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In Part I of the history of pet food we looked at how dry food or “kibble” came to be and why it might not always be a one-size-fits-all option. The pet food industry has boomed over the past couple of decades, with some incredible advancements in the last decade alone.   We now have canned pet foods that are more edible than some canned human foods, freeze dried complete meals, kibble mixed with freeze dried foods and more frozen and fresh raw options than you can even begin to imagine. Trying to sort through some of these offerings can...

  The beginning of pet food as we know it began in the year 1860 with the invention of the “dog biscuit” in England. A gentleman by the name of James Spratt made this biscuit from vegetables, beef blood, wheat, and beat root. These biscuits became incredible popular, and by 1890 the commercial pet food industry had made it to the United states with other companies making their own version of the dog biscuit. Commercial pet food, as we know it was born in the 1930’s. Cereal and grain companies were looking for a use for grains, wheat, corn, rice...

He can melt your heart with one soulful glance from his chocolate-brown eyes. He is your best friend and you are a responsible, loving dog owner. You do your best to give him the most nutritious food and treats available. You take him to the vet for check-ups and vaccines. If you have a long-haired dog, you may even make routine appointments with a dog groomer to get his hair professionally trimmed. But did you know that regular, at-home grooming is just as important for his health and well-being? All dogs, even those with very short fur, need consistent, frequent...

This problem is really multifaceted. Once pet food is exposed to oxygen it oxidizes, or becomes rancid. Yuck! The nutritional value after just 3 weeks of being open, even in a storage bin, is substantially lower than when the bag was opened. One of the most dangerous, and unfortunately most common practices is for pet owners to purchase high quality and often times expensive dog food in fancy packaging made to keep the food fresh only to go home, tear open the bag and pour it directly into a plastic pet food bin. This practice is one of the worst...

If there is ever a time of year that I am overwhelmed with questions /concerns on skin and coat issues with dogs and cats it is Autumn and Spring. Why, you ask? Please allow me to elaborate. There are two things all dog and cat owners need to be informed on when it comes to skin and coat issues during these seasons of the year. Instinctively, cats and dogs need to adapt to change or suffer consequences… Relating to Autumnal and Vernal changes in weather their bodies are trying to adapt to the dramatic, and sometimes, unpredictable weather conditions during...