Welcome to Renaissance Havanese
Located in Southwest Connecticut

Generally, the term commercial pet food refers to pet foods that can be purchased at grocery, department, feed stores and large pet food stores. 

Over the years I have fed and recommended many foods. I am still finding and trying different brands as I am so happy that we have reached a period where people are finally realizing the importance of what goes into your pet's food and how that translates to good health and  a long life span.

There are many holistic pet food manufacturers who do not use by-products in their food. So what is a by-product anyway? It is defined as an incidental product that is formed during the process of manufacturing something else. The manufacturer considers this waste but instead of throwing it away, they sell it for use in other things.  Much like whey, a by-product of milk is used in baby formula. This inexpensive product can then be presented by another manufacturer in a multitude of ways. Some could argue that this should be considered recycling but in the case of animal by-products, it is not always such a good thing.

Of course, you also have your rendering plants. These manufacturers actually take a multitude of "waste" and cook them together into a soup which is dried and offered to other manufacturers. Mainly for use in pet food and feed for chickens and livestock.

Much to my horror, I discovered rendering plants just this year, in 2009. Rendering plants get their material from slaughter houses, research laboratories, animal shelters and the road side. Road kill cannot legally be buried or discarded in the trash. Most times the dead animals are full of chemicals and pharmaceuticals from research facilities, euthanasia medicines, some livestock have died from illnesses and are labeled as unfit for human consumption. 

An undercover investigation found that workers did not even bother to remove flea collars before throwing them into the pits. All of this "waste" is placed into the same pit and so it becomes one of many parts, animals and chemicals to be added to commercial pet food. Now, it is true that the government has tried to take steps to reassure consumers that this was not the case but investigations found that bans and such are full of so many loop holes that the the practice of rendering  euthanized animals continues largely unregulated and is a topic rarely publicized.

As an informed consumer, I have made my choice to stick with foods that do not contain these by-products. Learning that the product is mixed into chicken feed and livestock feed and therefore, enters the into the human food chain, means that we need to consider what our own family eats.

As an animal loving family, it is also very important that animals are not harmed in the development of the foods and treats we offer to our pets. It is distressing to know that some manufacturers will induce often painful diseases and conditions on dogs and cats, to test the effectiveness of their foods on specific conditions. Your Veterinary hospital is full of these "specialized" foods. How do you think they were developed? Peta did an extensive undercover investigation on one of the most popular pet food manufacturers and what they found did not reflect the cute, pet loving commercials they advertise on television. So hypercritical is the advertisements of saving animals in shelters yet they are known for such cruelty. Interestingly enough, they were also involved in the largest pet food recall in U.S history.

Lets discuss the recall. The wheat gluten that was imported from China contained  Nitrogen found in Melamine. The product Melamine is used in the making of plastics. In the end, it was found that the chemical boosts the protein levels in pet food products, so while not literally adding protein, tested foods appeared to be within the standard. Sadly, this greedy trick was fatal for our pets and the chemical was confirmed to have been fed to pigs and chickens therefore, made it into the human food supply. The FDA was able to halt the processing of some of these animals in the heat of the crisis but allowed them to enter the food supply once the pigs urine samples were clear from the drug. Apparently, this was safe.

Now, you will see most commercial pet food manufacturers jumping on the "all natural" band wagon, this needs to be closely monitored, what for instance, is it that these companies consider "natural"?or is it that they choose to use other fillers and so therefore, should be considered a more wholesome product? This is not regulated in the way you would assume.

I say meal option because I believe that each meal should be offered dry. This is to maintain dental health. The friction of dry food will assist in the removal of some plaque before it becomes tartar, which, left unchecked can lead to periodontal disease.

Starting to care for your pets teeth should be started as early as possible in your relationship. Sure, you can pay for a dental at your Veterinarian but many times it requires sedation, which may not be an option some pet owners are comfortable with.That said, there is an increasing call  for anesthesia free pet dentistry, right now you will find few but as with Holistic Veterinarians, expect to see more in the future.

If your Havanese is picky and you have resorted to mixing a holistic canned food to his holistic dry food diet. I would recommend that you brush his teeth very often and provide holistic chew toys and treats to help. I like shin bones also known as soup bones. I boil them & offer them as treats.

Too many people overlook the implications of mixing a low quality canned food (commercial) with a holistic dry food. It simply defeats the purpose.

Another option is to switch from canned food to a food roll. One of the tips the manufacturer gives is to grate it over dry food for picky eaters. Remember, the Havanese is intelligent enough to remove what they want from their bowl and leave the rest, so grating is really the only option if your mixing.

I rarely use canned food. I am not fond of the stains and the mess it leaves on the dog's faces. I prefer the food roll. In fact, all dams are fed food rolls as a way of avoiding food protests commonly seen with new mothers.

The food roll is an expensive alternative when using it as the main meal so for this reason it is reserved as an exclusive meal for nursing mothers, a periodic treat for the dogs and as bait for my show dogs. The food roll can be frozen, I generally buy the largest one and cut into sections, reserving what I will use for the week and freezing the rest.

Some experts recommend rotating the dog food you offer your pet. Basically, switching the variety about every six months. Since switching your pets diet abruptly from one brand to another can upset your dog''s digestive system. You would want to use caution and gradually reduce the old and increase the new with each meal over a period of 7 days. 

Luckily, some holistic pet food manufacturers made it easy for us by providing such complete foods that we do not need to wean our dogs in order to try another flavor. Take Merrick™ brand for instance, they offer many different flavors. You can switch between the flavors as you wish. This is the food that we currently feed our dogs. Most flavors will produce a gravy if water is added, this comes in handy when I mix supplements such as DE (Diatomaceous Earth) it flavors the powder. 

The development of high quality holistic pet food means that there is generally no need to add supplements to your pet's diet. There are exceptions, of course for the working, sporting and show dog.

That said, there are studies that have found that when an animal's diet included vegetables, they were healthier. Vegetables provide nutrients necessary for reducing chronic diseases. They provide a good source of antioxidants and phytochemicals. 

One of the common misconceptions is that dogs can eat raw vegetables but, in order to be digested and therefore, beneficial to your dog, vegetables should be steamed (best) or cooked. Why not save some vegetables the next time you cook for yourself or the family?

A couple spoonfuls of peas straight from the can is often very appreciated. Boiled white or red potato, steamed or cooked asparagus, green beans,spinach, bok choy, kale, chard, zucchini, and lettuces for example. Avoid onions. Some pet owners do give raw garlic during flea/mosquito season but it can cause anemia if given in high doses, so, it is best to stick with the garlic tablets to prevent overdose of raw.

There are fruits that also are healthy for your dog. Apples and pears (cored) bananas and blueberries. I stick with what my dogs like because I already feed a complete diet.

Other foods that can be fed to your Havanese include, canned plain pumpkin. This is a must have for regulating the digestive system. Give a few tsp or tbs to relieve diarrhea or constipation.

Plain low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or ricotta cheese (in moderation) not more than a few tsp a couple times per day, can add beneficial bacteria to the digestive system. A great option for a dog that must be on antibiotics.  

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