Raw Feeding - Mindfully

It goes without saying that we all want what is best for our dogs, and for many of us, that means feeding a diet of raw meat and bones.

If we choose to eat meat and feed it to our dogs, we should do so with animal welfare, the environment and sustainable food production as a major consideration. 

Some animals are reared with the sole purpose of ending up in the food chain. They have relatively short lives but nonetheless for the time they are alive deserve to be treated with respect and given the opportunity to live a relatively normal life with minimal stress, freedom to move, eat appropriate food and socialise with their own species.                                                                                                                                                                                           

We are increasingly disconnected from what we eat, whether that is meat neatly wrapped in cellophane packets bearing no resemblance to the animal it originated from or the convenience of grabbing veg from the supermarket, that has flown halfway round the world before it reaches our shopping trolley, with little thought on animal welfare, environmental damage, and destruction of wildlife habitats.

Current food production has a big impact on our planet, affecting soil health, biodiversity and threatening whole ecosystems. We need to be aware of exactly what we are buying and the processes that it went through before landing on our plate or in this case, the bowl.

As the old saying goes “we are what we eat” but also, what you eat, has eaten and the conditions it was raised or grown in needs careful thought.

Supporting the right producers

Large scale industrial producers of meat, crops and vegetables provide us with an abundant supply of cheap food, but with it comes a cost to animal welfare, damage to the environment and ultimately an impact on health. It is time to be more mindful of what we are buying, eating, and feeding our dogs.

Chicken in particular, is subject to frequent antibiotic use to “prevent” diseases which are caused by selective breeding and the over cramped conditions they are kept in. Antibiotic resistance not only affects the animals but also those that eat them.

The majority of mass-produced chicken is also fed on soya imported from Brazil and Argentina which is contributing to the vast destruction of the Amazonian rain forest. Soya is inexpensive and produces quick growing, cheap chicken, hence how you can buy a whole chicken for under £5 in a supermarket.

The fat composition of intensively farmed chickens is higher in the inflammatory Omega 6 fatty acids and much lower in the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 compared to their free-range equivalent. Chicken is widely used in pet foods of all types and certainly top of the list in an exclusion diet for dogs that have itchy, inflamed skin or constant gastric upset.  

Trying to incorporate some pasture raised, grass fed and wild meats into the diet where possible will not only improve nutritional value but also support the environment they are raised in. Grass fed animals grazing on diverse pastures contain many different types of grasses, clovers and wildflowers and support 270 species of bee and 1300 species of insect. The animals are also healthier, less stressed and don’t need the preventative medications that their fellow grain fed, housed livestock rely on.  

They offer higher levels of omega 3, sometimes as much as 4 times higher than grain fed animals, more nutrient dense and richer in antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta-carotene.

Importantly, we also benefit from what we are not feeding, albeit unknowingly, such as residues of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones and that will upgrade the diet enormously.                                                                                                                                                                                 

Support your local butchers, game dealers and farmers markets, they are knowledgeable about what they sell and can tell you exactly where and how their produce was raised and grown. If you support local suppliers, they will often go above and beyond any service a supermarket can offer. Any raw feeder will understand the thrill you get from coming out of the butchers clutching a few freebie bones or off cuts!

Eggs from high welfare, free range hens will offer far greater levels of the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids and if you feed eggshells you can be confident that they have not been sprayed with chemicals, as supermarket eggs often are. Free range hens can forage, enjoy the sun on their back, have far less stress and therefore less disease and this will show in the quality of the eggs.

Raw meat suppliers

Raw feeding has seen a huge surge in popularity, with new companies appearing almost weekly. While this is a positive sign, it must also be noted that not all raw food producers are the same.

The origin of the meat being used must be considered and what was involved in the process of raising and slaughtering the animals, before it arrives in convenient tubs and tubes and served to our dogs. Not a pleasant subject but nonetheless if we eat or feed meat to our dogs, it is our responsibility to ask these questions and be happy with the answers.  

When choosing a brand of raw food look for those that have a genuine interest in where the meat is sourced, how it was raised, and that they actively support local where possible.  

Accurate labelling is essential, if it states that the recipe is beef, is that actually muscle meat or is it predominately beef lung and tripe, which is considerably cheaper and bulks out the food with lesser nutritional value in comparison.

Do they only use chicken carcass for the bone content and what is the source of that chicken? Is all the relevant information on the packaging such as contact details, website and DEFRA registration number?

Packaging is also a consideration and many companies are making changes to avoid plastic and move towards recyclable and compostable packaging and transportation boxes, often using sheep fleece for insulation, which can be returned when you next order.  

Eat with the seasons

Both our distant ancestors and those of our dogs ate a huge variety of food in their diets, unlike the rather restricted diets of today. There was little or no sugars apart from when berries were in season and a rare chance encounter with wild honey.

It is now reported that 65% of our calories come from wheat, rice and maize and with extraordinarily little variation of ingredients used. Dogs get an even worse deal, with many being fed the same brand of dried food daily from puppyhood to their senior years, contributing to food allergies and intolerances which are now commonplace.                                                          

We are becoming increasingly aware that a healthy gut microbiome is essential for the optimum health of our physical and mental wellbeing. Things that adversely affect this delicate balance are too much sugar, inappropriate food, limited fibre, lack of variety in the diet, stress and antibiotic use.

By choosing seasonal, locally produced vegetables and also game meat, when it is in season, it is a cheaper, more nutritious way to fed and provides far greater diversity in the diet over the year.

Growing & Gathering

Many of us discovered or maybe rekindled a love of gardening in the recent lockdowns and were successful in growing a selection of vegetables and herbs and no doubt, thoroughly enjoyed the freshness and enhanced flavours of our harvest. Tomatoes that actually tasted of tomatoes, now there’s a thing!

The nutritional value of vegetables, particularly minerals and trace elements, have declined by 50% since the 2nd world war, mainly due to the depletion of the soil but also because of the varieties that are now grown. Early sweetcorn for instance would contain 10% sugar but modern-day varieties come in at 40% sugar.

In 2019, 48% of all fruit and vegetables tested by the government contained a mixture of pesticides. According to PAN-UK (Pesticide Action Network) “dirty dozen” list, based on data for multiple residues, the worst offenders were strawberries, pre-packed salad and spinach.

Wheat, barley, and oats did not fare any better and can have as many as 20 applications of different chemicals before harvest. Therefore, it`s especially important to keep dogs off cereal crops and particularly the young green shoots, as dog love to eat them.

You can enjoy nutrient dense, fresh vegetables, herbs and salad leaves by growing your own and picking what you need for that day. No plastic packaging, zero air and road miles and no pesticide residue.

Even within a tiny space you can grow sprouted seeds and a few herbs grown in pots on windowsills. It was incredible seeing what people grew on balconies and inventive ways to grow potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and green beans from a variety of containers and small raised beds. It is so satisfying to gather a few salad leaves knowing they haven’t been washed in chlorinated water or packed in a gas filled bag.

I feed much more vegetable content to my dogs nowadays, around 15% of the meal, a few times a week. This way I can feed better quality meat, which can cost a little more, but I use less of it.

If you need to stretch out the meals even further than some people will feed cooked ancient grains such as quinoa, millet, amaranth, wild rice or pre-soak organic gluten free oats added to seamed or pulped vegetables and then mixed with the raw meat, offal and bone. If your dog has complex dietary issues, then consult a specialist before adding any grains to their diet.

There are so many vegetables that are easy to grow and are ideal to share with your dogs, these include chard, courgette, green beans, salad leaves, parsley, kale and spinach. You can even place a pot of barley grass, wheat grass and lemon grass outside where you dog or cat can help themselves should they wish to.

There are several wild plants that you can forage for free at certain times of the year and add to your own as well as your dog’s diet.

Dandelion leaves are easy to identify and grow abundantly. With an affinity for the liver, gall bladder and kidneys, they are a good source of vitamin C, A, D, K and B complex, Iron, Manganese and Potassium as well as having 8 times more antioxidants than spinach. The yellow flowers are rich in Lecithin, but also the earliest nectar for bees and pollinators so delay in picking those until late Spring.

Nettles are rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, polyphenols, carotenoids, anti-oxidants and natural antihistamine and personally I love the flavour they give to many Spring recipes. Pick the green nettle tops from January until May. Avoid from May until October, as they are flowering, and the leaves contain cystolith crystals which can irritate the gut and the urinary tract.

Wild Garlic aka Ramsons. Wild Garlic grows in woodland or alongside streams and its vivid green shoots appear in April/May time. They are milder in taste and action than cloves of garlic and they are a perfect Spring tonic cleanse after a long Winter, when we have over indulged and feel a bit sluggish. My dogs always get a few leaves blended in with their vegetables for the short season the garlic is in leaf.

Blackberries are rich in antioxidants, high in vitamin C, manganese, Vitamin K, low in carbohydrates and high in fibre. The berries seem to be appearing earlier each year, what was eagerly awaited in October now appears ripe and ready to pick from late July until October. There are a few to be picked after this time, but I leave those to the birds, as winter approaches their needs are greater than mine.

Choose to pick those that are away from roads and growing alongside arable crops due to potential contamination from chemical sprays and traffic pollution.

Never over pick or forage in one area so there is a shortage, varying the places that you pick will give you slightly different levels of nutrients due to soil type or even if that plant grows in full sun or shade. Make sure you can confidently identify any plant that you pick and always refer to a guidebook or take along a knowledgeable friend.

 “How could we have ever believed that it was a good idea to grow our food with poisons”

Jane Goodall DBE

Caroline Hearn MICHT. Dip ICAT

Summer Coat Rinse

A soothing, cooling coat rinse for hot summer days or a spritz to ease any itchiness at this time of year.

You`ll need:

A large measuring jug

Spray/Mist bottle

Organic Cider Vinegar - 2 tablespoons

1 teabag Nettle tea & 1 teabag Chamomile tea

Optional 1 teaspoon of calendula or lavender petals

One mug of hot water and One mug of boiled - cooled water

Place the tea bags & optional calendula petals into the mug of hot water and leave to steep for 5 minutes. Lift out the tea bags & petals and add to the boiled-cooled water. Stir in the cider vinegar.

Either use as a coat rinse when it is tepid in temperature or place into a water mist or spritzer bottle.
It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Skin Care Essentials

Caring for our animals in Summer & Winter brings many challenges, not least trying to maintain a healthy skin, avoiding sores and cuts and effectively dealing with skin abrasions that can occur.

There are four products that I wouldn`t be without at any time of the year but they really are an essential in the colder and wetter months in order to quickly deal with any issues and prevent infection taking hold.

GREEN CLAY has excellent drawing properties so can be used for drying up wet eczema and hot spots and helping control infection in wounds and abscesses. Green Clay is so versatile and can be used for dogs, cats, horses, sheep and other livestock. It forms a protective layer over injuries and also naturally repels insects. I have found when treating horses and livestock which are troubled by flies, a drop of tea tree or lavender essential oil into the wet clay can further aid in repelling flies away from the treated area.

Used dry, it has a calming and soothing effect on a dog’s itchy or traumatised skin, breaking the itch, scratch cycle and is completely safe should your dog accidentally lick or consume it. The clays perfect partner in dealing with wounds, sores and fragile skin is Leucillin, they compliment each other beautifully.

Green clay can be made into a thick paste with a little water and spread onto the effected area. This acts as a protective barrier for sore or fragile wounds and as the clay dries, moisture is drawn away from any wet areas of skin. It is now available in two sizes (250g & 650g bags) on the shop https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/green-clay

Leucillin Is an extraordinary product that I have to hand at all times. It works wonders on so many skin issues, wounds, cuts and scrapes as well as an effective and kind skin cleanser, with the added bonus that it doesn`t sting on application. It also makes a brilliant hand sanitiser!

It is available in four sizes from the small dropper bottle which is ideal for use to cleanse eyes, for tiny animals or those that are very scared by the sound of sprays, to the large 500ml spray which is great value for larger animals such as horses or livestock or a multi dog household.

Leucillin contains the active ingredient Hypochlorous, this is a naturally occurring chemical in the body produced by white blood cells. Hypochlorous is one of the most effective and efficient biocides known to man. Whilst being totally safe, it is 300 times more effective than bleach and is almost instant in its effect. Hypochlorous is a natural chemical already existing in the body, so animals that have shown a sensitivity with other products in the past, will not suffer any adverse reactions to Leucillin. It`s 100% safe to use on sensitive areas such as, cuts and open minor wounds and is completely harmless should it be licked off the treated area. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/leucillin-antiseptic-spray

Healing Balm A versatile healing balm that can be used on minor cuts, scrapes, sores or dry skin. Perfect as a paw balm for dry and cracked pads or for crusty noses, mud fever and general winter skin woes.

Ideal to use as a protective barrier and the perfect partnership with Green Clay & Leucillin

A beautiful blend of Sweet Almond, Coconut oil, Beeswax and a selection of herbs including Calendula for its anti-inflammatory & moisturising properties, Plantain to promote healing, Comfrey for its well known soothing & healing abilities, Yarrow as a wound healer and Rosemary for its anti-bacterial property. https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/comfort-balm-horse-hound

The Photizo Vetcare is a valuable tool for health professionals and owners alike. Photizo has a powerful combination of pre-programed 31 second doses of pulsating red and infra red LED Phototherapy.

It is widely known for helping with arthritic and muscular conditions but it is also excellent for accelerating the healing of wounds, injuries and skin complaints. This is really important in the Winter months as even the smallest cut or wound can become infected due to wet, muddy and gritty conditions underfoot.

I have had excellent results treating a horse with severe mud fever that meant he was unable to be turned out in a paddock. The area was cleaned with Leucillin and a twice daily treatment with the Photizo meant that the healing time was greatly reduced. When the skin was healed enough to allow turn out, a thick paste of clay was applied to the area for added protection.

https://www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk/products/photizo-vetcare

Caroline Hearn MICHT, Dip ICAT. MIIAT - Human, Canine & Equine Sports Therapist

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk

Joint Supplements for Dogs

Choosing a Joint supplement for our dog can be overwhelming. Andrew the founder of Jointly365, explains why researching the ingredients of a product is so important and ensures your dog gets the best joint support possible.

Here we consider the following:

What ingredients and why?

What to look for when choosing a joint supplement?

Introduction

We all know that as dogs progress from middle to old age they tend to decrease their levels of activity to some degree. This can be due to many reasons, but ageing and stiff joints are one of the most commonly seen. 

Stiff joints are caused by the degeneration of the normal joint structure which leads to the aches and pains that become worse as they get older – which some of us may have experienced ourselves…..

There are many approaches we can take to this progressive condition - such as exercise and weight management, complementary therapies, or prescription medication - and though they will not be discussed here today, it is important to remember a holistic and multi-pronged approach to stiff joints is always the best way forward.

Today we will be discussing joint supplements - one of the most commonly used methods to help dogs with stiff joints.

But with so many out there to choose from, how do you choose one that is best for your dog?

My simple approach to this is there are only two things you can do with a supplement: soothe the stiff joints themselves, and provide the necessary structural ingredients that a joint requires to function as well as it can.

If you can successfully achieve both, you are on the right track. Only achieving one or the other, is a sub-optimal and unnecessary situation.

The provision of structural ingredients is a more simple topic, and will be looked at shortly, but soothing joints and working with the bodies own natural anti-inflammatory system is a more complex area.

One of the most studied and effective methods of achieving soothing joints is by using marine sourced omega 3 oils. These are a type of essential fatty acid – EFA (that has to be eaten as it can’t be made by the body – hence ‘essential’), which moderate the bodies inflammatory response, so helping aching joints. These are hard to provide at high levels in normal food due to rancidity problems during storage.

Even though only a few EFAs such as EPA or DHA are ever discussed, there are dozens of them that contribute to the overall effect in different ways. So the quality and balance of those is critical in achieving the results we want. Some fish oils and mussel powders are of poor quality for what we are trying to do in a joint supplement. And this is where the big issue lies for choosing products – it is hard to know which is which.

Those who are more sure of their product will have conducted a clinical trial and published it, so owners and vets can scrutinise the methodology and results. And you should be looking for high levels of cold water marine sourced Omega 3’s – enough to carry a regulated claim that it can “XYZ”.

The second part of the equation is providing all the structural elements the joint requires, which is critical as this is a long term condition. Depending on the food that you feed your dog, these will be supplied in higher or lower quantities, but rarely to the levels that are provided by a quality supplement.

You should be looking for ingredients that will help the production of the cartilage and joint fluid such as glucosamine, N-Acetyl glucosamine (a special type of glucosamine that is utilised more readily by the body) and hyaluronic acid, that will all help the joint function to the best of its ability.

Additionally, we can help remove free radicals, which speed up the degradation of the joint. High levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E and C are what to look for here.

So if you are using a joint supplement now, remember the condition progresses and you may be able to help your dog more by changing to a more concentrated alternative.

With this in mind, if you feel the supplement you are currently using may not be giving the best response to what is a progressive condition, or just want to start with the better alternatives out there, consider trialling one that contains the ingredients mentioned previously.

And finally, there is also the cost element of the supplement – both financially and environmentally. Generally speaking buying one from your local veterinary practice will be more expensive than elsewhere, due to the profit margins vets operate on, though you will most likely be able to get extra advice at the same time.

And nowadays you don’t need to settle for using blister packs that aren’t recycled or even plastic pots anymore, when there are technically brilliant plastic free packaging materials around. No-one want s to use more plastic than we need to, and with around 12 million dogs in the UK now, we all need to do our bit to help the environment we love to get out into with our dogs.

However using a trusted supplier with a clinical study, the regulatory claim on the pack, who is also able to give advice, usually provides the most value.

 Jointly365 has been developed by Andrew Little BVetMed. Andrew worked in practice for many years before gaining 15 years of product development experience in major animal health companies, including with market leading joint supplements products in UK and abroad. He has combined this experience to focus on dog joints, producing a natural, sustainable, plastic free joint supplement, with both soothing and structural ingredients carefully chosen and tailored to provide the very best for your dog - that is roughly half the price of veterinary alternatives to ensure as many owners as possible can access quality care for their dogs.

 www.jointly365.com

Crowning Glory - The Coronation Blend

A beautiful, colourful blend of herbs, berries and petals to celebrate the Crowning of King Charles III.

Here are some of the ingredients and why they were chosen:

Lemon Balm is uplifting and calming in its nature

Nettle is incredibly nutritious as well as providing comfort for seasonal allergies, ideal as we come into peak allergy season.

Parsley is used to ease intestinal gas and freshen breath as well as offering vitamin C, fibre, calcium, iron and magnesium.

Spearmint A lovely, fragrant herb to lift the spirits, help the respiratory system, ease tummy troubles and bad breath.

Dandelion Leaf Is a natural diuretic, stimulates salivation and improves digestion due to its bitter tasting qualities and makes a great liver tonic in the spring

Calendula The petals have anti-inflammatory properties, are antibacterial and very soothing to all the mucous membranes in the body.

Rosehips & Petals Rosehips are particularly rich in vitamin C and also Biotin which is great for promoting a healthy coat and strong claws. Rose lowers adrenaline levels and helps to balance the hormones. Roses are of course also a symbol of love, commitment and they bring comfort in times of stress, which when you think about it, so do our dogs.

How to use:

You can simply stir a generous pinch (around 1 level teaspoon) into your dogs moist food or if feeding a dry food rehydrate the same amount of herbs with a little warm water, leave for a few minutes , then add to your dogs food.

The “Crowning Glory” blend can be made into a tea using a tea diffuser or natural teabag. Make a brew with a level tablespoon of the herbs, pour on hot water, leave to steep for 5 minutes and then when luke warm, offer to your dog, pour onto their food or use in a treat recipe. You can also use the liquid to blend their vegetables in. The remaining rehydrated herbs can be added to meal times also.

CRUFTS 2023 with Abbi and Team Cockapoo

That’s Crufts over for another year and it was our display team’s final performance - we hope to be back next year as part of the new team but will need to go through the application process again as new members are sought to keep the team fresh and encourage new handlers. We thoroughly enjoyed our time strutting our stuff on the green carpet and Cydni was the perfect picture of health and vigour (with a little glitter sprinkled on top 😂)
Crufts was especially busy this year and the environment was even more overwhelming than it usually is. I always worry about how the dogs will cope and the toll the long days take, but feeding the Performance Blend, I knew that I’d prepared her body to work at its best, and coupled with her raw food, she remained focussed and alert during each display. What’s great though is that she was able to retreat to her crate in the benches and have quality rest in between displays (I even heard her snoring!) And this ability to switch between work mode and rest mode is what I value most when having dogs at events such as Crufts.

We are now busily preparing for the start of the agility season as training ramps up and competitions are booked! Knowing that my dogs are fuelled and supported from the inside frees me up to concentrate on our training and having the most fun possible! As well as agility this year, we are hoping to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks and climb Scafell Pike!