Dog Nutrition

Feed your dog twice a day. (Puppies should be feed 3 to 4 times a day until the age of around 16 weeks. Small/Toy breeds should have food available several times a day until 6 to 8 months of age.) Have plenty of fresh water available. Feed an amount that will maintain your dog's weight. Following are suggested daily feeding amounts however, keep in mind your dogs breed, age and activity level determines the amount you should actually feed (my theory; all dogs deserve a waistline):

SOFT STOOL   Premium food is very rich and has little in the way of useless fillers - during a change to a premium food, some pets may have a softer stool. A premium food will start cleaning the pet's digestive tract rather than just passing though the system. In time you will have a firmer, much smaller stool for easy clean-up. However, some dogs can have sensitivities to certain ingredients in dog food. Wheat and soy can cause problems including soft stool, gas and, in severe cases, vomiting.

Keep in mind, when you feed a diet that is low in protein and fat, sometimes the pet will eat more than they should in order to satisfy their taste buds. Improper feeding is the greatest cause of a pet being overweight (along with those extra treats from the dinner table), not the protein content or quality of the food.

ALLERGIES  The most common symptom associated with allergies in dogs is itching of the skin, either in one area or all over the body. Other symptoms involve the respiratory system with coughing, sneezing, and/or wheezing. There may even be runny discharge from eyes or nose, even chronic ear infections. Allergies, especially food related, can involve the digestive system, where the dog may vomit or have diarrhea.

Canine allergies can cause bacterial and yeast infections. Once the itching starts the potential for scratching until the dog bleeds can occur. The wound can easily turn into an infected, raw "hot spot" - the perfect place for bacteria and yeast to flourish. The infection can begin when these organisms have the opportunity to invade the raw wound. When your dog scratches, this can spread the infection from ears to face or to his abdomen, as well as between the "toes" of your dog's paws. Nasty odors (yeasty ear smell, etc.), scabs and flaky, oily dandruff are clues that the spread of these pathogens is occurring.

Canine allergies are a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system of a pet to a particular substance called an ‘allergen’. Most allergens are proteins. The allergen protein may be of insect, plant or animal origin. Initial exposure of the dog, or more likely multiple exposures, to the allergen may over-sensitize the immune system, such that a subsequent exposure to the same or related allergen causes an over-reaction. This means that the immune response, which normally protects the canine against infection and disease, can be harmful.

Changing a dog's diet, in my opinion, should be the first action taken. Many dogs are sensitive to wheat products, and low quality grains. Most commercial dog foods, even those that are supposedly "high-quality", contain grains, and fillers such as corn. The ingredients may not be human- grade and therefore of inferior quality. Grains are highly susceptible to toxic molds which can trigger allergies and possibly cause severe illness or even death. (See Doggie Detox)

THE BENEFITS OF BARF (Raw Food Diets)

One of the first things you will notice
about dogs being fed Dr. Billinghurst's BARF DIET™
is a new zest for life!

Teeth & Breath
Your pet will have much-improved breath, no tartar and beautifully clean teeth. All without having to visit the pet dentist or brush the teeth.

Skin & Coat
This can be one of the first changes you will notice when you start feeding Dr. Billinghurst's BARF DIET™. If those persistent skin problems suddenly disappear or improve, and you no longer need vet visits, medicated washes, antibiotics, cortisone shots and cortisone tablets, it has to mean something. It really is hard to ignore the deeply colored, lustrous, thick and healthy coat!

Immune System
Dr. Billinghurst's BARF DIET™ normalizes and strengthens the immune system. Because BARF contains a good balance of essential fatty acids and other immune normalizing and strengthening nutrients, it reduces inflammatory conditions and waves good-bye to infections.

Degenerative Disease
Pet owners that switch their older pets to Billinghurst's BARF DIET™ usually find that whatever degenerative disease their pet has contracted, becomes less of a problem.

Stool Volume & Odor
Once again this reflects the improved health of the immune system and the remarkable difference that bone eating makes in the production of firm stools which are essential for normal anal sac emptying.

Arthritis
After a few months you can expect to see much greater mobility in your pet. This is part of the reason so many older pets have a new lease on life when switched to Dr. Billinghurst's BARF DIET™.

Lean Body Mass
By feeding Billinghurst's BARF DIET™, your pet will lose unwanted fat and gain that much desired increase in muscle mass. This not only makes your pet look better, it increases your pet’s metabolic rate, its activity levels and its healthy life-span. The effect will be more rapid if you combine Dr. Billinghurst's BARF DIET™ with some normal exercise.
 

FLINT RIVER RANCH PREMIUM NATURAL PET FOODS

Flint River Ranch is naturally preserved with Vitamins E and C using human quality ingredients. Most foods using chemical preservatives and low quality fillers may be associated with dry skin, allergic reactions, dental disease, poor health and degenerative organ dysfunction. Made and shipped fresh. Concentrated. Costs less to feed. Recommended by Vets and Breeders. Sold nationally. Delivered by UPS to your home. No more special trips or carrying heavy bags.