I am adding a new category to the blog that will feature Dog food and Nutrition. It’s main content will be from Karen Murray. Karen is not a DVM, she is not a nutritionist, she is not scientist. What she is, is someone has done a lot of research into canine nutrition. Any suggestions for the title of the category??? I am kind of stuck on the non-original, un-innovative title of “Karen’s Korner” or “Karen’s K9 Nutrition” …so… you see your suggestions would be much appreciated!
Karen might not be a vet, nutritionist or scientist but she is a Rock-Star when it comes to dog food and nutrition. Through her research, Karen has a resource of experts in those fields who are available to help her out.
Karen’s K9 Nutrition sounds good, or “Need Food, Ask Karen!”
I like Karen’s K-9 Nutrition! It kinda goes with the “Karen’s K-9 Kitchen”
tags I put on homemade treats I make for people!
I’m glad you specified in the blog that I just do the research on the food.
That way people can decide for themselves and know that I’m not any kind of
authority, just a concerned driven pet owner like themselves.
The new addition to the blog is great. We need to ask questions about dog food, even if we can’t always find out. How about calling the new segment “Karen Demystifies Dogfood”? Not a great choice, but I will keep thinking. Speaking of dogfood, an interesting bit. We are still on Nature’s Variety, since it is easily available here. I decided to try the advice about switching protein sources, since we had been on chicken for so long, so I got a small bag of the lamb. Rafe did not like it at all (Mac sees a bowl, says “Food!” and charges). This week I picked up some salmon, and Rafe thinks that is great. The kennel feeds chicken, and I had asked advice. The people there say switching from chicken to lamb is usually the easiest. Any experiences with this from your dogs?
Hi Ann, Hope you are well! Are you feeding kibble, can or raw? Since I feed totally raw, I change the protein every day or every 4 days, if I don’t have a variety of food made, so it’s not a problem for my dogs as they have been raised on raw. If Rafe is partial to the chicken or salmon, just add a few morsels to the lamb or beef that you purchased. Then, cut out the added morsels as he gets use to the idea. Also add some warm water to the bowl to blend the flavors. Eventually to keep your pups from becoming allergic to one food, change with each bag or give one flavor in the morning and another at nite. Then get two other flavors and start again! Let me know how it goes!!! Regards, Karen :~)
Good morning! Thank you for the great ideas! I am feeding kibble, and right now Rafe is getting a mix of salmon with a little of the remaining chicken, and he is very happy. Mac likes the lamb, so he will finish that little bag and we will continue switching. Do you think the beef variety is ok? I keep wondering about all the animal meds that we are absorbing from our “human quality” food. At least chicken is now being labeled as “hormone free,” but I haven’t seen any such notices on beef around here. The state is screening the venison that hunters are donating to food programs, but I am not sure that applies to what is used in dog food. Exposure to wasting disease can’t be good for dogs either. Even my students are limiting their tuna intake these days, which is probably a good sign that awareness is picking up. Thank you for contributing to the blog. We all have much to learn. Cheers! Ann
Ann, Kayla and Garbo are fed mainly Nature’s Variety Chicken. Every other bag, I switch to Salmon or Lamb. The last time I ordered, I also bought a bag of Beef, but haven’t tried it yet—for your same reasons! Both girls love the chicken and salmon. Kayla wasn’t too excited over the lamb. Garbo seems to eat anything!
Nature’s Variety isn’t easy to get in FL, so I order from K9Cuisine.com. On the other hand, it seems that most “good foods” are more difficult to get here.
Karen, is Nature’s Variety a clean food? If not, after your Clean Food breakdown, I’ll be switching to something that IS clean! Thank you for contributing to the blog!
Hey Carole,
Your Nature’s Variety Prarie Chicken is a better end food. And as long as your girls do ok with grain, I think it is fine. Two things peak my “hhmmmmm” Montmorillinoite is the 5th ingredient and although there isn’t rabbit in this one they get their rabbit from China, not a place I would buy ANY food forms from. The monmorillinoite has good properties but what percentage are they using in this food and the Nature’s Logic? I’ll look into this furthur this week, if I can. Also, they say that their facility is not human grade, but say that their meat is inspected. So????
Maybe I asked you this before but I can’t remember (“sometimers” ugh!) but have you ever looked at Honest Kitchen Preference? The people at this facility actually TASTE each batch! 100% human grade ingredients and processing plant! This is an alfalfa based food that you add your own fresh meat or fish to so that you can accomplish the food rotation that is SO important for the dogs. Here is the site http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/preference.shtml
Hope this helps! Karen :~)
Hi Karen, thanks for the info! We haven’t had the Honest Kitchen conversation. I’ll check out their site.