Sporting dogs and Dr. Tim’s Pet Foods-our roots.

Sporting dogs and Dr. Tim’s Pet Foods. That is where our roots come from in that we began by designing diets meant for those dogs that run across Alaska. From what we learned in feeding those dogs to allow them to win events such as the Iditarod and the Open North America Sprint Dog Championships we then applied that knowledge to the other diets so all can benefit. Even those couch potatoes… We would love to have more pictures of dogs doing their thing, be it sporting or not, so please send them in to drtim@drtims.com.

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The Large Breed Dog

The large breed dog versus the rest; let’s take a look at some of the facts we know. Different investigations over they years have demonstrated a definite need for specific nutrients to be in ranges for the proper development of a puppy; for instance, let us look at calcium. Studies were done feeding Great Danes diets with calcium levels of 0.55% dry matter, 1.1% dry matter and 3.3% dry matter (DM). The puppies on the 0.55% showed pathological fractures, indicating too low of a calcium amount in their diet. This was reversible once they transitioned to a higher calcium based...

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Stepped in a puddle of urine lately?

Stepping in a puddle of urine in the house...purposeful, or just can’t hold it? Here are a few reasons why this might be happening that are important to know. A dog or a cat with a urinary tract infection often will have urgency and start to urinate in the house. Usually this is evidenced by small amounts of urine on horizontal surfaces versus vertical surfaces. An animal urinating on something vertical is often marking, as if leaving a sign designating their turf or territory. This is important to distinguish, as they are completely different paths we would take to treat. Another...

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Whiskers and the cat; whats the deal?

What is it about a cat’s whiskers that leaves us puzzled… Whiskers are a type of long, thick hair. The importance of whiskers lies in the fact that they are deeply rooted in follicles, which are surrounded by a muscle tissue that is very rich in nerves and sensory cells. These nerve cells in the roots are then connected to a special area of the cat’s brain. While whiskers serve many functions, the main function of whiskers is to work as a type of environmental scanning system. Cats don’t actually need to touch the objects with their whiskers to detect...

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Large breed diets-fact or fiction?

Large breed dog food. Is it for real or is it just marketing? Breeds such as a Labrador, or the “large breed” type, have been shown in studies to have needs for calcium of a certain range or they risk having bone deformities occur during their puppy year. Poodles were also tested on this same study platform and shown to tolerate very high levels of calcium with no ill effects, where if the large breed received the same diet they would end up with curved bones. If both types of dogs were given the same lower level of calcium in their...

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Alaskan Rural Veterinary Program

Recently, I had the opportunity to conduct a spay/neuter and vaccination clinic in several Yup’ik villages along the Kuskokwim River in western Alaska. Funded by an USDA grant and working in conjunction 2 other people, one from the Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Corporation and the other from Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Health Corporation we left Bethel, Alaska via the “Kusko”, headed first for Napaskiak, a small village of Yup’ik. We arrived at Napaskiak and quickly set up our M.A.S.H. practice in a machine shop, though without my anesthetic machine; the airline didn’t know where it was! We used the downtime to walk...

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The fat cat - why it happens

Does your cat look like he might be a few pounds too big these days? How he/she got that way is the question of the day. So, cats get fat because: 1. They get fixed (not that they were broken) 2. They live indoors more these days 3. They eat a lot of food that has tons of carbohydrates. 4. The level of protein in their food is too low, plus it is not animal-based. 5. We have placed our eating schedule onto them - that is, 2-3 meals a day, versus a browsing- type schedule which they do in...

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We test every batch for Salmonella

Salmonella and how we guard against it. With all the recent recalls out in the pet food world for this bacteria being detected in product we looked at how best to prevent it from being a concern. We have our product tested for salmonella each time we produce before releasing it for sale to assure it is safe for your pet. An added expense but it only makes sense! Never a recall for Dr. Tim’s Pet Foods.

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The chicken meal we use-antibiotic free and no added hormones.

Let’s look at the chicken meal we use in our diets. The low ash chicken meal we use is USA sourced and guaranteed not to have any antibiotics or added hormones present in the meat. Low ash means that most of the bone has been removed so we are feeding the cat or dog the protein that they need to thrive on. Highly digestible and palatable, it is a foundation of our formulas.

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Bloat in dogs-what can we do

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), commonly called bloat, is an emergency medical condition that is seen most commonly in large and giant breed dogs. This is a life-threatening situation that occurs when the stomach fills with gas and/or food, expands, and then rotates, trapping gas inside the stomach and cutting off blood supply to the stomach and spleen.     Signs the dog may demonstrate:   Distended (bloated) abdomen Unproductive retching / heaving Excess salivation Heavy panting Restlessness/pacing Many studies have been done to determine the causes of GDV, but researchers are still not completely certain why the condition occurs. However, most...

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Another happy sporting dog field trialer with Momentum

Dr Tim: I have been an avid NSTRA field trialer since 1989 and have fed almost all the premium brand dog foods so when I say your food is the best it is from experience. I have now switched all my sporting dogs to your food and am seeing fabulous results in base endurance , performance stamina and weight stabilization during training. I am preparing one of my dogs for the UKC NSTRA National Endurance Trial in Nebraska at the end of this month. I feel my dog is in the best shape of her life and more prepared for this...

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German Shepherd breeder has never fed a better food.

“I wish to commend you on your kibble dog food. I have used most premium dry foods on the market over many, many years. Dr. Tim’s is the best I know of and will continue using and recommending your product. FYI, I have never before written anyone to let them know how much I think of their product. Keep up the good work,” Bill S.-owner of SeltzerHaus German Shepherds http://www.seltzerhauskennels.com/ Thank you, Bill, for your kind words

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