Handy Ways to Check if you have a NZ Pet Safe Home Our dogs are great at giving us those puppy dog eyes when they’re hungry, or jumping up and down at the mention of a walk, but when it comes to dangers in their environment, they don’t have the language to let us know.  This is our domain, and our responsibility.  We need to be tuned in to signs of toxicity such as a rash, itchy skin or dermatitis.  As good pet owners we need to know what is safe and what isn’t for our pets.  So, let’s have a look at some things in your home environment that may surprise you! Is your Home P ..read more

If you’re a dog owner and you’ve been pulling your hair out trying to figure out why you can’t get any real solutions to your dog’s constant scratching and awful smell, this blog is for you!  Chances are your dog has developed an internal systemic fungal overgrowth.  Let’s get into what that means for your dog (and for you). A fungal overgrowth (or yeast infection) is a common issue for our dogs.  It is caused by yeast, which is a normal inhabitant of the digestive tract, getting into a state of ‘overgrowth’.  When this happens your dog develops an itch and, depending on ho ..read more

    Imagine this: You're enjoying a peaceful evening at home, lounging on the sofa with your furry best friend. Suddenly, your tranquility is shattered by the incessant sound of scratching. You look down to see your dog in distress, furiously itching a patch of skin. You're no stranger to this sight - your dog has been suffering from eczema.     Just like humans, dogs are prone to eczema - a condition that can turn their joyous romps into periods of uncomfortable itching and scratching. It's a sight that tugs at your heartstrings. But what can you do about it? Understandin ..read more

  Geriatric dogs are those who begin to lose muscle as they naturally age. There are some simple ways to help your dog to stay healthier for longer by targeting specific muscles and exercising muscle memory. Here's five things that help: Getting your dog to walk backwards, or sideways. This is a great way to strengthen the leg muscles that are not as frequently used. To get your dog to practice walking backwards, hold a treat between their nose and chest and gently walk into them so they’re walking backwards. To get your dog to walk sideways, stand on their side holding their collar ..read more

  What does systemic fungal overgrowth look like exactly?  You might be familiar with symptoms such as an unpleasant smell, often compared to the smell of cheesy corn chips, or a recurring ear infection.  Maybe your dog has what is known as elephant skin, when the skin becomes blackened and rough in certain areas.  Or perhaps your dog suffers from alopecia.  Even one of these symptoms could mean your dog is suffering from a fungal overgrowth.  It is unpleasant for both you and your dog but there is a solution, so keep reading. Before we look at how to combat a fun ..read more

  All that is required is a dehydrator or an oven... Ingredients: - Chicken breast - Turmeric - Cold-pressed olive oil (Amounts can vary depending on desired quantities - just need enough turmeric to lightly coat the chicken.) 1. Slice your chicken breast into thin strips, use a pastry brush to thinly spread oil onto chicken, then sprinkle with the turmeric until lightly coated. 2. Lay on the racks of your dehydrator at 75°C OR place on a tray/grill in the oven at the lowest temperature, ideally around 50°C. If your oven doesn’t go this low, make sure you keep a close eye on the jerky p ..read more

    Indie is a rescue German Shepherd who had been used to breed, on her first season. Her puppies were sold very early, and she ran away looking for them. After several months on a beef farm eating what she could find she eventually ended up in the pound. GS Rescue got the call to pick her up and I adopted her knowing she had ear problems. The Vets gave her injections, and we brought home a small dog weary of anyone wanting to touch her ears. Brown gunk kept running out from her ears, she continually nibbled her body, and she started losing fur on her tummy. Black crinkly skin appea ..read more

Firstly, we need to understand the impact of healthy teeth and gums vs unhealthy teeth and gums. What people don’t realize is that, just like the way your dog’s diet affects their gut, the same food that is travelling through their mouths affects their teeth. This then creates a ripple effect back into the biome. In other words, what our dogs eat matters, all the way through the digestive process. The microbiome begins in the mouth which means keeping your dog’s mouth ‘microbially balanced’ is super important. The mouth is the entrance way to the gastrointestinal tract. We want to maintain a ..read more

  For many years the debate around garlic has continued with some saying it’s toxic and causes haemolytic anaemia and others saying it’s a natural antibiotic and health tonic and great as a natural flea deterrent. So, let's look at the argument in a little more detail. Garlic actually belongs to the allium family which also includes leeks and onions. Now garlic contains miniscule amounts of a substance called thiosulphate whereas onions on the other hand contain a lot of thiosulphate. Let's go back a few decades to the 1980’s when garlic was added to a lot of dogfood and catfood with no p ..read more

  This is the incredible story of Trooper. A rescue from a puppy farm in 2021.  Trooper was a happy chappy to be taken into the Jackson family, however his health began to deteriorate within days of being adopted. Numerous vet visits later, the chronic ear infection seemed to be under control with medications. Then the weepy eyes started, more medications, then pink spots began on the belly. In a desperate attempt to improve Trooper's symptoms, the Jackson family changed from kibble to the PMR diet (Prey Model Raw) to see if this would improve things. Unfortunately, Ill-health conti ..read more