Green Tripe

What is Green Tripe ? Well, Green refers not to the color but signifies that the product has not been cooked or modified in any way and Tripe is the stomach of ruminating animals.

Green Tripe can be fed as a stand alone or added to your dogs diet. Tripe is loaded with digestive enzymes that help dogs to better utilize their food.

Green Tripe is best when it is fresh and raw, GreenTripe.com offers a great assortment of prepackaged green tripe sourced from USDA approved grass fed, organic raised cattle.

If you can’t stomach (no pun intended) feeding pure raw, Solid Gold makes a nice canned Tripe product called Green Cow.

Happy Feeding !

Tripe Analysis*

A sample of green tripe was analyzed by Woodson-Tenent Laboratories, Inc. in Gainesville, Georgia. The results for sample #G97-16346 are as follows:

Moisture 71.37%
Crude Fat 11.70%
Protein 15.82%
Ash 1.23%
Phosphorous 0.14%
Calcium 0.12%
Calories 756.35 cal/lb.
pH 6.12
Lactic Acid Bacteria 12,000 CFU/G
Linoleic Acid (EFA) 2.72%
Linolenic Acid (EFA) 0.37%

In an analysis of a sample of green tripe by a Woodson-Tenant Lab in Atlanta, Georgia, it was discovered that the calcium:phosphorous ratio is 1:1, the overall pH is on the acidic side which is better for digestion, protein is 15.1, fat 11.7 and it contained the essential fatty acids, Linoleic and Linolenic, in their recommended proportions. Also discovered, was the presence of Lactic Acid Bacteria. Lactic Acid Bacteria, also known as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, is the good intestinal bacteria.

Resources

• Watch Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs making Green Tripe at the GreenTripe company in California.
• Green Tripe company
• True Carnivores website for Natural Rearing Dog Owners

*Tripe Analysis from True Carnivores.com

Popularity: 33% [?]

In The Womb

The Neapolitan Mastiff is featured in National Geographics recent special “In The Womb:Dogs”  Using state-of-the-art visual effects and real-time 4-D ultrasound imagery, we follow the fetal development of one wolf and three different dog breeds.

Featuring a beautiful female from Dalnark Kennels and mastini from Gasche kennels!

Check out National Geographic for airing times

Popularity: 31% [?]

Pack Behavior Pop Psychology

Another interesting article in the Winter Edition of Off-Lead magazine, Ian Dunbar sounds off about pack behavior based training modalities.

“Entire training programs have advocated that people pretend to be an alpha wolf or the dog’s mother when raising puppies or educating dogs. Although ludicrous, pop psychology has always been like catnip for a surprisingly large number of dog owners (and some trainers)”

Mr. Dunbar does an excellent job of explaining why single action temperament testing is “a few steps below asinine” and that assigning a label to a dog based off his one reaction to one event is a fallacy. The article also provides an excellent overview of the importance of early socialization and the effects of no socialization.

The article lists a few excellent resources:

• Dogstardaily.com – Practical puppy husbandry and dog training
• Free Behavior Blueprint’s from Sirius Training

This is the second issue in which Off-Lead has challenged the widely accepted “pack theory”, a few weeks ago we blogged about their fall issue article titled Pack of Lies. Although no “TV Trainers” were named directly, a few times in the article I couldn’t help but think he was directing his statements to a couple famous TV Trainers

Popularity: 24% [?]

Chicken Jerky Warning

Preliminary Animal Health Notification

December 19, 2008

FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.  FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China.  FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the chicken jerky product was manufactured in China.

FDA believes the continued trend of consumer complaints coupled with the information obtained from Australia warrants an additional reminder and animal health notification.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be
used occasionally and in small quantities.  Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.

FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S, is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs.   To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses.  FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs which may occur within hours to days of feeding the product: decreased appetite, although some may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.  If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product.  Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours.  Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine).  Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem.  Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky.  Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html in their state.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Open Heart Surgery for Dogs

Recently reported over at VIN is a new program for open heart surgery in dogs at UC Davis:

Griffiths and UC Davis are attempting a feat that during the past 30 years has confounded many another institution. High cost, the number of medical staff required for surgery and post-operative care, the time commitment required of staff, the types of conditions in dogs that call for surgery, and differences in how dogs respond to the operation compared with humans — these factors combined to stymie other programs.

Read the entire article at VIN here and Visit UC Davis Cardio page here

Popularity: 100% [?]

Pack of Lies ?

A Recent article in Off Lead Magazine challenges the long term held belief that dogs are pack orientated.

Political upheaval in Romania caused an unbalanced population of free-ranging or homeless dogs, this tragic situation however served to provide animal behaviorist with numerous observation opportunities that are usually reserved for observing wolves or dingos.

These Romanian dogs seem to only pair up on occasion closer to what animal behaviorist and author Dunbar refers to as “loose, transitory associations”.

Free ranging “un-domesticated” dogs do still roam in a few areas of the globe, further observation and analysis of their social behavior is of course needed to determine if the Romanian Dogs are indicative of true canine social behavior or a fluke.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Pet Only Airline Coming to US in Spring 2009

Launching in the United States Spring 2009 is the first Pet Only Airline.  Below is the companies press release:

PET AIRWAYS LAUNCHES WEB SITE WITH MYPAWS CLUB SPECIAL DEALS

Delray Beach, FL – December 1st, 2008

Pet Airways today announced that it will be launching the first pet only airline, specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets, with the first flights scheduled for Spring-Summer 2009.

On Pet Airways, pets will travel in the main cabin of specially outfitted aircraft, NOT in cargo. The cabins will be climate and lighting controlled for comfort and safety, and a pet-attendant will always be on-board watching over the pet passengers (“pawsengers”).
A typical Pet Airways’ flight will fly with a capacity of 100 pets, with initial routes from New York to Los Angeles, and back with stops in Washington DC, Chicago and Denver. Pet Airways plans to offer nationwide coverage with easily accessible pet check-in lounges in major metropolitan areas and flights out of more convenient, less congested secondary airports, allowing for easier access and quicker loading and unloading.

A web-enabled reservation system will allow customers to book travel and other services 24 hours a day on-line. In addition, a Customer Care call center will handle phone reservations and inquiries during business hours. Owners will be able to track their pets’ travel online via the Pet Airways proprietary Pawprints Tracking System.

According to Dan Wiesel, CEO of Pet Airways, “Currently, most pets traveling by air in the U.S. are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage. The experience is not only frightening to the pets, but can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.”

In advance of the first flights, Pet Airways is offering charter membership in the Pet Airways MyPAWS club which offers members free flights along with substantial discounts on pet supplies from their MyPAWS Pet Store, discounts on pet-friendly hotels, discounts on pet health insurance, discounts and free shipping at our partner 1-800-Petmeds, samples from partners, and other benefits.

Media Contact
Alysa Binder
abinder@petairways.com

Popularity: 29% [?]

Hero Dog

Dogs still amaze me ! Even after living with them my entire life they still amaze me! Take a look at this video shot Dec 2nd on a busy hiway in Chile. One dog is struck on the freeway and another dog comes in and pulls him off the road! Watch the very end when the one dog is pulling the other, he doesn’t use his mouth he uses is legs! The Hero Dog, as he has become known, is clearly problem solving, looking for traffic and is RESCUING the other dog. Amazing…

Popularity: 18% [?]

Xylitol Dangers

Many dog owners are already aware of the dangers of the sugar substitute Xylitol, however manufacturers of all kinds of products are switching to this substitute and NOT placing warning labels on their products to advise us of the change.

Most disappointing to me is the recent change made by the makers of Rescue Remedy, they have added Xylitol to their Rescue Pastilles ;(

I have been a Bach Rescue Remedy fan for many years now and have used the product and recommended the product to many other fellow pet owners.

If you suspect your dog has ingested a product containing Xylitol, keep the packaging and call your veterinarian immediately. Xylitol causes your dogs blood sugar to drop and can lead to severe liver damage and death.

Learn More about Xylitol dangers:

• Snopes Xylitol Deadly to Dogs Article
• ASPCA Original Warning 2006

Remember READ LABELS  !!!!

Popularity: 17% [?]

187 Pit Bulls

Recently reported at B-Bulldogs is a story about 187 Pit Bulls seized in a dog fighting ring, which you would think is the saddest part of the story….It’s not

So it comes as no surprise to learn a few days later that every single one of the 187 dogs from that Houston bust have been euthanized. Every one. By the authorities that “rescued” them from fighting.

You can read the whole report by B-Bulldogs here and the Houston Chronicle Report here

Popularity: 17% [?]