Rodrigo was a sweet puppy. He was curious and adventuresome but always a sweet puppy. So, imagine my surprise when he morphed into a jerk, and I couldn't take him anywhere. I started with a walk on the Centennial Trail. A group of cyclists rode by, something Rodrigo...
Golden paste is a popular DIY supplement with many benefits for our dogs. Having lost two dogs to cancer, turmeric is an important part of my dogs' diet and something easy to make and add to their meals. Benefits of Turmeric (TOO-mer-ick) for Dogs Natural detox...
Years ago, when I was still taking my dogs to a traditional vet, the veterinarian combed through my dogs' hair for the longest time, repeating, “they don't have fleas.” “Of course, my babies don't have fleas! They're raw fed.” I...
Last week, I posted a video of my bookcase, and someone asked me if I had a post that listed all of the books. Well, now I do. This list is separated into several sections; not all books are directly related to dogs, but I reference them when researching dog...
Years ago, one of our dogs was fat, and I took some flack on social media. It was brutal. But, to be honest, they weren't wrong. My dog needed to lose weight, but she was my couch potato, she was living with a partial cruciate tear and arthritis, and no matter how...
As a raw feeder, I've taken control of the nutrition for my dogs, which means I handle the sourcing, the formulating, and the meal prep for our pack. One of the critiques the raw food diet receives from the traditional veterinarian community is that a DIY raw diet...
I recently learned that our senior dog has a partial cruciate tear. This isn't our first experience; his sister had a partial tear years ago that we treated naturally, without surgery. Rodrigo doesn't have a full tear, which allows us more flexibility. Minimizing...
In 2013, we adopted a puppy – Blue – and he was an amazing addition to our family. He was a healthy dog and I often wonder how raw feeding would have impacted his health over the years. We lost him too soon and the only health issue he suffered from prior...
I'm sure every pet parent can relate to my experience – sometimes, one of our dogs has gas. There are a few times when all of them have gas. A fart here and there doesn't cause concern, but when my dogs can clear a room and their gas lasts for more than 24 hours...
If you came across this post because your dog ate a cooked chicken bone, don't panic – call your vet immediately! Do not leave a comment asking what to do – I am not a veterinarian. I'm a content creator, and this post shares what I've learned...
Scout's holistic veterinarian recommended that I have his gut biome tested through AnimalBiome (now DoggyBiome). She believes it's important to find the underlying cause of his cancer by starting with his gut. I didn't have a great experience with AnimalBiome the...
We're not hyperaware of the temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm rarely concerned about dogs overheating. But our mild summers (as compared to the rest of the country) don't excuse us from protecting our dogs from heatstroke, and I've learned to take...
When I was new to raising dogs, a veterinarian told me that dogs always get diarrhea, and it's no big deal. He's also the vet who told me that it's normal for a cat to vomit once a day and that Rodrigo would die shortly after his third birthday. Well, he was wrong....
This post was originally published in August 2015. It has been updated with new information and republished. With all of the mixed information about raw feeding, many pet parents are understandably worried about transitioning their dogs to a raw diet. Years ago, in a...
I can't remember when I first learned about the benefits of coconut oil for dogs. Probably one of the many articles promoting coconut oil that used to be published by Dogs Naturally Magazine. Yep, I was such a sheeple back then and followed everything DNM, Dr. Becker,...
I'm a passionate writer in the Pacific Northwest who loves all things dogs. I share what I'm learning as I attempt to crack the code to longevity. Keep the Tail Wagging is a blog dedicated to the dog who inspired this journey: Rodrigo Gauthier - March 2010 - September 2023.