I’m re-running this in honor of the upcoming New Canaan Dog Days of Summer event. Bring your family and your pooches to join in the fun on Sunday, 8/29. Check out New Canaan Dog Days for more information (and to see if you can spot my little guy Riley).
Usually, I spend my time talking about nutrition for humans. But we’re not the only ones who can benefit from a healthy diet. Our pets deserve to be as healthy as possible, and just like for their humans, that means eating right. Let’s take a look at my favorite example: my dog Riley.
Riley started life as the littlest guy in the litter. Small for his age, he suffered from a chronic case of roundworm and endured endless deworming treatments. He was really happy, just not very healthy.
When he moved in with us, the first thing I did was find a holistic vet practice that focuses on wellness and nutrition. And I found a great one in Smith Ridge Veterinary. They do all of the normal vaccines and medications, but when it’s safe for the pet, they will suggest alternatives such as blood tests to determine vaccine needs and supplements in place of medication.
The next step was figuring out the best diet for Riley. He seemed to have allergic reactions to most food brands we tried: his skin itched and his GI tract staged an uprising. As much as I wanted to be the owner who cooks for her dog, that just wasn’t realistic. It took some trial & error, but we finally figured it all out. Here’s what he eats daily (your pet may thrive on a different mix of products, so this is not a specific recommendation):
- California Naturals brand food (Lamb & Rice)
- Rx Biotic by Rx Vitamins for Pets: a blend of probiotics
- Acetylator by Vetri-Science: digestive enzymes and probiotics
- Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil by Bravo!
- Daily Health Nuggets by Dr. Bob Goldstein: a blend of fruits, vegetables, vitamins and minerals
Now Riley is as healthy as he is happy, with a shiny coat that makes him look like a Breck girl. And a healthy dog makes for a happy human.
I’d love to hear what you do to make your pets healthy. Leave a comment below.
Tags: pets, smith ridge vet
