A New Science Dog Webinar (with a FREE Preview!) The Scoop on Poop An evidence-based webinar examining how diet and life style factors influence fecal quality and GI health in dogs. This comprehensive discussion examines ALL of the factors that go into optimal fecal quality (and quantity) in dogs and what owners can do to … Continue reading The Scoop on Poop
Health
Be the (Type of) Support Your Dog Needs
Having owners present or absent during routine veterinary visits and procedures continues to be a controversial issue. While many owners (myself included) maintain that it is imperative that we remain with our dogs during veterinary examinations, some veterinary professionals feel that dogs benefit if separated from their owner during routine examinations and procedures. We already … Continue reading Be the (Type of) Support Your Dog Needs
Can We Feed Dogs a Healthful Vegan Diet?
Dog owners who choose to feed a vegetarian or vegan diet may do so for a variety of reasons. These include animal welfare concerns, a desire to reduce the environmental impact of the foods that they select, or beliefs about what constitutes a healthful diet. Some may also prefer foods that are less highly processed … Continue reading Can We Feed Dogs a Healthful Vegan Diet?
What IS the Canine Gut Microbiome, Anyway?
A New Science Dog Courses Webinar Presented by Dr. Stephanie Clark An on-demand webinar for veterinary health professionals, trainers, nutritionists, pet industry professionals and dog owners. Enjoy the opportunity to chat with the presenter and ask questions. Learn about the importance of the gut microbiome for long-term health and how diet may influence gut health. … Continue reading What IS the Canine Gut Microbiome, Anyway?
Can We Make Raw Dog Foods Safe?
Minimally-Processed Dog Foods Minimally-processed pet foods are increasing in popularity among dog owners. One sub-category of these foods is raw meat-based diets (aka RMBDs). I have reviewed the current science regarding the safety of these products in previous Science Dog essays (see The Raw Deal and Freeze-dried). In a nutshell, evidence from multiple studies supports … Continue reading Can We Make Raw Dog Foods Safe?
What Do You Know……
About Canine Communication Signals? Do Dogs Enjoy Hugs? The question of whether or not dogs enjoy being hugged by humans tends to spark a great deal of discussion and controversy. While there are some who state that dogs do not naturally enjoy the intense physical closeness of a hug (and may even perceive hugs as … Continue reading What Do You Know……
Do Human-Grade Dog Foods Improve Dogs’ Skin Health?
Human-grade pet foods are becoming increasingly popular. I have written about this category of foods on several occasions and have reviewed recent studies of how these food tend to perform when fed to dogs. MILDLY- COOKED, HUMAN-GRADE DOG FOOD What do we currently know? To date, we know a few things about human-grade dog foods: … Continue reading Do Human-Grade Dog Foods Improve Dogs’ Skin Health?
Are You Interested in Cats?
New Cat-Centered Offerings from The Science Dog Courses! Feeding Felines: An Evidence-Based Feline Nutrition Course A Science Dog CORE course that focuses on our other best friend, the domestic cat. Learn why cats cannot be treated or fed as if they are "small dogs'! Students who complete the course receive a personalized Science Dog Courses … Continue reading Are You Interested in Cats?
Are There Benefits of Insect-Based Dog Foods?
Insect-based dog treats and foods were first introduced into the commercial pet food market quite recently - about 6 years ago. While early products were primarily offered as treats, complete and balanced dog foods that contain various types of insect meals are increasingly available. I have written about the insect species that have been studied … Continue reading Are There Benefits of Insect-Based Dog Foods?
A New Scoop for Citizen Scientists
In recent years, the expansion of citizen scientist experiments to include owners and their dogs has been instrumental in furthering our understanding of canine behavior, social cognition, emotional responses and training. Not only are these studies of great practical importance, they also provide information about the complexities of dogs lives in ways that laboratory experiments … Continue reading A New Scoop for Citizen Scientists
Diet and Your Dog’s Skin Microbiome
The word "microbiome" is all the rage among dog researchers and dog folks these days. In most instances when you hear this term, it refers to a dog's gut microbiome. However, another important microbiome system in the dog's body is the skin. Similar to the gut, the skin's bacterial makeup is comprised of multiple species, … Continue reading Diet and Your Dog’s Skin Microbiome
FDA Guidelines? Who Knew?
I have been in the pet food industry, in some capacity, for my entire working life. Today, I learned about a set of FDA Guidelines that are written to help to keep our dogs (and us) safe. Until recently, I had no idea that these even existed. Apparently, I am not alone. A recent study, … Continue reading FDA Guidelines? Who Knew?
What Do You Know about Canine Nutrition?
TAKE THE QUIZ! Nutrition Courses and Webinars for Dog People Basics of Canine Nutrition Puppies to Seniors Dog Food Smarts Master's Class Certificate Program Other Popular Courses and Webinars: Nutrition Controversies in the Dog World Feeding Puppies for Health and Longevity Dogs are Carnivores, Right? Understanding Canine Body Signals Human Grade: Meaningful Distinction or Marketing … Continue reading What Do You Know about Canine Nutrition?
The (Dis)connection between Grain-Free Foods and DCM
Almost 4 years ago, in July of 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a public alert stating that they had reports of an apparent increase in the national incidence of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. At the time, it was speculated (without evidence) that the perceived increase in cases was related to the consumption … Continue reading The (Dis)connection between Grain-Free Foods and DCM
Feeding Smart with The Science Dog
New Book Announcement! "Feeding Smart with The Science Dog" by Linda P Case Description: In The Science Dog’s latest myth-busting book, Linda Case takes on canine nutrition and feeding practices. It seems that almost everyone has an opinion about how our dogs should be fed and what diet is healthiest for them. In this timely … Continue reading Feeding Smart with The Science Dog
The Science Dog 