Issue #87
Did you know: Our Real Dog Box membership includes access to our sister-site Feedreal.com which has tons of resources for feeding fresh food and learning about canine nutrition!
Available until March 20th ONLY, here’s the current lineup:
🐷 Pork heart
🐄 Beef liver
🐟 Anchovies
🦆 Duck feet
🐖 Pig Skin
Bison backstrap
🐖 Pig trotter (super chew)
🦃 Turkey Meatballs made with turkey breast and gizzard, chicken feet, wild-caught sardines, grass-fed beef green tripe, grass-fed beef liver, and lamb spleen.
Real Dog Box has a new membership program that offers a free monthly dog nutrition consultations, plus FREE shipping on all boxes, including secret shop orders, and early access to secret shop. Text us to learn more or add a membership to your account! 858-348-5954.
Pro tip: Is your dog experiencing allergies or just not loving a certain item? Customize your box with help from our member services team! Text 858.348.5954.
Project Triad may give us extra years with our pups. Triad (test of rapamycin in aging dogs) is part of the Dog Aging Project and aims to add 1 to 2 years to our dogs’ lives. Initial studies with rapamycin in small animals show a life expectancy increase of 9-30%. This double-blind clinical trial (the first of its kind!) aims to evaluate up to 500 large breed middle-age dogs. Researchers are optimistic that the drug will benefit dogs and potentially humans down the road.
“Extinct” singing canine rediscovered. The New Guinea Singing Dog has been thought to be extinct in the wild while about 200 remain in captivity. A new study of the Highland Wild Dog has found them to be a genetic match sharing about 72% of their DNA. Researchers believe the difference is due to inbreeding of the captive dogs and the lack of genetic diversity. This discovery is an exciting opportunity to learn more about dog domestication, vocalization, and modern dogs.
Endangered species in our pet’s food? A recent study from the National University of Singapore has found the DNA of various species of endangered sharks in cat and dog foods produced locally. 45 products from 16 brands listed “whitefish” or “ocean fish” as ingredients leaving it vague as to what actually goes in. Not only does this hurt endangered species but shark is considered of low nutritional value and may affect pet nutrition.
Health concern for Palm Beach pooches. A virus similar to kennel cough has been spreading through northern Florida and has now hit Palm Beach. The uppe r respiratory illness lasts about a week and is generally not life-threatening to healthy dogs. It is best to avoid other dogs that appear ill. If your dog experiences symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose a vet visit is needed to prevent the spread into the lower respiratory tract.
Love from pets eases pain. We know that dogs can provide comfort in times of stress but a new study shows that they can help reduce pain. Over 200 emergency room visitors were asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1-10. Visitors who then spent 10 minutes with a therapy dog indicated less pain overall. Researchers hope their study can prove the importance of therapy dogs in medical settings.
Dog tags go digital. Kent County in Michigan is introducing a new type of “smart” tags to help lost pets. These tags include a QR code that when scanned will provide information about the dog including age, breed, coloring, and the owner’s contact phone and email. These tags also include a website and toll-free number in case the finder doesn’t have a smartphone. The goal is to get pets home faster than conventional methods such as microchips.
Dog survives Colorado avalanche after days in the snow. A couple skiing and snowboarding with their dog were recently caught in an Avalanche near Monarch Pass. Th e skier was able to deploy their airbag and then dig out their snowboarding partner, however, they were unable to find their dog. The pup was presumed dead but showed up 3 days later at a trailhead. The lucky pup has been reunited with it’s family!
Grass Fed vs grain fed beef. Did you know that food affects the quality of meat ? While grass-fed beef is lower in overall fat, it’s higher in omega 3 fatty acids that are essential to your dog’s health! It’s also higher in conjugated linoleic acid and antioxidants! This month’s Real Dog Box has grass fed beef liver in the line up!
You can learn more at Feedreal.com !