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Most of our pooches have a tendency to be smelly from time-to-time, whether it's their feet, bad breath, or the unmistakable whiff when they come in after a walk in the rain or have rolled in something they find delectable, but makes our eyes water. Here are some reasons why your dog could be smelly, and what you can do about it. Gas Flatulence is a common problem in dogs and if yours can clear the room after passing gas, it is often caused by intolerance to an ingredient in their food. A natural diet / Raw Food is the best kind of diet, and can help this annoying problem. However excessive wind can sometimes signal an underlying medical issue so if the air around your pet remains whiffy, continue to consult your veterinarian until the problem is resolved. Feed a healthy diet. If you suspect your dog’s diet might be the culprit, try a diet with different ingredients. A good article to read is feeding your pet, which offers lots of ideas and a recipe at the end of the article. Another good read is Thought for food which explains in detail why home made food is streets ahead of the food we buy for our pets in the supermarket. Lastly Home Made Diets article gives you lots of ideas and recipes to help. It would also be good to add a probiotic to the dog’s food, to help your pet to maintain a healthy gut. Atopy / Chronic Skin Conditions Seasonal or food allergies can cause inflammation of the skin which leads to excessive secretion of oil from certain glands in the skin, producing a musty smell. Poor diet can contribute to this condition and can also be the cause of other problems including yeast infections, which also give off a foul odour. These are often caused by a diet high in carbohydrates and processed foods. Changing to a high-protein, non-processed dog food can often help with this. Check out Home Made Diets for recipe ideas. Another chronic skin condition that could cause smelly dogs is Seborrhoea. This can be either the dry form with flakey skin and dandruff, or could be the moist form which is greasy with thickening of the skin and has a musty rancid smell. To help this, bathe your pet using a 100% natural shampoo. It’s important you watch out for the ingredients in a shampoo so you don’t further the problem. We have an article on what to look out for in a natural shampoo for dogs. We also have a 100% natural shampoo bar available on our website. You could also use our natural healing balm around the areas of concern. This will soothe and aid the healing process. Make sure you keep folds in the skin clean and dry. And lastly, feed your dog a healthy diet. If you suspect your dog’s diet might be the culprit, try a diet with different ingredients. – see suggestions above. Dental Problems The number one cause of bad breath in dogs, just like people, is the build-up of plaque and tartar on their teeth. Some small breeds are especially prone to dental problems like gum disease. Another problem specific to certain breeds is Gingival Hyperplasia, the overgrowth of the gums that can harbour small bits of food and produce a rotten smell. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean at home is the first step in solving this problem, but ultimately your pet may need a dental cleaning from a veterinary professional. Start dental hygiene early to prevent problems. This can include annual dental cleanings, brushing your dog’s teeth at home and even certain dog chews can help reduce dental buildup. You can also prevent dental problems by letting them chew raw bones. Raw chicken necks are good and brisket with the piece of rib removed. Our Feeding your Pet article explains this in more detail. Ear Infections There are many types of bacteria and yeast that can cause ear infections. A healthy ear usually has good defences to fight off the bacteria but if the dog suffers from allergies or hormonal imbalances, the yeast and bacteria can increase dramatically, causing a malodorous smell. Dogs with hairy or floppy ears such as Basset Hounds and Springer Spaniels may have consistent ear problems unless the ears are kept clean and dry. Check your dog’s ears periodically and be sure to dry them after swims or baths. Sometimes small seeds can get into the ear and cause infection, so try avoiding long grass when out walking. You can add extra virgin oil to our healing balm to make it into a liquid, and put a few drops in the ear. This will help heal ear infections. Anal Sacs This is one of the most common causes of stinky dogs. All our canine companions have two small scent sacs on their bottom they are a type of marking gland which is why dogs smell rear ends when meeting. If they become impacted and/or infected, they can also abscess. It can cause pain for the dog and an extremely smelly secretion is released and remains on the fur. Another sign your dog has problems with his anal glands is dragging his bottom on the ground, or “scooting.” This is a typical symptom of impaction. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to help with this issue. To help with this, you should bathe your dog regularly. An obvious, yet often neglected solution! Use a shampoo with natural ingredients as above. In conclusion, if the stink persists, consult your veterinarian as some medical conditions can produce strange odours. Breath that smells fruity or sweet, like sweet almonds, could indicate diabetes while kidney disease or bladder infection can result in breath that smells like urine or rotten seaweed. 
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Dogs love rolling in all sorts of stuff, especially dead things or poo. If your dog lives in the house with you, this can be challenging to get the smells out, so dog shampoo is obviously the answer. But what are the things to look out for when choosing a dog shampoo that is safe for their skin? We know that there are lots of harmful chemicals in skincare for humans and there’s a real drive to go back to basics and choose natural. Natural is better for us and better for our environment. Harmful substances that can be found in some creams and lotions we’ve all used in the past, are endocrine disrupters, carcinogens and irritants. Many companies add ‘fillers’ that aren’t natural and are an irritant to the skin, just to make their product last longer. So if you’re going with natural products for yourself, it goes without saying that we should take the same care with our pets. Like humans, a dog’s skin is the largest organ and it accounts for 12-14% of his body weight. It acts as a protector from environment, gives a sense of touch, and regulates his temperature. Anything you put on his skin can be absorbed into his body, and by licking his fur and skin, any product residue could be ingested. (at least us humans don’t groom ourselves with our tongue so that danger for us is not a priority!) A dog’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than humans and his fur coat also regulates his temperature but also protects it from UV and physical damage.  The pH of a dogs skin is also different to humans. Human skin is slightly acidic and normally around 5.5 whereas a dog’s skin is much closer to being neutral – like water. This is why you need to use natural products on your dog, as any chemicals can be an irritant. Over time an acidic product can strip away natural oils leaving dry skin and a dull coat.
So what should you look for in a dog shampoo?
Avoid products that have no ingredients listed. If they can’t share their list, then there is most likely an ingredient in there they are hiding. You are best to pick one that has a short list of ingredients of things you recognise. The ingredients to avoid in a dog shampoo, are similar to the ingredients we would avoid in our own shampoo. Some examples are: Fragrance or Parfum. Most of these are artificial and can include hundreds of undisclosed scent chemicals and ingredients including phthalates (endocrine disrupter). They have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, breathing difficulties and potential effects on breeding. Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (SHMG) is a preservative used in many commercially available products, including shampoos, conditioners, soaps, moisturizers, body sprays, baby wipes, room sprays, cleaning agents, and pesticides. It is in a class of chemicals known as formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Notably, members of this class have been associated with allergic contact dermatitis, possibly due to the agents themselves, the formaldehyde they release, or both. Studies on SHMG in animals have demonstrated potential for sensitization and dermatitis, and formaldehyde-allergic patients have been reported to improve when products containing SHMG are avoided. Patients and providers need to be aware of this preservative. (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20233550/) Sodium laureth sulphate. Sodium laureth sulfate (sometimes referred to as SLES) is used in cosmetics as a detergent and also to make products bubble and foam. It is common in shampoos, shower gels and facial cleansers. It is also found in household cleaning products, like dish soap. And it’s found in Dog Shampoos as well. It may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1.4-dioxane. Ethylene oxide is a known human carcinogen which can harm the nervous system. It’s been classified as a possible developmental toxicant and can interfere with human development. Naturally it would do the same to your pet. It’s an environmental hazard as it doesn’t easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it’s rinsed down a drain. 1.4-dioxane can be removed during the manufacturing process by vacuum stripping, but ther eis no easy way for consumers to know whether products containing sodium laureth sulfate has undergone this process. Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone. These can be hard to pronounce, but they can be even harder on the body. These common preservatives are found in many liquid personal care products, and have been linked to lung toxicity[, allergic reactions and possible neurotoxicity. The risk of irritation to skin eyes and lungs is considered high, and there are suggestions that it might be neurotoxic. It’s banned or highly restricted for use in human cosmetics in some countries. What are the good ingredients to look for? Natural ingredients like Vitamin E, Honey, or Manuka Oil. Oatmeal can be good for relieving itchy skin and hers like calendular can soothe irritations. Essential Oils like Eucalptus, and Cedarwood are great for making your dog smell nice. Vinegar as a natural deodoriser. The most important are natural oils such as Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Joboba or Sunflower Oils. These are great for your dog skin and coat, and will not only keep them moisturised, but also condition them. Great and Small has developed a Dog Shampoo with natural ingredients for your member of family. It’s so lovely we even have humans using it, although it’s definitely developed for dogs. Our ingredients are: Biodynamic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Vinegar and cedarwood and peppermint Essential Oils. Our dog shampoo bar is safe to use and really conditions your pets coat. Providing your pet doesn’t roll in poo or dead animals, he’ll be gorgeous looking and smelling for nearly a week. You can pick yours up here. Most of us eat healthy home grown fruit and vegetables when we can, and avoid processed foods. We pride ourselves for eating well. Many of us only eat organic knowing there are no sprays or harmful substances on the food we eat – because it’s been drummed into us for ages, that we are what we eat. Many processed foods have additives that can be endocrine disrupters, carcinogens, and allergens. But when it comes to our pets – do we do the same? It’s very convenient to drop into the local supermarket, and pick up some prepackaged cat/dog food for our pets, however, it’s far healthier for our pets if we gave them food that would mimic what they would have in the wild. If you consider the diet of a wild dog, they prey on grazing animals. They eat the whole animal, including the abdominal contents which will have large quantities of vegetable matter consisting of grasses and herbs. So providing raw fresh food is best for our pets, although it is impractical to offer it in quite the same way as in the wild. Prolonged storage, including freezing and refrigeration, will reduce the nutritive value of the food. If we extend this concept of the "wild" diet it is obvious that cooking is unneccessary. Unfortunately, the idea that cooking is necessary is a myth that persists, encouraged by conflicting opinion amongst veterinarians. However, it is well known that cooking decreases the digestibility (i.e. utilisation) of food by denaturing protein, destroying vitamins, and inactivating enzymes. It is also a major cause of halitosis (bad breath) and flatulence (farting). However, cooking has the advantage of reducing spoilage and therefore extending storage life, and it often improves palatability. There are occasions when cooking is useful. It is preferable to cook vegetables and grains as this renders them digestible and mimics the fermentation process which occurs in the multiple stomachs of the herbivore. Pet food manufacturers often include ingredients to provide palatability by including chemical ingredients that enhance the taste. These are not always good for your pets, and once they get used to having this, it can be hard to switch brands of pet food. Another reason you should, as much as possible, provide a varied fresh diet. They also can contain all or some of the following additives: preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, extenders, humectants, and colourings. Dogs use panting as a means of heat regulation and during the hot summer will lose a lot of water from the body through panting. On a comparative body weight basis they drink a lot more water than humans. Unfortunately our water is treated with chlorine and fluorine and I am sure this high intake of these chemicals affect the health of our animals. By collecting rainwater, allowing animals to drink from natural waterways (preferably running water), and filtering water through reverse osmosis or ion exchange machines, we can help overcome this pollution. Incidentally, the use of aluminium bowls for water or food may lead to excessive intake of aluminium. Stainless steel bowls are recommended. How the body battles with this onslaught of chemicals and still remains reasonably healthy is surprising! Meeting our pet’s nutritional requirements, but doing so with sub-standard quality and potentially toxic ingredients, can cause both short and long-term health consequences. For your pet’s sake, offer a diet of human-grade, whole-food-based ingredients early in life and minimize the consumption of dry and canned diets and treats. What to look for in a dry/wet food:
Unless you have the time and motivation to prepare your own balanced diets you could be better off to use commercial foods and supplement these with raw brisket and household scraps. You can economise by using household scraps (vegetable peelings, cores and left overs) and purchasing ingredients unsuitable for human consumption (bug-infested grain, damaged packets and butcher scraps). Don't use mouldy foods. Buying in bulk is often cheaper although consider the shelf life and possible deterioration of the quality over a long period of time. You can also save time by preparing large quantities which can be stored for a few days in the fridge. Using a pressure cooker (stainless steel) will reduce the cooking time and minimise the damage to the quality of the food. The protein to energy ration should match the special requirements (growth, lactation, etc.). Protein : energy (by volume) 75% : 25% - growth, late pregnancy, convalescence 50% : 50% - maintenance 40% : 60% - working This is a simple guide only and should be discussed with your veterinarian. For simplicity I recommend rotation of the following menu, changing to the next when you have finished your store.
RECIPES Raw chicken necks are a very easy meal or snack and balanced Raw brisket provides meat, fat and bone – a complete meal. I suggest you remove the short piece of rib bone as it is too hard to chew Fish is a healthy source of protein and is often included in commercial dog food as an alternative protein source. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may have health benefits such as decreasing inflammation, but also beneficial for skin and coat. Fish is also a good alternative for dogs with food allergies to more common ingredients, like chicken. For a great recipe which is sufficient for a large dog. Fast fish 425gm can mackerel 3 Cups cooked rice/potatoes/wholemeal bread 1-3 tsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp yeast powder 1 tsp kelp powder 1.4 cup cooked liver (optional) Mix together. Add 1tsp Joint Flex before serving. CANINE DELIGHT 1 C chicken mince preferrably cooked ¼ C cooked mashed veges (pumpkin, kumara, peas, carrots, beans) 2 C cooked brown rice/potatoes/wholemeal bread ( 1C for pups) 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil ¼ C cooked ox liver 2 tsp Joint Flex Mix ingredients together. (Sufficient for large dog.) VAL’S LOAF 1 C beef mince 1 C cooked veges 2 C cooked rice 1 C rolled oats 1 C rye flakes 3 raw eggs 1 tsp Joint flex Mix all ingredients and store in fridge  Looking for an all-in-one solution for sore joint and arthritis? Joint Flex is an all natural supplement for your dog providing relief from arthritis symptoms, and is the perfect addition to any pet food.
JOINT FLEX provides a balanced blend of 17 nutrients to optimise normal physiological function for:
Dr. Chris Piper Great & Small Marlborough NZ As a veterinary surgeon for over 40 years, I came across many wonderful animals. Some stick out more than others and Elsie is one of those. Towards the end of my practising career I helped Anne Batley and her NZ Cat Foundation to provide veterinary care voluntarily. We were asked to help with a tiny kitten who was obstipated (extreme constipation). This kitten, we later called LC (little champagne – her colour), had been rescued as a starving stray at a plant nursery that had eaten wood chips or some other indigestible foreign matter from desperate hunger. LC had already been to 2 vets who had recommended euthanasia. This situation became a huge challenge for us, but little did we know just how challenging it would be – how to get the bowel (colon) moving again and how to remove the build up of hard poo from the bowel. We used enemas, faecal softeners by mouth, a drug to stimulate motility and gentle massage to evacuate the bowel. Two or three times a day we did this for about 6 weeks – yes it took 6 weeks before we were presented with a normal poo. Never have we been so delighted to find a normal poo and I photographed it for the record. LC became an extraordinary cat and companion. Through all of this invasion she would happily lie in my arms as I walked about the property. She created her own fun by leaping in the long grass for some invisible prey or stalking the fence line balancing on the top batting any stray branch. That happened 8 years ago and she still stalks the undergrowth and enjoys all of the comforts inside the house.  At this time of year when the weather is cold and damp, you may feel stiff in the morning and so might your dog. So it is timely to talk about Arthritis. Arthritis is a painful, degenerative joint disease that affects about 20% of older dogs. Unfortunately, many of the cases go undiagnosed because owners attribute the subtle changes in the dogs to ‘old age’ or ‘slowing down’. It is a progressive disease that involves the deterioration of joint cartilage. This condition can affect one or more joints and can lead to pain, stiffness, joint swelling, lameness and reduced mobility, all of which can result in a reduced quality of life. Arthritis develops as a result of trauma (injury or overuse), dietary imbalance or deformity (developmental or genetic). Large breed dogs such as the Rottweiler and German Shepherd are particullarly vulnerable during their early development if their diet is not balanced. Obesity can also overload the joints.
Cartilage provides cushioning for the joint and joint fluid provides lubrication. If insufficient nutrients are unavailable for repair then cartilage is destroyed and bone spurs form to try and stabilise the joint and this restricts MOVEMENT. Inflammation then develops causing pain and loss of mobility. As the disease progresses there can be additional destruction of cartilage on the bone surface and production of extra bone around the joints. If left untreated arthritis can cause irreversible damage and prevent dogs from fully participating in everyday activities such as walking, running and swimming.  Arthritis affects one in five adult dogs and these are just the cases that have been diagnosed. The actual number of dogs suffering from arthritis is unknown, because many dog owners attribute the subtle changes in their pets to ‘old age’ or ‘slowing down’ While many cases occur in older, overweight and larger breed dogs, the disease can affect dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds. With the exception of joint replacement, there’s no cure for degenerative joint disease and arthritis in dogs. However the pain associated with these conditions, and the stiffness and lameness they cause can be managed.  Unfortunately, dogs can’t tell their owners if and where they hurt, so it can be difficult to know when your dog is in pain. However, we do know that the physiological mechanism of pain perception is common to both humans and animals, so follow this simple guideline: If you think a health problem with cause you discomfort you can assume it will do the same in your dog. Dogs display a wide variety of responses to pain…
 It is important to observe dogs close for the signs of arthritis, including
 “Improved tremendously, real impressive, like a puppy again; whole attitude happier” Collen Johnson and Carla a 6yr old shepherd. “My dog became much more supple and active and playful. Could not believe the difference. I wondered if my pet had been switched overnight with some puppy” Age of pet 6-8 years old. Joint Flex is a comprehensive and balanced formulation of essential nutrients that provide the raw nutrients to support maintenance and repair of the joint. For more information check our website, follow us on Facebook, or phone Chris on 0274985404  GIVE A DOG A BONE....Today’s packaged dog foods have omitted an essential part of their natural diet – bones. Not only the hard bone material but all the nutrients attached to the bone – cartilage and ligaments which are essential building blocks especially for young dogs. Cartilage is rich in collagen and chondroitins which bind together to provide strength, cushioning and flexibility. We see an increasing number of developmental joint problems today especially in large breed dogs that grow rapidly during the first 6 months of their life. So give your dog a bone – not only will it provide good nutrition but will encourage healthy gums and teeth and provide enjoyment as they chew away at the bone. Joint Flex can be used to supplement the diet, especially for young large breed dogs, after surgery and in older age when stiffness appears first thing in the morning or after long exercise RECIPES Raw chicken necks are a very easy meal or snack and balanced Raw brisket provides meat, fat and bone – a complete meal. I suggest you remove the short piece of rib bone as it is too hard to chew  |
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November 2021
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