The Reilands, owners of At the Water’s Edge Spa in Montgomery,Texas, not only take care of the people of Montgomery County through their spa and massage center, they also take care of the county’s dogs, cats and horses. Larry, his wife Brenda, and business partner Melanee Tackaberry have introduced a new line of premium pet and horse feed to Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties. Nature’s Select Super Premium Pet Products offers a complete line of the freshest and finest natural dog and cat food, horse feed, and pet treats at budget friendly prices. And to make a great thing even better, Nature’s Select is delivered free right to your door.

“We chose the Nature’s Select line for its highly digestible, chemical free formula. The dog and cat foods are made with whole meats, whole ground rice, no by-products or corn, and contains only natural preservatives like Vitamin C and E, and rosemary extract. The horse feed is a unique 100% extruded feed that promotes healthy digestion and, because of the low starch content, decreases nervous behavior,” states Larry.

From the most popular Premium Chicken and Rice recipe for cats to the Wild Alaskan Salmon with Sweet Potato formula for dogs with skin issues, Nautre’s Select comes in a total of 10 different pet food formulations. Pet treat choices are plentiful with tuna tidbits for cats, and puppy sized pig ears and even elk antlers as dog chews. “We will even mix the various foods to suit your pet’s special diet,” Larry said. “And with free delivery right to your door, you don’t even have to carry the bag.”

Partners Reiland and Tackaberry have already shared the premium pet food with local animal rescue groups and shelters. These groups receive a special discount from Nature’s Select. “The rescue volunteers are giving abandoned, lost and abused animals a second chance. Premium quality food helps these animals regain their health and the discount provides some assistance to the volunteers. It is our way of helping these animals get a new start,” states Brenda.

Natalie Saikowski Johnson, member of The Woodlands Dog Park Club, Lone Star Boxer Rescue and Houston Boxer Rescue, has enhanced the quality of life for her dogs over the last five years with the Nature’s Select Pet Products. “The quality, quantity and convenience of Nature’s Select are what make this line of food and treats a great value”, Johnson comments. “My boxers’ improved health has been noticed not only by their veterinarian, but also by other pet owners. With free home delivery right to my door, I do not have to worry about running out of food or having to search from store to store to find my dogs’ preferred brand,” she adds.

Tackaberry and the Reiland’s are currently building their territory in the Greater Houston Area. Deliveries are scheduled two days a week at times and locations most convenient for the customer. For more information on Nature’s Select Super Premium Pet Food visit www.NaturesSelectHouston.com or call 877-544-PETS (7387).

A new canine nutrition brand, backed by an Inc., 500 animal health corporation, has launched a new diet category for dogs that will forever change the way people feed their dog.

The Proportions Whole Food Nutrition Program, the latest entry into the multi-billion dollar dog food market, is the first created specifically for dog owners who understand the value and health benefits of real, whole food versus processed, manufactured food products.

This new Whole Food Nutrition Program is a healthier alternative to traditional feeding programs, and allows dog owners to create a customized meal specifically for their dog – delivered right to their door each month.

Like human “Whole Food” diets, the canine “Proportions” program is a healthy alternative to the highly processed conventional diet and works by:

• Reducing carbs and starches by feeding a reduced portion of high quality dry food
• Increasing healthy, natural proteins and vegetables via a “stew” portion
• Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet with a “harvest mix” portion

According to Paal Gisholt, Proportions CEO, “We’ve seen a huge shift by customers who have started paying greater attention to the quality of the ingredients that go into the kibble they feed, and the increasing use of holistic foods is an important step forward.  But no matter how high the quality of the ingredients, kibble is largely is a highly processed food that consists of a high proportion of carbs.”

“The Proportions Whole Food Meals take canine nutrition to a higher level by reducing the amount of kibble and replacing those calories with a high quality protein rich stew, and enriching the diet with real fruits and vegetables. This gives the lucky dogs on our program fewer carbs, more protein, more fruits and vegetables, and less processed food in general.  It’s how we are striving to feed our families these days, and now we’ve made it easier to do the same for your whole family – including your dog.”

The Proportions Whole Food Nutrition Program is personalized for each individual dog based on seven different variables beyond the dogs weight, including breed, gender, age, and activity level, to determine an individual dog’s specific daily caloric requirement.

Proportions uses that information to create a three part “whole meal” for each dog using the appropriate balance of protein and reduced carbohydrates.

Each Proportions “whole meal” includes three different types of food that combine for the perfect meal. The Proportions “whole meal” includes a reduced amount of high-grade kibble, a portion of human grade chicken breast in pumpkin soup and a portion of dehydrated fruits and vegetables.

“Proportions is a solution for people who believe that the quality of ingredients matters in their dog’s wellness and longevity,” said Tracie Hotchner, author of THE DOG BIBLE and host of Dog Talk on NPR Radio.

Getting your dog into the Proportions program requires only a few minutes on the computer to let the company know some pertinent information about your dog.

Proportions is offering a free trial to the first 100 readers of Urban Paws! Visit www.proportions.com and enter code URBANPAWS6 at check out. You will also receive a coupon for 25% OFF the first month with your free trial.

1. MYTH: Pets should eat the same food every day to avoid digestive upset.

TRUTH: Actually, feeding the same food month after month may cause finicky eating habits and the development of allergies and intolerances over time. With the right diet, pets can and should enjoy a healthy variety of foods – without experiencing digestive upset! Dr. Shawn Messonnier, author of “The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats,” recommends introducing variety into your pet’s diet gradually. “Introduce 10-20% of the new food each week until your pet is accustomed to the new food,” he says. This will minimize digestive upset. Also, some pet foods are actually formulated to promote the concept of “variety feeding,” such as the Nature’s Variety Rotation Diet. Nature’s Variety foods are available in different flavors (duck, venison, salmon, etc.) and forms (raw, kibble, canned) that are all formulated for easy rotation – providing the variety pets need. Rotating with different varieties of food may help provide weight control, reduce the risk of allergies, and improve overall health and well-being.

2. MYTH: All pet foods are the same.

TRUTH: Not all pet foods are created equal. “Cheaper pet foods often use lower quality ingredients such as corn, wheat, soy, meat protein substitutes, generic meat sources, generic fat sources, chemical preservatives, and artificial additives,” says Dr. Messonnier. You get what you pay for in a pet’s food – feeding lower quality foods may result in more health problems and expensive vet visits in the long run. Instead, look for an all natural, holistic food made with real meat protein and other wholesome ingredients. Always read the ingredient panel on your pet’s food, and look for a specifically named (or single-source) meat protein as the first ingredient (e.g. “chicken meal” vs. “poultry meal” or “beef meal” vs. “meat meal”). It’s important to understand what ingredients are in your pet’s food and what benefit they provide. Visit the Nature’s Variety Ingredient Glossary to learn more about pet food ingredients.

3. MYTH: Crunchy kibble diets keep a pet’s teeth clean and healthy.

TRUTH: The crunchiness of kibble is not what leads to clean teeth or proper dental health. In actuality, the pet food quality and ingredients are the main determinants of dental health. It’s also important to include raw food as part of a pet’s diet, because the enzymes in raw meat and vegetables especially keep the teeth clean and healthy. Pets should also have their teeth brushed on a regular basis for ideal dental care. And remember – healthy teeth and gums typically leads to better breath!

4. MYTH: Homemade diets are always better than commercial pet foods.

TRUTH: Homemade diets may not provide complete nutrition, according to Certified Clinical Nutritionist Susan Blake Davis of Ask Ariel Consulting. “Without the advice from a veterinarian or certified pet nutritionist, diets created by pet owners at home are often not balanced nutritionally. Online pet food recipes are missing important vitamins, minerals and enzymes, including calcium, vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B,” she says. Making a nutritiously complete homemade diet requires a commitment of knowledge, time, and money. High quality commercial pet foods are thoroughly tested and contain the proper ingredients necessary for a healthy pet. Nature’s Variety provides all natural, premium pet food in a variety of flavors and forms to provide the high quality, variety and care of a home-prepared diet – but without the hassle or expense.

5. MYTH: Raw diets are expensive and inconvenient.

TRUTH: The premium quality of a complete and balanced raw diet actually makes caring for your pet more affordable in the long run. A raw diet provides pets with wholesome nutrition the way nature intended. “Nutritious raw meat, organ meat, bone and fat provide several health benefits, including fewer allergies, healthy skin, glossy coat, healthy teeth and gums, and increased energy,” says Davis. Also remember that feeding a premium food like a raw diet is actually more digestible, so pets eat less and you spend less. Convenient raw diets are available commercially as well. Nature’s Variety offers a complete and balanced raw diet in three convenient forms that are ready to serve – no mixing, no measuring and no supplementing. Raw frozen food can be rotated with kibble and cans to decrease the amount of raw needed and provide pets with a healthy variety of proteins and textures. To learn more about the quantity and cost of feeding raw, visit the Nature’s Variety Feeding Guide.

For more answers to other pet health questions and myths, check out the Common Questions section of the Nature’s Variety website at www.naturesvariety.com.

They say “you are what you eat,” and the same concept holds true for our pets. A healthy diet is the foundation for overall health. But what constitutes a healthy diet for animals? Well, I can tell you that the healthiest pets in my practice eat raw diets.

These natural diets are what Mother Nature intended carnivores to eat – the food our pets evolved from eating for five million years. It is common sense that the unhealthiest people are those who consume diets that consist mostly of processed foods. Likewise, a strict diet of processed food is detrimental to the health of dogs and cats. So what’s my beef with processed pet foods?

For one thing, speaking of beef, pet foods contain meat that is unfit for human consumption. Some pet foods even contain protein supplied by rendering plants which is especially disgusting since it may include euthanized dogs and cats. It can be difficult to tell the quality of the pet food ingredients by reading the label.

A common ingredient in processed, commercial diets is grain. Many times this is the most abundant ingredient in the food. So, what’s the matter with grain? The carbohydrates in grains contribute to weight gain, predispose pets to diabetes and are a common factor in many food allergies. Furthermore, cancer cells preferentially feed off carbohydrates as opposed to fat or protein, so high-carb diets fuel cancer. Certainly you don’t see our pets’ wild counterparts grazing in the grain fields.

In fact, according to veterinary nutritionists, there is no need for carbohydrates in the diets of dogs and cats. So why do pet foods contain grain? Two reasons: you can’t make a dry pet food without a carbohydrate to glue the kibble together and grains are a cheap source of calories. Pet foods are high in carbohydrates because of convenience and cost. Notice that neither reason has anything to do with the wholesomeness of the diet.

You also do not see our pets’ wild relatives cooking their food before eating it. Cooking food (especially the high heat and temperature processing of pet foods) destroys vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients. The high heat processing of meat and carbohydrates also creates carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals).

Although the labels claim that pet foods are “100% complete and balanced” it is simply not always true. Even the experts agree with me on this one. According to veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Tony Buffington, “The recommendation to feed one food for the life of an animal gives nutritionists more credit than we deserve.”

Mother Nature is smarter than even the smartest veterinary nutritionist. The diets we feed our pets should mimic what wolves and wild cats eat. this would include raw meat, bones, organs and shredded vegetables. The safest way to provide such a diet is by using pre-made, raw diets such as those made by Nature’s Variety. These foods are naturally balanced with the nutrients our pets need. I personally feed Nature’s Variety and recommend it for my patients.

Doug Knueven is the author of The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog.

Rotation feeding is a holistic nutritional philosophy for nourishing your pet’s health and happiness. It means varying both proteins (chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) and forms (raw, cans, dry, etc.) fed to your pet. In essence, the simplest way to think of rotation feeding is to think about your own diet. Do you eat the same meal every morning and every night? No, of course you don’t. Humans have the ability to choose different foods every day. Chances are, if you ate chicken and rice every morning and every night for your meal, you would become bored and experience nutritional deficiencies. Similarly, if you ate soup for every meal, you may get tired of the texture. Rotation feeding allows pets to enjoy a variety in their diet, and enables them to experience different flavors and textures for health and happiness.

There are many health and behavioral benefits to rotation feeding. It is best that rotation feeding is started at a young age, but pets of all ages can be fed a variety of proteins and food forms. The four major benefits to rotation feeding are:

1. Reduced risk of food allergies and intolerances. Most food-related allergies and intolerances develop against common ingredients such as chicken, beef, wheat, corn, or soy. These health issues typically develop over time because many pet owners consistently feed the same food flavor and form – they do not rotate. Internally, your pet’s body experiences a reaction to the proteins found in the food ingredients they have been eating day after day. If it is an allergy, there is a true immune response that may manifest as itchy skin, hot spots, foot biting, or other behaviors. Intolerances usually do not cause an immune reaction but may appear as digestive upset or colitis. Rotation feeding mitigates the risk that the body develops these reactions because a specific protein source is not fed long enough for the body to become sensitive towards it. Always look for food free of corn, wheat, and soy, and be sure to rotate between animal protein sources.

2. Interest in the food dish (reduced pickiness). When pets become accustomed to certain textures, flavors, and even brands; they become less inclined to try new foods. With a variety of food choices, your pet can remain excited about the foods in his or her dish and stay interested in the food dish at each and every meal. The variety you provide to your pet (in addition to obedience training) may also help reduce the incidence of destructive behaviors, which may have developed out of boredom.

3. More complete micro-nutrient intake (rotation of proteins). Most premium natural pet foods, are complete and balanced. However, every food ingredient has a unique nutritional profile. This includes amino acid ratios, fatty acid profiles, and micro or trace nutrient compositions. For example, oatmeal is a great source of lutein, while brown rice is rich in manganese. Variety in your pet’s diet delivers different food ingredients and promotes a well-balanced nutrient intake from a wide array of foods. Feeding Instinct Duck Meal and Turkey Meal Formula, which includes carrots, supplies your pet with the amino acid tryptophan and several carotenoids for eye health. Feeding Prairie Salmon Meal and Brown Rice Medley, which includes cranberries, provides omega fatty acids and antioxidants for immune health. Both are excellent and complete diets that can be fed without rotating, but rotation allows your pet to experience the benefits of both.

4. Increased water consumption (rotation of forms). All pets need water. However, not all pets will drink water. The ancestors of our pets drank very little water because they ate fresh prey, which is over 70% moisture. Water is critical to life. Without adequate water intake, our cells experience detrimental effects and begin to die. Many health problems that veterinarians see in their clinics are related to water imbalance. Urinary tract disease (stones, crystals), liver disease, kidney disease, and constipation are all indirectly related to water balance. Typically, the symptoms of these diseases can be alleviated by feeding a high moisture diet such as canned or raw frozen. Once the body is properly hydrated, the liver, kidney, and bowels have the opportunity to function correctly. More importantly, the urine becomes more dilute which prevents crystals from forming or turning into stones. The first line of defense against urinary tract disease is not always feeding a special diet – generally veterinarians will first suggest that their clients increase the pet’s water consumption.

Pets of all breeds and all ages benefit from rotation feeding Ideally, rotation feeding should start as soon as your puppy or kitten can eat solid food. Starting with various flavors of canned and kibble mixed occasionally with raw frozen diets is an easy way to introduce your new family member to the benefits of a natural, variety-based diet. Eventually, the amount of raw diet you feed your pet can be increased so that your pet is eating all 3 forms. These three forms need not be fed at the same meal – some people mix kibble and raw or kibble and canned while others feed kibble for breakfast and canned or raw for dinner. Any of these combinations are acceptable – the idea is simply to offer a variety.

If your pet is older, introducing him/her to rotation feeding may take a little bit of patience. For example, it is much easier to transition younger animals to raw diets than it is for older animals. For these cases, some owners find it useful to gently cook the raw food and serve it with canned or kibble, gradually decreasing the cooking time until the raw food is not cooked at all. It is often recommended that small amounts of kibble be blended into the canned food to accustom your pet to the new texture of a dry food. Alternatively, some owners pour a natural chicken broth over the kibble.

Each pet is unique and there may still be some flavors he/she does not like. Interestingly, when disliked flavors are re-introduced after a few months of rotation feeding, many pets readily accept the once disliked flavor. Or perhaps your pet has already developed allergies to certain ingredients. In these cases, any degree of food rotation will be beneficial. Food allergies or intolerance are slightly different and may require a stricter diet until the reaction subsides. However, once the food-related problem is under control and the pet is being fed a variety of flavors and forms, many owners report that their pet is able to tolerate small amounts of the once problematic ingredient. Raw frozen diets are excellent for pets with food related allergies.