Prescription Pet Food…. Corporate Deception

Did you know that the Prescription Diet® (Prescription Diet® is a registered trademark of Hills® Pet Nutrition, Inc.®) your veterinarian prescribed for your dog doesn’t really require a prescription in the true sense of the word? I’m willing to bet that most consumers and perhaps even some vets are unaware that there are no special ingredients inside these diets that are NOT regulated by the FDA or DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), requiring an official prescription.

In the dog food world, the term Prescription Diet® describes an effective marketing agreement between a hundred-million dollar pet food manufacturer and the veterinarian community. This agreement allows for the sale of their foods through licensed veterinarians only. Veterinarians benefit because they can achieve a much higher mark-up on these foods than they would by offering foods widely available without a “prescription.” The pet food manufacturer, in return, gains credibility as a manufacturer of veterinarian-recommended food and uses that as an endorsement, if you will, for the rest of their products.

Prescription diet is an industry-coined term and holds no legal meaning. An informal price survey amongst veterinarians selling 30-pound bags of Prescription Diet® R/D® (weight reduction) found the average price to be $61.00 or $2.03/lb. Alternatively, a 40-pound bag of Hills® Science Diet® Adult Light with similar ingredients and guaranteed analysis statements cost $43.99 or $1.09/lb. From a layperson’s viewpoint, both foods (containing corn, chicken by-products, and cellulose) seem to be used for similar goals, yet the formula available only through licensed veterinarian’s costs nearly twice as much.

Although, both of these food varieties are inferior dog food products. The wide variety of healthy and nutritious products that we stock at Ben’s Bark Ave Bistro far exceed the nutrition that would be achieved from feeding either of these products.

Sophisticated Marketing Guarantee Veterinary Cooperation

In addition to creating pet food to address specific health issues, they also created a detailed and very successful marketing plan to gain credibility within the veterinary community. To disseminate knowledge about K/D®, P/D® (K/D® and P/D® are registered trademarks of Hills® Pet Nutrition, Inc.®) and the foundation among veterinarians, to encourage a favorable image among them and to develop a whole new area of professional and public relations as it may relate to veterinarians.

With the help of a public relations firm, they created the “Student Agent Program,” designed to indoctrinate promising young veterinary medical students to act as liaisons to help educate their young, impressionable classmates about these diets.

Dr. Michael W. Fox, co-author of Not Fit for a Dog! The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food, explained it this way: “Until recently, vet students in the U.S. and other countries were taught cat and dog nutrition by veterinarians employed by pet-food companies. Now more schools have staff teaching a short course in companion animal nutrition, but only too often their research and lectureships are funded by pet food manufacturers.”

If a veterinarian won’t budge from the idea of a Prescription Diet®, it may be time to locate a holistic veterinarian for a second opinion. Contact the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) at the vet finder on the group's web site, www.holisticvetlist.com.

The next time your veterinarian suggests a diet for your four-legged friend that you’re not comfortable with, don’t hesitate to ask questions. A good veterinarian, traditional or holistic, will welcome that discussion and encourage you to look at all the options available. At Ben’s Bark Ave Bistro we share our knowledge and expertise for every pet, large or small.

Here is to the health and longevity of your pet!

CETYL M, AN AMAZING PRODUCT!

With old age come achy joint, stiffness and pain which can be debilitating. Arthritis is a degenerative disease causing inflammation of joints. It occurs when the lubrication and cartilage in one's joints is no longer sufficient to keep the joint moving smoothly, the bones may come into contact with each other and cause mild to excruciating pain.

As you know…. like humans, pets can also suffer from arthritis preventing them from walking and running normally. Arthritis can cause swelling, stiffness, pain and discomfort which leads to weakened mobility taking away your pets gusto for life. Older pets are much more prone to arthritis, but younger pets can also experience joint problems, making prevention even more important. Here are a few preventive steps and tips you can do at home to make your arthritic pet feel more comfortable and breathe life back into your furry friend.

1. Help Your Hound Shed Pounds-
If your pet is overweight or inactive then they have a higher risk of suffering from joint pain. Keeping your dog slim, trim and fit will help reduce the amount of stress extra weight can place on the joints, giving your pet some joint pain relief. So, cut back on your pet's treat intake, do away with the table scrap diet and switch to lower calorie senior pet food with less fat and more fiber. As many of you have heard us preach before, the caloric intake of your pet is critical. The average 65 pound dog, for instance, requires roughly 1450 calories per day. When eating one of our healthy kibbles this measures up to about 2 ½ to 3 cups of food per day, excluding, any treats! For example 3 biscuits can be equivalent to one cup of food.

2. Exercise is key!
Regular exercise helps keep arthritis under control. Taking your dog for a 20 minute brisk walk several times a day will work wonders. If your dog is unable to do a 20 minute walk, try shorter walks up and down a small incline/hill.

3. Let Them Sleep Indoors-
Cold and damp places can cause your pet's joints to hurt. So, make sure to bring your dog inside at night, and give him a warm, soft place to lay away from drafty doors and windows.

4. Make Feeding Time Easier-
Often times pets with arthritic stiff neck can have a difficult time eating. For more convenience, place your pet’s food and water bowls up off the floor so they don’t have to lower their head as much during mealtime. Consider a raised feeding bowl.

5. Lend Your Climbing Pet a Helping Paw -
Arthritic pets often have a hard time with mobility, making jumping up and down and climbing stairs quite a painful task. Installing a ramp will help assist your pet in getting around and help your pet maintain some independence.

6. Give Your dog Cetyl M-
The best thing to do for prevention is to give your pet an effective joint supplement that contains Cetyl M. Cetyl M is like WD 40 for their joints. Much like glucosamine has been proven effective in reducing inflammation and lessening your dogs joint pain, Cetyl M is DRAMATIC! All of our dogs take it and we have seen an incredible difference. We sell bottle after bottle with nothing but rave reviews for the product. If you have an older, or orthopedic dog give it a try. You will be glad you did.

Watch This Amazing Video!

JUST ADDED TO OUR PRODUCT LINE ORIJEN & BLUE BUFFALO !!!!

Announcing the newest lines of health food added to Ben's Bark Ave Bistro's inventory of nutritious pet food products!

ORIJEN
AWARD WINNING & BIOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE PET FOODS

“Cats and dogs evolved as hunters and despite a modern lifestyle, their digestive systems remain unchanged”.

A Biologically Appropriate diet is formulated to match the same balance of protein and fat from meat ingredients that cats and dogs would find hunting in the wild—while keeping in mind that a modern lifestyle of regular meals and less exercise means a reduced calorie requirement. The Biologically Appropriate concept is simple: in correct ratio and quantity, include the fresh, whole foods that nature evolved dogs and cats to eat while excluding ingredients like cereal grains that are not part of the natural diet.
The peak health of our companion cats and dogs depends upon the quality proteins and fats they derive from meats - not from carbohydrates and grains. High-protein, low-carbohydrate and grain-free, ORIJEN features high inclusions of fresh regional ingredients in a Biologically Appropriate ratio of 70 percent meat, 30 percent fruit and vegetables and zero grain (70/30/0). ORIJEN closely matches the foods that dogs and cats are evolved to eat, providing them nourishment as Mother Nature intended.


BLUE BUFFALO

All Natural and Healthy Dog Food with Natural Ingredients

Now you can feed your puppy, adult dog or senior dog with the same care you feed your family. All of our natural dog foods have real meat, fish, or poultry as the first ingredient, plus wholesome whole grains, garden vegetables and healthy fruit. All of our dry dog food formulas contain exclusive LifeSource® Bits — a precise blend of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These include ingredients that have been shown to help strengthen your dog or cat’s immune system, support their specific life stage requirements and protect them from the negative impact of environmental toxins. In addition, all BLUE healthy dog foods contain NO chicken or poultry by-product meals, artificial preservatives, corn, wheat or soy.

OPEN FOR ONE WEEK!

Hello Ben’s Friends!

We have been open for one week now and we can honestly say there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the new location in the Nugget Plaza. Everyone has expressed their cheerful approval of the location, the store itself (although temporary), and the ample PARKING!

It’s been very gratifying to see all of the familiar and friendly faces, that we have come to know and spend time with in our previous location. We have also had the pleasure of meeting new customers as well. It is rewarding to share our knowledge and passion for keeping all cats and dogs as healthy as we possibly can through their proper nutrition.

There was a little confusion at first with the exact location. So as a reminder, we are at the east end of the center directly below the Sharp Bicycle sign in Suite 180. This is our temporary spot until our permanent Suite 120 is completed in the fall. Additionally, our new phone number is: (916) 797-DOGS (3647) just in case.

If you haven’t had the chance to stop by yet, please do. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sally, Brad, Ryan, Chance & Dante’

THE NEW STORE IS OPEN!

Hello Ben's Friends!

After eight straight days of working until after midnight every day, and our only off day to attend our oldest son's wedding, we have opened our new store!

It was a tremendous amount of work, yet worth the effort. On our very first day every one of our customers that came by raved about the new location and the ease of the PARKING! We think you will agree.

We are at the east end of the shopping center between the Sharp Bicycle Shop and the Top this Yogurt Shop in Suite #180.

Thank you for your patience and now that we are fully operational we are looking forward to seeing you soon!

To Our Loyal Customers:

Thank you all for your patience and understanding during what was to have been an easy transition to our new location, months ago and the lack of entries to our blog as a result.

After more than 10 months, the location that we previously had identified at Sunset Blvd & Highway 65 unfortunately did not work out for us. The original March timeline has obviously expired.

It’s easy to see that we have out grown our old location and the parking continues to be a nightmare. Never the less our lease expired on June 1st, and our current landlord has been unyielding even in these trying economic times.

Our family thanks you, our customers, for being a constant through this troublesome economy. We hope that our family’s commitment to your pet’s and the business of feeding ALL dogs and cats a healthy and nutritious food have helped to see us through. No matter the size or shape - Maine Coon, Chihuahua or Great Dane - we spend the time to consult each animal companion to insure their pet’s optimal health!

We are very excited to inform you that we have confirmed our new LOCATION! It’s a short drive from our previous store and YES, it has plenty of parking too! It “will be” twice the size and has super easy freeway access. Due to our already expired lease and the lack of progress on the previously identified building, we found ourselves scrambling for a new store location at the last minute.

This new location will afford us the growth needed for our business and a much larger selection of healthy and fun products our customers have come to expect from Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro! We will be adding many new lines of healthy foods, as well as new collars, leashes, toys and treats!

Although, our new store is still under construction and it will take about 90 days to complete the “real” store, the landlord has afforded us a temporary location in the same building until ours is completed. Therefore all of the current products and a few new ones will be available during the relocation.

We will now be located in the Nugget Plaza at Pleasant Grove Blvd. and Fairway Drive, just off of Highway 65 in Roseville. Our “temporary” store will be right between “Top this Yogurt” and “Sharp Bicycles.” So please excuse our lack of décor for the next couple of months while the permanent store is finished.

To complete our transition to the new center we will be closing the last week of July, with our soft opening in the temporary space on Monday, August 2nd 2010. So please stock up on food so you don’t run out. We will have our GRAND OPENING celebration as soon as the permanent store is finished!

Although our location has changed, our commitment to you and your pets has not! Please remember:

"The single largest contribution you can make to your pet’s health and longevity is the quality of food you provide for them!"

From our family to yours, thank you for your trust, your patience and understanding. We look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Here’s To the Health of Your Dog and Cat!

The Romero’s - Sally, Brad, Ryan, Chance & Dante’

BULLY STICKS

Bully Sticks for dogs are also called pizzle sticks. They're made from bull penises, though they're often marketed as dried muscles or tendons. They come in various styles, lengths and widths to suit any dog's chew toy needs, and since they contain 100% beef, they're safe and healthy for your dog to eat. Bully Sticks last a long time and will not break or splinter.

How Bully Sticks for Dogs Are Made

Bully sticks for dogs are made of dried bull penises. All natural bully sticks contain only pure beef, and they make a great chewy dog treat.
Manufacturers make bully sticks by removing the bull penis, cleaning it and then hanging it upside down, it may be stretched to make a larger chew, and it may be twisted or braided. Once the penis has been stretched and shaped, it's smoked or dried to make a long lasting, safe dog chew toy.
Bully sticks are available in a number of different sizes. Dogs of all sizes can enjoy bully sticks.

Benefits of Bully Sticks for Dogs

Bully sticks are safer for dogs than rawhide and other treats, because they're all natural and free of dyes, chemicals and pesticides. They're easy for your dog to digest, and their manufacture is monitored by the USDA, to ensure the quality of the ingredients.

Bully sticks are a great way to help maintain your dog's oral hygiene and health. They can prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, and help to stop the formation of cavities. Bully stick chew toys for dogs can help prevent periodontal disease and gingivitis, both of which can cause not only oral pain, inflammation and tooth decay, but can also lead to chronic and life threatening disease in the heart, liver, kidney and joints when bacteria spread from the mouth throughout the rest of the body.

Bully sticks are also a great way to help your dog relieve stress by chewing. Bully sticks last longer than other chews, and they have a long shelf life.

Why You Should Choose Bully Stick Dog Treats for Your Dog

Bully sticks are high in protein, but low in fat, so they make a great treat for overweight dogs. They're also high in vitamins and minerals, like calcium and magnesium, which your dog needs for good health.

Traditional rawhide chew toys present a choking hazard for many dogs, especially larger dogs, since they're capable of breaking the rawhide into small pieces which could lodge themselves in your dog's windpipe and cause him to choke.

Ben, our mascot, once started to bloat due to a raw hide being lodged in the back of his stomach. He would have died in about 5 hours, but a $2,100 surgery and six weeks of down time saved his life.

Bully sticks, however, are far less hazardous, since it's much more difficult for your dog to break the bully stick into smaller pieces. However, you might want to protect your dog by taking away the bully stick when it becomes very small, and replacing it with a new one.