SHOPPING LIST FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY
I am often asked for product recommendations, so I have compiled a list with links to products that I myself use from my favorite retailers. I hope this will be helpful to you when shopping for your new puppy. I also make recommendations for raw feeding and herbal remedies.
PTPA- I haven't ever purchased this particular item, but I agree with the concept. I learned about the PTPA from several
of my buyers who have
used them with great success.
I contacted the PTPA company
and they will give a 5% discount
to my buyers who use the code
AM71861 when ordering.
You should order a size small
or medium for your iggy.
DOG FOOD: I use and rotate several different blends of dog and puppy kibble. I feel that my iggies deserve the benefits from a variety of foods- and they enjoy the variety of flavors. Below are links to my recommended foods. They can be purchased online from PetFoodDirect. They offer 15%-20% off all orders with the AutoShip program.
Here is a question I get alot: do I approve of a BARF (bones and raw food) diet for a puppy? The answer is Yes; as a matter of fact, I have been feeding bones and raw food to my dogs for years. Your puppy has already been fed this way before reaching your home! Here are a few things that your pup has certainly already eaten by the time it leaves here- raw chicken wings including the bones, brown rice cooked with chicken broth and a teaspoon daily of unsweetened plain yogurt.
Now, don't get worried- I am not one of those fanatics about raw feeding; however, I do feel strongly that there are many benefits to a varied diet that includes raw bones and meat. I encourage you to try it too. It's really not that difficult to implement, and you will enjoy the benefits of a very healthy pet for many years to come. When grocery shopping, it's easy to stock up on items for the dog, too. Beef stew cubes on sale? You can just repackage into portion sizes in ziplock bags, label with a magic marker "Dog Food" and pop it into the freezer. Cooking vegetables for supper? Save a few for the pup. It's also a good way to utilize leftovers after supper: have an extra chicken breast after everyone is done eating? Cut it into appropriate size pieces, put in a ziplock bag, and freeze for dogfood later. Just remember that the dog is NOT the garbage disposal system; there is a lot of junk food or processed foods that should never be given to your pup. Remember that only fresh foods, or those prepared in a healthy manner in your kitchen, should be given to your pup.
Some of my dogs' favorite foods include chicken, turkey, venison, sardines, cooked deboned fish such as tuna or salmon, beef, rabbit, scrambled eggs, turkey tails/necks, raw unwashed "green" tripe, steamed or raw baby carrots, steamed green beans, watermelon, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, baked potatoes, berries, oatmeal, brown rice, and barley. Also, organ meats are a treat including gizzards, hearts, and liver. However, liver should be portioned out in small amounts to avoid loose stools.
Here are a few tips to remember when feeding your dog a natural diet:
1- Don't mix kibble, vegetables, grains, and raw meat all in the same bowl. It digests differently, so should be fed at separate meals to avoid gassiness. (Example: Day One- kibble for breakfast, meat for supper. Day Two- kibble for breakfast, grains and veggies for supper.)
2- Use only human grade meats and vegetables that have been handled and stored in a safe manner. Although the short intestinal tract of a dog will handle most bacteria quite easily, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Here is a partial list of things that you should never allow your dog to eat: pork, raisins, chocolate, apple cores, onions, avocados, grapes, cow's milk, macadamia nuts, uncooked eggs or fish, mushrooms, or diet foods containing xylitol. All of these items are unsafe and potentially fatal.
Here are some things that are not poisonous, of course, but just not healthy. Don't feed them this:
Anything with white flour or sugar. This includes bread.
Processed meat products such as weenies or lunchmeat. They do NOT need salt, seasonings, preservatives, or any food colorings. We should be much pickier in feeding our dogs than we are in feeding ourselves. :)
BONES-
Important info about feeding raw bones- Please read this carefully, as it's very important. Fresh or frozen bones are fine, but DO NOT EVER FEED YOUR PET ANY BONES THAT HAVE BEEN COOKED. The heat/cooking process causes the bones to be dry and brittle, which causes indigestible splinters that could pierce intestines. However, uncooked bones are completely chewable and digestible. (Although they may not look "soft", they are actually soft enough to be completely ground into digestible pieces by their strong teeth and easily digested by the high acid content of a dog's intestinal tract.) Raw bones contain highly digestible calcium and minerals of a sort that are not found in kibble. The calcium added to kibble is not easily assimilated or digested, thus inferior to raw bones in effectiveness. (As you know, IGs need all the calcium they can get to strengthen their long slim legbones.) The poop produced by these raw bones is chalky/crumbly/white, and very low odor. Very easy to clean up, as it doesn't leave a sticky residue behind and it doesn't smell.
Another bonus of feeding raw bones: teeth cleaning. Kibble containing much corn or carbohydrates (fillers- the cheaper dog foods have a lot of it) will stick to the teeth. (You know how your teeth are full of "dough" after eating a saltine cracker and you have to use a toothpick to get it all out the cracks?) When they say to 'give your dog a hard doggy biscuit to chew on' to clean their teeth, that is nonsense... it would be like saying "If we don't want to brush our teeth, we can just eat a hard cookie or hard cracker instead to clean our teeth." You know that just makes it worse! But when your dog chews on a natural bone, it actually does clean the teeth; it scrapes off tartar buildup and actually freshens their breath.
Disclaimer- All of the information contained in this section is based on my own experience. Please do your own research and speak with your vet when choosing your pet's feeding regimen. I will not be responsible for any dogs' diets except my own.
FROZEN RAW FOOD: For those of you who would like to feed raw/fresh but don't always have the time to shop and prepare meals for your pup/dog, here are some frozen alternatives. Also from PetFoodDirect, with 15%-20% off all orders with the AutoShip program.
TRAINING TREATS: It's hard to find good nutritious prepackaged treats at the grocery store, as so many contain artificial colors, artificial preservatives, high sodium, etc. Please make sure that the treats you feed your iggy are healthy. These are some good examples below- freeze dried treats, also from PetFoodDirect. They are not smelly nor greasy, so no problem carrying them around with you.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS: from PetFoodDirect.
CLOTHING AND BEDDING- I like the selection of products from Pet Street Mall; these items are my favorites and free shipping is available on orders over $50.
Choose size itty bitty
Items from Revival Animal Health- They don't offer free shipping, but they carry some items that I can't find anywhere else. Their prices are very reasonable.
This is what I have on my outside water spigots in the yard. The adults all enjoy using them, as the water is always clean and fresh, right from the tap. Most of my pups know how to use these too, by the time they are 8 weeks old, from watching Mama drink from this. http://www.revivalanimal.com/Lixit-Dog-Waterer-L100.html
While your puppy is still small, this is the best way to provide water while crated... no water bowls knocked over, causing a mess. This brand works better than any other I have tried, and it is large enough to provide enough water for the pup. A smaller bottle and tube would not provide enough water flow.
This item is handy for your new puppy who misses snuggling with his/her littermates at night. But if you prefer a cheaper alternative, just get an old tube sock, fill it with dried beans or rice, sew up the end, and microwave til warm. (Then when the puppy destroys it playing, you can just make a new one. haha.)
Ear mite lotion for healthy ears. http://www.revivalanimal.com/MitaClear-Lotion.html
Flaxseed oil, just a few drops on the food each day for a shiny coat. Don't use too much though, or loose stools will result. http://www.revivalanimal.com/Oil-of-Flaxseed.html
NATURAL AND HERBAL REMEDIES-
Rosemary for flea and insect repellant- I have a rosemary bush growing in a large pot in my yard that thrives here year round. For a flea and insect repellant, I will crush a bit of rosemary in a jar, add water, shake well and then pour into a spray bottle. This can be misted on the dogs for a natural mosquito/insect repellant. (If you don't grow your own, you can purchase fresh rosemary in the grocery store produce section for this.)
Ginger for car sickness or upset stomach- I plan to start growing my own ginger soon, but until then I will continue to purchase the fresh ginger root at the grocery store in the produce section. I slice and chop a little peice- about the size of a sugar cube, simmer it in a cup of water for about 10 mins, then let it cool. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze, then take the frozen cubes out and put them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Whenver I plan to do any traveling, I give one "ginger popsicle" to each dog traveling with me by mixing it with a warm broth and pouring over a very small light meal, about an hour before travel begins.
NuVet vitamins- http://www.NuVet.com/90085
This supplement produces the best results that I have found anywhere. I will extend your pup's one year health guarantee to two years, if you keep your pet on this high quality formula for the first two years.
Ingredients- Alfalfa, Alpha Amylase, Amino Acids, Beta Carotene, Blue Green Algae, Brewer's Yeast, Cat's Claw, Chicken Liver, Copper, Evening Primrose Oil, Iron, L Methionine, Magnesium, Manganese, Oyster Shell, Papain, Phosphorus, Pine Bark, Potassium, Selenium, Shark Cartilage, Vitamin A, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin). Vitamin B3 (Niacin). Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B12, Vitamin C (Ester C™), Vitamin E,
Whey Protein, Zinc.
Choose size xx small- for puppy training
Use only half a vial each time.
Can be used alone or added in front of a crate.
Choose the appropriate one for your home
Ask for the Cosy Cave Pet Tent;
heating pad can be put inside
Chewproof hammock bed; mine love these w/ a blanket
Fun! Or for airline approved carry-on travel, use the I-GO2 Escort
Several sizes available
