A Dog Under A Dogwood Tree

As you can tell by her tense, patient expression; Gracie was NOT interested in posing for pictures on this beautiful autumn day. All she wanted to do was play ball in the sunshine. So that's what we did for a while.

"Going gray" is part of the normal aging process but it's kind of weird to watch it happen to your dog. Maybe it's because a dog's life span is so much shorter than a person's and the "going gray" happens more quickly.

In the bright sunshine you can see how white Gracie's muzzle has become. For now, most of the white is on her "chin," just under her mouth.  Gracie's beautiful brown eyes remain clear and alert. And just look at her shiny coat and great muscle tone!

All those Doggie Chef meals have paid off.

There she goes, leaping for a tennis ball and looking wild-eyed. No matter how fast it's moving or bouncing, Gracie always keeps her eyes on the ball until she gets it. Focus and perseverance. Some of the many life lessons a dog will teach us if we watch closely enough.

10-12-10 Doggie Chef Meatloaf

We had a few cold, dark autumn days this past week. It was perfect weather for making Doggie Chef Meatloaf. I made a huge one and froze thick slices for future meals. The meatloaf baked in the oven for about 90 minutes, which warmed up the house nicely. Gracie caught the scent about 20 minutes into baking time. I think she knew something good was cooking! For instructions on how I make Doggie Chef Meatloaf, click here.

Here's what Gracie had for dinner:

Doggie Chef Meatloaf (made with lean ground beef, oats, grated fresh carrots; see link above for other ingredients)

Whole Wheat Bread

Cottage Cheese, low-fat

Green Peas, cooked

SOME Chinese Takeout 10-5-10

You're probably asking yourself, "What kind of Doggie Chef feeds a beloved pooch Chinese takeout?" Please note this post's title is, "SOME Chinese Takeout." And look carefully at Gracie's bowl of food pictured above. Most of her meal is homemade fare: chicken and brown rice (there's more brown rice concealed under the fried rice you see pictured).

Yes, I did share my dinner with Gracie this past weekend when I had Chinese takeout. Takeout and any kind of fast food is nothing I want to feed my dog (or myself) on a regular basis. Yet occasionally I enjoy it very much. Gracie can see and sense my enjoyment and it's only natural for her to want to be part of the fun. And it's only natural for me to want to share with her. I'm sure Gracie thought last weekend's Chinese takeout smelled irresistible. I knew if I didn't give her some she'd watch me eat with sad, hopeful eyes while droplets of drool fell from her mouth. So I incorporated some Chinese takeout into Gracie's dinner for the evening. To home-cooked chicken and brown rice I added some pork fried rice, some chopped broccoli, a few bean sprouts and two sesame shrimp with most of their battered coatings removed.

I don't bring takeout or fast food home very often. Yet when I do, Gracie gets a bite of whatever it is. In the past she's eaten some of my burgers, french fries, pizza, and a bit of meat, vegetables and rice from Mexican takeout. From Chinese takeout Gracie's eaten fried rice and some meat, vegetables or seafood.

I want to make it clear that Gracie eats takeout and fast food VERY RARELY. She turned 11 years old this year and most of her meals are comprised of home-cooked, whole foods. And when I share takeout or fast food with her, I don't give her much.

There's no way I could sit and eat a meal in front of my best friend without offering a morsel.  I share my food with Gracie because it wouldn't taste as good to me if I didn't.

Vaccinations --- Pfizer's Porphyromonas Vaccine For Periodontal Disease

Last spring I received a newsletter from Gracie's veterinary office. One article is written from the viewpoint of a dog named Harry. The dog recounts his experience with periodontal disease. The article reads, in part:

"...when the infection spread from my mouth to my internal organs I spent days in intensive care and was so sick I could barely wag my tail... I could have prevented it by brushing and flossing but I don't have any thumbs so now I rely on my family to protect my health by having my teeth and periodontal tissues professionally cleaned on a regular basis...My dental health is maintained by the use of Pfizer's porphyromonas vaccine to help prevent periodontal bacteria. I now feel great and plan on telling all my friends about regular dental care."

Should anxious pet owners run out and buy yet another vaccination for their dogs? Of course periodontal disease is a serious issue, but do most dogs really need to get a vaccine to prevent it?

The Merck Veterinary Manual online states, "Mechanical control, in the form of toothbrushing and diets designed to remove tartar and calculus from teeth, can be used proactively to prevent periodontal disease."

Regular toothbrushing is really all it takes to prevent periodontal disease in most dogs.

I try to brush Gracie's teeth once or twice a week. Click here to see my post about Doggie Dental Care. Too often I've been lazy about doing it. Occasionally I've gone as long as two weeks without brushing her teeth. Even so, her vet has commented on how well her teeth and gums look. Her teeth aren't perfectly white and tartar-free, but they're healthy.

In most dogs, periodontal disease can be prevented with a little owner effort and common sense.

Pet dogs already receive too many vaccines. Most dog owners don't even think to ask questions or say, "No thank you," when their veterinary office staff tells them it's time for another vaccination.

According to the ASPCA's (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals) website, the American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Task Force published a revised version of canine vaccination guidelines in 2006. The ASPCA's website states,

"The guidelines divide vaccines into three categories—core, non-core and not recommended.

Core vaccines are considered vital to all dogs based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans. Canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines by the Task Force.

Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira bacteria."

No mention is made about any "not recommended" vaccines.

I've read several sources describing core, non-core and not recommended vaccines for dogs and they're not always the same!

The most enlightening information I've read about canine vaccinations is in the 1999 book, "The Nature of Animal Healing," by Martin Goldstein, DVM. Click here to read my review of this book.

Better yet, click here for a link to Google Books where you can read most of Chapter Four, "The Dubious Legacy of Vaccines." It's worth reading if you're concerned about vaccinating your dog.

I'm sure Pfizer's porphyromonas vaccine is totally unnecessary for most dogs. Gracie won't be getting it any time soon.

Chicken Organ Meats Dinner 9-21-10

Chicken heart, liver, gizzard and neck meat; cooked in corn oil

White rice

Whole wheat bread

Fat-free yogurt

When There's No Time For Homemade Dog Biscuits

It's been several weeks since I've made Homemade Doggie Chef Biscuits (click here for the recipe). Time constraints and some warm weather days prevented me from baking a batch. Yet Gracie expects a crunchy treat after breakfast and dinner, and when she comes in from her afternoon backyard break.

When there's no time to bake Doggie Chef Biscuits, or when the weather is too hot to bake, I try to substitute one of the treats pictured above. The treats shown are, clockwise from the top: sliced French baguette bread (dried out in a paper bag for a few days until crunchy); plain, rye crackers; and Melba round crackers.





Gracie's STILL full of energy!

I had a lot of fun taking action photos of Gracie in the yard this past weekend. Well into her 11th year, Gracie is still full of vitality. She's ALWAYS ready to play. Even the very hot days we had this summer didn't seem to dampen her desire to play outside.

I'm certain her good health at this age is due to the homemade meals she's eaten every day for so many years. I hope these photos of my strong, active 11-year-old dog will help others see the benefits of being a Doggie Chef. It's truly rewarding to feed a beloved pet homemade meals!