Candy, Gum, and Sugar

Similar to humans, your dog risks, dental problems, obesity, and diabetes with the consumption of too much sugar.

Be extremely cautious about having candy laying around that could be easily accessed by your dog. Oftentimes candy and gum contain xylitol, which is a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic to dogs. Even in the smallest amounts, it can lead to seizures, liver failure, and even death in some occasions.

Chocolate

While most people know that chocolate is toxic for our canine friends, it bears repeating. It’s not just the caffeine that is harmful to your dog, but it also contains toxic substances called methylxanthines, which can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and can damage your dog’s heart and nervous systems.

While giving your dog small servings of dairy products, such as milk or sugar free ice cream, will not harm your dog, it can lead to digestive irritation, as many adult canines are lactose intolerant.

Fruit Pits/Seeds (Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, etc.)

While slices of apples, peaches, and pears are safe for your dog, be sure to carefully cut out and remove the pits and seeds before serving. The pits and seeds contain amygdalin, a compound that dissolves into cyanide when digested.

Grapes and Raisins

Both of these foods are extremely toxic to dogs and even small amounts can lead to liver and kidney failure. Do not, under any circumstances, give your dog grapes as a treat.

Garlic and Onions

Garlic, onions, leeks, chives, etc. are part of the allium plant family, which is poisonous to most pets. Regardless of the form they’re in (dry, cooked, raw, powdered, or within other foods). These plants may cause anemia and can also damage red blood cells.

Salt

Avoid giving your canine friend any foods that contain salt (ie. potato chips). Consuming too much salt can deplete their electrolyte levels and cause dehydration.

If you suspect that your canine friend may have ingested one of these toxic items and notice that he is acting strangely or experiencing symptoms such as weakness, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, contact your vet immediately.

As dog parents we worry a lot about keeping our furry friends healthy by feeding them nutritiously balanced food, providing them with regular exercise, and of course, showering them with our love. We also do our best to keep them safe by providing them with shelter, making sure they have the proper collar and identification, and having them micro chipped. However, our responsibility to our furry companions does not stop there. Teaching our pets to have good manners, both in the home and in public, is one additional measure we can take to ensure our pet’s safety.

Some training opportunities to consider working on with your dog include loose leash walking, sit/stay, wait, drop-it, and come. Another command that could keep your dog safe is the “leave-it” command. As dog parents, we know how our companion’s nose and mouth can get him into trouble, so teaching the “leave-it” command could help you save your pet. Here are step-by-step directions on helping your dog to learn this command:

As a responsible breeder, one of my main priorities is to ensure that all of my dogs are provided with a balanced and nutritional diet. Fortunately, due to research and consumer demand for healthier options, there are a number of choices available for us to choose from when deciding what is the best food for our pets.

I often hear from folks, “But there are so many options! How do you choose?” Before selecting what brand to feed our dogs, I start by reviewing the label to ensure that the food includes all of the following ingredients: high-quality proteins; healthy species-specific animal fat; a guaranteed amount of the antioxidant Vitamins A, C and E; an array of vegetables; and fruits.

Why are all of these ingredients important for your dog’s nutrition?

High-Quality Proteins: The label may claim high quality protein, but what does that mean? Understanding the difference between the various types of protein that could be present in your pets’ food is critical. There is a significant difference in the nutritional value between “Chicken” meal and a “meat” or “animal” by-product, so to ensure it is a high quality protein, make sure it is a species specific “meal”.
 
Healthy Species-Specific Animal Fat:  While vegetable oil may sound healthier to us humans, dogs need nutrients only found in animal fats. Make sure the listed animal fat source is species-specific like "chicken fat", and not generic like "animal fat”.

Antioxidants (Vitamins A, C and E): Antioxidants are an essential component to promoting good health. Vitamins such as A, C and E are some of the most effective antioxidants and research supports that the food we feed our dogs should include them to maintain their overall wellness.

Vegetables: Dog food should contain a variety of vegetables such as carrots, beets, celery, and peas because they each have unique, health promoting properties.  The skin and flesh of each contain vital nutrients, including phytonutrients, essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

Fruits: Fruits such as apples, blueberries, and pomegranate should be part of your dog's food. Similar to vegetables, the skin and flesh of each contain a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

Our dogs eat the same food every day; therefore, what we choose to feed them is the most important decision we can make. The food we give them is their primary source of nutrition; so selecting a superior dog food will help to promote a solid nutritional foundation that supports a healthy immune system, a healthy digestive system, and healthy skin and coat.

Exposing your puppy to new experiences is the first, and probably most important step to having a well-adjusted adult dog.

Introducing them to all kinds of sights, sounds, and smells will help to ensure that they are adaptable to all situations. If you ensure that your dog experiences different people, things, voices, and more, then they are less likely to be surprised, scared, or even worse, aggressive when they encounter something new.

The following is a checklist of suggested situations to expose your puppy to as he/she grows up:

• Child on a bike
• Man wearing a hat
• Crying baby
• Person walking a puppy/dog
• Person in a wheel chair
• Man with a beard Child dancing and jumping
• Lawn mower Tractor
• Person using a broom Vacuum
• Jogger Veterinarian
• Shy person
• Loud person
• A festival or party
• Mailman
• Person pushing a baby stroller
• Person in a trench coat
• Cat/kitten
• Women in a dress
• Man in a suit
• Person with a ball
• Screaming child

Wonder why youth rates of diabetes and obesity are skyrocketing?  I think the examples above are quite self-explanatory, I call this the pizza and soda problem.  Luckily, our pets don’t have to be exposed to high carb diets.

Lets talk about Glycemic Index (GI)- this is a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating a type of food. Carbohydrates break down quickly arid release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream. GLUCOSE HAS A GI OF 100 WHEREAS MEAT HAS A GI OF VIRTUALLY 0.

Examples:

• Low GI foods <55-beans, most vegetables, most fruits.
• Medium GI foods 56-69-potatoes, pita bread, white enriched bread
• High GI foods>70-white bread, most white rice, com flakes, breakfast cereals, pretzels, French fries.

Low GI results in a slow release of glucose. A high GI index is associated with a role in obesity and diabetes. Boreal dog and cat foods are highly digestible, grain free, with a low carbohydrate content, and a low glycemic Index (GI). Consider Boreal diets for your dog and cat. Their ancestors ate similar diets and did just fine!!

A lot of people that come to my classes often are surprised by my answer to this fundamental question - “What exercise does my dog need?” Some people will tell me they jog everyday with their dog for up to 2 hours and can't understand why their dog is still wound up and needing more. Some will tell me they take their dog for a 20-minute walk around the block but will use the ball or chuck it for an hour in the backyard and can't figure out why their dog needs more.

Close your eyes and imagine for a minute what it is like in your dogs shoes: most of us would love to sit around the house all day long and do nothing. After a while, we would get sick of it and want to go back to work or do something different. Most of my clients think their dog has the life. They get to chill at home all day long. Many forget that dogs are social animals like us. Being at home all day is boring. Most dogs are stuck with this and that is okay because most of us have 9-5 jobs. Put yourself in their shoes, and think about how excited they get when we finally return. They are excited to see you and are more than ready for what adventures may come! Usually us humans are tired or there is bad weather out - too hot/too cold/raining/snowing - or some other ready-made excuse. So, we do a quick and easy job to get it over with. Hence the leisurely play in the yard or, because the human needs to get exercise, we add the dog into our jogging routine.

Remember you are putting yourself in your dogs shoes: the back yard is a glorified playpen. There is nothing new or interesting there. Your dog has smelled everything there is to smell. Some may love playing ball, but the reason is because, well what else is there to do in their playpen. Going for a jog usually entails no sniffing. Just running and getting some physical exercise but what about the mental side of things?

All dogs, big and small, need physical and mental stimulation. If they don't get both, owners usually have problems and dogs are usually very unsatisfied and give the owners problems. So how do I give my dog both?

It really is simple if you think about it. Routine is not good for your dog! Dogs going the same route get very bored or possessive of their territory. Your neighborhood can become a glorified playpen. A regular dog park can even give some dogs similar problems. Dogs need variety. They need some days to play and say hi to other dogs. They need days to play in the woods- this is my favorite activity! Dogs were born to be in the woods smelling and playing. They need new parks and places to visit. Exercising your dogs is the most important way of bonding with your dog, so put down your phone before going out with your dog. Be part of their exploration and adventure. Make walking your dog a new way of life so that it’s not a chore. You will both benefit in the end. It won't take long for you to start appreciating the woods as much as your dog does! Change up your dog parks and WALK with your dog - don't stay still! Movement is solidifying your bond by walking as a pack and sharing meetings and exercise. Engage, observe and participate with the things your dog sees, gets excited about and loves to smell. You will learn so much about your four-legged family member and your relationship will be amazing because your dog will see you are fulfilling his or her needs.

- Carrie Rottaris Canine Behaviourist and Trainer, Canine Bond

These concerns among many others are part of the Red Cross’s initiative to promote first aid awareness for our pets during the month of April. This is also the perfect time to make sure you have taken measures to protect your furry friends from common household poisons found both in and outside your home. Here is a short list of some of the more common household products and plants that could be potentially lethal to you pet:

Common Toxic Household Products:

• Bleach
• Deodorizers
• Detergent
• Disinfectants
• Drain Cleaner
• Furniture Polish
• Toilet Cleaner
• Pest Controls
• Ibuprofen
• Deodorants
• Perfume
• Suntan Lotion/li>
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Batteries
• Matches
• Mothballs
• Lighter Fluid
• Adhesives

Common Toxic Garden Plants & Flowers:

• Asparagus
• Eggplant
• Ground Cherry
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Potato Plants
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Tomato Plants
• Black-eyed Susan
• Chrysanthemum
• Crocus
• Delphinium
• Hydrangea
• Marigold
• Morning Glory
• Peony

Some common signs of pet poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cramps. Some other symptoms that are more difficult to recognize include tumors, heart problems, respiratory issues, and kidney problems. Plants like Morning Glory can even cause your dog to have hallucinations. If you suspect that your pet has ingested one of these toxic plants or products, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Making sure you have a pet first aid kit is an additional safety measure to ensure you are able to tend to your companion during an emergency situation. When stocking your kit, you will want to include these items:

• Adhesive Tape
• Alcohol Swabs
• Solution antiseptique
• Antiseptic Solution
• Aspirin (childrens)
• Bandages (large and small)
• Bandage Scissors & Tape
• Benadryl
• Cold pack
• Cotton Swabs
• First Aid Pamphlet for Pets
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Latex Gloves
• Lubricating Jelly
• Mineral Oil or Activated Charcoal
• Penlight Flashlight
• Scissors (with blunt ends)
• Self-Adhesive Gauze
• Sterile Saline Solution
• Syringe
• Thermometer (rectal – made for animals)
• Antibiotic Ointment (without benzocaine or lidocaine)
• Thermal Foil Emergency Blanket
• Tweezers

While you can easily stock your own kit with items found at your local pharmacy and purchased through your veterinarian, you can also find pre-assembled kits at most neighborhood pet stores, as well as online. Be sure to go through your kit annually to ensure it is fully stocked with the necessary items and also check to make sure that you discard and replace any items that are past their expiration dates.

To learn more about Pet First Aid Awareness Month and ways to keep your pets safe, visit the Redcross.org.

Happy New Year! Like many of you, many of us here at Boréal are feeling re-energized with the changing of the calendar to a new year. January is not only a time to reflect on the successes and failures of the past year, but also a time where many of us are looking to renew our commitments to getting fit and making healthy choices.

As we work on committing to our personal new year’s resolutions, we can’t forget to include our favorite pet companions in our plans. Scientific studies have shown that we are more apt to stick to our resolutions if we have an accountability buddy, so what better partner than your eager canine companion?

Here are some of the commitments we have made that we know will be beneficial to us as well as our furry friends:

1. Choosing natural foods over heavily processed is the first step towards eating a healthier diet. Growing waistlines are not only a rising concern for humans, but also for our pets. Consuming processed foods that are loaded with sugars and unnatural preservatives are unhealthy for all of us. Choosing a low GI, single protein pet food that is low carb and grain-free, in addition to offering low sugar treats can help you to promote a healthier lifestyle for your pet.
2.  Eating a more natural diet is only one part of the equation to living a healthier lifestyle. Another vitally important step towards becoming our best selves is including a healthy dose of daily exercise. If you are dog parent, then what better way to increase your heart-rate than to take your faithful companion for a 30 minute brisk walk or jog around the neighborhood, even if the weather outside is frightful? Not only is exercise good for the waistline, but research has shown that it also helps to stimulate the brain to increase serotonin production, which has been proven to help relax humans and canines alike.
3. Finally, make a date with your veterinarian for your pet’s annual wellness exam. This is the perfect time to discuss your commitment to helping your companion to live a healthier lifestyle. Furthermore, before making any changes to their exercise or weight loss plan, it is important to have your pet checked for any conditions that may contribute to health issues. Use this opportunity to partner with your veterinarian in constructing a sensible diet and achievement oriented exercise regime.

Here’s to a happier and healthier 2017 for you and your pets!

                                                                                - Terese Houle, Trainer and Breeder, Ashling Place Labradors

As a Canadian we are all taught to watch the currency difference between our dollar and the US dollar. This past while, with oil prices low and other market factors, we have seen a very weak Canadian dollar. From a pet food side Boréal have been effected by the dollar’s slide and we have seen some big price increases on raw materials – especially some of the meats like salmon.

We have had a number of questions on how this can be – as we source most of our materials in Canada – all our peas and beans and most of our meats – and pay in Canadian dollars. Problem is that most food products have their prices set in the world market and are set in US dollars. We see that best in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, one of the world’s most famous futures trading markets. The price paid to farmers for a bushel of peas or beans or soybeans (we don’t use soybeans but that price is often quoted in the media) and most of the meats are set on exchanges like Chicago – and set in US dollars. So our Canadian suppliers have their prices float up and down based not only on the ‘price’ for their materials but as well on the US/Canadian currency. So a weak Canadian dollar has an effect on the price of our Boréal foods.

Another impact on prices is global availability. Over the past year we have seen a number of ingredients get ‘short’ in the world market and that has the effect of impacting price here at home. Many of the fish meats have seen sharp price jumps as supply has gotten shorter. Again so even though we are sourcing fish from Canada – it is the global market setting the tone for prices.

The effect of all of this has meant we had to recently raise the prices on a number of our Boréal products – with our grain-free diets being most effected and our proper grain diets a little less so. We are working actively with all our vendors to see if we can do anything to help this situation and will immediately adjust if we can. Dan is also looking at a few new ideas with diets – so stay tuned. At Boréal our focus is on healthy pets and we know how important good diet is to that equation. Thanks for your understanding.

Oct 10 from Sharon…

To the good folks at Boréal: My beloved cat of 16-years had very bad teeth, so I fed her only dental food in the years she was with me. After she passed away this summer (and after a mourning period), I decided to adopt a new cat – a rescue from a local shelter. Delia is between 1 and 2 years and is a healthy and happy indoor cat (with good teeth!). Given that I take much care to feed myself and my family a well-balanced and wholesome diet, I decided to do some research, so that I could choose a food for Delia that would offer her the same. A grain-free food with good-quality, high-protein content was an easy choice to make but then came the difficulty of choosing a brand. I hoped to support a Canadian company, since, in general, I try to source locally as much as possible. Your cat food not only won the taste-test with Delia, but has won the pocket-book award with me. I also really appreciate that you use peas and/or beans as the binding agent rather than potatoes – a common choice amongst your competitors. All of this is to say, THANK YOU for making a quality and affordable cat food here in Canada. Delia and I are very happy with our choice! I wish your company much success and I hope you continue to grow your cat food line. You have a faithful customer in me (and Delia)!

Oct 21 from Mark…

I stopped in Global Pet Foods on Chain Lake Dr in Halifax and I asked for some recommendations, of course Encana came up but they right away said, there is a new line of food called Boréal that if I was you I would try as was Canadian and seemed to be loaded with all the nutrients our dogs should be getting and not alot of grain. I took them up on the suggestion, they did let me know yours was soo new there were no ratings on it, but I did visit your website and was very encouraged by your words and mantra of your company. I have been feeding Ocho this for about a month and a half now, he has not gotten sick once since I have moved him over, he loves it, eats it all right up. I have also warned my sister who has 3 dogs and she has also switched completely over. I just wanted to write you guys and say how much we appreciate people that truly are looking out for our pets and feeding them the nutrients they should be getting and also give the girls at Global Pet Foods in Halifax kudos for believing in your product soo much. I was in yesterday picking up his 2nd bag and I had overheard them recommending you to another person, who was on the fence, and I came in and re recommended and told them how much my dog loves it and how good it is for him. Keep up the good work and I have also never given credit like this before so please take this as a huge compliment,haha.

Canadian Duck – SMALL BREED ALL LIFE STAGES

Our grain-free diet is designed for small breeds, with specifically shaped small kibbles to help remove dental plaque and tarter on small breed dogs. By using highly digestible duck and dried whole eggs this is an ideal diet for small breed dogs with sensitive stomachs. This is an everyday diet which can be used to help keep weight off your dog as well can be used as a hypoallergenic formula. Using a core of beans and peas to replace the grains found in many dog foods, Boreal is a low carbohydrate, low glycemic index diet that will keep the dog feeling full longer and reduce spikes in blood sugar. 40% of the protein is from vegetables and fruits and 60% of the protein from duck, eggs and fish. Naturally preserved, we add Availa®Zn , an organic zinc that will help skin and coat conditions, especially with Northern breeds.

Fresh Duck, Dried Whole Egg, Peas, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Meal, Northern White Pea Beans, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Pea Starch, Flaxseed, Natural Duck Flavouring, Dehydrated Alfalfa, Salt, Choline Chloride, Lecithin, Calcium Propionate, Mannanoligosaccharides, Chicory Root, Zinc Methionine, Apple, Carrot, Cranberry, Spinach, Tomato, Zinc Sulphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactobacillus acidophillus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium, Papain, Bromelain, Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Blueberries, Cranberries, Green Tea Extract, Barley Grass, Spirulina, Ferrous Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Manganese Sulphate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

We are still pretty proud of our addition to the Ten Best Dog Foods list by a rather well known group! The Whole Dog Journal is a paid subscription and are pretty picky about their recommendations… http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/17_2/features/wdj-approved-dry-dog-food-2014_20912-1.html

We all know how to lose weight – it is ‘diet and exercise’… yup – know that – still hard to do.  We have same issue with our pets and I think most of us know that it is the same ‘diet and exercise’ mantra for your dog as well.  Walking the dog is a bit like jogging – we know it is good for us all but it is a tad boring.

Good news is that there are a number of fine ‘dog sports’ that you can play at with your pup that will get you both out and about without the possibility of boring either you or Fido. One of our favorites is ‘dog agility’ where your dog runs a timed obstacle course with you as the ‘handler’ directing where your puppy goes. There are jumps to jump over, tunnels to run through and all sorts of amazing obstacles for the dog and handler to overcome.

Agility is a sport that takes a fair amount of training and can be great fun. It is also wonderful exercise for both you and the dog! Because it requires some training you will find many a dog agility club with lessons in your area. All dogs of all sizes are welcome as are all handlers of varying skill – this is a sport where everyone starts as a raw rookie and beginner classes are a great way to start. Just type ‘dog agility’ into your search engine and see where the voyage takes you!

Well – I am all about using dog treats in training pups and rewarding good behaviors. I will also admit to giving my dog treats ‘just because’ she is cute or is giving me the ‘puppy eyes’ that make me melt.  So that leads to a short note on using treats other than dog biscuits. Don’t get me wrong – I like using dog biscuits and Lulu is all about that – but I also think we should use more few veggies in the treat department.

Beans – we use white beans as a main ingredient in our pet foods – so we are all about beans.  But I also like to use fresh or frozen string beans as a treat. Yes – Lulu would much rather have a fresh meat treats (wouldn’t we all..).. but I find she is happy with fresh string beans or frozen string beans if they are still crunchy (she does not like thawed and slightly soggy beans…such a fussy pup).  Why beans? – Well low calorie, grain-free, gluten-free as start… fresh beans also have some fiber and they give her something to crunch.

Carrots – Lulu also likes fresh carrots as they are both crunchy and sweet. Carrots do have more sugars in them than beans – so I think beans are a better dog treat on average but if you find your pup does not like beans then carrots are a good back up.

Our simple approach in BORÉAL will also help with allergy issues. Many pets are being seen for skin and coat problems, ear problems and other allergy related concerns. Trouble shooting allergies often leads to diet and trying to isolate what is causing the reaction. We chose to go with single meat protein sources in most of our foods not just to improve the quality but it helps vets narrow down what might be causing the allergy. We simplified the carb source too using a base of peas and beans.

As a supplement we have added in organic based trace minerals to help stimulate the immune system – in particular an organic zinc called Availa®Zn. We believe the combination of slow to digest ingredients plus simple trace elements will reduce allergy issues.

I am worried! I have been in the pet industry over 25 years and in that time I have seen an increase in ‘fat pets getting sick’. Just like us humans, dogs and cats are eating too much of the wrong foods and like me and my gym avoiding friends, our pets are often not getting enough exercise. This leads not only to overweight issues but also to an increase in diabetes. New reports have 1 in 165 pets now being diagnosed with diabetes.

In the media these days are many stories about going back to basics in diet, cutting out a lot of high sugar foods and breads while eating more vegetables and meat. The media are calling these types of people diets ‘Paleo’ in reference to early man and some call these diets ‘Grain-Free’. The idea is eating as our ancient ancestors ate, which sadly (for me) means cutting back on sweets and avoiding a number of foods from modern agriculture..

In pet food I believe the same issue is true, that we need to get back to a more basic diet and remove the ingredients that are leading to high blood sugar levels and spiking the diabetes issue. Scientists can measure how some foods cause a short-term rise in blood sugars – and these foods are typically labeled high in ‘Glycemic index’. Corn is much picked on as a grain that we all eat and has been a main ingredient in pet food. Grains like corn and wheat are part of the issue when trying to eat more ‘Paleo’ as corn and wheat products often cause spikes in blood sugars. At BORÉAL we are trying to help you and your pets get back to basic nutrition so our new Grain-Free lineup is full of low Glycemic Index ingredients like sweet potatoes, peas and beans. By choosing low GI foods for our pet foods we can slow down your pet's digestion, keep your pet fuller longer and help us all move a step away from Fat Dogs (and Cats).