Uncover the keys to supporting dogs with pancreatitis through diet. Find out how low-fat, fresh foods aid recovery and enhance your pet's well-being.
The pancreas is an important organ that produces enzymes that are needed to digest food. After being used, these enzymes then exit the body via the small intestine.
When the pancreas becomes very inflamed, these enzymes spill into the abdominal cavity instead of being eliminated through the intestine. This not only causes the pancreas to “digest itself” but it also causes damage to other organs that work closely with the pancreas, including the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder, and intestines. 1
Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic (where dogs will continue to experience flare ups or relapses over months or years).
According to VCA Hospitals, it’s not always possible to determine the exact cause of pancreatitis. In many dogs, it seems to appear suddenly, for no obvious reasons.
Still, there are plenty of risk factors for pancreatitis. While the cause won’t change how the problem is treated, trying to identify it could help prevent future flare ups. Some potential causes behind a pancreatitis attack include:
Although not a definitive answer, some dog breeds do seem to carry a genetic predisposition to developing pancreatitis. These include cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, and miniature poodles. Pancreatitis is also more common in senior dogs and dogs carrying extra weight, as their pancreas might already be burneded because of it. Females are slightly more likely to develop pancreatitis than males.3
Pancreatitis is very painful. Most owners notice signs of pain before anything else, though they often cannot identify the source of it. With pancreatitis, pain often comes with arching of the back. This is a natural reaction to try to ease the discomfort coming from the abdominal cavity.4
Pain can be so intense that sometimes dogs adopt a “praying position,” with the front of their bodies low to the floor and their rear end up in the air. This eases some of the pressure on the abdomen and helps (momemtarily) with pain. Some dogs might go into shock because of the intensity of the pain.5
Other symptoms of pancreatitis include: 6
Vets diagnose pancreatitis through a number of blood tests, including an elevated white blood cell count and a check of the pancreatic enzymes level. X-rays and ultrasounds might also be needed to determine the level of inflammation of the pancreas and surrounding organs.7
There’s no specific medication to treat pancreatitis. Vets use a combination of drugs and Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy to flush the body of toxins and manage the symptoms while allowing the pancreas to heal. 8
Dogs usually receive pain medication to help them stabilize and rest better so the body can recover. They will also need anti-nausea/anti-vomiting medication. In some cases, vets might add antibiotics to the mix. Dogs who are experiencing extreme symptoms might need to be hospitalized with IV fluids for several days.
Both for treatment and long-term management, dogs with pancreatitis need to be switched to a low-fat diet. Wen eating a prescription food, vets sometimes recommended a low-fat gastrointestainal support diet, as this helps ease inflammation while keeping the fat content low as well. 9
No table scraps and no treats allowed unless a vet can verify the fat content is safe. Dogs with pancreatitis (or recovering from it) should eat small, frequent meals during the day instead of two regular-sized ones. This will ease the pressure on the pancreas, but also on the stomach – which in turn can reduce nausea and acid reflux (a common problem for many dogs recovering from pancreatitis).
While your dog was very sick from pancreatitis, chances are eating wasn’t a top priority. Once pain and some of the other symptoms start to subside, you’ll have to reintroduce food very slowly. According to PetMD, a good rule of thumb is to start with about a quarter of the amount your dog used to eat. Divide that amount into 3-4 portions and feed that throughout the day. If there’s no vomiting or diarrhea, add an additional quarter after 24 hours until you go back to the normal amounts.
As fats cause the pancreas to produce more enzymes (which in turn worsen inflammation), the best way to heal the pancreas is to offer your dog only low-fat foods. For some dogs, this might be a temporary need while they recover; for others, it might remain a lifelong requirement to prevent flare-ups.
If you’re feeding a commercial dog food, look for options that are low fat but also provide your dog with omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation.10 You can feed both dry kibble or canned food, though canned food is easier to digest and provides additional moisture, so it might be a better choice for pancreatitis (at least through the initial recovery period).
Another option for dogs with pancreatitis is to feed homemade food. This provides many advantages. For starters, if your dog is still experiencing some diarrhea or tummy troubles, you can start by cooking a bland diet, which consists of a single protein (like lean chicken or turkey breast) and a single carbohydrate (like white rice) with nothing else added. You can take a look at our article on Bland Diets to help you get started.
Once your dog stabilizes, it’s possible to continue cooking a pancreas-friendly diet. However, if you plan on cooking for your long-term, you should consider consulting with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure you are feeding the proper balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. In most cases, you will also need to add supplements that support
the digestive system and provide all necessary nutrients – and a nutritionist would be able to help you with that.
Fresh food has many benefits, but making sure you’re feeding something well-balanced on your own can be tricky. To ensure your dog is getting the best possible nutrition, why not reach out to the professionals. Cola's Kitchen offers food that is individually balanced based on your dog's nutritional needs, making it easier than ever to care for your dog with human-grade fresh meals.
We always recommend talking to your vet about food if your dog is sick. Once your dog has recovered and ready to go back to well-balanced eating, our wholesome meals might be just what your pooch needs.
Explore the critical role of diet in managing kidney disease in dogs. Learn about causes, symptoms, and the power of fresh, balanced nutrition for kidney health in our detailed guide.
Kidneys play a very important role in the body, filtering out unwanted substances and toxins so they can be released through urine. The kidneys also regulate the balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body by continually filtering the blood. When the kidneys aren’t working properly, a lot of things in the body go wrong –toxin levels go up, causing nausea and vomiting, blood pressure starts to increase, and dogs become dehydrated. This leads to an imbalance of certain electrolytes. The kidneys are also partially responsible for red blood cell production and help with calcium metabolism.
Kidney problems can cause a number of issues that destabilize the body and can make your dog feel very sick. The sooner you catch the condition, the better your chances of helping your dog feel better again.
The easiest answer to this is … nobody knows. Sometimes it’s a combination of factors that over time cause the kidneys to “wear out.”
Acute kidney failure, which happens suddenly, is often the result of an accident. For example, your dog might ingest antifreeze, garden pesticides, or even human medication. Severe dehydration, severe bacterial infection, trauma (like being hit by a car or a fall) and untreated UTIs can also sometimes lead to acute kidney failure.
Chronic kidney disease is more of a mystery. Vets know it’s more common in older dogs and can be worsened by dental disease. But in some cases, it can also be genetic, triggered in dogs with diabetes or those receiving cancer treatment.
According to The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS), breed is also a risk factor, as Shar Pei, Bull Terrier, English Cocker Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, West Highland White Terrier, and Boxer are more predisposed to kidney problems. They also point out that some commonly used medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain, certain bactericidal antibiotics, and even some vaccines, can also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Other potential risk factors include kidney infections and kidney stones, as well as leptospirosis.
IRIS also points out that there are some indications that diets with “high inclusion rates of inorganic forms of phosphate may lead to kidney damage in cats.” There haven’t been studies done on dogs, and more work is needed to understand why this affects cats, but it’s something to keep in mind: diet can sometimes have a direct effect on kidney health.
Detecting kidney disease can be very tricky. The easiest way is through a blood test that measures things like blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and phosphorus. Your vet can also check your dog’s SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine), a marker for early kidney disease. When these numbers are elevated, it’s a sure sign that something’s amiss with the kidneys.
Of course, if you don’t notice any symptoms, you would have no reason to have your dog’s kidneys checked. And that’s when trouble starts. According to Pet Health Network, by the time you’re able to detect kidney disease, the kidneys are likely functioning at only 25% to 33% of their capacity.
Early signs of kidney disease can be tricky to recognize, but two things you often notice is increased thirst and urination. Dogs might also have “accidents” inside the house even though they’ve been housebroken for years or suddenly cannot get through the night without having to go out to urinate at least once. As these can also be signs of diabetes, it’s important to talk to your vet as soon as possible to rule out other diseases. Kidney disease often affects appetite and might cause dogs to be tired and lethargic as well. Vomiting and diarrhea are also possible.
Unfortunately, there’s no treatment available that will completely heal the kidneys and reverse kidney disease. There are a number of supplements you can use to stabilize them, and with the proper course of treatment, you might actually lower some of the numbers that are causing symptoms.
Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is one of the most common ways to treat kidney disease, as IV fluids will help flush toxins and improve how your dog feels. If your dog has high blood pressure or is losing protein in his urine, your vet will also prescribe medications to control this.
A diet change is the most important thing you can do to help your dog’s kidneys. As a general rule of thumb, you want to feed your dog so that the pressure on the kidneys is minimal. Therefore, they need food which keeps the amount of unwanted substances at its lowest in the body. They also need food that keeps the optimum balance of electrolytes in the body. They will need the right amount and ratio of calcium and phosphorus as well as sodium, potassium and other minerals.
According to the Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, “pets with kidney disease should be fed diets reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium and supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil.” Reducing phosphorus in the diet is especially important, as keeping phosphorus low is essential to slow down the progression of kidney disease.
Indigestible proteins produce a lot of waste products that the kidneys then have to deal with, so reducing the amount of crude protein your dog eats (by using highly digestible proteins instead) will be essential to make him feel better. Protein is the source of amino acids, which means you cannot completely eliminate protein from your dog’s diet, or his health will suffer further. But according to Today’s Veterinary Practice, you can make sure that you’re feeding high-quality protein – so even if you reduce the overall amount of it, you’re still providing optimal nutrition.
In a study comparing the lifespan of dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease eating a renal diet compared to a “regular” maintenance diet, the dogs eating a prescription renal diet lived significantly longer. In fact, after two years, 65% of dogs eating the maintenance diet had died from renal-related causes, but only 33% of those eating the renal diet had died for the same reasons.
Pets with kidney disease should not eat snacks like cheese, as this contains both high protein and lots of sodium.
There are plenty of commercial renal foods available that are designed to provide all the nutrients to help the kidneys. This is a good first step for pet parents who feel overwhelmed with what to feed their dogs after the initial diagnosis.
Dogs with kidney disease can also do well on a homemade diet, but cooking it yourself can be very tricky. If this is something you want to pursue, you should contact a veterinary nutritionist to ensure you are feeding the proper amount of proteins, carbohydrates, veggies, vitamins and minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus, so your dog can get all the nutrients he needs without affecting his kidneys.
Fresh food has many benefits, as vitamins and minerals are supplied from natural sources. One of the most important components of a healthy kidney diet is high-quality protein. At Cola’s Kitchen, we use no preservatives, artificial products, animal byproducts or “meals” from diseased livestock. Our tasty, fresh meals include things like human-grade salmon, veggies & fruits, which would provide healthy protein and omega oils that can help protect the kidneys.
Remember to always talk to your vet about food if your dog is sick to determine what his needs are.
Discover the magic of fresh dog food: perfect for any pup's unique needs, from age to breed. Say goodbye to mystery ingredients and hello to tasty, digestible meals that boost health and energy!
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If you've been wondering about all the buzz around fresh food diets for dogs, you're not alone. More and more pet owners are making the switch to fresh food as a way to feed their pups the best, most nutritious food available.
Before we tell you a bit about the many great benefits of a wholesome fresh diet, consider reading our article on What's Wrong with Kibble to better understand why commercial pet food isn't the best choice.
That being said, let's dive right in! Here is a quick breakdown of why fresh dog food is the best choice for your pet:
Fresh dog food has many benefits – after all, the better you eat, the healthier you are. And what can be better than wholesome food prepared with fresh ingredients full of nutrients?
Here are seven big reasons why switching to fresh food is a great decision:
No more trying to decipher confusing chemical names or tricky wording on pet food labels. When you're feeding fresh, there are no undesirable extras in your dog's food. You will be feeding wholesome ingredients without additives or artificial colors and flavors.
Plus, a customized fresh meal can exclude any specific ingredients that a dog with food allergies would need to avoid.
Did you know that even if the food label says that the product contains an ingredient, there may only be a teeny-tiny bit of that ingredient in the food? They do this just to get through the already questionable regulatory requirements. So always do the math yourself. Could 1 kg of "High Protein" or "Premium" food that claims only to contain high-quality turkey breast as a protein source cost a few dollars? Could it be that cheap? Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
Good fresh dog food is made of high-quality fresh ingredients with high bioavailability.
Another serious issue with some commercial dog foods is chemical preservatives, which can be extremely harmful to your dog. Preservatives are added to dog food to slow down spoilage. Almost all NON-FRESH foods contain some form of preservatives. After all, that's how it can sit on the shelf for so long!
Antioxidants are used as preservatives because they slow down the oxidization process of fats and do not let them turn rancid. Preservatives and antioxidants can come from natural sources (such as vitamin E, C, etc.) or artificial sources. Natural sources can provide health benefits, but artificial preservatives like Ethoxyquin have a controversial reputation when it comes to safety.
Fresh food contains highly bioavailable nutrients that are easily absorbed and used by the body. On the other hand, the extrusion process involving harsh heat (temperature above 100 oC) is the most common type of processing used in kibble production. This process damages protein and heat-labile vitamins and amino acids and can also decrease palatability. The bioavailability of nutrients in processed commercial dog foods is significantly less than a fresh food.
Even the best-tasting kibble cannot compete with fresh food for dogs filled with natural flavors and smells. If you have a picky dog, switching to fresh food will likely end the daily battle of getting your pup to eat.
Another thing that you should not forget is the texture of fresh food compared with kibble. Which one do you think your dog prefers? And which one do you think actually supports a healthy gastrointestinal tract? I think the answer is very obvious; 100% fresh food.
Good nutrition is the core principle of prevention and health! Healthy food is key to improving and maintaining your dog's health.
There are hundreds of industrial food brands that are NOT a good source of nutrition and will not fully support your dog's health, despite what their labels may proclaim. Some of these foods might actually harm your dog over time. Remember, the negative impacts of improper nutrition on a dog's health are not seen right away. Still, they will eventually show up in various forms of disorders and diseases. If we want to make sure our dogs live a long healthy life, we should feed them top-quality, fresh, healthy food. Fresh food is chock full of all the right nutrients your dog needs to have more energy, a shinier coat, a lower risk for cancer and other serious health issues. It can also lead to fewer allergy symptoms. In a study conducted by Lippert and Sappy (2003), the data from 500 dogs from 1998 until 2002 have been evaluated. The study concludes that dogs fed with fresh food lived almost three years longer than those fed with commercial food. After all, nothing gives you a more direct path to a longer life than wholesome fresh nutrition!
A well-balanced fresh dog food can even help dogs with health issues like diabetes, bladder stone, pancreatitis, skin and coat diseases, etc. Please read our article "10 Most Common Diet-Related Disease in Dogs" if you want to know more about it.
Dogs are individuals and have different nutritional needs depending on their age, breed, gender, weight, physical activity, and reproduction status. Ideally, dogs should receive a specific daily food portion that caters to those needs. Unfortunately, commercial dog food producers use terms such as "Complete and Balanced" on their labels without considering dogs' individuality. Using these terms can be generally questioned. Especially since a basic chemical composition cannot address all dogs' needs. Commercial dog food producers do not consider that dogs are individuals. When it comes to their nutrition, they should be treated as such. They commonly formulate a basic recipe (a fixed food formulation for all dogs in a life stage) and recommend that the dog owners should feed their dog with a certain amount of the produced food based on their dog's weight. With this approach, they are actually ignoring other parameters like age, breed, gender, physical activity, reproduction status, etc., which determine the nutritional requirement of a dog.
The right fresh food considers your dog's individual needs and designs a food that reflects your dog's specific requirements. Individually balanced fresh dog food will address all of your dog's nutritional needs because it will consider:
A dog needs more than 30 essential nutrients to stay healthy and in good shape. Providing all these nutrients in the correct amount and balance can be very tricky.
You may ask why I shouldn't buy fresh ingredients from grocery stores separately, mix them and offer the mixture to my dog?
The fact is, diets prepared this way are very unlikely to be complete and well-balanced. The brutal truth is, unless a dog parent is an expert in animal nutrition, a homemade diet can be very difficult to get right. A dog needs more than 30 essential nutrients to stay healthy and in good shape. Providing all these nutrients in the correct amount and balance can be very tricky. That is why many experts believe that dogs are better off with some sort of kibble brand than prepared fresh food at home without supervision. They believe kibbles might be incomplete and not well-balanced, but at least they are more balanced than most unsupervised self-prepared fresh foods. For example, most diets prepared without expert supervision are not properly balanced to provide dogs with adequate levels and correct ratios of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. These nutrients are essential to a growing dog's development and bones and teeth maintenance at different life stages. Without the right amount and ratios of these nutrients
Cola's Kitchen is the first and only fresh dog food company that creates customized recipes tailored to your dog's individual needs. At Cola's Kitchen, we'll design and produce every dog's meal based on each dog's individual needs and any unique conditions that might apply. In doing so, we provide your dog all the required nutrients they need through a truly Complete, Well-Balanced and individualized recipe.
Our recipes are designed based on the profile our customers make for their dogs. Our AI's creates food that's formulated by Dr. Farshad Goodarzi Boroojeni. He is an animal nutritionist with two PhDs in Animal Nutrition and Poultry Science. His ongoing academic research has evolved around animal nutrition, feed/food processing, animal physiology and health, and gut microbiology. He has more than 25 publications in the best international peer-reviewed journals of the field and a regular speaker in various scientific seminars and conferences. Dr. Goodarzi is also currently a research associate at the Free University Berlin.
Transitioning to a Fresh Diet
The key to making the transition smooth and easy is to gradually move away from the old diet and introduce the new diet. While we understand you're excited about switching to fresh food as soon as possible, a gradual move can help prevent an upset stomach. We recommend switching over a 7-day period, as this gives your pup's gastrointestinal tract a chance to adapt.
For dogs with sensitive stomachs or gastrointestinal issues, a week might not be long enough for a smooth transition. This might also be the case for very young or senior dogs. To avoid tummy trouble, they might need a longer transition period of 2-3 weeks.
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If you're aiming for a week-long switch, you can use these general rules as a guideline:
Switching diets can sometimes be a little challenging on your dog's tummy, even when you're switching to healthier food. Most dogs do perfectly fine and experience no negative side effects, while some can have loose stools or upset tummies. This is perfectly normal, and it will resolve on its own after a few days, so no reason to be concerned.
Here are other things to look out for during the switch and what you can do about them:
In conclusion, if you have decided to change to fresh food, good on you! You quite possibly have bought more years with your dog, fewer vet visits, fewer bills to pay and a happier and healthier dog.
Embrace a healthier life for your dog with Cola's Kitchen Fresh Dog Food. Expect improved digestion, increased energy, and a shinier coat as you embark on this nourishing journey.
First and foremost, congratulations on being a caring dog parent and looking into proper diets for your dog. Whether you choose Cola’s Kitchen™ Individually Balanced Fresh Dog Food or any other high-quality fresh dog food, you are helping your dog live longer. When you begin your journey in Cola's Kitchen's Fresh Dog Food world, you will notice how you are changing your dog's life for the better in tangible and intangible ways. Rest assured that this is probably the single best decision that you have made for your dog, and hopefully, he will thank you for it by staying in your life longer.
Now, let's talk expectations; As with any change, you should expect some adjustment period. Here are what you should expect immediately within a few weeks:
Once you start introducing fresh food to your dog's diet, depending on what they were eating before the change, they may react to their new diet. This reaction can include regurgitation, and if that happens, it means you need to slow down the transition process. Typically our transition process is 7 days, but for some dogs, this is not enough time. Therefore you should prolong your transition process to allow your furry friend to get used to his new food. To learn more about dog's vomiting and the causes of it, please read our full guide here.
It may also take up to four weeks for your dog to adjust their poop because of their new food. This may include softer poop immediately after transition, which is completely normal. Your dog may also poop more often than before, and that's because they are now getting exactly what they need nutritionally. Their body is actually digesting the food they are eating, and that's a good sign! To learn more about your dog's pooping habits read our Super Guide to Your Dog's Poop: Frequency, Color, State, Smell & More.
After a few weeks of feeding a fresh food diet, you may notice that your dog has more energy. Yay! That's awesome. If you wonder why this is happening, it's because your dog is now getting what their body and lifestyle requires nutritionally consistently. To learn more about your dog's nutritional needs, read "Five qualities that a dog food MUST have."
As we said above, these are only a few of the changes that you will notice immediately. There are far more benefits that you will see with time. These can include better breath smell, softer and shinier coat, weight adjustment and much more. Stay tuned for a detailed article about all of the benefits of changing to Cola's Kitchen fresh dog food.
At Cola's Kitchen, we create fresh dog food that is individually balanced to your dog's specific nutritional requirements. Your read that right! We individually balance our food for each dog. Want to learn more? Click Here.
Once you switch over to Cola's Kitchen Fresh Dog Food, you may notice a healthier and shinier coat on your dog! That's not an accident. It's happening because your pooch is now getting the right amount of Essential Fatty Acids. Our food ensures that your dog is getting the right amount of omega-6 fatty acid. According to a study in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association omega-6 fatty acid deficiency is one of the leading causes of skin and coat abnormalities.
Good nutrition is the core principle of prevention and health! Healthy food is key to improving and maintaining your dog's health. Fresh food is chock full of all the right nutrients your dog needs to have more energy, a shinier coat, a lower risk for cancer and other serious health issues. It can also lead to fewer allergy symptoms. In a study conducted by Lippert and Sappy (2003), the data from 500 dogs from 1998 until 2002 have been evaluated. The study concludes that dogs fed with fresh food lived almost three years longer than those fed with commercial food. After all, nothing gives you a more direct path to a longer life than wholesome fresh nutrition!
A well-balanced fresh dog food can even help dogs with health issues like diabetes, bladder stone, pancreatitis, skin and coat diseases, etc. If you'd like to learn more about diet-related diseases please read "10 Most Common Diet-Related Disease in Dogs."
Discover how a simple bland diet can quickly soothe your dog's upset stomach. Learn the secrets behind this effective remedy in our comprehensive blog. Click for insights on a healthier, happier pup!
Bland dog diet is a diet that is easy to digest. It is also soft and easy on both the mouth and the stomach. Vets often recommend a bland dog diet as the first response to an upset stomach that results in diarrhea. Although they're called "bland," this isn't a proper medical term that means something specific; if anything, bland refers to the simplicity of the diet, which consists of a single protein and a single carbohydrate, with nothing else added for flavor or texture.
Bland diets are low in fat and fiber, the two things that could be affecting the consistency of the stool. As a result, bland diets often produce quick results, helping harden stools and slowing down the production of feces — an excellent solution in the case of diarrhea.
Bland diets are not meant to be used for treating serious or chronic digestive issues, as they don't provide adequate and balanced nutrition for long-term health care. However, they can help as a quick stabilizer if your dog has diarrhea, either waiting until medication kicks in or as a quick solution for minor stomach upsets.
Bland diets can also serve as a good emergency food until you can get your hands on commercial gastrointestinal-friendly diets, which have to be ordered through your vet or online.
As mentioned before, bland diets are not meant to be used for the long term but can be a quick emergency option if your pup ate something that didn't agree with him and his tummy is now paying for it.
If diarrhea lasts more than two days, you should talk to your veterinarian to rule out a more serious gastrointestinal issue and discuss a better diet. While dogs suffering from gastrointestinal upset might vomit, don't use a bland diet if your dogs vomit more than once. This could indicate a more severe problem that requires immediate veterinarian care.
This diet is also not meant to treat lasting issues with loose stools. Only feed a bland diet if the loose stools are a recent development and your dog's feces usually have a normal consistency. If the loose stools or diarrhea are still present for 2-3 days on this diet, it's time to see a vet. You can take a look at our article A Super Guide to Your Dog's Poop: Frequency, Color, State, Smell & More to get a better idea of what normal stools look like.
Above all, pay attention to your dog's behavior before you start feeding this diet. A mild gastrointestinal issue shouldn't affect your dog's energy levels, and he should still be alert and playful most of the time. However, if you see a significant change in behavior, this might be more serious than just gastrointestinal (GI) trouble and require medication.
Ongoing vomiting and diarrhea could be a sign of everything from poisoning to infections to an intestinal blockage. Conditions such as kidney failure and even cancer can also cause gastrointestinal distress. If you notice significant changes in your dog's life that go beyond a little tummy trouble, it's important to follow up with your vet for medical tests and treatment.
Bland diets aren't medical diets. There's no scientific formulation behind them, and they aren't meant to be used with dogs with underlying or chronic medical conditions without the prior approval of their vet. While prescription hepatic, renal or gastrointestinal diets have been specially formulated to provide balanced nutrition for animals with a particular health problem, basic bland diets have not. So they are not meant to be used long term, and they don't provide true therapeutic help.
After a few days, your dog will either have to start transitioning back to his regular diet or will need a prescription diet provided by the vet. Do not keep your pup on a bland diet for longer than three or four days. If your dog has a food allergy or chronic intestinal or digestive issues, skip the bland diet and head to your vet as soon as diarrhea appears.
The bland diet consists of a single starchy carbohydrate and a single lean protein. This usually translates to a mix of boiled white rice and boiled chicken with no skin or bones. The rice should be very well cooked (even slightly overcooked until it's very, very soft. Chicken should be defatted before cooking and also well cooked (no pink meat visible anywhere). Aim for a ratio of 2 cups of cooked rice to ½ cup of chicken.
Eggs whites, low-fat cottage cheese and lean beef, are acceptable substitutions for chicken if your dog has an allergy or is simply not a fan of chicken. Boiled potatoes can be used in place of rice, as can pumpkin, oatmeal or pasta. If you use anything canned, make sure there's no added sodium. Always peel and boil anything you're feeding until very tender. Don't add any kind of seasonings to the final mix.
When boiling chicken, always use a colander at the end to catch any fat that might be floating in the water. This will reduce the fat content in the final mix. You can cook enough at a time to feed your dog for a maximum of 48 hours, storing the unused amount in the fridge.
Ideally, you should feed the same amount of calories using a bland diet as your dog usually eats. You can calculate that by looking at the information on the label of your dog's usual food and then estimate the calories of the meal you're preparing with chicken and rice.
Then divide the daily amount into four portions and feed every 6 hours. Smaller portions are easier to digest and gentler on the digestive system than feeding one or two larger meals. Make sure you're not feeding any treats or anything else while your dog is on a bland diet.
After your dog's stools return to a normal consistency, it's time to transition back to the regular diet. This needs to be done slowly and gradually, or you risk upsetting his stomach. Once you're ready for the transition, start by replacing 25% of the bland diet with your dog's usual food. Feed that for a couple of days and if your dog is doing well, add an additional 25% for a few more days. Continue this way until your dog is 100% back to this usual diet.
Re-introduce treats slowly over the course of several days. If going back to the usual diet results in diarrhea returning, it's time to talk to your vet. Your dog might need to switch to a gentler diet or one specially designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Or maybe the food you've been feeding is too high in protein or carbs or fat, and your dog needs a better-balanced approach to keep his tummy in top shape.
If your dog is currently experiencing tummy trouble, stick to a simple, basic bland diet until things get back to normal. However, you might want to consider switching to a fresh diet in the future. Clean diets made with wholesome fresh ingredients are much less likely to cause gastrointestinal issues as they don't contain additives, chemicals or artificial ingredients that can break havoc in your dog's digestive system — especially if he's sensitive.
Fresh food is more digestible, more easily absorbed and filled with higher-quality ingredients. For dogs with a sensitive stomach, eating a diet without chemicals and added preservatives can help prevent future GI upsets. You can read more about this in our article about the benefits of fresh dog food and why the right fresh food that considers your dog's individual needs is key to a healthier gut.
At Cola's Kitchen, we pride ourselves on being able to offer tasty meals based on each dog's individual needs and any unique conditions that might apply. In doing so, we provide your dog with all the required nutrients they need through a truly complete, well-balanced, and individualized recipe.
Tailoring canine diets: Learn how individually balanced fresh dog food, considering age, breed, and activity, optimally meets your dog's unique nutritional needs.
Individually balanced fresh dog food refers to fresh dog food that is exclusively balanced for a specific dog. To be able to balance any fresh dog food individually, the following parameters must be considered about the dog:
Age affects the nutritional requirements of a dog and the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the minimum number of calories required for basic bodily functions.
The BMR and mass-specific metabolic rate (MSMR) vary widely among breeds. For example, small breeds have a lower BMR and a higher MSMR than large breeds.
Spaying and neutering lower the BMR in dogs. A few months after castration, the BMR begins to decrease, and as a result, the maintenance energy requirements decrease. So if you continue to feed your dog the same type and amount of food, you are over-supplying your dog with nutrients (including energy), which can lead to obesity and other problems.
Pregnancy and nursing increase the nutritional requirements of a dog. The pregnancy stage and how many puppies the dog is carrying should also be considered when choosing a proper diet.
How much energy a dog uses, and his metabolic rate depends in part on his current body condition (proportion of lean muscle and fat tissues) and amount of metabolically active tissues. Your dog‘s weight is an important factor in evaluating body condition and calculating the weight of metabolically active tissues.
Dogs that are physically active regularly will spend more energy than dogs with a sedentary lifestyle. This means not only dogs involved in competitive sports but also dogs who regularly hike or run with their humans. The amount of activity your dog engages in regularly will considerably affect his nutritional requirements.
Individually balanced fresh dog food is the best way to feed dogs. Because the food has been explicitly balanced based on the dog's profile, it will address all of their nutritional requirements. With Cola's Kitchen's individually balanced fresh dog food, you will always know exactly what you are feeding your dog. We individually balance each recipe to meet the exact needs of your dog based on their profile. So you can always feel comfortable that they are eating a truly complete and balanced diet.
Cola's Kitchen ™ is the first Individually Balanced Fresh Dog Food producer in the world. Our food is formulated by Dr. Farshad Goodarzi. He is an animal nutritionist with two PhDs in Animal Nutrition and Poultry Science. His ongoing academic research has evolved around animal nutrition, feed/food processing, animal physiology and health, and gut microbiology. He has more than 25 publications in the best international peer-reviewed journals of the field and a regular speaker in different scientific seminars and conferences. Dr. Goodarzi is also currently a research associate at the Free University Berlin.
Cola's Kitchen's food is formulated under strict guidelines to meet or exceed the highest industry standards. While there is no risk for your dog eating our Salmon recipe daily, we highly suggest that they have variety in their diet and not eat the same recipe every day. We have 3 ingredient sets to choose from, and we always recommend for your dog to take all three if they don't have any restrictions. To learn more about Cola's Kitchen and our food click here.
Explore the benefits and drawbacks of grain-free dog diets, understand their nutritional impact, and learn if they're right for your pup in our concise guide.
Grain-free dog diets have been around for a long time, but they have become increasingly popular over the past decade. The trend to feed dogs grain-free diets seems to somehow coincide with the popularity of low carb and keto diets that have become the go-to solution for weight loss among people.
A grain-free diet for dogs is basically one that contains no grains of any kind. This means no corn, wheat, rice, millet, rye, soy, barley or oats. Grains gained a bad reputation over the years because cheap kibble often contains a big percentage of cheap grains (primarily corn), which is used to replace quality ingredients and bulk up the food.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean all grains are bad or all grains are the same when used as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet. Grains provide fibre, which aids digestion, helps keep the colon healthy, and can prevent obesity by making your pup feel full so he eats less. They also provide plenty of energy and are great for active or sporty dogs as well as growing puppies.
An important thing to keep in mind is that grain-free does not mean carbohydrate-free. Most dry dog foods substitute grains with other carbohydrate sources. According to PetMD, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas and lentils are some of the most common sources of carbohydrates in grain-free dog food. Some brands also use quinoa.
The simple answer is, it depends. There’s a lot of information out there so let us break it down into digestible pieces!
You might have heard that in 2018, the FDA announced that it was researching a potential link between grain-free foods and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). This research seems to have actually started with a study conducted by Kaplan [GBF1] et al., 2018[GBF2]. DCM is a heart condition that affects the heart muscle and can result in congestive heart failure. Large and giant breeds (such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, and Saint Bernards) are more likely to develop this condition, but the FDA started receiving reports of DCM happening in smaller breeds, so they decided to take a closer look.
Turns out DCM seemed to be appearing more regularly in dogs eating certain grain-free foods. Upon closer inspection, it seemed this was specifically related to grain-free foods containing “a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes in various forms (whole, flour, protein, etc.) as main ingredients (listed within the first 10 ingredients in the ingredient list, before vitamins and minerals).”
Kaplan et al., 2018 study reported that “certain diets and diet characteristics were associated with the development of taurine deficiency.” This is an important piece of information to hold on to! One thing to keep in mind is that taurine deficiency, food digestibility, and genetics have been known for many years to lead to DCM in dogs and cats.
In dogs, taurine is synthesized primarily in the liver and central nervous system from methionine and cysteine which are normally supplied by food. Actually, dogs can produce enough taurine for themselves if enough methionine and cysteine are biologically available for them. But if enough amounts of methionine and cysteine are not biologically available for them, taurine deficiency will appear.
In June 2019, the American Food and Drug Administration made headlines when it linked 16 brands of dog food to DCM. 90% of the pet food brands named in the report were considered “grain-free”. These grain-free foods contained no wheat, corn, soy, rice, barley, or other grains but most did contain, in the words of the report, a “high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes in various forms (whole, flour, protein, etc.) as main ingredients.“[GBF3]
So what does this mean? Does it mean legumes or potatoes are dangerous and can lead to DCM in our dogs? The answer is definitely NO. It is all about diet formulation and supplying the right amount of nutrients in a balanced manner. In other words, some of the legumes are known to be deficient in methionine and cysteine and if they are the only source (or the main source) of protein in your dog’s food, they can cause problems. Many dog food producers try to supply the protein requirements of your dogs through cheap protein sources including plant-derived proteins like legumes and animal by-products. Therefore, some of them end up with methionine and cysteine deficiency in their food which leads to taurine deficiency in your dog. So the problem isn’t the ingredients on their own but how they have been formulated in diets.
Now let us make the argument for why legumes and good carbs should be a part of your dog’s diet IF FORMULATED CORRECTLY!
We know now that the life expectancy of dogs decreases if fed only meat (or even animal-derived protein sources) for extended periods of time. Proteins and amino acids along with fats and carbohydrates are the major macronutrients in food. Proteins and amino acids are needed to form the basis of living tissues in your dog’s body. They also play a central role in the biological processes and activity of many important biochemical compounds in your dog’s body like hormones, enzymes, immune system-related components, brain chemicals, etc. Your dog also needs energy for maintenance (maintaining body size, body composition and a level of necessary and desirable physical activity consistent with long-term good health), growth and development, etc.
Easily digestible carbohydrates (like gelatinized starch found in cooked grains, legumes and potatoes) and fats are the main sources of energy in dog food. Inadequate energy in food through deficiency of dietary fat or carbohydrates leads to poor growth, weight loss, and reduced physical ability and reproductive performance. Dietary carbohydrates deficiency makes the body of your dog draw more heavily on its protein supply (and deposit) to meet its energy needs. When dogs are fed with diets high in protein but low in energy diets (energy-deficient diets), part of the protein is metabolized and used for energy production. The nitrogen part of this protein portion is not used for energy production and needs to be converted in the liver to certain components and sent out of the body by kidneys, which means severe stress on the liver and kidneys. Now that’s definitely not good!
As long as the dog’s supply of protein is sufficient, using proteins for energy production does not lead to protein deficiency for your dog but more stress for her/his liver and kidneys is certain.
As you see, although a food can consist of only meat (or even animal-derived protein sources) is grain-free and also legume-free, your dog can still end up with serious health issues.
The fact is all of these food ingredients can and should be a healthy part of a diet for dogs, but they must be human-grade, hygiene and fresh and mixed in a well-balanced manner to supply your dog’s requirements individually. This is why we’re such big advocates of individualized fresh diets for our dogs formulated by qualified professionals.
Also when it comes down to ingredients, according to Best Pets Veterinary Hospital, brands of dog food that use lots of cornmeal or wheat gluten as a cheap way to bulk out their products are in essence creating a lower quality product. If you see that listed within the first five ingredients of the dog food you’re feeding, it’s time to switch to something better. But even if it’s down on the list, these fillers offer little to no nutritional value so there’s no reason for them to be part of your dog’s diet.
When in doubt about the pros and cons of grains in dog food, it’s always better to speak to your veterinarian for better advice.
If you are thinking of switching your dog to a grain-free diet or already feeding one, you should discuss the potential risks and benefits with your vet. This is especially important if you have a dog with an underlying or chronic health condition that might be affected by diet.
Otherwise, grain-free diets can be helpful in certain situations.
One of them is allergies, although grain allergies are rare and when they do happen, the main culprit is almost always corn. Dogs are more likely to be allergic to proteins, with chicken and then beef being the two main culprits. Food allergies are also very tricky to diagnose and usually require a long process of strict elimination where the animal is fed a single protein and single carbohydrate at a time to observe the body’s response.
Overweight or obese dogs might also do better in a grain-free diet, as the lack of carbohydrates means the body needs to burn fat as a source of energy. The result? Your pup might lose weight more easily on a grain-free diet. Keep in mind that grain-free might also mean low fibre unless the food has added different carbs to supply that. Since fibre plays an important role in helping your pup feel full, you might end up with a hungrier dog otherwise.
According to DVM360, a diet containing at least moderate levels of fibre is a good “way to reduce the caloric content of a weight loss diet” while keeping your dog full.
Finally, a grain-free diet could also benefit pets with cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death among dogs, with 45 percent of dogs over 10 years of age dying of cancer. Generally speaking, carbohydrates “feed” cancer cells by providing plenty of glucose but also stimulating insulin production -- which then speeds glucose absorption and could cause cancer cells to reproduce faster.
Both in human and canine cancer patients, this means reducing carb intake could slow down the spread of cancer. On the other hand, a low-carb, high-fat diet seems to promote remission and increase survival time. If your dog is undergoing chemotherapy or has other underlying health conditions in addition to cancer, you should discuss options with your veterinarian before switching to a high-protein, grain-free diet.
Grain-free diets could offer relief in other situations as well, such as in the case of dogs with chronic gut inflammation or those with diabetes. Again, this depends on a lot of factors, such as what other health issues your dog might be experiencing or potential side effects of the medication he could be taking. Never switch diets without talking to a vet first if your dog is sick.
Nutrition plays a key role in the overall wellness of our canine companions, so the better quality food you can offer, the healthier and happier your dog will be as a result.
Fresh food has become a popular choice for dog parents who are concerned about feeding the very best available. Whole food, clean diets with no added artificial coloring or preservatives aren’t just a better choice but they also take the guessing of “carb or no carb” out of the equation.
A fresh diet provides many benefits, including better overall health, better digestion, increased energy levels, and a healthy and shiny coat. You can learn more about the many benefits of feeding a well-balanced fresh diet in our article, What to Expect When Switching to Cola's Kitchen Individually Balanced Fresh Dog Food?
Kibble is -- as you’ve learned by now --often filled with lots of empty carbohydrates as a replacement for better-quality ingredients. To avoid those poor quality carbs, many pet parents opt for feeding grain-free diets -- which is not always the best choice for every pet, as carbs do provide a number of vitamins and plenty of fibre to keep your pup healthy.
A healthier way to feed carbohydrates is to feed fresh food. Individually balanced fresh dog is tailor-made for a dog based on his age, breed, body weight and condition, and other factors. And because all food is fresh and human-grade, adding carbohydrates into the mix is never a problem. At Cola’s Kitchen, we only use high-quality grains such as brown rice and organic quinoa. We also add other healthy carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, green lentils, green peas and beans.
Rethink your dog's diet: Learn why kibble, a product of the Industrial Revolution, might not be the best choice and how fresh, balanced diets can lead to healthier, longer lives for your pets.
The Industrial Revolution completely changed the way we eat, process and store our food – and that applies to dog food as well. Your dog’s ancestors once hunted and ate scraps but adapted over thousands of years to depend on humans for food and comfort. Still, it wasn’t until the 19th century that people introduced processed diets to pets.
The world’s first manufactured dog food was Spratt’s, which appeared in London around 1860. The brainchild of electrician James Spratt, the biscuits were a mix of grains, fish and meats, vegetables, spices and cod liver oil. Known as “dog cakes” at the time, they were a huge success and were heavily advertised all over the country. Less than a decade later, they were also all the rage in the US.
Ken-L Ration, the first American brand of canned dog food, didn’t appear in the market until the early 1920s and was owned by Quaker Oats. It consisted mainly of horse meat and, like Spratt’s, it didn’t have a long shelf life. It was cleverly marketed as “lean, red meat” and was only disclosed in tiny letters at the bottom of the package. This canned food was so successful that by the 1940s, horses were being bred specifically to be slaughtered. Over fifty thousand of them per year that is! Purina Dog Chow also entered the market in the 1920s with the world’s first dried dog food, though the product wasn’t shelf-stable either.
When metal became scarce during WWII, and manufacturers could no longer produce canned food, companies started to look into producing shelf-stable dog food. After all, this was the perfect time to bring a cheaper, more profitable product to the market. Although the first true shelf-stable kibble came into the market around this time, it wasn’t until the 1950s that kibble became a commercial success. This was after the appearance of Purina’s first balanced dog food, produced via extrusion. To explain extrusion simply, wet and dry ingredients get combined to make a doughy mixture. This dough then gets pushed into a machine called an expander that cooks the dough at an alarmingly high temperature killing most of the present nutrients. Yes, that includes all the “Organic and nutrition-dense” ingredients. Once cooked, the dough gets forced or extruded through small-shaped holes and cut by a knife to form the smelly, burnt, brown pebbles we now know as kibble.
Although some brands are better than others, you could potentially think of kibble as “fast food for pets.” The cheaper the brand, the lower the quality of the ingredients used. In fact, the quality of the ingredients in pet food is often so low that they need to be processed at high heat to kill bacteria and make it safe. As a result, many nutrients are lost and need to be re-added later in synthetic form to comply with AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.
Here are other reasons kibble isn’t the ideal choice:
Lots of Empty Carbohydrates
While dogs can digest carbohydrates and they can be part of a healthy diet, kibble is often oversupplied with them as a replacement for better-quality ingredients. Carbohydrate sources can be a problem if they are used in large quantities in kibble.
Added Preservatives and Other Chemicals
In addition to food dyes and artificial flavors, pet food contains a lot of other chemicals. Fat preservatives such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), and Ethoxyquin are often added to foods to extend their shelf-life. Some of these chemicals, including ethoxyquin, can be carcinogenic and are banned from use in human food.
Synthetic Nutrients
Since many nutrients are lost during the manufacturing process, pet food companies have to add them back later in their synthetic form to be able to label their food as “complete and balanced.” The biological quality of synthetic nutrients is not the same as natural nutrients from fresh, high-quality food.
Low-Quality Ingredients
While pet food must contain a certain minimum of protein and energy to comply with standards set by authorities like AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), there’s no requirement regarding the quality of that protein and energy sources. Some brands get most of their protein from meat- and poultry-by-products, which are, essentially, slaughterhouse waste. This is what’s left after the meat is removed for human consumption and can include things like lungs, intestines, blood, and several other organs. Legally, the meat can even come from roadkill and diseased farm animals, according to Dog Food Advisor.
If you’re truly concerned about what you’re feeding your pets, switching to fresh food for dogs that’s properly balanced and made from human-grade ingredients is your best option.
Feeding a well-balanced, fresh diet made with natural, real ingredients can promote heart, liver and gastrointestinal health, improve skin condition and energy levels and help dogs with food allergies. It can even extend your dog’s life. In fact, a Belgian study that followed 500 dogs for a period of 5 years found that dogs eating a fresh homemade diet lived up to 32 months longer than those eating commercial food.
The problem with homemade diets is that unless you can consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, getting the recipe right can be very challenging. On your own – and even following recipes for dog food you find online -- you most probably will end up with something that won’t completely fulfill your pet’s nutritional needs and, in the long term, will lead to malnutrition (overnutrition and undernutrition of nutrients).
This is where Cola’s Kitchen comes in. We believe in feeding dogs the best food. We also believe in feeding them an individually balanced diet that’s customized to their needs. Take a look at how you can have the best dog food delivered right to your dog HERE.
Debunking the Mercury Myth: Is feeding your dog salmon-based dog food safe? What are the potential hazards of salmon for dogs? Is your dog at risk of mercury poisoning? Find all the answers here.
We recently got asked this question. So we decided to clear the air...
TL;DR: The Mercury exposure from Salmon in most dog food is safe for daily consumption. The methylmercury amount in most dog foods containing fish is not significant enough to cause mercury poisoning or other complications.
"I heard that you shouldn't feed your dog Salmon more than once or twice a week."
"Feeding Salmon too often causes mercury poisoning."
"I'm worried about my dog getting mercury poisoning!"
These are common questions that people have been asking, and we thought it's best to clear the air. It is reasonable to be concerned about mercury poisoning when feeding your dog Salmon, especially since it is a common human diet topic. The short answer is: Salmon used in most properly balanced dog food will not cause mercury poisoning for your dog.
Mercury poisoning refers to toxicity caused by the consumption of mercury. The most common way of mercury exposure is from fish containing Methylmercury. Exposure to excess mercury is a health hazard to dogs and humans. It can cause a broad range of issues such as respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, kidney injury, impacted fetal development, and neurologic problems.
Scientists at the University of California, Davis, conducted a study to evaluate total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in commercially available salmon-containing and nonsalmon-containing canine diets and estimate the risk of chronic exposure in dogs fed these diets long term. The study was conducted on 24 diets. 12 diets contained some form of Salmon, and 12 did not have any form of Salmon. The results show that mercury was only detected in 3 of the 24 diets, 2 of which were from the non-salmon diets. The third diet with mercury was the only one containing Methylmercury.
"Total mercury and methylmercury were uncommonly identified in the commercially available canine diets sampled in this study and were found in concentrations unlikely to pose risk to healthy adult dogs"
Although mercury poisoning is rare, as demonstrated above, it's best to know the most common symptoms of it. Mercury poisoning can still occur in dogs if they consume something with high amounts of mercury in it, such as Tuna. According to AKC here are some common symptoms:
Now that we've cleared the air let's talk about the importance of eating a fresh diet in this context. One of the many benefits of fresh dog food is the significantly increased level of transparency. You can physically see most, if not all, of the ingredients that your dog will be eating, which is a BIG DEAL! This level of transparency does not exist in dry dog food. Kibbles are often made with low-quality ingredients, so much so that they have to be processed at high heat to kill bacteria and make it safe. To learn more about problems with kibbles, read our article on why you should not feed your dog kibbles.
With Cola's Kitchen's individually balanced fresh dog food, you will always know exactly what you are feeding your dog. We individually balance each recipe to meet the exact needs of your dog based on their profile. So you can always feel comfortable that they are eating a truly complete and balanced diet.
Cola's Kitchen's food is formulated under strict guidelines to meet or exceed the highest industry standards. While there is no risk for your dog eating our Salmon recipe daily, we highly suggest that they have variety in their diet and not eat the same recipe every day. We have 3 ingredient sets to choose from, and we always recommend for your dog to take all three if they don't have any restrictions.
Challenge the norm: Not all dog foods are equal! Learn why tailored nutrition matters and how commercial brands may not meet your dog's unique needs.
No matter what you’re feeding your dog, there are currently four main types of dog food available in North America and Europe. These are:
While all these food groups market themselves as completely nutritious and well-balanced, that’s not necessarily true. Dogs, like humans, are individuals, and the nutritional requirements of each one are different. As a result, dogs require specific diets based on their breed, gender, age, reproduction status, amount of activity and weight.
Most of the food groups above generally balance their food by adding nutritional supplements and synthetic food ingredients to their recipes. Not only is this practice unnecessary but it’s also wasteful (and sometimes even bad for dogs) if the original diet is truly balanced.
In addition, from a nutritional and quality point of view, most commercial dog food brands (in canned, semi-moist and dry form) are similar to human conserves, canned and fast foods. They contain harmful preservatives, they use low-quality ingredients, and they aren’t transparent when it comes to specific protein types used. They also practice harmful cooking methods such as extrusion, which uses high temperatures and can destroy nutrients.
Can we expect to stay healthy if we eat fast food every day? The answer is definitely NO. The same principle applies to our dogs. Of course, some dog food brands are better than others but in the end, they all share the same poor nutritional principles, which can take a toll on your dog’s health. We call this nutritional principle “bulk feeding”. More about “bulk feeding” later!
The type and quality of food ingredients in commercial dog food brands (canned, semi-moist and dry) are not generally what you expect. How can you find out more about the quality of the food you’re feeding your dog? Here is how:
1. Ask why.
Legally speaking, commercial dog food producers in North America and Europe are not obliged to reveal their food formulations or the percentage and quality grade of each ingredient used. The only information usually printed on labels includes:
- The name of the ingredients, often under general terms such as chicken or beef, but without specifying the type (breast, thigh, with skin or without, with or without bone, head, feet, etc.)
- The basic chemical composition, including crude protein, fiber, and energy, which basically does not tell you what you need to know (please read “7 things you must check in all dog food before purchasing” if you want to learn more about this).
2. Do the math.
If commercial dog food producers used human-grade food ingredients – or at least high-quality ingredients (such as lean beef, chicken breast, or fish fillet) – in their products, their price could not be as low as it is now.
“Complete and Balanced” is a common term found on the label of commercial dog food brands. The truth is that this claim is not always easy to prove and it’s too general to really mean much. After all, dogs are individuals and when it comes to their nutrition, they should be treated as such.
Of course, commercial dog food producers do not take this fact into consideration. They formulate and produce a basic diet recipe and recommend a feeding schedule based solely on the weight of the dog. With this approach, they are actually ignoring other parameters like age, breed, gender, physical activity, reproduction status (whether the dog is castrated, pregnant or lactating) – all of which affect the nutritional requirements of a dog.
So how can a food be “complete and balanced” when it’s not personalized for each individual dog? That’s a question you should definitely be asking.
The negative impact of poor nutrition on dogs’ health is not seen right away, but it will eventually show up in the form of disorders and diseases (please read “10 most common diet-related diseases in dogs” article). If we want to make sure our dogs live a long and healthy life, we should start thinking about feeding them human-grade, top-quality fresh food.
In a study conducted by Lippert and Sapy (2003), scientists evaluated data from 500 dogs between 1998 and 2002 and concluded that dogs fed a fresh food diet lived up to 32 months longer than those fed commercial dog food.
When it comes to feeding fresh, it’s all about the details. Most homemade diets are fresh but not complete and well-balanced.
This is because unless the dog parent is an expert in animal nutrition, a homemade diet can be very difficult to get right. A dog needs more than 30 essential nutrients to stay healthy and in good shape, and providing all these nutrients in the correct amount and balance can be very tricky.
As a result, many experts believe that dogs are better off with some kibble brands than eating fresh food prepared at home without a proper understanding of nutrition. Even though kibble might be incomplete and not well-balanced, at least it will provide a better balance of nutrients than most self-prepared foods.
As an example, most diets prepared without expert supervision are not properly balanced to provide dogs with adequate levels (not too little and not too much) and correct ratios of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. These nutrients are essential to a growing dog’s development, as well as for bones and teeth maintenance at different life stages. Without the right amount and ratios of these nutrients:
Though still not the best option, a better choice is fresh dog food producers. These are definitely better than kibble, canned, semi-moist and homemade fresh food. Their food is fresh (in contrast to commercial dog food) and better balanced than most self-prepared foods since it is produced with the same method of formulation and production/feeding principle that commercial dog food producers have been using for decades:
If we move past the marketing terms used, what other fresh food companies are offering at the moment is NOT truly customized dog food production. Like with commercial dog food producers, these food companies are offering one single food recipe that is generally balanced for all dogs and just recommend different amounts of this recipe based on the dog’s body weight.
It is scientifically and practically impossible to meet the nutritional requirements of every dog with one single recipe by just changing the feeding amount based on weight and a few other factors. Done this way, some dogs will simply get more nutrients than they actually need, while others will get too little. Too much dietary energy (calories), calcium or phosphorus can be just as problematic as getting too little.
The negative impact of poor nutrition on your dog’s health is not something you’ll see right away. Instead, it’s something that will build up over time and will eventually show up in the form of a disorder or health problem, such as obesity, bladder stone, diabetes, etc. (for more information, please read 10 most common diet-related diseases in dogs).
Don’t get us wrong! We’re still a huge advocate of fresh dog food producers and believe that what they are offering is significantly better than kibbles and other types of dog food.
Cola’s Kitchen is the first and only pet food company that creates individually balanced recipes tailored to your dog’s specific needs, at no extra cost. We do so in a way that provides your dog with all the required nutrients through a Complete and Well-Balanced All Natural Fresh Food. At Cola’s Kitchen, we’ll design and produce every dog’s meal based on the individual needs of each dog and any unique conditions that might apply.
Our recipes are designed based on the profile our customers make for their dogs. These choices then allow our AI system to formulate and individually balance recipes. The concentration of each ingredient in each recipe changes from one dog to another based on the individual characteristics of each dog and its unique requirements.
Our AI formulates each diet in a way that allows all the nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, to be supplied from natural sources. This means that, in contrast to other fresh food producers, we do not need to add synthetic vitamins or minerals to our food.
Transform your dog's health with the right diet! Our guide reveals the impact of food on canine health and obesity risks. Learn how to choose balanced, nutritious meals for a happier, healthier pup.
We are a nation of dog lovers and part of that love includes treating our dogs to what we think is great food. Because, after all, who doesn’t like a great yummy dinner?
The problem is that many people don’t really know what they’re feeding their beloved dogs. Too much food, the wrong kind of food, food that’s not properly balanced to help prevent disease and keep your pooch in optimal health. Some of us rely on commercial food to do the homework for us, others are feeding homemade or raw in hopes that it's healthy.
But without the proper knowledge of what your dog really needs, any type of food could lead to health issues and potential over or under-feeding.
According to VCA Hospitals, “obesity is the most common preventable disease in dogs.” Up to 30 percent of dogs are obese, which is more than the percentage of people who are obese in Canada (26.8%). The numbers are equally higher in the overweight category: 40-45% of dogs aged 5-11 years old are overweight while the Canadian humans fitting into that category reach 36.3%.
If you don’t find that telling enough, think about this: food-related illnesses and deaths are highly preventable. Because you’re in charge of your pup’s diet, it’s up to you to figure out the best foods for him to live longer, be healthier and be happier.
Canine obesity has become a major epidemic. The problem occurs after a chronic mismatch between the energy intake and energy requirements and it is characterized by increased energy retention, accumulation of fat and variable degrees of weight gain, from moderate to excessive. According to the AKC, over 50 percent of dogs are overweight or obese. But while other health issues would prompt most pet parents to head to the vet, obesity goes largely ignored. Interestingly, dog parents do not necessarily recognize overweight or obesity in their dogs. For many, it has actually become “normal” for dogs to be overweight. The APOP (Association for Pet Obesity Prevention) calls this the ‘fat pet gap’ or a “misalignment between what we think a dog should look like and what a healthy body composition should really be.”
Of course, obesity is usually the direct result of overfeeding, whether that means too much regular food or too many treats. That’s because even people who might be feeding the right amount of calories through food might not be accounting for the extra calories treats provide. Treats should not make up more than 10% of the calories in your dog’s diet – if you train regularly and need to use treats, you might need to adjust the amount of food you feed.
The problem of obesity is more obvious in older pets, however, considerable variations exist depending on breed, sex, individual endogenous and environmental factors. The level of body fat can vary extensively between breeds. As a rule of thumb, 10% overweight can be considered as beginning obesity, 20% are indicating the manifestation of severe obesity. Body fat concentrations, being 10-20% in normal-weight dogs can rise up to 40% in obese individuals.
Overfeeding can lead to serious issues, as overweight dogs are more likely to develop diabetes, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Plus, excess weight makes it difficult for dogs to move well, which means they’ll exercise less and when they do move, they’re more prone to injuries.
Experts point out that too much food might seem like an act of love, but it’s actually harming your dog. In fact, a recent study that followed more than 50,000 dogs for over 20 years, tracking their weight and health to see the impact of weight on dogs’ lifespan, proved just that. The results clearly showed that dogs that maintained a healthy weight range lived up to 2.5 years longer than those qualified as overweight.
Pet food labels allow assessment of the nutrient composition, however, the information given by the label may be misleading to consumers. The principles of labelling are regulated by the AAFCO in North America and European Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 in the EU. All nutrients have to be listed according to those legal requirements. The concentrations are always related to the feed “as is” or in other words to the “original” material. This makes a comparison of nutrient densities more difficult between different types of pet food. If a dry diet for dogs would be labelled to contain 15% of crude fat, and an alternative canned food would be labelled to contain 8% of crude fat, it is often not clear to consumers, that the latter diet has a higher fat concentration, related to its dry matter, compared to the dry diet. The level of fat in the dry matter of a wet diet can be calculated easily. Assuming that the labelled moisture content of the wet diet is 80%, the dry matter content of the diet would be calculated by 100% - 80% = 20%. The concentration of fat in the dry matter can be calculated by dividing the labelled fat concentration (as is) by the dry matter content and multiplication by the factor 100:
This example shows how often you can be misled about this essential basic information about the nutrient profiles of the diet which you use.
Another factor that you would have to consider is “the amount of nutrients your dog gets per day”. For instance, when you feed your dog with 105 g/day of a kibble product with 90% dry matter and 15% crude fat (as is) the amount of fat he receives per day is 15.78 g:
You’re not sure if you’re overfeeding your dog? Figuring that out based on weight alone can be tricky, especially for mixed dogs where you don’t have an average weight for the breed to rely on.
A simple check is to look at your dog from above. If you see an hourglass shape, chances are your dog is the right weight. Using your hands, you should also be able to easily feel their ribs and spine. You can also use the dry matter calculator from Omni to calculate the dry matter accurately.
If your dog doesn’t seem overweight, you might think all’s good with what you’re feeding, but this isn’t necessarily the truth. Sometimes the pounds pack on slowly so you might not notice the weight gain, especially on large dogs. But even if your dog isn’t necessarily getting chubbier, overnutrition can also lead to other health problems.
Bowel Issues: Abdominal discomfort, gas, and loose stools can all be connected to eating too much. The digestive system simply cannot work effectively if it’s constantly being overworked.
Skin Problems: Persistent shedding isn’t normal in most dogs and it could indicate a problem with nutrition. The same is true of constant itchiness. In the absence of parasites like fleas, a dog who’s always scratching probably has an underlying condition causing it – and those conditions are often connected to nutrition. Some dogs might be allergic to some of the ingredients in the food you’re feeding, while others might not be getting the right nutrients or even eating too much. Certain nutrients negatively interact with one another and have detrimental effects on the bioavailability of each other. For instance, besides the fact that excessive amounts of calcium or phosphorus can negatively affect absorption and utilization of each other, the antagonistic effects of calcium are also detrimental for iron, manganese, copper and especially zinc. Indeed, the iron, zinc, manganese and copper requirements of a dog increase when he receives a meal containing high levels of calcium. Zinc, iron, manganese, copper and selenium are essential trace elements. In dogs, the role of zinc in skin health has been well documented. Like zinc, copper and selenium are particularly important for the skin, hair, immune system and reproduction. Given the known negative interactions between certain nutrients which affect their bioavailability, all the nutrients in the final food mixture must be provided in a proper manner, with the right proportions and ratios. These include but are not limited to:
Joint Problems: Overweight dogs often experience pain and discomfort in their joints. In fact, according to VCA Hospitals, “being overweight and obese set the stage for increased risk of joint damage and subsequent osteoarthritis (OA), leading to chronic pain.” And if you thought OA was just about age, you’d be wrong – at least 20% of all dogs show evidence of OA, including younger dogs. The constant wear and tear caused by excess weight traumatizes the joints over time and leads to inflammation and pain, which in turn leads to arthritis. This is often worse on dogs that are fed a poor-quality diet lacking in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Lethargy and Tiredness: Being overweight takes a toll on your body and the same is true for our canine friends. But even overfed dogs that aren’t overweight can also feel tired and not up for running and playing around. This could be because they feel too full to move too much or because their joints or tummy might be in pain. Changes in behavior and energy levels should always be discussed with a veterinarian, as they could also be signs of a number of underlying health issues.
Underfeeding your dog on purpose is a form of animal abuse. In fact, the Humane Society considers underfeeding “intentional cruelty” – just as bad as depriving your dog of water, shelter or veterinary care.
While we don’t expect our readers to intentionally deprive their dogs of food, you might be surprised to know that you could be accidentally underfeeding your dog. In fact, this is more common than you might think in multiple-dog households unless you’re closely watching your dogs when they’re eating. For example, a weaker or smaller dog might get bullied by other dogs and have food stolen from him. Or if you free-feed, the bigger dogs might get to eat most of it, leaving little for the other dogs.
You might also be under-feeding by accident if you’re not measuring the amount properly. For example, if you’re just guessing the amount or using a cup (and probably not the same one) every day to feed. When in doubt, a proper measuring tool is a key to getting the proportions just right.
Underfeeding can also happen when using commercial dog foods because the feeding guide listed on the package is normally a wide general range and doesn’t take into consideration your dog’s lifestyle and personal needs. For example, active and working dog breeds might not get enough nutrition from a standard feed. Not only do they need an adjustment in the nutrients they consume, but they might also need to be fed just a little bit more than what the charts recommend.
Underfeeding or feeding poor quality food that’s not meeting your dog’s nutritional needs could also lead to malnutrition. While the most common sign of underfeeding is weight loss, dogs that aren’t getting proper nutrition can also show other signs of malnutrition, including:
Still unsure if you’re feeding too much or too little? This body condition score chart can help you better understand how well your dog is doing and whether you need to adjust his food intake.
You already know that poor nutrition can exist regardless of whether you’re overfeeding or underfeeding. You also know that obesity is connected to a number of health issues and so is not feeding enough nutrients.
But poor nutrition can also lead to reduced immunity. When your dog’s body doesn’t get the nutrition it needs, it becomes more vulnerable to infection, allergies and problems with healing. This is even worse if your dog already has a food allergy, as this can take a toll on the immune system and trigger worse issues, including environmental allergies.
An even scarier consequence of poor feeding is pancreatitis. This is a serious inflammation of the pancreas and can be life-threatening. Pancreatitis inflammation can be triggered by high-fat foods, obesity, food allergies and some toxins, a high-fat diet being the most common one. It means that it’s not only commercial food that can lead to this problem. Overfeeding a homemade diet can be just as damaging if you’re feeding too much or feeding the wrong combination of ingredients. If you’re going to walk away from commercial food (and you should!), you need a well-balanced diet to ensure proper nutrition but also to make sure the calorie count and fat content are just right.
Calcium and phosphorous are the "bricks" (the building foundation) of the bones. Nutritional imbalances, particularly deficiencies or imbalances of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in your dog's diet, can lead to bone disorders. These, in turn, cause serious and permanent problems, especially in young dogs.
Both overfeeding and under-feeding your dog can lead to a whole host of health issues. Combine that with a poor-quality diet and you can end up with a dog that seems to be eating well but it’s still not in great condition.
To prevent long-lasting problems, you should feed your dogs a high-quality, wholesome diet that’s free from preservatives and additives.
Unfortunately, just because a commercial dog food is labelled as “complete and balanced” doesn’t mean your dog is receiving optimal nutrition. Experts agree that ingredients such as corn, wheat, soy, additives and preservatives, salt and “meat” (without specifying which kind) provide questionable nutrition and are often only used as ingredients because they’re cheap.
Learning to read ingredient labels on dog foods is a great first step, but that still doesn’t guarantee that what you’re buying is the best option for your dog since there’s no personalization. A two-year-old dog who likes to run around needs a very different combination of nutrients than a seven-year-old who rather naps in the sun.
Looking at the feeding chart on commercial dog food containers doesn’t tell you much. Their one-size-fits-all chart doesn’t account for a dog’s particular needs, so you can never really tell if you’re feeding what your dog really needs.
In addition, for a diet to be healthy, it needs to be not only the right amount but also well-balanced and appropriate for the age, breed, weight, activity, biological and health status of your dog. An athletic dog shouldn’t eat the same as a dog who’s happier lounging on the sofa -- no matter if they’re the same breed, age and weight.
Feeding an individually balanced diet doesn’t have to be complicated. Take a 5-minute quiz and Cola's Kitchen will build the right diet to help your pup thrive.
Does your dog have allergies or special needs? We’ll account for that too when designing the right combination of ingredients and nutrients. We’ll even account for extra activity, age and other variants that affect how much and what your dog needs. In short, we offer completely balanced daily meals delivered right to your door so you never have to do any guesswork when it comes to feeding your pooch right.
Navigate the link between diet and dog health. Address obesity, bone disorders, pancreatitis, diabetes, and more through tailored nutrition.
The relationship between diet and disease is more significant than you can imagine. In fact, your dog's health depends greatly on what you feed them.
Here are 10 common health problems that are directly caused or affected by diet.
Obesity is probably the most commonly seen nutritional disorder in companion animals. Obese dogs are more likely to suffer from degenerative diseases and have a shorter life expectancy.
The problem occurs when there's a chronic mismatch between energy intake and energy requirements. This means your dog is consuming more calories than they need and can use regularly. Over some time, this can result in weight and fat gain.
Most of the time, parents do not necessarily recognize that their pets are overweight or obese until the problem is severe. Older pets are more likely to suffer from obesity problems. Still, weight issues can affect all dogs regardless of their breed and sex. As a rule of thumb, a dog that's 10% over his ideal body weight can be considered at the beginning stages of obesity, while those 20% over their ideal weight are already suffering from significant obesity.
Body fat levels can vary extensively between breeds. Dogs at a normal weight usually have body fat concentrations around 10-20%, but this number can reach up to 40% in obese individuals. This increased body fat concentration can negatively affect mobility, organ function, body biochemistry and life expectancy. Pet obesity has received some public attention in the last few years and is now recognized as a severe animal welfare issue in many countries.
The most common treatment for pet obesity is switching to a low-fat, high-fiber diet lower in calories. To achieve even better results, it's important to incorporate enough physical activity – and sometimes physiotherapy – into the mix as well. As a rule of thumb, energy allowances should be adjusted to 60% of the maintenance requirements at the target weight. Vets recommend aiming for a weight loss of around 1% per week.
Many commercial dog food brands available (canned, semi-moist and dry) are similar to humans’ fast foods. You can reduce the risk of obesity in your dog drastically by feeding him the right food. The best way is feeding fresh food that has been individually balanced for your dog.
Calcium and phosphorous are the "bricks" (the building foundation) of the bones. Nutritional imbalances, particularly deficiencies or imbalances of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in your dog's diet, can lead to bone disorders. These, in turn, cause serious and permanent problems, especially in young dogs.
If you want your dog to develop and maintain strong and healthy bones and teeth, a well-balanced diet is vital. Your dog's diet must be carefully balanced to provide both adequate levels and a proper ratio of calcium to phosphorus. For example, feeding adequate calcium without the correct amount of phosphorous can prevent sufficient calcium absorption and utilization.
On the other hand, you cannot just add massive amounts of calcium and phosphorus to your dog's food and hope you are providing the right amount. Your dog needs balanced nutrition and not a mountain of nutrients. Too much of a good thing can be just as bad as providing too little – and here is why:
Bladder stones appear when certain minerals concentrate and then crystallize in the dog's urinary bladder.
What your dog eats can play an important role in both the prevention and treatment of bladder stones. A well-balanced diet with the right proportions of macro and micro minerals can help, while an imbalance or excess of certain minerals in the diet can cause bladder stones. Even diets with calcium deficiency have been known to cause bladder stones.
The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen, next to the stomach. It plays a vital role in food digestion and converting it into fuel.
The most common health problem associated with the pancreas is pancreatitis - an inflammation that can be triggered by high-fat foods, obesity, food allergies and some toxins. Pancreatitis symptoms can vary from mild to very serious and often start suddenly. Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms. Once a dog develops pancreatitis, early intervention is critical to prevent complications.
After visiting a vet, the next most crucial thing you can do is adjust your dog's nutrition. You'll need to switch to a low-fat diet and make sure you feed your dog frequent small portions rather than a couple of big ones a day. This makes digestion easier and puts less of a burden on the pancreas. Some dogs must eat a low-fat diet for their entire life after developing pancreatitis, while others can return to a regular diet once the inflammation has subsided.
Like with obesity, you can reduce the risk of pancreatitis by feeding your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet right from the very beginning – and the best way to do this is by choosing a fresh and balanced diet.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by blood sugar that remains high over a prolonged period. Many factors can increase the risk of diabetes in your dog, but the most common causes are obesity and chronic pancreatitis. Diabetes in dogs cannot be completely cured, but it can be managed very successfully with the right nutrition. This includes feeding high-quality protein and adjusting the amount of fiber and carbohydrate content (to slow down glucose absorption) in the diet.
Colitis is a digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the colon. Colitis can be caused by different factors like stress and allergic reactions and infections by pathogens like Salmonella, E. Coli and Clostridium, and parasites like whipworms, Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
The appropriate treatment for colitis depends on its cause and can include anti-inflammatory medication or antimicrobial and immunosuppressive drugs). However, nutritional strategies like fasting for 24 to 48 hours, adjusting the diet's fiber content, feeding hypoallergenic food, and adding prebiotics and probiotics to the diet can significantly help.
The skin is the largest organ in your dog's body and is metabolically active. The skin protects your dog's body from physical and infectious attacks from the outside. It also serves as a reservoir for certain nutrients and helps control body temperature.
The health of your dog's skin and coat can be affected by a variety of nutrients, including protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins A and E, and minerals like zinc. Basically, you will always harvest what you plant –if you're feeding your dog a poor diet lacking in these nutrients, he might end up with skin problems.
The good news is that this doesn't usually happen overnight (unless there is a severe allergy to something). However, if you notice skin problems, it's time to pay attention to what you're feeding your dog so you can make the necessary changes. Most dogs with skin problems respond well once you adjust their diet, even if the problem's cause is not nutritional.
A food allergy is a reaction of your dog's immune system to a particular allergen in the diet. Like humans, dogs might have or even develop allergic reactions to certain food ingredients. The immune system of a dog with allergy produces substances known as antibodies. These antibodies identify a particular allergen in the food as harmful, even though it is usually not.
When a dog with allergies comes into contact with the allergen, the immune system's reaction can cause inflammation in the skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system. This, in turn, can lead to itching, sneezing, and other issues.
Before a food allergy can be treated, it's necessary to identify the food ingredient(s) triggering it and eliminate it.
One of the best ways to test for food allergies is by performing an elimination diet trial using a hypoallergenic diet. The trial should be conducted for at least 8 weeks but can be extended to 13 weeks. This is a slow but effective method that allows dog parents to pinpoint exactly what ingredients their dogs are allergic to.
The immune system is basically the defence system of your dog – it protects him from outside threats such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, free radicals and toxins. To protect your dog well, the immune system needs to operate at maximum capacity.
Nutrition is a critical factor for a well-operating immune system since the availability and presence of many nutrients impact the immune response. Many nutrients have been identified as essential for the development, maintenance and function of the immune system, including amino acids, vitamins like C, D, E, minerals like selenium, iron, zinc, and more.
Since the gut immune system contains a major part of the body's immune system, any strategy that greatly improves the gut microbiome will benefit your dog.
Added probiotics (live microorganisms that improve or restore the gut flora), as well as the natural presence of prebiotics (compounds that induce the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms) in your dog's food, improve the immune system by improving the health of the gut.
Diarrhea can be one of the earlier signs of some of the disorders and diseases we just mentioned. Other factors -- such as bacterial or viral infections, intestinal parasites, a sudden change in diet, environmental stress (such as travelling), and eating irritating materials (including garbage, toxins and chemicals) – can also cause diarrhea. If your dog has diarrhea, it is imperative to monitor the symptoms closely and treat it right away. It would help if you also encouraged your dog to drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
Keep an eye on how long diarrhea persists and whether other symptoms present, such as vomiting or lethargy. If your dog seems weak or is not improving, you might need to see a vet. Also, if your dog experiences diarrhea regularly, this could indicate a chronic problem that requires medical care.
You can help prevent diarrhea by minimizing stress in your dog's life and watching what he eats. Feeding your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet specifically tailored to his individual needs can improve the gut microbiome and strengthen the immune system. This can reduce the risk of diarrhea and many other common digestive disorders.
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