Joye Oltmann: Founder of Toby’s Room Inc.
The average day starts early for Joye and Dave Oltmann. Their home in Snellville, Georgia (located to the east of Atlanta) usually hosts as many as 16 dogs and cats, all rescued by the Oltmann's from the most inhumane of conditions. Joye was already volunteering at...
Introducing Rousseau, Lucky Dog of the Month!
Hello everyone! My full name is Jean-Jacques Rousseau Pritchard, but I go as Rousseau (or Rou) for short. I’m a French Bulldog, and I turned four years old this month. I live in Toronto, Canada with my mom, but we also travel together a lot – mostly to see my...
Canine Obesity: Dangerous and Expensive
It's rather sad to think that more than half the dogs in this country are overweight or obese. According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention, 54% of the dogs in the U.S. are eating the wrong foods and not getting enough exercise. Sound familiar? Dogs and...
Declining Sperm Counts In Dogs And People
One of my favorite authors, Dr. Marion Nestle, coined the phrase "The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine". She was referring to the health and safety of the American food system in her book, Pet Food Politics. The pet food industry has its roots in the human food...
How Kibble Is Made – Part Two
Our last blog was about rendering plants. This is the first step in the process of making dog kibble. Rendered raw materials are cooked at high temperatures (between 280 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit) for 60 minutes. This is performed in an attempt to destroy existing...
How Kibble Is Made – Part One
Our next couple of blogs will focus on what kibble really is and how it is made. Once you understand the process you can decide for yourself just how much of it you would like to feed your dogs. Rendering Plants - What Are They? Rendering plants are where most pet...
Signs Your Dog May Be Suffering From Anxiety
We are all very busy these days with the end of summer and getting the kids back to school. Emotions are high as everyone adjusts to a change from the laid back summer lifestyle. Dogs can feel the changes too! You and your family are the center of your dog's world....
Keeping Your Dog Healthy Into Fall
Summer is starting to ease it's way into fall and we can forget that even though it's not hot anymore, there are still potential dangers lurking for our dogs. As leaves begin to change colour and drop and the air begins to get crisper, a host of moulds, fungi,...
Addison’s Disease Part Two: The Nitty Gritty and Storm’s Struggle
Our last blog broadly outlined Addison's Disease in dogs and the experience of having my own dog diagnosed. Here in part two we will dig deeper into the disease and its affect on Storm. It all starts with the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are vital to help the...
Addison’s Disease: A Personal Story
Addison's Disease is a serious, life threatening illness that is often misdiagnosed. I have had first hand experience dealing with this condition in one of my own dogs. With vigilant care your dog can go on to live a healthy, happy life. I had grown up with miniature...
Pumpkin: An Underappreciated Superfood!
Dogs love the taste of pumpkin and it's good for them too! I always go back to the idea that natural, clean foods provide the most benefit to our health. This simple fruit is good for: Urinary tract health Regular digestion - helps with both constipation...
Heat Stroke in Dogs Part 2
In our last post, we taught you how to recognize the signs of heat stroke in your dog. Now, we're going to teach you what to do if your dog does have heat stroke. There are some surefire steps to take, but make sure you don't get over zealous -- treating him too...