Pet owners have a challenging dilemma as they select from a wide range of pet foods. Some owners come into our practice touting the virtues of the food they buy for their pets, while others look for guidance.<\/p>\n
This is the story about Ruby, who needed advice for her favorite pooch.<\/p>\n
“Doc, I want to talk to you about what dog food I should buy for my little pal Ralph,” announced Ruby.<\/p>\n
I glanced down and smiled at the feisty Jack Russell terrier. “OK, Ruby, ask away.”<\/p>\n
Ruby held up her little notebook and said, “What do you think about organic dog food?”<\/p>\n
“It’s OK,” I replied. “Hmm,” Ruby licked the tip of her pen and scribbled something. Oddly enough, I hadn’t seen someone lick the tip of a pen in a long while. It must have been more habit than function. “What about all-natural?”<\/p>\n
“I guess it’s better than unnatural,” I joked.<\/p>\n
Lick … scribble. Ruby jotted notes again while muttering, “Better than unnatural … OK, and any thoughts about grain-free diets?”<\/p>\n
“Truthfully, I don’t know if dogs need to be on a grain-free diet …” I began, only to be interrupted by the ceremonious lick … scribble.<\/p>\n
“OK, and finally, is gluten-free dog food good for Ralph?”<\/p>\n
Looking skyward, I paused for a moment then replied, “I didn’t know there was such a thing as gluten-free dog food.”<\/p>\n
Ruby calmly put her notebook away and told me, “Thank you, Doc. You have been very helpful.”<\/p>\n
“I have?” I truly didn’t think I said much. Feeling bad, I was about to go into recommending a brand of dog food that I found to be safe and nutritious, but Ruby continued on.<\/p>\n
“Basically you’re telling me that there is a lot of marketing that goes into selling dog food. It’s exactly what I thought. I’ve been cooking for Ralph since he was a puppy and he likes my cooking. I was just looking for a healthy store-bought alternative to give me a break once in a while, but oh well.”<\/p>\n
I nodded in agreement. “Home-cooked meals are great for Ralph. The problem is that he may get spoiled and not eat commercial dog food. Also, the onus is on you to provide a balanced diet with all the nutrients needed to keep Ralph healthy.”<\/p>\n
“Oh, don’t worry about my recipes for Ralph,” said Ruby. “I only use the freshest ingredients and everything is organic. I go to specialty grocery stores and buy only the best. For example, last night Ralph had fresh Copper River salmon, organic vegetables and quinoa.”<\/p>\n
“Wow, that sounds awesome. You and Ralph must be very healthy.”<\/p>\n
“Actually, that was Ralph’s dinner. I ate leftovers from my beef stew plate lunch. Doc, he eats better than I do,” beamed Ruby.<\/p>\n
Like Ruby, many pet owners are putting their pet first. Gone are the days when dogs got scraps from the dinner table and faced the risk of malnutrition.<\/p>\n
I learned something very interesting that day. No matter how far we have progressed since the days of yore, some people still lick their pens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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