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Are all chickens created equal? The answer may actually surprise you...  As many of you know, we have recently rolled out our Animal Diet Formulator. This software helps users create a complete and balanced fresh food diet for your dog or cat. For those of you that own the software (yes, it is available of purchase), you might have also noticed that there are options when it comes to the type of chicken you are using in your recipe. That's because while there are similarities between sun raised and indoor chickens, overall they offer different levels of nutrients to your pet and can affect how balanced the diet really is. While we do want to bring attention to the difference in quality, we also want to shed light on the living conditions of chickens that do not have proper access to the outdoors. We at RAHU love animals. And that means the animals that help feed our four-legged companions (and us), too. So. What is the difference?  Indoor chickens are typically raised in CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) that provide large barns on concrete pads capable of containing tens of thousands of animals with only about 1/2 square foot of space per chicken. CAFO chickens do not leave the structure and cover of the building, resulting in very different nutrient density than chickens exposed to sunlight (pasture raised). They also require feed with antibiotics and growth promoting drugs in order to produce meat for market in several weeks. Several chickens in CAFOs die due to the failure of organ function keeping up with muscle mass development. "I don't have a problem with death, but I do have a problem with suffering." -Dr. Barbara Royal Pasture raised chickens are allowed to freely move from a simple structure to a designated pasture where they can forage grasses and bugs, in addition to high quality grain feeds for adequate development. Designated pastures are typically rotated every few days for sustainability. The structures provided on most pasture raised farms allow 1 square foot of space per chicken, but chickens will also spend most of their day outside of the structure. A variety of activity with increased UV exposure results in chickens that are more nutrient dense, with a slightly different fatty acid profile, fat/protein ratio, and increased vitamin D from UV-B synthesis of cholesterol in sun-raised chickens. This is why when purchasing food from our feathered friends, we fully support looking for the "pasture raised" label. By doing so, you help support sustainable and humane farming practices. Good for your pet. Good for the earth. This is why when purchasing food from our feathered friends, we fully support looking for the "pasture raised" label. By doing so, you help support sustainable and humane farming practices.
Good for your pet. Good for the earth.
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One of the major issues currently facing the veterinary community is the debate on the discussion of cannabis between veterinarians and clients. Unlike human doctors, veterinarians were not legally able to discuss the use of cannabis products with clients until very recently.
If this is a topic that interests you, here is where you can go for more information! For more on prior legislation: https://www.thecannabispet.com/veterinarians-discuss-cannabis/ The recent bill passing, legalizing discussion with clients: https://cvma.net/government/legislative-issues/ab-2215-kalra-medical-advice-use-of-cannabis/ For more on the science behind cannabis: https://cannacompanionusa.com/faq/cannabis-science/#ECS-2 Authored by Nick LinznerNicholas Linzner grew up in Northridge, CA and has always cared deeply for animals and their interactions with the environment. He moved to San Luis Obispo, CA to complete a B.S. in Animal Science, with a minor in Equine Science in 2018. Shortly before graduating, he joined the team at RAHU in order to learn more about integrative veterinary medicine and contribute towards the growth of the company.  
You may be familiar with the current issue of anti-microbial and pesticide resistance in medicine and agriculture, but what you may not know is that the emergence of resistant “superbugs” is a systemic and worldwide problem that is shaking the status quo and forcing some conventional drugs out of the picture. While scientific bodies seek large-scale solutions for the growing threat to the health of our world, you as an animal healthcare professional, can help in your own way. Your alternative therapies can enter the picture and contribute to the fight!
Here are the facts:
Authored by Marie WiemannMarie Wiemann grew up in San Luis Obispo county with a passion for learning about, caring for, and enjoying animals. She stayed local to obtain her B.S. in Animal Science from Cal Poly SLO in 2017 and, shortly after graduation, joined the RAHU team to help them build their resource library. She will continue to work with RAHU as she begins vet school at UC Davis this fall.  Due to both a sudden increase in demand, and an influx of relevant health information, we have had to supercharge our online access to RAHU Education. We have chosen the secure and versatile Thinkific educational platform for our community. Moving forward, RAHU Courses and Certifications will be featured on Thinkific.
We expect you will continue to find the most practical and effective information from our Thinkific powered RAHU courses, resources, mentors, educators and community. Remember that RAHU members get access to member only resources and discounts on courses, certifications and store items. Check out the great benefits of a RAHU membership. Thanks for being a part of this exciting year! – Dr. Natasha Lilly  Is sunny weather planned for your spring break this year? Well we’ve got you covered with our Top 7 Spring Break Tips for you and your furry friend!
1.) Research the location and phone numbers for local emergency veterinary hospitals near your vacation spot. 2.) Bring your RAHU Integrative Veterinary Emergency Kit (available on our website) so you can be prepared for the unexpected! Having a travel kit of medications/supplements/bandages for injuries, mild GI upset/loose stool from the stress of travel or an herbal anti-inflammatory can be a lifesaver! Also put any current medications/supplements in the kit. Make sure you put a copy of your current Rabies tag number and any medical information you might need in your Kit. 3.) If you’re traveling south, make sure you bring an herbal flea and tick spray with you. While pests up north go away for the winter, they may be year-round in warmer climates. 4.) You may need to give heartworm (HW) prevention once you return from your trip. If you travel to a place where there are active mosquitos, medication for HW should be given after exposure. If a mosquito with HW bites your pet, the medication will kill the parasite if given within 60 days. If you prefer to avoid the use of HW prevention, you can test a full HW panel after exposure. Talk to your veterinarian about the best time interval for this blood test. 5.) If you plan to use herbal calming agents for your pet during travel, be sure to test their reactions to them BEFORE leaving for your vacation. Always talk to your veterinarian about safe options for your pet. 6.) Avoid making any changes to your pets diet or medications/supplements right before (or during) your trip unless absolutely necessary. If there’s an unwanted reaction it may be more difficult to manage if you are away from your primary veterinarian. 7.) Make sure your pet's identifying tags and microchip registration are up-to-date with a current cell phone that you will have with you when you are away. Keep the microchip company's phone number and their identifying number for your pet on a card in your wallet. With these health tips we hope you and your pets can stay wildly happy and healthy this holiday season!!! "Cats are the number-one pet in America, and we spend more annually on cat food than we do on baby food. Aloof, cuddly, sensitive, selfish, sweet, tough, complicated, playful, silly, elegant, unpredictable, and incredibly resilient, cats are highly entertaining." Cats certainly are "unpredictable" and we here at RAHU love them for that. However, it can be a little tricky when it comes to providing them with wild health. Take a look at this list created by, Dr. Barbara Royal for ways to keep your cat cool.
With these tips, we hope you can create a more harmonious relationship with your cat. Let us know how these tips have worked for you and your feline friend in the comment section and here's to Wild Health! MythConception: "Pet food labeled 'Grain Free', means it is species appropriate for dogs and cats"
FALSE. Just because a food is labeled "natural", or "grain free", doesn't mean it's an appropriate food to feed to you dog or cat. Follow Dr. Royal's "Quick Guide" for how to properly assess your pets food, so they can achieve wild health! Ignore pictures & the potentially misleading words and pictures on the front of the package. You can read them later. Go directly to the: INGREDIENTS -Ingredients are listed in order of weight before processing the food. -Are the meats or fish the first and maybe the second and third ingredient (s)? This is a good sign. -The next ingredients should not combine to be a lot carbohydrates. (Grains, potatoes, chickpeas, flours, corn, etc.) -Are there unneeded fillers, toxins, chemicals, dyes, and proteins from non-meats? -Is there ingredient splitting to move unwanted (carbs usually) further down the list? -Make a general assessment of what the ingredient list looks like to you -- healthy or not? GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Protein, Fat & Carbs are the three main components of food. One goes up and the other goes down. It's time for a little math... Guaranteed Analysis:
How To Calculate Carbohydrate Percentage (Because they do not usually put it on the label!)
-Subtract this total from 100% giving you a rough estimate of the percentage of carbohydrates.
-Subtract from this number both the percentage fat and the percentage protein. -Divide that number by the total dry matter amount and multiply by 100. This will be a rough estimate of the percentage of carbohydrate in the diet. Example: 100 - 78% moisture = 22% 22 - 2% fat = 22% 20% - 5.5% = 14.5 14.5 divided by 22 = 0.659 x 100 = 69% carbs in this wet food. In an ever changing pet food market, it's hard to support companies that have ethical practices and are doing their best to provide your pet with a biologically appropriate diet. Through tips like these, we hope to empower you to accomplish the extraordinary and keep the animals in your life, wildly healthy! Looking for more information regarding animal nutrition? Take a look at our courses and materials to learn more! LEMONGRASS ESSENTIAL OIL
Great to use for sore joints/back and tendons/ligaments. Simply apply directly and massage into the sore areas for relief. Purchase here THUMPER MASSAGE TOOL Use this to provide much needed relief to the back, neck, shoulders, and hindquarters of your trusty steed after a long trail ride or a competition. Purchase here BLOOMINGTAILS Exceptionally tough and effective tail bags for beautiful tails and mane. Purchase here RAHU MEMBERSHIP A good gift for any animal lover - Stay informed with all the latest information on how to keep your pet wildly healthy! Purchase here CAVALIA TICKETS This colossal production features over 65 horses and 50 artists blending awe-inspiring equestrian arts with imaginative stagecraft, amazing acrobatic feats, and cutting-edge technical effects. Purchase here STURDY HOOF PICK Bent out of shape about bent hoof picks? Not your problem any longer with one of these heavy duty hoof picks in the barn! Purchase here POCKET KNIFE Safety first! A pocket knife like this has you prepared for the unexpected. Purchase here HORSE TOYS If on stall rest, please provide some much needed entertainment through toys like this. Purchase here If in turnout, horses still need stimulation so why not harness their natural playful nature and direct it with safe toys like these. Purchase here ICE BOOTS The simple and perfect remedy after a challenging work out to decrease inflammation. Purchase here LEATHER CLEANER/CONDITIONER Don't forget to care for your tack! This and other similar products will help extend the life of your leather goods. Purchase here SLOW FEEDER Super handy for at home, or on the go. This slow feeder helps to slow down food delivery and imitates more of what horses would have to do in nature, grazing - working for their food. Purchase here
"She's not fat, she's fluffy."
In Sophie's case (a new patient at the Royal Treatment Veterinary Center), she is most certainly fluffy (and all sorts of adorable). However, this isn't always the case for a lot of companion animals. With over half of the pets in the United States overweight, it's becoming more and more difficult for us to discern between fat and "fluffy". You can ensure your pet maintains a healthy weight by: 1. Feeding less than it says on the can or package! If you're already doing that--feed even less!* 2. Reducing carbohydrates 3. Exercising (and when you aren't, feed less!) 4. Remember that food does not equal love. Think of every treat you give your pet as if it were a candy bar. If you ate candy bars all day, how big would you be? 5. Paying attention to poop! Adult dogs be pooping 1-2 times per day. If they are going more than this, you may need to feed less food. 6. "A dog should have a defined edge to the rib cage, a waist, and hips. You should be able to feel the ribs without applying too much pressure on the chest." -Dr. Barbara Royal 7. Ruling out any hormonal imbalance or adrenal dysfunction. These illnesses can make losing weight hard. If you're doing everything right and your pet is still...fluffy...consult with your vet to make sure there isn't an underlying cause. *Remember that weight loss for our feline friends should always be done slowly and carefully. They are at a much greater risk for developing other illnesses (like hepatic lipidosis) if we try to get them to lose weight too quickly. Discuss how to best reduce food with your veterinarian. We here at RAHU love fluffy pets, but we love HEALTHY pets even more! CAT TREES
These are great for multi-cat households. They offer a secure space and textures that are much more appropriate for claw maintenance! Purchase here COCONUT OIL What can't coconut oil do? A superb medium chain fatty acid and a wonderful topical. This oil can do it all! Purchase here THE ESSENTIAL POCKET GUIDE TO PET FOOD The perfect assistant to creating a well balanced diet for your feline friend. Purchase here THE ROYAL TREATMENT By Dr. Royal This book is the perfect gift for anyone who has a pet, is thinking about adopting one for the first time, or someone who just loves amazing stories about animals! Purchase here VETERINARY ER KIT Packed with all the essentials, this ER kit is the perfect solution to that toe nail you cut too close on Saturday night. The right tools. Right now. Purchase here FOOD DEHYDRATOR Make your own healthy treats from home! Using organs or muscle meat, a dehydrator can help you make high quality, healthy treats in a matter of hours! Purchase here SARDINES A super tasty way to help add in omegas to your cat's diet. This food not only provides nutrients, it's also a great way to stimulate the appetite and enhance your feline friend's diet. Purchase here ORGANIC CAT COLLAR Purchase here THE TRAINABLE CAT By John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis This is a great book that includes information about behavior and fun human-cat interaction! Purchase here CAT DANCER TOY Play can help your feline friend stimulated and fit! Using a cat dancer toy (made in the U.S.A.) can help cater to your indoor cat's predatory instincts. Purchase here RAHU MEMBERSHIP A good gift for any animal lover - Stay informed with all the latest information on how to keep your pet wildly healthy! Join here 101 REASONS TO GET OUT OF BED By Natasha Milne and Dr. Barbara Royal Those who effect positive change in the world are driven by passion and inspiration. Through the stories of these individuals, we too can be inspired to help our beautiful earth. Purchase here |
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December 2018
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