We carry several options for pets with joint pain. Here are a few types and why you might use them:

• CBD: Great for inflammation and pain relief. This is THC free so pet safe. Its important you verify any CBD you give your pet is THC free (or less then .03%) Available in treat form or tinctures.
• Glucosamine: Aids in the renewal and restoration of cartilage in joints. This is generally in conjunction with Chondroitin, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid. Available in treat form, powder, and liquid form. There are also several natural chews that are high in glucosamine like necks and feet.
• Collagen: Main building block for cartilage, reducing joint pain and lowering swelling. Available in powder form, Bone Broth (we sell frozen broth, shelf stable broth, powdered broth mix, or you can make your own), and there are several natural chews that are high in collagen.

We sell several great options for ear infections, and several options for daily maintenance to prevent future infections. Its important to understand why your pet might be getting them to identify and fix the root cause.

Some of our favorites are Zymox, Liquid Health, Nootie, and Skouts Honor but we have several other brands as well.

DCM stands for Dilated Cardiomyopathy and is a common heart disease in dogs. It is historically an inherited disease and prone to be more prevalent in certain breeds. In 2018 some veterinarians asserted that grain free diets were to blame. They got the FDA involved who then published a report. The report stated they had no evidence and did not recommend a diet change. After several years of testing by several universities, they have published studies and have been unable to link feeding grain free foods to an increased instance of DCM.

If you are concerned about feeding a grain-free diet, there are several other options out there. We have always recommended rotational feeding between brands, and proteins. We also recommend feeding as much fresh, unprocessed food as possible.

There are so many wonderful benefits to feeding raw. Here are some:

• Improved Digestion (no fillers, just the good stuff in a whole food diet)
• Improved breath and dental health (it contains live enzymes and not all the starches that cause plaque)
• Healthier Weight and Balanced Energy Levels (low carb diet since it doesn't require starches and not all the fillers)
• Reduced Stool Quantity/Smell (Less to pick up as their bodies are utilizing all the nutrients) and no gas
• No Body Odor
• Silky and Shiny Coat

Feeding Raw is safe to feed your pets as their stomach PH is made to burn through any possible pathogens (just like their wild ancestors). The commercial raw food we sell is designed to be fed raw- so extra care is considered, unlike raw meat in the grocery store, which is intented to be cooked, where there are no extra kill steps to eliminate bacteria.

Any possibility of bacteria left after processing is more of a concern for the pet parents/children in the household so we recommend handling it just as you would any other raw meat you prepare (cleaning counters/utensils).

Environmental allergies are more common than food allergies but both do exist. You can ask your vet to have an allergy (blood) test done, or we sell the Glacier Peak Sensitivities Test. (You mail in a cheek swab) Both will test food and environmental triggers. You can find all of our tests under the wellness menu on our site.

Symptoms can include hair loss, itchy skin, red bumps, yeast, licking, and ear infections.

We also recommend a rotational diet so you can avoid building up an intolerance. This also keeps your pet interested in their food. This refers to rotating brands as well as proteins. You can also add different fresh toppers each day to keep them interested.

If you believe its food related, an elimination diet is one way to try to identify it. They can be a challenge to do with Kibble, but possible with limited ingredient foods like Zignature. Trying out a raw food diet is a great way to do an elimination diet.

If you are local, you can also sign up for a free personal nutrition consult if you wish to come in and talk to someone about your pet. We are certified in Nutrition and have several great options to help you in your journey.

itchy skin can be a few different things, so we generally require more information and specifics to help. But a few things we can recommend are:

• Adding an Omega 3 supplement to the diet. We carry several options. Our favorites are Ultra Oil and Nordic Naturals. Omega 3's are an anti-inflammatory and are great for skin and coat and also joint health. They are also great for reducing shedding!
• Sometimes just changing to a Fish based protein adds additional Omegas to the pets diet.
• Coconut Oil is a great Medium Chain Fatty Acid and can be massaged into the coat.
• If you think it is caused by a fungus or yeast, we recommend using a medicated spray or shampoo with chlorhexidine such as Nootie Medicated, or Swederma Keto.
• It would also be beneficial to reduce the carbs in the diet. Carbs turn to sugar and sugar feeds the yeast. So low carb diets such as raw, or some gently cooked, freeze dried, air-dried, all are good choices. For Kibble, look at options such as Square Pets PowerHound or Powercat, or Farmina Prime or Pumpkin. See the FAQ on determining Carb percent if you need help.

If you need to find a food, look under our food menu and select the filter "shop by health condition" and select Skin & Coat.

All of our food is guaranteed by the Vendors. We do need it returned in the original package with the lot#, Exp date and UPC.

Moisture is key! A raw, gently cooked, or canned diet is your best option. Kibble lacks the necessary moisture for optimal health. If your pet already suffers from urinary issues, we have some foods with the proper magnesium levels for urinary health. We also have several supplements you can add to improve and maintain your pets urinary health.

If you need to find a food, look under our food menu and select the filter "shop by health condition" and select kidney & urinary.

Moisture is so important for the kidneys. We recommend a wet, or fresh diet for any pet with kidney issues. Lower protein and phosphorous levels are also important, so we recommend a diet formulated for Kidney health. We have several brands with special formulas, such as Raised Right, My Perfect Pet, Square Pet, Now Fresh, Weruva Wx, N&D, Evangers Ex, Rawz, and TikiCat.

If you need to find a food, look under our food menu and select the filter "shop by health condition" and select kidney & urinary.

We sell several great options for pets with sensitive stomachs, pancreatitis, IBD/IBS, or other ailments. Several are very low in fat (great for pancreatitis) and we a have options with hydrolyzed proteins as well, great for food sensitivities and intestinal issues where dogs have a hard time breaking down the proteins. Several are comparable to a standard prescription diet (only better ingredients) without a prescription, and often at a lower price.

If you need to find a food, look under our food menu and select the filter "shop by health condition" and select Digestive.

There are several things to consider in regards to your pets weight.

• Are you feeding the recommended amount per the food you are feeding? All pet food ranges widely in calories and fat and the feeding guidelines need to match. Be sure you are feeding the amount recommended on your current food bag and measuring correctly. Feed to the weight they should be, not the weight they are.
• Who is feeding them? Are they maybe feeding more then they should be? Ask and reiterate measuring.
• Are you feeding treats? Is anyone in the family? Treats can add a lot of calories and fat so be diligent about what kind of treats they get and how often. Fresh treats like blueberries, carrots, broccoli, are great options. Just be sure everyone in the house knows which fresh treats are toxic- like grapes, chocolate and onions.
• Are you adding toppers? Fresh toppers are great, and we recommend using them, but you might need to cut back the food a bit to offset the added calories. Try to keep toppers at 10% of their diet.
• What are you currently feeding? If you are on a weight management food, following all these points, and it isn't helping you achieve your pets goal weight then your pet might do better on a high protein, low carb diet such as raw, or a low carb kibble such as Square Pets Power Hound.

If you need to find a food, look under our food menu and select the filter "shop by health condition" and select weight control.

Most people are not familiar with TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine and the different food energies. TCM believes that each animal protein or plant based ingredient has an energy that can interact with your pets natural energy.

Imbalances can cause itchiness, food sensitivities, skin irritation and even excessive panting. Feeding the right proteins for your pets energy (Hot, Cold, Warm or Neutral) might help balance and resolve symptoms.

If your pet runs cool, always trying to snuggle up or have arthritis, they may do better on warm or hot proteins.

If they run hot and are always looking for a place to cool down, they may do better on cooling proteins. The goal is to be neutral.

Cool proteins: Rabbit, Duck, Pollock

Neutral proteins: Beef, Pork, Salmon

Warming proteins: Chicken, Turkey

Hot proteins: Venison, Lamb