Why are they important? We get questions all the time here at Pets Plus on these overwhelming terms! And for good reason, you’ll see variations of these terms all over pet foods, treats, and supplements across the nation; but what do they mean? How do they benefit our pets?
All of these terms are a part of an important process in the body that are responsible for your pet’s ability to break down and utilize the nutrients in what they eat. When properly functioning it aids in protecting your pet from illness or infection, promotes healthy hair and skin, improves energy, reduces inflammation, supports consistency of stools,reduces gas, and so much more! There are lots of ways to help your pet achieve overall wellness by supporting their digestive system, but first let’s learn how it all works.
Let’s start from the beginning. PREbiotics are plant fibers that are the food for PRObiotics. Prebiotics also have an important function of altering the composition of the gut to help prevent disease! Probiotics can’t do their job without food, so having a healthy supply of prebiotics is crucial. Supplements like our In Clover – Optagest powder, Nootie Pre and Probiotic soft chews, pumpkin and squash, carrots, and our frozen raw Primal Fresh Toppers are just a few examples rich in these important prebiotic fibers.
Now moving onto Probiotics, who have lots of important roles. Probiotics consist of healthy bacteria that not only aid in the healthy functioning of the GI tract, but also help regulate hormones, absorb nutrients, and help with having a healthy immune system. With so many benefits it’s easy to see how having a healthy supply of probiotics can help with a wide array of common health issues.
So what happens next in this important process? POSTbiotics! Postbiotics are the byproduct of healthy probiotics and gut fermentation. Postbiotics consist of important amino acids, vitamins, and short-chain fatty acids, and is an important anti-inflammatory that nurse the walls of the intestinal tract. Supplementing with products like Nutrisource Come-Pooch-A bone broth provide postbiotics that can get right to work aiding your pets digestion.
Digestive Enzymes are made naturally throughout the body, and they are the ones actually breaking down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to make nutrients out of the foods that are consumed. Unique digestive enzymes are made everywhere from their saliva, pancreas, and even in the small intestine- each with their own specific job. And they cannot do their particular roles without probiotics providing the healthy bacteria to support them!
So as you can see all these components are vitally important for the body and for the productivity of each other! Foods like our North Winds Premium incorporate both prebiotics AND probiotics to aid in the optimal digestion and nutrient absorption for your pet! There’s no end to the possibilities of having a healthy functioning digestive system; from boosting immunity to helping fight off harmful bacteria and viruses – to even helping prevent allergies. There are so many ways to help your pet achieve their optimal overall wellness by supporting their digestive system, and some pets may need a little more help then others. Knowing what these terms mean and how they function can help you navigate the confusing world of labels to decide on the most beneficial products for your pet!
Sources:
https://www.alltech.com/blog/prebiotics-probiotics-and-postbiotics-pets-whats-difference
Apupabove.com
https://www.volharddognutrition.com/blog/understanding-proper-dog-nutrition-digestive-enzymes-101/
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When I first got Felix, a 2 year old standard poodle, he was a mess. Not only physically being riddled with mats, and smelt to high heaven – but emotionally a wreck as well. Extremely skeptical of us, our resident dog Rue, his new environment, and every sound and smell in the house. I knew he needed time, confidence building, and most of all lots of love and consistency. Bringing a new dog home can sometimes be overwhelming for the family and the new pet, but here’s a few helpful tips to make the transition easier.
Before picking up a new member of the family, have some supplies ready to go. Crate, bowls, leash and collar to name a few. Inquire with the rescue or breeder if they’ll send a small supply of the food they are used to eating home with you can so you can avoid any gastrointestinal upset. When transitioning to a digestible diet like North Winds Premium Superior Select it is always best to mix the old diet with the new gradually over the course of a few days. Having pumpkin on hand is always good, as even just the stress of the moving can cause loose stool. It’s imperative to make sure the pumpkin is not pie filling, you can trust us at Pet’s Plus to have healthy organic pumpkin selections on hand so you can be better prepared!
When introducing a new dog to your pack, take them on a walk together or meet somewhere neutral. Having them meet in an environment where your resident dog may feel like his/her space is being encroached upon (or meeting nose to nose) may cause tension between the two of them. It’s best to take them on a walk where they are under your control, in a neutral environment, that allows them to associate each other with a positive thing! Even our resident dog Rue, who loves all dogs and isn’t protective of anything in the home, can still be an overwhelming ball of energy to dogs like Felix who are initially apprehensive of their new environment. I know Felix appreciated having the opportunity to get acquainted outside instead of being bombarded in the house! Regardless of personality, not cutting corners on this initial meet and greet is imperative. Be prepared to take the proper time to do this as soon as the new member of the family arrives. Also make sure you give them plenty of extra potty breaks the first few days, as they adjust to their new schedule.
After having Felix for over a month, he has made it apparent he’s smart as a whip. He is constantly in tune to what we are doing and watching for any opportunity to jump in and show off his tricks. Huge turn around from when we first brought him home, where he would barely listen to absolutely anything anyone wanted, even the most simple of things (like eat your food.) It’s important to not ask too much of your new dog for a few weeks when you initially bring them home. Let them settle into a routine, and allow them the chance to get used to your families habits, noises, and smells. Going on walks around the neighborhood gives them a chance to get grounded in their new environment. Exercise can also help with stress that may come along with adjusting to a new home. Taking it slow will help them build confidence and instill trust in you that you will keep them safe.
Crate training can be an important safety tool for your new dog. Never use a crate as punishment or a “time-out” zone. If you feed them in their crate, and leave the door open for them to go in and out of while you’re home they will start associating it with a positive and safe place to be. Some dogs feel so comfortable being in a crate they prefer to sleep in one! Offering lots of positive reinforcement that tempts the dog to go in a crate on their own accord instead of physically forcing them is helpful. Allow some extra time to do this each day, instead of just shoving them in quick because you’re running late for work. Being crated when you leave home can help avoid issues like getting into the trash, chewing up furniture or doors, or most importantly anything that could be hazardous to their well being. It can come in handy down the road too, even if you don’t plan on using it at home for forever. A couple of common examples being if you ever visit a friend or a hotel that requires them to be in a crate when you aren’t there. If they are already used to being crated, this avoids a lot of extra stress on your dog when you’re traveling.
When they are crated and not supervised, be cautious of what you leave in there with them so it’s not a choking hazard. However, when you’re home and want to keep them busy and reduce anxiety – chews and interactive toys are an awesome way to achieve that. Chews like North Winds Premium Peak Chasers are long lasting, non staining or splintering chews that are sure to keep your dog’s mind busy and teeth clean. Picking out the right bone for your dog is important as some bones are softer and better for puppies, and some are tougher that will hold up better with a more intense chewer. North Winds Premium offers those and everything in between! Inquire with any of the Pets Plus staff to help guide you to the right selections for your pet. Thunder jackets are another helpful tool. They are like anxiety wraps for animals that uses pressure points to scientifically reduce anxiety. North Winds Premium True Course Full Spectrum Hemp Oil has been a life saver for me over the years with many of my animals. Benefits ranging from pain control to reducing anxiety, it can be administered up to twice daily safely to make you and your pets life a lot more manageable.
Rue and Felix thank me everyday by being the healthiest best dogs they can be, and I know yours will too! Small steps now lead to big change down the road, and the more money you can save from everything from dental to vet bills – the better. We’ll be here for you every step of the way, but let’s get off to a good start!
]]>Running a neighborhood pet store for over 15 years means I have heard many concerns about proteins, carbs, what is good in pet food, and what is bad.
Typically my initial reaction is that you would better off feeding a diet that has a high amount of quality animal proteins and enough carbohydrates to hold the kibble together (when it comes to dry food). But honestly, that can be easily misinterpreted just meat and whichever carbohydrate source. This can be frustrating because there are proteins that are not digestible like skin or feathers, or be of a less quality protein.
Carbohydrates matter because plants have cellulose, lignin, and other non fermentable fibers, making them less digestible. I often avoid corn and wheat for that very reason in a pet food. Plus it’s also in a time where we know that there are more digestible carbohydrates available. But in the end, they still will not be as digestible as an animal sourced protein of good quality.
Despite many people looking for food of good quality proteins, they skip over pork. But why? There can be rumors that say pork is high in fat, which has 1/3 the fat content of beef, which many customers easily and happily use beef. Another rumor is that there could be something poor for your dogs liver, another is that pigs eat bugs, or its scarce like a novel protein like duck, bison, or rabbit, which is isn’t (just look at the supermarket shelves).
Just like beef, chicken, or fish, where pork comes from matters. We always aim to source from trusted and responsible suppliers. Not only is this better for the well being of the planet, but you often getting a product that has been shown more omega 3’s, a better ratio of omega 6 and omega 3, as well more vitamin E.
Pork is very digestible and has a favorable amino acid profile as well as being a neutral meat in Traditional Chinese medicine. Pork also has many other benefits such as being high in linoleic acid. This will maintain your dogs skin due to helping with the outermost water barrier as well as so many essential molecules in your dogs body are made from linoleic acid.
Pork has a balanced ratio of monounsaturated and saturated fats. This is important because a diet that not balanced between fats, inflammation can occur and health issues will rise. Dogs can metabolize up to 95% of the fats in their system, but fan digestion is far more complex then breaking down and assimilating protein and carbohydrates. At 95%, fat is still highly digestible and accessible form of energy while being essential (which means they cannot make it themselves) for their well being.
Pork is also great to use as a protein due to the fact that it might have a lower amount of protein per pound, it allows us to continue to make a food low on carbohydrates while having lower protein and fat for pet parents that rather see lower numbers due to lower energy requirements. Simply put, it’s a way to keep animal meat content high, while not filling up the food with more carbohydrates or other ingredients that will not add to the over digestibility of the food.
Pork organ meat, which we use in our Freeze Dried Trail Breaker is also a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Simply put:
Pork is a high quality and very digestible protein with a wonderful amino acid profile. Myths about pork being high in fat, causing pancreatitis, poor for their liver, can cause trichinosis (all pet foods are cooked as well as tested), or that it’s a novel or scarce protein are just that, myths, that’s why it’s incredibly hard to even find evidence to even collaborate the myths. It’s hard to overlook so many health benefits while skipping over such a great protein. At our retail location, we often have used pork to even combat sensitivities and allergies.
At North Winds we do believe that nature knows best, that’s why we use pork as a protein in our Cascade Choice, Portage Prime, Trail Breaker dry, Grain Free Sawtooth Mountain, and our freeze dried Trail Breaker. Our goal is to make the best dog food using best parts of nature and science to ensure we do make great choices because your dog deserves it.
https://www.becopets.com/blogs/news/can-dogs-eat-pork
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/gen_info/faqs.html
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/dog-food-myths/
https://www.healthydogtreats.com.au/dog-food-digestibly/
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/allergies-food-energetics/
https://www.mypetnutritionist.com/post/essential-fats-for-my-dogs-diet-the-ultimate-guide
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It is well known that the sourcing of rawhide can be difficult as well as the manufacturing process. That's why we are here to help! Let's take a look at how rawhides are made, why they are better options available, and options we have available.
How is rawhide made?
Rawhide is typically from cow or a bull after all of the meat is removed. Overseas rawhide is often given a chemical bath to preserve the product (as with any sourced from anything living at one time), this allows for easier transport. In the United States most rawhide is transported in refrigerated trucks. Typically because of refrigerated trucks, US sourced rawhide tends to have less chemicals.
During the process of making beef or cow hide into raw hide, it is dipped with an ash-lye solution to remove hair and fat. It is then after “cleaned” with water or bleach, and/or hydrogen peroxide. Overseas arsenic is often used, and at at times formaldehyde, which is banned in the United States. It is apart of the reason why we only use trusted suppliers for all of our products. Finally it can be smoked, added with artificial flavors and colors, and is sometimes left natural.
Why do you not recommend rawhide?
Rawhide often has poor sourcing, can be bathed in chemicals, but most of all, they’re not digestible if your dog gets a piece off it. That means if your dog gets a chunk off, it may not digest, cause blockages and can cause serious illness or even death. Some of the heavily flavored rawhides may cause issues such as vomiting or diarrhea.
Dogs do have a natural urge to chew. Puppies explore their enviroment particially when they are teething. Dogs also have a natural instinct to scavenge, to satisfy the need to gnaw as a means to clean their teeth, as well as playing! Also, some dogs will chew as a reaction to be anxious or stressed.
What do you recommend?
There are many options other then rawhide, but today we’ll focus on just a few of the many alternatives for your dog. North Winds Premium offers a bunch of healthy chews that are always responsibly sourced from trusted suppliers.
1) Peak Chaser
Peak Chaser chews are a favorite both online and in our store. Peak Chasers are a hard cheese chew made from yak milk, cow milk, and a pinch of lime & salt. Smoked to perfection, these are great because they’re also pretty clean! If a chunk comes off, you can microwave it for 45 seconds and it turns into a cheese puff.
North Winds Premium Pork Skin rolls are NOT rawhide but made from pork skin that has been rolled up like a retriever roll. Then they are naturally baked without any artificial ingredients. The best part is that they break down easily and are digestible.
3) Pig Ears
North Winds Premium Pig Ears are a simple and super digestible way to give your dog a healthy snack. Often people think of pig ears as a fatty treat, but they are mainly made of cartilage, so they’re typically high in protein and low in fat. Our pig ears are also 100% digestible as well, so you do not need to worry about stomach blockages like you would a rawhide. Pig ears also contain glucosamine and chonodroitin as well as being a great way to clean their teeth. These pig ears do not contain additives, artificial ingredients, and they are sourced and produced in the United States. Because they are baked, we do not need to add any products. 100% pig ear is what you’re paying for, it’s what you’re getting.
All of our bones are dipped in liquid smoke and then oven baked to perfection. Why does this matter? Often with smoking a bone through a smoke, the smoke can permeate the chew making it more brittle, making a harder bone softer and a soft bone even more brittle. Make sure the chew is larger then the dogs jaw, and also make sure to monitor their chewing.
1) Size: If the bone is smaller then the dog’s mouth, it’s too small. It needs to be larger then the lower jaw of the dog. Once it is chewed down to where it would be smaller then their low jaw, it should be taken away.
2) Bone density: Typically bones that support more weight such as a leg bone, knee caps, or a shin bone will be thicker compared to bone such as a rib bone. Pork & lamb bones also tend to be a softer bone which is perfect for light chewers. Heavy chewers may prefer knee caps, shin bones, or center cut bones.
3) Consumption: Bones & chews are meant to be slowly gnawed down. This is apart of why bones provide dental benefits as well as giving your dog a longer chewing experience. Look for slivers of bones, if they are large, make sure to take away the pieces or the chunks, and give a different chew or bone a try. If a dog chews too quickly, you’ll need bone with a higher density. Bones such as knuckles contain soft cartilage material that can be completely consumed and can help support your dog’s hips & joints.
4) Cooked bones vs raw bones, the details matter. Cooked and raw bones are identical in strength and maintain the same breaking points. When proper moisture is maintained there isn’t a significant different in bone consistency. Each of our bones & chews are oven baked with strict adherence to keeping a proper level of moisture. If bones have too much moisture, it can be come brittle and easily broken. All bones may splinter however and each dog should have supervision during chewing.
Conclusion
There are many raw hide alternatives on the market today, but we believe our North Winds Premium line of products are perfect for dogs that need to satisfy their innate urge to chew. You can have both a long lasting chew, but also one you can trust. We’re pet owners ourselves and we want to provide your dog with a safe chew that we would feel confident in using. We want to provide you with the best dog chews on the market and we look forward to helping you along the way.
Either at the park, at home, or in the wild, we’re here to keep your dog moving each step of the way, because at the head of every trail, should be a tail.
]]>North Winds Premium is proud to introduce our Sky Gazer dog treats that are coated and enhanced with freeze dried protein. So many dog treats on the market are made often plant based with high amounts of carbohydrates. Our goal was simple, so create a treat that dogs will love, that will be good amounts of protein, fat, super foods, while being low on carbohydrates as well as being sourced responsibly.
Sky Gazer treats have 84% of their protein coming from chicken, turkey, ocean fish meal, as well as either freeze dried beef, chicken, or elk & venison. Sky Gazer Dog treats use ancient grains that are rich in nutrients with offer many health benefits. At North Winds, we also want each of our treats to have a purpose, so we infused each treat with super foods, coat supplements, as well as adding essential vitamins and minerals to ensure each bite has a benefit. As the finishing touch, we coat every treat with freeze dried.
Our freeze dried enhancement that coats each treat is either beef, chicken, or a combination of elk & venison. Nutrient dense freeze dried organ meat delivers easily absorbed vitamins and nutrients as well as making each treat super palatable. Even when you’re done with the bag, sprinkle the remainder on their freeze dried, canned, or kibble, to make sure you are able to take advantage of every benefit.
North Winds Premium Sky Gazer Dog Treats with Freeze Dried is perfect for a wholesome treat or reward, as well as having the health benefits that any dog, either on the trail, in the yard, or needing extra supports for their joints, digestion, or their skin & coat. These dog treats are made in the USA without any harmful colors, fillers, or artificial preservatives, and since they do not have corn, wheat, soy, by-products, or fillers, they are a prime choice for dogs with sensitivities.
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When Pets Plus started our North Winds Premium line of pet supplies in 2013, our goal was to make to best dog food and the best cat food that we ourselves would be proud to feed. But the story goes back past 2013 and into the early 90’s.
Jim and Mary Joy had a dog named Brutus who had an allergic reaction to the food that they were feeding and after researching a food, they had a pallet delivered to their home where it was hand unloaded into their basement and eventually, their garage. Each bag was handled by Jim & Mary and delivered to customers homes in between their regular jobs. In 1998, they decided to move into their Bemidji location, where as of November of 2022, it’s where Pets Plus and North Winds are operated out of today.
Each step of the way, Jim and Mary had to cut their own path for nearly thirty years. Pets Plus is 100% family owned and completely independent of any other pet food chains. Everything that happens in our store is handled by our small but dedicated team. We’re proud to be independent as it also allows us to make decisions quickly and always have the best for the customer in mind. But all of that started with Jim & May Joy starting their endeavor and making their own way. That is why we named our newest freeze dried dog food and our newest kibble, Trail Breaker.
Freeze dried is at the pinnacle of pet nutrition and the start of each dogs health is digestibility and absorption of ingredients including proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Trail Breaker is 96% pork and enhanced with salmon oil, flaxseed oil, and coconut oil to promote a healthy skin and coat. Pumpkin, goats milk, and probiotics are also added to support digestion. The little things matter, so the diet is fortified with vitamins and minerals to make sure the food has a perfect balance for dogs well being.
Trail Breaker is also made with high fat and protein to mirror your pet’s ancestral diet and also made without grains. Freeze dried does not need a starch, so we do not have any reason to include grains or legumes. Trail Breaker is a low carbohydrate dog food as well. We source all of our protein from trustworthy and responsible sources, because every ingredient counts.
Trail Breaker dry food is made with 88% animal based protein and utilizes high amounts of pork, chicken, turkey, and ocean fish with GMO free ancestral grains that are rich in nutrients. Trail Breaker uses antioxidant rich super foods such as beets, cranberries, pumpkin, tomatoes, and blueberries as well as botanicals such as turmeric and chamomile. Trail Breaker is then fortified with vitamins and chelated minerals to make a perfect balance for your dog’s well being. This diet is a meat based diet with high protein and fat, mirroring your pets ancestral diet while utilizing lower carbohydrates then many brands.
We do not use any by-products, corn, wheat, or soy, and as always we source all of our ingredients from responsible and trustworthy sources. This diet is perfect for puppies all the way through adults. Because of what is not in the food, it’s prime for those dogs with sensitivities.
North Winds Premium Haven Trail Breaker dry & freeze dried dog foods are optimal formulas made to deliver on the promises by Pets Plus and North Winds Premium to offer healthy recipes for the longevity of your dog. For that reason, we’re proud to name our food Trail Breaker after the path that was made by Jim and Mary Joy thirty years ago. North Winds Premium is and has been inspired by so much. Living in beautiful northern, Minnesota, it is hard not to be inspired by nature and it’s wonderful bounty. Jim and Mary Joy also have shared this love for years, and now into our second generation, we will continue to share our love of pets and nature with you. Our products reflect where we’re from and our commitment to helping each dog hit the trail. Because at the head of every trail should always be a tail.
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Our goal is to make cat foods that are meant to fit a cats natural well being. That means having a species specific diet focused on the right amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrates for your cat. Cats are also chronically dehydrated due to not typically drinking enough water, unlike a dog, they often need to get their hydration from their food, where a dog may sit and drink from a bowl.
When you feed just dry food, you cat is not only getting the correct amount of moisture daily, but it is actually reducing the amount of moisture they need. Cats do need moisture (as well as dogs) to help combat constipation, poor nutrient absorption, and even issues urinating.
Cats can be picky! A high quality canned food like our North Winds Premium is made with real cuts of meat that is often blended with chicken, pumpkin, fish, or other amazing proteins to make a balanced diet that will also taste wonderful. The aroma of wet food, the taste, and texture will be often more appealing then kibble. Often with that being said, that’s why your cat will be excited when a can or pouch opens as opposed to just kibble being poured in the bowl. Our Rock Harbor line of food uses either a tuna base or a chicken base is incredibly palatable, perfect for picky cats.
We often want a food that is nutrient dense for our animals. Wet food is less processed, ours is real meal blended with vitamin, minerals, and sometimes vegetables. Because of this, the proteins s well as the nutrients are more bio available to make sure it’ll be easier to digest for your cat as well as better absorption. Remember, the more processing a product endures, the more it requires for your cat’s body to digest it.
Now onto our cans!
As of this date (November 10th, 2022), our Rock Harbor (named after the Minnesota’s North Shore harbors) comes in six varieties:
All of Rock Harbor cans are nutrient dense and are made with either tuna or chicken. Our tuna is made with the dark muscle meat which often contains some of the densest nutrition as well as the flavor that cats love. Our chicken diets are made with white chicken breast, just like we would eat.
Each canned food is free of grains, cereals, any artificial colors, or unneeded salt, with that being said, there are proper moisture levels, low sodium, as well as being made with some of the highest quality proteins you can find.
We are often asked why our canned food is made in Thailand. Thailand is often referred to the bread basket of Asia due to the large percentage of food that is grown or caught, like the tuna we use. Our partner in Thailand is strict about meeting labor laws, sustainable fishing, and meeting a high standard of quality with their foods. You’ll find the chicken will be of the same quality of the chicken you may purchase for yourself in a can.
Our Rock Harbor cat food line are all made with cuts of tuna or chicken, often combined with ocean fish, turkey, or even pumpkin to help aid with digestion to relax inflammation. Since there aren’t hardly any carbohydrates, your cat will also not put on unneeded weight, making for a wonderful diet that can be fed every day.
Check out our new cans here and you’ll find that our Rock Harbor cans compare to so many of what are on the market, but due to our goal of making a biologically fitting canned food, you’ll find a tasty, healthy diet, with high quality proteins, and complete with vitamins and minerals.
Many of our customers in our retail store have discovered our North Winds Premium Rock Harbor line are and using it to so much success, we’d love for you to try it too here on our website. Of diets are made for the customers that are discerning, don’t settle for less, and want a food that not only a cat food that tastes great, but also healthy for your feline friend.
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Keep your pets away from candy! There is candy such as chocolate that we know is harmful for your pet, but there are so many others too (including the wrappers!). So please make sure you keep bowls up and your pet away from the sweets. They’ll appreciate you in the long run for keeping them safe.
Decorative plants, dry ice, and fire lit pumpkins are pretty amazing as far as decorations go, but not so much for your pets. Dry ice and plants can be dangerous if consumed. Fire lit jack-o-lanterns could prove to be a fire hazard if tipped over as well! Often we recommend using plush pet toys for decorations!
Make sure not to force your pet into costumes. Some dogs and cats may prefer to be in their birthday suits for Halloween!
There are reflective leashes, collars, light up attachments, light up collars, and vests your pet can wear to help people see your pet better at night, also make sure you keep your yard and driveway well lit so everyone can see your pets too. Remember there are a lot of people moving around at Halloween, so we want to make sure it’s easy to see dogs and cats, especially since many people may not be familiar with your area.
Pets can be spooked with all the activity around Halloween so please make sure to have your pet identified with a tag or a microchip. Halloween is one of the days that pets get lost more then any other day. Stop by our location in Bemidji, Minnesota if you’re needing a tag!
With all the commotion of knocking, doors, and strangers in a house, dogs can be easily overwhelmed! We recommend your pet being in a quiet room away from the party with a comfortable bed so help relax. Keep your cats indoors and safe.
In our store at Pets Plus, we carry many supplements to help with calming including North Winds Premium Hemp Extract for dogs & cats that defiantly help with anxiety caused by knocks on the doors, strangers, and the general noise that comes with trick or treaters.
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That’s why when we develop our treats to be healthy in so many ways. Let’s take a look into why we make our North Winds Treats the way we do!
Our brand new Sky Gazer treats come with either Beef, Chicken, or Elk & Venison. These will be hard bites about the size of four quarters stacked upon each other. Each biscuit has many of the special attributes we use in our food, such as coconut, flaxseed, salmon oil, cod liver oil as well as fruits, vegetables, botanicals, of course, made with a high amount of quality proteins and fat (in high supply).
Companies often love the use high starch, high carbohydrate ingredients, that dogs just plain don’t do as well with. Why do companies put these ingredients in? It’s because they’re affordable and easy to cook with, Starches often work well to hold a treat together but offer little in the way of nutrition. Also, if they use corn, wheat or soy, they’re common allergens that make any protein harder to absorb for your dog.
Sky Gazer treats have the minimum mount of starch to hold the treat together, but we never use corn, wheat, soy, by-products, or fillers. Often corn, wheat, and soy will boost protein, but because meat protein is the most expensive part, they can “add” protein to the food at the expense of spiking blood sugar. But of course, we would want our protein base to be biologically appropriate.
There aren’t any harmful dyes either. Just straight forward, healthy nutrition, and best yet, we coated each treat freeze dried meat.
This will give your dog a little less carbs in each bite, but ensuring your dog will love it too! A beneficial flavor enhancer instead of anything artificial.
Despite what anyone tells you, dogs are still carnivores and with a treat or anything baked, you’ll often still need a starch to hold it together, so often we use ancient grains that are GMO free. The benefit is that you get a carbohydrate source that is also going to promote smooth blood sugar and have many essential vitamins and minerals.
Our Sky Gazer treats are perfect for training, reward, and when you are low in the bag, just mix it into their food for healthy nutrition.
We use our nature knows best philosophy to make Deep Trek jerky. Not all treats are made equally, even softer ones. Many will use corn, wheat, or soy as our does not. We use meat dense ingredients as well as a few positive starches to hold each jerky together (otherwise it’ll crumble) and finally, we add a rich a smokey flavor.
Deep Trek jerky is filled full of energy and can be easily torn into smaller pieces to help train your pet and come in four amazing flavors, so if a dog has a sensitivity or an allergy, no matter what, you’ll have options.
If you have read this far, you’ll know that we have a focus on meat and low carbohydrates. So why not go all meat and completely cut out carbohydrates? That’s why our Haven treats are a perfect fit for every dog. Haven Freeze dried treats are 100% beef liver, chicken breast, or lamb liver and since each treat is freeze dried, not any of the nutrition has been cooked out.
Meat in it’s purest form without any harmful ingredients or fillers, Haven treats are a wonderful supplemental treat to pets with diabetes, can help with weight loss, or a wonderful treat for training or a reward well done. I highly recommend freeze dried treats each day in the store because there isn’t anything that isn’t supposed to be there, period. Just pure nutrition as nature intended.
In conclusion, make everything you give your pet, has a benefit. I really love when customers feed a healthy dog food but I often am surprised when the “dairy bones” are fed to a dog that are carb heavy, low in meat, high in dyes, and have absolutely no health benefit. Or when a person has a pet with allergies that doesn’t consider the treats since there might be not as many of them. Each ingredient matters and especially for pets having larger issues, it’s important that consistency is key.
At Pets Plus, we want to make to keep your pet moving forward on the trail or anywhere, our goal is keep them healthy and happy for each step of the way. So always take time to look into, be concerning about the treats you give your dog, and make a helpful choice for their well being as those little things may not seem big, but cause issue in the future. As pet owners we can only control so much of what your pet eats, so why not do it positively and feed a treat that not only they love, but will help their well being.
If you’d like, please try our treats out, some of our products may need a little different at first, but our North Winds line is always made with your pets well being and your trust in mind.
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True Course Wild Caught Salmon Oil also goes through a molecular distillation to remove toxins such mercury, which naturally occur even in clean and wild waters.
True Course Wild Caught Salmon oil is 100% natural and packed with nutrients such as:
True Course Wild Caught Salmon Oil also contains a carotenoid called astaxanthin which is a powerful antioxidant that shows benefits to for the brain, eyes, and heart.
It’s apart of the reason why we have foods like ours made. At Pets Plus, we wanted a brand you could trust, but one of the reasons why was because in this ever changing world and pet food industry, it can be tough to scour tons of ingredients and brands, hoping to find one that will work for you pet. And that’s how North Winds Premium was started!
Often, I mention to people, there isn’t one food that will fit all the criteria for every dog. Some dogs are picky, overweight, sensitive towards ingredients, even size and metabolism can play a part. That’s why we really wanted to get back to basics on pet food.
Dogs are carnivores. Don’t let the big companies steer you different, often some like to use tons of heavy starches or low quality proteins. Why? They cost less. The most expensive item in pet food (that is used the most) is the protein. Despite the marketing, it doesn’t change the way proteins digest and how proteins digest in a dog. Our goal wasn’t to make a food that would fit a human diet, but a dogs ancestral diet.
That’s why we always focus on a few key factors. Let's dive in!
This is what will keep your dogs stomach from being inflamed (causing diarrhea) and help them to absorb essential nutrients. Dogs have a short digestional tract so having quality proteins that your dogs body takes less energy to break down, will often absorb better, and therefore utilize all the amazing things one can put in dog food for their stomach, their coat, and delivering essential vitamins and minerals. Remember, protein will be the sustenance a dog needs and fat will keep their energy level up.
Dogs don’t digest carbohydrates very well at all. Our goal was to have the minimum starch required to hold the kibble together, we also wanted to use one that a dog would digest well. That’s why we often use ancient grains like in our Ancient Grain Formula’s or our Haven formulas. In our Grain Free, we use pea, potato, and tapioca in low amounts. Often with corn, wheat, or soy, it causes an inflammatory state and because of that, no matter the protein, it causes a negative reaction. Companies can make a food full of carbohydrates to keep costs down, but we want the minimum it can be. We also believe this brings value since you can feed less, with the same result and without any of the issues attached to foods with too many carbohydrates.
We always wanted wonderful ingredients from trusted sources. That’s why we’re picky about where everything comes from. Our ancient grain diets are all sourced locally to where our food is made and is GMO free. GMO free to us means that it is just as nature intended, grains as they were for thousands of years. Plus with it being local to our plant, we can make sure it is made and grown our standards.
Proteins matter too! What many people don’t realize that not all chicken and chicken meal are created equal.Pet ingredient suppliers companies list numerous grades of quality of chicken, pork, or fish. All North Winds products use a high quality grade of protein from trusted suppliers to make sure we can get all the nutrients, minerals, and amino acids we want for our pet foods. Plus we can ensure consistent quality from bag to bag.
Another way companies can save money (and charge you the same or more) are vitamin and mineral packages. There aren’t that many essential vitamins and minerals, but combined they can make millions of chemical reactions in your dogs body to keep them nourished and strong. All North Winds uses Zinpro Availapet Minerals which ties zinc, manganese, and copper are tied to essential amino acids, so we can increase absorption and digestibility. Your dogs body makes only 13 of the 23 amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, the other 10, have to come from food. This means from the first ingredient in the food, to the last, every ingredient matters.
Even our inclusion of fruits, vegetables, as well as prebiotics and probiotics are focused on increasing digestion and absorption. Most issues for dogs start in their stomachs, so making sure the stomach has absolutely everything it needs. By supporting proper digestion, nutrient utilization, and making sure each bite has the most nutrition possible, and with a short time to make thousands of reactions in your dog’s stomach to absorb all the nutrients necessary for a happy and full life.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what makes a good food and the reasoning of so much of our North Winds Premium dry food diets. Our goal was to make a protein base, meat dense food, with low carbohydrates without fillers such as corn, wheat, and soy. We use the best vitamin and mineral package and fortify each diet with fruits, vegetables, as well as numerous skin and coat as well as supports for digestion. All our diets have responsibly sourced ingredients, grains that are GMO free, and thoughtfully chosen for purpose. Each diet is high calorie because of the meat content and based towards your dogs ancestral diet.
]]>Our first recommendation is North Winds True Course Salmon Oil. This is pure, 100% salmon oil that you just squirt right into the food and that’s it! We always recommend using a wild caught salmon oil due to the water they grow in and the fact that isn’t farmed raised, typically always means they’re eating a healthier diet in the wild as well. Wild Caught salmon oil tends to be more potent too!
There are other benefits from the immune system, to heart and kidney support, to reducing inflammation, to even helping support smarter puppies!
If squirting salmon oil on their food may not be your fancy, Nootie has Progility Skin and coat chew supplement. This will be a soft treat that you can just toss to your dog! Often they don’t even know it’s a supplement and more of a treat.
Progility Skin and Coat chew supplement is made with fish oil from anchovies, krill oil, and also flaxseed oil! It’s really hitting the solution from several directions! Small fatty fish like anchovies feast on krill oil but also have a bit shorter life, so you don’t have to worry about contaminants as well.
There are also probiotics to help absorb the fish oil and each treat is cold pressed. Even lightly steaming a product can cook out 50% of the nutrition, so nootie really wants to keep that good nutrition in, so they cold press to retain the maximum efficiency of all the active ingredients. This is really a great little treat and doesn’t beat you up on the price either for how good it is.
Finally there are many biscuits and treats you bring into dogs diet that will definitely help. They may not be as potent as the True Course Salmon Oil or the nootie, but definitely help.
Earthborn dog treats are awesome for situations like this though. They use our old friend salmon oil, as well as flaxseed and fish meals. Because Earthborn is big into their impact on the world, they’re big on getting ingredients from sustainable sources. Your dog won’t get as much as they would with a supplement, but often you can find really healthy treats that will definitely help out a ton!
]]>Your dog’s teeth are one of the most important things to consider when thinking about their long term health. They obviously can’t brush their teeth as easily as we can, so it’s up to us as pet owners to ensure their dental health is covered.
Unlike us humans, who really only use our teeth for eating, Dogs use their teeth for many different things. They use them to eat their food, play with toys, as well as self care and grooming.
We’ve all watched dogs chew the ice out of their paws in the winter! Their teeth are very important, and we need to take care of them.
Now that we’ve established that dental care is super important for your pups, lets talk about some of the best options out there for keeping those teeth clean.
These dental bones are made by a very interesting company called Indigenous Pet Products. They actually created and PATENTED the idea of the dental dog bone. More specifically, they identified a way to create a bone your dog can chew that will actually clean their teeth.
These bones are one of our bestselling products on our website right now. Pet owners really like them because they are available in so many different flavors, including smoked bacon. Many other dental products for pets -taste- more like a teeth cleaning product than a bone. These do not!
Part of the secret recipe with these bones is ascophyllum nodosum, a natural kelp harvested from the clean, cold North Atlantic seas of Canada, Iceland, and Norway. This kelp provides a rich source of nutrients without any harmful additives or preservatives.
These bones are also loaded with probiotics and Omega 3 and 6 vitamins. They are grain free, gluten free, and made with natural ingredients. We highly recommend them!
Shop: https://mypetsplus.com/indigenous-pet-products/
The Checkups Dental Dog Treats are an absolute classic when it comes to dog dental care. They are a treat that can be given at any time, day or night! We usually recommend our customers feed these to their dogs right after a meal, similar to how we brush our teeth.
The Checkups Dental Dog Treats are advertised to reduce plaque by 25% and Tartar by up to 62%, which is honestly very impressive.
They are great for freshening up your pup’s breath and they even stimulate their gums, all while being easily digestible. Most of our customers who try these dental treats tend to return for them on a monthly basis, they really work well.
If you’ve watched ANY of our other content, you have probably seen these chews mentioned already. When it comes to dental care for your dog, one tried-and-true way to clean their teeth is actually with a TOUGH chew.
This is where the North Winds Peak Chaser Chew comes in. The best part? As they gnaw away at it, they’re kept super busy and occupied while the tartar and plaque is removed from their teeth while they chew.
They are made from Yak Cheese from the mountains of Nepal, and our favorite part about them is they are virtually mess free. You really won’t have chunks break off, and they won’t leave a giant mess or stain on your floor like a typical dog bone.
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Nutrisource is known for making high end pet care products with high standards for safety and have been a customer favorite at our store in Bemidji, Minnesota for many years. We've been partnered with Nutrisource since the very beginning.
Element by Nutrisource comes in four diverse flavors and they are each biologically appropriate. This means high meat content, low carbs, no fillers, and a food meant to perform. Each recipe contains at least 83% protein in every bowl.
We love recommending high protein diets like the Nutrisource Element series to our customers in the store. After all, dogs are carnivores and finding a good food that imitates their ancestral diet is never a bad idea!
Nutrisource is picky about the quality of the ingredients that goes into every diet and they pay attention to the little things too. Remember, there may be only so many vitamins and minerals in your dogs body, but its how they react with your dogs system and how they absorb that truly matters.
That brings us to the main thing that sets Nutrisource apart: which is Nutrisource’s GOOD 4 LIFE PLUS system. This is a further adaptation of Good 4 Life system, and it was tweaked to support a high protein diet for your dog.
This goes on to to support digestion and proper nutrient utilization, making sure that your dog is getting the maximum amount of nutrition in each bite. This is extremely important with carnivores! When your dog eats, there are thousands of chemical reactions going on. It's very important for us to get the maximum amount of nutrient absorption in that amount of time!
Good For Life Plus helps your dogs heart and cognitive health, and it is also very good for their skin and coat as well. Our customers notice a big difference when they start feeding this food.
Good 4 Life Plus has a combination of mannan rich fractions, yucca, and yeast extract to optimize the microbiome necessary for full utilization of a high protein diet for your dog. Like I said, The little things matter and when you combine nature and science, you’re getting the best of both worlds.
The Element Series has so many awesome building blocks of nutrition that in the end, it’s difficult to find something in this food that doesn’t cover something, build a foundation towards your dogs better well being, and improve their daily function.
Each diet along with it’s high animal protein are all corn, wheat, soy, color, bha and bht free. Not any of the element series has legumes or potatoes either. From haddock, to bison, and everything in between, each diet has a blend of different proteins to have something for every dog. Nutrisource is known for making super palatable foods and element is no exception, combine that with the high meat content and you have a tasty food.
Element is also made in Minnesota using local ingredients whenever possible. If you watch enough of these videos you’ll see that our store is in Bemidji, Minnesota and we’re proud to be born and raised here, so I like to see our pet food companies in the area supporting local farmers.
The bottom of the bag:
The Element Series is made by Nutrisource pet foods from Minnesota, there are four different diets in this line as of 2022. Coastal Plains, Open Waters, Outback Trails, and Wildlands. Each diet is biologically appropriate with high protein and low carbs and doesn’t contain any fillers.
We’re real excited about this food and our feedback so far has been amazing, so give it a try! We have links below to help you find it and get it right to your door and into your dogs dish. This food gets some of our highest marks due to the company that makes it, the quality of the ingredients and where it’s sourced from, and it’s commitment to details. The Nutrisource Element Series is a high protein and low carb food that is sure to perform.
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In this short video, Chris goes over a few of the best options available today for rawhide bone alternatives. We have several of these bones and chews available on our website and we'll ship them right to your door! We also carry the full line in our store in Bemidji, Minnesota as well.
Watch Video
These chews are a great option for smaller dogs, as they can't always haul around the large chews that we'll cover in a moment. Frankly is made in Wisconsin and they use food grade sources in their products. They're also environmentally friendly, all of the water used in their manufacturing process is cleaned and recycled!
This is one of our top selling alternatives to rawhide bones in the store today. You could take a regular rawhide bone, put it in boiling water and very little will happen. It may shrink a little and that's it. This Frankly Beef Roll would turn into a paste, which really speaks to it's digestibility. This option is larger and suits the bigger breeds better than the collagen chew.
Earth Animal describes their chews as 'delicious and digestible treats that keep dogs (and cats!) blissfully content.' After carrying them in our store for awhile, we definitely agree!
What we love the most about these chews is they can be flavored with many different options and proteins. You can get venison, beef and chicken chews. We love it when companies provide different protein options like this, it gives every pup an option regardless of allergies or taste preference.
This is arguably the longest lasting chew of the bunch, and we always recommend these to dogs that really like to persistently chew their treats and bones. This is a store favorite for the simple fact that these chews are clean! You can give one to your pup and let them eat it on the carpet without any nasty staining or major chunks coming off.
]]>Fromm Family Foods is a family owned and operated pet food company that has been going strong for over FIVE generations. In fact, they still operate their original plant in Mequon, Wisconsin which was created in 1925!
While all of their research and development takes place in the Mequon planet, they have a location in Columbus, Wisconsin that handles dry foods and another location in Eden, Wisconsin that handles their canned foods.
In 1949, Fromm was the first company to come up with the concept of premium pet food! Back then, it was really anyone’s guess as to what was in your pet’s food. Fromm changed this and created the first all-granular pet food by cooking meat and grain together.
To this day, they still do not compromise on innovation and overall quality of their food products. Fromm employs dedicated teams that meticulously prepare each Fromm recipe using only premium ingredients.
It’s because of all of these factors that we choose to carry Fromm in our store. While their heritage in the pet food industry is impressive, the fact that they keep pushing forward with innovation that leads to highly nutritional pet food makes it a perfect fit for our store here in Bemidji.
If you’ve watched our other videos, or read any of our blogs, you know how seriously we take pet nutrition. We pay close attention to everything that’s in the foods we carry on our shelves, and we never recommend something to our customers that we wouldn’t feed to our own dogs.
When it comes to just about any Fromm Family Food, you hardly have to check the label. However, that is what we do here at Pets Plus and it's how we make the best recommendations for our customers when it comes to pet food! Lets jump in.
This is a dog food that is based on the original 1949 Fromm family recipe. Compared to many of the foods you’ll find on the market today, the classic recipe is a simple, holistic and balanced diet that is very affordable.
It’s made with a blend of chicken, oatmeal, brown rice, eggs and cheese and it also contains beet pulp. Beet pulp is sometimes referred to as the “fix it fiber” as it’s been proven to promote gut health in animals.
What’s interesting about Fromm Gold is it’s referred to as “life stage and lifestyle focused”. If you look at the different products lines within the Fromm Gold lineup, you’ll find something fitting for dogs (and cats!) of all ages and activity levels.
Fromm Gold can be an excellent choice for kittens, cats, and dogs of all sizes. There are also 3 different sub brands within the Fromm Gold category that all have their own characteristics.
There is the ‘original gold’ recipe, which consists of Chicken and Duck and is great for dogs and cats!
If you’ve ever been to our store in Bemidji, Minnesota, you’ve probably seen the aisle we have dedicated to Fromm Four Star. This is an excellent food line with several different whole grain and grain-free varieties.
The Fromm Four Star recipes contain extremely high levels of inclusion when it comes to meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. This means you’re actually getting what you pay for when you bring one of these bags up to the register.
These recipes are suitable for all life stages and there is no need for a transition period either. If you’re new to dog ownership or trying to solve a diet issue with your current pet this is a great option for you that is nearly risk free.
We talk a lot about bagged food, but Fromm recipes also include a few can recipes as well! These are a great choice for dogs and cats alike and it’s something we do not hesitate to recommend to our customers. Many of these diets are easy to digest and made with the exact same ingredients as the Fromm dry!
There is so much variety in the cans that it’s hard to find one your dog or cat won’t like. From consistency like tater hot dish like in Frommbayala, to pate’s, to also Fromm new diner cans!
We’re going to do an entire video about this, so make sure to subscribe to see the details, but the new diner cans are so fun. They include pates, stews, with one in pasta, and awesome puree’d cans! My dogs love them and there are six different flavors, so it’s easy to find one your dog will love!
We are going to do an entire segment dedicated to Fromm treats and supplements in the near future. They have a ton of different options and varieties and it's almost impossible to cover everything in one blog or video!
That being said, the Fromm Chunchy O's are an iconic dog treat that you'll find on the shelves of almost any respectable pet supply store. With only 2 calories per treat, they are all but guaranteed to get your dogs attention while remaining a healthy treat option.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this short history lesson and brand overview of Fromm Family Foods! We have carried this brand in our store for many, many years and they remain one of our favorite pet food brands for good reason
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This takes the number 1 spot in this list because it can be dangerous to your dog’s health.
This is something you may have already experienced and it could even be why you’re watching this video.
We’re all about getting a good deal, but the horror stories we hear on a daily basis from pet owners is something we want to help you avoid.
The bones you often find at big box stores that are cheap and sold in bulk can often be the type that will fragment easily. They can break into small pieces and become lodged in your dog’s throat or mouth, and that’s the last thing you want.
Many of these bones can be improperly cooked as well, which can result in bones that splinter and fragment much easier than normal.
If you’re going to purchase cooked bones for your dogs, make sure that company maintains proper levels of moisture throughout the cooking process. Our North Winds Premium line of bones do exactly that to help prevent splinters or fragmentation.
Many people don’t know this, but not all bones are equal when it comes to overall toughness! For example, If you compare a lamb bone to a beef bone side-by-side, you will find the lamb bone is much softer overall.
This doesn’t mean you need to avoid lamb and pork bones altogether, they can be a great option for smaller dogs who tend to chew lightly. That being said, it would be a mistake to give a softer bone to a bigger dog that would be better suited to a beef bone.
We often recommend our larger beef bones, like the North Winds Dino Bone or our shank bone, to our customers with larger dog breeds. If you have a German shepherd, a bloodhound, a mastiff, or other larger frame dog this is a bone that will keep them busy for days while remaining safe.
Click here to shop North Winds Premium Bones: https://mypetsplus.com/dog/chews-treats/north-winds-premium/
This one can go either way and really boils down to personal preference. In our experience, dogs tend to love bones that are slightly more messy. They get significantly more flavor and enjoyment out of them.
On the other hand, messy bones can obviously lead to bone pieces and residue in the house. We clean up after our pets quite a bit already, so if you would prefer to avoid this you may not want to buy the bones with knuckles or excess material on the bone.
Our Beef Center Cut bones are pretty clean and house friendly, while the Beef Shank and Dino Bone tends to have more material on them!
If you’re looking for a dog chew option that is virtually mess free, our Peak Chaser Chews are nearly as tough as a bone without any of the mess. We do have a video on these and they may be exactly what you’re looking for.
People do not often give their small dog a giant beef bone, but the opposite can sometimes happen and it can pose a safety hazard to your dog. If you have a larger breed of dog, avoid feeding them small bones.
As a rule of thumb, if the bone is small enough to fit entirely in the dog’s mouth, it is too small for that dog. The last thing we want is for a dog to try and swallow the bone whole, or get it stuck in their mouth while chewing on it.
It’s important to pay attention to how your quickly your dog consumes the bone that you buy them. If they chew through it in a matter of minutes, you probably bought the wrong bone and it’s time to look for something stronger.
If they ignore it, you might want to try a bone with more material on it! It’s important to pay close attention to your dog while you find the perfect bone for them.
Keep an eye out for bone fragments and splintering, and make sure to take away any small pieces of bone that may break off. As the bone becomes small enough to fit fully in the dog’s mouth, it’s time to take it away and replace it.
]]>Peak Chaser chews start in the mountains of Nepal, where Everest is of course. People ask why there? It’s because that's where Yaks are! Cheese chews like this one are used by farmers in the Himalayans in small pieces and chewed on throughout the day: Similar to how people chew on bubble gum!
Want to try them for yourself? Click here!
The thing pet parents love most about these treats is how clean they are. Due to the way they are made, they are virtually waste free which makes them an excellent choice for pet parents on-the-go. They are also carpet safe, which is a big plus for keeping your house clean.
All North Winds Peak Chaser chews are made with just four ingredients: yak milk, cow milk, with a pinch of salt and lime juice! That’s it! Pet parents love the simplicity! We can all agree that's its very nice not having to google weird ingredients found on other treat packaging. You really don't have that problem with North Winds treats.
How they’re actually made is a story in itself! First, yak milk is collected from farmers in Nepal. It’s collected and boiled with continuous stirring with a wooden paddle called a “Kelu”. During this process lime juice is added and after about 45 minutes, the white cheese begins to form. It’s then separated with a large bamboo sleeve called a “cherang”.
The cheese is then spread onto cotton cloth that is tied and pressed to drain all of the excess water. You can still see the markings of the cotton cloth on the side of each peak chaser, attesting to their handmade character.
This Yak cheese is cut into smaller pieces and then smoked for 30-45 days using a wood fire oven that makes each one nice and hard, but also imbued with a smoky flavor that dogs go nuts over.
The best part? You end up with a chew you can trust! There aren’t any artificial coloing, binding agents, sugars, gmos, or preservatives and is made in a facility that is certified by the state of California. Let's be real, we all know how hard it is to get ANYTHING approved in the state of California. It's especially true for items like this.
All Peak Chaser cheese chews have no odor, don’t stain and give you a long lasting treat, but remember each dog is different, my pitbull lab Riley takes a week or two for each treat. We do recommend this for dogs that do have their adult teeth due to it’s hardness. With that being said, it is a wonderful way to clean their teeth.
We're often asked where these chews rank in terms of durability and strength. In our experience they’re going to be much stronger then a pig ear, and a bully stick, and on par with a beef shin bone or beef center cut bone.
Remember how we mentioned there is hardly any waste? Here's what we mean. Often when we get to the bottom of a bully stick, we throw it away in fear of a dog choking by trying to swallow the remaining piece. When your peak chaser chew gets down there in size, take the last bit of the chew and toss it in the microwave for about 45-50 seconds and it puffs up! Like cheese popcorn! A perfect treat.
If you would like to try the North Winds Peak Chaser Chews, you can find them on our online store right here.
]]>Really, the only problem there is with beef jerky is it never seems like you have enough of it! Especially if you have to share it with someone...
We set out to solve part of this problem once and for all with our North Winds Premium Deep Trek Jerky. By simply bringing a bag of this jerky with you on your next adventure, you can keep your dog's paws out of your bag and in their own!
(We don't condone giving your dog human food... but we know accidents happen!)
One of the most popular treats that people love to give their dogs are jerky. There are a few different brands of dog jerky on the market today and while similar, some of them use ingredients you might want to avoid.
After all, as pet parents, we only want the best for our dogs!
At North Winds Premium, when we decided to make our own Jerky for dogs we wanted it to match our other products. If you’re familiar at all with our dog food, you know it’s one of the most responsibly sourced dog food options today. It is high in protein and you won't find any ingredients in it that do not belong there.
As we all know, the easiest way to your dog’s heart is through their stomach, and North Winds Premium Deep Trek Jerky will get you there fast!
Deep Trek Jerky is a semi soft treat that are made right here in the United States! There are four different flavors that will perk up even the pickiest noses:
Each recipe sports meat as it’s first ingredient with a rich smoky flavor. Deep Trek Jerky treats can be broken down into smaller pieces for training for a small dog or left whole for a big dog.
They are perfect as a reward for a job well done, and they have enough calories to help keep your pup moving along on the trail. Personally, I love how there are extra benefits for the skin and coat with the Salmon and Flaxseed.
My dogs go ABSOLUTELY nuts over Turkey with Bacon! After all, who doesn’t love bacon?
None of our deep trek jerky recipes contain soy, wheat, or corn! After all, when have you EVER had a jerky with corn in it? Yuck! Other companies like to add products like these to their treats to bump up the weights or reduce the amount of meat they need to add to the product. We will never support that.
Our Deep Trek jerky does not contain BHA or BHT or artificial coloring either. I often mention to people that if your dog has any of that once in a while, it won’t be a big deal since it is not compounding daily. However, if you’re treating your dog to products that contain BHA or BHT, it can be harmful over the long term as it compounds in their body.
It's very similar to eating fast food. Is it okay to do every once in a while? Sure. Should you live off it for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Absolutely not.
As with all of our North Winds Products, we wanted to give pet parents an option that you can trust, that’s tasty for your dog, all without having to worry about what’s in it!
Want to watch our video breakdown on this beef jerky?
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At Pets Plus Bemidji, one of the things we enjoy doing more than anything else is giving back to the community. The Bemidji community has helped our family owned business grow year-over-year for almost 30 years now, and that's a big deal to us!
It's because of this support from the community that we're also able to give back in our own way from time to time.
In the month of October, we put out a promotion on social media designed to help the Bemidji Community Food Shelf feed dogs in need. The promotion was simple: For every like we got on our Pets Plus facebook page and our North Winds Premium Pet Care page, every newsletter signup on our website AND every bag of North Winds dog food we sold, we would donate one dog meal to the food shelf.
While we expected a decent turnout, we did not expect to donate 510 meals to dogs in need! We were so excited when we tallied it all up and we will be even more excited when we drop it off. No dog deserves to go hungry, and with your help we've got 510 different meals covered.
We want to thank everyone who participated in this, it was a fun event and you all helped us do a great thing for dogs in Bemidji! We hope you have a safe holiday season and we can't wait for you to visit the store again soon!
Watch our recap video of the food shelf donation here!
]]>We look for foods that are biologically appropriate while also having the correct amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates for your cat. Maintaining a good ratio between these nutrients is what keeps your cat healthy in the long term.
Many people don't know this, but cats are often chronically dehydrated. Unlike dogs, cats won't simply sit at the water dish drinking water all day! They also have a harder time drinking from the toilet, thankfully!
We carry many different cat products on our website, and even more in our store in Bemidji, Minnesota! We love helping our customers with their pets, so please visit anytime!
When you feed your cat dry food only, you're actually reducing the amount of moisture they are able to take in throughout the day. This can lead to hydration issues down the road.
If you want to watch the video, click this link! If you prefer to read, we've got you covered.
Weruva makes a classic diet, Truluxe, Pate, Cats in the kitchen, B.F.F and B.F.F.O.M.G!
These diets are just plain awesome. In fact, when it comes to our store in Bemidji, it is our most popular wet cat food by far! It comes in many varieties, moisture levels, proteins, and textures. All of their diets will be low in carbohydrates with proper amounts of fat and protein. Take a peek at our website to see all that Weruva has to offer!
Koha Pure Shreds will be just in three forms at the moment, but each one is super healthy and uses chicken primarily in each diet. I like it due to it’s simplicity and the use of pumpkin and carrots as super foods. Perfect for a cat with digestion issues.
Earthborn is really another sleeper food as well! A ton of different varieties in pouches and cans, so there should be a different texture for every kind of cat. Each in high in protein and all of the cans are more of a stew with the pouches being more of a tuna based mix.
The cool thing about all three of these? Human grade cans and pouches come from a human grade facility, which means your cat is eating a food that is very healthy and safe.
All of these options come in a variety of price points as well. We always say that feeding your cat the best possible diet that you can reasonably afford is the goal. The closer we can to mimicking their ancestral diet, the better the cat will be and ideally, we can avoid some of those future vet bills!
]]>In this video, We go over the 3 store favorites when it comes to pet toys. After all, the holidays are right around the corner and it’s never too early to do some gift shopping for your four legged friend!
Okay, when we decided to make a toy video this was everyone’s first pick! The Meowijuana cat toy line gets so much attention in store, it’s got a hilarious name and the toys themselves are even better. Cat joints? Seriously?!
Most of the meowijuana line uses catnip within the toys themselves to keep your cat entertained for hours. These are a store favorite for good reason and now there is even Doggijuana as well! So your dog won’t feel left out!
Normally you wouldn’t call a bone a ‘toy’ just because bones tend not to last -that- long. The Dino bone is an exception. It’s absolutely massive, and even the most persistent dog is going to have to spend days, maybe even weeks, trying to put a dent in this thing.
As with everything from North Winds Premium, this bone is one of the best options out there simply because of how they produce their products. North Winds Premium avoids nasty preservatives and other unknown ingredients when it comes to their pet food, treats, chews and bones.
Does it count as a toy? Today it does! Occasionally we do a sale on these bones too, so you can buy 3 of them and save 33% on the whole order. If you bought 3 of these your dog would probably be set for the year!
West Paw is a favorite of dogs and our staff alike! West Paw Toys are made in Montana every toy many of their toys are BPA free, latex free, and non toxic. One of my favorite is the Seaflex toys! These are safe, sustainable, and the best part is it’s 88% zogoflex. This is a zero waste proprietary plastic and 12% reclaimed ocean bound plastic! Dogs LOVE to chew on these!
West Paw’s zogoflex is also infinitely recycble as well! Once your toy is chewed up, it can be ground up and made back into a new toy! Crazy right?
Even their soft toys and dog beds have been carefully created and tested to ensure no harmful chemicals are in them. This is a great company.
There are different grades of toughness depending on how your dog chews. Gentle for smaller, younger, and older dogs. Tough chewers, for those who need a toy to last, and moderate which is everything in between!
There are so many colors, variety, and options to use. West Paw Toys are a must for every dogs home, as well as a force for good with the way West Paw produces, recycles, and operates. They are a USA made product and are doing a great thing for the planet.
As you can probably tell, we have a lot of different things at Pets Plus that are sure to get your pet’s attention. From dinosaur bones to meowijuana, to awesome toys like West Paw, we can make sure your pet has something fun to keep them occupied during the day!
We have a lot of fun putting these videos together for you guys, if you have a pet product you think we should review or carry in the store comment below and we’ll check it out! Thank you for watching!
]]>Even though they’ve gotten a lot more popular, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there about freeze dried treats and whether or not you should feed them to your dog.
We actually put together a video on this subject and you can watch it here!
Before we dive in, lets talk about freeze drying.
When you freeze dry a food, you’re trying to remove moisture and preserve the food. The food is rapidly frozen at an extremely low temperature, and then any of the existing moisture is removed using a special vacuum.
Most organisms and germs need water to survive, by removing the water from the food we are freeze drying we can ensure that our dogs will be eating something that won’t be harmful to them. If the removal of water doesn’t do it, the freezing process certainly will.
Freeze drying is a very healthy alternative to using preservatives and other chemicals with unknown ingredients. After all, we’re not adding anything to the food when we freeze dry it, we’re simply removing water.
The best part about freeze dried treats is they tend to be very healthy and very pure. In fact, many of the good treats on the market will be a single, raw ingredient. The North Winds Premium Sun Seeker Chicken Breast treats are an example of this. The ONLY ingredient is pure chicken breast. There are no grains, no gluten, and no preservatives.
Even our Ranch Strider Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats are single ingredient, featuring ONLY the pure beef liver. Once again, no preservatives! The same can be said about our Free Roamer Freeze Dried Lamb Liver which is pure Lamb Liver as well!
Now, before we go further I have to make one thing clear. There are companies out there that are using the freeze dried process on meats that already contain other chemicals and ingredients. As always, it’s extremely important to read and understand the treat label before you buy anything for your pup!
I do highly recommend that you read each label carefully when it comes to freeze dried treats. While the process itself is very healthy and safe, some companies still insist on adding ingredients to the treats that just don't belong.
We have never liked the idea of unnecessarily adding dyes, artificial preservatives or other harmful chemicals to our pet’s food and treats. We’re pet parents too and want the best for our pets and want to make sure they’re happy, healthy, and safe.
The biggest advantage to freeze dried treats is their portability and the amount of nutrition-per-ounce that they provide. They are undeniably one of the most nutrient dense treats you could bring along with you on an adventure, and since all of the water has been removed they weigh very little.
Visualize beef jerky! Bringing the raw meat along with you on a hiking trip would be impractical at best, but when it’s been dehydrated? It’s perfectly packable. The same idea applies here. By removing all of that water weight, you're left with a food source that is a very healthy option for your pet.
]]>Here are the different ways you can use True Course Hemp Extract:
Hip dysplasia, sprains, strains or arthritis. This extract will also help with symptoms related to pain such as nausea, discomfort, or lack of sleep.
More often than not, our dogs live highly active lifestyles. Remember when they were a puppy and they spent the first several years of their life running around the house and the yard? As they age, their joints start to feel the effects and you'll start to see that in the form of stiffness. Pay attention to how your dog behaves in the morning, if they are slow to get up and moving it may be a sign of joint pain.
Daily doses is perfect for dogs with high or reoccurring anxiety. If you have a dog that doesn't like storms or fireworks, this is a great option. Zero side effects!
Each year we sell a ton of this supplement around the 4th of July and during the first week of the year. People celebrate and launch fireworks, while we love this as much as the next person our dogs sometimes freak out! True Course Hemp Extract can help.
Dogs with other sensitivities to treatments and harmful pills. We know how hard it can be to get your pets to take typical medications. Since this supplement is served with a dropper, it's extremely easy for you and your dog.
It has been proven to slow the growth of tumors, slow mammary cancer cells, and increase survival time related to pancreatic cancer. Hemp Extract has been proven to help with the immune system as well.
This one is near and dear to me. I grew up with a dog that had seizures often. It was stressful for our dog as well as us. Seizures can have a very negative effect on your dog and anything we can do to help mitigate that is a win.
Our Broad Spectrum hemp extract is 100% THC and contains ALL of the cannabinoids. Different parts of the body react differently to different cannabinoids, which is why it's important to include all of them. Other supplements available today don't always include all of the cannabinoids, which leads to less effective dosages.
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Inspired by nature for those who find their sanctuary in its beauty, North Winds Premium True Course are for those who seek adventure and their loyal pets that accompany them. North Winds Premium uses responsibly sourced ingredients from trusted suppliers to ensure the highest standard of quality. Each True Course supplement is handcrafted with the best nature has to offer and delivers on its purpose. Derived from nature's purest bounties, our supplement's are made with the upmost care that you pets deserve, and nutrition that you can trust.
]]>Freeze-dried dog food offers a way for pet owners to get their pups the high-quality nutrients found in fresh meats without the hassle and risks of actually handling them raw. Instead of processing and using preservatives to retain the integrity of the product, the freeze-drying process essentially locks in the nutrients of raw meat while also making it easy to physically handle.
This is a boon for pet owners who simply want what’s best for their dogs. Once you realize how important nutrition is in terms of the health and long-term well-being of your dog, it becomes a priority to know how to improve their diet with the right kinds of products. The following information will help you make better decisions when it comes to feeding your dog and making sure they have what they need to be healthy.
You might be wondering what’s wrong with wet food and kibble? Dog owners have been relying on these foods for decades without much of an issue, or at least that’s the way it might seem on the surface.
The truth is that many dogs are suffering from a wide range of different issues, many of which are related to the nutrients they receive in their diets. From thin coats to dry skin, dental problems, poor digestion, and serious issues such as cancer and heart disease, many of our pets are dealing with the same kinds of issues we are, in fact. This becomes especially apparent in old age, where various problems escalate and snowball, growing in severity.
While certainly not all health issues can be mitigated or circumvented through a higher-quality diet, it is worth noting that the links between diet and health in dogs are well-established. While you don’t want to panic and beat yourself up because you have settled for mass-market chow for your pet up until this point, it’s something worth pondering. Highly-processed foods that don’t have the same level of bioavailable nutrition may not be enough for your dog. The immediate effects of a poor diet won’t manifest, of course. Just as with our health, the results of a poor diet typically take years to appear, because it is a sign that the body is wearing down or not getting what it needs over the course of a long period of time.
This is not to say that the right kinds of dry dog food and wet food aren’t good enough for your pet. In fact, many brands go that extra mile to make sure they use the freshest, highest quality ingredients, and formulas in order to ensure that your dog is getting what they need. When it comes to these kinds of dog food, certain measures are taken to mitigate the degradation of the nutrients, and through the use of added vitamins and minerals, these foods often do the trick in most cases.
However, there is a certain logic when it comes to raw diet proponents. After all, dogs survived for millions of years eating food that was not processed at all. Raw meat has certain trace nutrients that may be difficult to come by otherwise, not to mention higher quality fat and protein. The question is then, how can you feed your dog a diet that includes raw meat?
Clearly, the idea of purchasing raw meat from a butcher just to feed your dog might seem a bit overwhelming and over the top. There is certainly an unappealing aspect to going through this, especially in terms of practicality. Who has time to chop up raw meat and go through a bunch of extra safety precautions every time your dog wants a nibble?
Freeze-dried dog food allows pet owners to take advantage of the benefits of feeding your dog a raw diet without any of the mess and potential headaches. You have to wonder, however, is the “raw” diet really worth going to all this trouble over? Are there really special benefits to going raw, or is it all just a trend?
There actually are clear benefits to feeding your dog raw food. It’s important to keep in mind first of all that the digestive systems of small animals such as dogs and cats are much more delicate than ours, and require very specific foods in order to keep in balance. The reason why so many house pets tend to develop digestive issues is due in large part because they aren’t getting enough of the foods that they are biologically suited for. Your dog wasn’t meant to eat processed beef and corn, which should come as no surprise, but is worth pointing out nonetheless.
These processed foods, lacking certain nutrients, ruin the microbiome of your pet. Raw foods on the other hand may aid your pet’s digestive system by providing them with a more natural food source that they are better suited for.
The quality of the nutrients is also superior, in most cases, when we’re talking about raw dog food. This means that there is a better chance that your pet can actually utilize the nutrients in question and that they will have a greater impact. One of the reasons this may be the case is because the nutrients in raw meat are still in their natural state, which means they are connected with all of the other nutrients, which dogs have grown accustomed to digesting for millions of years. This kind of primal means of getting nutrition has a certain school of thought, known as wild feeding, wild dog feeding, or the evolutionary diet.
While no one would mistake a pug for a wolf, that doesn’t mean their nutritional needs aren’t almost identical. There’s actually very little in terms of the difference between the digestive systems of most dog breeds and that of their ancestors, which stands to reason that raw meat should be something that is a big part of your dog’s diet.
The idea of dealing with raw meat every time you have to feed your dog may not sit well with you, and for good reason. Not only does it sound like a logistical nightmare, but it would also be a health risk. You would have to constantly remember to wash your hands, and then you have to wonder if the meat you are purchasing is even safe for your dog. While dogs do have much stronger stomachs than we do and are far better suited for fighting the kinds of bacteria that are on raw meat, it doesn’t mean that they are completely protected.
Another reason why feeding your dog a strictly raw meat diet would be difficult is the cost. While you should expect to pay a little more for premium dog food that contains beneficial ingredients, buying nothing but raw meat for your dog would quickly burn a hole in your wallet.
This is why freeze-dried dog food may be the perfect choice for your pet if you are concerned about their health or simply want to make sure they are eating well. You get all of the potential benefits of raw food without the mess, sanitation issues, and costs associated with having to manage and prepare an ongoing supply of raw meat.
In fact, high-quality freeze-dried options are just as convenient as kibble, and your dog won’t be able to get enough of them. Dogs love the smell and taste of raw meat, and you can feel confident knowing that your pet is enjoying a better kind of food.
There are a few other benefits to freeze-dried food if you are looking at your dog’s health overall. Raw food is not only easier to digest for most dogs, but it may also result in less gas and cleaner stools. Another reason why this kind of food is beneficial is that it can help your dog keep his or her teeth clean, which also results in fresher breath.
One other area that concerns many dogs is allergies. Natural freeze-dried raw dog food rarely causes allergies, because it is made entirely of raw meat and contains no additives, filler, or grains that could potentially trigger your dog’s immune system. If you have noticed that your dog often develops allergies to certain foods, they are certainly a candidate for a diet change rather than settling for medicating them.
For pet owners who want to start feeding their dogs raw food but don’t want to deal with the additional hassle and issues that come with having to handle raw meat, freeze-dried is unquestionably the best option. Not only are high-quality freeze-dried dog foods better for your dog than most other varieties, but they are also just as easy to feed to your dog. You won’t have to switch anything about the way you handle feeding time, but your dog will certainly notice!
Keeping your dog healthy requires a balanced diet that contains optimal nutrition, with care toward the integrity of the nutrients, the taste, and the overall formulas used as well. In that regard, we have everything you need right here in our store to make sure you can provide your dog with what they need.
You should learn to expect more when it comes to the quality of your pet’s food. We have grown somewhat accustomed to “pet food” being subpar, but the reality is that your pet deserves the best quality you can find, with raw ingredients and minimally processed options that they will truly love.
As pet owners, it can be difficult at times to know exactly what to get our pets. There are dozens of different brands out there that all make the claim that they are good for your pet, but this is why you need to develop a discerning eye. Not all pet foods contain the same kinds of ingredients, and even many “grain-free” foods aren’t necessarily the best for your pup.
In fact, certain high-quality food options that we carry here in our store contain nutrient-rich ancient grains such as quinoa that dogs love and that can help provide them with a balanced diet. It’s important not to get caught up with buzzwords and trends and only focus on quality when it comes to what you feed your dog.
Here at My Pets Plus, we have worked hard to provide only top quality dog food in our store, so that you can purchase in complete confidence. Not only do we have plenty of dry foods and the best wet dog food around, but we also have a wide variety of high-quality freeze-dried dog food that is perfect for pet owners who want to start incorporating more “raw” meat into their pet’s diet.
When you shop for your pet’s dinner, sometimes it’s worth thinking about their ancestral needs. What would they be hunting for in the wild? What is best suited for their digestive system and what will help them lead strong and happy lives well into old age? For most dogs, the answer is simple: higher-quality animal proteins, no fillers or chemicals, only complete and balanced nutrition the way nature intended.
That’s what you are going to find here in our online pet food store. Products formulated with the wild side of your pet in mind, to truly feed their needs in the best way possible. You can order these high-quality pet foods online and have them delivered right to your home, so you don’t even have to worry about trying to find these items anywhere else.
Shop My Pets Plus today and your dog is sure to notice the difference!
]]>Weruva is an awesome cat food made in a human grade facility in Thailand. Thailand is known for being close to fish geographically and if you have bought canned tuna or chicken at the store, there is a good chance you have purchased food from the very same place!
Weruva is a family owned company that wants to have real ingredients for your cat, focus on hydration, as well as a high palability! Each diet is LOADED is protein as well! The part I love the most is that Weruva has so many different textures and flavors. The one at our store that sticks out the most is the Weruva Pate!
Weruva Pate flies off the shelf and is an overall wonderful diet. You used to think you had to compromise between feeding a healthy food and one that tastes good, now you know!
It can be so tricky finding good freeze dried treats for your cat. Cats are notoriously picky eaters, and Vital Essentials has got cat treats 100% figured out when it comes to taste and texture. Your cat will LOVE these! It’s often a single protein and since it’s freeze dried, all the nutrition is there, but in a form we can just hand out! This year cats have loved Vital Essential Freeze Dried treats, especially the Minnows! These are literally minnows that have been freeze dried and YES! Your cat can eat the entire thing!
It's honestly surprising how many of these we go through! That being said, it's not just the minnows that cats love. Vital Essentials has a ton of different cat treats and we stock all of them online and in our store. There is a wonderful variety here and they are a great company located out of Wisconsin.
Meowijuana is organically grown catnip that is safe for your cat! Our favorites are the toys and the treats!
Each toy is interactive with your cat as well as being loaded with their organic catnip and are just really fun. Customers really love a chance to not only give their cats something great, but to do it with them. Such an easy way to connect with your cat.
Meowijuana also has some awesome treats too! Super tasty and each of the three recipies has a catnip flavored center making for a purfect bite!
Use coupon code Meowijuana for 10% off! Shop Meowijuana
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The best wet food for dogs includes a variety of vitamin-rich vegetables, berries, fruits, healthy grains, and choice protein-rich meats, that offer a more balanced diet for your pet. While all dog food companies are held to the same minimum standards, what’s also true is that the bare minimum truly doesn’t take into account the freshness of the ingredients or the bioavailability of the nutrients, and these factors do matter if we’re talking about the health and well-being of your pet.
Let’s take a look at why better ingredients are an important part of the dog food that you select, and what brands are worth a look at if you are trying to improve your dog’s diet in a positive way.
The links between a proper diet and optimal health are fairly established at this point, whether we’re talking about dogs, people, or any other animal for that matter. Our cells use the nutrients in the food we eat to replicate and communicate, which accounts for a majority of our bodily processes. Everything from the strength of your dog’s bones to the luster of their fur is determined by the nutrients they are receiving.
Not all of the nutrients you find in pet food are the same quality, either. Just because a certain nutrient is listed as being in a certain product, doesn’t necessarily mean your pet can make full use of it. The more processed the food is and the longer the food has been sitting on a shelf or in a factory somewhere, the less likely it will contain bioavailable nutrition. Certain nutrients are almost entirely destroyed during the cooking process, while others simply become difficult for your pet to assimilate.
Overly processed foods in general are bad for your pet and shouldn’t be relied on for a complete and balanced diet. Biologically speaking, your pet is craving all-natural food that is as close to its original form as possible. Fresh, high-quality food made with healthy ingredients will retain more valuable trace nutrients, plant sterols, and other compounds.
Sure, most dogs are more than grateful to chow down on whatever you put in front of them. Dogs have scavenger instincts and aren’t miffed by such lofty concepts as “filler ingredients” and “low bioavailability.” As long as it tastes alright, your dog is likely not to have a problem with it unless a certain ingredient upsets their stomach.
This is where, as responsible pet owners, we have to intervene and help our pets get the nutrients that their bodies are craving. They don’t have access to the wild and can’t search for high-quality nutrition on their own. It’s up to us to give it to them.
While something as simple as the food you feed your pet may seem relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, it is actually one of the most important steps you can take to ensure that your dog is staying healthy and strong. Everything from their immune system to their joint health, and even the look of their fur, involves high-quality nutrition.
With the help of a varied diet full of fresher ingredients, your dog stands a much better chance of staying fit and happy throughout their life, which is ultimately what we want for our pets most of all.
While some pet stores do make an effort to carry a solid variety of dog food, in most instances your choices are going to be severely limited if you are looking for the best of the best. For premium dog food formulated with fresh ingredients, you might want to consider looking online.
Our store here at My Pets Plus is proud to offer an incredible selection of the best wet food for dogs, from brands that truly care about the way their products are formulated. Can the products that these brands offer truly make a difference for your pet?
In terms of nutrition, absolutely. With a much more varied selection of fine-quality ingredients, especially in terms of berries and vegetables, along with organic and GMO-free ingredients and better cuts of meat from more holistic sources, you have everything you need for a more balanced diet.
Your dog might not be a picky eater, but you should be on their behalf. If you want them to be as healthy as possible, it’s important to take a close look at what you are feeding them and go that extra mile to ensure that the wet food you are providing for them is packed with nutrients and crafted with an awareness of what they really need.
When it comes to dog food that features the best ingredients and zero filler, Earthborn Holistic has everything you’re looking for. Our store carries an assortment of their products because their tasty formulas are a hit with dogs and pet owners alike. From savory beef to nutritious duck and lamb, their products also sport an abundance of plant-based ingredients that your dog will love.
One of the best aspects of Earthborn Holistic is their emphasis on wholesome nutrition and a relationship with animals and the planet that runs deep. Their packaging is even sustainable, constructed out of a plant-based plastic that is biodegradable. When you want quality wet dog food that your pet won’t be able to get enough of and that you can feel good knowing is from a brand that cares about your pet and the environment as well, Earthborn Holistic is an easy choice.
One of the elements that’s often lacking in mass-market dog food is that appreciation of the wild nature of our dogs. That spirit within them that’s longing for adventure, and that wants to taste what nature has to offer. This is one of the driving factors that led to the creation of our own dog food line in North Winds Premium, and it is also one of the important aspects of Taste of the Wild.
Once you begin exploring healthy diet alternatives for your dog, you will often hear phrases such as “ancestral diet.” What does this phrase really mean in light of feeding your pet the right kinds of foods?
Without diving too deep into the details, the theory behind feeding your pets an ancestral diet is that such diets better cater toward the true biological needs of your animal, down to a DNA level. After all, dogs are descended from grey wolves and share a vast bulk of their DNA, which one would expect to be reflected in their eating habits.
Breeds, cultural preferences, and other factors may play a role in what your pet prefers in terms of taste, but there is evidence that points to there being plenty of biological commonalities in the nutritional requirements for dogs, all of which stem from this primal origin. Ultimately, dog foods that focus on a wild, ancestral approach seek to mimic what your pet would likely have access to if they were still hunting and scavenging in the wild like a wolf of old.
Taste of the Wild, for instance, uses recipes that contain lamb, beef, and other choice meats, combined with potatoes, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, fish oil, and a cache of other fine ingredients that truly make for an all-natural experience.
For exceptional taste in every finely-crafted recipe, Fromm Family’s products are exactly what you want to be stocked in your home if you want to keep your dog active and strong. They are another brand that is dedicated to putting together hearty recipes that appeal to your dog’s wild tastes while incorporating ingredients like rice, carrots, and peas. You can tell by looking at Fromm Family’s formulas that they have gone to great lengths to form creative and tantalizing products that your dog will love.
A brand of dog food that focuses on high-quality protein sources above all, Inception is all about making sure your dog stays fit and lean with choice meats supplemented by plenty of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients. If you want to feed that “carnivore” side of your dog, Inception definitely has the grain-free recipes and formulas your dog won’t be able to get enough of.
This is one brand that has been gaining popularity in recent years for its heartfelt approach to formulating only the best wet dog food for dogs around. You’re not going to find any fillers or cheap grains here, as all of their recipes strongly emphasize quality protein and select plant-based ingredients for products that really shine.
A few points that set them apart as a brand is their focus on hydrating foods, which is one area that dogs sometimes have trouble with, and minimal carbs. While your dog can certainly make use of high-quality vegetables, brands like Weruva understand that a majority of the calories in your dog’s diet should come from meat.
A minimal list of ingredients is what healthy brand Koha focuses on. One of the main downsides to mass-market pet food is that it often contains a laundry list of ingredients, not all of which are ideal for your pet. If you have to read through a litany of hard-to-pronounce chemical preservatives, you know you are in the wrong place.
That’s why Koha has gone the distance to formulate wet food that contains minimal ingredients and processing for superior taste and quality. Their recipes include delicious ingredients like pumpkin, chicken breast, green beans, salmon oil, and a variety of other natural foods.
For an irresistible taste and rich nutrition, Koha is certainly a brand you can trust to help keep your pet healthy.
All of these brands that we carry in our store have one thing in common: they all pay close attention to the quality of the ingredients. It’s not about meeting minimum nutritional standards or anything so arbitrary. These brands truly care about your pet and want what’s best for them.
By appealing to the wild tastes of your pet, and including a greater variety of fresh, high-quality ingredients, these brands craft formulas that you can feel confident about when it’s time to feed your dog.
For years, pet food has been held to a much lower standard of quality when compared to the food that’s formulated for us. For pet owners, this has never made much sense. Our animals deserve the same degree of high-quality nutrition as we do - in fact, since their systems are more delicate than ours and we understand their biological needs less than our own, doesn’t it make sense to go out of our way to make sure that they are getting the highest quality food possible?
Here at My Pets Plus, we believe that what you feed your pet makes a difference. We only carry the best in terms of brands that emphasize integrity and freshness in their ingredient list, with formulas that provide impactful, superior nutrition.
For pet owners who want to transform their pet’s diet and provide them with better-quality nutrition that they will come running for, we have what you’re looking for. There’s no reason to settle for that mass-market chow you find in supermarkets, especially when it’s easier than ever to stock up on these quality brands by shopping online.
Yes, all of the incredible dog food brands that we mentioned above, along with several others, are available right here on our online store and can easily be purchased and delivered right to your door. Make it a habit and your dog will have his or her eyes open whenever the mail truck comes around!
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If you are truly concerned about the health of your pet, you may want to also consider including natural treats for dogs as well. While the idea of a “treat” doesn’t typically inspire thoughts of health, these tasty tidbits can be a great way to bolster your pet’s diet and make sure that they are getting the right amount of protein and other nutrients. There are other benefits to feeding them certain kinds of treats as well.
This quick guide will list some of the ways you can make sure your pet is eating healthy with the help of high-quality dog treats, as well as some of the reasons why you might want to use them outside of the nutrition aspect.
Most dogs enjoy a little variety in their diet. Treats offer another way to mix up your pet’s diet while ensuring that they are still getting quality nutrition. You want to make sure that the treats you are feeding your dog don’t undermine their diet, which means you should keep your eye out for products that specify quality ingredients and a high degree of protein and other important nutrients.
Freshness is also a factor, as well as minimal processing. The less processing involved with your pet’s food, the better, and this is no different when it comes to their treats. The idea of a “treat” might conjure pictures of sugary snacks for us, but for a dog, a true treat is a morsel of delicious and high-quality protein that they can sink their teeth into. Natural treats for dogs usually contain nothing but the finest choice ingredients, like beef, chicken, and pork, and zero filler.
By getting the right nutrition, your dog will enjoy easier digestion, a shinier coat, and more energy. The right treats can certainly be a part of a diet that emphasizes wellness over convenience if you know where to shop.
Another important aspect of your dog’s health is that of their teeth and gums. Even if you brush your dog’s teeth for them on a regular basis, you still want to make sure that this part of their body is being taken care of in a more natural fashion.
In the wild, omnivorous animals like dogs rely on bone and gristle to help them maintain their oral hygiene. By gnawing on bones, it helps to naturally remove plaque buildup from their teeth, which promotes a healthy oral environment and prevents you from having to brush for them as much.
Another great benefit of using high-quality treats is that it helps promote good behavior. Dogs love their bones and chews, and they will come running for the tasty stuff. Not only can you use these healthy products to strengthen their diet, but you can use them as a reward for good behavior as well. All dog owners should have a hefty supply of natural treats for dogs on hand to help them keep their pets happy and energized.
You’re not likely to find the best treats and chews for your dog in your average pet store. For the best in natural treats from the top brands, you can find what you are looking for right here at My Pets Plus.
We understand the importance of having everything on hand that you need in order to make sure your dog has everything he or she needs to stay healthy. Whether you need a high-quality kibble formulated with the freshest ingredients, natural flea and tick treatments, bowls and carriers, or other quality pet supplies, being able to rely on a specific location to get them can save you a load of time and hassle.
If natural treats are what you are looking for, your search is over. Our online pet store is packed with a wide variety of different healthy and tasty treats for your dog, including biscuits, healthy freeze-dried options, jerky, bones, and more, all of which are crafted with your pet’s health in mind. You won’t find any filler or cheap ingredients here. Only select meats full of high-quality protein, tasty veggies, and vitamin-rich fruits.
Don’t settle for anything less than the best for your pup. If you want to help them get more nutrients in their diet, and keep those silly grins healthy as well, take a look at our selection of high-quality chews and treats that we have in our store. Your pet will thank you!
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