Porky Puffs Dog Treats

Porky Puffs Treats for Dogs

Porky Puffs 

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• Irresistible flavor and chewing satisfaction
• 100% pork snouts
• No harsh preservatives or artificial flavors and colors
• Made in the USA

Dogs can’t resist the rich aroma of our delicious pig snouts. Packed with high-quality protein, Porky Puffs chewable treats are non-greasy and contain no artificial preservatives or flavors. And with no artificial colors, you won’t have to worry about hard-to-remove stains in your carpet!

They are easily digestible and therefore a safe alternative to rawhide, which can cause choking, throat irritations and potentially dangerous intestinal blockages.

Nervous Dog WHY?

Courtesy of the Life's Abundance July 2018 Newsletter:

Why is my Dog so Nervous?

My neighbor’s dog Chuckie is, by all accounts, an anxious canine. Sweet as can be, but nervous. Chuckie hides behind his mom when new people show up. He still doesn’t trust his dad, who is the one who lobbied so hard to bring Chuckie home in the first place (three long years ago). He runs away from him and wedges himself under a table whenever my friend's husband looks at him directly - about which the poor guy feels rather despondent.

When a dog is this fearful, many people assume that at some point he or she has been abused. It’s the catch-all people use whenever a dog whose history is unknown shows stress or fear. We say, “He’s scared of men so he must have been abused by one." Or, "She’s scared of ballcaps, so she must have been abused by someone who wore one.” The same sentiments are expressed for men with beards, people wearing sunglasses, pulling out a camera, you name it!

It would be horrifying to think that every dog who exhibits fear (chiefly because there are a lot of them) do so out of a direct result of abuse. While it certainly happens, and it's terrible when it does, a much more likely and less harrowing explanation is that these dogs may not have been adequately socialized as a pup.


After puppies are born, a great deal of neurological development takes place, much of it occurring in the first 16 weeks. Their early experiences in this crucial time make a lifelong impact on their ability to react to stress. During this period, they are most open to new experiences, sights and sounds. From vacuum cleaners to cats to children (and, yes, men with beards wearing sunglasses and baseball caps), a dog who has a positive experience with these things during this critical time is much less likely to react negatively to them down the road.

Most puppies go to a new home at eight weeks at the youngest, ideally even a little older than that. Back when I started out in veterinary practice, vets were trained to advocate from a health standpoint: keep puppies at home and away from potential sources of illness until they are fully vaccinated at 16 weeks. Unfortunately this "common knowledge" means pups may be missing out on some key socialization time.

As our understanding of the importance of socialization has increased, many trainers are opening up puppy classes to 12-week-olds and veterinarians are re-evaluating the four-month quarantine rule. Each of us needs to assess the risk/benefit analysis of taking puppies out into the world, but in a controlled environment around dogs who are healthy and up-to-date on vaccines, many of us find the socialization benefits are well worth it!

When Dakota came home with us, he was 14 weeks old. He spent his early weeks in a house with nine adult dogs and all of his littermates, which was quite chaotic. But, it led to him being super comfortable meeting new pups. Before coming home with us, he had already gone home with an elderly couple who returned him after a couple days when the reality of living with a puppy set in. So he had been exposed to quite a lot! Nonetheless, as he was current on his preventive care, we also attended socialization classes from the get-go. Based on his reactions at the door, it’s clear he was never exposed to men in UPS uniforms, but we’re working on it. 

When talking to friends who are experienced breeders, I learned there are several formal programs you can use to socialize puppies at the very early stages of life (aka, “puppy preschool"). These programs are great because they walk people through each important aspect of social exposure needed for good socialization, from touching to meeting strangers, to music and doorbells. In fact, the breeder we are getting our next Golden puppy from is doing it as we speak, and started when the litter was only one week old! And yes, that is my way of saying I am bringing another puppy into the house this summer, which is insane but at least I will have lots to talk about here on the blog! 

As for Chuckie, his family has come to love and accept him as he is. That isn’t to say that dogs can’t change or improve after 16 weeks of age has passed! I often see Chuckie walking to the dog park with the husband, who learned that when Chuckie is in the presence of other dogs he also relaxes more with people. Their patience and love has helped him adjust and modulate his fear, even as an adult.

Have you ever used a puppy kindergarten training program with a new litter? Do you think it helped? What have you done to diminish your dog's outsize fear?

Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, DVM

Grain Free Dog Food

Grain Free Dog Food

Life's Abundance 

 Click here for more information, guaranteed analysis and order

Our premium, grain-free food is formulated for all life stages. 

Packed with nourishing, high-quality ingredients, this delicious food is perfectly balanced with all of the proteins, omega-3s, vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients pet kids need to thrive … without the grains.

Made for all life stages, this grain-free recipe c

contains only the finest ingredients, like …

• A proprietary blend of vitamins & minerals

• High-quality protein from turkey, chicken & whitefish meals for strong muscles

• An antioxidant system including vitamins C & E

• Prebiotic fiber & guaranteed probiotics

• A selection of nutritious vegetables & fruits

• Guaranteed omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin & a shiny coat

• Guaranteed calcium & phosphorus for healthy teeth & strong bones

• Dietary fiber to help maintain a healthy digestive tract

Click here for more information on Life's Abundance Dog Food

Fish Oil for Pets

Fish Oil for Pets

Ultra-Pure Fish Oil for pets are made in a human pharmaceutical facility … the same place as our Fish Oil for people.

They are highly concentrated and ultra-pure. Like our Fish Oil for people, each bottle receives a nitrogen flush to remove oxygen from the bottle before it is sealed for ultra freshness. Plus, 

Ultra-Pure Fish Oils meet or exceed the highest standards in the industry for quality assurance. In fact, each batch of Ultra-Pure Fish Oil for pets is tested by an independent third-party organization (IFOS) and the results are posted right here so 

you can see the quality, concentration and purity that Ultra-Pure Fish Oil supplements offer.

Click here for more information on fish oil for pets, IFOS reports or to make a purchase

What are Omega-3 fatty acids?

Omega-3’s belong to a group of fatty acids known as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. There are three important Omega-3 fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are found in fish, while ALA is found only in plant foods such as flaxseed meal. EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids can only be made in a limited capacity in dogs and are even more poorly synthesized in cats. Therefore, supplementing your pet’s diet with these nutrients can significantly change their levels of health-promoting Omega-3’s. 

Our fish oils contain at least 30% EPA and DHA, an ideal concentration for the overall health of your dog or cat. The oil is in a triglyceride form, which is highly bioavailable and without added flavors so it has a natural taste that dogs and cats love.

Click here for more information on fish oil for pets, IFOS reports or to make a purchase

For fish oil for humans, click here

Wellness Food Supplement

Wellness Food Supplement

by Life's Abundance

• Helps maintain overall health
• Naturally nutritious ingredients from whole foods
• The perfect complement to our premium foods
• Made in USA

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This chewable tablet includes the following nutritious ingredients:

• Chicken liver, which is rich in vitamin A and D, protein and selenium.
• Natural vitamin E, which is an antioxidant.
• Taurine, which is an essential amino acid.
• Cranberries, a rich source of vitamin C, dietary fiber and manganese.
• Carrots, a rich source of beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamins C, D, and E, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and iron.
• Dried egg, one of nature's most nutrient-dense foods, plays an important role in a balanced diet. Eggs are considered a complete protein source, providing essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, B, E, biotin, and sulfur). Eggs also provide healthy fats, such as omega-6 for healthy skin and a glossy coat.
• Ground Flaxseed is a rich plant source of antioxidant lignans and omega-3 fatty. Flaxseed meal also has a very high level of protein and essential amino acids. In addition, flaxseed meal contains significant amounts of fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and is extremely rich in the minerals potassium, calcium and phosphorus.
• Direct-fed microbials, ingredients similar to those found in supermarket yogurts.
• Ester-C*, a unique and patented form of vitamin C (calcium ascorbate).
• Tomato pomace, a good source of lycopene and vitamin C.
• Alfalfa meal, which is a good source of protein, vitamin A, niacin and calcium, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese.
• Pineapple, which is a good source of enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Like all of our superior-quality canine supplements, these delicious compressed tablets are scored in-half for easy splitting. And with a tantalizing liver flavor, your dog will be doing the happy dance when it comes time for his or her supplement!

* Ester-C® (calcium ascorbate) is a licensed trademark of Inter-Cal Corporation. Manufactured under U.S. Patent No. 4,822,816. Other patents pending.

Lyme Disease and What You Need to Know

Lyme Disease and What You Need to Know.

Courtesy of Life's Abundance and the May 2018 Newsletter:

If you’ve ever had the displeasure of finding a tick on your pet, you know how revolting they are. The first time I found one on my Golden Brody, I was petting him when I felt what I thought was a skin mass. When I looked closer I found to my horror that it was a huge, engorged tick. We had just moved to another part of the county a month prior; in our previous home we never had a tick issue, so I was using just a flea and heartworm preventive. That changed quickly!

Which brings up a couple of points. First, as gross as ticks are, the bigger concern here is that they carry a variety of diseases that can negatively impact your pet’s health. The most prevalent of these tick-borne diseases is Lyme disease. Second, even within relatively tiny geographical regions, the parasite risk can vary tremendously. If you read last month’s blog post on heartworm disease, you’ll remember this trend of microclimates combined with two years of hot, wet weather has created a huge increase in the prevalence of heartworm in areas where they were never a problem before. The same goes for fleas and ticks.

If you haven’t heard of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (capcvet.org), bookmark their site now. It has the most comprehensive parasite data available. Although it’s geared towards veterinarians to help them educate clients, you can absolutely use and share this wonderful resource with your pet parents friends. It's an invaluable tool for assessing the specific risks in a particular geographic location.

Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. It affects both pets and people, but it is not transmitted to you directly from your companion animal. A bacterial disease, symptoms begin with headaches, fatigue and fever, but it can progress throughout the body and negatively impact multiple organ systems if left untreated. Because the signs are so vague, many cases are left undiagnosed for a very long time. For more detailed data about its symptoms, visit cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/index.html.

The CAPC just released their 2018 Parasite Forecast, and it’s got some bad news about Lyme disease. As the tick population has spread, so has the incidence of Lyme disease. While veterinarians in the northeast are well-versed in recognizing signs, it is becoming a much bigger problem in areas such as the Dakotas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. It may not even be on the radar for most people who live in these areas, but it should be.

The data is so specific that you can click on your state and find the statistics by county - how many pets were tested for Lyme and how many came back positive. As a well-informed pet parent this is invaluable if you find a tick on your pet. It can help you answer questions like "should I tell my vet?" and "should I really pay for the test?" We encourage all of our readers to search the database, available here: capcvet.org/maps/#2018/all/lyme-disease/dog/united-states.

But it’s not all bad news! Once diagnosed, Lyme disease can be treated with a course of antibiotics. And there’s plenty that you can do right now! First, be aware of the risk in your specific area. Second, use a good tick medication. You have choices ranging from monthly spot-ons to collars and even oral medications available from the vet. They are all quite effective, so it’s a matter of personal preference and what works best for you. There is a vaccine as well. If you live in a Lyme endemic area, talk to your vet about whether the Lyme vaccine is a good option for you.

And mostly importantly, check your pet for ticks, especially in the areas where they like to hide: under ear flaps, between the toes and in the armpits. Removing ticks promptly decreases the risk of Lyme disease, as most cases of transmission occur when the tick has been attached longer than a day.

Fortunately for us, Brody’s tick issue was a one-time affair. From that day forward for the rest of his life, he was on year-round prevention. As soon as Dakota hit the weight limit for the preventive I wanted to use, I started him on tick prevention as well. I check him every day but so far all I find are little burrs from his rolling around in the grass. Hopefully it stays that way!

Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, DVM

Skin and Coat Support for Dogs

and cats!

Skin and Coat Formula

another formula by Life's Abundance!

Click here to read more, find out about what others saying and information on purchasing

• Omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed & fish oil
• A total of seven B vitamins
• Vitamins E, C & zinc
• Irresistibly tasty, chewable tablets

Does your pet suffer from any of the following?

• Dry, flaky skin or a dull, brittle coat
• Oily, foul smelling skin or a matted coat
• Thin coat, excessive hair loss or red, blotchy skin
• Excessive scratching (especially, seasonally)

Skin & Coat may help! 

A comprehensive nutritional supplement, Skin & Coat Formula for Dogs and Cats addresses skin and coat health in a holistic way. Unlike ordinary skin and coat supplements that contain fatty acids and a few other ingredients, this formula supplies a whole host of additional nutrients that work together to address the complex factors that play a role in supporting skin and coat health - Click here to read more, find out about what others saying and information on purchasing

Please visit our site to learn more about Life's Abundance dog food and products!