The Pet Chef

02/05/2024

Unveiling the Prostatitis Risk
Discover the subtle signs and proactive measures for managing canine prostatitis.

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
Analysis by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Prostatitis in dogs refers to inflammation or infection of the prostate gland
While prostatitis is most common in male dogs over 9 years old who have not been neutered, it can also occur in younger dogs and those who are neutered
Symptoms of acute prostatitis in dogs include fever, loss of appetite, depression, pain when urinating or defecating and blood in the urine
Chronic prostatitis can occur without any noticeable symptoms
Acute prostatitis is usually caused by an underlying bacterial infection, while chronic cases may be due to an underlying health condition, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer

Prostatitis in dogs refers to inflammation or infection of the prostate gland, a health issue that’s most common in middle-aged and older dogs that aren’t neutered. The prostate gland is a reproductive organ that surrounds the urethra — the tube that carries urine out of the body — near the bladder.

It’s responsible for producing a significant portion of the fluid that makes up semen, which supports and transports s***m during reproduction. Prostatitis in dogs can be acute — meaning it comes on suddenly — or chronic, a long-term condition that develops gradually.

Either way, it’s important to get to the root cause of the issue to ensure your dog gets proper treatment, and relief from potentially serious complications and symptoms.

What Are the Signs of Prostatitis in Dogs?
In acute prostatitis, the inflammation and related symptoms are typically severe and appear suddenly. This usually happens because bacteria, such as E. coli, have moved up from the urethra into the prostate. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Pseudomonas can also cause prostatitis, as can:1

Brucella canis — These bacteria can lead to a chronic type of prostatitis where inflammation occurs slowly and persists over time.
Fungal infections — Fungi like Blastomyces, Cryptococcus neoformans and Coccidioides can spread throughout your dog’s body and reach the prostate, causing what's known as granulomatous prostatitis. This is where the immune system tries to wall off the fungus with immune cells, leading to inflammation.
Other organisms — Less commonly, organisms like Mycoplasma canis and Leishmania spp. can also cause prostate inflammation.
In some cases, an ongoing bacterial infection that has gone undetected can cause an abscess of the prostate, which may rupture.2 Symptoms of acute prostatitis in dogs may include:3

Fever,
Loss of appetite
Lethargy or depression
Difficulty and pain when urinating or defecating
Pain in the lower belly
Blood in the urine
Pain during re**al exams
Swelling in the area around the ge****ls and back legs
Frequent urination
Limping
Chronic prostatitis is usually due to an underlying health condition, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer,4 and can sometimes occur without any noticeable symptoms. In one study of 82 dogs diagnosed with prostatitis, 63% had acute prostatitis while 37% had the chronic variety. In 40% of the cases, abscesses were also found in the prostate.5

When symptoms do appear, they're often vague and may include recurrent urinary tract infections, poor semen quality, infertility, decreased interest in mating and occasional discharge from the urethra.6 If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your integrative veterinarian to rule out potential prostate problems.

How Is Prostatitis Diagnosed and Treated?
While prostatitis is most common in male dogs over 9 years old who have not been neutered, it can also occur in younger dogs and those who are neutered. While signs related to the lower urinary tract are often seen with the condition, there may be no noticeable symptoms at all, which is why prostatitis is sometimes found by accident during other examinations.7

However, if prostatitis is suspected, your veterinarian may do a blood test to check for infection or a urine test to look for bacteria or blood. A biopsy of the prostate gland may also be done and your vet may analyze prostate fluid.

If a bacterial infection is present, antibiotics may be needed, although antibacterial resistance is common in prostatitis. According to one study, 27% of cultures from dogs with prostatitis were resistant to at least one antimicrobial drug, while 49% were resistant to two or more.8

For this reason, a bacterial culture is useful to be sure you’re giving your dog the most effective antibiotic and avoiding delayed effective treatment by knowing the antibiotic is actually working. In chronic prostatitis cases, conventional treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory medications and, if necessary, treatment to resolve an underlying enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH). Older, intact male dogs can develop moderate to severe enlargement of the prostate that may be improved with conventional neutering because it removes the root cause, testosterone.

In these cases, I’ve not seen any hormonal deficiencies, post neutering. This is important to note, as it’s not the case when puppies are desexed. If your adult, intact dog has recurrent prostate infections or progressing BPH, neutering is oftentimes curative. Our family neutered our family dog at 13 years of age for this reason, and he went on to live to 20 with no signs of hormonal imbalances because of his late-age neuter. This is what I’ve also seen in practice.

How to Prevent Canine Prostatitis
Many veterinarians will recommend early desexing (neutering) to reduce the risk of prostatitis, but this comes along with many adverse health effects. Whenever possible, I prefer to leave dogs intact, assuming the pet guardian is fully committed to and capable of preventing the dog from mating (unless the owner is a responsible breeder and that's the goal).

Ensuring your dog leads a healthy lifestyle will naturally help prevent prostatitis. This includes feeding your pet (and your entire family) as much unprocessed, fresh food as you can afford. The top five types of pet food I recommend are a variety of nutritionally balanced, unprocessed (living) or minimally processed (frozen, freeze dried or gently cooked), whole food diets. I can’t over stress the importance of human grade, minimally processed, species-appropriate diets that are loaded with antioxidants that bolster immune defenses.

Fresh food diets will also help keep your dog at a healthy weight — another important factor in avoiding prostatitis. Regular daily exercise is also necessary. As a good rule of thumb, your dog should be getting a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained heart-thumping exercise at least three times a week — although most dogs can benefit from longer, more frequent sessions.

Your dog should also get annual wellness checkups with your integrative veterinarian, and visits every six months as he gets older. This will help identify any problems with the prostate gland early to avoid more severe symptoms and complications.

22/01/2024

The ultraprocessed pet food industry, along with many well-meaning dog parents, continue their campaign to convince themselves and all of us that dogs should eat vegetarian or vegan diets. One recent example is an article in PetfoodIndustry.com headlined “Dogs healthy after one year of plant-based diets,” announcing the results of a study conducted by researchers at the Western University of Health Sciences, in Pomona, CA.1 The study authors write:

“In this study, we confirm that clinically healthy adult dogs maintain health when fed a nutritionally complete, commercially available, plant-based diet with pea protein as a main ingredient over a twelve-month period. To our knowledge, this is the longest and most comprehensive study of K9PBN [canine plant-based nutrition] to date.
Assessment of body condition scores, blood work, and urinalysis as well as client-reported histories confirmed that all dogs maintained physical health during the one year feeding trial. Analyses of nutritional markers in blood confirmed that levels of essential AAs, L-taurine and L-carnitine as well as lipid- and water-soluble vitamins are maintained within normal reference intervals when feeding complete K9PBN.”2

22/01/2024

STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Both big pet food and vegetarian/vegan pet parents continue their campaign to push misguided, potentially dangerous dietary choices onto dogs in the form of plant-based diets
They’re currently championing a recent study that suggests a small group of dogs remained healthy for a year while eating a plant-based kibble
As a vegetarian veterinarian, I’m firmly opposed to forcing one’s personal dietary beliefs on other species; while I applaud human omnivores who choose to be vegetarians/vegans, I draw the line at insisting canine carnivores should adopt the same diet
Because a dog is able to survive for a year eating a plant-based diet doesn’t mean he’s thriving; for better or worse, dogs are a species able to endure considerable “nutritional abuse” before their bodies begin to show the effects
Bottom line: If your personal eating habits or philosophy require that even your pet abide by them, I encourage you to pick a species to care for whose dietary needs are aligned with yours

31/10/2023

Thought you might like to know.

🚫 Stop Using Retractable Leashes 🚫

Retractable leashes are popular primarily because they aren't as confining as regular leashes, allowing dogs more freedom to sniff and poke around on walks. 🦮🚶 Unfortunately, they have many downsides 👎 as well. Here are 10 reasons why you should avoid using them: https://bit.ly/46RAcfa

24/07/2023

The quite serious side effects pets have experienced after being given products containing isoxazoline include muscle tremors, ataxia (loss of muscle control), and seizures. The implicated products have received FDA approval and include:

Bravecto (fluralaner) tablets for dogs
Bravecto (fluralaner) topical solution for cats and dogs
Bravecto Plus (fluralaner and moxidectin) topical solution for cats
Bravecto 1-month (fluralaner) tablets for dogs
Credelio (lotilaner) tablets for dogs and cats
Nexgard (afoxolaner) tablets for dogs
Simparica (sarolaner) tablets for dogs
Simparica Trio (sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel) tablets for dogs
Revolution Plus (selamectin and sarolaner) topical solution for cats
While the FDA “considers products in the isoxazoline class to be safe and effective for dogs and cats,” the agency asserts it is “providing this information so that pet owners and veterinarians can take it into consideration when choosing flea and tick products for their pets,” according to its fact sheet. Further, per the FDA:

Isoxazoline products have been associated with neurologic adverse reactions, including muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures in some dogs and cats
Although most dogs and cats haven’t had neurologic adverse reactions, seizures may occur in animals without a prior history
Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
Analysis by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

05/05/2023

We have been saying this for YEARS.

04/05/2023

Tips & Advice
Why Your Dog Likely Doesn't Care To Be Hugged
Some dogs tolerate and even appear comfortable with hugs, but hugging your pet can trigger negative emotions simply because dogs aren't wired for hugs. If your dog does either of these two things after a hug, take it as proof that she doesn't like to be hugged.

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
Analysis by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
May 3, 2023 • 7 min read
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dog hugging
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
It comes as a surprise to many pet parents that their very huggable dogs probably don’t much like being hugged
Dogs aren’t built for hugging, they’re built for running, which they can’t do while being hugged (constrained); this can trigger discomfort and stress in some canine companions
Some dogs appear comfortable with hugs; it’s important to carefully observe your dog and others you interact with to determine the types of touch they do and don’t like
Most dogs prefer petting to hugs, and research suggests they enjoy having their chests and shoulders petted, as well as the end of the spine just in front of the tail
In all interactions with our animal companions, we should pay attention to the impact we’re having on them, as each is an individual
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As much as you love hugging your canine BFF, it’s important to realize the feeling may not be mutual. In fact, this form of human affection isn’t something most dogs enjoy, and it’s easy to see why if you consider the differences between the physical structure of humans and dogs. While humans are clearly built for hugging — we stand erect and have arms instead of front legs — dogs stand on all fours and have no arms.

The fact that the physiology of dogs makes it virtually impossible for them to initiate or return hugs is a big clue they aren’t designed for it — it isn’t natural for them. Dogs who seem to enjoy being hugged are probably being good boys (or girls) who put up uncomplainingly with all their human’s odd behaviors.

In reality, our dogs haven’t a clue what we’re doing when we hug them, but they trust us and love us unconditionally, so they don’t put up a fuss.

Why Hugs Can Trigger Stress in Dogs
Dogs are cursorial animals, meaning their limbs are adapted for running. Dogs in the wild spend a lot of time running — running after food, for example, or running from predators. When you hug your furry friend, you restrict her and remove her ability to escape, and for many dogs, this is a stress trigger.

Psychology professor and neuropsychological researcher Stanley Coren, Ph.D., author of the best-selling book "The Intelligence of Dogs," in an article for Psychology Today, explains it this way:

“… [I]n times of stress or threat the first line of defense that a dog uses is not his teeth, but rather his ability to run away. Behaviorists believe that depriving a dog of that course of action by immobilizing him with a hug can increase his stress level and, if the dog's anxiety becomes significantly intense, he may bite.”
Coren, surprised to find so little published literature on a concept that is common knowledge among behaviorists, used an internet search engine to locate 250 random photos of people hugging dogs. The images had to clearly show the dog’s face and could not involve other factors that might raise a dog’s stress level.

He studied the photos and found that nearly 82% showed dogs displaying at least one sign of stress, discomfort or anxiety. Just under 11% of the photos showed dogs who appeared neutral or ambivalent about being hugged, while just over 7% showed dogs that appeared comfortable with the hug.

“I can summarize the data quite simply by saying that the results indicated that the internet contains many pictures of happy people hugging what appear to be unhappy dogs,” Coren wrote.
Are Some Dogs Okay With Hugs?
Obviously, not everyone agrees with Coren. For example, as companion animal behavior therapist Corey Cohen told the New York Times, “My dogs love being hugged.” He says when he hugs his dog, the dog’s breathing slows and his gaze softens, which are signs of tension release. Some dogs even appear to smile when hugged. The difference may be due to trust and the depth of your relationship with the dog being hugged.

I think it also has to do with a dog’s individual personality. Just as there are some people who don’t enjoy being hugged, I think there are some dogs that simply prefer being petted over being hugged.

So even if you’re convinced your own dog is comfortable being hugged, or even shows signs she enjoys it, in reality, she may not. I recommend taking the time to carefully note her response to your hugs, even subtle changes, and stop if she seems uncomfortable. It’s generally not a good idea to hug a dog you don’t know.

It’s not only hugs that can be stressful to dogs, by the way. Petting your dog in certain places, like on the head or paw, may also be unpleasant for her.

Have You Ever Wondered How Petting Feels to Your Dog?
Dog-to-dog interaction involves lots of physical contact. They do it to show affection and a desire for play, but they also make contact when trying to goad or threaten another dog. This is why some forms of human petting elicit pleasure and a sense of calm in dogs, while other types of touching can send the wrong message.

Unless you’re carefully observing her as you pet her, it’s easy to inadvertently trigger negative emotions in your dog. Different types of petting, for example, a scratch behind the dog’s ear or a pat on the head, feel pretty much the same to us. The dog, however, isn’t necessarily having the same experience.

A 2014 study evaluated the physiological and behavioral responses in dogs to determine which types of petting felt good to them, and which didn’t. The research involved 28 privately owned dogs of different breeds, ages, and backgrounds.

Each dog was fitted with a heart rate monitor and brought into a room where both the owner and a stranger were present. The owner was instructed to ignore what was going on while the stranger interacted with the dog, touching him or her in 9 different ways for 30 seconds at a time. The 9 different touches included:

Petting the shoulder
Petting the lateral side of the chest
Petting the ventral part of the neck
Petting and holding the lying dog on the ground
Holding a forepaw
Petting on the top of the head
Scratching at the base of the tail
Holding the collar
Covering the muzzle with one hand
Dogs REALLY Don’t Enjoy Being Constrained
When the dogs were petted on the head or paw, they showed appeasement signals and redirected behaviors. The researchers interpreted those reactions as signs the dogs were uncomfortable.

It’s worth noting that appeasement signals aren’t always indicators of stress. According to Whole Dog Journal:

“They are important everyday communication tools for keeping peace in social hierarchies, and are often presented in calm, stress-free inter­ac­tions. They are offered in a social interaction to promote the tranquility of the group and the safety of the group’s members. When offered in conjunction with other behaviors, they can be an indicator of stress as well.”
When the dogs were constrained by being held while lying on the ground, held by the collar, or having their muzzle covered, unsurprisingly, they showed freezing and displacement behaviors. These included lifting a paw, looking or moving away, and lip licking. All the dogs also had elevated heart rates — a clear sign of stress.

When the interactions were over, the dogs immediately shook their bodies and stretched, which are signs of relief and further proof they didn’t enjoy being constrained, no matter how gentle the touch. It’s worth noting that some dogs surely feel constrained during hugging.

The touches the dogs liked included having their chests and shoulders petted and getting a nice scratch at the end of the spine just in front of the tail.

Dog Petting Tips
Most dogs tolerate a lot more handling from their immediate human family members, including touching that is decidedly unnatural for canines, such as hugging and kissing, than they do from strangers.

However, it’s not uncommon for dog parents to miss their own dogs’ stress signals, which can include a quick head turn or lick of the upper lip, as well as freezing in place. It can be easy to miss or misinterpret some of the more subtle canine expressions of distress.

Unfortunately, the result can be a difficult relationship between human and dog that in a worst-case scenario can even become dangerous. Suggestions for enhancing your relationship with your dog through touch:

Let your dog initiate contact most of the time, rather than invading his personal space. Some dogs need a little time to settle themselves before getting physically close enough to be touched.
Pet your dog gently on the chest or behind the ear closest to you (to avoid reaching over her head for the other ear). Always avoid petting that involves reaching over or across your dog.
As a general rule, it’s never a good idea to hug a dog. Some dogs tolerate it, but it’s a form of constraint, which feels threatening to them.
Stop petting your dog after a short time and see if she asks for more or seems relieved and/or moves away.
Watch for stress signals, including looking away, lip licking, yawning, ears back, “whale eye” (the white of the eye is showing at the corners and/or rim), lifting a paw, tail tucking, freezing, or urination. If your dog is doing one or more of these things, stop touching him and give him some space.
Always ask the dog’s human before interacting with a pet you don’t know.
In all interactions with our animal companions, we should pay attention to the impact we’re having on them and most importantly, be respectful of who they are. Each dog is an individual, and while one dog may love a vigorous rubdown, another may be completely stressed out by that type of handling.

Additionally, there are some dogs that experience anxiety and fear when approached by strangers, in general. There’s an organization trying to promote the identification of these dogs from a distance by using a yellow ribbon on a leash, through The Yellow Dog Project, which I wholeheartedly endorse.

By observing your dog’s reaction to physical contact and following his lead, you can enhance your bond with him and forge a more positive relationship.

17/04/2023

About time we found out about it.

CHOOSING A FLEA & TICK PREVENTIVE FOR YOUR PET!⚠️🐶🐱

Several popular ‘preventive’ products have a history of being associated with reactions in some dogs and cats including seizures, behavioral issues, muscular/balance issues, and even death.😿

If you need to use a chemical preventive, or if you are looking for safer alternatives, you don’t want to miss this week’s Inside Scoop episode with Dr. Judy Morgan and Dr. Jean Dodds!

We’ll be covering:
🌿 Non-chemical, natural prevention and integrative protocols

✅ Safer options and products for both chemical and non-chemical prevention

💊 Detox and support protocols if you have to give chemical preventives
..plus our updated Flea, Tick & Heartworm Guide full of DIY recipes, supplements and more!

Join us this Sunday at 12pm ET for this important discussion!

👉If you haven’t joined our subscription group of 2.0 pet parents and want to learn more, just click the link below or head over to the Planet Paws page and hit the "Subscribe” button to join our weekly Livestreams. Also includes access to over 4 years of lives, interviews, ebooks and more in our Archives!
https://www.facebook.com/becomesupporter/PlanetPawsMedia

20/02/2023

WANT TO HELP YOUR DOG LIVE LONGER? TRY THIS!🍵🐶

When designing our blueprint📝 on how-to raise the oldest dogs in the world for our new book, The Forever Dog, we focused our research heavily on science-based longevity foods, herbs & supplements that can be added to your dog’s diet. Foods that could not only help delay canine aging, but can help nourish and bullet-proof💥 your dog against disease!

No matter which longevity scientist we interviewed, the one suggestion that made every researcher’s top 10 list of what to add to a dog’s bowl was “camellia sinensis,” aka Green Tea!🍃

In fact, the latest study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology shows people who drink green tea at least three times a week can live longer and suffer a lower risk of cardiovascular disease!

That’s because Green Tea is rich in polyphenols, and contains a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which are found to help prevent cell damage, reduce inflammation and can help fight cancer while providing other health benefits, of course.

But what about dogs? Are there any studies? Shockingly, we found a bunch!
The most recent showed that Green Tea🍵 acts as a therapeutic agent for obesity, liver inflammation, and fat degeneration in dogs!

While many of us make juices or smoothies, most of us don’t think about using concentrated medicinal infusions in our food. But in the dog world, medicinal teas make inexpensive, polyphenol-rich toppers (“gravies”) that infuse longevity benefits into every meal. So, it should come as no surprise that green tea has been used in pet food for quite some time, but not in quantities to confer health benefits, so why not add some at home?

All teas can be steeped as usual, then cooled off prior to adding to your dog’s food. Green teas should be decaffeinated, and preferably organic.

Alternatively, add warm tea to your dog’s dry food and allow the therapeutic brew to marinate with the kibble prior to feeding, creating a super-saucy gravy and adding hydration (dogs aren’t designed to eat low-moisture, dried food their whole lives; teas help!). If you feed dehydrated or freeze-dried dog food, reconstitute them prior to feeding with tea!

Recipe for Organic Decaf Green Tea🍵 for Pets🐾:

1.Combine 3 cups of purified water and 1 tea bag or 1 tablespoon of loose tea leaves🫖
2.Steep for 15 minutes
3.Remove the tea bag or use a strainer to remove the tea leaves🍃
4.Store the tea in a covered, preferably glass pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days

Add the following amounts of decaf green tea to your pet’s morning and evening meal:

• Cats — 1 tablespoon
• Small dogs — 1/8th cup
• Medium dogs — ¼ to ½ cup
• Large dogs — ½ to 1 cup

This is one simple and powerful way to add longevity benefits to your dog’s bowl! Looking for more ideas or recipes? Check out our new book with dozens of other suggestions in the Forever Fluids section of our book, available for pre-order now by clicking here: www.foreverdog.com/book

09/02/2023

Food for Your Dog’s Skin Health 🐕
If your dog suffers with itchy skin or other skin conditions, a change in their skin microbiome may be contributing to the problem. Several skin diseases are associated with alterations in the microbiome, including your pet’s skin microbiome, and using a novel nutritional approach (switching from highly processed to unprocessed food) to improve their microflora may help relieve skin conditions or their symptoms. 👍🐶
Discover more about the findings of the study when you read today’s free pet health article on the bark & whiskers website.

12/01/2023

THIS WEEK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF DRY PET FOOD - TODAY RANCID FAT:
A soon as a bag of kibble is opened, important dietary fats (e.g., omega-3 essential fatty acids) start to turn rancid. Because kibble is processed multiple times and at extremely high temperatures, effectively killing all the nutrition in the food, manufacturers assume the finished product is grossly nutritionally deficient. That's why the final production step involves spraying on a nutrient mix (and a palatability enhancer to make pets want to eat the stuff).
The sprayed-on synthetic nutrient mix typically contains cheap, feed-grade additives, vitamins and metal oxides and sulfates that can sped the oxidation of fats, ultimately resulting in rancid fats in a formula that may or may not be entirely safe to eat as little as a week after it was opened. [This is an extract taken from Dr Karen Becker's advertisement.]

31/08/2022

This is a must read.

Imagine eating a laboratory-engineered food product that has been scientifically formulated to meet your basic nutrition requirements and it’s the only food you’re provided, from birth to death. Would you eat it? Of course (or you’d starve). Is this an optimal way to live and nourish yourself? No. Welcome to the lives of the vast majority of pets around the world.
If the only way you can keep your animal alive is to feed kibble (the equivalent to nutritionally complete cereal), do it. But if you can do better, DO IT❣️
Pets deserve better. Better food. Better health. Learn more at www.foreverdog.com

30/08/2022

Wow. I have been giving my dog these for some time, only when the price is down. Now - $5.50 pun.

EAT & FEED BLUEBERRIES!

In a study conducted on sled dogs, blueberry supplementation elicited significantly elevated antioxidant status in the dogs.

This suggests that dogs fed blueberries should be better protected against oxidative damage. -

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16520073

Aside from being classified as antiangiogenic aka anti-cancer, blueberries contain a compound called pterostilbene, a derivative of resveratrol.

These little blue powerhouses are good antioxidants because they contain phenolics that preferentially react with free radicals.

So, offering your furry companion blueberries can help protect them against cancer!

- Rodney Habib

26/08/2022

We always put raw pureed carrots in our pet food.

FEEDING DRY PET FOOD OR TREATS? WHY YOU SHOULD BE ADDING THIS VEGETABLE TO THEIR DOG’S DIET! 🥕🐶

Pet food companies all around the globe are struggling to control mold levels🧫 in dry and canned pet food, with dozens of lawsuits developing over pet deaths.

Pets that eat food containing unsafe levels of these molds are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning. These fungal toxins not only can cause organ damage and immune problems, consumption of aflatoxins has been associated with increased risk of developing liver cancer!

One easy way to counteract the harmful effects of aflatoxins is to feed apiaceous vegetables such as carrots.🥕 Carrots contain polyacetylenes, an unusual class of compounds that play an important role in detoxifying several cancer-causing substances, specifically these AFLATOXINS.

Eliminating aflatoxins from your dog’s body can be really difficult but serving up carrots is a great way to enhance the metabolism of these toxic compounds!

💁🏻‍♂️HOW TO FEED: Raw or cooked, carrots make great training treats or can be minced and added in with your dog’s food. Chop carrots into a bite-size pieces appropriate for your dog’s size. The green leaves of carrots can also be fed for an added boost of antioxidants and nutrients.

👉Looking for more DIY fresh food ideas to improve your dog's bowl or snacks?! In our book The Forever Dog we give you several lists of other great foods to feed for various reasons (anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, cognition and more) plus how much to feed to ensure you keep your pup’s nutrition in balance. www.foreverdog.com