Health & Wellness Facts

HOW SWEET IT IS! HEALTH BENEFITS OF SWEET POTATOES

l of us at Do Only Good (D.O.G.) Pet Food is proud to introduce the first member to our treat line: D.O.G. Organic Sweet Potatoes. As you know, we value ingredient transparency and the health of all pets. We wanted our first treat to be pure and holistic, with the nutritional benefits you have come to know and trust about our brand. I hope you enjoy this month’s article and give our new treats a try – they are already a hit with the four-legged members of our households! Read More »

HERBS: SMALL PLANTS – BIG HEALTH BENEFITS

By now, we are all aware that herbs have more uses than just in culinary pursuits. Herbs are used also for both aromatic and medicinal purposes. The volatile or essential oils which come from herbs give each plant its distinctive scent. Often the therapeutic usage of herbs can support the health of our canines. However, it must be made clear that herbs should be given to your dog in controlled amounts, as various planet species can be toxic. Read More »

PUMPKIN: BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH PEOPLE & PETS

When you think of the word ‘pumpkin,’ does it conjure up thoughts of jack-o-lanterns at Halloween or a fantastic pie at Thanksgiving?  Chances are, most of us only ponder pumpkins during the autumn, but if this is true, we (and our pets) are missing out on some great health benefits from this member of the squash family. Read More »

TRANSPARENCY – A CLEAR CONVERSATION ABOUT INGREDIENTS AND THEIR ORIGINS

As a Companion Animal Nutritionist, part of my job is not only to understand the functional value of each ingredient that goes into pet food, but also the quality of those ingredients. Read More »

OBESITY IN DOGS

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and being homebound, many of us have probably provided our beloved pets with more treats/food than usual. On the surface, this may seem a bit harmless (considering your dog is perhaps taking more walks now); however, in the United States, there is an increasing problem with dog obesity. Therefore, this subject needs to be taken more seriously. Read More »

FATTY ACIDS AND WHY THEY ARE ESSENTIAL

We all now know consuming too much fat is not good for us. However, we humans and our beloved pets require fats within our diet for healthy physical development and to provide the energy we need to live and thrive. Read More »

DIVING DEEPER INTO THE IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS IN YOUR PET’S DIET

In an earlier Nutrition Facts Article on minerals, I discussed what chelation was and its importance for improved bioavailability of minerals in a diet. Now I would like to dig deeper into this subject by examining things like antagonistic interactions, diet efficiency, environmental concerns, and impurities. Read More »

A GUT REACTION – THE DIFFERENCES AND BENEFITS OF PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS

In recent years, we have become a society that spends tens of billions of dollars on probiotics.  It seems we are all aware and proactive about the importance of intestinal health. But few understand the difference between probiotics and prebiotics. Although both works to aid in a healthy gut, there are distinctions between the two, which are worth knowing. Read More »

HYDRATION

As we move into the months of warmer weather and increased outdoor activities with our pets, I thought it wise to visit the subject of hydration and the dangers of dehydration. Read More »

BEWARE OF THE INTERNET

As many of you know, I have dedicated my life to animal nutrition. Over the years, I have seen my share of erroneous information not based on scientific research. However, in recent years this trend has increased dramatically due to the internet. Read More »

INGREDIENTS – HOW THEY SUPPORT A DOG’S LIFE FUNCTIONS

When you have a doctorate study animal nutrition and having over forty years in companion pet nutrition, people tend to ask you a lot of questions about what to feed their pets.  The answer, however, is not always a straightforward one. Animal nutrition must take many things into account, such as the physiology of the animal as well as how ingredients can distinctively aid in health and longevity. Read More »

PEAS – EXPOSING THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS POWERFUL PLANT PROTEIN

There has been a lot of well-meaning, albeit misguided information about pea protein and pet nutrition. Therefore, I am modifying an article I previously wrote, providing you – the pet parent – with updated research on the subject. I aim to clarify the health benefits of this little spherical legume. Read More »

MEET & GREET THE MERITS OF THE HUMBLE BEET

time, there has been new scientific research on the subject. We wanted to make you aware of these new findings and how D.O.G.’s use of this root vegetable helps improve the overall health of dogs. Read More »

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. STEPHANIE CLARK (Part II)

This month we conclude our interview with Dr. Stephanie Clark, who is an equally dedicated pet parent and scientist. Dr. Clark is a co-author of a recently published literature review in the Journal of Animal Science. This peer-reviewed journal article entitled, "Review of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in the wake of diet-associated concerns," showed no conclusive correlation between grain-free dog food and DCM. Read More »

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. STEPHANIE CLARK (Part I)

As many of you know, our mission is to Do Only Good for the health of all dogs and the planet. It has also been our mission to keep you informed of any updates regarding the FDA's report of two years ago regarding the disease dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Recently, a literature review published in the Journal of Animal Science showed no fixed correlation between grain-free dog food and DCM. We sat down with one of the journal articles authors, Dr. Stephanie Clark, to discuss not only her research but her views as a devoted pet parent and the importance of animal nutrition. Read More »

MIXING IT UP – THE BENEFITS OF A COMBINATION DIET FOR YOUR PET

Happy New Year! Perhaps like me, you were exposed to an array of food choices throughout the holiday season.  Having a selection of options (healthy ones, especially) keeps our meals enjoyable and diverse.  This opportunity to experience different kinds of food, not only in taste but in texture, can be beneficial for your dog as well. Read More »

ROTATIONAL FEEDING  –  OPTIMIZING YOUR PET’S HEALTHY DIET

As a pet nutritionist, I understand all too well the plethora of choices available when feeding your beloved pet.  Moreover, if you are taking the time to read this article, chances are you’re a pet parent already dedicated to the concept of providing excellent nutrition for your dog. Read More »

BIOAVAILABILITY & CHELATION –  A DYNAMIC DUO FOR DIETARY HEALTH

As more and more people grow conscious of their own nutritional choices, devoted pet parents are also keenly aware of what they are feeding their dogs and how that food translates into the holistic wellbeing of their four-legged family members. Read More »

EMBRACING THE AMAZING – The Extraordinary Benefits of the Humble Egg

Often I am asked why I include an egg in my formulations of pet food.  Many of us who specialize in pet nutrition (myself included) consider the humble egg a perfect protein for dogs.   Why do we say this? Read More »

D.O.G. FOUNDER’S LETTER – DCM UPDATE

During the past few weeks, there has been a whirlwind of press coverage regarding the FDA’s report on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).  Although this report was inconclusive, showed no causality, and failed to link the condition to pet food, there has been a rush to judgment by various media outlets which has both perplexed those of us in the pet industry as well as pet parents throughout the nation. Read More »

BEET PULP

Beet pulp is the dried fibers left from the extraction of its sugars for human use as a sweetener. Most animal nutrition researchers consider beet pulp an excellent moderately fermentable fiber source that has pre-biotic properties.  Read More »

DCM – DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

As many of you are aware, in July of 2018, the FDA stated they were investigating a possible correlation between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ingredients contained in certain pet foods and taurine deficiency. Although the FDA study is a theory and in its early stages, this letter is to provide you with the latest information available on this subject. Read More »

DOG MEAL

It is rare that we humans think of the word ‘meal’ beyond what we see on our plates and put in our pet’s bowl. However, understanding the word ‘meal’ within the ingredient list on a dog food bag can bewilder even the most astute pet parents – with little wonder. The ingredients of pet foods Read More »

THE BENEFITS OF L-CARNITINE FOR YOUR CANINE

As pet parents, we want to provide our dogs with the best nourishment to enhance their health and well-being. We do this by monitoring the diet, exercise and changing energy levels in our pets. L-carnitine plays a key nutritional role in maintaining the health of our four-legged friends. L-carnitine has shown improved exercise performance, as Read More »

DCM AND YOUR DOG’S DIET: THE FACTS ABOUT GRAIN-FREE PET FOOD, PROTEIN SOURCES & TAURINE

We, humans, are all too aware about how our diet can be a contributing factor to heart disease. Recently in the news, there has been speculation that a canine heart disease known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), may be connected to what we feed our dogs. So, what is DCM? According to Dr. Sonya G. Gordon Read More »

A CLOSER LOOK AT CARRAGEENAN

Carrageenan is a seaweed-derived food ingredient that is commonly used the world over. Carrageenan is extracted from red seaweed and is a hydrocolloid. Long extolled for its thickening properties; it has a wide range of applications and is used in a variety of foods. Carrageenan is obtained from a type of red seaweed. This seaweed Read More »

PEA PROTEIN IN PET FOOD

Pea protein is almost a near perfect protein of essential amino acids, plus pea protein provides additional vitamins, minerals and fiber that a pet needs in its daily diet. However, peas are lower in a few important amino acids; methionine, tryptophan, and valine. This means that other sources of these amino acids must be supplemented Read More »

SALT IN PET FOOD

Salt is made up of Sodium and Chloride, both of which are essential nutrients for the dog and cat and need to be in their daily diet. Sodium is involved in the regulation of body fluids and the osmotic balance of these fluids. Salt is valuable as it can effect taste and help with water Read More »