We all want the best for our pets, but what which brands get you the most  per dollar?

These days people are looking for the best ways to stretch their money. With prices going up everywhere, customers want to give their pet the same as any family member, but many are still concerned as super premium dog foods can cost more than $100 a bag. A very good quality pet food has lots of meat, a good portion of vegetables/fruits,  extras like probiotics, and often  ingredients for joint support like glucosomine. It does NOT contain corn/wheat filler, byproducts, artificial preservatives/colors.

Many brands that have this criteria cost upwards of $80 per bag. With the Acana Burbank Chicken and potatoe 13.5kg bag  you can have all of this for less than $60 and it is one of the few that can do so . Besides a chicken and fish inclusion of 60% , Acana Chicken has a healthy portion of vegetables and fruits. These have lots of antioxidants and are natural sources of vitamins and minerals. Just to be sure though  the formula has the usual complement of vitamins as well though.  Other fantastic features of the Acana Burbank Chicken formula are a unique complement of botanical grasses/flowers, beneficial probiotics, and glucosomine.

The Acana Chicken formulas also comes in variations for  puppy, large breed puppy, light and fit (weight management formula), small breed adult, large breed adult , senior, and sport. They are usually just a few dollars more than the adult.

Acana has also expanded it's line of single protein formulas and well as a complete line of grain free formulas. Single protein recipes include lamb, duck, and pork. They are easy to digest and a little lighter in protein levels. Grain Free formulas include the Pacifica (fish), Grasslands (lamb/duck), Ranchlands (beef),  and Wild Prairie (chicken). Protein levels are higher in the grain free formulas so the pricing is higher than the basic Acana Burbank Chicken formula.

Acana is made for both dogs and cats. The feline version is 100% grain free and features all the same benefits of the Acana grain free line.

Our full collection of Acana Products can be found here in our online store or at either one of our retail locations.

http://naturalpetfoods.ca/collections/acana

 You can be sure Natural Pet Foods keeps stocked up with Acana!

This berry could be a potent cancer fighter. We have had great success stories in the past managing pet cancer with our Cranimals Very Berry Supplement.

And now Crystal from our Carleton Place store has an excellent story to tell. Several weeks ago her French Bulldog Charlie had a large growth. She started giving Charlie berry powder and our anti tumor tincture.and now it's virtually gone! Even we were surprised at the speed this happened. We have reasonable expectations of success when customers use this approach to managing their pet's cancer but this was much faster than usual. Charlie is relatively young though.

Both the berry powder and tincture of wormwood induced cell death in cancer cells during lab experiments.

Both the berry powder and tincture of wormwood induced cell death in cancer cells during lab experiments. One of our customers has suggested that the wormwood tincture not be used at the same time as the antioxidant rich berries though as the wormwood may function by causing a free radical reaction with iron concentrations inside the cancer cells. 

How to manage a serious medical problem is something you will need to consult your veterinarian and other pet health advisers about. This blog post is not intended as medical advice and is strictly an opinion piece intended to encouarge further exploration of the subject by the reader. 

You can find organic Cranimals Berry Powder in our online store here. It's easy to mix this product in with your pet's wet food or yogurt.

http://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/cranimals-very-berry-powder

If you wish to do some further reading on these exciting studies check out these links too.

Raspberries Induce Cell Death in Cancer Cells

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719230/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719230/

Artemisinin Induces Cell Death in Cancer Cells

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15330172

NOW Fresh

A Food No Vet Could Complain About!

Grain-Free, moderate in protein, and packed with fresh meats, veggies, and fruits

NOW Fresh is a fantastic pet food choice for both dogs and cats

This Canadian-made food has found a unique niche in the pet food market. It's grain-free and yet moderate in protein levels. It's a food we tell customers that their vet will have no problem with. Just look at what it's got going for it 

• Grain-Free
• Moderate Protein
• Lots of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables
• Probiotics
• Canadian-Made

It's a manufacturer we have worked with for many years, and Jeffrey, our sales rep, was actually one of the first customers at our Westboro store. It has some unusual features that we like a lot and make it an appealing food for customers searching for the right pet food. Despite the fact that it is a regular dog food, Now! Adult Dog  does not contain any chicken. This is great because chicken is a very common allergy. 

While we don't interfere with veterinary prescriptions, some customers with pets that they suspect have kidney issues choose Now! because of it's relatively low phosphorus levels. There is some controversy about how important protein level is for a pet with compromised kidneys, but there is no doubt that low phosphorus levels will help out in this situation.

Another benefit of the Now! foods is the excellent variety of fruits and veggies. Many of the foods that are often called "Superfoods" are right there in the Now! pet food. Cranberries, raspberries, bananas, spinach, and broccolli are all there, among many other ingredients packed with antioxidants. Can you believe this food even has grapefruit in it? Many times foods that we know to be healthy have health benefits for dogs and cats too.

And this pet food is available for both dogs and cats. For dogs it comes in puppy, large/small breed, adult, and senior-weight management formulas. For cats it comes in kitten, adult, and senior-weight management formulas.  The cat food has a new trout formula available as well which will please seafood loving felines. You can check out the details on their website at http://www.petcurean.com/ and order online on our website.

The Perfect Combination of Quality and Convenience

There are so many different harnesses out there, and some of them can be a hassle to get on. That is where the ComfortFlex Harness comes in. It is so easy to put on that we can demonstrate the harness to a customer in a few seconds. That contributes to it's great sales too, but it is backed up by fantastic product quality and features as well.

The ComfortFlex Sport Harness offers you and your dog only the highest standards of safety, simplicity and security. Unlike a lot of harnesses, the ComfortFlex Sport Harness is designed to protect sensitive areas, like the throat and underarm, during any exercise. And it's made in the USA with American quality.

To put it on, you just slip it over your dog's head, fasten the Velcro underbelly belt and safety buckle and you are ready to go on a walk or an adventure at the lake. If it is a walk you are going on then the ComfortFlex is equipped with reflective stripes for night visibility as well as a handy sidewalk handle on top for greater control at important times. The ComfortFlex also incorporates a chest strap to help reign in an excitable dog. The ComfortFlex is not however a harness designed for discipline even though it has these features. At the same time it is nicely padded for your dog's happiness. Many of our customers buy it for their sporty flyball dogs.

If your dog is active at the lake or your pool  you will appreciate that the ComfortFlex is waterproof and resists odors. It is US made in upstate New York so you can anticipate a higher level of manufacturing. 

So far we have no recollection of any customers being dissatisfied with their purchase of a ComfortFlex Harness. It is truly one of our favorite things and real gem of a pet product. You won't be disappointed purchasing it.

They are availabe through our online store so be sure to check our wide selection of colors and sizes.

The ComfortFlex colors include  berry, blue-jay, bordeaux, forest green, hunter orange, saffron, raven, neon pink, raven, and red.

Sizing ranges all the way from petite P teacup size to XXL suitable for the largest dogs

Does your furbaby have an upset stomach sometimes?

One of the most common reasons customers come to our store is for natural solutions to digestive troubles. After working with our healthy supplement line for so long, we know that certain ingredients have solved canine and feline digestive issues time and time again. The Omega Alpha Probiotics Plus product has many ingredients that could allieviate digestion issues. Combined in one product is probiotics, enzymes, and fibre.

http://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/omega-alpha-probiotic-8-plus-150g

Sippery Elm is one such source of fibre  that can help in a multitude of ways. Long used by native people, the ground inner bark of the slippery tree can provide soothing relief for a pet's digestive tract. When mixed with water the slippery elm forms a gel which coats the stomach and colon. The decreased contact by food with the stomach can result in much relief for a pet with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD). It also stimulates the secretion of mucus, and antioxidants have an anti inflammatory effect. The increased mucus could be beneficial in cases of ulcers or too much acidity. Like many herbal supplements there are also secondary benefits from the many other nutrients it contains. The taste of the powder is fairly bland which makes it easy to add to wet food. 

Marshmallow root is another common inclusion in digestive formulas that works in much the same way as Slippery Elm by forming a thick sticky gel that coats the stomach and reduces inflammation. The fibre's passage through the intestines stimulates the passage of stool while also simultaneously cleaning the system. 

Probiotics 8 Plus also contains Kelp and Spirulina which contain compounds that detoxify,regenerate ailing cells, and stimulate a healthy colon. Specifically it is a special type of dietary fibre in the kelp that detoxifies, supports friendly gut bacteria, and reduces inflammation. All these things can be favorable for dogs or cats that suffer from ailments like ulcers, IBD, constipation, diarrhea, and so many other digestive upsets. And of course once again Kelp is also a rich source of other nutrients as an added bonus to including this in your pet's diet.

In addition to these beneficial fibers (which are also prebiotics that support and feed probiotics) you will also find several different types of probiotic bacteria in the formula. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that will help your pet to digest food and produce beneficial compounds. Promoting the populations of friendly bacteria also means that populations of toxin and immune suppressing negative bacteria will go down. Dogs and cats that suffer from inflammatory bowel disease and diareeah can benefit from the use of probiotics. If your pet has recently had a round of antibiotics then probiotics can help to replenish populations of friendly bacteria. Antibiotics can kill both friendly and unfriendly bacteria, and possibly contribute to the development of allergies by killing bacteria that form a sort of lining on the stomach walls.

The third main element besides fibre and probiotics in the Probiotics Plus product are the enzymes. Enzymes are catalysts that help digestion take place. This product contains all four of the main digestive enzymes which are protease, amylaste, cellulase, and lipase. These help vitamins and minerals to be absorbed from food. If food is not completely digested then undigested particles could enter the bloodstream and cause other problems. Adding digestive enzymes is a way of simulating the natural diet of carnivores because in the wild they would absorb rich amounts of enzymes by eating the organs of their prey. 

At $27.99 for 150g or $59.95 for the 500g size the Probiotics Plus is an affordable way for you to improve the digestive health of your dog or cat. And pets even like the taste of it. Some over our staff sprinkle it right on top of kibble, but you can also add it to wet food. 

Order here from our online store and see how much happier their tummy is !

http://naturalpetfoods.ca/products/probiotic-8-plus

As we all know, cancer is the leading cause of death for pets, whether they are cats or dogs. At Natural Pet Foods, one of our primary concerns is helping your pet manage this condition when it does happen. In fact, the store was founded because we felt there were too many stores selling foods containing possibly cancer causing ingredients. We wanted a store where there would be no harmful chemicals in the foods.

But what can you do when your pet is diagnosed with a tumor? Sometimes people think there is nothing they can do about it; but over time we have seen great evidence that something can indeed be done about it. Numerous times, cysts and tumors have shrunk after a few weeks of feeding Cranimals and/or the Prescribed Animal Wellness Anti Tumor tincture. We know this because our own staff members use this product with their pets. Cancer is a terrible disease and there are no guarantees it can be beat, but here are some examples where it seems it could be managed with supplements.

• A very old cat diagnosed with an abdominal tumor was fed berry powder and tincture every day. He lived quite happily for another year, which was great, considering his age!
• A customer was told his pet only had a couple of weeks left to live. One year later, after buying the Anti -tumor tincture, his pet was still alive.
• A staff member noticed her dog was getting a lot of cysts, which our herbalist tells us can be related to tumors. Several weeks later, after using the berry powder, the cysts shrunk significantly
• A customer came in with a dog with many possibly cancerous bumps on his skin. He bought the berry powder and anti tumor tincture and a few weeks later the customer's mother noticed the bumps were shrinking or bursting

This isn't an instant sort of thing, but after a few weeks there is a good chance that you will see an improvement in your pet. If the berry powder/tincture combination is working their eyes will be brighter and more energy will be obvious.

We have noticed that an effective combination of products is Cranimals Very Berry powder (organic raspberry/cranberry/blueberry  powder) and an anti tumor tincture that we carry. Lets look at the raspberry powder first.  Generally I suggest the organic Cranimals Very Berry powder which is 1/3 of each cranberry, blueberry, and raspberry.Organic is important because most berries are heavily sprayed with pesticides which contain carcinogenic substances and are sometimes free radicals themselves.

How Berry Powder May Fight Cancer in Your Pet :

1) The cranberries may bind to glucose. Many believe that cancer cells use larger amounts of glucose. This may be because they need extra energy to replicate themselves at a higher rate than normal cells. Reducing the amount of glucose may slow down the growth of tumors this way.
Fructose and Cancer : @
There is controversy also with the Mayo Clinic saying that glucose dosn’t affect the rate of growth of tumors. Cancer causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer
  Cranberries seemed to cause cell death in certain cancer cells in some studies. Some of these studies reported at a meeting of the American Chemical Society found ovarian cancer cells that were becoming resistant to chemotherapy  became six times more sensitive when exposed to a compound in cranberries.Antioxidants in cranberries may also prevent further cell damage.

2) Blueberries are related to the cranberries and contain very high levels of antioxidants which may prevent damage to cellular DNA that may cause cancer.

3) Raspberries may be the strongest cancer fighting berry of these three berries. It is thought the reason is the high content of ellagic acid in the Raspberries. Ellagic acid is a natural nutrient found in many fruits and nuts, but in especially high amounts in raspberries and strawberries. It seems to prevent carcinogens from binding to cell DNA. This in turn reduces mutations within a cell’s DNA. In healthy cells the life span is approximately 120 days before natural cell death. Cancerous cells continue to divide and may cause tumors. In studies with Rats Apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells started several days after eating freeze dried raspberries. Ellagatannins from Raspberries also activate detoxifying enzymes in the liver and neutralize destructive free radicals.

Cranimals comes in a 120g pack that will last an average sized dog about 1 month, but the more you can feed the better. You can find it in our supplement collection!

Links to further reading about Berries and Cancer

Berries Induce  Cell Death in Cancerous Cells
Ellagic acid prevents rat colon carcinogenes... [Eur J Pharmacol. 2011]

Chemoprotective properties of berries
Page on oxfordjournals.org

American Caner Society Opinions
Ellagic Acid

Holistic Sites about Berries
Page on holisticcancersolutions.com
Berry Good Heatlh - ellagic acid

In addition to the berry powder I have also found success with the addition of the Prescribed Animal Wellness Anti-Tumor  tincture. A two pronged attack on the tumors. Although there is more than one type available to buy on the market  I suggest a particular one that consists of :

Maca Root
Maca Root is an adaptogenic plant that is grown exclusively in Peru and has been used by native people there for many centuries. Adaptogens are a class of plants that help your body deal with stressful situations be they emotional or physical. Maca is also a member of the cruciferous group of plants which includes brocolli and cabbage. These plants contains high levels of  isothiocyanates (ITCs). An ITC called sulforaphane in cruciferous vegetables works by blocking carcinogens from binding to cell DNA and by inhibiting growth of blood vessels that supply tumors. The formation of new blood vessels to supply a tumor is called angiogenesis. Research has been quite limited so far on Maca Root but it is becoming recognized as a new superfood for more energy and endurance. It has been theorized that Maca can balance the entire hormonal system resulting in better health.

Can isothiocyanates (ITCs) help prevent cancer? - Cancer Prevention
Cat’s Claw is a plant that grows in South America. The name comes from the fact that it has thorny hooks on its vines. There is considerable controversy about it’s effectiveness against cancer but it has few side effects. Early evidence in some studies hint that it may kill some cancer cells. It is also contains antioxidants, alkaloids, and anti inflammatory properties. It may boost the immune system by increasing production of white blood cells.
Cat's claw

Pau D’Arco
Pau D’arco is a south american tree that is reputed by native people in South America and Central America to have some effects against cancer. It is a large flowering tree, and the name means bow stick, as native people used it to make their bows. It is somewhat controversial and a compound in it may reduce blod clotting. Much of the controversy about the herb is related to high doses of an extract of the plant called Lapachol. Using the whole plant does not causes the side effects that caused a reduction in studies about this potentially beneficial plant. The active ingredients are in the inner bark of the tree. Pau D’Arco also seems to boost the immune system by increasing production of macrophages that fight disease, and has potent antioxidant, anti inflammatory and anti histamine properties.
The American cancer society website states that it may have some anti tumoral effects against lung cancer cells which it killed in lab test tubes, and their site states that it may slow the spread of some types of cancer. Overall they seem to have a mixed opinion on Pau D’Arco though.

Pau d'arco

The following site does not have a lot of links to studies backing up its claims but is interesting and information filled nonetheless
Pau D'Arco

Wormwood tinctures
The wormwood tincture is a very important component of the anti tumor tincture because it contains artimisinin. Sweet wormwood has been used for centuries to treat parasites. Over 2 million people have been treated for the malaria parasite with wormwood. The reason its effectiveness in treating malaria for this is that the malaria parasite has a high iron content and artimisinin reacts with iron to create large numbers of free radicals. These free radicals then cause great damage to the malaria parasite. Scientists reasoned that because cancer cells also have this high iron content then artimisinin could also be an effective cancer treatment. Studies showed this to be true with artmisinin inhibiting and shrinking tumors without affecting the well being of lab animals being treated. Sweet wormwood appears to be a promising anticancer agent with a good amount of research behind it now.

Scholarly studies on artimisinin

Artemisinin Induces Apoptosis in Human Cancer Cells
Artemisinin Blocks Prostate Cancer Growth and Cell Cycle Progression by Disrupting Sp1 Interactions with the Cyclin-dependent Kinase-4 (CDK4) Promoter and Inhibiting CDK4 Gene Expression

General Article on Artimisinin
Artimisinin Anti Cancer Malaria Drug To Extend Life And Fight Disease

Maintain a positive energy and outlook on your situation. Your pet will pick up on it and help it fight the disease.

BY-PRODUCTS IN PET FOODS

By-Product Definition: Chicken by-product meal consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice.

Many people are still feeding their pets grocery store - level pet foods. Companies like Pedigree are the ones doing big advertising with glossy ads showcasing healthy dogs. The natural foods we carry are not commonly advertised on television and other media. Interesting, isn't it?!

While some grocery store foods are full of by-products, the foods we sell are free of by-products and cheap filler like wheat and corn. In addition, none of our foods have any artificial colours or preservatives in them. But the big companies still get some support online from articles supporting by-products in pet foods.

We just read this entry on Pedigree's webpage and found it very frustrating that this information is being spread on the internet when so much has been done in the past decade to improve the quality of pet foods that are available. Natural Pet Food's customers consider their pet to be a member of the family, and want them to have the same quality food as the human members of that family. Is a by-product the same quality as a human grade cut of meat? Of course not.

 As a person with many past and present beloved family pets, I do quite a bit of reading on pet foods and want the best for them. One of our family pets did die a painful death from cancer before I started learning about pet foods, and I think it is possible that cheap pet food was a factor in the development of that cancer. Pets live short lives but we all want them to be healthy and spend as much time as possible with us. Playing the odds and giving them the best diet possible is a step in the right direction. I want to share what I have learned in the hopes your pet can live a healthier life.

The important thing to remember is that the main source of material for this opinionated article is Pedigree dog foods. This company manufactures a food with by-products in the ingredient list. Hardly unbiased.

Now lets take a closer look at Pedigree Dog Food. They do a lot of advertising {unlike the really good super premium brands interestingly) and their commercials show leaping happy dogs. But how good are their ingredients?

Here are the ingredients for their original formula food.

 http://www.mypedigree.ca/en/our-food/foodproductlist/dryvitalityib/

There are a number of things wrong with this food, in my opinion. First of all, the first ingredient, which is the largest by weight, is corn. Think about it. We make syrup out of corn so that's not going to be good for their blood sugar, and probably bad for their teeth as well. It's a simple carb with little nutritional value. The next ingredients are meat, bonemeal and animal fat. Meat and animal fat? From what animal? I don't know where this company gets their meat meal.There are no assurances on the packaging that specify exactly what this is.

When you buy a food with meat and animal ingredients (which could be one of many on the market)  what  assurances in general are there there that it isn't from a very bad source? Are those sources euthanized or diseased  animals, expired grocery store meat, road kill, or even restaurant grease? These questions need to be more clearly answered by the government and pet food makers.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/dogs-meat-meal/

Try finding a pet food containing by-products with OVERALL ingredients as good as a food with HUMAN GRADE chicken. You will have a hard time doing that. Really good quality brands that I would feed to family pets like Orijen, Fromm, and Go Natural have meat that is specially inspected to be fit for human consumption. That, of course, means that the ingredients are not from euthanized animals etc. Secondly, the really good quality foods do not have filler like simple carbs, such as wheat and corn. Instead, they contain antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables that support the overall health with natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

These fruits and vegetables may also have valuable cancer and disease preventing properties for your pet just as they will for you. In the long run, spending money on better pet food may save you money on vet bills. Any trip to the vet will likely cost you enough money to buy a lot of dog food. At an average cost of about $70/bag a good quality dog food winds up costing you about $2.50 a day. Not so bad when you look at it that way, right?

They also will not have any artificial colors or preservatives like many cheaper byproduct pet foods. Those chemicals will build up in your pet and be a risk factor for cancers. On top of all this, really good quality foods contain probiotics that can help with digestion. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in your pet's stomach that can help break down food and promote good health.

These days people consider their pet a member of the family and want them to eat as good quality food as the humans. Would you eat a diet of by-products, corn/wheat, and synthetic vitamins? How healthy do you think you would be? Still think a food with byproducts is better? Look up that brand on www.dogfoodavisor.com and see what they say….

Then look up some of the many high quality brands we carry like Orijen, Acana, Fromm, Go Natural/Now!, or Natural Balance. We don't think you will find too many critics. We research all of our products closely to make sure you always get great quality products when you buy from us.

This pup is going to eat the best food possible. From Natural Pet Foods!