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nutrition

Our Wellness Love Grows with CORE RawRev

June 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

Want to include raw in your dog's diet. Wellness CORE RawRev makes it safe and easy to add the nutrition of raw to your dog's meals.

Our Love for Wellness Continues to Grow with CORE RawRev

If you’ve been following the fluffies for awhile, you know that we love all things Wellness Pet Food. We’ve talked about almost every one of their formulas on the blog and have yet to be disappointed. Our favorite is the Wellness® CORE® line and it’s a staple in Mauja and Atka’s rotation diet for years. I usually to try and add a topper to their dinner, whether it’s wet food or something freeze-dried. Much to the fluffies’ dismay, I sometimes forget to add something to their dinner, so they were beyond thrilled when Wellness started offering their new line to make it easier for me: Wellness® CORE® RevRaw™.

This post is sponsored by Wellness® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about the Wellness® CORE® RawRev™ raw food dog food but It’s Dog or Nothing only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Wellness or PetSmart are responsible for the content of this article.

Wellness CORE RevRaw contains high-quality, grain-free kibble with freeze dried raw pieces as an added nutritional boost. These 100% meat bits create a savory, nutrient-rich meal packed with everything your dog needs to thrive. They are less processed and able to remain in their raw state because only the water is removed. Not to mention, it encourages my picky eaters to actually finish a meal.

If you’ve contemplated “testing the water” with raw food, Wellness CORE RevRaw offers a safe and convenient way to try it out. The high protein ingredients encourage lean body mass and muscle tone to help your dog live a long and healthy life. Not only that, but it includes glucosamine and chondroitin to support strong joints as your dog ages.

Want to include raw in your dog's diet. Wellness CORE RawRev makes it safe and easy to add the nutrition of raw to your dog's meals.

I’m pretty picky about the ingredients included in the fluffies’ food, so I really appreciate the ingredients Wellness leaves out of this formula. Wellness CORE RevRaw is free of:

  • Grains
  • Meat by-products
  • Corn
  • Soy
  • Egg
  • Artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors

I also love that there are multiple flavors to satisfy every dog. Their original recipe offers a turkey formula (which is what Mauja and Atka are trying) and a lamb formula. There is also a turkey recipe specifically designed for small breed dogs.

Love Wellness Pet Food and want to keep up to date on the current happenings? Follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Can’t wait for your dog to get his paws on Wellness CORE RevRaw? There’s a great offer happening: Buy One, Get One 50% off by visiting PetSmart and Unleashing the Power of Raw. 

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Want to include raw in your dog's diet. Wellness CORE RawRev makes it safe and easy to add the nutrition of raw to your dog's meals.

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

Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: dog food, nutrition, raw, wellness, wellness core

Helping Pets in Need Become a #WellnessPet

December 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

Does your pet food company give back? Wellness Pet Food helps to provide pets in need with healthy food.This post is sponsored by Wellness and the BlogPawsTM Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share the availability of Wellness Products at PetSmart, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Wellness nor PetSmart is responsible for the content of this article.

Helping Pets in Need Become a #WellnessPet

Animal rescue is extremely tough.

Not only do you have to sacrifice your time, open your heart to possible pain, and alter your life, but you have to find ways to provide for the rescues you take in. While Great Pyrenees eat less than most anticipate, they are still giant dogs who require hefty food bills. Many people in rescue, myself included, don’t always have a large enough budget to feed all of the dogs they take in.

If rescue volunteers can’t afford to feed the dogs, they turn down foster opportunities. The dog they could have fostered, given the appropriate resources, remains in the shelter and often at risk for euthanasia.

WellPet Foundation

Thankfully, amazing resources, such as the WellPet Foundation, are able to assist in feeding dogs in need to keep them out of shelters.

At WellPet, we are committed to giving back to the world we share with our pets. Through the WellPet Foundation, we support organizations and activities that promote the power of natural nutrition and the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles.

This past November, catastrophic flooding forced many people from Louisiana to leave their homes. Unfortunately, the severity of the situation caused many pets to be left behind and in need of food and proper care. One shelter, The Companion Alliance of Baton Rouge, took in 650 animals before and after the flooding. Now, that’s a hefty food bill.

Does your pet food company give back? Wellness Pet Food helps to provide pets in need with healthy food.

As shelter volunteers work tirelessly to reunite pets with their owners, they don’t need the added burden of ensuring the animals are fed a healthy diet. The WellPet Foundation stepped in a donated nearly 50,000 pounds of food and treats to The Companion Alliance of Baton Rouge and other shelters nearby.

A Personal Experience

I had the chance to personally experience the generosity of the WellPet Foundation. The Great Pyrenees Rescue, Montana took in a Great Pyrenees/Akbash puppy who was found in the woods. The puppy was tiny, weak, and clearly malnourished. One amazing volunteer took the puppy, Rooby, into her home.

Does your pet food company give back? Wellness Pet Food helps to provide pets in need with healthy food.

I reached out to Wellness® to see if they would be willing to help take care of the puppy by providing food for her. Without hesitation, I received a “yes” and was passing along mailing information. Little Miss Rooby was thrilled with her Wellness food and the donation relieved some pressure from her foster mom. P.S. Rooby is currently looking for her forever home!

Unfortunately, too many pet food companies are only “in it for the money” and fail to keep our pets’ best interests in mind. I can honestly say that I have never felt that way about Wellness. I’ve been lucky to meet several people on the Wellness team, and their love of pets is clearly evident.

We have been fans of Wellness products since the fluffies were babies, but my fondness for the company has continued to grow as I’ve learned more about their mission and company personality. One of the best things about Wellness Pet Food is that they have a formula for every dog. The fluffies like to rotate between Wellness® CORE®, Wellness© Complete Health™, and Wellness® TruFood®. There are enough formulas and flavors to keep them interested!

If you haven’t checked out all that Wellness has to offer, you can do that here. Or you can simply swing by your local PetSmart to pick up a bag! Trust me, your fluffy with thank you.

Prefer to shop from home? Visit PetSmart® online to check out the extensive Wellness lineup in order to pick the right food for your dog.

 You can also follow Wellness on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

What’s your dog’s favorite Wellness product?

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Does your pet food company give back? Wellness Pet Food helps to provide pets in need with healthy food.

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

Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: complete health, grain free, great pyrenees, nutrition, wellness, wellness core

The #WellnessPet Difference – Giant Breed Edition

November 11, 2016 3 Comments

Do you feel completely comfortable with the food you are feeding your giant breed dog? While we feed a rotation diet that includes "all life stages" foods, large breed formulas are great for peace of mind about nutrients. Check out our preferred large breed formula!

The #WellnessPet Difference – Giant Breed Edition

This post is sponsored by Wellness and the BlogPaws™ Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share the availability of Wellness Products at PetSmart, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Wellness nor PetSmart is responsible for the content of this article.

While I feed “all life stages” food sometimes, my preference is usually to feed a formula targeted at large breed dogs. I prefer large breed formulas, especially in busy times, because I don’t have to worry that Mauja and Atka are getting enough nutrients. Specifically, I’m concerned that they are getting the necessary amounts of omegas, glucosamine, and chondroitin. While these nutrients are good for any dog to have, they are especially important for giant breed dogs to maintain healthy skin, coat, hips, and joints.

When feeding an “all life stages” food, I supplement the fluffies’ diet with salmon oil and a hip and joint supplement. This provides me with added comfort, but it’s also additional products I have to buy and ensure I have on hand. A quality large breed formula decreases the need for additional supplements and adds simplicity to my busy life. Thankfully, Wellness® offers several large breed formulas, including one of our absolute favorites.

The Wellness Difference

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At Wellness, we do whatever it takes to create the healthiest foods for the pets that depend on us. Food feeds their souls, sustains their lives, and protects their bodies. That’s why our diverse team of animal lovers, nutritionists, and vets has only one mission: To help you provide your pet a healthy, happy, long life through the power of natural nutrition.

The Wellness Difference is about being more than natural. And it’s not about what is left out = no fillers or artificial ingredients – these are a given for us. True Wellness is about what we put in – a small number of simple, pure, authentic ingredients. We believe this is the way to make superior food for our animals.

Do you feel completely comfortable with the food you are feeding your giant breed dog? While we feed a rotation diet that includes "all life stages" foods, large breed formulas are great for peace of mind about nutrients. Check out our preferred large breed formula!
Atka trying to decide which Wellness product he wants at PetSmart this time!

The focus on ingredients that are included, rather than ingredients left out, is one of my favorite things about Wellness. They’re not focused on simply leaving out unhealthy ingredients. Wellness wants to include the best ingredients to provide high-quality nutrition for your dog. More importantly, you don’t have to worry about Wellness simply adding the latest buzzword to their label.

Wellness® CORE® Large Breed

There are a few distinct differences between the regular CORE line and the large breed CORE formula. In my opinion, the most important difference is the level of glucosamine and chondroitin. While the original CORE formula contains 250 mg/kg of glucosamine and 200 mg/kg of chondroitin, CORE large breed boasts 750 mg/kg of glucosamine and 250 mg/kg of chondroitin. The higher levels will help to keep your giant breed’s hips and joints healthy for life.

Do you feel completely comfortable with the food you are feeding your giant breed dog? While we feed a rotation diet that includes "all life stages" foods, large breed formulas are great for peace of mind about nutrients. Check out our preferred large breed formula!

The second difference is the size of the kibble. If you have a giant breed, you know your dog could easily snort the pieces of kibble up his nose. Big dogs want big kibble that doesn’t get stuck in their teeth! Can’t argue with that 😉

Feeding a large breed formula isn’t a must for your giant breed, but it definitely makes life simpler by including the necessary supplements in the food. Regardless of the CORE formula you choose, you’ll be giving your dog a high-quality, high-protein food filled with all the nutrients your dog needs to thrive.

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Be sure to stop by your local PetSmart and check out the extensive line of Wellness CORE and Wellness® Complete Health™ products! You can follow Wellness on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and PetSmart on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.

If you have a giant breed dog, have you tried the Wellness CORE Large Breed formula? What’s your dog’s favorite Wellness product?

Pin It!

Do you feel completely comfortable with the food you are feeding your giant breed dog? While we feed a rotation diet that includes "all life stages" foods, large breed formulas are great for peace of mind about nutrients. Check out our preferred large breed formula!

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

Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: complete health, dog food, great pyrenees, natural, nutrition, wellness

Toppin’ It Off With Spot Farms

September 15, 2016 12 Comments

I always try and keep things interesting for the fluffies and they've been LOVING this dehydrated food from Spot Farms. I use it as a topper for my Great Pyrenees, but it is also great as a complete, balanced meal!

Toppin’ It Off with Spot Farms

I’m always on the lookout for something new and exciting to add to the fluffies’ food. Surprisingly enough, they’re not the biggest “food dogs” and I sometimes struggle to get them to eat enough. To keep them continuously interested, we utilize a rotation diet and add various toppers to their meals.

I really love the concept of dehydrated food. It is far closer to feeding fresh food than kibble but with the ease of feeding a traditional kibble meal. However, Atka refuses to eat just dehydrated food. I think it’s a texture issue because he absolutely loves it as a topper or frozen – just not as a standalone meal. Mauja (and most dogs) don’t have any issue with the texture. Atka just has to keep me on my toes 😉

There are several dehydrated foods on the market, so how do you choose the right one for your dog?

Spot Farms Dehydrated Food

I always try and keep things interesting for the fluffies and they've been LOVING this dehydrated food from Spot Farms. I use it as a topper for my Great Pyrenees, but it is also great as a complete, balanced meal!
Look at that snoot in the air! Atka was a fan 🙂

After having the opportunity to try Spot Farms Dehydrated at BlogPaws, it has become an important addition to the fluffies’ food rotation. I get the “seriously, mom?” look when they don’t get Spot Farms Dehydrated with their meals. Lucky for them, I think it’s a great food so they can have it whenever they want! Here are a few reasons why I love Spot Farms Dehydrated:

  • There are grain-free formulas and formulas with grains to suit a variety of nutritional needs.
  • They have 5 different recipes so I never have to worry about Mauja and Atka getting bored.
  • It can be fed as a whole, nutritious meal or as a topper for your dog’s current food.
  • All ingredients are human grade.
  • Preparation is super easy! Add water, wait three minutes, and serve.

Spot Farms offers suggestions for how much to feed your dog based on your dog’s weight. Always remember that these numbers are approximate and will vary based on age and activity level. Use the guide as a starting point and then adjust up or down as needed!

I always try and keep things interesting for the fluffies and they've been LOVING this dehydrated food from Spot Farms. I use it as a topper for my Great Pyrenees, but it is also great as a complete, balanced meal!

Get your paws on Spot Farms Dehydrated at Petco, Petco.com, Unleashed, and Amazon.

Spot Farms Artisanal

I always try and keep things interesting for the fluffies and they've been LOVING this dehydrated food from Spot Farms. I use it as a topper for my Great Pyrenees, but it is also great as a complete, balanced meal!

After your dog has Spot Farms Dehydrated for dinner, how about a little dessert? Or you can have dessert before dinner – we don’t judge 😉 These brand new treats are seriously a fluffy hit. With flavors such as Honey Mango Chicken and Cranberry Sweet Potato Turkey, how could they not?! These have been one of my go-to, high-value training treats recently and they always get Mauja and Atka’s attention!

Spot Farms Artisanal treats are now available at Petco, which makes is super easy to grab a bag (or two or three…) during your Petco errands. Trust me – your dog will thank you. Be sure to store your opened packages in the refrigerator to keep them fresh!

Why Not Try?

If you feel Spot Farms Dehydrated will be a good addition to your dog’s diet but aren’t sure if it will go over well, grab a 1 oz. trial size of the Grain Free Chicken and/or Whole Grain Chicken for just $1 each!

Be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win the Grain Free Chicken recipe to try!

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I always try and keep things interesting for the fluffies and they've been LOVING this dehydrated food from Spot Farms. I use it as a topper for my Great Pyrenees, but it is also great as a complete, balanced meal!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer: We were compensated to share our opinions about Spot Farms. Don’t worry – an advertiser will never influence the content of this blog and we only share products we use and love!

Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: food, nutrition, treats

Keeping Cool While Staying Grain-Free #GrainFreeForMe

August 4, 2016 1 Comment

Great Pyrenees | It's Dog or Nothing #grainfreeforme

Summer is here and it is HOT. While it hasn’t been overly warm here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s still warm enough to make the fluffies uncomfortable. This summer, they seem to have two favorites for keeping cool: splashing in their pool and enjoying a frozen treat.

SponsorDisclaimer2

Baby Pool for Dogs

I absolutely love getting the baby pool out for Mauja and Atka. Atka hops in the pool as soon as I turn on the hose and waits for the water to fill around him. Mauja prefers to wait until the pool is full before she hops in to cool off.

IMG_8401

While Atka will lay down in the pool, Mauja prefers to just splash around (or use it as a massive water bowl). However, they both love to dig in the water. If your dog is fond of water, does he dig in the pool, too? I’m always thankful we have a plastic pool that they can’t tear easily with their nails!

Check out Atka’s digging action!

Wellness Grain-Free Frozen Treats

Fillable treat toys are a great way to keep your dog busy, but freezing them makes them last so much longer. Recently, they have been enjoying their treat toys stuffed with Wellness CORE wet food or Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free dry food and some sodium-free chicken broth, wet food, or a little cottage cheese.

Since Mauja and Atka’s tummies can be pretty sensitive, I prefer to fill their treat toys with foods they’re already used to. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure they are eating in the warm summer months. It’s not uncommon for pyrs to lose weight in the summer due to an unwillingness to eat. While I haven’t checked Atka’s weight, Mauja is down about 10 pounds which is consistent with previous years. As fall comes around, she’ll regain the lost weight. Offering frozen food encourages them to eat ensuring they receive the nutrients their bodies need.

Great Pyrenees | It's Dog or Nothing #grainfreeforme
Waiting… patiently?

Preparing your dog’s frozen treat toy with wet food couldn’t be easier. Simply grab your toy, stuff, and freeze! I like to shove some treats at the end for them to work toward – it’s like a prize at the bottom of the box.

Our second method of using dry food and broth can be a bit trickier, but it’s still a simple process. The biggest struggle is making sure the broth doesn’t leak out of the bottom of the toy until it freezes. I’ve found a treat that fits perfectly into the opening in Mauja and Atka’s treat toys which keeps at least 95% of the broth in. If you use this method, just be sure to remove the treat at the end before giving the toy to your dog to prevent it from suctioning to your dog’s tongue (always use treat toys with at least two openings).

Great Pyrenees | It's Dog or Nothing #grainfreeforme

The combination of a baby pool and frozen treats does an excellent job at keeping the fluffies cool. I’m waiting for the day that Atka takes his treat into the pool with him 😉

Thanks again to our awesome sponsor, Wellness Pet Food, for supporting our phenomenal trip to #BlogPaws!

How do you keep your dog cool in the summer?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BlogPaws Pet Influencer Network. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Fluffy Life, What's New Tagged With: blogpaws, complete health, grain free, great pyrenees, nutrition, summer, wellness pet food

Nutrition Variation with a Rotation Diet

April 16, 2016 4 Comments

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 feeding your giant breed dog a rotation diet.

Nutrition Variation with a Rotation Diet

I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I feed Mauja and Atka a rotation diet. Recently, I’ve had a lot of questions regarding this feeding technique, so I wanted to touch on the subject.

What is a rotation diet?

A rotation diet is exactly what it sounds like – you rotate your dog’s food on a regular interval. I think it’s safe to assume that there is no “perfect” dog food. There are many premium-quality foods, but all can be deemed deficient or excessive in some way.

Rather than endlessly searching for the perfect food for your dog, a rotation diet allows you to create a near perfect eating plan. By switching foods on a routine basis, you minimize the unhealthy consequences of feeding a food that is deficient in or contains too much of a nutrient.

Isn’t frequently switching foods dangerous?

Generally speaking, no, but it really depends on the dog. While some dogs cannot tolerate a change in food, there is a lack of scientific research on the topic. Currently, there are no studies to show that a rotation diet is detrimental to the dog.

Mauja and Atka struggled with food rotation when we first started, which made sense since they had been on the same food for over a year. For the first few rotations, we had to carefully and slowly transition their food over a period of 7 to 10 days. Now, their tummies almost crave the transition. We are able to switch foods in two or three days without any issues. I know many dogs that can switch food each day and thrive.

Benefits of a rotation diet

Complete approach to nutrition. While high-quality foods are meant to be complete and balanced, each individual ingredient has a unique nutritional profile. Depending on the ingredients in the food, it’s going to vary in amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. When you rotate foods, it allows your dog to benefit from the varied nutrient profiles.

Increased excitement.  While many don’t have this problem, we certainly do. It can be very difficult to get Mauja and Atka excited for mealtime. I can always tell when we’re nearing the end of the bag because they become visibly less excited for meals. By rotating their foods, it helps to keep them excited so they actually eat the amount of food they need.

Reduced risk of food allergies/intolerances. Some dogs will actually develop an allergy or intolerance to a food if they are fed it too frequently. This is especially true for common ingredients such as chicken, beef, wheat, corn, or soy (although I do not recommend feeding wheat, corn, or soy to any dog). By varying the formulas your dog eats, you reduce the risk of developing an allergy or intolerance.

How often should food be rotated?

Simply put, it depends on the dog. There isn’t any research suggesting that one fixed interval is better than another. For us, it works best to get through a bag before transitioning to the next kind. However, some dogs prefer their food to be switched on a weekly, or even daily, basis.

In my opinion, the length of time on a specific food should be dependent on your dog’s gastrointestinal system. Dogs with sensitive tummies will probably do better switching after an empty bag, rather than on a daily basis. If your dog does have a sensitive stomach, ensure you allow adequate time for transition. It may be necessary to still take 7-10 to transition your dog’s food.

While we have had great success with rotational feeding, it isn’t for every dog. I highly recommend that you experiment with this feeding method and decide if you think it’s right for you and your dog.

Is your dog fed a rotation diet? Have you found it beneficial?

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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 feeding your giant breed dog a rotation diet.

Filed Under: A to Z Challenge, What's New Tagged With: a to z challenge, giant breed, nutrition

#TruLoveIs a Great Pyrenees (& Wellness TruFood)

October 1, 2015 4 Comments

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.For me, #TruLoveIs a Great Pyrenees.

For Mauja and Atka, #TruLoveIs Wellness® TruFood®.

This post is sponsored by PetSmart & Wellness Natural Pet Food and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Wellness TruFood, but It’s Dog or Nothing only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Wellness Natural Pet Food is not responsible for the content of this article

As many of you know, Mauja and Atka are fed a rotational diet. I like to give them a variety in taste, texture, and nutrients. I don’t want to eat the same thing every day so why should they?

Wellness has always been a staple in their rotation so I was thrilled when I found out about the new TruFood line! A few months ago, I wrote about TruFood and how it is baked rather than extruded (a very important difference which retains more natural vitamins and minerals) and how much the fluffies loved it.

Wellness TruFoodWellness TruFood has more of what pets need to be vibrant and happy by using whole foods from farm, field, and sea. With 70% more raw protein than most other pet foods, your dog is getting more of the nutrients he actually needs. The whole-prey protein is complemented with kale, broccoli, green beans, and grain free fibers such as chickpeas, flaxseed, and lentils that are easier to digest.

In order to support a healthy weight and immune system, TruFood includes powerful superfoods such as beets, blueberries, and cranberries. Digestive health is also enhanced with pumpkin, ginger, turmeric, and live yogurt cultures. Mauja and Atka can have sensitive tummies so I always appreciate when digestive health is a priority.

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.There are several components to the TruFood line. Your dog (or cat!) can enjoy Baked Blends (dry food), Tasty Pairings (wet food), Coco Chia Bakes, and Protein Bites (treats). We haven’t tried the Protein Bites, but I’m thinking I need to add them to my treat list!

So where can you get your paws on Wellness TruFood?

Easy, you can find it at your local PetSmart®!

Convenient, right?

PetSmartPetSmart carries the full TruFood line. Dry food, wet food, and treats, you can find it all! Have I mentioned the Coco Chia Bakes? I’m always trying to give Mauja and Atka coconut oil and they just aren’t into it. The Coco Chia Bakes include coconut oil and the fluffies LOVE them! I think they look pretty tasty too (no, I haven’t tried them!).

We all want to feed our pets the best nutrition we can and the natural, living nutrition of Wellness TruFood will help them live long, happy lives.

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.So what are you waiting for?! Grab your pup and head to PetSmart to stock up on some TruFood deliciousness. Can’t make it out? Order it online here! Your pup will thank you.

Has your dog tried Wellness TruFood?

To keep up with PetSmart, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Filed Under: Healthy, Happy Dog, What's New Tagged With: dog food, dogs, great pyrenees, healthy, natural, nutrition, wellness pet food

Mixin’ Up Meals with #StellaandChewys

September 14, 2015 22 Comments

Need a healthy, yet delicious way to mix up your dog's meals? Try Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers for a nutritional boost!

This post is sponsored by Stella & Chewy’s and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Meal Mixers, but It’s Dog or Nothing only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Stella & Chewy’s is not responsible for the content of this article.

The topic of what to feed your dog is extremely controversial. You can feed your dog canned food, dry food, prepared cooked meals, raw, or any combination of these types.

At It’s Dog or Nothing, we believe that there is a place for all of the above feeding methods depending on your dog’s specific needs. For Mauja and Atka, I always like to start with a base of premium-quality kibble. However, I like to supplement their food to provide different nutrients, keep them interested, or simply to mix it up a bit. That’s where Stella & Chewy’s® comes in to play.Stella & Chewy'sI absolutely love the Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers for supplementing the fluffies’ existing diet. Meal Mixers are an easy way to add freeze-dried raw pet food to any meal. Futhermore, there is one quality of the Meal Mixers that I find very important: high pressure processing (HPP).

Stella & Chewy’s uses HPP to ensure your dog is receiving high-quality, safe nutrition. All of the products are cold pressed using pressure equal to that found at the bottom of the ocean where bacteria cannot survive. This inactivates any harmful pathogens and bacteria. HPP gives me confidence that the food I’m giving to my favorite pooches is safe.

Need a healthy, yet delicious way to mix up your dog's meals? Try Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers for a nutritional boost!

A third-party independent lab analysis is also conducted on each batch to ensure the safety of Stella & Chewy’s food. This analysis happens before the batch leaves their Wisconsin-based manufacturing facility. You can easily find the results of each test on their website!

Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers come in four flavors: Stella’s Super Beef, Chewy’s Chicken, Tantalizing Turkey, and Savory Salmon & Cod (available in 3.5 oz, 9 oz, or 18 oz packages). Meal Mixers are freeze-dried to lock in the tasty nutrition and are ready to serve. You can also add a bit of warm water to rehydrate the food, which is recommended.

Need a healthy, yet delicious way to mix up your dog's meals? Try Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers for a nutritional boost!

What else do we love about Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers?

  • 95% beef, organs, and bone
  • Complemented with organic fruits and vegetables
  • Added probiotics and antioxidants
  • Made without grains, gluten, fillers, or anything artificial
  • Proteins are grass-fed, cage-free, wild-caught, and/or farm-raised

I added some of Stella’s Super Beef Meal Mixers to Mauja and Atka’s kibble and they were thrilled. I didn’t think anything could rival their excitement for my prepared meals, but this was right up there! It turns out Mauja and Atka aren’t alone. An independent study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that 9 out of 10 dogs preferred their kibble to be enhanced with Meal Mixers.

Need a healthy, yet delicious way to mix up your dog's meals? Try Stella & Chewy's Meal Mixers for a nutritional boost!

Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers are an easy way to add an extra boost of raw pet food nutrition to an existing diet. Just scoop, mix, and serve!

Interested in having your dog try Meal Mixers? You’re in luck! We have a giveaway for a Stella & Chewy’s product assortment package (valued at $75). There will be 25 (yes, 25!) winners so make sure you get your entries in!

Can’t wait to get your paws on this fantastic food? Find Stella & Chewy’s sold near you!

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Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: dogs, great pyrenees, healthy, nutrition

What To Feed Your Giant Breed Puppy

July 27, 2015 26 Comments

Mauja at 8 weeks :)
Mauja at 8 weeks 🙂

In our society, bigger is better (just look at iPhones these days!). Unfortunately, the “bigger is better mentality” has transferred into dogs, especially giant breeds. Many people want their giant breed as big as possible, as soon as possible. I often see people exclaim proudly, “My 5 month old is already 80 pounds!” However, promoting rapid growth for a giant breed puppy is one of the most detrimental things a new dog parent can do.

Growth in giant breeds is a topic that is starting to be studied more thoroughly. The nutrition we give to a Maltese puppy surely shouldn’t be given to a Great Pyrenees puppy, but it happens all of the time. Most of the time it occurs from a simple lack of knowledge and inaccurate data from dog food companies. But just what should new giant breed puppy parents look for in a dog food?

For many years, low protein content was the recommended food strategy for giant breeds. However, that was debunked in 1991 by Nap et al. that found dry matter protein from 23% to 31% did not have an adverse effect on skeletal growth. We know now that there are two important factors when choosing a food for your giant breed puppy: overall caloric intake and calcium level. Both aspects play an important role in your puppy’s growth rate which should be kept slow to avoid developmental orthopedic diseases, such as osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis in dogs is noted as a disruption in endochondrial ossification that results in a focal lesion. It occurs in the physis or epiphysis of growth cartilage. When it occurs in physeal cartilage, it may cause growth abnormalities such as angular limb deformities in long bones. Osteochondrosis of the articular epiphyseal cartilage commonly occurs in the shoulder, stifle, hock and elbow. – Ed Kane, PhD

The Problem With Excess Fat & Calcium

Giant breed puppies should be kept lean as a primary risk factor for developmental orthopedic diseases (DOD) is being overweight; making calorie control essential. Most veterinary nutritionists recommend diets of giant breed puppies consist of at least 30% protein and around 9% fat. Since most commercial puppy and adult foods often contain 10 – 25% fat, it is important to thoroughly read the nutrition facts prior to choosing your puppy’s food. Most raw diets contain 20 – 40% fat which is also too high for giant breed puppies. Giant breed puppies fed a high fat, low carbohydrate diet have been shown to have a high body fat level and increased risk for DOD.

The second risk factor for DOD is a diet high in calcium and excess minerals. A high level of calcium means too high of absorption into the bone structure and furthermore, skeletal abnormalities. These include hypertrophic osteodystrophy, craniomandibular osteopathy, and lesions in the skeleton and joints.The diet of a giant breed puppy should contain approximately 1.5% (or 3 grams/1000kcal) calcium content and 0.8 – 1.0% phosphorus (make sure you include treats in that calculation).

Ensuring Optimal Growth

After finding a giant breed puppy appropriate food, the next step is ensuring an ideal body weight. First, don’t free feed. You want to ensure your puppy is getting the necessary food and not any more. Second, ignore the feeding charts on the back of the bag (especially if you have a Great Pyrenees – their metabolism is very slow). The charts are usually grossly overestimated. Instead, go by look and feel of your puppy and try to keep him/her between a 4/9 and 5/9 for Body Composition Score (click here for a detailed BCS chart). Personally, I like to keep my giant breed puppies closer to a 4/9 to keep less weight on their joints.

To Sum It Up
  • At least 30% protein
  • Approximately 9% fat
  • 1.5% calcium
  • 0.8 – 1.0% phosphorus
  • Don’t free feed
  • Keep your puppy at a 4/9 or 5/9 body composition

Feeding a giant breed puppy may be a little difficult, but don’t let it overwhelm you. You are setting the foundation for your puppy to have a long, healthy life. While we don’t want your puppy to grow too fast, enjoy the little days because they won’t last long!

Determining what to feed your giant breed puppy can be challenging. Here is what you need to know.

References

Hazewinkel H. “Nutritional Management of Orthopedic Diseases”. Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, Fascetti AJ and Delaney SJ, Eds. John Wiley and Sons, Oxford, UK, 2012.

Nap RC, Hazewinkel H, Voorhout G, van den Brom WE, Goedegebuure SA, van ‘t Klooster AT. “Growth and skeletal development in great Dane pups fed different levels of protein intake”. J Nutr. November 1991; 121(11 Suppl): S107-13.

http://ivcjournal.com/feeding-large-breed-puppies/

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/04/09/slow-growth-diets-for-giant-breed-puppy.aspx

Filed Under: Healthy, Happy Dog, What's New Tagged With: food, giant breed, great pyrenees, nutrition, puppy

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