We here at the Honest Kitchen are very eager to introduce you to George! George is an English Bull dog that is sadly overweight and has officially qualified for our very first Honest Kitchen Biggest Loser Competition.
Now George wasn’t always overweight. When George was first brought home as a 10 week old puppy, he was immediately switched to The Honest Kitchen Embark diet and grew into the most well behaved beautiful and physically fit bulldog, this was all until his parents thought things might be easier with a new human baby on the way and switched George to a kibble diet.
It was not long to notice the changes in George, his level of energy dropped, he was bored with the food not always finishing his meals and sadly he started putting on the pounds and kept putting on the pounds even when his parent tried cutting his servings down even as far as half the suggested amount!
Finally after much concern from several of their friends mentioning how fat George looked, and George not able to walk his old routine, his parents are going back to Honest Kitchen full Force (no pun intended!).
On June3rd 2009:
George weighed in at a compact 72lbs! His measurements around his armpit area(where his harness fits) is 35″, his belly is 34 1/2″, His waist 32″. WOW!!
We will be keeping track of George’s progress and keep everyone up too date on his weight now that he is on a much healtheir diet.
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I got some really cute pictures of Maxx from his mom Bunny who wanted to share just how much Maxx has fallen in love with The Honest Kitchen. This little guy is so quick his mom can hardly snap a picture quick enough to catch him!! Enjoy!
“I ordered from you about a month ago…And I told you that I was just visiting the US then and that I was bringing the food back home in the Philippines for my Chihuahua, Maxx. Well, I have been home maybe 3 weeks. Got settled in, caught up on work and finally got him to try the stuff I bought from you. I bought a box of Force, But I did get samples of everything else. I opted to try the small samples on him first and he loved it! I cant seem to be able to take a good picture of him fast enough because he is dancing excitedly eating it every time! But I did try and will keep trying to get better shots”.
I did promise to send you some pictures though, so here they are:
June 29, 2009
June 28, 2009
Back in 2006, I was taking a 100-hour course in Animal Acupressure in Northern California. The instructor highly recommended that her students, and anyone serious or passionate about holistic animal care, subscribe to The Whole Dog Journal. I took her advice and was immediately hooked! In 2007, during a 682-hour Canine Massage Course that included a module in Canine Nutrition, I received the same recommendation….suscribe to The Whole Dog Journal.
Among much valuable information about natural dog care and training, The Whole Dog Journal also dedicates much time and effort researching homemade, raw, natural, whole food, holistic and healthy options currently available to address your dog’s nutritional needs. I noticed one name that kept popping up time and time again was, you guessed it, the honest kitchen! The more I read, the more I respected and recommended the honest kitchen to friends and clients. I began to see the honest kitchen foods in ever quality holistic and natural pet food store in town. In a relatively recent article, the November 2008, Editor Nancy Kerns describes the honest kitchen as “a quality standard that is unmatched in the industry”. By the time I read this, I was already in whole-hearted agreement. I said to myself, “Wow, wouldn’t it be great if I could work with a company like this?”
I have been working with animals professionally since 2003. I began with an animal hospital in Jackson, Wyoming, taking care of their boarding guests in their ABKA Accredited boarding facility. This is where I got my first glimpse of holistic care and nutrition for dogs and cats and my passion grew from there. I pursued education in Animal Acupressure followed by training in therapeutic Canine Massage. In 2006, I began a professional dog walking and pet sitting career. Soon after, I added my new skills and passion for Canine Massage and healing work to my services. In 2007, I took my knowledge to New Zealand, where I provided care for many Kiwi dogs and cats. While in New Zealand, I took an Holistic Health for Animals short course as a refresher and to compare the New Zealand standards to what I had learned back home in the U.S. (Unfortunately, the honest kitchen is not yet available in New Zealand.)
After over a year in New Zealand, I have returned to my hometown and have been offered the awesome opportunity to join the honest kitchen team here in San Diego! As you can imagine, I am more than excited! I am the newest member of the great Customer Service team and will be available part-time to help answer your questions and provide guidance. Please bear with me as I learn the ropes and get to know my new family and all of you, our new and long-time loyal clients. If I am not able to provide an answer to your inquiry, I promise I will find someone who will! I look forward to meeting you, either on the phone, via email or in person at one of our event booths here in San Diego!
Cheers!
Kathe
rine “Kat” Pennick
Me & my Kiwi farm dog friend, Tike, enjoying a day at the beach on New Zealand’s South Island, 2008
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June 22, 2009
June 16, 2009
May 6, 2009
April 17, 2009
We at THK recently decided we’d like to adopt a rescue Coonhound. The idea had popped into my head a little while ago, and wouln’t leave. No sooner had we talked about the idea, than a handsome Coonhound visited our booth at the Woofstock charity event, for Canine Companions for Independence last weekend. And he was looking for a home! Literally, we’d chatted about adopting a Coonhound over company cocktails on Friday, and Saturday afternoon - there he was.
Cowboy. Adorable, charismatic, sometimes stoic, and a very naughty thief: toast, leftover take-out from the trash, some cheese, various dog treats, some soup and about fourteen children’s toys, and counting, just during the two-day trial. But he is SO cute.
He fit right into the office dog pack of eight, and has the most amazing tail. We’re thinking he’s a keeper. He might not stay Cowboy (since he doesn’t seem to know his name) and we’re thinking he’ll be Indian instead. A spiritual native tribesman with a painted face - or a calm, centered, benevolent yogi - hopefully the new name will sink in and give him a fresh start, and maybe even help him with a reliable recall. More to follow on that little project.
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March 18, 2009
A Guest Post from Margarat Nee, Reiki Practitioner
Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) is an energetic healing method that is non-invasive, gentle, and relaxing. Reiki is a Japanese word that can be generally translated as “universal life energy” (you might already be familiar with the Chinese word Chi or Qi in this context). This healing energy does not originate with the practitioner, but is simply channeled through them.
Reiki can do no harm, and in fact the animal is allowed to choose how long to accept the healing energy offered. The deep relaxation that results allows the animal’s body to begin to heal itself, whether physically or emotionally. Reiki is ideal for animals that become very stressed with more direct bodywork such as acupressure. In fact, it is often done “hands-off” rather than “hands-on” because animals are much more sensitive to the energy.
Because Reiki is about offering healing energy rather than doing a physical manipulation like massage or acupressure it may look as though nothing is happening, It may look as though the practitioner is simply meditating, and in fact it is a little bit like meditating because the practitioner is creating a quiet healing space that the animal can choose to enter. One might imagine it’s as though the energy is radiating from the practitioner and the animal chooses how strong a signal to receive (like sitting around a campfire!).
If you’ve ever had Reiki yourself, you’ll assume that the same hand positions are used on animals, but in fact skin-to-skin contact is not the norm when offering Reiki to animals. Many animals prefer to have it done “hands-off,” and may even move further away from the practitioner when first being offered Reiki because they find this new energy flowing near them to be strange at first.
It’s essential that the animal be allowed this freedom to accept Reiki as it desires. Animals may not even look like they’re “getting it.” They may relax for five minutes then get up and stretch or walk around the room, changing position in the room and settling down again. They may yawn, lick, or just settle down for a nap. Often animals will take breaks, and this should not be seen as a failure but as a normal part of the process. Sometimes, over the course of a session and a series of sessions the animals may settle in for longer periods of time and get progressively closer to the practitioner, even offering specific part of their body for attention, but not doing so does not mean that they are not getting the full benefit of the treatment.
Reiki is often presented as flowing from the hands of the practitioner, but it really flows from the whole person. While some animals push their bodies into the hands of the practitioner others prefer to simply get the “spill-over” from a practitioner’s personal space. A good Reiki practitioner will just let the animal come into their space at whatever pace the animal is comfortable with.
You are welcome to be present with your animal during a session, but it’s important that you also set your own inner intention for healing your animal. You might meditate or lay down, but however you choose to be a part of the healing process it’s important to relax and let the Reiki be offered without worry or stress, even if the animal is having a health crisis. You may be inclined to interact with your pet, but we don’t want to distract them from their own healing process, so it’s best to just let them be. Quiet background music may help everyone relax and focus. Your other pets may wish to present as well to share in the Reiki energy, and that is fine.
Margarat Nee is a Reiki Practitioner who also specializes in nutritional consulting, flower essences, training and animal massage & bodywork. Learn more about Margarat’s work at http://theartofdog.com
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March 12, 2009
While we’re getting one small taste of late winter today, spring is just around the corner. And spring is a great time to be a dog owner.
There’s more daylight for walks and play, and the dogs seem to have extra energy after the long winter. And doesn’t that sun just seem to make everyone feel good? However, spring also brings melting snow, mud, and shedding. As your best friend loses more hair than you thought possible and starts growing in that sleek summer coat, it’s the best time to start a skin and coat care program.
Many people believe the myth that dogs should not be bathed in the winter, or that frequent bathing will damage their dog’s skin. Dogs can and in many cases should be bathed year round. Simply put, clean is healthy. Whether you choose a professional groomer, a do it yourself dog wash facility, or the home tub, your dog should be bathed at least monthly. Shampoos and conditioners that are suitable for your dog’s coat type must be used. Your veterinarian or groomer can suggest gentle products that condition the coat and moisturize the skin. Therapeutic products are also available for specific conditions. (Note: Many therapeutic shampoos must be left on for 5-10 minutes, so be sure to follow all label directions carefully.)
Following the shampoo, it’s important to use a good conditioner, as directed on the label. Then fully dry the coat, using a towel and finishing with a dog dryer or human hair dryer on a low heat setting. High dryer temperatures that we use on our hair are too much for dogs. You may also use a “leave-in” conditioner or detangler. For dogs with long coats, this can make combing out a breeze.
After and between baths, regular brushing and combing removes dead hair and stimulates the skin. It also distributes the natural skin oils that are responsible for that healthy shine. Depending on your dog’s coat type, a plain comb, pin brush, or slicker brush may be preferred. Remember brushes tend to glide on top of the coat, while combs and coat rakes get down to the skin. To prevent matting, you need to comb the hair all the way to the skin level.
If your dog is shedding like mine, you have a lot of dead hair to remove. You’ve probably seen tools advertised that remove huge quantities of dead hair quickly. Most of these have a sharp, abrasive blade, and damage the hair shaft in the act of tearing out dead hair. I do not recommend these products. Gentler tools such as a shedding comb or coat rake are a better choice.
Bathing and grooming work externally to support skin and coat health. Feeding high quality food and using appropriate supplements work from the inside to support skin and hair growth. Many owners observe that their dog’s coats are dull and dry when fed light or senior diets. This is largely due to the decreased fat and protein contents of these foods. Portion control and exercise are better ways to control weight than using these foods. Supplementing a high quality diet with essential fatty acid supplements such as fish or salmon oil often improves skin and coat quality. The omega-3 fatty acids found in these products also are anti-inflammatory, which can benefit dogs with skin disease or allergies.
Many dogs suffer from hot spots, skin infections or skin allergies, especially as the weather becomes hot and humid. Excessive shedding, dandruff, and “doggy odor” are signs of unhealthy skin, as well as a nuisance for owners. Frequent grooming and bathing allows you to detect and address problems quickly. It will also make your dog’s skin more resistant to disease and help him look and feel his best.
Dr. Laurie S. Coger DVM is a well known holistic veterinarian who also blogs for Times Union at http://blogs.timesunion.com/petsandvets/
You can visit her web site at www.TheWholisticVet.com
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February 4, 2009
