  • Skin & Coat Health – By including healthy levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids from quality sources such as salmon and flaxseed, your dog’s coat will be 100% snuggable. Omega-3s and Omega-6s are also essential for healthy, flake-free skin.
  • Digestive Health – Upset tummies are no fun – for you or your dog! Wellness Complete Health provides probiotics, prebiotics, chicory root extract, and fiber to improve digestion and keep tummies happy.
  • Eyes, Teeth, & Gums – Excessive tearing and inflammation are sure to cause discomfort and leave you with one unhappy puppy. High-quality food such as Complete Health, will prevent excessive tearing and keep your dog’s teeth and gums inflammation free.
  • Energy – We all love being active with our pets, but we have to ensure they are getting the quality nutrition required to optimize their energy levels. By providing a balanced blend of high-quality protein, grain-free carbohydrates, and select fats, you’ll both be ready for your favorite activities.
  • Immunity – We all know that a strong immune system is important for optimal health. Wellness Complete Health recipes are fortified with zinc, selenium, and vitamin E to maintain optimum health and resist disease.

As I was preparing for this post, I wanted to get some pictures of Mauja and Atka enjoying their food. I filled the bowl to the brim to make it easier to get a good picture and let them do their part as taste-testers.

Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!
Notice the slobber around the bowl? 😉

It was actually pretty adorable – they both took turns grabbing a bite from the bowl. Mauja would step up, grab a bite, take a step back to chew, and then Atka would go through the same process. They continued to do this over and over (why am I never filming when I should be?!) until the bowl was completely empty.

Little piglets.

They then had the nerve to look at me like, “Okay, mom. Are you going to refill this thing or what?”

I think it’s safe to say that Wellness Complete Health will be added to their rotation diet!

P.S. You can follow Wellness Pet Food on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Does your dog show the 5 Signs of Wellness? Swing by your local PetSmart (or easily shop online) so your dog can try the new grain-free line of Wellness Complete Health!

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Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!

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

Lumps and Bumps

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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 one of our worst fears - finding lumps and bumps on our dogs.

Lumps and Bumps

Finding a lump on your dog can be terrifying, but it isn’t always cause for alarm.

When Mauja was only a year old, we found a small lump on her chest. My mind immediately went to the “c word”. After a mild panic attack and a visit to the vet, we found out it was nothing to worry about. Thankfully, the vet determined it was simply a lipoma.

What is a Lipoma?

A lipoma is one of the most commonly found lumps on a dog’s body. These masses are usually soft, rounded, and not painful for your dog. They typically appear just under the skin and are generally benign.

Most of the time, lipomas do not have to be removed. This has been the case for Mauja – her bump has stayed the same size and not caused her any problems, so we haven’t had it removed. Occasionally, lipomas can grow into very large fat deposits that are uncomfortable for the dog and must be removed.

Other Non-cancerous Lumps and Bumps

Sebaceous Cysts

Sebaceous cysts typically arise due to clogged oil glands in the skin. These cysts are composed of dead cells and can contain a clear fluid. Oftentimes, these rupture without medical intervention and heal on their own. If the cyst becomes irritated or infected, your vet will help to determine the best course of action.

Sebaceous Adenomas

While sebaceous adenomas are not the most common type of lump found on dogs, they are the most commonly biopsied. Like the cysts, these growths are rarely problematic once surgically removed.

Warts, infected hair follicles, and blood blisters are other common, non-cancerous bumps. These bumps often cause discomfort to your dog, but they have less of a health impact than cancerous growths.

Cancerous Lumps

These lumps can be malignant or benign and include mammary gland tumors, mast cell tumors, cutaneous lymphosarcoma, malignant melanoma, fibrosarcoma, and many other types of tumors.

Diagnosing Cancerous Lumps

There are four main methods for determining the type of lump that has been found on your dog.

  • Impression Smears – Some masses are easier to collect cells than others. If the mass can be examined through an impression smear, your vet will collect cells by pressing a microscope slide to the raw surface of the mass. Sometimes, your vet will be able to diagnose the smear immediately, but most likely the sample will be sent to a pathologist for diagnosis.
  • Needle Biopsy – In some cases, the lump can be analyzed through a simple needle biopsy rather than by complete removal. Your vet will insert a sterile needle into the lump and vacuum out cells for examination. As yucky as this procedure sounds, it is usually a painless one.
  • CT Scans – If analysis of internal organs is needed, a CT Scan will be performed to help determine if the lump has gone deeper into the body.
  • Radiography – Similarly to CT Scans, radiography will be used to determine the state of internal masses.

Treatment

Treatment will vary based on the age/health of the dog and the severity of the tumor.

  • Surgery – Surgery will be completed in order to remove a lump that causes pain or discomfort or one that has been deemed dangerous.
  • Chemotherapy – Typically, chemotherapy is done in conjunction with surgery to ensure the mass has been totally removed. It allows the vet to stay ahead of the tumor to hopefully achieve a  cure.
  • Radiation – If the tumor does not have well-defined borders or is spreading rapidly, radiation will be done to help save your pet’s life. As with chemotherapy, surgery typically accompanies radiation.

Most importantly, each lump must be treated individually to ensure the best course of action for your dog.

In cases where vigilance for tumors is part of the animal’s care, such as in animals where a malignant tumor has been removed and the veterinarian wishes to keep abreast of the stage of disease, then every lump should be submitted for histopathology. In other cases where the clinician is sure of a benign diagnosis such as lipoma or a wart-like skin mass then it might be understandable to use discretion. The clinician also has to take into consideration the risk of surgery compared to the risk of health problems from a particular lump or bump. – Dr. Dubielzig in PetMD

Have you ever dealt with lumps and bumps on your dog? What was your course of action?

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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 one of our worst fears - finding lumps and bumps on our dogs.

 

Keep It True with Living Nutrition [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, we're talking about a fluffy favorite - Wellness TruFood!

Keep It True With Living Nutrition

After all the information I’ve been throwing at you for the past week and a half, I thought it would be nice to take a break and have a “just for fun” post. Rather than talking about an issue that can face giant breeds, we’ll be touching on a food I love to keep my giant breeds healthy.

I’m always looking for high-quality food to add to Mauja and Atka’s rotation diet. Today, we’re going to be briefly talking about one of our rotation staples, Wellness TruFood. While this isn’t a new addition, it’s a food that I really wanted to touch on again during the A to Z Challenge!

For me, #TruLoveIs is a Great Pyrenees. For Mauja and Atka, #TruLoveIs Wellness TruFood. TruFood gives pets more of what they need to be vibrant and happy.

What’s my main reason for loving TruFood?

It’s a baked dog food.

I did a whole post on the difference between baked and extruded dog food (how normal kibble is made) and the benefits of choosing a food that’s baked. To sum it up, while traditional extruded dog food only retains 40% of the natural vitamins and minerals, baked dog food retains almost 100% of the original nutrients.

Slow-baking raw, whole-prey meats with grain-free fiber like peas, chickpeas and lentils results in more moist, raw protein in every bowl. Pets love the flavor of Trufood’s caramelized slow-baked meats. And you’ll love that TruFood has up to 70% more protein than similar foods. – Wellness

Wellness TruFood is an entire line of premium-quality products. Aside from traditional dry food, they also have wet food and a variety of treats. Mauja and Atka have loved everything they have tried from the TruFood line (and they can be pretty particular!).

But, enough of me babbling on. Today, I’m not here to go through all the details of TruFood, the benefits of switching to TruFood, or all the reasons why we love TruFood. If you want to read a thorough review of Wellness TruFood, head to this blog post where I go much more in-depth (if you’re looking to add a new food to your dog’s rotation or switch entirely, I highly recommend looking into TruFood).

Instead, I’m here to give you a chance to try it for yourself!

So, read through this post on the benefits of baked dog food and this one on the Wellness TruFood line. Then, once you’re convinced of the benefits, enter the giveaway below for your chance to try some of the TruFood products! Your dog will thank you 🙂

Has your dog ever tried Wellness TruFood?

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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, we're talking about a fluffy favorite - Wellness TruFood!

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Bloat – Understanding the Signs and Symptoms

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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!

Bloat – Understanding the Signs and Symptoms

Growing up, we had two Samoyeds: Rascal and Clancey. I think that’s where my love of Great Pyrenees started. I loved their look and personality, but wanted a bigger dog with less energy. Rascal and Clancey were absolutely amazing dogs and we loved them dearly.

When I was 15, we took a vacation to Mexico while other family members cared for our dogs. A hurricane had just come through the area we were vacationing, so phone lines were down and we weren’t able to contact them. We had a great time, flew home, and then gave them a call to let them know we landed safely.

I remember this moment so clearly.

My mom called to say we’ve landed and I see the blood immediately drain from her face. She starts crying, completely in shock, and hands the phone to my dad. Tears started to well up in my dad’s eyes.

My dad doesn’t cry. My siblings and I knew it was bad, but we weren’t sure what happened.

While dad was still on the phone, mom looked at my brother, sister, and myself and said,

“Clancey passed away.”

Clancey was only 7 and he was a perfectly healthy dog. How could this have possibly happened?

Our family was heartbroken as we struggled to leave the airport and keep it together. We were all trying not to sob in such a public place, but we were a mess. Even though we could tell he was struggling, my dad kept us going and got us to the car.

As we crossed the street, my rolling suitcase tipped over and everything that I had balanced on it fell everywhere. My sister or I (I can’t remember who) tripped and we both lost it. Sitting in the middle of the street at the airport sobbing away with our stuff everywhere. The sweetest old man helped us get our stuff together.

When we made it home and to the vet to see Clancey one last time, we found out that he had passed away from bloat. Our family that was watching him couldn’t have done anything – it happened so incredibly fast.

Now that I’m sobbing after writing that, let’s move on to some facts about bloat.

Bloat

Bloat is a serious and often deadly condition that occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes filled with gas, fluid, or food. The stomach expands which puts pressure on other organs. This can prevent blood flow to the heart and stomach lining, tear the wall of the stomach, and create a harder time breathing.

In some cases, the stomach will twist. Vets refer to this as gastric dilation volvulus. When the stomach twists, blood is trapped in the stomach and blocked from returning to the heart and the rest of the body. When this happens, your dog can go into shock.

Symptoms

The symptoms of bloat can vary and they happen extremely quickly. Some signs to look for include:

  • Excessive drooling
  • Pacing and acting restless and anxious
  • Trying to vomit with nothing coming up
  • A swollen stomach

As the condition worsens, the dog may have pale gums, a rapid heartbeat, or be short of breath. He might even feel weak and eventually collapse. If your dog is showing any of the preliminary symptoms, it’s important to get your dog to the vet immediately. Bloat is not something you should take lightly. The length varies, but dogs can bloat and pass away in a matter of minutes.

Causes

Here’s the rough part – vets aren’t entirely sure what causes bloat. However, there are some risk factors.

  • Having a large meal once per day
  • Eating too quickly
  • Activity to soon after eating
  • Eating or drinking too much
  • Stress

While any dog can have bloat, it’s much more common in large, deep-chested dogs. This includes, but is not limited to, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Irish Setters, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, and Weimaraners. There are several other breeds that are more susceptible to bloat than others so it’s important to research your own dog.

Treatment

Treatment for bloat will depend on how severe the condition is. In order to release the built up pressure in the stomach, the vet will put a tube down the dog’s throat. If the stomach has already twisted and is preventing the tube from entering the stomach, the vet will use a large, hollow needle through his belly to release the pressure.

X-rays will be conducted to determine if the stomach has twisted, which will require emergency surgery to fix. IV fluids, antibiotics, steroids, and an examination of the rest of the body may also be necessary.

Prevention

There are several ways to help prevent bloat from happening to your dog.

  • No activity within an hour before or two hours after eating.
  • Feed several small meals throughout the day rather than large ones.
  • Ensure your dog isn’t gulping water and drinking a normal amount.

Raised Feeding

You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned raised feeding bowls in this article. Well, that’s partly because I’m trying to keep these posts shorter, but partly because there doesn’t seem to be a right answer at this time.

If you research raised feeding and bloat, you’ll find several articles containing convincing theories as to why one is better than the other. Since this is such a complex and controversial topic, I’m planning a more lengthy post in the future to help summarize the research that is currently available.

What else do you feel people should know about bloat?

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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!