Welcome to our June Newsletter!
Summer is here and lots of things are brewing in our Kitchen! We don't mean to tease - but our brand new gourmet recipe will be here in just a few weeks, and an exciting new product to support healthy and flexible joints is well into the final stages of testing, ready for launch this fall.
Coming soon, we'll also be releasing the brand new edition of our Recipe Book packed with quick meals to prepare at home for your cat or dog, including some you can share, too! Please email info@thehonestkitchen.com if you'd like to be included on our pre-launch mailing list!
Scroll down for more news, a recipe and some information on Cushings Disease.
Rabies Challenge Fund
Our past Charity of the Month, the Rabies Challenge Fund, has received a very generous boost!
Our friend, author Jan Rasmussen wrote to us recently with exciting news: Her dog Chiclet and two anonymous donors announced a matching gift of $35,000 to the Rabies Challenge Fund. The fund has been set up to try to extend the period between rabies vaccinations, and ultimately to set up an adverse effects reporting system and study adjuvant safety.
The matching runs throughout the summer and the donors will increase gifts of $100 or more by 50%. Thus, a $100 donation becomes $150. They will also throw in a 'pawtographed' copy of Jan’s wonderful book, Scared Poopless, the straight scoop on dog care, for gifts of $500 or more.
In conjunction with the gift, Jan’s dog Chiclet put out a lively slideshow video called Dog Rabid About Rabies Vaccine Danger . Their goal is to spread the word about over-vaccination with a fun video that you can pass around. To learn more, click here.
The Ultimate Pet Food Guide
The Ultimate Pet Food Guide is a must-read book for pet owners who want to learn more about the nutritional requirements of cats and dogs, recipes and the pros and cons of different feeding approaches including home-made, raw and commercial diets.
Our friend and long-time customer Liz Palika is the author of this fantastic publication. Click here to learn more or order the book, which is hot off the press! Here’s a fun raw-food recipe from the book, reprinted with Liz’s permission:
Venison & Greens
This recipe produces about 1200 calories, good for a 50 lb dog of moderate activity.
3 Cups Venison, raw ground or muscle meat
¼ cup spinach, fresh
¼ cup broccoli florets, fresh
¼ cup romaine lettuce, fresh
¼ cup barley grass or wheat grass, fresh
½ cup sweet potato, fresh
2 tbsp cod liver oil
1 tbsp flaxseed meal
1 tbsp molasses (or honey)
1 cup plain yogurt, regular (or kefir)
1. Cut the venison into small, bite-sized pieces and set aside.
2. Cut all the greens into small pieces and place on a microwave safe plate. Cover with a wet paper towel and steam in the microwave, low heat, for about 30 seconds.
3. Steam the sweet potato until soft.
4. Add the greens and sweet potato to the meat. Add the cod liver oil, molasses and flaxseed meal and stir well, making sure the ingredients are well mixed so the dog can’t leave the greens behind.
5. Divide into two meals. Add half the yogurt to each meal when serving.
Refrigerate unused portion. Food will remain good in the refrigerator for a day or two; freeze unused meals. Suggested supplements include: a good quality natural vitamin / mineral, bonemeal / eggshells, a green food supplement, a health food blend, which can be added when the food is served if desired.
Save Storewide - and Give
We've chosen to feature the Rabies Challenge Fund as our charity again this month, too. Therefore, a portion of the profit from every online order we recieve throughout June will be donated to this worthy cause.
A Coupon For Everyone
In addition, we're offering 10% off on every item placed in our online store, now through June 30th. Simply enter coupon code THKNLV38C in the designated area of checkout and your discount will be applied. Please note, this code expires on June 30th and is for Retail customers only.
Cushings Disease - A Quick Overview
Cushings Disease occurs when there is an over-active adrenal gland (known as Hyperadrenocorticism or HAC), which causes chronically increased cortisol to circulate in the blood.
The classic signs of Cushings, known as the 5 P’s, are:
Polyuria (increased urination)
Polydipsia (increased drinking)
Polyphagia (increased appetite)
Panting
Pot Bellied
Other signs include weakness, bilateral (both sides) symmetrical hair loss, thin skin and increased blood pressure.
The causes of Cushings Disease include adrenal tumors, Pituitary tumors that secrete ACTH and excessive or long term use of steroids.
Pets with Cushings disease are more likely to form clots in their blood, which can lodge in the lungs, and be potentially fatal.
Diagnosis of Cushings is made via a general health exam and profile, complete blood count, urinalysis and other specific tests if the signs point to Cushings.
Conventional treatment for Cushings disease involves medication with drugs that suppress adrenal function.
A Holistic approach includes a Healthy, Natural Diet, along with Traditional Chinese Medicine: An herb called Si Miao San as well as the herb Ginko, which helps to lower Cortisol secretion.
In general, the outlook for a pet with Cushings disease is good, there are several conventional and complementary treatment approaches available and most pets who have the disease are able to lead normal lives while receiving treatment.
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