Dog Blog - Dog Information and Dog News

Lucky Dog Cuisine Offers a New Healthy Food Option for Your Dog - Turkey 'n Taters Includes Turkey, Pumpkin, Yogurt and More

Lucky Dog Cuisine has a new recipe! Turkey 'N Taters is Lucky Dog's grain free alternative. While Lucky Dog Cuisine believes that dogs benefit from grains, they also understand that there are some dogs that have a true grain allergy. For those special dogs they present Turkey 'n Taters.

Turkey 'N Taters is a blend of turkey, roast potatoes, yogurt, pumpkin, spinach, peas, carrots, olive oil, rosemary, garlic, sea salt and love. Even if your dog doesn't need a grain free alternative, they will still love to have Turkey 'n Taters join their rotation of Lucky Dog recipes. Read more about Lucky Dog Cuisine on their DogFriendlyCompanies.com bio page.

Lucky Dog Cuisine Founder Shares Insights on Garlic for Dogs, Weighs Controversy Vs. Benefits of This Powerful Health Food

Healthy Natural Dog Food: Part 3 Garlic and Your Dog
by Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine

--

Ah, garlic!  As a woman who loves to cook and to eat, I am thrilled to learn about all the wonderful health benefits of my favorite seasoning.  I cook for all the members of my family and that includes our furry babies.  My dogs eat a healthy, cooked, natural human grade dog food that I prepare.

Garlic has been used for centuries as a blood tonic.  There has recently been controversy over feeding dogs garlic.  Too much can cause a disease called hemolytic anemia.  Too much means 50 cloves at one time – that is too much for anyone!  Conservative use of one or 2 cloves per 50lb dog a few times a week has so many benefits.  Now even the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) recognizes garlic as safe.  The AAFCO is responsible for monitoring the safety of animal feed products and gathers information from professional toxicologists from all over the United States.

Let’s look at some of the amazing natural health benefits of garlic. It has effects on many organ systems. For the skin, it makes its way through sweat glands and pores.  Insects are 10,000 times more sensitive to its smell, making garlic an effective natural deterrent against ticks, fleas and mosquitoes.  Imagine, no fleas for your dog just by feeding human grade dog food containing garlic. For the stomach, garlic triggers gastric juices for better digestion and promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract.  It also has the ability to help regulate blood sugar and reduces cholesterol and triglycerides while purifying the liver by helping with detoxification. Garlic also contains the powerful antioxidant, selenium.  Selenium activates enzymes, which protect against cancer.  Cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental deaths in dogs.  The National Cancer Institute has found garlic to be effective in slowing the growth of cancer cells.

In summary, we can see that garlic stimulates immunity. It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral properties. It also aids in digestion and detoxification

The power of nature is seen again in the wonderful effects of garlic.  The best way to receive these benefits is through eating a diet rich in whole, natural, unprocessed foods.  Dogs, like people live longer when fed human grade dog foods that contain vitamins, minerals and real ingredients like natural garlic.  It is a simple thing to do to add to the health and vitality of your canine family!  And it tastes great too!

-----

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC has had a long and successful career as a Chiropractor to both humans and animals. As the first woman recognized to adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the first Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association she is passionate about our animals’ health. With four years of Nutritional Studies coupled with a natural approach to health care and a lifelong love of animals it was only natural that Dr. Elenbaas founded Lucky Dog Cuisine Inc. A company dedicated to providing All American, all natural, “Human Grade”, cooked meals for dogs.

Read more about Dr. Elenbaas and Lucky Dog Cuisine.

Healthy Natural Dog Food: Part 3 Garlic and Your Dog
by Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine

--

Ah, garlic!  As a woman who loves to cook and to eat, I am thrilled to learn about all the wonderful health benefits of my favorite seasoning.  I cook for all the members of my family and that includes our furry babies.  My dogs eat a healthy, cooked, natural human grade dog food that I prepare.

Garlic has been used for centuries as a blood tonic.  There has recently been controversy over feeding dogs garlic.  Too much can cause a disease called hemolytic anemia.  Too much means 50 cloves at one time – that is too much for anyone!  Conservative use of one or 2 cloves per 50lb dog a few times a week has so many benefits.  Now even the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) recognizes garlic as safe.  The AAFCO is responsible for monitoring the safety of animal feed products and gathers information from professional toxicologists from all over the United States.

Let’s look at some of the amazing natural health benefits of garlic. It has effects on many organ systems. For the skin, it makes its way through sweat glands and pores.  Insects are 10,000 times more sensitive to its smell, making garlic an effective natural deterrent against ticks, fleas and mosquitoes.  Imagine, no fleas for your dog just by feeding human grade dog food containing garlic. For the stomach, garlic triggers gastric juices for better digestion and promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract.  It also has the ability to help regulate blood sugar and reduces cholesterol and triglycerides while purifying the liver by helping with detoxification. Garlic also contains the powerful antioxidant, selenium.  Selenium activates enzymes, which protect against cancer.  Cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental deaths in dogs.  The National Cancer Institute has found garlic to be effective in slowing the growth of cancer cells.

In summary, we can see that garlic stimulates immunity. It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral properties. It also aids in digestion and detoxification

The power of nature is seen again in the wonderful effects of garlic.  The best way to receive these benefits is through eating a diet rich in whole, natural, unprocessed foods.  Dogs, like people live longer when fed human grade dog foods that contain vitamins, minerals and real ingredients like natural garlic.  It is a simple thing to do to add to the health and vitality of your canine family!  And it tastes great too!

-----

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC has had a long and successful career as a Chiropractor to both humans and animals. As the first woman recognized to adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the first Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association she is passionate about our animals’ health. With four years of Nutritional Studies coupled with a natural approach to health care and a lifelong love of animals it was only natural that Dr. Elenbaas founded Lucky Dog Cuisine Inc. A company dedicated to providing All American, all natural, “Human Grade”, cooked meals for dogs.

Read more about Dr. Elenbaas and Lucky Dog Cuisine.

Healthy Natural Dog Food and Signs of Good Nutrition - by Dr. Janice Elenbaas, Founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine

Healthy Natural Dog Food - Signs of Good Nutrition
by Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine

Good nutrition helps your dog resist infection and disease.  He/she will live longer and spend more quality time being your friend and companion.  Dogs need healthy, natural or organic human grade dog foods!

Let’s take a look at the various parts of the body that can give us a signal about the state of overall health.  The word ‘symptom’ is from the Greek word ‘signal’.  Symptoms are signs that the body is out of balance or attempting to heal.  We want to look at what symptoms mean, not try to suppress or cover them up.  Suppressing symptoms can prevent the body from healing. 

We will start by looking at the eyes.  Take a look at your dog’s lower eyelid.  The color here can indicate proper assimilation of iron and other minerals.  If they are white or light colored, there is poor assimilation.  The lids should be pink to red.

Gums are also indicators of the proper use of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  If in poor condition, we will see loose teeth, bleeding, tarter build up, light color or white spots.  Good healthy gums show no bleeding when rubbed and firm teeth.  The gums should be dark in color.  Additionally, your dog should not have bad breath! Feeding a good diet of human grade dog food will help keep eyes and gums in good shape.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and is an amazing indicator of overall health.  Skin needs high quality protein, fatty acids and fluids.  Without these, we see dry, flaky areas, ‘hot spots’, recurring infections and susceptibility to parasites.  Good skin should be smooth and pliable. Try lifting your dog’s skin and watch how quickly it returns to shape.  It needs to be elastic and firm.

If your dog’s coat is dry, brittle and dull, it could mean his diet is filled with poor quality proteins and is deficient in fatty acids.  A healthy coat will be soft, glossy and bright with minimal shedding.   It is not normal for your dog’s fur to always come out in clumps!

Energy levels are a natural indicator of health.  Is your dog energetic or does he seem listless and tire easily?  Dogs that appear hyper or overly nervous may be suffering from a poor quality diet loaded with preservatives and toxins.

Human grade, unprocessed dog foods provide high quality vitamins and minerals that are readily absorbed by the body.  Remember we are what we eat!  Health always comes from the inside and is reflected out!

Dr. Janice Elenbaas - Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!
----
Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC has had a long and successful career as a Chiropractor to both humans and animals. As the first woman recognized to adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the first Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association she is passionate about our animals’ health. With four years of Nutritional Studies coupled with a natural approach to health care and a lifelong love of animals it was only natural that Dr. Elenbaas founded Lucky Dog Cuisine Inc. A company dedicated to providing All American, all natural, “Human Grade”, cooked meals for dogs.

For more information or to contact Dr. Elenbaas please go to: www.luckydogcuisine.com

Lucky Dog Cuisine Passes the Cori Test - This Homemade, Healthy Dog Food is Shipped Right To Your Door and Your Dog

By the editors of DogFriendlyCompanies.com

Less than 48 hours after my order was placed, a FedEx truck arrived in the driveway, and delivered the Lucky Dog Cuisine order I placed for my dog, Cori.

Packed inside a Styrofoam cooler with dry ice were blocks of this homemade, healthy dog food. With their quick delivery and effective packaging, I was I already impressed with Lucky Dog, even before I experienced the product itself. All items arrived fully frozen and intact; there was no question about whether there was partial thawing on the journey from South Carolina.

My only issue was which flavor to thaw first. Should I go with the Original Beef and Rice? Or maybe the Tail Waggin’ Turkey? I decided on the former, and stuck it in the fridge. The other packages were rehomed in the freezer for later use.

The next day, the Original Beef and Rice was thawed and we were ready to go. I cut open the bag, and transferred the food into a big bowl for storage. As I did so, I noticed that in contrast to many store bought dog food, the Lucky Dog ingredients were easily identifiable – vegetables, rice, and big chunks of beef (Angus, by the way) all announced themselves clearly, and I knew I was dealing with healthy, whole foods. I believe in eating well … Why shouldn’t I provide Cori with the same opportunity?

But as tempting as it was, I didn’t give Cori a big dose at once. As most dog parents know, incorporating new foods into a dog’s diet should be done with care and caution. One doesn’t want to abruptly replace a dog’s normal food with new food, lest our dogs experience tummy aches. No fun for anyone. Rather, it is wise to incorporate new foods slowly and in small amounts.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine, understands this. In the literature that arrived with the food, she outlines a suggested protocol, beginning with replacing a quarter of your dog’s meal with Lucky Dog. As I scooped out Cori’s first serving, she waited attentively, and promptly finished what I gave her. I thought to myself, “Yes, this product is Cori tested and Cori approved.”

I continue to incorporate Lucky Dog into Cori’s diet, giving her a few tablespoons with meals, and a tablespoon or so with a few ounces of water as an afternoon snack. Even though her regular dog food is holistic and top of the line, I feel good knowing that I am also feeding her whole foods, not just “dog food.”

I can’t say for sure, but I think that first night after Cori tried the Original Beef and Rice, I heard her whisper, “I’m a lucky dog… I’m a lucky dog....” in her sleep. Whether that is due to the fact that she is so well loved, or that she was happy with her new snacks, one will never know.