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Going Mutts Pet Services and Nutrition, Fort McMurray, AB (2026)

10/17/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 & 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀: 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 🎃🍬🐾

A curious nose, an unattended candy bag… and suddenly your dog has helped themselves!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲!

🍫 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can cause vomiting, restlessness, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate and cocoa powder are especially concentrated. The risk depends on the type, amount eaten and your dog’s weight—don’t assume a small-looking amount is safe.

🍬 𝗫𝘆𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗹
Some sugar-free candies, gum and mints contain xylitol, sometimes marketed as “birch sugar”. In dogs, it can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and, in some cases, liver damage. Suspected ingestion needs immediate veterinary guidance, even if your dog seems fine.

🍇 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Raisins—including chocolate-covered raisins—can cause kidney injury in dogs. Large amounts of rich, fatty candy can also cause digestive upset or pancreatitis.

📦 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀
Dogs don’t always unwrap their treats! Swallowed packaging can cause choking or an intestinal blockage, depending on the material, amount and size of the dog.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 🔒

Store candy in a secure container inside a closed pantry or cupboard. A bowl pushed back on the counter may still be within reach!

Keep children’s treat bags, backpacks and discarded wrappers secured, too—and make sure everyone knows where candy belongs.

🚨 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁?

• Remove access to the remaining candy

• Save the packaging and ingredient list. Estimate what was eaten, how much and when—including any missing wrappers

• Call your veterinarian, an emergency veterinary clinic or pet poison control promptly. Have your dog’s weight and any symptoms ready

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀. Early treatment may make a big difference!

If your dog is collapsing, having seizures, struggling to breathe or becoming markedly weak, go directly to an emergency veterinary clinic. Call ahead if possible. Be prepared to drive out of town if you live in Fort McMurray!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗱𝗲? 🧪

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹 may be used by veterinary professionals for certain poisonings, including some chocolate exposures. It isn’t a universal antidote, doesn’t solve a wrapper blockage and is not recommended for xylitol poisoning because it binds xylitol poorly.

Giving it incorrectly can cause serious complications, including inhalation into the lungs. Home charcoal capsules are not a substitute for veterinary treatment.

𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗱𝗲 is sometimes recommended to induce vomiting in dogs, but ONLY when a veterinarian or pet poison specialist specifically directs you to use it and provides instructions. It can injure the stomach and esophagus, and vomiting isn’t safe in every situation.

Never give hydrogen peroxide to cats, and don’t use salt, oil or other home remedies to make a pet vomit!

📞 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀:

𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲
1-855-764-7661
Available 24/7, including in Canada

𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗖𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹
1-888-426-4435
Available 24/7, including in Canada

Consultation fees apply. Save your local vet and emergency clinic numbers as well!

* Riverside Ambulatory Veterinary Care (mobile vet): 780-531-0664
* Wood Buffalo Small Animal Hospital: 780-715-9369
* Northern Veterinary Services: 780-790-2035
* Fort McMurray Animal Hospital: 780-743-4044

Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency — Sherwood Park: 780-570-9999. Address: 320–450 Ordze Road

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲! 🧡🐾

10/16/2026

Happy Friday!!

This is Jazz being a lunatic before I started work this morning 😂

10/16/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 🦴🐾🔬

(The smell in my house, just like a butcher shop, LOL!)

My dogs enjoy an occasional recreational bone, but these photos come with an important conversation about safety!

𝗥𝗮𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲!

Large, dense bones—especially weight-bearing bones—can still break teeth. Having meat or cartilage attached doesn’t make the hard bone underneath safe to bite down on.

🥩 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝘀. 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

There’s a difference between scraping off attached meat, tendons and cartilage, and trying to crunch through the dense bone itself. Dogs may also scrape away some of the softer, spongy bone near the joint ends—but softer doesn’t mean harmless if pieces break off and are swallowed.

👀 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲!

I supervise closely and keep sessions brief. I wouldn’t offer these to aggressive chewers, dogs who try to crush bones, or dogs who gulp chunks.

Supervision lets you intervene, but it cannot prevent every broken tooth or swallowed fragment.

⚠️ 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀

Machine-cut bones can have sharp edges and small, partly detached pieces. Around the knuckle or knee joint, chunks of bone and cartilage can loosen as the surrounding tissue is chewed away.

The separate piece pictured is an example of what I’m watching for. Depending on the dog and the piece, swallowing it whole could cause choking or a digestive blockage.

When I notice a piece getting close to coming off, I take the bone away and bring it into the kitchen, where I use a sharp knife to remove the loose section—away from the dogs!

However, tiny fragments from machine cutting can fall away before you notice them. Removing visible loose pieces does not make a bone risk-free. If it starts breaking apart or develops sharp edges, the session is over.

❄️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

I usually let my dogs chew for a little while, then put the bones into a plastic bag and back in the freezer for another session.

That’s my personal routine, but it comes with a food-safety caution: freezing does not kill harmful bacteria or undo contamination from chewing. Health Canada advises against refreezing raw pet-food leftovers, so reusing a chewed bone carries additional risk.

🧼 𝗥𝗮𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 = 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲!

Put down washable towels or use an easily cleaned surface. Afterwards, wash the towels and your hands, and clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces and utensils—including the knife and preparation area.

🦷 Recreational bones are optional enrichment, carry real risks, and don’t replace toothbrushing or veterinary dental care.

Know your dog’s chewing style, inspect carefully, and be prepared to take the bone away! 🐾

10/15/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘀 🎃🐾

Halloween can be fun for us, but confusing—and sometimes frightening—for our dogs and cats!

Masks and costumes can make even familiar people look unfamiliar. Add knocking, doorbells and a door that keeps opening, and a frightened pet may bolt or react defensively, including biting.

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿!

Age, health, new experiences or simply a stressful day can change how they cope. Plan for the pet in front of you, rather than assuming they’ll handle everything the same way.

🚪 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲

Before visitors arrive, settle pets in a comfortable room away from the entrance. Add bedding, water and familiar activities, plus a litter box and hiding spot for cats. A TV or radio at a comfortable volume may help soften outside sounds.

A kennel is an option for dogs who already feel relaxed in one. In homes with multiple pets, separate them if excitement or stress could cause tension.

An anchored X-pen or gate can create an extra barrier around the entrance, but make sure your pet cannot jump over, climb or squeeze through it. Cats can easily clear many barriers, so a closed room is often more reliable!

🐕 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘂𝗽

Practise “place” training ahead of time, with rewards and manageable distractions. If your dog stays nearby, have an adult supervising and holding a leash attached to a well-fitted collar or harness. You can also anchor the leash to something heavy. Never leave a tethered dog unattended or within reach of visitors.

Halloween night doesn’t need to be a test of their training. If they’re struggling, give them more distance and a quiet retreat.

🌿 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁?

Herbs such as milky oats (not fast acting), passionflower, lemon balm, American skullcap and valerian are options to discuss for individual dogs. They aren’t interchangeable, and the right choice/s depends on your dog’s health, medications and needs. Herbs can interact with medications, and be contraindicated with certain health conditions.

I’m studying canine herbalism, so if you’d like to explore herbal support for your dog, you can book a mini consult with me! For more severe or complex cases, I refer out to a holistic veterinarian or an appropriately qualified practitioner.

𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁. Please speak with your vet about suitable options for your kitty—something appropriate for a dog isn’t automatically appropriate for a cat. I can refer out for herbal supports for cats.

For very fearful or reactive dogs and cats, contact your vet ahead of Halloween about medication to help relieve anxiety. Follow their instructions, including any recommended trial dose before the big night, and let them know about any herbs or supplements your pet takes.

🌿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗕𝗗 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻?

Start planning now rather than trying it for the first time on Halloween night! With veterinary guidance, trial it beforehand so you can assess your dog’s response and tolerability and discuss any dose adjustments. Evidence for anxiety relief is still limited, and there isn’t one dose that suits every dog!

If you’d like to discuss dosing considerations or products for your dog, send me a message! My preference is to explore clearly labelled, independently tested options from a licensed dispensary rather than relying on a pet-store “C*D” label. Where it’s sold doesn’t guarantee suitability—confirmed C*D and THC content and the other ingredients matter.

Avoid THC-containing products and human gummies or edibles. Check with your vet before combining C*D with medications or calming herbs. My consultations are for dogs only; for cats or more severe fear and reactivity, please speak with your veterinarian.

🍬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲

I cover the doorbell, leave a candy bowl outside and put up a sign asking people not to knock or ring because we have dogs.

I also discourage access to the door with a clearly visible barrier, while keeping the walkway safe—little children may not be able to read the sign!

If all the candy disappears, it disappears! 😂 I just refill it when I can. This setup keeps things much calmer for my crew.

🔦 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝗿-𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Bring your dog only if they’re comfortable with crowds, noise and costumes—and be ready to head home if that changes.

Use a secure leash and well-fitted collar or harness, with reflective gear and a light-up collar, harness, leash or clip-on light for extra visibility. Make sure identification tags and microchip contact information are current.

Lights and reflective details help keep you and your children visible, too!

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘄. Giving your pet a quiet, secure evening is a perfectly good way for them to spend Halloween! 🧡

10/14/2026

🐾 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗥𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁

This is a product I like for resilient dogs—those who generally tolerate new foods and supplements well. But for sensitive dogs, this blend may be too much.

🔍 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹!

The jar pictured contains more than probiotics: blueberries, bentonite clay, chlorella, dandelion and burdock roots, humic and fulvic acids, plus probiotic bacteria and yeast.

None of these ingredients are inherently bad, but that doesn’t mean they’re harmless for every dog. They can affect the body, and combining several ingredients can make it harder to pinpoint what isn’t agreeing with your pup.

🐢 𝗚𝗼 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄!

Introduce a small amount and watch how your dog responds before increasing. Even a slow introduction won’t make every formula suitable for every dog. If symptoms worsen, stop and reassess—don’t assume it’s “detox” that needs to be pushed through.

For sensitive pups, a simpler, more targeted supplement may be a better starting point 💙

10/12/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘁𝘁𝘀! 🦃🐾

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful clients and followers! Thank you for supporting my little business and trusting me with your furry family members ❤️

Today is turkey day at our house, and the dogs get a little Thanksgiving dinner of their own!

I always cook the turkey liver for them—they won’t eat raw liver unless it’s ground up and mixed into meat. Apparently, even the dogs have their preferences! 😂

I also divide the raw turkey neck into three portions, one for each dog, as part of their supper. A quick safety reminder: raw bones still carry risks. Cutting a neck into smaller pieces doesn’t make it safe, especially for dogs who gulp their food. Lyric swallowed an entire turkey neck once… it also came back up in one whole piece 😅

They’ll also get a little plain turkey meat from whatever is left after our dinner and my soup plans!

I cooked the ham yesterday, so everyone already had a tiny taste of the meat, with the visible fat removed. I tucked a few little pieces into a container in the fridge for treats over the next day or two. Ham is salty, so those are just tiny, occasional bites.

If you’re sharing with your pups today, keep portions small and choose plain, cooked, boneless turkey or dog-safe veggies. Skip the skin, fatty scraps, gravy, stuffing and cooked bones.

Whether you’re enjoying a big family dinner or a quiet day at home, I hope you’re able to enjoy the holiday—with a few happy tails nearby! 🍂🐾

10/12/2026

🫐🐾 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗭𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗦—with a little joint-supportive twist!

Today’s treats were basically a freezer clean-out 😂 I blended the last of a mixed vegetable bag—broccoli, cauliflower and carrots—with a few Saskatoon berries, blueberries and raspberries picked from my backyard, and out in the bush.

This time, I also mixed in some Rose-Hip Vital® powder!

🌹 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗛𝗶𝗽 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁?

Rose-Hip Vital isn’t simply generic ground rosehips. The Rosa canina rosehips undergo specialized, patented extraction and drying processes designed to preserve and concentrate a naturally occurring galactolipid called GOPO®.

GOPO and the other plant compounds found in rosehips have been studied for their antioxidant and inflammation-modulating activity. Research suggests that this standardized rosehip preparation may help support joint comfort and mobility, including symptoms associated with mild arthritis. It is available as canine powder, while some product lines for people come in capsules. Rose-Hip Vital Canine⁠ describes its manufacturing process and research, while controlled human trials have also found modest improvements in osteoarthritis symptoms.

This isn’t an instant pain reliever or a replacement for veterinary care, but it can be one piece of a broader joint-support plan—particularly for active, aging or mildly stiff dogs.

📌 When adding it to frozen treats, portion the mixture carefully so your dog receives an appropriate and reasonably consistent amount. Follow the canine product’s weight-based directions, and introduce it gradually if your dog has a sensitive digestive system.

A colourful little treat with fibre, phytonutrients and a touch of joint support! 🐕🫐🌹

10/10/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🦃🍂🐾

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with good food, great company, and time with your pups! 💛

If you’re sharing a little Thanksgiving dinner with your dog, keep their treats small and simple: plain, cooked, skinless turkey muscle meat and dog-safe veggies like carrots, plain boiled potatoes, squash or green beans. The raw turkey neck, heart, liver etc can be fed (or cook the organs). No butter, gravy, onions, or cooked bones!

Skip fatty scraps, turkey skin, and rich side dishes to help reduce the risk of digestive upset and pancreatitis—inflammation of the pancreas. Ham can be fatty and salty, so plain turkey is a better choice. If you do offer ham, keep it to a tiny, occasional taste rather than a generous serving.

These are little extras alongside their usual balanced meals—even safe foods can upset tummies in large amounts! 🐶

I’m off this weekend and will be back to work on October 13th. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! 🍁

10/09/2026

I was making breakfast for Chantel, and Rhythm decided she’s my official grilled cheese helper!

Her qualifications? Looking cute, supervising closely, and being available if any cheese happens to fall 🫡

What a job!

I almost always have a kitchen helper… what about you? Who’s supervising the cooking at your house? Comment with pictures!

10/09/2026

𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗗 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜’𝗺 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🐾🔬

Previously, I mentioned that I wasn’t entirely sure where I stood on vitamin D supplementation in dogs—particularly those eating raw or home-prepared diets.

My caution came from a few places!

We’ve seen heartbreaking cases of dogs becoming seriously ill from accidental excess vitamin D in commercial foods, including kibble and canned diets. These manufacturing errors have prompted recalls, and vitamin D toxicity can cause severe kidney damage. It’s a real concern!

I was also influenced by discussions in the human nutrition world, including work shared by Jim Stephenson Jr., Morley Robbins, and others. These discussions raised questions about vitamin D’s interactions with magnesium, vitamin A, copper, and iron, as well as whether foods provide vitamin D metabolites that aren’t fully accounted for.

Those questions deserved a closer look. But after reviewing more of the underlying research, I’m distinguishing between evidence that nutrient interactions exist and evidence that appropriately dosed supplementation causes harm.

I’m also being more careful about carrying conclusions from human nutrition into canine nutrition (as always!)

𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵?

There is legitimate research showing that animal foods contain vitamin D compounds beyond D3, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D. These haven’t always been fully represented in food-composition databases.

However, the possibility that a dog receives additional vitamin D metabolites from food doesn’t establish that their particular diet supplies enough.

Dogs depend on dietary vitamin D because they cannot produce nutritionally sufficient amounts through sun exposure. More time outside won’t reliably compensate for a dietary shortfall.

𝗔 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 🥩

An 80/10/10 blend—or another meat, bone, and organ ratio—describes ingredient proportions. It doesn’t confirm that the finished diet meets every nutritional requirement.

Eggs contribute some vitamin D, and fatty fish can be a useful source. But simply including them doesn’t confirm adequacy. The type of food, amount, feeding frequency, and overall recipe matter.

The same applies to mixed feeding. Half kibble and half raw or home-cooked food isn’t automatically balanced if the fresh-food portion hasn’t been formulated to meet nutritional needs. Replacing a substantial amount of complete food changes the overall nutrient supply.

A complete commercial raw or cooked diet is also different from an unbalanced homemade blend. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱—𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁. Nutritional completeness depends on what the entire diet provides.

𝗦𝗼, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸?

🔎 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁.
Review the actual ingredients, amounts, calories, treats, and supplements against appropriate canine nutritional requirements. This can identify likely shortfalls and guide a properly calculated adjustment.

🩺 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝘁.
Blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing can help assess vitamin D status, particularly when there is a dietary concern or relevant illness. Testing and a diet audit answer different questions: one assesses the dog’s circulating level, while the other assesses what you’re feeding.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗗 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿?

Some canine studies have found associations between lower vitamin D concentrations and certain diseases, including cancer. That does not mean a dog with a low result will develop cancer, or that giving more vitamin D prevents it.

An association cannot establish whether low vitamin D contributes to disease, results from disease, or reflects other factors.

We also need to distinguish meeting established nutritional requirements from chasing a proposed “optimal” blood level. Those aren’t the same goal.

𝗠𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

Some dogs eating raw, home-cooked, or mixed diets may need supplemental vitamin D to fill a genuine nutritional gap. Others may already receive enough from a properly formulated diet.

I no longer think it’s reasonable to assume that uncounted metabolites will cover an apparent shortfall. But I also don’t support adding vitamin D blindly!

If supplementation is needed, the amount should account for the entire diet and the product’s exact concentration—especially with liquid drops. Dogs eating a complete commercial diet generally don’t need additional vitamin D unless their veterinarian identifies a specific reason.

Accidental overdosing demonstrates the danger of excess. It doesn’t establish that a carefully calculated amount used to meet nutritional needs is inherently harmful.

𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸. 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼. The goal is an adequate, balanced supply.

Updating my position is part of taking nutrition seriously. I want my recommendations to reflect the evidence as carefully as possible—and that includes revisiting my assumptions as I learn more 🐾💛

Going Mutts Pet Services and Nutrition

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