northUpland

The Big Bang Canine Theory

2014-01-24T17:43:00.002-06:00

Have you ever wondered how current canine science could help a gun dogs genetic greatness? Over the past few years I have developed my Top 5 Tips to help improve a gun dogs health and well being. They are listed below, with links to my past articles that dive deeper into each factor. By tracing back my library of articles and linking them to what I feel are my Top 5 Tips, I hope to correlate all this mumbo jumbo once and for all into what I like to call "The Big Bang Canine Theory".

#1. Clean Water. Yep, it's the the most obvious but most often overlooked canine health improvement. Keep a constant flow of fresh, purified water available. It seems very elementary, but normal tap water can have high levels of micro nasty type cancer causing toxins, fertilizer and poisonous run off that are floating around in our water supply that negatively effect both short and long term health of your dog(s)...and us humans as well! Water is our life blood. It should be respected. Your dogs ability to remain healthy, happy, and hunting hard depends on it as a top priority. Also, keep your dog dishes cleaned out and sanitary. More dogs get sick by stale water than anything so it is very important to keep there feed stations absolutely sterile.
Click here for more water information.

#2. Quality Food Ingredients. Focus on foods with 30%+ protein sources derived from animal meats and eliminate false protein grain gluten period. I said grain gluten, not eliminating grain! I am a huge proponent of grain inclusion in canine diets. It's just making sure they are the right carbo's like rice, barley, etc and not those like corn gluten that falsely boost protein percentages without doing anything to help your dogs nutrition!  Fat is your dog(s) primary source of energy. High fat foods(20%+) are the core of our hard charging gun dogs gas tanks and help make more game in your bag.
Click here for more food information.

#3, Energy Dense Food. Maximize the Kcal/Per Cup that your dog is eating and good things will happen! High quality, energy packed dog food will not only help your hunting buddy stay in the field longer and harder, it just very well may extend his or her life.  Plus you will spend less in the long run by buying a cleaner "burning" food. Looking at the price per bag doesn't mean anything. How much nutrition your dog(s) gets per cup is the most important aspect.
Click here for more food caloric information.

#4. Conditioning, Conditioning, Conditioning. Without question, a major key to every healthy gun dog is daily physical activity.  Ask yourself; are you working your dog(s) on a set schedule? How much time are they spending outside working or conditioning? Have you looked at the caloric food formulas to adjust for energy in = energy out...and changed daily feeding rations according to the amount of their activity? Conditioning plays a vital roll in the evolution of our gun dogs. Be a master of their workouts. This will result in a dog that is rock solid and ready to roll at a moments notice!
Click here for more about canine conditioning.

#5 The Season Is Never Really Over. If you want a gun dog to perform at its maximum than the expectation it to get game in front of them as often as possible both during the season as well as their off time! Mandatory vet check up at least twice a year(before the season and after). Please be a responsible gun dog owner, no matter how many dogs you have! Boosters, dewormers, vaccines, annual tests, and all that goes with owning a hard charging gun dog behind the scenes! Keeping them healthy and on game year round is a major task and one we are all rewarded with come hunt season.
Click here for more about gun dog health care.

This is from Chris Mathan's Gallery. One of my favorite pics ever. Shows a well conditioned English Pointer who is slick, ready, and willing! This dog's owner observes the Top 5 Tips for sure! Please check out her work at www.strideaway.com

Canine Athletic Stress and Immunity Boosting on a Budget

2013-09-12T14:27:00.003-05:00

In most states both upland and waterfowl seasons are already open. As hunters we will put our four legged partners under a great deal of athletic stress over the course of the next few months. With stress, just like us humans, comes an adverse effect on a canines immune system. As long, cold, wet hunts increase, a decrease in a dogs immune system occurs therefore increasing their risk of infection and illness. One way to help your dog garner back some of this stress related immunity loss is to supplement their regular diet with a healthy and regular dose of Beta-Carotene.

Beta-Carotene(BC) comes from the family of vitamins called carotenoids. Carotenoids are those dark dark red pigments that help color vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and yellow bell peppers. Fact is, dogs can not make there own BC so they must find or be given a digestable source by us humans. Canines do however posses an enzyme in their intestines that converts BC into a highly active form of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is extremely important to support the health of a dogs respiratory and and intestinal tract. Basically, BC converted to Vit A strengthens the internal membranes that line both the lungs and the intestines. Both the lungs and intestines are where foreign pathogens are more likely to enter a dog's system. So common sense dictates giving these two areas a nutrient boost will help ward of bacterial infections or airborne viruses.

But BC is not just a one trick pony or magic bullet. BC must be supplemented on a regular basis and over long periods of time to increase the absorption rate into the dogs system. Not only will this prolonged supplement of BC increase the respiratory and intestinal health, it has been also found to highly increase the strength and functionality of lymphnodes that also play a huge part in fighting off infections. Recent studies also show the dogs supplemented with BC also show higher levels of anitbodies than dogs that are not supplemented.

Ok, so I know what you're thinking. This is the time when I'm going to pitch some high dollar, multi deluxe, super, supreme, cure all type, vitamin supplement that can only be found by ordering it online from some obscure company in Sweden. Nope. Not this blue collar guy. Just go down to your local grocery store and buy a bag of fresh, organic baby carrots for less than $5. Switch out those nutrionally worthless doggie cookie treats with a hand full of fresh baby carrots everyday.

For less than $20 a month your hunting buddy is getting a snack that they will absolutely love to chomp into. Which, come to think of it, is probaby a few bucks less than a big bag of cookie treats and much more healthier and much cheaper than any over the counter pill form supplement. Even better, you know it will give them a great source of natural, organically derived BC and other essential vitamins to help fight off the nasties. Plus, we all know carrots improve our vision which is another positve side effect of BC! An additonal bonus to feeding baby carrots is because of their rough texture they also help clean teeth and gums very well! So it's a win(vitamin supplement), win(money saving), win(treat giving), win(teeth cleaning) four way winner of a deal to help increase your four legged hunting partners health and well being while saving you a few bucks along the way.

Best of Luck Out There,

Mark

Dr. Tim's Premium Athletic Dog Food

2013-06-27T14:49:00.001-05:00

There is something to be said about the saying, "You get out what you put in." I suppose that old proverb reigns true in relation to both Dallas & Mitch Seavey, consecutive winners of the 2012 and 2013 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. They also happen to be son and father and also both just happen to feed Dr. Tim's Dog Food to their race teams.

Normally, I do not pick sides in my blog posts when it comes to brands and products. But their comes a time when every man needs to draw a line in the sand. It's proven that Dr. Tim Hunt makes what many, including this guy, believes is the very best premium athletetic dog food in the world. I would reckon there are folks from all sorts of canine athletic walks of life that would echo my sentiment. Just the other day I received an email from a reader who asked some great questions concerning his American Water Spaniel.

Reader's question...

Hello and good morning! I stumbled upon your blog this morning while doing my own research for advice and information pertaining to my dogs nutrition. I have a soon to be three year old American Water Spaniel that is currently being fed XXX dog food and prior to that WWW. I choose these food because they are locally made and have been a trusted brand in my family. However, my dog lacks energy when out hunting and while training. I have had his blood work tested and everything is perfect, therefore my vet and I agreed it could be food related. He has no aversions to grains or proteins either. I therefore concluded that the food simply lacks enough calories or is too low in protein. Am I right in my conclusion? And if so do you have a recommendation for both a protein to fat ratio as well as how many calories per day he should receive. He currently gets no more than 1 3/4 cups per day at about 400 calories per cup. I would also be interested in your thoughts on a specific brand of food. It seems as if there is a huge push away from corn, wheat, soy, glutens, etc. However it also seems that the majority of trialers, breeders, and professionals feed XXX and WWW alike, and foods that include those ingredients. I am not averse to either formula of food personally. I certainly would appreciate a nudge in the right direction. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and for your help. Your blog is a great resource for information! All the Best! -Kevin

My response...

Kevin, First off, thank you very much for taking the time to contact me. But most importantly, thanks for caring for the health and wellbeing of your American Water Spaniel. You bring up some great questions and concerns. Hopefully I can help. You're currently feeding good foods but ones that lack the neccessary daily caloric intake your canine athlete requires. Without the needed calories, energy and stamina tends to suffer. It's also a weird dog food world we live in. XXX and WWW have cornerstoned the sporting dog marketing world. Big business has a way of doing such things. Those companies, with vast sums of advertising money, can easily control and manipulate the way field trailers, professionals, kennel owners, and breeders support their brand. Believe me, I fed XXX for years and was a die hard advocate until I really had that life moment when I stepped back and took the time to understand what I was actually feeding my dogs! The field trail world is sort of like NASCAR where everyone, by regulation, must run Goodyear tires and Shell gas. Trialers tend to breed, raise, train, and run their dogs with the same NASCAR mentatily. By no means makes them bad foods.In fact, They are good foods but far from great. Unfortunately, sponsorship may pay their bills to play man games with gun dogs! Personally, I would tell you to check out Dr. Tim's Momentum Formula. His food is like Perelli tires and Nitrous Oxide gas when it comes to fuel for canine athletes. It is HIGHLY digestible, aka food burns hotter and brighter in your dogs coal stove(stomach). At 588kcal per cup of Dr. Tim's Momentum you will feed the same as you are and have and your spaniel digesting more completely and his field energy will surely increase! It's a food made by a Vet who actually cares and is made specifially for real canine athletes. Outside of all this food talk... Please make sure you're giving your spaniel good, clean, purified, water to drink. Nothing in this world can help a dog's long term health more than fresh, crystal clear water! Thanks again and hope all is well!

Best of luck out there. -Mark
Click on the below ad to be directed to Dr.Tim's website.

Pocket Guide For Dog Food Consumers Vol. II

2013-02-07T12:01:00.001-06:00

A few years ago I wrote an article that has become one of my most widely read blog posts ever. It is long overdue to update and republish it. As the dog food world grows, so does the information and types of ingredients used.

These days more and more gun dog owners are asking questions about proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and other dog food nutrients. It is reassuring to know people want straight answers and are serious about supplying their hunting partners with the best nutrition possible. It is a confusing retail world out there with hundreds of dog foods to choose from. It is also long overdue that I put together a sort of "cliff's notes" or pocket guide to better help the dog food consumer.

Proteins are the basic building blocks of life. Protein intake ensures cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies are digested for growth, maintenance, reproduction, repair and energy. Meat proteins such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, bison, venison, duck, and fish have complete amino acid profiles. That simple means they contain all of the amino acids your dog needs. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and are divided into essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are ones that cannot be manufactured by the body in sufficient quantities and must be supplied in the working dogs diet. Examples of essential amino acids are carnitine, arginine and lysine. Non-essential amino acids are ones that your dog can produce naturally in sufficient quantities. Protein levels for working gun dogs should be right around 30% give or take the amount of activity. That percentage can be found right on the bag in the guaranteed analysis. But buyer beware! An advertised 30% protein rating can be misleading. Some manufacturers use vegetable based protein gluten, a.k.a. "corn gluten" to boost the protein rating. Because of vegetable gluten's composition it leads to an inherent lack of digestibility. Most of the "advertised" protein content will be eaten and excreted by your dog with very little nutritional protein absorption ever taking place.

Fats are the most concentrated form of food energy for dogs. Fats provide your gun dog with more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates! Fats are essential in the structure of cells and are needed for the production of some hormones. They are also required for absorption and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, and E. The correct balance of fats can be found in top rated healthy dog food. Importantly, fats supply fatty acids which dogs need for a multitude of reasons—from helping to provide healthier skin and coat to reducing inflammation in joints. Dogs can produce some of the fatty acids they need, but not all of them so these "essential" fatty acids must be supplied by their diet. Essential fatty acids are divided into two groups—Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Ingredients like chicken fat and sunflower oil are great sources of Omega-6 fatty acids while flax seed, herring oil and salmon oil are key sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Fats should range around 20% and like Protein, can be found right on the guaranteed analysis portion normally located on the back or side of the bag. Again, like protein, this can be a higher or lower percentage given your dogs needs. It all depends on what you feel your dog must intake given their active level. The base range for a highly active sporting breed is around a 30% Protein/20% Fat mix diet so use that as your base line in judgement.

Carbohydrates are another source of energy for dogs. Unlike human marathon runners who scarf down plates of pasta before a big race, dogs rely on carb's as only a minor source of "boost" energy. Think of your dogs gas tank burning like this; fat first, protein second(unused protein gets stored as fat so the cycle continues). Carb's role in a dog's metabolism is to covert it to Glucose and pack a quick, immediate energy source that is very rapidly burned off. Whole grains such as, brown rice, barley and oats, are all low-fat sources of highly-digestible complex carbohydrates. Whole grains are also a rich source of dietary fiber which is crucial for healthy intestinal function. Whole grains are also helpful with the common problems of constipation in dogs, which can be caused by a diet that is lacking in fiber. Notice how we did not mention whole corn, wheat or soy? These are all low grade grains and contribute as only a minor source of glucose conversion.

Vitamin A helps promote healthy bones, teeth, coat, skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is important to the immune system and has been known to help ward off or fight respiratory infections

Vitamin B12 is necessary for proper growth and used to treat some types of nerve damage and pernicious anemia. B12 is also helpful in the recovery process our canine athletes endure during times of hunting or sporting related exercise.

Vitamin C is the world's most potent antioxidant immune booster. It is known to help prevent bacterial, viral and degenerative diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, auto immune disease and cancer. Vitamin C is water soluble and can lose potency when exposed to high temperatures. A favorite dog treats is baby carrots. I highly suggest trying them as a low cost/ great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Potassium, and Calcium for your own dog(s). I would further suggest buying the organic/no preservative version as they are free of pesticides.

Vitamin D promotes skin, bone, connective tissue and heart health. It is necessary for the proper absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus. Just like your mother always said...drink your milk for strong bones...a strong supply of the Big "D" is an essential for your working gun dog.

Vitamin E is another valuable antioxidant that helps improve circulation and cardiac output.

Mixed Tocopherols are a natural preservative made from Vitamin E and found in all premium foods. Tocopherols are a good thing to see on an ingredient list. Watch out for harmful synthetic preservatives such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, or propylene glycol that provide no nutritional value and have been associated with possible toxic side effects. FYI, synthetic preservative are used by low grade dog food companies because they are cheap!

Dempsey at 8 week old. Jan 2010. Started on a super premium, natural high performance food.

Ingredients to look for...
There are not many dog food companies who add true Probiotics(healthy bacteria cultures to aid in digestion) Think of it like Actevia yogurt for dogs(you know the Jaime Lee Curtis commercials!) There are a few companies out there that add Probiotic cultures so when researching look for ingredients like Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bacillus Subtilis, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum, Bifidobacterium Longum and Enterococcus Faecium. Each of these are active dehydrated cultures added after processing. They are activated on ingesting the food and help to maintain normal bacteria balance in the lower intestine. They aid in digestion and reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, contributing to colon and rectum health. The dog food companies who add active bacteria cultures for healthy digestion are the companies who truly separate themselves from the pack. Rest assured, their first concern is your dogs health, not their profit margin!

Many manufactures now add Prebiotics. Prebiotics are, in layman's terms, health food to help boost naturally preexisting Probiotic cultures already active in your dog's digestive system. Natural prebiotics are complex carbohydrates added to the ingredients of the food during the manufacturing process. The food is then eaten by your dog releasing the prebiotics or their technical term Fructo Oligo Sacharides(FOS). Finding a food with either(pre or probiotics) is a step in the right direction to a healthy dog! Please note, both Probiotic and Prebiotic ingredients are very low in actual volume so on the foods ingredient they are normally found towards the bottom.

It would be also helpful to look for foods that include high levels of potent Antioxidants such as cranberries and blueberries or other known anitoxidents. Why? Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. The canine’s body’ immune system cells purposefully create them to neutralize and help ward off viruses and bacteria. Environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals. Normally, the canine body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur over time to your dog's health and well being. If the food you currently feed doesn't contain any antioxidents is also possible to supplement with fresh the fresh fruits listed above. Funny side story; Many years ago I had a Gordon Setter named Rocky. He would walk around our picking and eat blackberries right off the vine. I guess he was way a head of his time!

Chelated Minerals. Do your research by manufacturer to find out if this very important factor is included in the formula of their food. Important minerals such as zinc, copper, and iron in your dogs diet are obviously needed. Those minerals "alone" are very hard for a dog to digest, therefore they do not absorb them completely. If they are "chelated", which means they are chemically attached to a protein molecule it "magically" makes them much easier for a dog to digest more effeciently. And that my friends...is how magic happens in the molecular world of canine nutrition!

Dempsey(foreground) Today!

When shopping for a new dog food keep these helpful hints in mind...
The top 10 ingredients usually comprise 80% or more of a dry pet food’s entire formula and give you a great perspective of its ingredient quality.

All pet foods must list the ingredients present in their food, in order of weight. But understand, moisture content can lessen the volume in the ingredients. FYI. Ingredients are listed as "before cooking" weights and high moisture proteins can "shrink" greatly during the kibble cooking process.

Whole meat protein based "meals"(previously ground dehydrated meat before cooking) are 300% more potent as a protein source than a pure meat source!

Super premium pet foods have whole chicken, duck, venison, bison, lamb, turkey, beef, fish or other known quality meat protein sources in whole form or meal form as the first ingredient and a combination of at least 2-3 meat protein sources in the top 5 ingredients.

"Animal By-Product" is by ingredient classification: "Animal by-products are ground, rendered, and cleaned slaughtered meat carcass parts such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, bones, heads, and intestines (and a small amount of feathers in the case of chicken) It is also known that the quality of animal by-products is very inconsistent between batches(sometimes more beaks and feats than quality organ meat etc). If you do choose a food that contains any "by-products" at minimum make sure they are a "named" protein. Aka, "Chicken" by-product etc. A compnay that just says "meat" by-product is probably hiding something even more disgusting than I would like to think about!

If you pick up a bag of dog food and the A#1 very first ingredient is a grain source the red flags and sirens should go off in your head! I advise dropping the bag where your stand and moving on quickly!

Some pet food brands list their ingredients in several different ways so that the ones of lower quality appear farther down the ingredient list. For example, a product list could contain chicken, ground corn, corn gluten, ground wheat and corn bran. And, if you were to group all of the corn ingredients as one, they would probably far out-weigh the amount of chicken in that food. This is a manufacturer's trick and a nonregulated loop hole when listing ingedient evidence!

Starting your new puppy or switching an adult dog to a super premium food will not only prove it's worth to his or her energy in the field but in the overall health of their lives. It is never to late to switch your dog, regardless of age, to a food with premium ingredients. Remember, as humans we have the luxury of choosing our own diets. Your trusty four legged athlete does not! Feeding them right will prolong your time in the field as well as their life as your best friend.

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Food Portions for Canine Athletes

2012-07-24T18:28:00.000-05:00

"How much should I feed my dog?" I am asked this question more frequently than any other. It is usually followed quickly by..."the back of the bag says I should feed between 4-6 cups". I then scratch my head. No wonder why there are so many overweight dogs. Being an overweight gun dog as well as being one expected to perform in the field is not the dogs fault, but the owners. If you want your dog to hunt at it's optimum level then please don't feed it the same amount every day. Learn to read your dog and properly react to it's nutritional needs.

In blue collar terms(since I'm a blue collar type of guy) let's think of your trusty hunting partner as a coal burning stove. The hotter and longer you want it to burn, the more coal you need to shovel into it. Just like us humanoids, dogs need calories to convert into working energy. Some days we need to burn more, some days we need less. As humans we have the ability to make this type of cognitive judgement. But it is up to us as conscientious dogs owner to determine "how much" for them. The very worse thing we can do is feed our dogs the exact same amount every day. You would be overweight too if you ate the same amount of calories everyday without "rationing" your intake to meet your energy output!

Athletically fit dogs equal more game in the bag

There are all sorts of complex mathematical equations floating around for how much we are "supposed" to feed our dogs. E=MCWhatever. It just doesn't make sense in my world of hard charging gun dogs. No dog is alike, just like people and snowflakes. The only true way is to care for your hunting companion and that means not just during the season. Find your dogs "benchmark" of food portion size and them adjust up or down given the amount of work and environmental conditions. Work and Weather can play a huge factor in determining how many calories your dog will burn a day. During the hot summer months dogs metabolism slows making it necessary to ration back food portions. Find the benchmark by set trialing measured feeding portions, not "free feeding". By free feeding I mean, just putting out heaps of food and your dog eats when it wants and how much it wants. Although some dogs can control their intake, many can not and need to be fed strict portion sizes. Investigate how many calories per cup the food you are supplying gives your dog. Find the average "day in the life" and feed accordingly. If food is left that can be a quick notifier of to much. Of course during days of higher than normal physical activity the caloric intake needs to be increased accordingly. Closely monitor slight weight fluctuations up or down. If your dog is experiencing drastic weight increases or decreases, contact your vet for a thorough check up. There are countless variables that can effect your dogs weight including internal parasites, poor quality nutrition, stress, infections, disease, and all of which need the immediate attention of a trained professional to diagnose

I recommend feeding twice a day. Some professionals will disagree with me. But rationality speaks volumes. Dog's digest and metabolize smaller portions more completely thus making for a cleaner burning digestive system. I.E. they get more out of small amounts and breaking their feed time in half makes for a cleaner burning engine. Once you have determined the overall rate of feed per day per caloric needs, I suggest split feeding that amount. More during the A.M. feeding than I do the P.M. Day time metabolic rates are higher because of the obvious increase in activity than the slower evening time feeding...but that might not be the case if your feeding a kennel of Blue Tick Coon Hounds! So plan accordingly and use the best human quality available in your arsenal...common sense.

Nobody knows your canine athlete like you do. Don't let anybody tell you any differently. Rely on your own perception and due diligence. Stay on top of the game for the betterment of your dogs health and well being. This means a close watch and daily changes either up or down in the amount of food you feed your trusty four legged hunting partner given how much or how little they need the calories. Oh, and watch the treats for god's sake!

Best of Luck Out There,

Mark

Energy Density

2012-06-20T16:25:00.001-05:00

Energy; every working gun dog requires it. It takes energy to tree a coon, nail down a covey, chase out a wing shot pheasant, and the thousand other requirements we hold our trusty four legged hunting companion accountable for. Energy comes from food. But not all dog foods are created equal...

ENERGY & FOOD
What is energy? It is the fuel that supports the function and activity of every cell in the body. This fuel is supplied by digesting food and converting the end products of digestion into a use able form. Energy Density is measured either in units of kilocalories(kcal) or kilojoules(kJ). The major factor that drives a dog to eat is its need for energy. No other mechanism exists for any other dietary component and therefore the intake of all nutrients depends on the calorie content of the food. We measure the total energy content of any food by burning it, or we can measure the usable energy in a food by feeding it to animals in carefully controlled conditions. There are three common terms used to describe the energy content of food:

GROSS ENERGY (GE) When food is burnt completely in scientifically controlled conditions, the energy released can be measured as heat. This heat energy represents the total energy content and is called the gross energy of a food. Have you ever heard someone refer to a performance food as "hot". -this is what they meant by that
DIGESTIBLE ENERGY (DE) Not all of the gross energy of a food is available to the animal. Some components in food are not fully digested and so energy is lost in the feces. Digestible energy represents the energy which the animal is able to extract from the food.
METABOLIZABLE ENERGY (ME) Metabolizable energy is simply the usable energy of any foodstuff. It differs from digestible energy in that is takes account of energy lost in the urine from materials which are absorbed but not fully used in the body. It is metabolizable energy which is referred to in basic nutritional calculations.

From the importance of overall Energy Density let's take a closer look at what is Metabolizable Energy. According to our friends at Doctor's Foster's & Smith's; "understanding metabolizable energy (ME) is essential in determining the nutritional quality of your dog's food and comparing foods. ME is defined as the amount of energy available from food once the energy lost in the feces, urine, and combustible gases has been subtracted. Essentially, ME is the energy left for your dogs body to use once all digestion is complete."

To hunt hard, long, and strong a gun dog needs a certain number of calories per day. This will vary with the breed, age, sex, activity level, body condition, and other characteristics of your dog. ME, as shown on food packages, shows the amount of calories the food will provide your working gun dog. Look on the package for a statement of calorie content, expressed as "ME (kcal/kg) = ##," where ## will be a number, such as 3500. You should also see a number of calories per cup or per can, depending on whether the food is dry or canned. If you do not see the kcal per cup on the bag, call the manufacturer for the amount(it is not legally necessary for food companies to list kcal's on their bags of food!

ME essentially equals the usable calories and their concentration, or density. A higher ME indicates a higher concentration of calories, and a more energy-packed food. This can be compared to the difference between a sports energy bar and a rice cake. The energy bar has a much higher ME, because it contains concentrated calories for energy. Similar to an energy bar, dog foods with higher ME numbers provide your hunting partners body with more concentrated calories for more energy. With a higher ME, your the dogs body will receive more energy from a smaller amount of food. This also means he will eliminate less as waste, giving you less waste to clean up. Dog foods with a higher ME can also save you money in the long run since you can feed less while still providing the needed calories to fulfill your hard charging gun dogs nutritional needs.

At the end of the day there are thousands of dog food manufacturers...but not all dog foods are created for the needs of a working gun dog.

Best of Luck Out There,

Mark Northup

Lyme Disease Facts

2012-04-25T16:57:00.001-05:00

The mild winter brought us an early spring full of beautiful, warm weather. Unfortunately, it also delivered an explosion in the tick population! I have personally lived threw the trials and tribulations of Lyme Disease by having my best canine friend suffer through it as well as my own mother. I can bear witness to it's repercussions. The American Lyme Disease Foundation(ALDF) is the leading info source for all things tick related. Let's see what they have to say about Lyme Disease;

"Lyme disease (LD) is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacterium called a spirochete (pronounced spy-ro-keet) that is carried by deer ticks. An infected tick can transmit the spirochete to the humans and animals it bites. Untreated, the bacterium travels through the bloodstream, establishes itself in various body tissues, and can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are severe. LD manifests itself as a multi system inflammatory disease that affects the skin in its early, localized stage, and spreads to the joints, nervous system and, to a lesser extent, other organ systems in its later, disseminated stages. If diagnosed and treated early with antibiotics, LD is almost always readily cured. Generally, LD in its later stages can also be treated effectively, but because the rate of disease progression and individual response to treatment varies from one patient to the next, some patients may have symptoms that linger for months or even years following treatment. In rare instances, LD causes permanent damage.

Although LD is now the most common arthropod-borne illness in the U.S. (more than 150,000 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] since 1982), its diagnosis and treatment can be challenging for clinicians due to its diverse manifestations and the limitations of currently available blood tests. The prevalence of LD in the northeast and upper mid-west is due to the presence of large numbers of the deer tick's preferred hosts - white-footed mice and deer - and their proximity to humans. White-footed mice serve as the principal "reservoirs of infection" on which many larval and nymphal (juvenile) ticks feed and become infected with the LD spirochete. An infected tick can then transmit infection the next time it feeds on another host (e.g., an unsuspecting human).

Borrelia burgdorferi The LD spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, infects other species of ticks but is known to be transmitted to humans and other animals only by the deer tick (also known as the black-legged tick) and the related Western black-legged tick. Studies have shown that an infected tick normally cannot begin transmitting the spirochete until it has been attached to its host about 36-48 hours; the best line of defense against LD, therefore, is to examine yourself at least once daily and remove any ticks before they become engorged (swollen) with blood.

If you discover a deer tick attached to your skin that has not yet become engorged, it has not been there long enough to transmit the LD spirochete. Nevertheless, it is advisable to be alert in case any symptoms do appear; a red rash (especially surrounding the tick bite), flu-like symptoms, or joint pains in the first month following any deer tick bite could signal the onset of LD. Manifestations of what we now call Lyme disease were first reported in medical literature in Europe in 1883. Over the years, various clinical signs of this illness have been noted as separate medical conditions: acrodermatitis, chronica atrophicans (ACA), lymphadenosis benigna cutis (LABC), erythema migrans (EM), and lymphocytic meningradiculitis (Bannwarth's syndrome). However, these diverse manifestations were not recognized as indicators of a single infectious illness until 1975, when LD was described following an outbreak of apparent juvenile arthritis, preceded by a rash, among residents of Lyme, Connecticut.

Where is Lyme Disease Prevalent?
LD is spreading slowly along and inland from the upper east coast, as well as in the upper midwest. The mode of spread is not entirely clear and is probably due to a number of factors such as bird migration, mobility of deer and other large mammals, and infected ticks dropping off of pets as people travel around the country. It is also prevalent in northern California and Oregon coast, but there is little evidence of spread.

In order to assess LD risk you should know whether infected deer ticks are active in your area or in places you may visit. The population density and percentage of infected ticks that may transmit LD vary markedly from one region of the country to another. There is even great variation from county to county within a state and from area to area within a county. For example, less than 5% of adult ticks south of Maryland are infected with B. burgdorferi, while up to 50% are infected in hyperendemic areas (areas with a high tick infection rate) of the northeast. The tick infection rate in Pacific coastal states is between 2% and 4%.

Symptoms
The spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdoferi, is transmitted to humans through a bite of a nymphal stage deer tick Ixodes scapularis (or Ixodes pacificus on the West Coast). The duration of tick attachment and feeding is a key factor in transmission. Proper identification of tick species and feeding duration aids in determining the probability of infection and the risk of developing Lyme disease.
The early symptoms of LD can be mild and easily overlooked. People who are aware of the risk of LD in their communities and who do not ignore the sometimes subtle early symptoms are most likely to seek medical attention and treatment early enough to be assured of a full recovery.

Click here for pictures of EM's The first symptom is usually an expanding rash (called erythema migrans, or EM, in medical terms) which is thought to occur in 80% to 90% of all LD cases. An EM rash generally has the following characteristics:

■Usually (but not always) radiates from the site of the tickbite

■Appears either as a solid red expanding rash or blotch, OR a central spot surrounded by clear skin that is in turn ringed by an expanding red rash (looks like a bull's-eye)

■Appears an average of 1 to 2 weeks (range = 3 to 30 days) after disease transmission

■Has an average diameter of 5 to 6 inches

(range = 2 inches to 2 feet)

■Persists for about 3 to 5 weeks

■May or may not be warm to the touch

■Is usually not painful or itchy

EM rashes appearing on brown-skinned or sun-tanned patients may be more difficult to identify because of decreased contrast between light-skinned tones and the red rash. A dark, bruise-like appearance is more common on dark-skinned patients.

Ticks will attach anywhere on the body, but prefer body creases such as the armpit, groin, back of the knee, and nape of the neck; rashes will therefore often appear in (but are not restricted to) these areas. Please note that multiple rashes may, in some cases, appear elsewhere on the body some time after the initial rash, or, in a few cases, in the absence of an initial rash. Around the time the rash appears, other symptoms such as joint pains, chills, fever, and fatigue are common, but they may not seem serious enough to require medical attention. These symptoms may be brief, only to recur as a broader spectrum of symptoms as the disease progresses.

As the LD spirochete continues spreading through the body, a number of other symptoms including severe fatigue, a stiff, aching neck, and peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement such as tingling or numbness in the extremities or facial palsy (paralysis) can occur. The more severe, potentially debilitating symptoms of later-stage LD may occur weeks, months, or, in a few cases, years after a tick bite. These can include severe headaches, painful arthritis and swelling of joints, cardiac abnormalities, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement leading to cognitive (mental) disorders.

The following is a checklist of common symptoms seen in various stages of LD:

Localized Early (Acute) Stage:
■Solid red or bull's-eye rash, usually at site of bite

■Swelling of lymph glands near tick bite

■Generalized achiness
■Headache

Early Disseminated Stage:
■Two or more rashes not at site of bite
■Migrating pains in joints/tendons

■Headache
■Stiff, aching neck

■Facial palsy (facial paralysis similar to Bell's palsy)

■Tingling or numbness in extremities
■Multiple enlarged lymph glands
■Abnormal pulse

■Sore throat
■Changes in vision
■Fever of 100 to 102 F

■Severe fatigue

Late Stage:
■Arthritis (pain/swelling) of one or two large joints
■Disabling neurological disorders (disorientation; confusion; dizziness; short-term memory loss; inability to concentrate, finish sentences or follow conversations; mental "fog")

■Numbness in arms/hands or legs/feet

Diagnosis
If you think you have LD symptoms you should see your physician immediately. The EM rash, which may occur in up to 90% of the reported cases, is a specific feature of LD, and treatment should begin immediately.

Even in the absence of an EM rash, diagnosis of early LD should be made on the basis of symptoms and evidence of a tick bite, not blood tests, which can often give false results if performed in the first month after initial infection (later on, the tests are more reliable). If you live in an endemic area, have symptoms consistent with early LD and suspect recent exposure to a tick, present your suspicion to your doctor so that he or she may make a more informed diagnosis.
If early symptoms are undetected or ignored, you may develop more severe symptoms weeks, months or perhaps years after you were infected. In this case, the CDC recommends using the ELISA and Western-blot blood tests to determine whether you are infected. These tests, as noted above, are considered more reliable and accurate when performed at least a month after initial infection, although no test is 100% accurate.
If you have neurological symptoms or swollen joints your doctor may, in addition, recommend a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test via a spinal tap or withdrawal of synovial fluid from an affected joint. This test amplifies the DNA of the spirochete and will usually indicate its presence.

Treatment
Recommended courses and duration of treatment for both early and late Lyme symptoms are shown in our Table of Recommended Antibiotics and Dosages (see also table footnotes).

Early treatment of LD (within the first few weeks after initial infection) is straightforward and almost always results in a full cure. Treatment begun after the first three weeks will also likely provide a cure, but the cure rate decreases the longer treatment is delayed.

Doxycycline, amoxicillin and ceftin are the three oral antibiotics most highly recommended for treatment of all but a few symptoms of LD. A recent study of Lyme arthritis in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that a four-week course of oral doxycycline is just as effective in treating late LD, and much less expensive, than a similar course of intravenous Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) unless neurological or severe cardiac abnormalities are present. If these symptoms are present, the study recommends immediate intravenous (IV) treatment.

Treatment of late-Lyme patients can be more complicated. Usually LD in its later stages can be treated effectively, but individual variation in the rate of disease progression and response to treatment may, in some cases, render standard antibiotic treatment regimens ineffective. In a small percentage of late-Lyme patients, the disease may persist for many months or even years. These patients will experience slow improvement and resolution of their persisting symptoms following oral or IV treatment that eliminated the infection.

Although treatment approaches for patients with late-stage LD have become a matter of considerable debate, many physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America recognize that, in some cases, several courses of either oral or IV (depending on the symptoms presented) antibiotic treatment may be indicated. However, long-term IV treatment courses (longer than the recommended 4-6 weeks) are not usually advised due to adverse side effects. While there is some speculation that long-term courses may be more effective than the recommended 4-6 weeks, there is currently no scientific evidence to support this assertion. Click here for an article from the New England Journal of Medicine which presents clinical recommendations in the treatment and prevention of early Lyme disease.

Prevention & Control
Larval and nymphal deer ticks often hide in shady, moist ground litter, but adults can often be found above the ground clinging to tall grass, brush, and shrubs. They also inhabit lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woodlands and around old stone walls where deer and white-footed mice, the ticks' preferred hosts, thrive. Within the endemic range of B. burgdorferi (the spirochete that infects the deer tick and causes LD), no natural, vegetated area can be considered completely free of infected ticks.

Deer ticks cannot jump or fly, and do not drop from above onto a passing animal. Potential hosts (which include all wild birds and mammals, domestic animals, and humans) acquire ticks only by direct contact with them. Once a tick latches onto human skin it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected or creased area, often the back of the knee, groin, navel, armpit, ears, or nape of the neck. It then begins the process of inserting its mouth parts into the skin until it reaches the blood supply.

In tick-infested areas, the best precaution against LD is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation as much as possible. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work outdoors or otherwise spend time in woods, brush or overgrown fields, you should use a combination of precautions to dramatically reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease:

■Deer ticks and two other common tick species - dog ticks and Lone Star ticks (neither of which is known to transmit Lyme disease)

*Deer ticks are found east of the Rockies; their look-alike close relatives, the western black-legged ticks, are found and can transmit Lyme disease west of the Rockies.

Then, when spending time outdoors, make these easy precautions part of your routine:

■Wear enclosed shoes and light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily

■Scan clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors

■Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails

■Use insect repellant containing DEET (Diethyl-meta-toluamide) on skin or clothes if you intend to go off-trail or into overgrown areas

■Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls (havens for ticks and their hosts)

■Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening

■Do a final, full-body tick-check at the end of the day (also check children and pets)

When taking the above precautions, consider these important facts:
■If you tuck long pants into socks and shirts into pants, be aware that ticks that contact your clothes will climb upward in search of exposed skin. This means they may climb to hidden areas of the head and neck if not intercepted first; spot-check clothes frequently.

■Clothes can be sprayed with either DEET or Permethrin. Only DEET can be used on exposed skin, but never in high concentrations; follow the manufacturer's directions.

■Upon returning home, clothes can be spun in the dryer for 20 minutes to kill any unseen ticks

■A shower and shampoo may help to remove crawling ticks, but will not remove attached ticks. Inspect yourself and your children carefully after a shower. Keep in mind that nymphal deer ticks are the size of poppy seeds; adult deer ticks are the size of apple seeds.

Any contact with vegetation, even playing in the yard, can result in exposure to ticks, so careful daily self-inspection is necessary whenever you engage in outdoor activities and the temperature exceeds 45° F (the temperature above which deer ticks are active). Frequent tick checks should be followed by a systematic, whole-body examination each night before going to bed. Performed consistently, this ritual is perhaps the single most effective current method for prevention of Lyme disease.

If you DO find a tick attached to your skin, there is no need to panic. Not all ticks are infected, and studies of infected deer ticks have shown that they begin transmitting Lyme disease an average of 36 to 48 hours after attachment.Therefore, your chances of contracting LD are greatly reduced if you remove a tick within the first 48 hours. Remember, too, that nearly all of early diagnosed Lyme disease cases are easily treated and cured.

To remove a tick, follow these steps:
1.Using a pair of pointed precision tweezers, grasp the tick by the head or mouth parts right where they enter the skin. DO NOT grasp the tick by the body.

2.Without jerking, pull firmly and steadily directly outward. DO NOT twist the tick out or apply petroleum jelly, a hot match, alcohol or any other irritant to the tick in an attempt to get it to back out.

3.Place the tick in a vial or jar of alcohol to kill it.

4.Clean the bite wound with disinfectant.

Keep in mind that certain types of fine-pointed tweezers, especially those that are etched, or rasped, at the tips, may not be effective in removing nymphal deer ticks. Choose unrasped fine-pointed tweezers whose tips align tightly when pressed firmly together. Then, monitor the site of the bite for the appearance of a rash beginning 3 to 30 days after the bite. At the same time, learn about the other early symptoms of Lyme disease and watch to see if they appear in about the same time frame. If a rash or other early symptoms develop, see a physician immediately. Finally, prevention is not limited to personal precautions. Those who enjoy spending time in their yards can reduce the tick population around the home by:
■keeping lawns mowed and edges trimmed

■clearing brush, leaf litter and tall grass around houses and at the edges of gardens and open stone walls

■stacking woodpiles neatly in a dry location and preferably off the ground

■clearing all leaf litter (including the remains of perennials) out of the garden in the fall

■having a licensed professional spray the residential environment (only the areas frequented by humans) with an insecticide in late May (to control nymphs) and optionally in September (to control adults)."

This article is in honor of my bub, Browning's Belgium Sweet Sixteen. Call Name: Gauge. He died after a long life that might have been prolonged if we caught his Lyme Disease earlier.

The End
The best defense is always a great offense! Be vigilant! Religiously use topical tick preventatives and check yourself and your gundogs over every chance you get and double check twice over when you're both active in environments that are known tick habitats -and even those that are not!

Best of luck out there,

Mark Northup

Quotes used and denoted are the property of:American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc., All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006

Vetericyn, Wound & Infection Treatment

2011-11-09T12:14:00.002-06:00

As bird hunters and dog owners we are already chest deep into our hunting seasons. Here in Wisconsin this means waterfowl, woodcock, ruffed grouse, and pheasant are all in our sites. Hunting these birds requires hours of trudging through thick marshes, dense forests, or rugged cover. Our hunting grounds are filled with potential health hazards to both man and dog alike. Dewey, my pointer, has already fought threw continued eye irritants as well as a minor skin infection to a hind paw. These conditions, although potential serious if left untreated, can be remedied at home with the right over the counter medications. As always contact your vet for treatment and professional advice.

One particular canine health aid that has recently come to market needs mentioning. In our gun dog world full of things that sting, bite, cut, stab, and injure it is wise to invest in a bottle of Vetericyn. Vetericyn is a revolutionary wound and infection treatment liquid that is truly unique.

According to their website, "When your dog has an open wound or infection, Vetericyn should be the product of choice because it is easy to apply into the affected area to care for an infection while accelerating healing. It is safe as water so it will not harm your dog or the environment. Dogs typically lick their injury so any products applied should be non-toxic. Vetericyn is non-toxic so it will not cause injury if it happens to be ingested or licked after application. This is possible because Vetericyn works in the same way as your dog’s immune system. As such, the body recognizes it as a friendly infection-treating. Vetericyn also creates an optimal environment for healing. Vetericyn used on have demonstrated a reduction in healing time by up to 60%. Vetericyn significantly increases the oxygen content at the wound site within 30 seconds and maintains that oxygen level for up to 36 hours. This increase in oxygen along with the reduction of infection is responsible for these accelerated healing times. As a one-step cleanser and dressing, it eliminates the need for multiple products while reducing the application time and requirements. Since it is “no-rinse”, it leaves no film or residue to clean off. And unlike traditional antiseptics and topical antibiotics it does not damage healthy tissue."

I personally used this product on Dewey's recent skin infection, which was possibly Staph(MRSA). I was impressed that it cleared up the issue after only three applications of this very easy to apply spray. I was however a little shocked at the $34.99 price for only 8 fl oz. I will admit it was a bit cheaper then a trip to see our buddy Dr. Chris. I barely used a fraction of it this season and now have much more for later issues. I have also been using it to spray Dewey's undercarriage that always is red and raw after a tough hunt. I have noticed it helps cleanse and soothe his "nether regions" during post hunt recover. I also believe it is a nice piece of preemptive treatment to ward off any of those nasty micro critter causing uglies that inhabit the soggy bottoms. In all, Vetericyn is a wonderful product that I strongly feel has lived up to its claims!

Best of luck out there,

Mark

Dirty Water

2011-07-26T14:38:00.004-05:00

The core of a gun dog's health and wellness rests solely on the backs of the owner supplying the following; quality nutrients and quality conditioning. The most overlooked (and most important) supplied nutrient is also the most commonly found on earth: Water, aka Aqua, aka H20. Just like Adam Sandler's character said in the movie The Waterboy, "that is some high quality H2O". His statement rings paramount to the overall health and well being of both man and dog alike. The simple fact is high quality H2O makes an enormous impact on your dog(s) performance and overall health.

One of the main causes of dog diarrhea come from the deteriorating condition of Americas water supply. Carol Browner, chief of the U.S. EPA states, "The way we guarantee safe drinking water is broken and needs to be fixed." Not only are humans affected by this problem but animals as well. Just like humans, fluid intake is crucial to your dogs health. If they do not have enough fluids while dog symptoms diarrhea are occurring, they will dehydrate. It is critical that you refresh their water supply (with high quality H20 of course!) every time they drink all of it from their bowl. Don't forget to clean it everyday. Throw stale or old water if they don't touch it for a day. And always supply a source of clean, highly filtered water.

According to John Askelon, an authority on U.S. Drinking Water Quality, recently said: If we ask the question...Are there any main causes of cancer? We think that food or exposure to industrial waste are the culprits. But Americans must understand that the condition of their drinking water has deteriorated in the past decade. Recent findings reveal that there are more than two thousand toxic chemicals in the tap water that are now the main causes of cancer.

While we enjoy the convenience of progress, humans have developed 80,000 various kinds of synthetic chemicals for home and industrial purposes. Most of it are dumped into soil, sewage, lakes, rivers and landfills and this has come to a tremendous consequence extreme cases of degenerative disease have sprouted everywhere. Before pesticides and herbicides were invented, Americans had a 1 in 50 chance of having cancer. Today, 1 in 3 citizens in the U.S. will get cancer in their lifetime, including 1 in every 2 males. This type of figure is also directly quantified to the influx of canine(dog) cancer in this country over the past decade.

All the water on this planet is re-used over and over by the hydrological cycle of nature. Therefore, there is no new water. As more chemicals are used, so does the toxicity of drinking water. So we are left with the same kind of water that gets worse every year. Most of the contaminants that can be found in our water supply is the result of improper use of solvents, lawn chemicals, gasoline, cleaning products, oil and compounds which we dump into our sewage system. In return, nature brings it back to us as rain and the water seeps in to our underground water sources.

Water treatment facilities in cities cannot totally eradicate the toxins since they consist only of sand bed filtration system. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, -Drinking water plants are old and out of date, and water supplies are increasingly threatened and contaminated by chemicals and microorganisms. In the past many diseases cannot be linked to any probable cause. Today it can now be linked to toxins in our water supply and they are the main causes of cancer.

The U.S. Council On Environmental Quality states, -While levels of these carcinogens (SOCs) in drinking water are low, it is precisely these low levels that carcinogen specialists believe to be responsible for the majority of human cancers in the U.S. In 1998, tap water tests were conducted in 29 cities and they discovered two or more pesticides in the drinking water. The Environmental Working Group report stated that, -millions of Americans are routinely exposed to one or more pesticides in a single glass of tap water.- In Indiana, 9 pesticides were found in a glass to drinking water.

The fact is, animals are prone to many illnesses when exposed to highly toxic chemicals because their bodies cannot detoxify the harmful compounds. A recent tap water test also revealed that 45,000 human infants had drank baby formula mixed with tap water containing weed killers and 9 other chemicals in every bottle. In one of the reports of the Science Advisory to the EPA, it stated, -when two or more of these contaminants combine in our water, the potency may be increased by as much as 1000 times! So, are there other main causes of cancer. Now you know the answer. What are you going to do about it to protect your family..and your trusty hunting partner?

There are numerous quality water filtration systems available today. They range from $15 to $35,000! The best thing I can suggest is finding one that best suits your budget. Any filter at any budget will be an improvement over using straight tap water. In my opinion one of the best overall values for dog owners is the PUR Waters Systems "at home" pitcher filter. According to their website PUR filters can attest to the following:

Does PUR Remove chlorination by-products or chlorine (taste and odor) in Drinking Water?
Chlorine is a type of disinfectant, not a contaminant, that’s added to drinking water to control microbes. In addition to the off-putting taste and odor that can be caused by chlorine, chlorination by-products, such as total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), can form in the water. TTHMs can cause anemia in infants, young children, and fetuses of pregnant women. PUR faucet filters reduce 98% of TTHMs, which can have harmful effects on the body. PUR water filters also remove the taste and odor of chlorine. PUR faucet mounts are certified to reduce up to 10x more drinking water contaminants from your water than the leading filtration brand's pitcher-leaving you with great-tasting drinking water. Chlorine is a disinfectant, most commonly used to kill microbes in the water supply. If excess amounts are used, or if high concentrations of chlorine are in your pipes and plumbing, it can cause bad taste and odor in your drinking water. Total Trihalomethanes are chlorination by-products that can emerge in chlorinated water. This type of water contaminant can cause anemia in infants, young children and fetuses, nervous system effects and even cancer. Can we assume dogs as well? I think it safe to say..yes.

PUR and Heavy Metals in Water
Heavy metals such as lead and mercury can get into your water from the pipes and plumbing coming into your home. The health effects of excessive exposure to these heavy metals can be serious, especially for young children and babies. It can cause delays in physical and mental development. Also, adults may potentially be impacted by heavy metals with kidney problems and high blood pressure when exposed to levels above the EPA maximum contaminant level for extended periods of time. The EPA estimates that 20% of human exposure to lead happens with their drinking water. Which is why it’s so important to us, at PUR, to create products that provide you and your family the clean water they deserve. PUR faucet filters reduce many heavy metals that may be found in drinking water. In addition, PUR® faucet filters reduces up to 10x more drinking water contaminants than the leading filtration brand's pitcher. Lead can come from corrosion of plumbing and pipes going into your home. It also can get into the water supply through erosion of natural deposits. Exposure to lead has been linked to delays in physical or mental development in children. In adults, lead exposure may potentially cause kidney problems and high blood pressure when exposed to levels above the EPA maximum contaminant for level for extended periods of time. Mercury is a liquid metal that gets into the water from sources including natural deposits, refinery and factory discharge and landfill runoff. Exposure to excessive amounts of mercury may potentially cause kidney damage when exposed to levels above the EPA maximum contaminant for level for extended periods of time.

PUR and Microbial Cysts
Both giardia and cryptosporidium are microbial cysts—and they are tough to disinfect. What makes them tough is the way they operate. These microbes grow a cyst wall around themselves for protection in unfavorable conditions. When giardia and cryptosporidium reach more favorable environments like your stomach, their cyst walls break down and the microbes inside them release to potentially cause gastrointestinal illness like diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. Cryptosporidium is a microbial cyst that is commonly found in lakes and rivers that can cause gastrointestinal illness. It enters the water through animal and human fecal matter. According to the EPA, cryptosporidium is resistant to disinfection. The microbial cyst, Giardia, is a one-celled parasite that infects humans and animals in the cyst stage of their life cycle. It enters the water through animal and human fecal matter.

According to their website
At PUR, we believe that everyone deserves clean water. Which is why PUR faucet filters reduce 99% of microbial cysts like giardia and cryptosporidium; while the leading filtration brand's pitcher doesn’t. It’s also why PUR reduces up to 10x more drinking water contaminants than the leading filtration brand's pitcher—leaving you and your family with clean drinking water.

I have been using the following PUR 5 cup water pitcher for the past 6 months(picutred on left). For my intial $15 investment plus $10 for replacement filters every 2 months I have been more than satisfied with the results. In fact, my dog, Dewey seems to drink more and often which is a good thing. I keep it in the refrigerator door and use it refill Dewey's house, outside bowls, and squirt bottles that we use in the field.

To be honest I have no idea if having my dog drinking purified water will help prolong his life or improve his performance. There is no scientific research to support this theory that many believe as fact. BUT, I have seen a noticeable difference since changing a few moths ago. I believe that if toxins in tap water are effecting the health and wellness of humans through quantitative studies I can safely assume that our dogs are suffering as well. Whether it be the short or long terms negative effects from consuming contaminated drinking water, my best bud and faithful hunting companion deserves the same as me. I don't drink from the tap. Neither will he.

Best of Luck Out There, -Mark

Liam & Theo: Rest In Peace

2011-07-20T14:56:00.001-05:00

Today we take a break from gun dog nutrition and fitness talk for matters of greater importance. In remembrance of these two war hero's, please read on...

This past February, I came across an article about a soldier and his dog. They both died fighting in Afghanistan. Their story has remained close with me since. Not a day ends that I do not think about them. Maybe because the soldier was a young man, just like me. His spaniel was highly trained but not to hunt wild game. Their passion together was to seek out enemy bombs in defense of a greater, more worldly good. Their deaths have become a shuttering reminder to me that life, whether man or dog, is fleeting away each day. We can never turn back the clock and we only have the present moment to make things worthwhile. Liam and Theo's time here ended much to soon but their accomplishments together will remain part of history for generations to come. Here are a few excepts and pictures of Liam and Theo. I thank them for all that they are; a boy and his dog who both died together doing what they loved; but not more than each other.

Lance Corporal Tasker deployed to Afghanistan on 8 September 2010 as part of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. Having trained as an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler, he was attached to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards on 19 February 2011. On 1 March 2011, Lance Corporal Tasker was taking part in a patrol with his dog, Theo, when they were engaged by small arms fire, during which Lance Corporal Tasker was struck and died from the injuries he sustained. Sadly, on returning to Camp Bastion, Theo suffered a seizure and died. Lance Corporal Tasker was born on 11 December 1984 in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. He joined the Army in 2001 and was originally a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. His passion though was always dogs which led to his transfer to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) in 2007.

A trainer who had a natural empathy with dogs, he was a rising star within the Dog Training Group. In 2010 he was posted to 104 Military Working Dog Squadron, St George's Barracks, North Luffenham, Rutland, part of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. From the onset of his operational tour in Afghanistan, he provided strong search and clearance capability for units across Helmand province. In a short period of time he had significant success locating improvised explosive devices, weapons and bomb-making equipment. His success undoubtedly saved many lives. Lance Corporal Tasker was an outgoing, jovial and friendly character. He was extremely popular within his squadron. His easy-going, confident approach belied a consummate professional. He always strived to be the best, and within the squadron he was one of the best. He will be sorely missed by all in the squadron. He can never be replaced and will always be remembered. He was a fun, friendly, talkative character who always wanted the best from his dog, his troops, and himself. He leaves behind his mother Jane Duffy, his father Ian Tasker, his brother Ian, his two sisters Laura and Nicola, and his girlfriend Leah.

Those that knew them best had this to stay...

Lt. Col. David Thorpe, Commanding Officer, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment:

"It is a challenge to put into words what Lance Corporal Liam Tasker meant to those he worked with. To his friends he was a mate who could put a smile on your face; he was that man who you wanted around and who you wanted to spend time with. To the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment he was a strong, reliable soldier and an expert 'Dog Man'. He genuinely loved the dogs he worked with and was always able to get the best out of them. He was one of the highly qualified dog trainers in Afghanistan and had spent time at our training establishment making sure that the new soldiers coming out of training had the best possible skills and experience imparted into them. Epitomising the hardworking, determined and ambitious nature of our very best soldiers, he wanted to go to Afghanistan. He wanted to ply his trade in the harshest of environments, to be outside of his comfort zone, and he wanted to be successful. He was. The work he did in his five months in Afghanistan saved countless lives, of that I have no doubt. He flew the Royal Army Veterinary Corps' flag high; he led from the front and made us proud. Lance Corporal Tasker wanted to go far in the Army and he had all of the attributes needed to be a career soldier, with capacity to spare. His ability to command whilst maintaining his sense of humour had already marked him out as one to watch. His loss has hurt every single one of us today. He will be missed. He will not be forgotten."

Major Caroline Emmett, Officer Commanding 104 Military Working Dog Squadron:

"Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was a larger than life character who was a joy to be around. His enthusiasm was infectious and I always enjoyed our frequent talks together. He and his dog Theo were made for each other. Lance Corporal Tasker was one of the best people I have ever known. Kind, with a good heart, he always put others before himself. His professional excellence and positive attitude to life is something that I and others looked up to. Lance Corporal Tasker was an Arms Explosive Search dog handler and trainer of the highest calibre. He and his dog had more operational finds than any individual team has had in Afghanistan to date and he saved many lives as a result of this. He was so proud of his achievements and I was so proud of him. Lance Corporal Tasker was one of the best people I have ever known. Kind, with a good heart, he always put others before himself."

According to the Jill Lawless, artcile published by the Associated Press:

Liam and Theo were a team, fast friends doing a dangerous job — searching out roadside bombs laid by insurgents in Afghanistan. The jovial British soldier and his irrepressible dog worked and played together for months, and died on the same day. On Thursday they came home, flown back to Britain in a somber repatriation ceremony for the soldier remembered for his empathy with animals and the companion he loved.

Lance Cpl. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province on March 1 as he searched for explosives with Theo, a bomb-sniffing springer spaniel mix. The dog suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base, likely brought about by stress. Military officials won't go so far as to say Theo died of a broken heart — but that may not be far from the truth.

"I think we often underestimate the grieving process in dogs," said Elaine Pendlebury, a senior veterinarian with animal charity PDSA. "Some dogs react very severely to their partner's loss." She said it was not uncommon for pets to respond to an owner's death by refusing food and becoming sick — and the bond between working dogs and their handlers is especially close. "The bonding that I have seen between soldiers or police and their dogs is fantastic. When you see them working together, it's really one unit.""I love my job and working together with Theo," Tasker said in a profile of the pair released by the Ministry of Defense before his death. "He has a great character and never tires. He can't wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing."

The soldier and the 22-month-old dog had been in Afghanistan for almost six months, uncovering roadside bombs and weapons in a dangerous daily routine. Theo became a bit of a military celebrity after the defense ministry released photos and video of him and Tasker to highlight the lifesaving work of military dogs. The footage, now deeply poignant, shows Theo energetic, ears cocked, tail wagging alongside Tasker searching a compound for explosives. In it, Theo is seen feverishly circling the dusty area, his nose pressed to the ground. At one point he stops, tail wagging furiously, and begins digging the rocky earth before turning eagerly toward Tasker, who calls out "good boy!" and lets out a chortle of delight before tossing him a treat.

The Ministry of Defense said then that Theo had been so successful finding 14 hidden bombs and weapons caches, a record for a team in Afghanistan that the dog's tour of duty had been extended by a month. Tasker was the 358th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Theo was the sixth British military dog killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. There are calls for Theo to receive the Dickin medal, which since 1943 has recognized wartime bravery by animals.

Thank you Liam and Theo for your ultimate sacrifice and a job well done. May you both rest easy; together in peace.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Digestibility of Performance Dog Foods

2011-07-18T16:39:00.001-05:00

Today's dog food world can be compared to the American wild west of a begone era. There are very few laws and even fewer law enforcing regulators. Fact is, even federal agencies charged with providing product assurance do not require pet food manufacturer's to list how high or low the quality of their ingredients are on their labels. This makes it difficult to compare products of differing brands. However, many high quality food manufacturers are more than welcome to run independent "digestibility studies" to verify the quality of their ingredients and food formula's. Make note: if a company does not run these type of studies or is apprehensive about making these quantitative digestibility numbers public information...please rise now and raise the red flag of concern.

Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. There is an inverse relationship between a food's digestibility and the resulting fecal volume.

Factoid: The HIGHER the digestibility of a dog food, the LOWER the fecal volume.

A dog(and any other living organism) can digest and utilize more nutrients in a higher digestible food therefore less stool is eliminated. I think this is simple science everybody can easily understand. To research the digestibility of your own dog's food normally requires a call to the manufacturer to get their foods combined protein digestibility percentage(although not required to be put on bags some high quality, reputable manufacturers display this information readily on their website)

There is a basic mathematical formula to determine the overall digestibility of the protein source. Take the crude protein percentage(found on bag) multiplied by the digestibility percentage(found by calling manufacturer) equals the true digestibility of the protein source. For example if the crude protein is 30% and protein digestibility is 84.6% multiply: 30 x 0.8460 = 25.38%. There you have it! A very quick and efficient method to discover how truly digestible the protein portion of your dog's food really is.

If you're feeding multiple gun dogs it is a good idea to know how digestible the food really is. It will save you a ton of money in the long run! The more they absorb during digestion, the less you need to feed!

Individual protein sources contain different levels of amino acids and each protein is different in its ability to be broken down into these amino acids. Hence, not all proteins are created equal as some are better than others. The ability of a protein to be used by the dog and its amount of usable amino acids is summarized as protein quality or Biological Value, BV for short. Egg has the highest BV and sets the benchmark standard for which other proteins are judged at a 100 score. Fish meal are close behind with a value of 92. Beef is around 78 and soybean meal is 67. Meat and bone meal and wheat are around 50 and corn is 45. These are just a few examples of the individual digestibility of common ingredients.

The bottom line is certain proteins are hard for dogs to digest therefore they pass them without absorbing the needed nutrients in a timely manner. The result can hit your wallet or pocket book as well. The lower the digestibility of the food the MORE your have to feed to fulfill your dogs needs. The higher of course, the less! Hopefully by using the basic formula posted above and doing your own research and due diligence the conscience gun dog owner can get to the "meat" of the food he or she is shelling out hard earned cash for every month. Sorry, Pun completely intended.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Dr. Tim Hunt On Dr. Tim's Dog Food

2011-04-18T15:41:00.032-05:00

Sled dog racing sparks the notion of a well trained canine team pulling it's human musher across the frozen tundra to ultimate victory. It is also considered to be the ultimate test of canine endurance, strength, and performance. But where does the sled dog world collide with our gun dog planet? They are both superior canine athletes asked to work hard under extreme conditions. But again, were does the physical needs of a marathon running Alaskan Husky intertwine with those of a rocket propelled English Pointer?

Their collective bond is found at the very root of canine performance and that common denominator is high quality nutrition. As conscientious owners, it is our responsibility to supply our working dog(s) the proper fuel to run hard, long, while remaining happy, healthy, and ready to do it all over again tomorrow.

It is not everyday I have the privilege of interviewing a man of Dr. Tim's caliber. His practical knowledge, combined with his education and experience, has led to improving the performance of canine athletes through his dry food formulas. Please note, his dog food formulas are ones he has personally concocted. Dr. Tim is, in my own opinion(and that of many others), pushing the envelope of canine nutritional science and the results have been outstanding. Thank you Dr. Tim for taking the time to answer the following questions...

What is your background and history of Dr. Tim's Pet Food? "I've been a Vet for 22 years(graduate of Michigan State University's School of Veterinary Medicine) and racing sled dogs for about 18 years. Have fed a heavy raw based diet with a kibble for many years with my mix of witches brew. Made it in my garage in a cement mixer and realized more dogs could benefit from a much better kibble(dry dog food) than what was currently on the market. I developed Momentum and began selling it about 6 years ago. Pursuit and Kinesis followed there after. I have raced in the States, Canada, Europe and Alaska and have worked the Iditarod as a vet many times and have run it as well with my own dogs."

What do you feel separates Dr. Tim's dry dog food from the rest of the "pack"?
"That the ingredients are all bioavailable, needed by the dog for fuel their metabolism like it is meant to be fueled, made in such a way as to have a very high digestibility, pre and probiotics included, protein make up to allow for building and maintaining the dogs muscle, allow for increased endurance, very high Omega 3 cold water fatty oil-highest of any food on the market that I know of. I have what a working dog needs. The metabolism of a husky and a gun dog is not that different, actually very close. Some difference with glycogen replenishment but overall very similar. Basically, the food(Dr Tim's) is devised by a vet that actually gives a shit."(authors note: I agree with Dr. Tim so the profanity was not removed because I also gives a shit about quality canine nutrition! Thanks for your understanding. -Mark)

Dr. Tim's "Momentum" formula is a 35% protein / 25% fat mix. What "type" of gun dog is this a good fit for this? (by type I mean activity level, drive, daily conditioning and work etc) "This would be one step above Pursuit, the 30/20, and would work very well for a hard working gun dog. Personally, I think this is the best choice for a working dog, period. It just costs a bit more," said Dr. Tim. (Following quotes from Dr. Tim's website) "Momentum has been formulated to help facilitate the stamina, endurance and performance of canines; the food contains highly digestible low ash proteins, fats and carbohydrates to allow your athletic dog to reach their full potential. In addition, supplements are included to decrease the stresses that dogs’ bodies undergo in highly competitive situations that may produce stress diarrhea. These supplements include prebiotics, externally applied probiotics and multiple fiber sources such as rice, psyllium, beet pulp, oatmeal and chicory root. Momentum also contains chelated minerals, kelp, selenium, natural antioxidants and L-carnitine. To minimize allergic reactions, corn and soy products are not used in Momentum

"In your Momentum formula one ingredient stands out as unique(or we just have not seen it in other competing performance formulas) It called, Porcine Plasma. Can you elaborate on this ingredient? "This is a very high quality source of some specific amino acids that greatly benefit the dog in muscle building and maintenance. Barry Bonds kind of stuff!"

Your "Pursuit" formula is 30% protein 20% fat mix. Again, what type of gun dog do you see this formula being fed to? Any dog that does some level of exercise benefits from it. Even a house dog does very well on it but is just fed less. The key is how much you feed in relation to the overall weight and exercise the dog is undergoing. Less food is needed with a good 30/20 type diet or above. Ours is 95% digestible and thus you feed much less than what you are used to. Most companies are happy with an 80 percent digestible rate, thus you pay for extra calories in the dogs stool, in essence. You get what you pay for in the long run. Also, the idea a high protein causes kidney disease is incorrect," responded Dr. Tim. (According to Dr. Tim's website) "Pursuit Active Formula Dog Food has been created for dogs with a moderate to vigorous activity level. This high protein, low ash formula allows your lively dog to tap into just the right amount of energy needed throughout the day. Externally applied probiotics and prebiotics support the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, while natural antioxidants and Optimal Vitamin Nutrition DSM® help to keep your dog’s immune system as strong as possible. Whether your dog is playing catch, jogging or herding sheep, our premium ingredients deliver tasty nutrition based on what your dog really needs to thrive. Make every day a healthy, strong day – and worry free for you – with Pursuit."

I noticed your food is one of the few on the market today that includes both PRE and PRObiotics in it's formula. What exact does this mean for the health and well-being of working gun dogs? Is it an aid against stress related diarrhea? Could you also elaborate on what causes stress diarrhea etc? "Prebiotics are starches that escape digestion in the small intestine and are used by the beneficial bacteria of the large intestine. We want to promote that. Probiotics are benficial bacteria added to the diet to stimulate the immune system of the GI tract and beyond plus they act against harmful bacteria by forcing them out, more or less. Probiotics are added to our kibble after the extrusion process to maximize their viability as the heat of extrusion can kill them. Stress diarrhea is caused by a few different factors, most notably how well conditioned the dog is, the fiber composition of the diet and the digestibility of the included starches. When a dog is working hard, the amount of stool in the colon can have a "slap" effect on the sides of the colon, thus causing irritation. This stool can also pull a lot of water along with it as it travels the colon and this leads to soft stools. Multi factored causes but diet plays a huge part in it."

On your site you also offer a topical muscle massage ointment called Algyvet. Could you envision this product being beneficial for gun dogs? "Absolutely," said Dr. Tim. "This stuff, an athletic balm for dogs, has been widely used in the sled dog arena and I have found it to be very useful for muscle injuries."

Dr. Tim, do you have any other issues or concerns you would like to add about your dog food? Dr. Tim rounded up our interview by concluding, "Nutrition is constantly evolving and much has been learned in the past 10 years or so. There is a lot of fluff type ingredients that can be included for miracle results and I have resisted that temptation. What should be in the food, in my opinion at this date, is in there. And it is made at a plant that I trust. It took me 6 plants to find the right plant to make my recipe and what a difference that makes. That has been part of my learning about nutrition for dogs, nearly as important as some of the ingredients. Dogs are meant to be fueled by fat, and high levels of them. When we slowly bring a high fat diet into play with a dog they become more efficient in their metabolism and actually will need less food. And become stronger, have more endurance and stay much healthier."

Dr. Tim Hunt is not your average veterinarian and his dog food is not your average bear. In my own opinion, he signifies the forefront of a truly revolutionary movement in quality canine nutrition. Witnessing small companies like Dr. Tim's coming to market with realistic research, practical knowledge, quality ingredients, and scientifically backed formulas proves we might finally break the Fortune 500's falsified, kung fu like grip on the performance dog food world. The big brands should take notice that there are honest to goodness cowboys out there like Dr. Hunt who are not scared to make super premium jet fuel for canine athletes while using the the absolute, very best ingredients possible... AND while maintaining reasonable price points to do so! Not to mention, it is extremely reassuring to performance dog owners that the very food they are feeding is the result of someone who truly understands what working or sporting dogs need to become world class athletes in their own right. I personally thank Dr. Tim Hunt for taking the time out of his busy schedule to reply to my questions. Without any doubt, it shows his commitment, passion, and professionalism. Here at northUpland that is proof positive that Dr. Tim is a high quality dogman! Thanks again Doc, we appreciate your contribution and continued help spreading the word about proper gun dog nutrition. To visit Dr. Tim's website please visit http://www.drtims.com/ Thank you

As always...if you have questions or comments feel free to drop me a line at northupland@yahoo.com Thanks for reading.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

What is Meal?

2011-03-17T16:35:00.024-05:00

Meal. It doesn't sound like a very appetizing or healthy dog food ingredient. On the contrary, some forms of Meal found in dog food formulas can be an excellent addition to your dogs diet. Let's get to the bottom of what Meal really is and understand the positive and negative aspects of its inclusion in the majority of foods on the market today. As always, we boil it down to blue collar science here at northUpland and into terms we can all clearly understand, aka: High Quality Meal vs. Low Quality Meal.

High Quality Meal
Whole Meat Protein Meal: Any whole meat(identifiable meat source named on the ingredient list) as a whole meat meal is an excellent source of protein such Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Lamb Meal etc, etc. In fact, whole meat Meals are a more "potent" protein source then their own counterparts whole meat flesh form. The production of whole meat Meal starts with dehydration of clean, deboned flesh. It is then dehydrated to eliminate the moisture. Finally it is ground down into a fine meal. This all takes place prior to the ingredients being mixed and cooked into kibble. I think we can all agree Chicken is a great source of protein, but as a Meal it becomes a highly concentrated protein form. Why? Chicken, as well as all other whole, premium cut meats, are full of moisture. When dog food ingredients are cooked moisture within the Chicken meat is eliminated and the "weight" of chicken as a primary ingredient is shrunk considerably. Important note; ingredients listed and advertised on dog food bags are in PRE COOKED percentages. Chicken Meal on the other hand, has already been dehydrated and then ground down before the cooking process thus eliminating the moisture content and giving it a higher percentage of ingredients. In other words, if Chicken Meal is listed as the first ingredient compared to just Chicken listed first, there is considerably more protein content in the Meal first formula because of the Chicken Meals' dehydrated precook state. Furthermore, Chicken Meal is more readily digestible than just Chicken. As a dog's digestive system processes Chicken Meal, it's inherit "ground" physical quality helps it breakdown in the stomach and intestines faster, thus becoming readily absorbed into the dog's system much quicker than whole chicken meat. Again, we only used Chicken as an example here but the same can be said for all other whole protein meats and meal such as Lamb, Salmon, Duck, Venison, etc.

Low "Ash" Whole Meat Protein Meals: These are considered "superior" meat protein sources. For example, Low Ash Chicken Meal consists of chicken meat and some accompanying bone, and “ash” denotes the amount of bone that's ground into the meal. The lower the ash content equates to a higher grade meal and a more pure protein source. The chicken is ground into a powder (meal) after the fat and water are removed, and the end result is a very concentrated, highly digestible protein, rich with amino acids, essential fatty acids and minerals (ash) that provide calcium and phosphorous.

High Quality "Meals" Make Great Canine Athletes.
Dewey: Five In The Bag and Still Looking For More.

Low Quality Meal
These are meals listed below are commonly used in lower grade dog food that come from "uncertain origins" and in our opinion should be avoided.

Meat Meal: The generic term "Meat" (with no identifiable named source precluding) is highly suspicious as to actually what the meat really is! It's kinda of like fast food chains mystery meat! There are substantiated claims that Meat Meal contains more disgusting things than we would like to imagine so we will avoid writing them here.

By-Product Meal: Defined as a `meat(name source) by-product is: "The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. Again, "anonymous"(unnamed) meat source precluding a by-product meal makes this ingredient even more ambiguous as to its origins.

Vegetable and Grain Meal: Grain and vegetable meals are generally used in dog food to keep the cost of production low. Manufacturers use products like corn gluten meal or soybean meal as an alternative to a more costly and higher quality ingredient. Soybeans, linseed, and corn may appear as meals in pet food. Corn Gluten Meal in particular is commonly used and is a concentrated form of protein that is very difficult to digest. Using this type of ingredient allows the food to advertise high protein content even though your dog might not actually digest or benefit from any of it.

Bone Meal: The rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Bone Meal offers a very limited source of nutrients and is not well "defined" ingredient. Like mystery Meat Meal It goes into the suspect list!

I hope this helps shed some light on the vast differences of what Meal real is in its various forms and compositions. I realize it is a confusing retail world out there full of colorful dog food bags and the mass marketing hype that surrounds this entire industry. If you ever have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to give me a shout. Email me at northupland@yahhoo.com or post a comment below. You have my word that I will give you my unbiased opinion. Please remember, we here at northUpland are trying to make our good gun dogs even better through proper nutrition and planned fitness. Thank you for reading my blog.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Lyle Steinman On Performance

2011-02-24T13:55:00.026-06:00

After hanging up the phone with Lyle Steinman only one word comes to mind. Passion. This dog man extudes it. Lyle's passion for breeding, training, and handling world class labrador retreivers is clearly evident. It resonates in his voice and sends a crystal clear message that luck has nothing to do with it. Hardwork, dedication, and loving what you do truly does equals success.

Lyle's accomplishments
(a.k.a. his dog man rap sheet)...

Lyle Steinman has over 1400 AKC Master Passes and over 100 + AKC Master (MH) titled dogs
He has qualified a record 76 dogs at the AKC Master National event.
He has 9 dogs in the Master National Hall of Fame (New AKC title MNH ) and 17 dogs that have passed two Master Nationals to his credit.
On September 18, 2010 he broke an AKC record for AKC Master passes in one weekend, passing 23/24 dogs at the Northwest Missouri Retriever Clubs hunt test.
Has 12 first place Super Reteiver Series wins (including the 2007 & 2009 Crown Championships).
Won the SRS Crown Championship in 2007 with River (2007 SRSC SRS HRCH Big Two Hearted River II MNH HOF QAA) and in 2009 with Jack (2009 SRSC 3 X SRS Fargo’s Gulf Coast Jack-Son MH QAA).
Is the only SRS handler to ever win 1st , 2nd & 3rd place in the same event(SRS Record) and the only handler to ever have 9 dogs qualified for the top 12 at one time.
Has put more dogs in the Top 5(41 in the Finals/ 56 in Semis) than any other handler in Super Retriever Series history.
Qualified 4 dogs for the 2008 Crown Championship and qualified 7 dogs for the 2009 & 2010 Crown Championship (SRS Records).
At the 2009 Super Retriever Series Crown Championship Lyle became the only handler to put three dogs in the finals. Lyle finished the 2009 SRS Crown Championship with first (Jack), second (Rebi), third (Coot), fifth (River) and sixth with (Pasha).
Lyle’s career winnings now are over $190,000 in cash and prizes.

With a resume like that it is obvious that Lyle knows a thing or two about canine performance. I was recently fortunate to personally interview him regarding his labrador's nutrition and conditioning regiments. Lyle holds court every day at Castile Creek Kennels in Stewartsville, Missouri

When asked what brand of food he feed his labs, Lyle believes the core of his dogs performance rests solely on foods by Country Vet. Lyle has been feeding Country Vet for close to five years. He uses their "Natural Dog Fuel" 32/20 mix to feed all his working dogs and could not say enough about its overall quality. He is a proponent of a "corn, soy, and wheat free diet" and sees Country Vet's Dog Fuel as truly a hidden gem in the vast world of large dog food manufacturers. Ingredient consistency and overall attention to formula integrity is what Lyle is most impressed about Country Vet. He is confident knowing every bag he opens for his dogs is going to be the same high quality ingredients and the exact replica of the previous bags contents. Before using Country Vet, Lyle used a larger, more well known national brand but was unhappy with their ingredient quality inconsistency which lead to adverse effects on his dogs performance. This concern arises from larger "megamanufacturers" sourcing their ingredients from a very vast list of suppliers on the open market. Which is cause for concern for formula quality integrity. In a nutshell, if one run of the food "ingredient A" comes from a supplier with a high quality standards and the next month a different supplier who can also deliver "ingredient A" but might have lower quality control comes to market a little cheaper, they get the purchase order, etc. This is one of the biggest reasons that some dogs do very well on a certain brand/formula of food for long periods of time and then out of now where they have adverse reactions to it. Food manufacturers are NOT legally obligated to advertise this ingredient supplier change. Since switching to Country Vet it is plain to see the performance of Lyle's dogs are indeed tough to beat...and very consistent at winning big in the professional trial circuit!

When I asked Lyle about skin and coat health in conjunction with feeding Country Vet he had this to say, "My black labs look they have Armour All sprayed on them!" I can personally atest to seeing Lyle's squadron of black labs and can verify to that statement being a dead on accurate assessment of their coat quality!

According to the Country Vet's website :
"Dog Fuel is the full spectrum natural feed source for so many people that demand a little better, a little more. We're proud to be able to provide you with choices in your pet foods. Dog Fuel is just that...another choice. So, what is so special about Dog Fuel? Great question...here's the quick answer: Dog Fuel contains all Natural Ingredients; Dog Fuel is formulated for all of your pet's life stages making it a good choice for life; Dog Fuel contains No Corn, No Soy, No Wheat, Dog Fuel has within it nutraceutical ingredients...read about them below; Dog Fuel is an excellent source of high quality protein."

Country Vet Natural Dog Fuel (32/20)Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Oat Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherois), Pork Meal, Beet Pulp, Grain Sorghum, Poultry Liver Digest, Dried Egg, Flax Seeds, Canola Seeds, Fish Meal, Dried Brewers Yeast, Salt, L-Carnitine, Potassium Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Enterococcus Faocium, Choline Chloride, Calcium Propionate, Chicory Root, Clucosamine Hydrochloride, Dried Lecithin, Chondroltin Sulfate, Sodium Bentonite, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Methionine Complex, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacinamide, Copper Lysine Complex, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Maganese Methianine Complex, Maganous Oxide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothonate, Biotin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Cobalt Glucoheptonate and Cobalt Carbonate.

Gaurunteed Analysis
Crude Protein (Min) 32% Crude Fat (Min) 20.0% Crude Fiber (Max) 3.0% Moisture (Max) 10.0% Calcium (Min) 2.0% Phosphorus (Min) 1.3% *Omega 6 Fatty Acids (Min) 3.0%
*Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Min) 0.6% *Glucosamine Nydrochloride (Min) 600 mg/kg *Chondroitin Sulfate (Min) 300 mg/kg L-Carnitine (Min) 200 mg/

Overall, I consider Country Vet Natural Dog Fuel a well managed food that includes quality ingredients in a formula that all working dogs of any age can greatly benefit from. I can easily recommend Country Vet Natural Dog Fuel as a great choice for your gun dog of any breed. Like other formulas free of corn, soy, and wheat, owners can expect much lower stool size. By removing low quality, grain based carbohydrates from your dogs diet his or her digesting system can burn high protein, high fat, and easily digestible carbo/fibers more completely. In my opinion, Country Vet Dog Fuel is definitely a "high octane go juice" for all hard working gun dogs from puppy hood all the way to seniors master hunters. In addition to Natural Dog Fuel, Country Vet offers a variety of other dog food formulas. I urge you to visit their home page to find out more.

After speaking about Country Vet foods, Lyle led the conversion on to food ration(portion size). Like all consummate professional trainers, he adjusts his food rations according to physical activity. Dependant on each dog's daily workout regiment, it ranges from 2 cups all the way up to 6 cups. He was particular to note that "on any given day, work load dictates the feeding of all my dogs"

As the interview continued we discussed conditioning. Lyle is as passionate about proper fitness regiments as he is about nutrition. All of his working dogs receive at minimum 15-30 minutes of roading(ATV harness workouts) a day and sometimes "two a days" depending on their energy output needs. Again, like all quality trainers, Lyle spends considerable time studying what each individual dog needs are and adjusting their condition times accordingly. In addition to road work, every dog goes through a series of 4-8 "marks" a day during trial training. This would equate to roughly 1.5 miles(at maximum) of continuous, high paced running/retreiving per day. Again, Lyle was quick to point out that Country Vet Dog Fuel is the key to keeping his dogs in top shape with lean muscle mass and powerful frames. Lyle Steinman's Castile Creek Kennel facility rests on 40 arces of realistic waterfowl habitat. It is an impressive display of dog breeding and training professionalism. Castile Creek Kennels not only produces professional trail dogs. Lyle also boards, offers puppy preschool classes, and whelping services.

After our interview ended I walked away feeling very fortunate to have spoken with Lyle candidly about what makes his dogs great. Without doubt, he is a master of fine details and studies his dogs like a book each and every day. I am gratefully to have met somebody of Lyle's high caliber who is extremely down to earth and very personable. I clearly understand why he is one of the very best in the business. I thank him tremendously for helping me spread the word about proper gun dog nutrition.

As always, please do not hesitate to post a comment or contact me directly at northupland@yahoo.com with any of your questions or concerns. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Images used in this article are courtesy of Castile Creek Kennels and Country Vet Pet Food.

Ronnie Smith on Performance

2011-02-11T15:11:00.022-06:00

The Smith family name is synonymous in the bird dog world for many reasons. For generations they have trained some of the finest dogs that consistently challenge for field trail champions and produce superior finished dogs for the foot hunter. Ronnie Smith carries on his family lineage in a very proud tradition. According to his website "Through generations of hard work and dedication, Ronnie Smith Kennels has developed a trusted and proven name in the bird dog industry. The Smith family has a history of raising and training fine bird dogs. Ronnie’s late father, Ronnie Smith Sr., was a well-respected dog trainer. Ronnie’s uncle, Delmar Smith has received the honor of being inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame. Ronnie and his cousins, Rick and Tom Smith, continue the Smith family tradition. Bird dogs are not only a business for the Smiths, they are a passion and a way of life. Our training format brings dogs' inherent prey drive to a pinnacle and then begins to mold that natural instinct in to the desired behavior of a confident, mannerly bird dog. Through the development of conditioned responses and learned behavior we are able to produce dogs that are proficient in heeling off lead, handling on cue, and confidently working birds."

I recently had the great fortune to interview Ronnie via email for northUpland. His response to my questions regarding performance, nutrition, and conditioning should be considered an invaluable resource. Here is Ronnie's round up on what makes his gun dogs great!

Following quotes by Ronnie Smith...

"We feed solely Purina Pro Plan Performance. In the summertime, we train all breeds of upland pointing and flushing dogs and in the winter we are guiding hunts in some of the most rigorous country in the state of Texas. We've had great success with this feed with all breeds and all physical requirements."

Pro Plan Performance formula is by the far the top selling food for sporting dogs in the United States. It is a 30/20 mix, meaning it contains 30% protein and 20% fat. These are considered optimum percentages for working dogs of any breed and age. In fact, Pro Plan Performance is considered an "all life stages formula" meaning it can be fed from to puppies all the way seniors. Click on the bag image for complete info directly from Purina.

When asked about food rations(portion size) Ronnie went on to say...

"Obviously we are constantly monitoring the body condition of each of our dogs. When they are under physical strain, they will need a few more calories to their diet. Brittanys under high physical demands may need as much as 4 1/2 cups, while a maintenance ration may be 2 cups. A high strung pointer who is active in the kennel and running hard in the field may need as much as 6 1/2 cups to maintain perfect body condition. A maintenance ration for a less active pointer may be 3 cups. Bottom line is that you need to monitor your dog's condition and the physical strains he is under and adjust your feeding plan accordingly."

In a follow up question about conditioning and fitness regiments, Ronnie responded...

"Our exercise programs vary. Some of the tools we use to get our bird dogs in shape for a season of guiding hunts include running, swimming, and roading." (Terminology: "Roading" is an effective form of strength training. It is done by safely harnessing dogs off an ATV using an outrigger and allowing them to naturally run alongside and pull against the ATV in motion) "We find the more fit our dogs are going in to season, the fewer injures they tend to have during season.We believe in order to get the best performance with a dog, you have to have them both physically and mentally fit. They have to be thinking birds as soon as their feet hit the ground and their bodies have to be able to withstand the rigors of the country and the demands upon it."

In my own brief dealings with Ronnie during this interview process I can honestly say he is an genuine as they come. He was extremely receptive to my questions and open to helping out all follow hunters get the most from their dogs! Ronnie is a stand up guy and his reputation as a first class dogman is true. I thank him tremendously for his time.

Ronnie Smith Kennels is known the world over for producing quality bird dogs while maintaining the utmost of professionalism. If any of my readers are looking for a top notch trainer, look no further. His fees are modest, but rest assured, his facility, training skills, and attention to making good bird dogs great are all first class. Also, Ronnie and his cousin, Rick Smith, travel the country every year during their very popular seminar series. Click here for a list of dates and locations. In the end, I very much enjoy Ronnie's training motto "A dog is like a book, just read!" It is very simple, straight forward, and to the "point"! Yep, that pun is completely intended!

Thank you for reading my blog and please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Leave a comment or email me directly at northupland@yahoo.com

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Images used in this post courtesy of Ronnie Smith Kennels and Nestle Purina.

Pre & Post Joint Surgery Tips

2010-12-28T17:02:00.004-06:00

I was recently asked this question via email. Hopefully some of my other blog readers dealing with a dog preparing, undergoing, or rehabing from surgery can benefit from some of these helpful tips.

Question: "My Brittany is getting ready to have hip relocation surgery. Do you have any diet recommendations for joint healing?"

Having your faithful hunting companion and best bud go "under the knife" is a stressful situation for both of you!

Response: If your Brit is in good overall health going into the surgery I recommend the dog staying on the same diet. I believe stress from a food change close to surgery could put undue strain on your dogs immune system, which needs to be at full strength to devote to the overall healing process. Even if your current dog food does contain some Glucosamine/Chondroitin. I would add at minimum 750mg per 50lbs of dog per day of a liquid Gluc/MSM/Chon supplement. Nutri Vet makes a great product and the dog gets the most bang for your buck! Liquid supplements are the best bet because dogs digest and metabolize liquids much more completely than pill form supplements. Liquid can be poured over his regular food making it very easy to administer. The natural anti-inflammatory properties of this formula will help dramatically in the healing process and help to lubricate/condition the ligaments and tendons post surgery as well as slow down degenerative issues that will certainly arise in the future.

The biggest post op concern is proper rehabilitation. Take it extremely slow. Even when you think(and the dog acts like) he or she is totally healed they probably are not. Dogs have a way of masking still nagging injuries. It is during this time they are most likely to injure another joint because they are favoring the injury or possibly re-aggravating the surgically repaired joint. The next biggest post op concern is the dog putting on weight following surgery due to inactivity. Be VERY watchful of food ration/portion size and limit treats to those very low in calories. I recommend high protein/low cal treats like pure dried meats(chicken, duck, buffalo) that are packed with nutrients to help in muscle/tendon/ligament development.

Water based physical therapy is low impact and increases the chances of the joint healing correctly. Seek out a clinic that offers it!

I hope these suggestions help. As always, listen to what your vet has to say and follow their advice close. They will have the hands-on experience of seeing exactly what is best for your dog. But always be open to second opinions. Just like human surgery...this is serious business!
Best of luck out there. -Mark

Canine Hypothermia

2010-12-16T16:49:00.004-06:00

Temperatures are continuing to plummet across the upper Midwest. Old Man Winter is once again rearing his ugly head as snow storms continue to batter us from what seems like every direction. Here in southern Wisconsin there are still 15 days before the bird hunting season closes for yet another fateful year. As hunters, we expose our dogs to the bitterest of natural elements as fall turns to winter. During this time of year overeager owners can expectantly place gun dogs in harms way. Canine hypothermia must remain a constant concern to ensure your faithful four legged hunting partner runs astray from it's deathly grip.

Hypothermia is the lowering of the dog's core temperature and occurs when a dog's temperature falls abnormally low. The extent of the injuries varies with the body temperature and duration of hypothermia. Hypothermia can be fatal. Mild hypothermia causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, but if the time and severity of heat loss continues, heart rate and blood pressure decline and cardiac arrhythmia's or cardiac arrest can occur. Severe hypothermia leads to respiratory problems, lethargy, lack of coordination, paralysis, and possibly even death.

The first acute symptom of hypothermia is shivering(OK, that's pretty obvious that he or she is cold!)When a dog shivers, there is an increase in muscle activity, which increases heat production. At the same time, his blood circulation shifts away from his legs and feet to his internal organs. Other symptoms include slow and shallow breathing, weakness, and listlessness. If your dog is excessively "shaking his coat off" this is also an early sign of hypothermia. If your dog's normal rhythm of hunting starts to involves these abnormal stoppages "to shake it off" this is the earliest telltale sign that the cold is starting to get to them! It is time to start moving back to the truck quickly.

Frigid Days Make Your Canine Athlete Work Even Harder

It is also important to realize during the cold months a dogs metabolism increases. As I posted last year in "Cold Dog, New Tricks" The general rule of thumb is for every 10 degree drop in average outside temperature increase your dog's food rations up 6%. Keeping your dog well feed with a high protein/high fat diet during the winter hunting season can provide additional support for warding off adverse effects of the cold. Bitter cold also brings dryness to the atmosphere where a dogs breathe gets zapped and moisture is evaporated by zero humidity conditions quickly. With every breathe brings a loss of water to your dog. Much more than even that hot humid day chasing quail for you southern hunters. Getting a hard charging gun dog to drink in the stone cold winter is usually tough to do. Even though he is not begging for it, it certainly doesn't mean he doesn't need it! To get a dog that won't drink to come to water, grab him gently by the muzzle and spray just a few squirt of water down his throat. I don't mean cold water either but nice warm water from a bottle that has been kept tucked in your vest nearest your own heat source. This is when the training in the off season to accept a water bottle comes in handy! Keep in mind, a working dog will need at minimum 1-2 ounces of water every 20 minutes to stay properly hydrated. Keeping your dog hydrated is not the only thing that should concern you. It is also very helpful to carry some treats in your vest pocket as well. A dog eating a small ration of treats(make then small, soft, and easily eaten) during a cold hunt will help their body produce internal heat from digestion. Keeping them watered and munching on a treat every 20 minutes or so will help ward of the dreaded early signs of hypothermia. If you let your dog succumb to hypothermia you have nobody to blame but yourself. There is NO bird in this world worth injuring your dog over! If you do notice these early signs get your dog into a heated vehicle as quickly as possible and back to a warm house as soon as possible. If the dog is showing signs of advanced hypothermia(lethargy, stumbling, excessive/uncontrollable shaking) go to the nearest emergency vet!

I hope these tips help this winter season. Canine hypothermia is not to be taken lightly. Imagine if you are getting chilly following your dog in pursuit of frosty pheasants or grouse...you can assume your four legged hunting buddy is feeling the effects of the cold as well.

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Gun Dog Holiday Gifts

2010-12-08T16:58:00.007-06:00

'Tis the season! The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, hope's of St. Nick soon will be there...

With the holiday season now upon us, shopping lists should include some gear, treats, and toys for your faithful four legged hunting buddy. Here are few great gifts that have been personally "tested" by us and highly recommend this holiday season!

Top 5 Picks This Holiday Season...

Avery: Sporting Dog Bed. This one is a must if you are looking for a new dog nest for your best bud to snuggle down in this winter. Sporting a durable, waterproof outershell it is perfect for your muddy retriever or filthy flusher! Available at Gander Mountain store or website. Great Value at only $39.99!

Zukes: Various Soft Treats. All made with quality natural ingredients right here in the USA. Any of their wide selection of assorted soft, tasty treats will make your gun dog one happy(and healthy) elf! Available at PETCO stores or website.

Lion Country: Leather Feel Collar. Super durable and comes in wide variety of bright, blazing colors and a wide selection of sizes. Plus, at $5.95, it the best value for such a high quality, long lasting collar. Available only at Lion Country store or website

Dogswell: Dried meat treats. A wide variety of meats to choose from all packed with protein and healthy nutrients. Each of them is a delectable edible plus added supplements. Guaranteed to make your dog wag has tail and chomp 'em down at the same time getting a nice healthy serving of wellness improving morsels! Available at PETCO store or website.

Mud River: Insulated Kennel Cover. Keep your gun dog warm to and from the hunting grounds. This cover is simply the best made and most functional on the market today and fits most brands of plastic kennels. Available at Gander Mountain store or online.

I wish you all a Happy Holiday and New Year! May your 2011 be filled with Happy, Healthy and Hard Hunting Gun Dogs!

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Nutritional "Dog Smoothie" Supplements

2010-11-22T21:52:00.006-06:00

Every once in awhile a company comes along who; breaks the mold, raises the bar, thinks outside the box, etc...or any of the other hundreds of cliches to elaborately describe innovative ideas. This particular company has done just such...

They call themselves Ubuntu.

Ubuntu has created one of the coolest, most unique, and functional line of dog treats on the market today. They offer a natural ingredient dog treat "smoothie" fortified with supplements each formulated specifically for either Hip and Joint care, Digestive care, or Skin and Coat care. Each vitamin/nutrient supplement smoothies comes in a four pack of single serving 3.5oz. cups. Basically, they are a Banana/Peanut Butter flavored treats that closely resembles a kid's Jello pudding cup but for dogs. In addition to a tasty treat, Ubuntu "SMART PUP" line is PACKED with high levels of canine nutritional fortification.

We will let information from their website fill in the rest of the science:

SMART PUP Skin & Coat is specially formulated to keep dogs looking and feeling their absolute best. This treat provides the essential Omega-3 fatty acids dogs need for healthier skin and shinier coats. We use salmon and cold water fish oils formulated to provide over 300% more absorbable Omega-3 than leading dry treats. Many dry treats use botanical sources of Omega-3, like flaxseed oil to boost their claims, but dogs can’t metabolize flaxseed nearly as well. SMART PUP Skin & Coat smoothie treats are a great tasting way to deliver meaningful benefits to your dog everyday.

SMART PUP Digestive Health makes everything that dogs eat better for them. The combination of probiotic cultures and prebiotic fiber in our delicious, all-natural treats stimulate the good bacteria in your pup’s intestinal tract. This, in turn, promotes better digestion and nutrient absorption, alleviates intestinal upset and helps strengthen your dog’s immune system. Plus, a touch of ginger helps stimulate appetite in older dogs. SMART PUP Digestive Health smoothie treats are a great tasting way to deliver real benefits to your dog everyday.

SMART PUP Hip & Joint is more than just a delicious, all-natural treat for your dog. Through our exclusive formulation, each treat provides your dog with 600mg of liquid glucosamine to promote optimal joint health. SMART PUP Hip & Joint smoothie treats are a great tasting and effective way to deliver meaningful joint relief to your dog everyday. The Power of Liquid Glucosamine – Studies show that only 10-20% of vitamins and minerals in dry form are actually absorbed by a dog’s body, compared to nearly 100% when in liquid form.

My 4 year old pointer, Dewey has fallen in love with them! The first time I brought a sample home to try he literally did a back flip in my kitchen when I tore the cover off. He licked the cup clean in under a minute. To know he was getting 600mg of highly digestible Glucosamine in each serving of something he thought was a treat made me one very satisfied dog owner. Over the past two months I have used the Hip and Joint cups as part of Dewey's post hunt recovery and prehunt prep. I have noticed an overall improvement in his recovery time and an increase in his stamina in the field. Although Dewey does not suffer from chronic joint pain, Glucosamine is a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient that helps aid in the nourishment of dogs muscles, joints, tendons, and cartilage. Although I have only tested the Hip and Joint smoothies, it is highly probable that their other products are equally effective. Ubuntu Smart Dog Treats are available at your local PETCO store now! The best part is they are very affordable. I urge you all to give your dog a shot at them! You will not be let down and neither will your four legged hunting companion!

Best of luck out there. -Mark

The Tailgate Check

2010-11-11T17:57:00.018-06:00

Now that we are headlong into bird hunting season it is time to revisit one of the most critical aspects following any hunt with your four legged partner. The Tailgate Check.

Returning to your truck after a long day afield, time has come to load up your dog or dogs and head for home. A warm fire and hot meal await you both but don't be in a hurry as this is the perfect time and place to give your dog(s) the "once over". Positioning him or her on your trucks tailgate or back hatch gives you a higher vantage point to inspect your dog closely at eye level.

Start at the head and work your way back....

Check entire dog's skin and coat with your bare hands to detect any foreign objects such as burrs, thorns, or other such debris stuck in/or on your dog.
Remove any foreign objects completely using sterile tweezers. Medicate area liberally with antiseptic solution to clean the area using a sterile cotton pad.

Check your dog's eyes:

Pull the skin around the eye socket back and around to see if any debris has found it's way around these sensitive areas. Keep in mind, dog's have a secondary eyelid. This is a common area for debris to find a place to hide. Look closely and inspect with great care. A small flash light can come in handy. Use a sterile canine eye wash to flush out any dust or marsh gunk.

Treat any eye debris with concern. Sterile plastic tweezers are the best for removing such objects. If you can not reach it, do NOT push it. See your emergency vet immediately. Debris in the eye can work it's way down into cranial cavity quickly. Don't help it by struggling.

Check paws and pads. Look for cracked nail, cut pads, and thorns lodged in webbing:

If cracked nails are found apply, styptic powder immediately. If severe, see vet asap. For cracked pads, apply k9 foot cream or suave immediately. Bandage with 3M nonstick tape if needed.

Check the ears flaps for cuts and ear canal for debris:

If cuts are present around the ear flap apply styptic powder immediately. If debris is found in ear canal try to remove if possible. If not see your emergency vet for further help.

Tips for further post hunt home care:

If you hunt marshes or drainage canals around farm field run off(you know...the places those ditch chickens a.k.a.... pheasants like to hangout around), make sure to bath your dog with warm water and a good antibacterial shampoo after returning home. We use and HIGHLY recommend Perfect Coat Anitbacterial Deodorizing Shampoo. Fertilizer and livestock waste that runs off into nearby water holding sources can cause reactions to sensitive skin dogs(and even those tough as nails!) Contaminated field water can cause infections in open wounds or even the smallest scratch so be concerned about the post hunt bath if you frequent these areas...both for you and your dog! Even better, keep a pack of canine antibacterial wipes in your truck. During the tailgate check give your dog the once over before the marsh muck dries! This should not replace the shower and antibacterial shampoo when you get home.

Keep your canine field first aid kit well stocked. All the essentials should be thought of and available quickly. See our post http://northupland.blogspot.com/2010/05/field-first-aid-kit-essentials.html for more information.

The Tailgate Check is important as it allows you to identify any issues in a timely manner. If your travel to and from your hunting grounds are far and time consuming, this is the best place to help your dog ease an injury or painful issue quickly and efficiently.

I truly hope each of you is enjoying a great hunting season. I know Dewey and I are. The unseasonably warmer conditions here in Wisconsin is rare...but we are enjoying it while it lasts!

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Identifying Internal Parasitic Worms

2010-09-27T16:25:00.004-05:00

As owners of hunting dogs we knowingly put our faithful four legged partners in harm’s way. Whether it’s a boggy marsh or thorny field, the very environment we hunt exposes our dogs to a myriad of potential parasitic problems. It is up to us as conscious owners to become highly educated to identify symptoms and fulfill the proper treatment to ensure our dogs are the healthiest they can be. There is never a substitute for the years of training from a skilled veterinarian. If you suspect any of the following, I recommend seeing your vet as soon as possible. Yes, there a tons of great over-the-counter products produced to subdue parasitic worms but without a vet’s sign off, a self diagnosis can do more harm than good to your dog.

Roundworms: are the most common internal parasite found in dogs. They are general long and resemble spaghetti. They are often coughed up or seen in the stool. However, a positive diagnosis will require a stool examination by a vet. Dogs acquire roundworms through contact with soil containing roundworm eggs or by ingesting fecal matter from other dog with roundworms.

Tapeworms: live in the dog’s small intestine. There are generally two types of tapeworm that can infect a dog, and fleas carry the most common type. Hunting dogs who eat wildlife infested with tapeworms or fleas can also infect themselves. Tapeworms are made up of segments that resemble grains of rice that can grow to over 30 inches long! It is usually possible to see segments in stool. Again, a positive diagnosis will require a stool exam by a vet.

Hookworms: are common in warm, humid climates, but exist all over North America. They are transmitted through chance skin penetration by the immature larvae or through ingestion of contaminated feces. The worms latch onto the intestinal wall using rows of “teeth”. Their bodies are less than an inch long with a bend or “hook” in the front. Hookworms are difficult to see in your dogs stool but if you do suspect them, take a sample into your vet immediately.

Whipworms: are the hardest to detect at times because the number of eggs shed are low and they are shed in waves. Adult whipworms look like pieces of thread with one end enlarged. They develop when a dog swallows whipworm eggs passed from an infected dog. Direct symptoms may include diarrhea, anemia, and dehydration. Once again, if you suspect ANY type of intestinal worm infestation it is best to take a fecal sample into your vet immediately.

Heartworms: are deadly to dogs but can be easily prevented. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and is more common in warm, humid areas. Heartworms resemble spaghetti and live in the pulmonary arteries of the heart. Only a vet can diagnose heartworm correctly and administer a monthly or daily medication to eradicate them. Dogs should be tested annually or at minimum every two years. All dogs must be on a monthly heartworm preventative such as Heartguard or Sentinel. These are vet prescription only drugs.

General Symptoms of Parasitic Worms:
Bloating, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Dull Coat, Decreased Energy.

Early season or warm climate hunts add to the probability of encountering parasitic issues.

Ringworm: is NOT AN INTERNAL PARASITIC WORM. I wanted to add it here just to clarify this myth. It is fungal skin infection that lives in hair follicles, causing the hair to break off. It is most common to see the disease on the head, ears, tail and front paws. The disease looks like a circle on the dog's skin with raised edges. It looks like the hair has been removed in a circle or patch with a pale spot at the center. Common ringworm in dogs symptoms include crusty skin, scaling and some redness. Odd shapes usually mean that multiple lesions joined together. Take your dog into the vet immediately as ringworm can be very discomforting (itchy) for your dog and can be passed to you and other humans upon direct contact.

Even if your dog does not show any of these symptoms I recommend having their stool examined by a vet at least twice a year. I general have my dogs checked as part of their “prehunting “ season check up and then again shortly following the season when they go in for their “posthunting” follow up wellness exam. When taking a fecal sample it is imperative NOT to allow your dogs stool to touch the ground. Contaminated soil could come into contact with your dog’s actual healthy feces and result in a false positive test. An inside out sterile baggy, quick timing, and a cooperative dog are needed to make this happen! As you have read, it is imperative to keep your dog away from eating or just being around decaying dog feces . It is critical to clean up your yard daily from fecal matter and dispose of it properly. Keep a watchful eye on your dog if he visits public places such as dog parks or even, worse high traffic bird hunting spot parking lots! Most gun dogs realize they are “about to start working” when you unload them and they see your gun and gear. They will inherently look for a close place for them to “lighten their own load” before they begin to work!

As always please do not hesitate to ask questions or comment on this post. My direct email is northupland@yahoo.com or drop a message in the comment box below. The days are clicking by and some of you are already headlong into your bird hunting season. For those like me and my pointer Dewey, we are counting the hours here in Wisconsin until October 16th at high noon!

Best of luck out there. –Mark

Recharge & Recover

2010-09-22T16:31:00.002-05:00

For bird hunters and our canine comrades it is only weeks from opening day here in Wisconsin. We wait impatiently in eager anticipation. The last of our conditioning workouts and preseason field scouting trips are now wrapping up. Gear and guns have been checked and double checked. Our dog(s) are fit and ready to rumble. Forgotten in all our preparation is putting a plan in place to properly recover and recharge your gun dog after the hunt. Just like all athletes, hard charging dogs require additional nutrients to properly recover there bodies after long periods of physical exertion.

RETRIEVE Health® is a new company specializing in sporting dog nutritional supplements. They offer a full line of quality products focused specifically on canine physical recovery before and after the hunt and are now offered at your local Gander Mountain store(click Gander link on right to order now)

According to their website, "What makes RETRIEVE Health® special from the rest of the animal health industry is that we take a unique, holistic approach to canine health. We believe with proper lifelong nutrition, exercise, and preventive care your dog has a chance to live up to the age of 20. We address the needs of each life stage. It starts as a puppy by supplying the needed vitamins and minerals often missing in processed dog food, continues with simple natural nutrition, exercise and recovery tips and ends with old dogs and our ability to naturally control pain and give this special animal a high quality of life. From this point on we are asking you to look at your dog as the world-class athlete he or she naturally are and treat them accordingly. Would a world-class athlete be asked to run 2 miles and after the event be given a bowl of water and then placed in a small cage where he or she could not stand up? Would we wait until the end of the day to give this person nutrients? Of course not, then why do we do this to the canine athlete?"

I am a firm proponent of properly hydrating your dog both before,during, and after the hunt. RETRIEVE Health® offers a rehydrate type powder form water additive. According to their website, "RETRIEVE Hydration is fortified with electrolytes, speeding up the absorption of fluids and vital nutrients while effectively rehydrating tissues. Fluids are generally the most overlooked nutrient in a dog’s diet. Lack of adequate fluids and electrolyte consumption can cause kidney failure in dogs which can lead to long term damage or even death. RETRIEVE Hydration contains macro nutrients vital for full body repair. Essential amino acids and oxygen enhancers help maintain the highest metabolic efficiency.

Another RETRIEVE Health® product that I highly recommend is their TRI-NUTRITION treat bars. According to their website, "TRI-NUTRITION ENERGY bars are a perfect balance of premium whey protein isolates, complex carbohydrates, and monounsaturated fats providing both immediate and timed released energy for working dogs. A precise blend of pharmaceutical grade vitamins and minerals including glucosamine and oxygen enhancers insures not only peak performance during activities but quick recovery after activities. Simply nothing like it, simply world class."

TRI-NUTRITION bars are all made with quality ingredients! Plus, No CORN, WHEAT, SOY, or GLUTEN! These are truly power bars for your hard working gun dog to munch on. I recommend feeding them before and after the hunt.

Take a look at their ingredient listing and I am sure you will agree these are high quality, holistic treats formulated specifically for working dogs...Organic Agave Syrup, Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolates, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate), Organic Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Whey Protein Crisps (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate), Glucosamine HCI, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Guar Gum, Golden Root Extract. Vitamineral Blend: Dicalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamine E Succinate, Ferrous Fumarate, Niacin, Beta-carotene, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Carbonate, Pyridoxin HCI, Thiamine HCI, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Biotin, I-Glutathione, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Molybdate, Chromium Chloride....Wow! That is one power packed energy bar for your trusty gun dog!

Although RETRIEVE Health® is a relatively new company, I am now a huge fan. I think they actually get it! By exposing more sporting dog owners to the benefits of a true, holistic, premium nutritional approach to our dogs health it will not only benefit them more in the field but their overall quality of life. I urge each of you to try their products on your dogs this hunting season. I suspect you will notice a performance difference

A Sleeping Dog Doesn’t Lie

2010-09-21T16:32:00.001-05:00

After a tough day of retrieving ducks through a mucky marsh or charging the thorny upland country on pheasant patrol, there is only two things on your gun dog’s mind. Eat and then sleep; and nothing comes between their post hunt priorities! Shortly after chomping down a bowl of high octane food your faithful four legged hunting companion is looking for a soft bed to call home and drift off to dream about other day of hunting birds. -Which to both owner and dog will hopefully be tomorrow morning!

Avery Outdoors, a long time manufacturer of quality hunting supplies, has recently answered a call that up until now has gone unreturned. They are now offering a high quality dog bed made specifically for gun dog’s and their owners.

Just like us hunting humans, your canine bird finder deserves a quality night’s sleep. A comfortable bed and a quiet sanctuary is all they ask. It is up to you to provide the later while Avery has your dog covered on the initial request. Gander Mountain, our countries leader in outdoor recreational products, now offers Avery’s Sporting Dog Bed at an unbeatable price. For just $39.99 your best gun dog can sleep in the lap of canine luxury. The best part is this premium constructed dog bed is that it's totally waterproof, quick drying, and stain resistant. Avery has developed what they call their "Duramax" cover material that is tough, rugged, yet soft and comfy. Better yet it is 30"x40" inches so any large breed dog can stretch out and catch some comfortable zzzz's. Rest assured, your trusty Labrador can come straight in from the blind, eat his dinner, and plop right down without any clean up concerns. When time allows(between hunts of course) you can pull the cover off and hose it down, hang it on the line to dry and it will be clean, dry, and ready for your dog to crash on long before you fire the last blast of the late afternoon hunt. Plus, this bed features a very cool silhouetted artwork design that will accent any hunting lodge or man cave!

Your best four legged hunting partner deserves a nice, warm, comfortable place to rest his eyes between hunts. Just like humans, a dogs body must have time to recover and the more comfortable his sleeping surrounding...the more recharged they are for another day afield. Avery Outdoors has provided such a bed. If you end up puchasing one, I bet your gun dog will love you for it and I guarantee you’ll love how much he or she returns the favor in the field or marsh! To order this bed please click on the Gander logo on right menu bar.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

True Performance

2010-09-15T17:07:00.006-05:00

As gun dog owners I believe we all strive for the same collective results. A dog that works hard and covers a lot of ground. A dog that is well trained and highly motivated. A dog that is fit and physical. A dog that truly loves to hunt for us and share the thrill. At the end of the day when the last feather floats to the ground, our gun dogs are truly our most faithful and trusted companions. But what are we doing to return their hard work, devotion and commitment? Better yet, what are we doing to make our good dogs great?

Like all living organisms, it starts and ends with nutrition. Food is the fuel that steams our dogs engine and stokes the fire within. Without quality food your dog will never reach his or her full potential in the marsh, woods, or field. These days more and more manufacturers are focusing on producing high quality dog foods. Unfortunately, there are still those owners who believe dog food found at a grocery store is just as good. This simple is not the case. Canines specifically produced and trained to hunt are animal athletes. With any athlete, the quality of their diet dictates their overall performance on the field of play. Over the past year many of my blog posts have hopefully shed some light of the positive and negatives effect of both proper and improper nutrition. Fall is upon us and most hunting seasons across this country are only days away from opening. Unfortunately, for a dog to fully adjust to a food change it can take 4-6 weeks to see any results in the field. But it is never to late to switch from an inexpensive "grocery store" brand to a premium food. If this is your first visit to my blog I urge you to read past posts titled, Pocket Guide For Dog Food Consumers, The Holistic Gun Dog, and Performance Dog Foods for a more in depth look.

But you may ask, what makes a dog food low or high quality? Great question but one you can answer for yourself very quickly by following these helpful red and green flags. Here is my blue collar round up on things to watch for...

Red flags for low quality dog foods contain:

ANY Grain source as #1 ingredient
High amounts corn, soy, and/or wheat grain sources in ingredients overall/any combination
Grain Gluten in ANY form(low grade protein source)
Unspecified mystery "Meat" ingredients such as Meat Meal, Meat By-product, etc
Synthetic preservetives such as, BHT(Butylated Hydroxyanisole), BHA(Butylated Hydroxytoluene), Propylene Glycol, Ethoxyquin
Food coloring agents aka; color #whatever

Green flags for high quality dog foods contain:

Whole meat or whole meat meal proteins such as chicken, duck, beef, bison, fish, lamb, etc as the first ingredient
Low overall grain ingredient content and gluten free
At least 2 meat type proteins in top 5 ingredients(including meat protein meals which are a very high source of quality protein)
Natural preserved with mixed tocopherols(vitamin E)
Powerful antioxidents such as blueberries, cranberries, etc
Contain Prebiotics and/or Probiotics aka; Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium

Nothing better than seeing a well fueled, hard charging dog having fun hunting birds!

The above mentioned red or green flags are a great way to quickly establish whether or not a dog food is grocery or premium. But be advised, some manufactures who are considered "premium" producers slip red flags into there formula's to cut costs. Do NOT be fooled. Do your due diligence and read the label in it's entirety. Do not be fooled by the disclaimer on every bag of food in this country: Approved by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. The AAFCO has in most nutritionists opinion regulate and allow a very low level(base minimum) of acceptance on what they consider a food "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the the minimum nutrients in dog food". In other words, all dog food for sale in America must reach these low standards before they can even be allowed to bring the product to market. Yep, even Ol' Roy met AAFCO approval so that is not saying much!

I hope this brief round up helps you make a more educated decision when shopping for your gun dogs next bag of food. There are some really wonderful manufacturers out there doing the right thing for our dogs. I don't guarantee many things but I will guarantee this; switching your dog to a high quality diet will vastly improve their performance in the field and in the home. Don't be scared away from the higher prices. If the health and wellbeing of your fourlegged hunting partner is important to you, price should not be the first concern.

Best of luck out there. -Mark

What is Gluten?

2010-09-01T15:42:00.015-05:00

Gluten. It's one of those mysterious food ingredients some manufacturers use but very few folks can completely explain. In short, if you see gluten on an ingredients list it is an immediate red flag of a formula containing a low absorption protein. Worse yet, gluten(in any form) could negatively effect the long term health of your four legged hunting companion.

The blue collar definition of gluten is basically the elastic part of wheat, corn, or other types of grain that feels thick and starchy. Through a series of processing, grain is "spun out" to seperate the gluten from other grain matter. Many dogs(as well as humans) are sensitive to the resulting gluten. Because of it's gummy texture, gluten can be difficult to digest for most dogs. Gluten is commonly used as a binder or thickener for of human consumables. Just like humans, some canines can also suffer from celiac disease as direct relation from ingesting gluten containing food. For those effected by gluten in any form it can be toxic thus creating a negative and harmful reaction within the digestive tract.

According to the website http://www.celiacs.com/ in an article by Jefferson Adams noting veterinarian John B. Symes who suggests, "Gluten and other proteins that are added to dog foods are causing many of the same diseases that they cause in their human counterparts. In human celiacs and gluten-sensitive individuals, gluten can induce both chronic and acute kidney failure. This form of kidney failure is typically called an IgA nephropathy, in which antibodies and immune complexes formed against gluten are deposited in the kidneys, which leads to damage and ultimately failure. Again, this can be chronic leading to persistent blood (microscopic) and protein in the urine or it can be acute." Dr. Symes claims that it is a startling but well-established fact that the lectins of gluten (wheat, barley, rye) dairy products (e.g. casein, lactalbumin) soy, and corn are all capable of inducing serious health issues in those humans who are sensitive to them. He takes this belief even further and states that such foods are actually not healthy for anyone—neither pets nor humans and they just happen to be more harmful to some individuals than others. According to him anyone who consumes or feeds these foods to their pets on a daily basis will encounter resulting health problems—it is only of matter of time.Dr. Symes believes that the onset of a lectin-related disorder—whether it be rheumatoid arthritis, type-one diabetes, lupus, etc.—is usually preceded by another event such as viral or bacterial infection. Vaccines can act as triggers as well. The result of such secondary events is a sudden influx and attachment of these inflammatory proteins to various cells in the body, ushering in what we often refer to as autoimmune disorders. That term implies an immune system that has gone haywire, attacking the body for no reason. According to him, our immune systems, along with those of our pets, never make that kind of mistake. These conditions happen for certain reasons, and these food proteins are often the cause.All one needs to do, according to Dr. Symes, is to study celiac disease to see how all of this works and appreciate the health implications that accompany this extremely common condition. That a similar condition does occur in dogs has become painfully obvious during the past seven years that he has been studying the issue. Dr. Symes states: "The Irish Setter is a breed known to suffer from gluten intolerance, but it is clear that gluten is affecting many other breeds of dogs. And why wouldn't it? It is affecting humans and we have had millennia to adapt to eating wheat. Our pets have only been eating wheat-based pet foods for about 20 years now. The fact is that wheat gluten can and does cause and/or contribute to these conditions. Thus, according to Dr. Symes, gluten should never end up in pet foods. To illustrate his theory Dr. Symes points out that the average American dog lives 12 years, when their wild counterparts, eating a natural diet, can live to be nearly thirty and to forty years respectively. For the cause, we need look no further than what we put in their bowls. Why? The answer, at least in part, is that highly processed foods cannot possibly contain all of the essential nutrients found in fresh meats, fruits and vegetables."

A Pointer holds point. A Lab flushes. Perfect! These two canine athletes run on a gluten free, super premium diet daily!

Furthermore, Corn gluten is a concentrated source of low grade protein that can be substituted for costlier animal protein. In many bargain dry dog foods, corn gluten meal provides a large proportion or the total protein in the food rather than a highly digestible(and more expensive) forms of protein such as meat. If corn gluten is high up on the list of ingredients, chances are it negatively effects the actual advertised protein percentage. This is caused by corn glutens inherent "low biological value" i.e. -digestion and metabolizing this ingredient for dogs results in a lower "intake" or absorption of the actual protein content. Keep in mind, all dog food manufacturers are NOT required to post what the biological value or digestion rate percent of any ingredient really is!

I urge each of you to take a close look at your dog's bag of food and pay closer attention to those ingredients you read but might not understand. That's what I am here for -to help gun dog owners just like you understand the importance of a healthy canine diet. My cost is totally free so please take advantage. If you have a question please drop me a line at northupland@yahoo.com or post a comment below. I will personally respond to every inquiry.

Best of luck out there. -Mark