Our Passion & Our Love
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Rosemary... The Unwanted Herb for K-9's Living with Epilepsy
Quote from a Guardian who has a K-9 living with Epilepsy:
" rosemary can lower the seizure threshold in some dogs and cause seizures. A lot of us epi dog owners avoid it like the plague. It is in A LOT of dog food, treats, supplements, etc."
Rosemary... This seemingly fragrant and natural herb used both in the culinary world as well as the pet food / treat manufacturing companies would appear to be harmless. But is it? For those Guardians of Epileptic Dogs, this herb is a complete terror. This neurotoxin can cause seizures, neurological problems and anemia. The difficult aspect for the Guardian is when they purchase treats/foods for their dogs they have to be well versed in being able to pick apart the ingredient list. Sadly, rosemary isn't always stated outright as being used in dog products. The pet food manufacturers many times will list it only as "herbs" or "mixed tocopherols" as well as using it as a natural preservative. Rosemary extract functions like a preservative for it is reported to work in synergy with the mixed tocopherols. Another negative is, where ever the manufacturing company sources their ingredients from, if this place adds rosemary or it's extract and ships it to the manufacturer, they do not have to list it as one of their ingredients used in the treat / food which promotes another concern for the Guardian of the Epileptic Dog. Many homemade dog jerky treats that are sold online will add rosemary as season to their treats. We came across a person in Texas who was making jerky treats seasoned with rosemary and we suggested he put a statement about rosemary triggering seizures. He replied back that there is no proof of this and he even said he contacted his pet nutritionist stating the same.
Not only will you find rosemary in treats / foods for our Dogs, you can also find it in many natural shampoo's, conditioners, supplements and sprays that are used on our fur friends. One wouldn't think that a shampoo or conditioner would have the same effect, however these extracts will absorb into the skin and go into the bloodstream. Extensive research must be done by the Guardian in order for them to feel safe and secure they are treating, feeding, bathing, etc... their dog properly so as to prevent them from having seizures.
House Woof Dog Biscuits has extensively researched what ingredients are the safest for the epileptic dog, presented our findings to a Guardian who lives with an epileptic K-9,
Dorothy Wills-Raftery of the FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews and the author of many books including "What's Wrong With Gibson", to ensure what we have learned is correct and formulated a biscuit treat called "Gibbie Snacks" made with Oatmeal, cooked green beans, carrots, sweet potato, zucchini, fresh parsley and a lean beef puree'. We felt there should be a K-9 treat available for the epileptic dog and through conversation with other's who have Epi Dogs, they would say there wasn't much out on the market for them to choose from for them to feel safe providing a treat not knowing if it were going to trigger a seizure in their dog and hearing this from Dorothy and others, the Gibbie Snack was born. This biscuit treat, which by the way, was named after Dorothy's Epi Dog, Gibson.
House Woof Dog Biscuits also owners of Edelweiss Bakery & Cafe has been given Purple Day Ambassadorship and are the only Ambassadors in the State of Vermont. March 26, 2014 (National Epilepsy Day) we held an event in our shop / bakery in Johnson, Vermont, where we donated 10% of all profits made that day as well as 100% of all sales of cupcakes iced in white and decorated with a Purple ribbon to The Wally Foundation-canine epilepsy. Our Face Book Page "House Woof Dog Biscuits and Edelweiss Bakery & Cafe" changed our colors for the month of March to purple to signify this important event of Purple Day.
The Wally Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting guardians of K-9 epilepsy as well as animal shelters and rescue groups, to pay for medications and treatment related to epilepsy.
The Wally Foundation has a simple mission and purpose...
"To assist owners of idiopathic epileptic dogs, dog rescue groups and animal shelters to afford medications and treatments related to canine epilepsy. The Wally Foundation will strive to be a resource for canine epilepsy, and support research into more effective treatments and a possible cure in canines and humans alike."
House Woof Dog Biscuits donates $1.00 for every bag of Gibbie Snacks sold on our Web Store to The Wally Foundation to help with those in need of medication for there is a high cost involved when you have K-9 living with Epilepsy that needs the drugs to help keep their Monster at bay. If you have a K-9 living with Epilepsy or if you are looking to assist in helping K-9's with Epilepsy and want to purchase our Gibbie Snacks for your K-9 please visit our web site at:
If you are in need of information about K-9's living with Epilepsy visit these links
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
How to "TREAT" our Dogs
Our Dogs have become an intricate part of our family. As with children, we nurture them with love, admiration, respect,understanding, tolerance and forgiveness. We also nourish them with provisions of food and other things needed to help them develop and grow stronger. Guardians, now more than ever are becoming more concerned about the foods they are feeding their trusted K-9s, Furkids, Best Friends, Side kicks or any other terms of endearment they choose to call them, and they want to feed them foods that are healthy. Shouldn't this be the same about the treats they are giving to them. Yes, it is "only a treat", but shouldn't this treat be just as healthy and nutritious as their food. Ask yourself this question, "Why do I give them a treat?" Is it out of love, training, good behavior or all the above. What you do know is they enjoy every bit of the treat you hand to them and they take it with enthusiasm and excitement. Sure, there are a lot of treats out on the market nowadays from the old fashioned milk bone to the gourmet biscuit treats. Which to choose you wonder or do you just purchase the one showing a dog eagerly accepting the treat from their human's hands printed on the box saying to yourself, "Dog's Must Like It" so mine should too paying never mind what this treat is made of, or do you research the ingredients.
With all the treats on the market today, it can be overwhelming and confusing as to which treat you should provide for your pup. How does one choose? Which are the healthiest? The first and most important thing you can do is read the ingredients. Don't be fooled by the colorful packaging, pictures or words on the front, what is written on the ingredient label is the key to a healthy biscuit treat. You want to look for organic, all natural products and be sure to stay away from any refined sugars (under any name except for "natural sugars such as honey, black strapped molasses), by-products - parts of the animal that isn't fit for human consumption (if it isn't good for us, why feed it to our dogs). Biscuits that incorporate vegetables (contrary to what is said, veggies are good for our dogs providing they are steamed, cooked or minced.) Watch out for high calorie treats (an overweight dog is an unhealthy dog.) The texture of the biscuit treat might not seem all to important, and it is true that ingredients and calories are more significant when choosing a healthy and nutritious dog biscuit treat but the texture of the biscuit treat is worth mentioning. When our dogs chew on hard, crunch biscuit treats, the treat is helping remove the plaque build up from around their teeth, unless of coarse it is a senior dog who may have more difficulty chewing, then you would want to provide them with a softer, healthier treat.
If you choose not to purchase a House Woof Dog Biscuit treat, be sure the treats you are giving are made with natural and organic ingredients that have no by-products, preservatives, artificial colors, etc. for it is your dog that truly benefits in the long run if they eat healthy and wholesome dog treats.
With all the treats on the market today, it can be overwhelming and confusing as to which treat you should provide for your pup. How does one choose? Which are the healthiest? The first and most important thing you can do is read the ingredients. Don't be fooled by the colorful packaging, pictures or words on the front, what is written on the ingredient label is the key to a healthy biscuit treat. You want to look for organic, all natural products and be sure to stay away from any refined sugars (under any name except for "natural sugars such as honey, black strapped molasses), by-products - parts of the animal that isn't fit for human consumption (if it isn't good for us, why feed it to our dogs). Biscuits that incorporate vegetables (contrary to what is said, veggies are good for our dogs providing they are steamed, cooked or minced.) Watch out for high calorie treats (an overweight dog is an unhealthy dog.) The texture of the biscuit treat might not seem all to important, and it is true that ingredients and calories are more significant when choosing a healthy and nutritious dog biscuit treat but the texture of the biscuit treat is worth mentioning. When our dogs chew on hard, crunch biscuit treats, the treat is helping remove the plaque build up from around their teeth, unless of coarse it is a senior dog who may have more difficulty chewing, then you would want to provide them with a softer, healthier treat.
House Woof Dog Biscuits provide your Best Fur Friend with all natural, healthy and nutritious biscuit treats full of passion, love, quality, consistency & honesty. We do not believe in all the fillers, additives, preservatives, by-products or any of the "extra's" you find in many of the commercial biscuit treats out on the market. Our belief is your dog should have a bite size biscuit treat full of goodness, health, nutrition and gives value to your dog for a better, healthier living. If you are feeding your dog healthy and want to give them a treat that will compliment their healthy diet, visit our Web Store at www.HouseWoofDogBiscuits.com
If you choose not to purchase a House Woof Dog Biscuit treat, be sure the treats you are giving are made with natural and organic ingredients that have no by-products, preservatives, artificial colors, etc. for it is your dog that truly benefits in the long run if they eat healthy and wholesome dog treats.
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