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~ Raising the Connemara Jack Russell Terrier ~
~ Old World Terriers of Distinction ~
Meet our Dogs:
Puppies:
A Dogs Life:
~ A Proud Member of the Connemara Terrier Society ~
Diet
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~ Raising the Connemara Jack Russell Terrier ~
~ Old World Terriers of Distinction ~
Meet our Dogs:
Puppies:
A Dogs Life:
~ A Proud Member of the Connemara Terrier Society ~
617-899-9738 ~ Located in New England ~ kylemoreterriers@gmail.com
Jack Russell Terrier Diet and Health
At Kylemore terriers, we feed our dogs as naturally as possible. Our adult dogs are fed a combination of human grade foods and a premium quality dry kibble/canned food. The human grade foods are either prepared raw or are home cooked and include raw ground beef and bone, raw ground lamb and bone, raw duck necks (also called raw meaty bones), fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, cottage cheese, rice and potatoes. The diets of our nursing mothers and puppies are slightly different and will be explained below.
While we understand that feeding home cooked and raw may not be for everyone, we do support you in feeding your dog a high quality dry kibble. We will teach you what to look for and what to avoid when selecting food and treats and provide a list of kibble brands that we approve below. Our philosophy has always been to give our dogs variety in their diet. Just as you would not want to eat the same dry cereal for every meal, neither does your dog!
Examples of premium quality dry dog food.
Oma's Pride - our supplier of human grade
raw dog food.
Puppies and Nursing Mothers
Puppies and nursing mothers require a diet that is slightly higher in
fat content. As a result of the extra calories required for nursing
mothers, they are often fed the same puppy kibble as the pups.
When it is time for solid food, the puppies are fed Wellness Puppy
Kibble that has been soaked in warm goat’s milk. They are also
fed canned Wellness Puppy, cottage cheese and a variety of raw food as they continue to mature. When pup is ready to go home, we recommend that you continue feeding Wellness Puppy variety until he adjusts to his new environment. Changes in puppy’s diet should be done gradually in order to avoid tummy upset.
Dangerous Human Foods
The following is a list of human foods that are dangerous to your dog. Always avoid feeding these toxic human foods to your pet. Please post the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center phone number (888) 426-4435 in a convenient location along with your Vet’s number and other emergency numbers in case you suspect your dog has ingested something harmful. Click here for a link for more detail about dangerous human foods at the ASPCA website.
-Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine -Yeast Dough-Alcohol -Xylitol Artificial Sweetener-Avocado (leaves, fruit and seeds) -Onions, Garlic and Chives-Macadamia Nuts -Milk-Grapes and Raisins -Salt
The Truth about Commercial Pet Food
The best way to know if you are choosing the right food for your pet is to learn how to read and interpret the ingredients label on the bag. It is a sad fact that most of the ingredients that makes up commercial dog and cat food today is considered non-human grade and comes from a “rendering” plant. Some of the items that go into rendering are spoiled rotten meat from the supermarket, road kill, dead, dying, diseased and disabled cattle, rancid restaurant grease and euthanized pets. Other main ingredients of commercial pet food include meat by-products which are the leftovers from the slaughterhouse (including lungs, ligaments, bones, blood and intestines) as well as other cheap fillers such as corn. Added to this are chemical preservatives such as BHA and BHT (known to cause kidney and liver dysfunction), Ethoxyquin (suspected of causing cancer) and Propylene glycol (used as automotive antifreeze and causes destruction of red blood cells). If you love your animals as much as we love ours, we encourage you to read the labels and do your own research on this subject; you will be shocked and surprised at the detail and amount of information you will be able to find.
How to Read the Ingredient Label
Signs of Quality (what to look for):
- Animal protein is at the top of the ingredient list: Since ingredients are listed by weight, the food should have one or two animal proteins listed in the first few ingredients.
- The animal protein source should be named: For example, beef, chicken, fish, lamb. The word "meat" indicates a low quality protein source. Animal protein "meals" should be from a named protein source (for example "beef meal").
- Look for an animal protein "meal" near the top of the list: Animal protein meals (meat, bone, skin and connective tissue that has been rendered and dried) contain about 10% moisture and about 65% protein. Fresh or frozen meat do not contain enough protein to be used as the only protein source in a dry food.
- Whole vegetables, fruits and grains: Look for fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and whole grains near the top of the ingredient list as they contain important vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants.
- Organic and locally sourced ingredients: Are better for everyone!
Signs of Low Quality (what to look out for):
- Meat by-products or poultry by-products: By-products generally consist of organs and parts not fit for human consumption. Avoid food containing by-products or by-products meal.
- Corn Products: Corn products including corn meal, gluten and grits are cheap fillers and are difficult for animals to digest.
- Added sweeteners: Sweeteners tend to persuade animals to eat food comprised mainly of grain fragments and contain little healthy animal protein.
- Artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin: There are natural preservatives such as tocopherols (forms of vitamin E), vitamin C and rosemary extract that should be used instead. Natural preservatives do not preserve the food as long as artificial preservatives so be sure to check the "best by" date. Would you want to eat something with an endless shelf life?
- Artificial colors: Artificial colors are used to make the food look appealing to you and mean nothing to your dog!
A Note About Table Scraps
In the old days there was no such thing as commercially processed dog food and the dogs were fed the same food that the family was eating in the form of “table scraps”. Many people think that feeding table scraps leads to a dog that begs. In reality it is not what the dog is fed but the manner in which they are fed that leads to begging dogs. There is nothing wrong with feeding your dog table scraps as long as you save them up and put them in your dog’s dish for their next meal time. Make sure you do not feed your dog anything from the “dangerous human foods” list and avoid fried and fatty foods and all cooked bones. Feeding table scraps is a healty way to add variety to your dog’s meal.
Dietary Supplements
We recommend two dietary supplements
that should be given to your dog on a
daily basis. The first is fish oil (either
salmon or sardine oil) for the omega 3
fatty acids which have a multitude of
benefits including healthy skin and
coat, improved digestion and a healthy
heart.
The second supplement we recommend
is either Nupro or Solid Gold Seameal Mix. Nupro contains yeast and garlic powder which can cause allergies in some dogs. Solid Gold Seameal Mix
does not contain yeast or garlic.
Approved Dog Food List
Every February, The Whole Dog Journal – A monthly guide to natural dog care and training, publishes their list of approved dry dog foods. Because they are doing the due diligence of researching pet food manufacturers annually to ensure they are continuing to produce the highest quality pet food, we feel this is a valuable resource worth mentioning. Whether you are looking to switch your dog to a new food or you want to make sure the food you are currently using still meets the highest standards, we encourage you to refer to the list. Some of our favorite approved brands are listed below.
Wellness (Super 5 Mix, Core, Simple Solutions)
Acana (Pacifica)
Taste of the Wild (Pacific Stream Canine)
Solid Gold (Just a Wee Bit, Holistique Blendz)
Dick Van Patten's (Natural Balance L.I.D.)
When switching your dog to a new food,
be sure to buy a small quantity at first.
Your dog will be sure to let you know
whether he likes it!
A Note About Allergies
Just like humans, dogs can also have allergies. The most common forms of allergies in dogs are food allergies and inhaled or contact allergies. It is important to understand the signs and symptoms of both types of allergies so you can work in conjunction with your Vet to eliminate the allergen from your dog's diet or environment.
"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
-Roger Caras
Irish Jack Russell Terrier Breeders | Irish Jack Russell Terrier Puppies For Sale | Irish Jack Russell Terriers
Irish Jack Russell Terrier Breeders | Irish Jack Russell Terrier Puppies For Sale | Irish Jack Russell Terriers
