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So far Total Dog Company has created 47 blog entries.

Why I’m a Fan of Food Rotation

What is food rotation? It means changing what you give your dog to eat, from switching foods every few months, to weekly or daily.  I start feeding my dogs a variety of foods almost as soon as I bring them home. Cautiously at first—just a pinch of something new—and then increasing variety over time. Once they are used to switching, they never eat the same thing two days in a row. I call myself the Queen of Rotation and I don’t expect anyone to go to the extremes I do, but I do think there are several benefits to rotating dogs’ diets: The gut “learns” to be more adaptable so it can handle the naughty something from  grazing in the backyard or a successful counter surf. What goes in comes out without a trip to the ER. The dog remains interested in meals. Although I’ve never met a picky schnauzer, some dogs tire of eating the same thing day after day. Switching foods periodically can be more satisfying to the dog. Perhaps most importantly, nutrition is most complete and better balanced by rotating. And not just flavors of one brand of food—rotate brands, too. (Our Frequent Barker program was designed to reward you no matter what foods you buy—you’re not limited to one brand to get the rewards.) I operate under the assumption that every dog is unique—there is no single Best Dog Food for all dogs. And though there might be an ideal food for an individual dog, how do you know what that is? Hedge your bets and feed them everything! Every dog food manufacturer has their idea of what should go into a recipe, from protein-to-fat ratio, to vitamin-mineral constituents, to add-ins [...]

By |2022-06-04T16:28:35-05:00June 4th, 2022|Dog Food|0 Comments

Midwestern Pet Foods Voluntary Recall Due to Salmonella

March 26, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods, Evansville, Indiana is issuing a voluntary recall of specific expiration dates of certain dog and cat food brands including CanineX, Earthborn Holistic, Venture, Unrefined, Sportmix Wholesomes, Pro Pac, Pro Pac Ultimates, Sportstrail, Sportmix and Meridian brands produced at its Monmouth, Illinois Production Facility because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. A full list of recalled products may be found at the end of this announcement. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. No human or pet illnesses have been reported to date. Products were distributed to retail stores nationwide and to online retailers. Lot code information may be found on the back of the bags with the following format: This recall covers only certain products manufactured at Midwestern Pet Foods Monmouth, Illinois facility. The [...]

By |2021-04-01T13:00:30-05:00April 1st, 2021|Recalls & Safety Information|0 Comments

Twin Cities Pet Store

Total Dog Company is a pet store in the Twin Cities with a focus on dogs! We provide high-quality and practical food, gear, and care items for dogs from puppyhood to old age. Conveniently located off of HWY 169 in New Hope, we currently serve the New Hope, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minneapolis area and greater Twin Cities, Minnesota.

By |2021-04-01T13:41:18-05:00January 1st, 2019|Store|0 Comments

Update on Taurine-Deficiency Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Thanks to the staff at Lake Harriet Veterinary clinic in Minneapolis, who held an informational session on this topic. This summary is based on the information they passed along: The bottom line, unfortunately, is that there is still no answer about what is the cause of this heart disease. There appears to be a connection between eating grain free diets containing legumes or potatoes (white or sweet)—even diets that contain adequate taurine levels—and becoming taurine deficient; however, there is a wide range of timeframes during which the dog eats grain free before developing taurine deficiency: some dogs are affected in a very short time (a month or so) and other dogs eat grain-free food their whole lives and are never affected. The reason for the different response times is unknown. Golden Retrievers and Border Collies have a higher incidence of diet-responsive taurine deficiency than other breeds. “Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a form of heart disease in which the heart muscle becomes weak and the heart becomes enlarged. This results in poor heart function, leading to exercise intolerance, collapse, pale gums, coughing, and panting. Eventually, DCM results in complete heart failure. Many dogs show no symptoms until the disease is quite advanced.” (from the Lake Harriet Veterinary session handout) DCM is not inconsequential, and we still can’t predict who will be susceptible or how long it will take to develop. So, what should you do? First, forget my advice from the previous newsletter about supplementing with taurine. Why? Because if one of the current hypotheses ends up being true – that grain free diets (legumes and/or potato) bind taurine or interfere with the production of taurine in the dog’s body – and you continue to feed [...]

By |2018-11-16T12:14:05-06:00November 1st, 2018|Recalls & Safety Information|2 Comments

Regarding the Grain-Free Food Connection to Cardiomyopathy

Many have asked me my take on the recent concerns raised about grain free dog foods.  Here it is: As I understand it, there isn’t unequivocal data about the link between legume-rich dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy (legumes commonly used in dog food are peas, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), and lentils).  It’s probably a more complex problem than what’s being presented right now.  Legumes may interfere with the production of taurine (a heart-friendly amino acid) in the body.  There seems to be a genetic component in some of the cases.  This should concern you if you have a golden retriever, for example, because that is one breed where there seems to be a connection between legumes and heart disease. While we wait for more research to identify the exact mechanisms at work, there are some ways you can respond: Some dog food manufacturers—NutriSource for one—is already upping the taurine added to their formulas. I suspect that other manufacturers will supplement with taurine or up the amount if they already add it.  They’ve been doing it for years with cat food; now it’s dogs’ turn. You can give your dog supplemental taurine yourself. Consult with your vet to determine dosage. You can rotate foods for your dog. If you’ve ever spoken with me about what food to feed your dog, you’ve heard me say, “All of them.”  I am a strong proponent of rotating foods, and this issue just adds to the reasons why.  Say you feed your dog the same thing year after year.  What if that food you have chosen has too much or too little of a nutrient that your dog needs?  We don’t know what is the ideal food for a dog—and every [...]

By |2018-09-10T19:49:21-05:00September 10th, 2018|Recalls & Safety Information|0 Comments

RECALL NOTICE – Evanger’s and Against the Grain Canned Food

Evanger’s has recalled ALL lots of the following three varieties of canned food.  If you have any of these three, please return it to the place of purchase for a full refund: Evanger’s Hunk of Beef Evanger’s Braised Beef Chunks Against the Grain Pulled Beef For more information please visit: https://evangersdogfood.com/news-events/pug-family-updates/

By |2017-05-18T11:14:34-05:00February 28th, 2017|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Discontinuing Wellness Products Due to Chinese Ingredients

We just discovered that WellPet (makers of Wellness brand foods and treats) have started sourcing some preservative ingredients (green tea extract and mixed tocopherols) in China. Because of this, we have decided to discontinue those products. The Pure Rewards and Wellbites that are on the shelf are the old recipe. They won't be replaced. We are sorry to have to do this, and we've told WellPet that. Wellness canned food will remain. The dry food and treats are out until they modify their recipes to stop using ingredients from China. If you currently feed your dog any WellPet products, please stop by the store and we can help you pick out alternatives.

By |2016-10-01T16:24:30-05:00September 30th, 2016|Products|9 Comments

2016 Nature-Based Therapeutic Conference Speak! A Kinship of All Creatures: Broadening our Knowledge of Human-Animal Interactions

Total Dog Company has signed on to be an endorsing organization for the MN Landscape Arboretum's 2016 Nature-Based Therapeutic Conference Speak! A Kinship of All Creatures: Broadening our Knowledge of Human-Animal Interactions. About the Conference Research suggests our connection to animals is important to human health and well-being. Speak! is a conference about our human partnership with animals, the natural world and the ways of interacting with animals increases individual health and community well-being. This conference will provide participants with new understanding of how human connections with animals advance work in schools, non-profits, social services, healthcare, community groups, faith-based organizations, and families. The purpose of Speak! is to: Broaden our knowledge of animal intelligence Deepen our understanding of animal feelings Transform the way we view non-human animals Apply practice skills and methods with animal emotions in mind Inspire and delight the audience with new sounds and information Event Details Wednesday, October 26, 2016 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MacMillan Auditorium, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Please note: While we love our four legged friends, we ask that participants not bring their animals. (With the exception of personal service animals and those appointed teams working with the conference will be allowed on site.) For more information on attending the event, please visit the MN Landscape Arboretum Event Page.

By |2017-05-18T11:14:34-05:00September 22nd, 2016|Promotions|0 Comments

Protecting Your Pup: Summertime Pool and Lake Precautions

In the land of 10,000 lakes, there is a risk that comes with the traditional Minnesotan R & R on the water. With some of the hottest recorded years in the books already and a warm start to 2016, toxic blooms of blue-green algae present a danger for your dog. We’re here to prepare you and your pet by talking about the potential water dangers your dog may encounter this summer. What is Blue-Green Algae? Blue-green algae, or Cyanobacteria, is a type of algae that grows in bodies of freshwater all around the world, including Minnesota. Algae are microscopic organisms that can produce toxins if grown with the right ingredients of heat and fertilizer—toxins that are especially dangerous for pets. Found in nutrient-rich areas in the steamy summer months, a blue-green algae “bloom” can look like blue and green paint on the surface of the water, and/or a light green layer on the surface and shorelines. (see this website for some photos of what is and isn’t blue-green algae: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/81962.html ) Blue-green algae blooms are common in Minnesota and pose a very real danger to both people and animals that swim in, or consume water contaminated with it. Although not every bloom of blue-green algae is toxic, the best choice is to steer clear of areas that host this potential poison. Hot weather and lakes/ponds with fertilizer run off are breeding grounds for this type of bacteria. Signs and Symptoms of Blue-Green Algae Exposure: There are two types of toxins that can be produced by blue-green algae and they cause different effects: liver failure and neurological damage. Physical symptoms of one or both include: Vomiting Diarrhea Bloody or black stool Pale mucus membranes Blue mucus [...]

By |2016-08-23T10:25:31-05:00August 23rd, 2016|Guide|Comments Off on Protecting Your Pup: Summertime Pool and Lake Precautions
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