Protein

Protein, digestible protein, is the most important part of your dog’s diet, and amino acids are the building blocks of protein. More meat in the diet assures sufficient amino acids. Raw meat is believed to be the best source for these building blocks. Do not be fooled or mislead or even directed to diets which say the use meat...where in reality the meats are liquid forms of meat (which they do NOT have to say)  and after processing ends up low in the actual product compared to the starches (usually grain free diets) or grains. many grains and starched have proteins but are not bio-available sources of protein. Viand’s primary ingredients are highly digestible proteins, our meats are in meal form (dry concentrated) which are 60-80% protein and are synergistically balanced with high quality grain and valuable micronutrients to complete Viand as the only product left in the industry using 2 meat meals (Lamb & chicken) as first two ingredients in a four ingredient base food. Look at your label, compare for yourself and don't use the compare charts available on competitors websites as they only include the items they wish to address.  When your dog does not get enough protein, you leave him vulnerable.

Common symptoms of either poor source protein or poor quality protein include chronic skin or ear infections; spinning or tail chasing; aggression or timidity; excessive shedding; crooked whiskers; vomiting or diarrhea; poor appetite; overall weakened immune system to name a few.

The majority of working breeds need extra protein. Dogs that are couch potatoes can get by on less protein (and food in general) but please review where the protein is being delivered from.

Older Dogs

Slightly underfeeding an older dog brings back many of its youthful behaviors and results in a longer more vibrant life. Dogs, like people, tend to gain weight as they age and their metabolism slows.

If your older dog refuses to eat, this happens at different times of the year, pay attention!  Don’t panic it usually is a message to change their feeding regiment. Take this opportunity to rest their digestive system by providing nothing but some chicken or beef broth for a day or so allowing them to cleanse. The most important thing is to make sure he remains bright and alert and is drinking at least his normal amount of fluids during this period.

Our experience over the past 18 years has taught us that it is very beneficial to seasonally cleanse your older pet. You can witness a return to younger behavior and vitality. 

Energy Flow

Perhaps the main difference between Western and Chinese medicine is something called Qi (pronounced Chi,) which is considered the life or vital force of the body. This force is "switched on" at birth and extinguished at death. Qi travels around our body daily in a systematic way, stimulating and balancing each of the organ systems. Ill health is a sign that this vital force is in need of treatment.

Meridians

Qi moves through the body and uses channels of energy called meridians. These meridians follow the energy flow from one organ to another and are linked the same way as the five elements. The liver and gallbladder are linked, the heart and small intestine, and so on.

Meridians are the connection between one set of organs and another. Think of them as an electrical wiring system just below the surface of the skin. This system is the outward connection to the inner organs. A kink in one of the wires will interrupt the energy to that set of organs.

What does a "kink" mean? It can be a scar that goes across one of the lines of energy to a major organ, causing that organ to function incorrectly. An example of this is a scar caused by the removal of front dewclaws on a dog. That point on the front leg is the major acupuncture treatment point for the large intestine. This particular meridian is used to treat skin problems, allergies and pain. Dogs that have had their front dewclaws removed have a scar. This scar "kinks" the line of energy of the meridian, and therefore these dogs have a tendency toward more skin problems and can be more pain sensitive than those dogs that have their dewclaws intact.

Your dog does a wonderful job of diagnosing and treating himself. I am sure you have observed your dog scratching, nibbling, licking or biting at different parts of his body. Your dog is telling you something. (Allergy Trio)He instinctively knows how to treat himself.

If the behavior happens once or twice, there is no need for concern. But if your dog repeatedly goes after the same spot, his is trying to stimulate the energy in a particular set of organs. In the spring, for example, we see dogs that nibble on the inside of their hock joints, on their toes on the inside of their feet or at their nails on those toes. Locating the exact spot of the nibble will most often tell you that this is the major treatment point for the liver. In the spring, the energy of the body is in the liver and gallbladder. It's all so exact!