Canine Nutrition with Narelle from CanineCeuticals
Introducing fellow animal enthusiast, Narelle Cooke, of CanineCeuticals
Narelle Cooke is a clinical Naturopath, Nutritionist and Herbalist. She has worked for many years with human clients, however, soon realised that pets were suffering from many of the same lifestyle diseases as their owners, including allergies, obesity, stress and anxiety, arthritis, and even cancer. Narelle recognised that there was a lack of high-quality, holistic approaches to supporting canine health, and she made it her mission to address this gap by creating CanineCeuticals.
CanineCeuticals is a premium supplement range for dogs that offers a holistic approach to supporting their core health. Made with human-quality ingredients, these supplements aim to provide the best health outcomes for our pets and help them live their best and longest lives. With this in mind, let's dive into some questions for Narelle.
Narelle Cooke from CanineCeuticals
Here at Happy Hounds, we are big advocates of raw feeding. In a nutshell, can you explain to pet parents what it means to feed your pet a raw food diet, as well as the benefits of doing so?
Big question! But to keep it simple … raw feeding involves feeding your pet a diet that is primarily made up of a variety of different raw muscle meats, organ meats, and bones, as well as small amounts of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. This diet is far more species-appropriate and intended to mimic the type of food that a dog would eat in the wild, as compared to highly processed kibble.
A healthy and balanced species-appropriate diet provides our dog’s body with the building blocks it needs to achieve optimal wellness. I could write pages on the benefits of raw food feeding, but here are just a few benefits of raw feeding for pets:
❤️ Improved immune system function and gut health as it’s not full of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives - not to mention mycotoxins and storage mites!
❤️ Raw food is rich in highly bioavailable nutrients such as protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which can help to support all aspects of health, including immune, gut, joint and skin etc. This can then reduce the risk of allergies and degenerative diseases long-term.
❤️ Chewing on raw bones can help to clean your pet's teeth and gums, reducing the risk of dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
❤️ The research shows that dogs fed a raw food diet are less likely to be overweight. Part of the reason for this is that raw food is typically lower in carbohydrates than commercial pet food, which can help pets maintain a healthy weight and even lose excess kgs.
❤️ The research also shows increased cognitive ability and reduced cognitive decline in dogs when phytonutrients from plants and omega-3 fats from marine sources are included in the diet.
As an expert in canine nutrition, what are some common issues that you have observed in dogs that are on a kibble-only, often prescription diets, and how can pet parents improve their dog's diet while still ensuring that it is manageable and not overwhelming?
Some of the main issues that I have observed in dogs that are on kibble-only diets include:
Nutrient deficiencies. In terms of prescription diets, for example, many are designed to address specific health conditions, but they may not provide a balanced and complete nutrient profile for all life stages when used long-term (which they often are). This can lead to nutrient deficiencies and related health problems down the track. And there are multiple studies showing that even when synthetic vitamins and minerals are added to kibble, that it can often still contain insufficient amounts due to the more fragile vitamins degrading during processing and then further again during storage.
Poor digestion. Kibble-only diets can be hard for some dogs to digest, especially if they contain high levels of grains and legumes and artificial ingredients. This can lead to digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, excess gas, bloating and vomiting.
Allergies and intolerances. Many dogs are allergic or intolerant to certain ingredients commonly found in kibble such as wheat gluten, corn and soy. Many of the artificial ingredients commonly found in kibble can also damage the gut lining and compromise immune function, which can further exacerbate intolerances and allergies.
To improve your dog's diet while still ensuring that it is manageable and not overwhelming, a few tips would be:
Read ingredient labels carefully. Look for high-quality dog food brands that use real animal protein (muscle meats and organs) as the first few ingredients and that avoid fillers, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. My general go-to recommendation is to use one of the commercial nutritionally complete and balanced raw brands – my favourite is Big Dog, but there are lots of options out there to suit everyone.
Work with a professional. It’s a lot easier these days to work with an animal nutritionist to create a few balanced homemade diets that meet your dog's nutritional needs. That way, you don’t have to stress about if you’re getting it right. Or they may just identify a few tweaks that need to be made to what you’re already doing.
Supplement if you need to. Unfortunately, many home-prepared diets lack key nutrients, so if you’re making up your own meals, consider adding in a meal balancer to ensure that your dog is getting all the nutrients they need. That way it becomes super simple – just mix the meal balancer with some plain meat and you’re done! (always read the specific instructions for the meal balancer that you purchase).
Can you recommend any specific supplements or ingredients that are particularly beneficial for older dogs with health conditions, such as joint pain or arthritis?
Many people may be surprised to hear that the research around the benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin is conflicting and not particularly strong, which is why I’ve taken a slightly different angle on joint health support. One of my favourite ingredients is Palmitoylethanolamide (P.E.A for short!). P.E.A has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, with decades of research in both humans and animals highlighting its benefits for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, including alleviating nerve pain (commonly seen in IVDD). I get great feedback for improved mobility in older dogs with the use of P.E.A Plus, and I think it made a significant difference to the recovery of my French Bulldog after her spinal injury.
Another product that I always recommend for older dogs (but suitable for all ages) is the Collagen Forte. It contains high-quality hydrolysed bioactive collagen peptides designed to stimulate joint cartilage metabolism and counteract joint discomfort. Collagen has proven beneficial effects on mobility in dogs and contributes to the maintenance of connective tissue, joints, ligaments, bone, and skin. A study using the same type of collagen as found in the Collagen Forte showed significant reductions in limping and improved vitality in dogs with osteoarthritis.
“A raw diet is far more species-appropriate and intended to mimic the type of food that a dog would eat in the wild, as compared to highly processed kibble”
And we can’t leave out curcumin from turmeric. But it’s important to note that not all turmeric products are created equal. There are only a few trademarked curcumin extracts that I will recommend for humans and dogs, and the Curcumin C3 Complex is one of them due to its proven superior bioavailability and efficacy.
The Curcumin C3 Complex can be found in the VetActiv8 Joint Health and Joint Care products, and it has been shown to provide a minimum of 95% curcuminoids (the key active constituents that reduce inflammation and assists with joint health). These curcuminoids are responsible for blocking key inflammatory pathways and have been shown to lower the number of chondrocyte cells destroyed, which are an integral part of cartilage. The Curcumin C3 Complex used in the VetActiv8 Joint Health formula is also highly potent in deactivating pain sensitivity mechanisms in the body, thus decreasing swelling and protecting joint tissue from damage.
We all want to provide our pets with the best possible nutrition, but budget constraints can make it difficult. What are some simple, cost-effective changes that pet owners can make to their dog's diet to ensure that they are still receiving the essential nutrients they need to thrive?
Providing your dog with a balanced and healthy diet doesn't have to break the bank. A few examples of simple changes that pet owners can make to keep things affordable, without compromising their dog’s health include:
🐾 Choose the highest-quality dog food for your budget, but then add in nutrient-dense extras such as fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, canned sardines/salmon/mackerel, chia/flax/hemp seeds.
🐾 Preparing homemade meals for your dog can be a cost-effective way to provide them with high-quality nutrition, and as I mentioned previously, if you’re not sure about getting the balance right, there are some budget-friendly meal balancers, such as the Vets All Natural that can be added in.
🐾 Buying dog food in bulk can often be more cost-effective than buying smaller amounts. Look for bulk purchasing options at your local pet store or online. There are often local dog groups that place bulk orders – so look for those.
🐾 Avoid overfeeding! In my experience, most pet owners are feeding too much anyway, so be mindful of portion sizes.
Happy Hounds Raw Feeding Recommendations
Happy Hounds Dog Walking stands alongside Narelle as ardent advocates of raw feeding. We firmly believe in the transformative power of providing dogs with a natural, species-appropriate diet to enhance their overall well-being.
Recognizing the overwhelming array of dog food products available in the market, we understand the challenge of selecting the best options for your beloved pet. That's why we've taken the initiative to compile a carefully curated directory of businesses that we trust to provide the highest quality nutrition for dogs. These businesses have demonstrated their commitment to producing top-notch, wholesome products that align with our raw feeding philosophy.
At Happy Hounds, we want to emphasise that raw feeding can be both beneficial and convenient and for our Gold Coast based clients, we highly recommend The Naked Paw for convenient quality raw food. Each Naked Paw meal is made from human grade meat combined with fruit, veggies, free range eggs, super oils, seeds and powders and free from preservatives, additives, grains, fillers and dairy. Made fresh each week and delivered to your door.
A big thanks from the Happy Hounds Team to Narelle Cooke from CanineCeuticals for sharing her expertise on canine nutrition in this post! As pet lovers, we share Narelle's passion for providing our furry friends with the best possible care and quality of life.
We hope you found Narelle's practical tips and recommendations helpful in improving your pets' nutrition. If you have any questions or queries about which CanineCeuticals products would best support the health and well-being of your dog; you can contact Narelle by emailing info@canineceuticals.com.au. You can also check out all of CanineCeutical's products at www.canineceuticals.com.au.