| Basic Nutrition... for dogs! |
 |
| This "little" guy was supplemented with fresh goat milk, eggs and fed a healthy diet... |
| My Favorite Health Links: |
| FEEDING THE RIGHT FOODS! The research done by Dr. Pottenger M.D. is fascinating. His studies indicate that what animals eat carries health consequences into the fourth generation! His findings on raw foods fed over a period of four generations were a real eye-opener. We feel that barely cooked meat, combined with unpasteurized milk & fresh foods mixed in with a good quality kibble are best. Eggs, cottage cheese, goat’s milk, meat barely brought to a boil & turned off in order to preserve nutrients are the best for cats & dogs. Dr. Wendel Belfield's findings on the effects of Vitamin C on joints of the fast growing big breed puppies is convincing many breeders to add this vitamin to their dogs diet. You can find more information at Dr. Belfield's site provided in the link above. Remember: It’s half the breeding & half the feeding. |
| CALCIUM. MAKE NO BONES WITHOUT IT Even after fully grown, dogs' bones and your bones are not lifeless structures. There is a flow of minerals passing in and out of them every day of life. Amazing isn’t it? If enough calcium is absorbed, the bones build and repair! Calcium is stored in the shafts at the ends of the long bones as a lacy network of bony structure known as the trabeculai. This calcium is used during times of dietary lack. When no minerals are stored, calcium and phosphorus aided by a hormone taken from the parathyroid glands are removed from the bones to care for the needs of soft tissues. As this takes place, the level of calcium in the blood remains at a normal level even when bones become more porous. Any large excess of calcuim is simply excreted. Pay close attention to the next statement! If a small excess of calcium were allowed for daily storage, deficiencies would not exist and bones would remain dense even into old age. Adequate calcium can prevent your animal from suffering many of the problems of "old age". Breakage of bones along with the accompanying degenerative bone problems can be greatly reduced by paying attention to your dog's calcium needs during the first year of life. You can see to it that his bones grow to their potential - without limping or poorly formed joints! Studies are proving that raw milk is superior to pasteurized milk for the absorption of calcium. Calcium requires the presence of fats, magnesium and other minerals to be properly absorbed. Raw Goat milk takes first place in supplying calcium in a perfect balanced form! Cow milk is right behind. Goat milk is a bit more digestible. After all, your dog is not eating chickens, mice or other rodents, crunching up hide, hair, bones, feathers, stomach contents and brains which would have provided for the storage of nutrients, so where is this excess supplied? Kibble? Ha, that’s like trying to live on devitalized cereal! Give your puppy a break! We give all our dogs a nice bowl of warm goat milk at milking time. We have never experienced “pano” in our growing puppies. Our old dogs jump in a truck and run around obviously free of pain. Start your dog off with a small amount of milk (1/4 cup) until his digestive system adjusts to the new addition. You might also apply this information to yourself and family. The big “no no” in human nutrition is soft drinks that supply huge amounts of phosphorus which causes calcium to be leached out of the bones. We also give our dogs a basic adult Vitamin. We use “One Source” Multiple “people” Vitamins from Wal Mart. Please pay attention to the findings of DR Wendell Belfeld DVM on his studies regarding Vitamin C in the formation of collagen during the first year of your dog’s life. Kathleen Hamrick Larsen |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| AN EASY SOLUTION FOR YOUR FEEDING PROGRAM! We have found an INCREDIBLE supplement that comes in a crunchy, completely "no fuss" wafer that the dogs think is a treat! This formula is an all natural, human grade product designed and tested over 8 years of studies. It contains the necessary vitamins, minerals, herbs and antioxidants proven to strengthen and protect the immune system. It helps protect against scratching, itching, hot spots, allergies, arthritis, premature aging, low energy levels, cataracts, digestive problems, heart disease, hip dyplasia, and even tumors! Since we do not feed a completely "natural" raw diet like our dogs would get in the wild, we feel this is by far the best supplement on the market! We want only excellence for our German Shepherds! OUR PUPPIES HAVE BEEN ON IT FROM DAY ONE -- LITERALLY! Our momma is on this formula and her energy level is fantastic, coat is shiny, eyes sparkling! She is passing these nutrients on to her puppies through her milk, and as the puppies are weaned they will recieve this in their puppy food as well! When you get a puppy from us, you will KNOW it has been given the very best for optimum heath and performance! We will give out free samples with each puppy along with an ordering form. This supplement is not available in regular retail stores, but it can be purchased through some vets, breeders and groomers. Using the code provided here will allow you to save 45% off what most vets charge! If you find you really like it (which you will!), you can set up on an "auto-ship" program that will save you an additional 15%! You may order at 1-800-474-4044 - Product name: NuVet Plus Canine Formula - Order code: 59329. For your convenience, we have also set up a direct link so that you may order directly from the manutacturer... When ordering from the link below, they price is already discounted to the same great discount as above! ~ If you have questions about nutrition, you are more then welcome to call or write for information ~ |
| A LITTLE ABOUT DOG FOODS... As you are coming to find, most pet foods are very misleading… Consumer-savvy manufacturers know just how to market their products. Bright packaging with cheerful pictures of vegetables looks great! Photos of stew meat just scream HEALTHY! If that isn’t enough to convince us, the packaging even SAYs the food is healthy, so it must be, right? Not so! Some of the foods that appear the most beneficial are actually the worst nutrient-wise! Even the most expensive dog food on the market is still lacking. Go to Dr. Belfield's site and read his article about dog food; the processing itself will make you ill, and you probably don’t want to know what it is made from! Just a little hint – “Chicken by-products” usually means feathers, beaks, feet… “Meat by-products” usually means hides, hair, ears, hooves… etc. As a breed, German Shepherd are energetic and athletic (I know, you would never believe that, would you?! - ha) It takes the right “building blocks” to form the healthy bones and connective tissues needed to physically accomplish what they have been designed to do! I think you will agree that very few breeds can come close to the physical feats of our German Shepherds! Because of this, it is extremely important for us to provide them with the best nutrition, especially during the first two years as they mature. My niece raises Miniature Australian Shepherds (RunAmok Farm)... Here is a little "article" she has written about the "proof" of a feeding program such as ours: AN 'INFORMAL' STUDY! Our family has always done things a bit differently, and has always felt dogs need "more". We have raised a few "hackles" thoughout the years, as many breeders insist on a strict diet of just kibble; we couldn't disagree more and I will tell you why... A couple years ago, we had a litter of our puppies evaluated at 8 weeks of age; during this time, there were 3 other litters at the same evaluation. As these other litters were owned by different breeders, our feeding programs were, of course, different. We had the rare opportunity to compare our little ones, side by side, to three separate litters fed "just" kibble. While our growth rate was obviously different at eight weeks from that of the other puppies on the lower protein, unsupplemented diets, the obvious health of our pups was undeniable! The other puppies ranged from overweight to grossly overweight, some to the point of being barely able to waddle around. Our puppies were running, pouncing, leaping in play! Our little ones could navigate obstacles easily, even racing up and down the hill - eyes were bright and alert; coats shiny and soft... The picture of health... Sadly, the other puppies had no "spirit", they were barely able to navigate, seemed lathargic; eyes and coats "dull". That was all the proof we needed!" -- Now, we have progressed further in our feeding program and have switched entirely away from dry dog foods. We feed what is called a "prey diet" - raw meat and bones - with FABULOUS results! You can learn more at our RunAmok link above ~ (JM of RunAmok Farm) |
|