The Canine Nutritionist

05/05/2026

If you feed your dog a fresh food diet, you need to supplement with calcium.

You have four choices:

1. Raw meaty bones
The perfect calcium choice if you don't mind blood and sinew clagging up your shagpile!

2. Bone meal
Ground-up bone and marrow. Just make sure it's not garden-grade bone meal which can contain additives, chemical salts or high concentrations of minerals that are toxic to dogs.

3. Calcium carbonate
Sedimentary rock like limestone, chalk and marble, mined and finely ground into powder mainly in China by heating it to a temperature in excess of 900 degrees and then reacting it with hydrochloric acid to form calcium oxide (quicklime) which then becomes calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) before finally being turned into calcium carbonate. It's what most commercial dog and human calcium supplements are made of because it's the cheapest!

4. Ultimate Canine Calcium+
A 100% natural blend of washed, baked and finely ground eggshell calcium together with alfalfa, nettle leaf, dandelion leaf and coconut milk powder to make the calcium better absorbed by the body and all hand-blended in the UK.

02/05/2026

28/04/2026

Ava waiting for her dinner. 😋 Having been fed raw for many years, now that her digestive system has started to slow down, she's much happier with her food lightly cooked.

Anyone else found that with their senior dog?

27/04/2026

Packed with purpose — inside and out.

Our powdered multivitamin supplement for dogs comes in recyclable cardboard cans instead of plastic pouches, helping reduce unnecessary plastic waste without compromising freshness or quality. It’s a smarter choice for pet parents who care about their dog’s health and the planet they play on.

Because better nutrition shouldn’t come with excess packaging. Every scoop supports your dog. Every can supports a more thoughtful future. Its daily wellness for your dog with a lighter footprint on the planet.

Good for dogs. Better for the future!

24/04/2026

Last evening's cook for our dogs:

Lamb mince and lamb organs together with savoy cabbage, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, parsnips, rocket, cucumber, bell peppers (orange & red), celery, collard greens.

We had to make do with pizza. Who do you think got the better deal?

20/04/2026

Our quail are currently laying over a dozen eggs a day, so it looks like we and our dogs are not going to be running out of scotch eggs any time soon 😋 🐶

13/04/2026

There are 10 things kibble feeders should ask themselves before choosing to continue to feed their dog dry food:

1. Am I feeding my dog the most appropriate food for its species?
2. Does the food I am feeding my dog look like real food?
3. Would I eat the food I am feeding my dog?
4. Is there any scientific evidence to indicate that the food I am feeding my dog is the healthiest way to feed an animal?
5. How come the food I am feeding my dog can sit on a supermarket shelf for 18 months without going off? (Actually, it can't, but that's a different story)!
6. Why does the food I am feeding my dog smell worse each time I open the bag?
7. When studies show that a fresh food diet is the healthiest way for we humans to eat, why should the food I am feeding my dog be any different?
8. Why doesn't the food I am feeding my dog look like the food pictured on the outside of the bag?
9. If the food I am feeding my dog is the same food pictured on the outside of the bag, why don't I just feed my dog the food pictured on the outside of the bag and cut out the middle man?
10. Why am I feeding my dog kibble when all the available evidence proves that dogs live longer, healthier lives when fed a fresh food diet?

06/04/2026

A growing number of pet parents are discovering the benefits of adding functional condiments — small, nutrient-rich additions like apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, and tahini — to their dog’s meals. These natural enhancers do more than boost flavour; they can support digestion, immunity and overall wellness when used in moderation.

Apple cider vinegar is rich in natural acids and enzymes that may promote healthy digestion, balanced gut bacteria and a glossy coat. Just a few drops diluted in water or mixed with food can help support internal balance.

Nutritional yeast provides a savoury, cheese-like flavour dogs love, while supplying B vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants that support energy and skin health. It’s an excellent plant-based topper for homemade meals.

Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, offers calcium, healthy fats and trace minerals that nourish joints and skin. A tiny spoonful can make meals more palatable, especially for picky eaters.

When thoughtfully chosen and used sparingly, these condiments transform everyday meals into functional nutrition — adding flavour, variety and gentle wellness benefits that align beautifully with natural canine care.

As always, moderation and balance ensure that these powerful little additions remain both safe and beneficial.

02/04/2026

It may seem too much of a stretch for some pet parents. Ear infections, diarrhoea, behavioural issues, inflammation, chronic health conditions, skin infections, low energy, anxiety — how can they all possibly be connected?

And yet they are. They are all gut-related issues and, as such, there's only one place to start if you hope to find a resolution to your pet's particular health issue.

You are on a hiding to nothing if you take your dog to the vet at the first sign of any of the above. Not only is it likely to be a costly mistake in terms of draining your finances (or your insurance), the chances are, your beloved pet will be in a worse position as a result of it.

If ever your dog is unwell, you should always do the cheapest, simplest, least invasive thing first. Consider the role of gut health in its condition.

Consult with a dog nutritionist, someone trained in gut-related problems. Someone who will not simply prescribe medication that will suppress your dog's immune system for a while before the symptoms come back worse than ever.

Those symptoms won't go away, they'll still be festering in the background waiting to be bombarded with more medication and more medication when each successive treatment falls short of the mark because the person you've entrusted with your pet's health has no training in gut-related issues, the cause of most dog and human health problems.

If your pet suffers with any of the above-mentioned problems, do the right thing. Consult with a dog nutritionist!

30/03/2026

Ultimate Canine Daily, how do my dogs love thee? Let me count the ways.

2. With bell peppers!