Understanding Organic Pet Food

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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courtesy USDA.org

During our upcoming #OrganicPet Twitter Party, hosted by Event Barkers team members All Things Dog Blog, ToDogWithLove.com and DogTipper.com, my primary job will be to sort out the facts from the fiction when it comes to the true meaning of organic on a food label. There are many misconceptions about what defines organic, and an equally large number of questions on many of your minds. 

I'll be on hand to share the facts about the National Organic Program, and I'll be accompanied by the social media team from Castor and Pollux. This trio will be answering your questions about their products, so make out your lists. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to get all your questions answered.

A good place to start is with the USDA Organic seal, shown above. When you see this seal on a product, whether in color or black and white, it is generally placed on the front label and is your singular confirmation that the contents of the package are at least 95% organic. You'll find this label on many of Castor and Pollux's products in the ORGANIX brand, most notably their canned meals. At #OrganicPet, we'll be discussing the newest line of these meals, Butcher and Bushel, that are produced using a newer technology which allows them to be pressure cooked inside the can. Watch for exciting news on this note as we move forward. We'll also have bunches of info on this during the party; really cool stuff that your dog is sure to salivate over.

courtesy Tilth.org

Other seals indicating a minimum of 70% certified organic content include those such as Oregon Tilth, a third party government contractor that certifies organic farming practices, products, ingredients and processing facilities. These agency seals will generally be located on the back of the product. Oregon Tilth is one of many such agencies, and happens to be the company that certifies the bagged kibble for ORGANIX. Are you asking yourself why pet parents would purchase a 70% organic product when 95% is available in canned product? That's an excellent question and one that I'd like to answer by sharing our story:

Some years ago when I began seeking an organic food for our pets, I found out the hard way what our Castor and Pollux social media team can probably tell you: It's tough to locate a reliable source for certain organic ingredients, making that 95% USDA organic product even more challenging to achieve. 
After scouring the larger pet supermarkets, I quickly learned that USDA Organic was not avaialable--at that time--via these retailers.

Next I hit the smaller natural food markets and what I call the "mom and pop" pet retailers--smaller, single store operations. I found quite a few USDA Organic pet foods that met my initial criteria, but quickly learned that continuity would become a huge problem.

Each time I returned to purchase another bag, the last brand I had served was either discontinued or out of stock indefinitely, leaving me with yet another decision to make--which new product to try THIS TIME.  This frustrating and time-consuming problem ended up to be my solution. As I chatted with the owner of one "mom and pop", she explained that the small organic pet food companies were all struggling with supply issues and that I might have better luck if I switched to an organic product made by a slightly larger company that included the 70% organic promise on their label. She introduced me to Castor and Pollux.

I sighed and began comparing labels. Who knew? I had completely overlooked the fact that these products, such as Castor and Pollux's ORGANIX, contained organic chicken, organic vegetables, organic fruits, and higher quality organic grains. "So where is the 30% that cannot be called organic?", I asked the store owner. It was right there on the label--the supplements, many that are wholefood ingredients added to provide vitamins and minerals. 

My last question for this shop keeper was the most obvious: "Which product is reliably in-stock?" Her reply was, "You're looking at it right now." I handed her the bag of ORGANIX and told her we'd be back again in a few weeks to see if, in fact, we were able to purchase the same product again. I'm sure you can guess the happy ending to this story.

The ORGANIX brand is built on a foundation of sourcing organic produce that are healthy and nutritious additions to their products. Tanner and Oliver have spent all of their lives on this organic diet, enjoying good health, shiny coats, and plentiful energy. We look forward to sharing more of the facts about organic foods at #OrganicPet.

 Have you marked your calendar? Join us on May 4, 8 PM-9 PM ET. Don't forget to RSVP here using the Giveaway Tools widget, and join in our pre-party giveaways, if you'd like to take a chance at winning now.

Here's to your #OrganicPet,

SOURCES:  Facts about the National Organic Program shared both here and during the #OrganicPet Twitter Party come from the official government website for the program: www.ams.usda.gov
All Things Dog Blog works with ORGANIX to educate the public on the benefits of feeding a healthy diet. While we generally share facts based on research, opinions shared are my own. My dogs are fed the ORGANIX kibble along with treats and special-occasion surprises such as Butcher and Bushel.

Lupine Leads Awards Dog Adoption Story Prize to Toy Poodle Owner

RESCUING ROVER, 1st edition

by Elizabeth Glavin

(c) E. Glavin, all rights reserved

Meet Cocoa-Latte

Meet my toy poodle, Cocoa-Latte. My mom and I adopted Cocoa after babysitting her over a long weekend for our neighbors. Our neighbors had two dogs and Cocoa had this cute way of jumping in your face and she just begged for attention. It was obvious she wanted to be rescued by us! Well, we were right! Two weeks later, my mom and I spent the whole day shopping for our dog that would be arriving late that night. We got her a pink bed, pink shirts, pink collars, toys; you name it- we bought it! Little did I know that this would be one of the last fun outings with my mom.

A few months later my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. Me being in a college dorm room, and my mom being on chemo, we weren’t really in shape to take care of a puppy. Needless to say, Cocoa went to live with my grandparents. We knew the outcome was not good, but I would still drive 60 miles each way to bring Cocoa to see my dying mother- it truly brought a smile to her face! When my mom passed, her husband let me have one thing of hers--Cocoa. Normally one would be upset that I didn’t get her expensive purses, lavish jewelry (Did I mention she had a 6 carat engagement ring?), or meaningful pictures, but I was thrilled to just have Cocoa.

When people ask me why I love my dog so much, I just reply that Cocoa was my mother’s. I even think my mom loved Cocoa more than she loved her only daughter! I take extra special care of Cocoa because I know that’s what my mom would want. She gets her special organic dog food, plenty of exercise (got to love those dog parks and early morning walks!), and goes to the groomers monthly. I love my little poodle to the moon and back!

(c) photos courtesy of E. Glavin

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For toy poodle adoptions available in your area, visit Adopt-a-Pet's Poodle locater page for information and search functions that will help you locate just the right poodle for you. You can also use this widget to find an available poodle in your area:

Congratulations, Elizabeth, for winning our contest and becoming the first guest writer in our RESCUING ROVER reader column. Elizabeth and Cocoa have won a matching collar, leash and key chain set provided by Lupine Leads for our contest. 


Thanks, Lupine! We love your support, and so do our readers. Let's make it easy for them to show it. Click on your favorite and you can buy it right here, right now, in your pup's size:

 

Want to Write for RESCUING ROVER?

I invite you, my readers, to sharpen your pencil and herd up your computer and pictures to join Elizabeth and Cocoa. For more information, v

isit my earlier post, Rescuing Rover: Your Column for Rescue and Adoption Stories. We're all waiting to hear the amazing story of your canine family. Do it now!

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Juliet-Jet Slows Down for a Moment of Online Fame

Juliet is a 10 month old Yorkie, weighing in at 4.3 lbs., and owned by a reader of my blogs. I was pleased to learn that this reader found All Things Dog Blog via my other blog, Organic Journey Online. Juliet eats organic food, as does her family, and her healthy coat certainly shows off her good nutrition.



Her owner wrote a delightful letter with conerns, questions and comments on her delightful companion. I learned a lot by finding answers for her, so keep those letters coming, folks. You guys teach me as much as all the reading I'm doing about dogs.

Still a puppy, Juliet has lots of energy to burn. Here you can see her playing with her ball. After a long play session, she enjoys a swim in her kiddie pool.


The photos below shows Juliet in a kitchen bowl. She's a tiny little thing, for sure.

During a recent vacation, Juliet's owners discovered the Lori Wilson Dog Park in Cocoa Beach, and kindly shared the website address at the link. Juliet's family really enjoyed this dog park, so if you're looking for one on the east coast, check it out. Your comments are welcome below and photos of your pup will gladly be shared if you'll email them to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com . Hope to hear from you soon.

Flea Season is Here: What's a Pup to Do?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

No Itching Going on Here

Tanner Sleeps Peacefully After a

Trip to the Dog Park

Itchy. Itchy. They feel twitchy. Scratch! Scratch! Scratch! Oh the poor pups. It is Spring, and with Spring comes fleas. Those frozen eggs have begun to hatch and I'm hearing from readers that they need solutions.

Well, scratch no more. Organic and all-natural flea prevention and repellents have solved my problems that plagued poor 12-year-old Xena for so many years. I use a 4 part treatment to assure success; you can pick what you like:

1. As I told a friend, just today, I honestly feel that the most important change I have made was to switch to organic lawn care. No more chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to cause her skin problems. Her prior skin issues were often 2-3 times per year, until we implemented this change. Now, for a whole year, she has had nothing but itch-free bliss. If you're interested in this option, check out my organic blog at Organic Journey Online. There is a search box at the top which will allow you to pull up all the articles on "organic lawn care".
   
2. As for on-the-dog flea prevention, I am using the following products, with great success: Neem Protect Shampoo and Neem Protect Spray (or other Neem Oil products) from Ark Naturals is a wonderfully soothing botanical that has helped Xena's hot spots calm down many times in the past, even before I went the organic route. You can spray it right on over an open area and it doesn't burn or sting. No concerns about licking or any danger to your pet. The mild scent is pleasant and doesn't seem to cause her any concern, whereas some of the veterinary preparations had no apparent effect and the smells bothered her. She continued to chew and pester the affected areas, as well.
   
3. A preventative or repellent is useful when you're planning an outing to the dog park or other wooded area for play. I like NaturVet's Herbal Flea Spray, which is made of Cedar oil and Rosemary. My indoor organic pest control provider tells me that he uses Cedar Oil also. It smells fabulous, making me want to snuggle my guys all day. Best of all, I can't help but notice that when I apply this before we go to the park, we have little problem with itchiness afterwards. That's got to be a good sign. You can pick up this product through Amazon, right here on my site for a little more than $6 a bottle. One bottle has lasted me about 9 months, with 3 dogs. We go to the dog park 3-4 times a week, so that should give you a good idea of how far it goes. I think that's a bargain compared to the vet products, which can run well over $20 a month. I spray their undersides, chest and the base of their tails each time we go "parking." I just ordered more today through this ad:


4. My organic lawn care specialist advised me to use DE, or Diatomaceous Earth, on the dogs. You may be thinking, "this is a pool filtering agent", and you are right. It is basically ground up seashells. For flea treatment, it is made into a food grade powder, which is safe if licked or ingested by your pet. The powder, ever so soft, acts like tiny shards of glass on fleas, killing them on contact. I buy Para Clear in a 3 lb. container, manufactured by Azmira, a holistic animal products company. All of their products are made in the USA, so think of this as your economic stimulus contribution. It is available at Azmira Greatland, for $15.50. This will last you a long time! If you're a bargain shopper, I will tell you I found it for as little as $14 on other sites. The problem was those sites did not have the kind of security I can recommend. I suppose you could call your order in. If you like this option, try a Google search. It's your choice.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

My Flea Prevention and Treatment Products

Then I keep a small amount in a shaker bottle and treat the dogs as needed. One tip: Place your dog on top of a sheet or old shower curtain, so you can collect the powder that falls off as you apply it. Rub into the fur, concentrating on the areas where fleas congregate--base of the tail, neck and shoulders, armpits and inner thighs. You can also sprinkle in on their bedding and around their crates or beds.

If, like Tanner, your dogs swims daily, you'll need to reapply it whenever going into the great outdoors. Any access to grass, trees and parks will necessitate an application to prevent attacks.


Repeated applications may dry some dog's skin out a bit, although Tanner has had no such effect over 9 months of use. One holistic professional who writes on this topic suggests that you can alternate with a re-moisturizing treatment or Neem Oil to soothe the dryness and any itching that comes with it.

I will be honest with you that this white powder will not make your black dog look great. It sort of dulls their shine. I tend to use more of the other products on Xena, my black Retriever mix, and I use the DE powder on her bedding and areas of carpet she likes to lay on. This has worked well as an alternative to powdering her beautiful black coat.

DE is a safe indoor flea treatment, as well. If you get an indoor infestation, simply sprinkle it over the carpet. Rake or sweep it in with a stiff broom and leave for several hours. Vacuum it up to revive your carpet and collect the dead fleas. This procedure will also help prevent an infestation. If you notice fleas in your yard, it is time to be proactive.

If you have found fleas in your home, I suggest you apply a second treatment in a couple of weeks and vacuum furniture and bedding well. This will take care of eggs and hatchlings that have appeared after your first treatment. Another tip would be to wash any bedspreads or rugs in hot water, if possible.

I hope this will give you all some options for an itch-free Spring. It works for my dogs, and no more Fipronil. My research on that stuff finds that it is a known carcinogen. I've had cancer myself. I couldn't bear to knowingly put my dogs through that. That's why we're an organic family now. Got questions? Concerns? Drop me a comment at the link below or write me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com .

Got Easter Bunnies?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Has Big Ears

Like a Rabbit

Carrots are a healthy, vitamin packed snack for dogs. This big organic carrot was meant for Tanner, but Oliver wanted to give it a try. I did not really believe he could eat the whole thing. What do you think?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner and Oliver Wait

Permission to Eat their

Organic Carrots

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Ate the Whole Thing!

Okay, so he didn't eat the big one in the first picture. That would have been way too much natural sugar for a little guy like him. At 8 pounds, I give him a smaller carrot, more suitable for his size. Tanner can handle the big one.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Marc and Robby,

Our Family's Easter Bunny

Yes. We do have an Easter bunny. He lived with us for 5 years, until several months ago, while Marc attended college and law school. He belongs to Marc, my oldest son, seen here holding him on Robby's arrival back "home". Robby is enjoying his new digs with Marc. They share a cozy, urban historical home and keep each other company. I'm sure Robby is a great roommate; he is quiet and easy to please. He'll eat any veggie you give him and loves a good ear rub. Happy Easter, Robby. We miss you. (You too, Marc!)

Busy Bones and Other Boredom Busters for Home Bound Dogs

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner Loves Rawhide Strips, but...

Perhaps your vet has told you the same horror stories I have heard about raw hides--perforated intestines and blocked digestive tracks apparently are a big problem. Fortunately my vet offer rawhide strips that are treated with a digestive enzyme to assure that they digest before flowing to the intestinal tract. This supposedly eliminates the dangers. Too bad it can't slow down the time it takes for Tanner to eat one. Xena and Oliver spend quite a bit of time working their way through a rawhide, but Tanner has power jaws--zip, zip, zip and he's done.

With this post, I hope to get some comments. I would truly love more ideas for keeping my dogs occupied when I'm gone for several hours. Here are the ideas I currently use, but I know you have more to offer. I'm challenging you to share your thoughts at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com or simply click the comment link at the bottom of this post and write your thoughts there. Commenting right here on the blog will allow my readers to read your thoughts, as well.

With two large retrievers I have learned that even the red Kong is no match for Tanner's jaws. After being told by a trainer that the Kong would be a safe toy to leave with him in his crate, I found otherwise. He ate half of the Kong in less than an hour. Now there is the super strong Black King KongUltra, which supposedly is tougher, but I'm still a bit apprehensive. How is your experience with the new Black King Kong?

My safest bet, after years of seeking, is still the filled or fillable beef bones that are "cooked" to feel like ceramic. I call them Busy Bones. The best Tanner has been able to damage one of these was a mere sliver, so they are my best bet with him. Fortunately, I can give Oliver, my Papillon, a puppy Kong, with no safety concerns. He's too small to pick up a Busy Bone! I have one that is smaller in diameter, but it is still rather heavy for him to handle. He has to leave it on the floor while he works it. I'm sure you know that most dogs prefer to hold these types of toys upright between their paws while they lick and gnaw at them.

I have experimented with various fillings to see which will make him work the longest to retrieve. The whole idea, after all, is to keep him busy with a mental task while I'm out. Peanut Butter is a beloved filling, but messy on the bedding, bad for the breath and teeth, and therefore only an occasional choice. Stuffing the bone with cheese has about the same effect--messy and not so good for his teeth or breath. He does love it, though, so I occasionally pamper him.

Since I eat almost exclusively organic foods, my dogs do too. I know, you probably think I'm really a nut. Decisions like this don't come overnight. I have MS and am a cancer survivor. With all this challenge in my life, I have to do whatever I can to keep the health troubles at bay. I've chosen to do the same for my best friends and my family. No preaching, I promise. I buy organic canned dog food and stuff the Busy Bones (what are those things called, anyway?) with the food. Then I bag and freeze them. Freezing them has a unique effect of making the filling that much more challenging to remove, which of course, means it keeps the dog busy longer. All the better!

Of course, I do use all these favorite fillings in Kongs, I just don't leave Tanner alone with one for a long period of time. It simply is not worth the risk. I was really nervous when he ate half of the first one, until it appeared in the yard. What a sight!

Friends have told me their dogs like frozen yogurt (plain) in the busy bones. After Thanksgiving, I stuffed a couple with all the little tidbits that fell off the turkey carcass when I boiled it for broth. This was a big hit, but they cleaned the bones out much faster. I also stuffed one with an organic hot dog and Tanner thought that was the bomb. I guess I should have called this post Tanner's Treat Review, huh?!!

I'll wrap this up with the vegetarian version of my info. My friends who have former Canine Companion pets tell me that carrots are a regular afternoon snack at the training facility nearby. I buy big bags of juicing carrots to make fresh carrot juice and when I drag it out, the dogs become my shadow. At first, I thought it would be really messy, but even when Tanner eats one on his family room dog bed, which is light tan, he cleans up every morsel and leaves no trace behind. Oliver does the same thing, but I have to give him a much smaller carrot. He's only 8 pounds to Tanner's 57. Xena is 47, and can generally eat anything Tanner can; it just takes her a little longer.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner Naps in a Cuddle with his Treat Ball

Another seemingly safe toy is a hard rubber treat ball, seen in the photo above. This hollow ball has a small opening through which you fill it with treats. The treats have to line up with a tubular shaped opening to flow out of the ball, which only happens when a treat lines up perfectly with the tube. It's a cool toy that will keep Tanner playing soccer for a long time. He pushes the ball around the whole house, waiting for treats to fall out. This toy has its own natural motivation system built right in.

Apples are welcomed enthusiastically by my dogs, as well, but I have to peel and core them to know they are safe while unsupervised, so they eat them very quickly--not much of a time filling solution.

I hope some of these ideas work for your dogs on long days away. Send me your ideas for safe snacking and I'll post them. Have a great weekend.