Salmon Oil Follow-Up

Thanks to everyone who has commented in regards to my post on Salmon Oil and other fish oil alternatives. This post is in response to some of those comments.

Question: Is Salmon Oil bad?
Answer: Absolutely not. Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil and other salmon oils are an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Question: Can your pet develop a resistance to fish oil supplementation?
Answer: Yes. Similar to prolonged exposure to certain grains or proteins in a pet's diet, resistance and sensitivity can occur with prolonged exposure to the same source of Omega 3 Fatty acids or any form of supplementation.

Question: What is the ideal source of Omega 3 Fatty acids?
Answer: A non-predator fish source that minimizes the potential intake of harmful toxins.

Question: What other sources of Omega 3 fatty acids can I use to minimize the development of supplement sensitivity?
Answer: Most high quality foods have a source of fish oil in them, try supplementing your pet with a fish oil or other Omega 3 oil that compliments the one in the food. Some examples are Sardine/Anchovy oil, Flaxseed Oil, Salmon Oil and Sunflower Oil. Most quality foods have flaxseed, sunflower or salmon oil in them so sardine/anchovy oil is usually a great compliment to their diet.

Salmon Oil Alternative?

For years Salmon Oil has been considered the flagship of fish oil supplements for dogs and cats. Although it is a great source of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, it is not the best source. At Nature's Pet, we recommend a fish oil from sources other than predator fish. Predator fish such as Salmon can often times collect more toxins and unnecessary items during their lifetime. Also, excessive use of salmon oil can make your pet smell like a fish (a very unpleasant potential side effect).

A great alternative that contains high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and is purified in a manner that almost eliminates the odor is Sea Pet. This fish oil is sourced from sardines and anchovies, and it has an EPA level twice as high as traditional salmon oils. Another great benefit is the cost, Sea Pet retails for 25-40% less than the more common salmon oils.

For those of you not familiar with the benefits of fish oil supplementation, I've included a list of great benefits.

-Natural anti-inflammatory
-Reduces shedding
-Helps condition skin & coat
-Appetite enhancer if applied on top of food
-One of the best sources of fat available (fat is the most efficient energy source for dogs)

(This list is not all-inclusive).

REMEMBER: The balance between Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids is very important, so you should find a supplement that is high in Omega 3 but not necessarily Omega 6. This is another reason a sardine/anchovy based oil like Sea Pet is a superior choice to traditional salmon oils. Check with your local independent retailer for more information.

Pet Supplies

Nature's Pet offers one of the largest selections of natural pet supplies in the Pacific Northwest.

We are pleased to announce our sponsorship of Paws Across Portland, a pet event in downtown Portland, Oregon on July 25th, 2009. Enjoy the Harley Davidson Parade or check out one of the 40 booths filled with great pet supplies and pet-related vendors in the Pearl District.

If you can't attend this special event, please check out one of your local Nature's Pet stores and view our natural pet supplies selection.

www.NaturesPetFranchise.com

Natural Balance Lamb & Rice

Only a few days left to take advantage of our Natural Balance Lamb & Rice and Natural Balance Ultra large bag promotion. Through the end of May, take advantage of $5 OFF Natural Balance Ultra and Lamb & Rice bags at all Nature's Pet locations.

Also, $.50 is being donated to the Guide Dogs of the Desert (supported by Paula Abdul) for every Ultra and Lamb & Rice large bag purchased throughout the month of may. So stop in this week and stock up on these great products, and support a great charity in the process!!

NW Naturals Raw Pet Food

After a long search for a great low-cost raw diet alternative, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new raw diet, NW Naturals. Although this product has been around for a while, some recent additions to the Northwest Naturals line and its great price point have moved us to bring it in to all of our stores.

I had the privilege of visiting the NW Naturals manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon recently and was very impressed. The facility is clean, inspected daily by a USDA inspector, and contains equipment that is up-to-date and very efficient. I was also very impressed with the staff and management of NW Naturals. They are committed to excellence of manufacturing and offering only products with ingredients sourced in the United States.

Michael Morasch sums up the philosophy of NW Naturals best on their website when he states: "Duke, Vinnie, Kingdom, Shane, Buddy, Dottie, and our family cat Fuzzy. These are some of the names of my families best friends when growing up, and today. From Scotties, to Bulldogs, to Irish Wolfhounds, and our favorite "Mutts" Rescued from the Humane Society, as a family we have cared for our pets so they would live a long happy, healthy, and active life. For 53 years as a family owned business our goal has always been to be #1 quality, #1 in convenience, and #1 in value. Northwest Naturals™ produced "The Original Raw Nugget Diet" for pets and offers you the best raw natural pet food products today."

I encourage anyone who is currently feeding raw to try this great product that retails for $16.99-$22.99 for a 6lb bag. That's only $2.80-$3.80 per pound depending on the protein in the mix. Compared to other leading raw diets, that is a phenomenal value. No more mixing in vegetables or supplementing 100% meat chubs either, the NW Naturals diet is complete and contains AAFCO recommended feeding guidelines for All Life Stages.

For all of our customers currently feeding dry kibble formulas, this offers a great opportunity to try raw and see the benefits of feeding nutrient and enzyme rich foods to your pet.

Benefits of Raw

A series of positive changes will occur in your dog in response to being fed NW Naturals™ dog food. These changes may occur almost immediately, while others appear as prolonged quality of life.

In the first several days, your dog may experience:
~ Decreased anxiety level between meals
~ Decreased hyperactivity
~ Increased energy level
~ Increased food drive
~ Normalization of stools

In the first several weeks, your dog may have:
~ A more attentive disposition
~ An improvement in/or disappearance of skin allergies, disorders and irritation
~ An improvement in colon health
~ Brighter and clearer eyes

In the first several months, you may notice:
~ Your dog has a healthier, shinier, softer coat
~ Your dog completely digests dog food
~ Your dog has more stamina
(Benefits of Raw quoted from NW Naturals Website - http://www.rawnaturalpetfood.com/h_n.html)

For more details on NW Naturals Raw Diets, ask your local Nature's Pet franchise.

Natural Balance May Special

Times running out on a great Natural Balance promotion at your local Nature's Pet. Throughout the month of May, Natural Balance has teamed up with Nature's Pet to offer $5 OFF large bags of Natural Balance Ultra and Natural Balance Lamb & Rice!!

This is a limited time offer to help support Guide Dogs of the Desert with Paula Abdul. Take advantage of these great savings on a great product throughout this month and look for the Paula Abdul and Dick Van Patten posters at your local Nature's Pet.