Vetericyn, Wound & Infection Treatment

As bird hunters and dog owners we are already chest deep into our hunting seasons. Here in Wisconsin this means waterfowl, woodcock, ruffed grouse, and pheasant are all in our sites. Hunting these birds requires hours of trudging through thick marshes, dense forests, or rugged cover. Our hunting grounds are filled with potential health hazards to both man and dog alike. Dewey, my pointer, has already fought threw continued eye irritants as well as a minor skin infection to a hind paw. These conditions, although potential serious if left untreated, can be remedied at home with the right over the counter medications. As always contact your vet for treatment and professional advice.

One particular canine health aid that has recently come to market needs mentioning. In our gun dog world full of things that sting, bite, cut, stab, and injure it is wise to invest in a bottle of Vetericyn. Vetericyn is a revolutionary wound and infection treatment liquid that is truly unique.

According to their website, "When your dog has an open wound or infection, Vetericyn should be the product of choice because it is easy to apply into the affected area to care for an infection while accelerating healing. It is safe as water so it will not harm your dog or the environment. Dogs typically lick their injury so any products applied should be non-toxic. Vetericyn is non-toxic so it will not cause injury if it happens to be ingested or licked after application. This is possible because Vetericyn works in the same way as your dog’s immune system. As such, the body recognizes it as a friendly infection-treating. Vetericyn also creates an optimal environment for healing. Vetericyn used on have demonstrated a reduction in healing time by up to 60%. Vetericyn significantly increases the oxygen content at the wound site within 30 seconds and maintains that oxygen level for up to 36 hours. This increase in oxygen along with the reduction of infection is responsible for these accelerated healing times. As a one-step cleanser and dressing, it eliminates the need for multiple products while reducing the application time and requirements. Since it is “no-rinse”, it leaves no film or residue to clean off. And unlike traditional antiseptics and topical antibiotics it does not damage healthy tissue."

I personally used this product on Dewey's recent skin infection, which was possibly Staph(MRSA). I was impressed that it cleared up the issue after only three applications of this very easy to apply spray. I was however a little shocked at the $34.99 price for only 8 fl oz. I will admit it was a bit cheaper then a trip to see our buddy Dr. Chris. I barely used a fraction of it this season and now have much more for later issues. I have also been using it to spray Dewey's undercarriage that always is red and raw after a tough hunt. I have noticed it helps cleanse and soothe his "nether regions" during post hunt recover. I also believe it is a nice piece of preemptive treatment to ward off any of those nasty micro critter causing uglies that inhabit the soggy bottoms. In all, Vetericyn is a wonderful product that I strongly feel has lived up to its claims!

Best of luck out there,

Mark

Dirty Water

The core of a gun dog's health and wellness rests solely on the backs of the owner supplying the following; quality nutrients and quality conditioning. The most overlooked (and most important) supplied nutrient is also the most commonly found on earth: Water, aka Aqua, aka H20.  Just like Adam Sandler's character said in the movie The Waterboy, "that is some high quality H2O".  His statement rings paramount to the overall health and well being of both man and dog alike. The simple fact is high quality H2O makes an enormous impact on your dog(s) performance and overall health.

One of the main causes of  dog diarrhea come from the deteriorating condition of Americas water supply. Carol Browner, chief of the U.S. EPA states, "The way we guarantee safe drinking water is broken and needs to be fixed." Not only are humans affected by this problem but animals as well. Just like humans, fluid intake is crucial to your dogs health. If they do not have enough fluids while dog symptoms diarrhea are occurring, they will dehydrate. It is critical that you refresh their water supply (with high quality H20 of course!) every time they drink all of it from their bowl. Don't forget to clean it everyday. Throw stale or old water if they don't touch it for a day. And always supply a source of clean, highly filtered water.

According to John Askelon, an authority on U.S. Drinking Water Quality, recently said: If we ask the question...Are there any main causes of cancer? We think that food or exposure to industrial waste are the culprits. But Americans must understand that the condition of their drinking water has deteriorated in the past decade. Recent findings reveal that there are more than two thousand toxic chemicals in the tap water that are now the main causes of cancer.

While we enjoy the convenience of progress, humans have developed 80,000 various kinds of synthetic chemicals for home and industrial purposes. Most of it are dumped into soil, sewage, lakes, rivers and landfills and this has come to a tremendous consequence extreme cases of degenerative disease have sprouted everywhere. Before pesticides and herbicides were invented, Americans had a 1 in 50 chance of having cancer. Today, 1 in 3 citizens in the U.S. will get cancer in their lifetime, including 1 in every 2 males. This type of figure is also directly quantified to the influx of canine(dog) cancer in this country over the past decade.

All the water on this planet is re-used over and over by the hydrological cycle of nature. Therefore, there is no new water. As more chemicals are used, so does the toxicity of drinking water. So we are left with the same kind of water that gets worse every year. Most of the contaminants that can be found in our water supply is the result of improper use of solvents, lawn chemicals, gasoline, cleaning products, oil and compounds which we dump into our sewage system. In return, nature brings it back to us as rain and the water seeps in to our underground water sources.

Water treatment facilities in cities cannot totally eradicate the toxins since they consist only of sand bed filtration system. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, -Drinking water plants are old and out of date, and water supplies are increasingly threatened and contaminated by chemicals and microorganisms. In the past many diseases cannot be linked to any probable cause. Today it can now be linked to toxins in our water supply and they are the main causes of cancer.

The U.S. Council On Environmental Quality states, -While levels of these carcinogens (SOCs) in drinking water are low, it is precisely these low levels that carcinogen specialists believe to be responsible for the majority of human cancers in the U.S. In 1998, tap water tests were conducted in 29 cities and they discovered two or more pesticides in the drinking water. The Environmental Working Group report stated that, -millions of Americans are routinely exposed to one or more pesticides in a single glass of tap water.- In Indiana, 9 pesticides were found in a glass to drinking water.

The fact is, animals are prone to many illnesses when exposed to highly toxic chemicals because their bodies cannot detoxify the harmful compounds. A recent tap water test also revealed that 45,000 human infants had drank baby formula mixed with tap water containing weed killers and 9 other chemicals in every bottle. In one of the reports of the Science Advisory to the EPA, it stated, -when two or more of these contaminants combine in our water, the potency may be increased by as much as 1000 times! So, are there other main causes of cancer.  Now you know the answer. What are you going to do about it to protect your family..and your trusty hunting partner?

There are numerous quality water filtration systems available today. They range from $15 to $35,000! The best thing I can suggest is finding one that best suits your budget. Any filter at any budget will be an improvement over using straight tap water.  In my opinion one of the best overall values for dog owners is the PUR Waters Systems "at home" pitcher filter.  According to their website PUR filters can attest to the following:

Does PUR Remove chlorination by-products or chlorine (taste and odor) in Drinking Water?
Chlorine is a type of disinfectant, not a contaminant, that’s added to drinking water to control microbes. In addition to the off-putting taste and odor that can be caused by chlorine, chlorination by-products, such as total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), can form in the water. TTHMs can cause anemia in infants, young children, and fetuses of pregnant women.  PUR faucet filters reduce 98% of TTHMs, which can have harmful effects on the body. PUR water filters also remove the taste and odor of chlorine. PUR faucet mounts are certified to reduce up to 10x more drinking water contaminants from your water than the leading filtration brand's pitcher-leaving you with great-tasting drinking water. Chlorine is a disinfectant, most commonly used to kill microbes in the water supply. If excess amounts are used, or if high concentrations of chlorine are in your pipes and plumbing, it can cause bad taste and odor in your drinking water.  Total Trihalomethanes are chlorination by-products that can emerge in chlorinated water. This type of water contaminant can cause anemia in infants, young children and fetuses, nervous system effects and even cancer. Can we assume dogs as well? I think it safe to say..yes.


PUR and Heavy Metals in Water
Heavy metals such as lead and mercury can get into your water from the pipes and plumbing coming into your home. The health effects of excessive exposure to these heavy metals can be serious, especially for young children and babies. It can cause delays in physical and mental development. Also, adults may potentially be impacted by heavy metals with kidney problems and high blood pressure when exposed to levels above the EPA maximum contaminant level for extended periods of time. The EPA estimates that 20% of human exposure to lead happens with their drinking water. Which is why it’s so important to us, at PUR, to create products that provide you and your family the clean water they deserve. PUR faucet filters reduce many heavy metals that may be found in drinking water. In addition, PUR® faucet filters reduces up to 10x more drinking water contaminants than the leading filtration brand's pitcher. Lead can come from corrosion of plumbing and pipes going into your home. It also can get into the water supply through erosion of natural deposits. Exposure to lead has been linked to delays in physical or mental development in children. In adults, lead exposure may potentially cause kidney problems and high blood pressure when exposed to levels above the EPA maximum contaminant for level for extended periods of time. Mercury is a liquid metal that gets into the water from sources including natural deposits, refinery and factory discharge and landfill runoff. Exposure to excessive amounts of mercury may potentially cause kidney damage when exposed to levels above the EPA maximum contaminant for level for extended periods of time.

PUR and Microbial Cysts
Both giardia and cryptosporidium are microbial cysts—and they are tough to disinfect. What makes them tough is the way they operate. These microbes grow a cyst wall around themselves for protection in unfavorable conditions. When giardia and cryptosporidium reach more favorable environments like your stomach, their cyst walls break down and the microbes inside them release to potentially cause gastrointestinal illness like diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. Cryptosporidium is a microbial cyst that is commonly found in lakes and rivers that can cause gastrointestinal illness. It enters the water through animal and human fecal matter.  According to the EPA, cryptosporidium is resistant to disinfection. The microbial cyst, Giardia, is a one-celled parasite that infects humans and animals in the cyst stage of their life cycle. It enters the water through animal and human fecal matter.


 According to their website
At PUR, we believe that everyone deserves clean water. Which is why PUR faucet filters reduce 99% of microbial cysts like giardia and cryptosporidium; while the leading filtration brand's pitcher doesn’t. It’s also why PUR reduces up to 10x more drinking water contaminants than the leading filtration brand's pitcher—leaving you and your family with clean drinking water.

I have been using the following PUR 5 cup water pitcher for the past 6 months(picutred on left). For my intial $15 investment plus $10 for replacement filters every 2 months I have been more than satisfied with the results. In fact, my dog, Dewey seems to drink more and often which is a good thing. I keep it in the refrigerator door and use it refill Dewey's house, outside bowls, and squirt bottles that we use in the field.

To be honest I have no idea if having my dog drinking purified water will help prolong his life or improve his performance. There is no scientific research to support this theory that many believe as fact. BUT, I have seen a noticeable difference since changing a few moths ago. I believe that if toxins in tap water are effecting the health and wellness of humans through quantitative studies I can safely assume that our dogs are suffering as well. Whether it be the short or long terms negative effects from consuming contaminated drinking water, my best bud and faithful hunting companion deserves the same as me. I don't drink from the tap. Neither will he.

Best of Luck Out There, -Mark

Liam & Theo: Rest In Peace

Today we take a break from gun dog nutrition and fitness talk for matters of greater importance. In remembrance of these two war hero's, please read on...

This past February, I came across an article about a soldier and his dog. They both died fighting in Afghanistan. Their story has remained close with me since. Not a day ends that I do not think about them. Maybe because the soldier was a young man, just like me. His spaniel was highly trained but not to hunt wild game. Their passion together was to seek out enemy bombs in defense of a greater, more worldly good. Their deaths have become a shuttering reminder to me that life, whether man or dog, is fleeting away each day. We can never turn back the clock and we only have the present moment to make things worthwhile. Liam and Theo's time here ended much to soon but their accomplishments together will remain part of  history for generations to come. Here are a few excepts and pictures of Liam and Theo.  I thank them for all that they are; a boy and his dog who both died together doing what they loved; but not more than each other.

Lance Corporal Tasker deployed to Afghanistan on 8 September 2010 as part of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. Having trained as an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler, he was attached to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards on 19 February 2011.  On 1 March 2011, Lance Corporal Tasker was taking part in a patrol with his dog, Theo, when they were engaged by small arms fire, during which Lance Corporal Tasker was struck and died from the injuries he sustained. Sadly, on returning to Camp Bastion, Theo suffered a seizure and died. Lance Corporal Tasker was born on 11 December 1984 in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. He joined the Army in 2001 and was originally a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. His passion though was always dogs which led to his transfer to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) in 2007.


A trainer who had a natural empathy with dogs, he was a rising star within the Dog Training Group. In 2010 he was posted to 104 Military Working Dog Squadron, St George's Barracks, North Luffenham, Rutland, part of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. From the onset of his operational tour in Afghanistan, he provided strong search and clearance capability for units across Helmand province. In a short period of time he had significant success locating improvised explosive devices, weapons and bomb-making equipment. His success undoubtedly saved many lives. Lance Corporal Tasker was an outgoing, jovial and friendly character. He was extremely popular within his squadron. His easy-going, confident approach belied a consummate professional. He always strived to be the best, and within the squadron he was one of the best. He will be sorely missed by all in the squadron. He can never be replaced and will always be remembered. He was a fun, friendly, talkative character who always wanted the best from his dog, his troops, and himself. He leaves behind his mother Jane Duffy, his father Ian Tasker, his brother Ian, his two sisters Laura and Nicola, and his girlfriend Leah.

Those that knew them best had this to stay...

Lt. Col. David Thorpe, Commanding Officer, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment:


"It is a challenge to put into words what Lance Corporal Liam Tasker meant to those he worked with. To his friends he was a mate who could put a smile on your face; he was that man who you wanted around and who you wanted to spend time with. To the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment he was a strong, reliable soldier and an expert 'Dog Man'. He genuinely loved the dogs he worked with and was always able to get the best out of them. He was one of the highly qualified dog trainers in Afghanistan and had spent time at our training establishment making sure that the new soldiers coming out of training had the best possible skills and experience imparted into them. Epitomising the hardworking, determined and ambitious nature of our very best soldiers, he wanted to go to Afghanistan. He wanted to ply his trade in the harshest of environments, to be outside of his comfort zone, and he wanted to be successful. He was. The work he did in his five months in Afghanistan saved countless lives, of that I have no doubt. He flew the Royal Army Veterinary Corps' flag high; he led from the front and made us proud. Lance Corporal Tasker wanted to go far in the Army and he had all of the attributes needed to be a career soldier, with capacity to spare. His ability to command whilst maintaining his sense of humour had already marked him out as one to watch. His loss has hurt every single one of us today. He will be missed. He will not be forgotten."

Major Caroline Emmett, Officer Commanding 104 Military Working Dog Squadron:


"Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was a larger than life character who was a joy to be around. His enthusiasm was infectious and I always enjoyed our frequent talks together. He and his dog Theo were made for each other. Lance Corporal Tasker was one of the best people I have ever known. Kind, with a good heart, he always put others before himself. His professional excellence and positive attitude to life is something that I and others looked up to. Lance Corporal Tasker was an Arms Explosive Search dog handler and trainer of the highest calibre. He and his dog had more operational finds than any individual team has had in Afghanistan to date and he saved many lives as a result of this. He was so proud of his achievements and I was so proud of him. Lance Corporal Tasker was one of the best people I have ever known. Kind, with a good heart, he always put others before himself."

According to the Jill Lawless, artcile published by the Associated Press:

Liam and Theo were a team, fast friends doing a dangerous job — searching out roadside bombs laid by insurgents in Afghanistan. The jovial British soldier and his irrepressible dog worked and played together for months, and died on the same day. On Thursday they came home, flown back to Britain in a somber repatriation ceremony for the soldier remembered for his empathy with animals and the companion he loved.

Lance Cpl. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province on March 1 as he searched for explosives with Theo, a bomb-sniffing springer spaniel mix. The dog suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base, likely brought about by stress. Military officials won't go so far as to say Theo died of a broken heart — but that may not be far from the truth.

"I think we often underestimate the grieving process in dogs," said Elaine Pendlebury, a senior veterinarian with animal charity PDSA. "Some dogs react very severely to their partner's loss." She said it was not uncommon for pets to respond to an owner's death by refusing food and becoming sick — and the bond between working dogs and their handlers is especially close. "The bonding that I have seen between soldiers or police and their dogs is fantastic. When you see them working together, it's really one unit.""I love my job and working together with Theo," Tasker said in a profile of the pair released by the Ministry of Defense before his death. "He has a great character and never tires. He can't wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing."

The soldier and the 22-month-old dog had been in Afghanistan for almost six months, uncovering roadside bombs and weapons in a dangerous daily routine. Theo became a bit of a military celebrity after the defense ministry released photos and video of him and Tasker to highlight the lifesaving work of military dogs. The footage, now deeply poignant, shows Theo energetic, ears cocked, tail wagging  alongside Tasker searching a compound for explosives. In it, Theo is seen feverishly circling the dusty area, his nose pressed to the ground. At one point he stops, tail wagging furiously, and begins digging the rocky earth before turning eagerly toward Tasker, who calls out "good boy!" and lets out a chortle of delight before tossing him a treat.

The Ministry of Defense said then that Theo had been so successful finding 14 hidden bombs and weapons caches, a record for a team in Afghanistan that the dog's tour of duty had been extended by a month. Tasker was the 358th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Theo was the sixth British military dog killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. There are calls for Theo to receive the Dickin medal, which since 1943 has recognized wartime bravery by animals.

Thank you Liam and Theo for your ultimate sacrifice and a job well done. May you both rest easy; together in peace.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Digestibility of Performance Dog Foods

Today's dog food world can be compared to the American wild west of a begone era. There are very few laws and even fewer law enforcing regulators. Fact is, even federal agencies charged with providing product assurance do not require pet food manufacturer's to list how high or low the quality of their ingredients are on their labels. This makes it difficult to compare products of differing brands. However, many high quality food manufacturers are more than welcome to run independent "digestibility studies" to verify the quality of their ingredients and food formula's. Make note: if a company does not run these type of studies or is apprehensive about making these quantitative digestibility numbers public information...please rise now and raise the red flag of concern.

Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. There is an inverse relationship between a food's digestibility and the resulting fecal volume.

• Factoid: The HIGHER the digestibility of a dog food, the LOWER the fecal volume.

A dog(and any other living organism) can digest and utilize more nutrients in a higher digestible food therefore less stool is eliminated. I think this is simple science everybody can easily understand. To research the digestibility of your own dog's food normally requires a call to the manufacturer to get their foods combined protein digestibility percentage(although not required to be put on bags some high quality, reputable manufacturers display this information readily on their website)

There is a basic mathematical formula to determine the overall digestibility of the protein source. Take the crude protein percentage(found on bag) multiplied by the digestibility percentage(found by calling manufacturer) equals the true digestibility of the protein source. For example if the crude protein is 30% and protein digestibility is 84.6% multiply: 30 x 0.8460 = 25.38%. There you have it! A very quick and efficient method to discover how truly digestible the protein portion of your dog's food really is.


If you're feeding multiple gun dogs it is a good idea to know how digestible the food really is. It will save you a ton of money in the long run! The more they absorb during digestion, the less you need to feed!


Individual protein sources contain different levels of amino acids and each protein is different in its ability to be broken down into these amino acids. Hence, not all proteins are created equal as some are better than others. The ability of a protein to be used by the dog and its amount of usable amino acids is summarized as protein quality  or Biological Value, BV for short. Egg has the highest BV and sets the benchmark standard for which other proteins are judged at a 100 score. Fish meal are close behind with a value of 92. Beef is around 78 and soybean meal is 67. Meat and bone meal and wheat are around 50 and corn is 45.  These are just a few examples of the individual digestibility of common ingredients.

The bottom line is certain proteins are hard for dogs to digest therefore they pass them without absorbing the needed nutrients in a timely manner. The result can hit your wallet or pocket book as well. The lower the digestibility of the food the MORE your have to feed to fulfill your dogs needs. The higher of course, the less! Hopefully by using the basic formula posted above and doing your own research and due diligence the conscience gun dog owner can get to the "meat" of the food he or she is shelling out hard earned cash for every month. Sorry, Pun completely intended.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Dr. Tim Hunt On Dr. Tim's Dog Food

Sled dog racing sparks the notion of a well trained canine team pulling it's human musher across the frozen tundra to ultimate victory. It is also considered to be the ultimate test of canine endurance, strength, and performance. But where does the sled dog world collide with our gun dog planet? They are both superior canine athletes asked to work hard under extreme conditions. But again, were does the physical needs of a marathon running Alaskan Husky intertwine with those of a rocket propelled English Pointer?

Their collective bond is found at the very root of canine performance and that common denominator is high quality nutrition.  As conscientious owners, it is our responsibility to supply our working dog(s) the proper fuel to run hard, long, while remaining happy, healthy, and ready to do it all over again tomorrow.

It is not everyday I have the privilege of interviewing a man of Dr. Tim's caliber. His practical knowledge, combined with his education and experience, has led to improving the performance of canine athletes through his dry food formulas. Please note, his dog food formulas are ones he has personally concocted. Dr. Tim is, in my own opinion(and that of many others), pushing the envelope of canine nutritional science and the results have been outstanding. Thank you Dr. Tim for taking the time to answer the following questions...

What is your background and history of Dr. Tim's Pet Food? "I've been a Vet for 22 years(graduate of Michigan State University's School of Veterinary Medicine) and racing sled dogs for about 18 years. Have fed a heavy raw based diet with a kibble for many years with my mix of witches brew. Made it in my garage in a cement mixer and realized more dogs could benefit from a much better kibble(dry dog food) than what was currently on the market. I developed Momentum and began selling it about 6 years ago. Pursuit and Kinesis followed there after. I have raced in the States, Canada, Europe and Alaska and have worked the Iditarod as a vet many times and have run it as well with my own dogs."



What do you feel separates Dr. Tim's dry dog food from the rest of the "pack"?
"That the ingredients are all bioavailable, needed by the dog for fuel their metabolism like it is meant to be fueled, made in such a way as to have a very high digestibility, pre and probiotics included, protein make up to allow for building and maintaining the dogs muscle, allow for increased endurance, very high Omega 3 cold water fatty oil-highest of any food on the market that I know of.  I have what a working dog needs. The metabolism of a husky and a gun dog is not that different, actually very close. Some difference with glycogen replenishment but overall very similar. Basically, the food(Dr Tim's) is devised by a vet that actually gives a shit."(authors note: I agree with Dr. Tim so the profanity was not removed because I also gives a shit about quality canine nutrition! Thanks for your understanding. -Mark) 

Dr. Tim's "Momentum" formula is a 35% protein / 25% fat mix. What "type" of gun dog is this a good fit for this? (by type I mean activity level, drive, daily conditioning and work etc) "This would be one step above Pursuit, the 30/20, and would work very well for a hard working gun dog. Personally, I think this is the best choice for a working dog, period. It just costs a bit more," said Dr. Tim. (Following quotes from Dr. Tim's website) "Momentum has been formulated to help facilitate the stamina, endurance and performance of canines; the food contains highly digestible low ash proteins, fats and carbohydrates to allow your athletic dog to reach their full potential. In addition, supplements are included to decrease the stresses that dogs’ bodies undergo in highly competitive situations that may produce stress diarrhea. These supplements include prebiotics, externally applied probiotics and multiple fiber sources such as rice, psyllium, beet pulp, oatmeal and chicory root. Momentum also contains chelated minerals, kelp, selenium, natural antioxidants and L-carnitine. To minimize allergic reactions, corn and soy products are not used in Momentum

"In your Momentum formula one ingredient stands out as unique(or we just have not seen it in other competing performance formulas) It called, Porcine Plasma. Can you elaborate on this ingredient? "This is a very high quality source of some specific amino acids that greatly benefit the dog in muscle building and maintenance. Barry Bonds kind of stuff!"

Your "Pursuit" formula is 30% protein 20% fat mix. Again, what type of gun dog do you see this formula being fed to?  Any dog that does some level of exercise benefits from it. Even a house dog does very well on it but is just fed less. The key is how much you feed in relation to the overall weight and exercise the dog is undergoing. Less food is needed with a good 30/20 type diet or above. Ours is 95% digestible and thus you feed much less than what you are used to. Most companies are happy with an 80 percent digestible rate, thus you pay for extra calories in the dogs stool, in essence. You get what you pay for in the long run. Also, the idea a high protein causes kidney disease is incorrect," responded Dr. Tim. (According to Dr. Tim's website) "Pursuit Active Formula Dog Food has been created for dogs with a moderate to vigorous activity level. This high protein, low ash formula allows your lively dog to tap into just the right amount of energy needed throughout the day. Externally applied probiotics and prebiotics support the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, while natural antioxidants and Optimal Vitamin Nutrition DSM® help to keep your dog’s immune system as strong as possible. Whether your dog is playing catch, jogging or herding sheep, our premium ingredients deliver tasty nutrition based on what your dog really needs to thrive. Make every day a healthy, strong day – and worry free for you – with Pursuit."


I noticed your food is one of the few on the market today that includes both PRE and PRObiotics in it's formula. What exact does this mean for the health and well-being of working gun dogs? Is it an aid against stress related diarrhea? Could you also elaborate on what causes stress diarrhea etc? "Prebiotics are starches that escape digestion in the small intestine and are used by the beneficial bacteria of the large intestine. We want to promote that. Probiotics are benficial bacteria added to the diet to stimulate the immune system of the GI tract and beyond plus they act against harmful bacteria by forcing them out, more or less. Probiotics are added to our kibble after the extrusion process to maximize their viability as the heat of extrusion can kill them. Stress diarrhea is caused by a few different factors, most notably how well conditioned the dog is, the fiber composition of the diet and the digestibility of the included starches. When a dog is working hard, the amount of stool in the colon can have a "slap" effect on the sides of the colon, thus causing irritation. This stool can also pull a lot of water along with it as it travels the colon and this leads to soft stools. Multi factored causes but diet plays a huge part in it."


On your site you also offer a topical muscle massage ointment called Algyvet. Could you envision this product being beneficial for gun dogs? "Absolutely," said Dr. Tim.  "This stuff, an athletic balm for dogs, has been widely used in the sled dog arena and I have found it to be very useful for muscle injuries."


Dr. Tim, do you have any other issues or concerns you would like to add about your dog food? Dr. Tim rounded up our interview by concluding, "Nutrition is constantly evolving and much has been learned in the past 10 years or so. There is a lot of fluff type ingredients that can be included for miracle results and I have resisted that temptation. What should be in the food, in my opinion at this date, is in there. And it is made at a plant that I trust. It took me 6 plants to find the right plant to make my recipe and what a difference that makes. That has been part of my learning about nutrition for dogs, nearly as important as some of the ingredients. Dogs are meant to be fueled by fat, and high levels of them. When we slowly bring a high fat diet into play with a dog they become more efficient in their metabolism and actually will need less food. And become stronger, have more endurance and stay much healthier."

Dr. Tim Hunt is not your average veterinarian and his dog food is not your average bear. In my own opinion, he signifies the forefront of a truly revolutionary movement in quality canine nutrition. Witnessing small companies like Dr. Tim's coming to market with realistic research, practical knowledge, quality ingredients, and scientifically backed formulas proves we might finally break the Fortune 500's falsified, kung fu like grip on the performance dog food world. The big brands should take notice that there are honest to goodness cowboys out there like Dr. Hunt who are not scared to make super premium jet fuel for canine athletes while using the the absolute, very best ingredients possible... AND while maintaining reasonable price points to do so! Not to mention, it is extremely reassuring to performance dog owners that the very food they are feeding is the result of someone who truly understands what working or sporting dogs need to become world class athletes in their own right. I personally thank Dr. Tim Hunt  for taking the time out of his busy schedule to reply to my questions. Without any doubt, it shows his commitment, passion, and professionalism. Here at northUpland that is proof positive that Dr. Tim is a high quality dogman! Thanks again Doc, we appreciate your contribution and continued help spreading the word about proper gun dog nutrition. To visit Dr. Tim's website please visit http://www.drtims.com/ Thank you


As always...if you have questions or comments feel free to drop me a line at northupland@yahoo.com Thanks for reading.


Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

What is Meal?

Meal. It doesn't sound like a very appetizing or healthy dog food ingredient. On the contrary, some forms of Meal found in dog food formulas can be an excellent addition to your dogs diet. Let's get to the bottom of what Meal really is and understand the positive and negative aspects of its inclusion in the majority of foods on the market today. As always, we boil it down to blue collar science here at northUpland and into terms we can all clearly understand, aka: High Quality Meal vs. Low Quality Meal.

High Quality Meal
Whole Meat Protein Meal: Any whole meat(identifiable meat source named on the ingredient list) as a whole meat meal is an excellent source of protein such Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Lamb Meal etc, etc. In fact, whole meat Meals are a more "potent" protein source then their own counterparts whole meat flesh form. The production of whole meat Meal starts with dehydration of clean, deboned flesh. It is then dehydrated to eliminate the moisture. Finally it is ground down into a fine meal. This all takes place prior to the ingredients being mixed and cooked into kibble. I think we can all agree Chicken is a great source of protein, but as a Meal it becomes a highly concentrated protein form. Why? Chicken, as well as all other whole, premium cut meats, are full of moisture. When dog food ingredients are cooked moisture within the Chicken meat is eliminated and the "weight" of chicken as a primary ingredient is shrunk considerably. Important note; ingredients listed and advertised on dog food bags are in PRE COOKED percentages. Chicken Meal on the other hand, has already been dehydrated and then ground down before the cooking process thus eliminating the moisture content and giving it a higher percentage of ingredients.  In other words, if Chicken Meal is listed as the first ingredient compared to just Chicken listed first, there is considerably more protein content in the Meal first formula because of the Chicken Meals' dehydrated precook state. Furthermore, Chicken Meal is more readily digestible than just Chicken. As a dog's digestive system processes Chicken Meal, it's inherit "ground" physical quality helps it breakdown in the stomach and intestines faster, thus becoming readily absorbed into the dog's system much quicker than whole chicken meat. Again, we only used Chicken as an example here but the same can be said for all other whole protein meats and meal such as Lamb, Salmon, Duck, Venison, etc.

Low "Ash" Whole Meat Protein Meals: These are considered "superior" meat protein sources. For example, Low Ash Chicken Meal consists of chicken meat and some accompanying bone, and “ash” denotes the amount of bone that's ground into the meal. The lower the ash content equates to a higher grade meal and a more pure protein source. The chicken is ground into a powder (meal) after the fat and water are removed, and the end result is a very concentrated, highly digestible protein, rich with amino acids, essential fatty acids and minerals (ash) that provide calcium and phosphorous.

High Quality "Meals" Make Great Canine Athletes.
Dewey: Five In The Bag and Still Looking For More.


Low Quality Meal
These are meals listed below are commonly used in lower grade dog food that come from "uncertain origins" and in our opinion should be avoided.  

Meat Meal: The generic term "Meat" (with no identifiable named source precluding) is highly suspicious as to actually what the meat really is! It's kinda of like fast food chains mystery meat! There are substantiated claims that Meat Meal contains more disgusting things than we would like to imagine so we will avoid writing them here.

By-Product Meal: Defined as a `meat(name source) by-product is: "The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. Again, "anonymous"(unnamed) meat source precluding a by-product meal makes this ingredient even more ambiguous as to its origins.  


Vegetable and Grain Meal: Grain and vegetable meals are generally used in dog food to keep the cost of production low. Manufacturers use products like corn gluten meal or soybean meal as an alternative to a more costly and higher quality ingredient. Soybeans, linseed, and corn may appear as meals in pet food.  Corn Gluten Meal in particular is commonly used and is a concentrated form of protein that is very difficult to digest. Using this type of ingredient allows the food to advertise high protein content even though your dog might not actually digest or benefit from any of it.


Bone Meal: The rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Bone Meal offers a very limited source of nutrients and is not well "defined" ingredient. Like mystery Meat Meal It goes into the suspect list!

I hope this helps shed some light on the vast differences of what Meal real is in its various forms and compositions. I realize it is a confusing retail world out there full of colorful dog food bags and the mass marketing hype that surrounds this entire industry. If you ever have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to give me a shout. Email me at northupland@yahhoo.com or post a comment below. You have my word that I will give you my unbiased opinion. Please remember, we here at northUpland are trying to make our good gun dogs even better through proper nutrition and planned fitness. Thank you for reading my blog.

Best of Luck Out There. -Mark

Lyle Steinman On Performance

After hanging up the phone with Lyle Steinman only one word comes to mind. Passion. This dog man extudes it. Lyle's passion for breeding, training, and handling world class labrador retreivers is clearly evident. It resonates in his voice and sends a crystal clear message that luck has nothing to do with it. Hardwork, dedication, and loving what you do truly does equals success.

Lyle's accomplishments
(a.k.a. his dog man rap sheet)...

• Lyle Steinman has over 1400 AKC Master Passes and over 100 + AKC Master (MH) titled dogs
• He has qualified a record 76 dogs at the AKC Master National event.
• He has 9 dogs in the Master National Hall of Fame (New AKC title MNH ) and 17 dogs that have passed two Master Nationals to his credit.
• On September 18, 2010 he broke an AKC record for AKC Master passes in one weekend, passing 23/24 dogs at the Northwest Missouri Retriever Clubs hunt test.
• Has 12 first place Super Reteiver Series wins (including the 2007 & 2009 Crown Championships).
• Won the SRS Crown Championship in 2007 with River (2007 SRSC SRS HRCH Big Two Hearted River II MNH HOF QAA) and in 2009 with Jack (2009 SRSC 3 X SRS Fargo’s Gulf Coast Jack-Son MH QAA).
• Is the only SRS handler to ever win 1st , 2nd & 3rd place in the same event(SRS Record) and the only handler to ever have 9 dogs qualified for the top 12 at one time.
• Has put more dogs in the Top 5(41 in the Finals/ 56 in Semis) than any other handler in Super Retriever Series history.
• Qualified 4 dogs for the 2008 Crown Championship and qualified 7 dogs for the 2009 & 2010 Crown Championship (SRS Records).
• At the 2009 Super Retriever Series Crown Championship Lyle became the only handler to put three dogs in the finals. Lyle finished the 2009 SRS Crown Championship with first (Jack), second (Rebi), third (Coot), fifth (River) and sixth with (Pasha).
• Lyle’s career winnings now are over $190,000 in cash and prizes.

With a resume like that it is obvious that Lyle knows a thing or two about canine performance. I was recently fortunate to personally interview him regarding his labrador's nutrition and conditioning regiments. Lyle holds court every day at Castile Creek Kennels in Stewartsville, Missouri

When asked what brand of food he feed his labs, Lyle believes the core of his dogs performance rests solely on foods by Country Vet. Lyle has been feeding Country Vet  for close to five years. He uses their "Natural Dog Fuel" 32/20 mix to feed all his working dogs and could not say enough about its overall quality. He is a proponent of a "corn, soy, and wheat free diet" and sees Country Vet's Dog Fuel as truly a hidden gem in the vast world of large dog food manufacturers. Ingredient consistency and overall attention to formula integrity is what Lyle is most impressed about Country Vet. He is confident knowing every bag he opens for his dogs is going to be the same high quality ingredients and the exact replica of the previous bags contents. Before using Country Vet, Lyle used a larger, more well known national brand but was unhappy with their ingredient quality inconsistency which lead to adverse effects on his dogs performance. This concern arises from  larger "megamanufacturers" sourcing their ingredients from a very vast list of suppliers on the open market. Which is cause for concern for formula quality integrity. In a nutshell, if one run of the food "ingredient A" comes from a supplier with a high quality standards and the next month a different supplier who can also deliver "ingredient A" but might have lower quality control comes to market a little cheaper, they get the purchase order, etc. This is one of the biggest reasons that some dogs do very well on a certain brand/formula of food for long periods of time and then out of now where they have adverse reactions to it. Food manufacturers are NOT legally obligated to advertise this ingredient supplier change. Since switching to Country Vet it is plain to see the performance of Lyle's dogs are indeed tough to beat...and very consistent at winning big in the professional trial circuit!

When I asked Lyle about skin and coat health in conjunction with feeding Country Vet he had this to say, "My black labs look they have Armour All sprayed on them!"  I can personally atest to seeing Lyle's squadron of black labs and can verify to that statement being a dead on accurate assessment of their coat quality!

According to the Country Vet's website :
"Dog Fuel is the full spectrum natural feed source for so many people that demand a little better, a little more. We're proud to be able to provide you with choices in your pet foods. Dog Fuel is just that...another choice. So, what is so special about Dog Fuel? Great question...here's the quick answer: Dog Fuel contains all Natural Ingredients; Dog Fuel is formulated for all of your pet's life stages making it a good choice for life; Dog Fuel contains No Corn, No Soy, No Wheat,  Dog Fuel has within it nutraceutical ingredients...read about them below; Dog Fuel is an excellent source of high quality protein."

Country Vet Natural Dog Fuel (32/20)Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Oat Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherois), Pork Meal, Beet Pulp, Grain Sorghum, Poultry Liver Digest, Dried Egg, Flax Seeds, Canola Seeds, Fish Meal, Dried Brewers Yeast, Salt, L-Carnitine, Potassium Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Enterococcus Faocium, Choline Chloride, Calcium Propionate, Chicory Root, Clucosamine Hydrochloride, Dried Lecithin, Chondroltin Sulfate, Sodium Bentonite, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Methionine Complex, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacinamide, Copper Lysine Complex, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Maganese Methianine Complex, Maganous Oxide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothonate, Biotin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Cobalt Glucoheptonate and Cobalt Carbonate.

Gaurunteed Analysis
Crude Protein (Min) 32% Crude Fat (Min) 20.0% Crude Fiber (Max) 3.0% Moisture (Max) 10.0% Calcium (Min) 2.0% Phosphorus (Min) 1.3% *Omega 6 Fatty Acids (Min) 3.0%
*Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Min) 0.6% *Glucosamine Nydrochloride (Min) 600 mg/kg *Chondroitin Sulfate (Min) 300 mg/kg L-Carnitine (Min) 200 mg/

Overall, I consider Country Vet Natural Dog Fuel a well managed food that includes quality ingredients in a formula that all working dogs of any age can greatly benefit from. I can easily recommend Country Vet Natural Dog Fuel as a great choice for your gun dog of any breed. Like other formulas free of corn, soy, and wheat, owners can expect much lower stool size. By removing low quality, grain based carbohydrates from your dogs diet his or her digesting system can burn high protein, high fat, and easily digestible carbo/fibers more completely. In my opinion, Country Vet Dog Fuel is definitely a "high octane go juice" for all hard working gun dogs from puppy hood all the way to seniors master hunters. In addition to Natural Dog Fuel, Country Vet offers a variety of other dog food formulas. I urge you to visit their home page to find out more.

After speaking about Country Vet foods, Lyle led the conversion on to food ration(portion size). Like all consummate professional trainers, he adjusts his food rations according to physical activity. Dependant on each dog's daily workout regiment, it ranges from 2 cups all the way up to 6 cups. He was particular to note that "on any given day, work load dictates the feeding of all my dogs"

As the interview continued we discussed conditioning. Lyle is as passionate about proper fitness regiments as he is about nutrition. All of his working dogs receive at minimum 15-30 minutes of roading(ATV harness workouts) a day and sometimes "two a days" depending on their energy output needs. Again, like all quality trainers, Lyle spends considerable time studying what each individual dog needs are and adjusting their condition times accordingly. In addition to road work, every dog goes through a series of 4-8 "marks" a day during trial training. This would equate to roughly 1.5 miles(at maximum) of continuous, high paced running/retreiving per day.  Again, Lyle was quick to point out that Country Vet Dog Fuel is the key to keeping his dogs in top shape with lean muscle mass and powerful frames. Lyle Steinman's Castile Creek Kennel facility rests on 40 arces of realistic waterfowl habitat. It is an impressive display of dog breeding and training professionalism. Castile Creek Kennels not only produces professional trail dogs. Lyle also boards, offers puppy preschool classes, and whelping services.

After our interview ended I walked away feeling very fortunate to have spoken with Lyle candidly about what makes his dogs great.  Without doubt, he is a master of fine details and studies his dogs like a book each and every day. I am gratefully to have met somebody of Lyle's high caliber who is extremely down to earth and very personable.  I clearly understand why he is one of the very best in the business. I thank him tremendously for helping me spread the word about proper gun dog nutrition.

As always, please do not hesitate to post a comment or contact me directly at northupland@yahoo.com with any of your questions or concerns. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Best of luck out there. -Mark  

Images used in this article are courtesy of Castile Creek Kennels and Country Vet Pet Food.

Ronnie Smith on Performance

The Smith family name is synonymous in the bird dog world for many reasons. For generations they have trained some of the finest dogs that consistently challenge for field trail champions and produce superior finished dogs for the foot hunter. Ronnie Smith carries on his family lineage in a very proud tradition. According to his website "Through generations of hard work and dedication, Ronnie Smith Kennels has developed a trusted and proven name in the bird dog industry. The Smith family has a history of raising and training fine bird dogs. Ronnie’s late father, Ronnie Smith Sr., was a well-respected dog trainer. Ronnie’s uncle, Delmar Smith has received the honor of being inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame. Ronnie and his cousins, Rick and Tom Smith, continue the Smith family tradition. Bird dogs are not only a business for the Smiths, they are a passion and a way of life. Our training format brings dogs' inherent prey drive to a pinnacle and then begins to mold that natural instinct in to the desired behavior of a confident, mannerly bird dog. Through the development of conditioned responses and learned behavior we are able to produce dogs that are proficient in heeling off lead, handling on cue, and confidently working birds."

I recently had the great fortune to interview Ronnie via email for northUpland. His response to my questions regarding performance, nutrition, and conditioning should be considered an invaluable resource. Here is Ronnie's round up on what makes his gun dogs great!

Following quotes by Ronnie Smith...

"We feed solely Purina Pro Plan Performance. In the summertime, we train all breeds of upland pointing and flushing dogs and in the winter we are guiding hunts in some of the most rigorous country in the state of Texas. We've had great success with this feed with all breeds and all physical requirements."

Pro Plan Performance formula is by the far the top selling food for sporting dogs  in the United States. It is a 30/20 mix, meaning it contains 30% protein and 20% fat. These are considered optimum percentages for working dogs of any breed and age. In fact, Pro Plan Performance is considered an "all life stages formula" meaning it can be fed from to puppies all the way seniors. Click on the bag image for complete info directly from Purina.

When asked about food rations(portion size) Ronnie went on to say...

"Obviously we are constantly monitoring the body condition of each of our dogs. When they are under physical strain, they will need a few more calories to their diet. Brittanys under high physical demands may need as much as 4 1/2 cups, while a maintenance ration may be 2 cups. A high strung pointer who is active in the kennel and running hard in the field may need as much as 6 1/2 cups to maintain perfect body condition. A maintenance ration for a less active pointer may be 3 cups. Bottom line is that you need to monitor your dog's condition and the physical strains he is under and adjust your feeding plan accordingly."

In a follow up question about conditioning and fitness regiments, Ronnie responded...

"Our exercise programs vary. Some of the tools we use to get our bird dogs in shape for a season of guiding hunts include running, swimming, and roading." (Terminology: "Roading" is an effective form of strength training. It is done by safely harnessing dogs off an ATV using an outrigger and allowing them to naturally run alongside and pull against the ATV in motion) "We find the more fit our dogs are going in to season, the fewer injures they tend to have during season.We believe in order to get the best performance with a dog, you have to have them both physically and mentally fit. They have to be thinking birds as soon as their feet hit the ground and their bodies have to be able to withstand the rigors of the country and the demands upon it."

 In my own brief dealings with Ronnie during this interview process I can honestly say he is an genuine as they come. He was extremely receptive to my questions and open to helping out all follow hunters get the most from their dogs! Ronnie is a stand up guy and his reputation as a first class dogman is true. I thank him tremendously for his time.

Ronnie Smith Kennels is known the world over for producing quality bird dogs while maintaining the utmost of professionalism. If any of my readers are looking for a top notch trainer, look no further. His fees are modest, but rest assured, his facility, training skills, and attention to making good bird dogs great are all first class. Also, Ronnie and his cousin, Rick Smith, travel the country every year during their very popular seminar series. Click here for a list of dates and locations. In the end,  I very much enjoy Ronnie's training motto "A dog is like a book, just read!" It is very simple, straight forward, and to the "point"! Yep, that pun is completely intended!


Thank you for reading my blog and please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Leave a comment or email me directly at northupland@yahoo.com


Best of luck out there. -Mark

Images used in this post courtesy of Ronnie Smith Kennels and Nestle Purina.