Raw Diets For Pets vs. Kibble

Raw Frozen Diets

When it comes to pet food, commercially prepared raw frozen diets are the gold standard. Raw frozen diets contain fresh protein (meat, poultry, etc) combined with vegetables and omega oils giving pets easily digestible, optimal nutrition that is low in carbohydrates. Some major brands include: Stella and Chewys, Instinct, Primal for example. Raw frozen diets can be especially helpful for pets with allergies, digestive problems and young, active pets. These are high protein diets containing real meat and poultry, organ meats, vegetables, omega oils and assorted nutrients. The ingredients are well balanced and speak for themselves.

Raw frozen diets are expensive and some cats won't eat them. Raw frozen diets don't have to be an all or nothing part of the pet's diet. Mixing a portion of raw frozen diets into your pet's food is a great option and is far better than not mixing in any at all. Many brands have tasty raw "mixers" and freeze dried raw options that pets will eat readily.

Pets that eat a raw frozen diet are getting a high moisture content which promotes overall health. This is why pets that eat raw frozen diets drink less water. The food is highly digestible so the stool size is often much smaller especially when compared to dry kibble. Since raw frozen diets are low in carbohydrates, they are an excellent choice for pets with allergies and/or yeast.

Click here to learn more about raw frozen diets

Dry Kibble Diets

Dry kibble is highly processed pet food made with carbohydrates to form the food along with a limited amount of protein. A portion of the protein percentage reported on the label is often derived from the starchy carbohydrates (e.g. potatoes) rather than from meat, fish or poultry. The primary reason dry kibble is produced is for convenience--not for your pet's nutrition. Carbohydrates used to make kibble range from grain-free legumes and potatoes to the less healthy grains such as rice and barley. Dry kibble can lead to bloat, yeast, itching, poor digestion since their ingredients are made for ease of administration. It can also contribute to autoimmune disorders in both cats and dogs.

Dry kibble is affordable and processed with preservatives to ensure a long shelf-life. Pets eating dry kibble often have large stools since many of the ingredients are not well digested. Cats are carnivores and have no need for dry kibble and yet, most cat foods are made with them. If you do choose to feed your pet dry kibble, please consider adding some raw frozen, canned or homemade food to their diet (NOT tablescraps!). Including lean protein, crumbled raw freeze dried or some raw frozen nuggets will add to their overall nutrition and good health. At the very least, consider adding green beans and other fresh vegetables to a dog's dry kibble to add enzymes and fresh nutrients to the diet.

Click here to learn more about dry kibble

When You Have To Leave Food Out

Dry kibble is a convenient way to leave food out for pets especially for working professionals. While free feeding is not optimal, sometimes it is a necessity when you are working long hours. We love our pets but we have to work. If this is your current situation, consider feeding dry kibble when you are not home and raw when you are OR as an even better alternative - consider RAW FREEZE DRIED. Raw freeze dried food is made with the same ingredients as the raw frozen diets but cooked slightly at low temperatures to make it a stable food that can be left out (if your pet doesn't devour it). Brands such as Stella and Chewys and Instinct offer companion freeze dried foods to their raw frozen diets for just this reason.

Finally, dehydrated food is made to appear as a "homemade alternative" and is also made with carbohydrates but these diets generally contain more nutritious ingredients and can be mixed with raw frozen diets. Due to the carbohydrates in most dehydrated food, these diets are not nearly as beneficial as raw frozen diets, but their convenience makes them a healthier option than over processed dry kibble.

Why Are Too Many Carbohydrates A Problem?

Why are too many carbohydrates a problem? Carbohydrates convert to sugar and can lead to yeast, diabetes and even cancer. Most notably they can affect immunity and worsen autoimmune disorders. Many cat owners with autoimmune disorders such as stomatitis are feeding their cats dry food not realizing that the carbohydrates in the food are worsening their cat's condition---the carbohydrates convert to sugar feeding the bacteria in the mouth. Moreover, while protein and fats are slow to be digested, the sugar from carbohydrates are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, spiking (and then dropping) insulin making pets hungry faster. Is your dog always acting starved? Could be that your dog is eating a kibble diet loaded with carbohydrates.

In summary, finding the right balance that works for your lifestyle, budget and your pet's well being can be accomplished by choosing different forms of food. If at all possible, try to incorporate something fresh (vegetables or lean protein) into your pet's diet.

Cat Celebrates Sweet 16 With Help From Natural Supplements

"My cat Michy celebrated his sweet 16 last month. Years ago, he was very sick, but now he is a healthy boy. He takes Gastro-ULC, Power Probiotic, Soothing Digestive Relief, Ultra-Flex, Kidney Health, and Renelix."

Marta-Alaska

Michy's Supplements

Power Probiotic - The best probiotic for pets!  Backed by scientific research, this powerful multi-strain formula promotes the growth of friendly bacteria which helps replenish a healthy intestinal ecosystem. Helpful for any pet with digestive discomfort and most pets love the taste too!

Gastro ULC For Acid Stomach in Pets- Natural stomach acid reducer-- relieves acid pain and repairs inflamed tissues.  Use with the K9 Digestive Enzymes and Power Probiotic.

Soothing Digestive-Gentle but effective formula for the treatment of any type of indigestion in pets. Helps with gas, loose stool, mucous in stool, tummy rumbling, diarrhea and malabsorption. Easy to administer

Ultraflex- A gentle formula that is easy to administer and clinically tested to reduce joint stiffness and pain in cats and dogs. It also supports the rebuilding of cartilage and joint connective tissue.Best joint support remedy for small pets.  

Renelix -flushes out the toxins from the kidneys and urinary tract. Helps restore normal kidney and urinary tract function. Use this product if your pet has ever had kidney or bladder stone or crystals or kidney disease or incontinence.  Please know Renelix will NOT break up bladder or kidney stones.

Kidney Health is an all natural, veterinary-approved supplement that provides protein support for cats and dogs enabling them to more efficiently breakdown, digest and metabolize protein. 

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow: Love & Hope from a Senior Rescue Dog

A longtime friend of Ask Ariel recently launched a special book that I would like to share with you – The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow: Love And Hope from a Senior Rescue Dog.

Author Kelly Nardoni poignantly writes about her journey with Annie, a thirteen-fourteen-year-old poodle mix she adopted from a shelter.  Filled with everyday adventures and thoughtful reflections, Kelly includes many adorable photos of Annie to support the story – all with the goal of encouraging senior pet adoption.

Kelly found that there is something unique about adopting an animal whose years are limited.  It helps us uncover what is really important and to navigate our own humanity. This is a heartwarming story about the beauty of the human-animal bond and the love that endures from such companionship.

For more information and to learn where you can find Kelly’s book, please visit www.kellynardoni.com.  If you purchase directly from her site, a portion of the proceeds will benefit senior pet rescue organizations.

Protect You Cat From The Great Outdoors

If you are looking to join the over 36 million Americans who have the joy of being cat owners there is an important question to ask yourself…will your cat be an indoor cat or an outdoor cat? To protect your cat, you might consider having them be an indoor cat. In a recent study funded by Auburn University Cell and Molecular Biology Fellowship Program, researchers found that outdoor cats were three times more likely to contract a parasitic infection compared to indoor cats. Outdoor cats are also much more vulnerable to predators, cars, diseases and aggressive neighborhood bully cats.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to protect your cat in the outdoors. Cats can contract parasites from many sources including insects (such as ticks), prey or even the soil. They are much more vulnerable to If infected your cat can spread these parasites to other pets or even your family.  If your kitty is longing to go outside, consider harness training.  It has worked well for many cat owners especially if the kitty is started at a young age. 

SAMe And Natural Treatments For Hip Dysplasia Keep Border Collie Dot Moving!

"Dot was diagnosed with bladder crystals at 10 weeks of age (she is now 7 years old). For the remainder of that year she was on antibiotics, as problems would recur. I wanted to stop that cycle of treatment that was expensive and offered no solutions, while filling her little body with antibiotics. That is when I found you on-line… I began Power Probiotic and  fish oil (Amazing Omegas) supplementation ( and changed diet after it was discovered that Dot had allergies). She did not have another episode of bladder problems. Her diet has changed little... She takes Power Probiotic  every day ... has never been sick and has no bad breath. 

At age 2 Dot was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia, common in both her breeds of Border Collie and Bernese Mountain Dog. Because I know the side effects of traditional anti-inflammatories, I started her on ArthroSoothe For Pets... at a dosage less than recommended. She had some limping. I began giving the recommended dose and she has done very well. Lesson learned. If there was a flare up of her hip dysplasia, I added Canine Comfort, which helped quickly. Also started CBD Oil within the past year, which has been a good addition. She recently had a wonderful day playing in the creek, chasing sticks. Putting weight on that leg is now painful for her, so I added Special SAMe. A hip replacement may be in the future, but I feel the supplements and natural treatments have been beneficial in helping keep her active and in good muscle tone, which, even with a replacement, would improve results. With activity limitation and a cut back on food, resulting in weight loss and the increased supplementation, I hope we get through this episode. I often wonder what we would have done without the help of you and the products."

Thanks

Linda- Arkansas

Healthy Alternatives To Avoid Declawing Your Cat

Many cat owners may not realize the long term effects that declawing can have on their pet's wellbeing. 
Declawing, or onychectomy, requires completely amputating the last bone on every toe of the cat because the claw grows from that bone. If you leave a fragment of that bone, the claw will regrow, often in a deformed way that leads to infections and lameness years after the surgery. Many people who had cats declawed in the past had no idea that bones were being amputated or the potential for long-term pain and suffering. There is also an increase in behavioral problems, which can be very difficult to treat. Many cats stop using the litterbox after surgery and start eliminating on soft objects like rugs, sofas or beds, which tends to be a lifelong problem and often leads to the abandonment of the cat. Some cats do seem to increase biting behavior after surgery as well.

Healthy Alternatives To Avoid Declawing Your Cat

1) If you have a kitten, you can acclimate them to nail trims early on. Adult cats can usually also learn to tolerate nail trims, but it can take longer.

2) Be sure your cat has appropriate scratching surfaces where your kitty can scratch freely.

3) Keep areas you don’t want scratched such as the arm of a sofa, temporarily covered with plastic or double-sided tape to deter scratching while the cat learns to use the post.

4) Consider nail caps as these can work well too.

Having a pet can present challenges and requires training and effort to ensure you and your cat can have a mutually enjoyable living arrangement. Please consider these alternatives and/or seeking the advice of a cat expert before resorting to declawing. For more Information click here ➡️Www.thepawproject.org/FAQs/

Rescue Puppy with Giardia And Heart Disease Lives To Be 10 With Help From Natural Supplements

“My precious Romo passed away.  Romo lived to be 10 years old despite having a tough start.  He was 4 months old when I rescued him. He had Giardia, had been bitten on his leg which caused an infection, and he had a seroma from his vaccinations since they gave him all his vaccinations at the time he was neutered.  Romo was a very loving, kind and extremely smart dog. He developed dilated cardiomyopathy and kidney disease when he was about 5 years old. I changed his diet to homemade and started him on a supplement regimen which include the following products from Ask Ariel:

Purrfect Pet CoQ10 for Dogs
Power Probiotic for Pets
Kidney Health Protein Support for Pets
Resveratrol for Dogs
Renelix Dog and Cat Kidney Formula 

I believe the supplements and changing his food slowed down the progression of his heart disease and I was able to reverse his kidney disease. His kidney function and kidney values returned to normal.  His vets said he had kidneys of steel. His heart disease and kidney disease I feel did not contribute to him passing away, all blood work was normal and heart was stable.  We don't know the reason for his passing, but I miss him every day and my love for this special dog will never die.  Love you Romo, you will never be forgotten. "

Cindy F.  - Illinois 

What is dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs? Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart condition that can affect dogs. It is characterized by the enlargement (dilation) of the heart chambers, particularly the left ventricle. As the chambers enlarge, the heart muscle becomes thin and weakened, leading to a decrease in the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

The exact cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs is not always clear, but it is believed to have both genetic and nutritional components. Certain breeds, such as Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Great Danes, and Cocker Spaniels, are more predisposed to developing DCM.

Symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs can include:

Coughing

Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing

Fatigue or weakness

Fainting or collapsing

Abdominal distension

Increased respiratory rate

Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of physical examination, imaging techniques like X-rays and echocardiography, and sometimes electrocardiography (ECG) to assess the heart's function and rhythm.