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WE MADE IT THROUGH!
Hello all! I’m writing this with the heat running, on a laptop that is able to speak to the outside world - things that none of us take for granted these days now that we've gone without it. (Perhaps a reminder to some to put a case of canned food in the basement for emergencies). A few of you might have been lucky enough to keep power, but most of you were likely shivering away under blankets in the dark like us on the Green Dog team were. We hated being closed for several days (ouch!), but this storm was a doozy. They say it was the worst ice storm in 40 years...
The worst part for Mike and I was being stuck in the house worrying about whether the power was on for our freezers. We did find out that it was off for some time starting Sunday night, making us envision the 10 freezers full of thousands of dollars of raw food starting to suffer the consequences. No way to get out of the driveway to get something like dry ice, etc! What a relief to finally hear from Andy that Blackbird’s power was back on around mid day Monday, so we could relax a bit and know that those freezers were humming away again, and feel like the food might just be OK. Our house was still dark, but that hardly mattered at that point.
We were so grateful to be back to business on Tuesday! Our thoughts are with those in other parts of the country that aren't out of the woods yet.
Have any cute photos of your dogs playing in the snow? Send them along to us! |
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| | NEWSLETTER SPECIAL!
Help us make up the loss-
Mention this newsletter the next time you order and take 10% off of any toy, bag of treats or chew! Don’t know what to get? We’ll help you choose!
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FEBRUARY IS DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!
To continue with last month's discussion about chewing to promote dental health, we want to begin by reminding you that unfortunately, eating a kibble diet does not count as “chewing”.
A carnivore’s teeth are designed to tear and shear meat. Their jaws are designed to move the jaw up and down, but not side to side for chewing. The shape of our little carnivores' teeth have not changed one bit in their evolution from their wild ancestors. Our dogs and cats, like coyotes, wolves, tigers and leopards, have specialized carnivorous molars called carnassial teeth designed to shear flesh and bone like scissors. At best they crack and swallow kibble diets, but the outer surfaces of those molars and the surfaces of the teeth along the gum line aren’t being scraped by the crunchy kibbles. The way they have evolved to clean their teeth is to chew through meat and bone and connective tissue with these back molars, which stimulates the gum line and scrubs those back teeth of the biofilm that can accumulate and turn to plaque.
Another problem with kibble that contributes to dental trouble is the high starchy carbohydrate content. Just like with humans, these simple carbohydrates can linger in their mouths and then break down into simple sugars. Bacteria feeds on these sugars and produces acid, which causes tooth decay. No one would argue that humans can clean their teeth simply by eating a lot of crunchy pretzels, but many do argue that dogs and cats should eat dry food to clean their teeth. The best diet for overall health and dental health is a whole food diet with meat, organs and a few veggies, skipping the starchy carbs. See below in the cheese section for some of the benefits. This kind of diet doesn't need to be an "all or nothing" proposition - even one 1oz nugget per day, or one on each meal can make an impact on their general health!
Last month I told you about some of our favorite chews for both dogs and cats. Making sure to provide a variety of appropriate chews as daily part of your pet’s routine is critical for dental health (If you’re new to this newsletter or need to revisit those suggestions, see last month’s issue here) Chewing is of course one of the best ways for dogs and cats to keep their teeth clean. However, some older or compromised animals might not be advised to do a lot of chewing, especially on harder items. Here are some additional products, tricks and tips that will help all animals to keep their teeth and gums healthy: |
| | BRUSHING TEETH!
No doubt, we know the most important thing humans can do to keep our teeth and gums healthy is brush, and the same can be said for our pets. I can hear you moaning from here…. I know that this isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do with some animals, but it’s worth working on! For those of you with puppies and kittens, now is the easiest time to desensitize them to this sort of activity. Getting them used to you looking into the mouth and inspecting their teeth and gums is incredibly important, especially later in life. What if your dog has chewed a stick and you can't check if a splinter of wood is lodged in the gum? What if your cat isn't eating well and you're accusing her of being picky, when actually she's in pain from inflamed gums? If your senior dog is developing a tumor in her mouth, would you be able to catch it early? Being able to check the color of the gum tissue can really help to assess an animal’s hydration and alert you to medical problems - the gums can change color, becoming pale from anemia or yellow from liver issues, red from heat stroke or blue from lack of oxygen. They can also be a good indicator of shock: when you press on the gum tissue and the circulation returns to that spot within a second or two, all is well.
Any animal might learn to accept more inspections of the mouth and eventually allow brushing, but the key is not to just jump right in there and start scrubbing the first day. Start by gently lifting the lip/jowl to take a peek and immediately reward with a tasty treat (perhaps a lick of an enzymatic toothpaste from your finger could be a good reward if they love the flavor. Never use human toothpastes, which are not meant to be swallowed).
The next step might be to rub a bit of that toothpaste along their gumline with your finger. The yummy toothpaste left behind can be a good immediate reinforcer for this step of the process. When desensitizing any animal to new handling routines, respect any small signs that the process is stressful, like seeing the whites of their eyes, tucking their tail, or trying to get away. You want them to enjoy the process, so go backwards to a version of the activity that doesn’t make them uncomfortable and just stick with that for a while, rewarding every time. Build up more slowly to your goal, and only make it a little harder when they’re happy with the activity. Even if you can only get into the habit of being able to look at the teeth and gums, consider it a win!
You could progress from using your finger to rub their gumline to using a piece of gauze with toothpaste on it, to perhaps a finger brush with bigger animals. If they're leery of the toothbrush coming at them, you can choke up on it at first so your index finger is on the back of the brush where the bristles are, to hide the look of coming at them with a big tool.
When brushing it’s not important to focus on the front teeth or to brush the insides of the teeth - your main goal is maintaining the outer surfaces of the back teeth and gums.
A few tips: You can brush facing them head on, or you might be more successful being right behind them, lifting their chin and brushing downward towards their back teeth. For cats and very small dogs you might check out the drug store for a product called Wisp, which is supposed to be a tiny quick travel toothbrush for people, but MAKE SURE to remove the little hard blue bead of toothpaste that it comes with.
If you’re brushing, perhaps call them into the bathroom with you and brush their teeth after you brush yours. This will help you remember to do it, and to give them a cue that it’s time for their yummy peanut butter or chicken toothpaste activity. If you forget to call them, they might hear you brushing and come running in for their turn. Even if you don’t get as far as brushing, if you can rub enzymatic toothpaste along their gums you’re going to be doing something positive for their oral health.
Build oral care into your daily routine. Every day give them a little something to chew, even if it’s just a quick Whimzees stick for dogs, or a freeze dried chicken heart for cats or small dogs. Tooth and gum problems are expensive! Tooth brushing is just about free, and daily chews are financially much less money than dental extractions. Read more from veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker here
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PLAQUE OFF!
What a tremendous help this supplement is!! We’ve carried it for nearly the entire 16+ years we’ve been open, and have seen amazing results. It’s a granular powder made from a certain kind of kelp, which according to clinical trials helps to break down the biofilm (the slimy buildup of bacteria that forms on the surfaces of teeth and hardens into plaque). It helps to prevent plaque buildup and breaks down the bond between the plaque and the tooth so it can more easily be removed with chewing action.
Within 2 weeks we see better breath, and within 6-8 weeks we see visible changes in the amount of plaque on the teeth. The dose is small, and it doesn’t taste like much (sort of like sushi wrapper) so it’s easy to hide.
A bit of impressive trivia: The makers of Plaque off for pets also makes a human version (it’s the exact same powder, in capsules). Customers had sometimes remarked to us that it had worked so well for their pets that they wished they could be on it too, so we brought the human version in. No one bought it (part of the fun of retail when you take chances on a new product) but Mike and I started taking it (later I just put the pet powder into empty capsules). We both had a cleaning before we started taking it, then 6 months later when we went back to our dentist, both of our numbers for gum health were better! Later, during a time I felt lazy about putting the powder into capsules, we were off it for a time, and both of us saw those numbers get worse. We stay on it now.
The only animals that should not take it are those with hyperthyroid disease (which unfortunately mostly occurs in cats - see last month's issue for suggestions for cat chews). The reason for this is that kelp naturally contains iodine, which can stimulate the thyroid gland. If the gland is already overactive in animals with hyperthyroid disease, you wouldn’t want to over stimulate it. Animals without hyperthyroid disease should be jut fine on it, as a little bit of kelp has its own nutritional benefits! The small jar is $23.99 and should last about a year for a cat or a small dog. We have another version aimed at cats that has brewers yeast included for greater palatability. This would also be fine for picky dogs to use. Bigger containers of the original formula are available as well.
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| | DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS CULTURED GOAT CHEESES ARE DENTAL SUPPLEMENTS!
These and the cow’s milk kefir cheeses are truly some of our favorite products, but they admittedly are a sleeper for us as they’re kept fairly out of sight in our freezers. First of all they’re delicious. When we’re sampling them out at the counter, I have trouble leaving any in the box for the dogs to try! They come in many organic flavors (goat = Cherry, Blueberry, Ginger, Turmeric, Cranberry. Cow = Cumin, Turmeric with black pepper, and garlic (my favorite). These are raw cheeses made with the milk from pastured, certified humanely raised, organically fed goats and cows, flavored with nutrient-rich flavors.
"Cultured" means they are fermented like your yogurt might be (all of Answers brand foods, treats, milks, broths, and chews are fermented). The benefits of the fermentation are vast (we should all be eating more fermented foods!) Fermented, raw foods are loaded with enzymes that can improve circulation, help speed tissue repair, and reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation —all helpful in healing gingivitis and gum disease. Answers products use fermentation to propagate probiotic bacteria. These good bacteria inhibit the growth of bad bacteria that cause oral disease (and also those bad bacteria that might cause safety problems!). By maintaining a healthy oral microbiome, these fermented foods help the mouth’s natural disease-fighting systems stay fully functional. Also, when the probiotics reach the gut, they improve the function of the systemic immune system which further helps to maintain oral health.
Cheeses that have been shown to help in decreasing the acidity in plaque (for humans too! Google which cheeses are best for human dental health). Cheese can also increase saliva flow, therefore helping wash away acids, sugar and bacteria on the teeth. Calcium and phosphates in milk and other dairy products help put back minerals that teeth might have lost due to other foods. Casein and whey protein also help rebuild tooth enamel.
The fact that they’re made with raw milk is key: Pasteurization or heating milk destroys most of its nutritive value. Heating destroys beneficial bacteria in raw milk. It denatures the natural digestive enzymes (when people have a milk sensitivity, they take lactase, an enzyme that is naturally found in raw milks but is destroyed by the pasteurization process). It also destroys the chemical make-up of calcium and other important nutrients to render them less absorbable.
Raw milk is rich in Vitamin K2, which assures proper placement of calcium. All these factors work together synergistically to keep the teeth and jaw bones strong and healthy. (Answers fermented bone broths also contain glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which help repair compromised gum tissue and strengthen the ligaments that hold each tooth in place).
When pets bite into the cheese treats with their back teeth, they’re putting those amazing enzymes and probiotics (good bacteria) right where it needs to be to fight that bad bacteria.
Right now Answers Goat Cheeses are all Buy One Get One Free through the end of the month! (one freebie per customer)
Check out this silly video we made about goat cheese.
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| | MEET BRISTLY - A BRAND NEW DENTAL CHEW TOY!
• Made from tear-resistant rubber, Bristly is safe and pretty durable.
• Bristle-lined grooves that brush dog’s teeth down to the gum line
• Toothpaste reservoir below the bristles.
• Flavored & Scented for a yummy brushing experience
• Durable easy-to-hold nylon paw pads with brushing nubs.
We think that it would be ideal to give it to them each day (so it becomes a daily routine) for a supervised chew (these seem very durable, but no chew is indestructible)
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For years store dog Sophia has eaten Answers brand fermented raw foods, raw fermented milks and regularly chews raw bones and bully sticks. As a result she has strong, sparkly white teeth! |
| | FENCES FOR FIDO DONATION!
Thanks to all of you that bought Nulo foods last month - a cooperative effort between Nulo and Green Dog resulted in a donation of $490.53 to Fences For Fido! Thanks also to all of you that have donated money at our counter through all these years to support this great nonprofit.
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| | | FOOD BAG RECYCLING UPDATE!
The introductory phase of this new recycling program for pet food and pet treat bags has gone really well! This first phase was a pilot program in the PNW, to determine the feasibility of a collection program. They set a goal to gather 5,000lbs, which they met!
This kind of plastic has not been recyclable until now, so the next phase will be to experiment with and refine the recycling process. Their goal has been to create products from the recycled plastics that can be donated to shelter animals (such as toys or beds). Once that is completed, they'll be launching the program officially, with the goal of if being a nationwide program. We are so grateful to all of you good little recylers out there that were diligently bringing your food and treat bags for us. We were one of the top 5 stores in the NW for volume of plastics returned! The last day for collection of bags will be Feb 28th. I already know a few of you who will be continuing to stockpile bags in the corner of their garage, even though it may be towards the end of summer when it begins again! We can't wait till it resumes either - we're so sad to lose it for so long! We know a national recycling program for this kind of plastic will be a massive move towards sustainability in the pet industry! |
| | | Roxbury Beds!
We got our first shipment of California-made square and rectangle beds, which range from 24" to 36" at $79.99- $104.99. Round beds are shipping soon! |
| | | MAD ABOUT ORGANICS ORAL CARE PRODUCTS!
Mad About Organics is an Oregon company dedicated to making a variety of pet care products made with safe natural ingredients. These oral care products include a liquid water additive that helps keep pets' mouths clean and fresh (16oz $9.99, 32oz $15.99), and a powdered form (4oz for $21.99) which can be added on a daily basis to dry or wet food. The powder also has added immune support, and has been proven to reduce plaque and tartar on the teeth and gums (depending on diet and how long the plaque has been there), showing results in 2-8 weeks. It contains kelp and like the Plaque Off, shouldn't be used for animals with hyperthyroid disease. We've also heard stories from M.A.O. and from our customers that the powder really helps to repel fleas as well! Both the liquid and powdered form are safe for both cats and dogs. Start small and increase to proper dose to acclimate them to the flavors (especially cats). You don't want them to refuse their water if they feel like it tastes funny. :) |
| | THERE'S STILL TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
FEBRUARY SPECIALS!
-Vital Essentials cat treats- buy 3 get one free! (we carry a small assortment of these flavors, including minnows!
-Austin &Kat $5 off classic CBD oils
- West Paw treats- $1 off
- West paw zogoflex toys (they come with a one time chew replacement guarantee!) $2 off
Want to check on monthly specials at the beginning of every month? Let us know and give us your email address and we'll send you a link to your Astro account, where you can check on your frequent buyer card progress and see the monthly vendor specials. |
| | TAKE DOWN YOUR FEEDERS FOR NOW TO PROTECT LOCAL BIRDS!
Humans aren’t the only species dealing with contagious super spreader events. Right now in the PNW and Canada a serious salmonella outbreak is killing seed-eating birds, especially the Pine Siskin (Recently local folks on Next Door have reported finding Pine Siskins and other species who have died from this infection). For now, the best way to protect them and to control the rapid spread is to remove seed feeders and bird baths for the time being. (unless you’re committed to disinfecting them every day or two). Read this article for more info. |
| | THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES!
We have the best customers. |
| | | | Located in Beaumont Village 4327 NE Fremont Street, Portland, Oregon 97213
Telephone: 503-528-1800
© 2007 - 2015 Green Dog Pet Supply. Green Dog Pet Supply® is a Registered Trademark. |
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