The Healthy Pet Blog

Silver Gate Antlers for Dental Health January 30 2014, 0 Comments

     With so many choices in your local pet stores now, what is the best option to help maintain your dog's oral health? While nothing replaces a toothbrush, there are many products that claim to aid in dental hygiene. From extra crunchy biscuits, glycerin based chews, bones and water additives, how do you choose?

     The most advertised form of Dental treats for Dogs today are good old-fashioned rawhide chews. People have been feeding rawhide to their dogs for ages, why change now? Well for starters rawhide is composed of the inner layer of the hide of a cow or horse (sounds appetizing already, doesn't it?). It is primarily a by-product of the leather industry, and by the time this by-product reaches a plant that processes it for the pet industry it is usually starting to rot. What do they do then? Bring on the chemicals! After cleaning and processing many brands of rawhide, in the end, contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals. If this doesn’t deter you from feeding your dog rawhide, don’t forget that it is poorly digested and can lead to stomach irritation and possibly even intestinal blockage which can require surgery. An awful price to pay for your pets pearly whites!

      So, now that you're informed on the dangers of rawhide treats and bones...What is the most natural, unprocessed, longest-lasting chew that helps maintain the oral health of your canine companion you ask? Silver Gate Antler Chews of course! Antlers are an annually growing bone extension of the skull in male deer and elk. During the growth process the Antlers are covered in velvet which delivers blood and nutrients to the growing bone. Because the Antlers are collected after they are shed, the deer and elk are not harmed in order to produce this all natural chew treat for your dog.

     At Silver Gate Antlers, we only use fresh "A Grade" Antler, which is collected shortly after it is shed. Dogs are more attracted to chew fresh Antler as opposed to older Antler that is chalky and cracked. Silver Gate Antlers are less likely to splinter like smoked or cooked bones, and are virtually non-staining and odor free. Because your dog is naturally attracted to chew Antler, it will help scrape excess plaque and tartar from his or her teeth. To top it off, Antlers contain healthy nutrients such as Calcium and Phosphorus.

      So, to sum it up, Silver Gate Antlers are 100% USA made and sourced. We offer both Deer and Elk Antler chews, and Elk Antler splits for those finicky dogs. They come in a variety of sizes from small to giant so you can choose the size that best accommodates your furry friend. So, what are you waiting for? Visit our website at www.SilverGateAntlers.com and get your pets dental health on the right track today!

The Allergic Dog - Hypoallergenic Antler Dog Chews to the Rescue! June 11 2013, 0 Comments

“My vet said to stop feeding chicken…”

How often do we hear this in the pet industry?

For dogs with allergies, specifically itchy skin and hot spots, this is usually the first course of action. But does anyone ever take the time to explain to pet parents why chicken should be removed from their dog’s diet, and what other proteins should also be avoided?

In Chinese medicine Chicken is referred to as a “hot” or “warming protein.” It causes the body temperature to rise and therefore brings on an intense allergic reaction or inflames an already existing one, most commonly, severe skin irritation. However, the protein is not always the root of the reaction. Usually, the initial allergy is to another common food ingredient culprit…grain. Wheat, corn, sorghum and soy are all cheap fillers found in a lot of commonly known foods. The digestive tract of a dog was not designed to process these grains, and therefore, the body tries to detoxify itself by developing a layer of yeast on the skin and in the ear canal. The yeast infection can cause itching and flaking. Pair this with your hot protein, chicken, and your canine companion is now one flaking, scratching, chewing mess.

So what next? Most consumers are under the assumption that the next step is Lamb. But beware; Lamb is a hotter protein than chicken. Cooling and Neutral proteins should be fed to dogs that tend to be more prone to allergies.  Cooling proteins include Duck, Rabbit and Whitefish and Neutral proteins include Beef and Salmon.

How do you know if a dog’s body temperature tends to run warm or cool?

Warm dogs are commonly nervous, the body is hot to the touch, they usually have excessive thirst, they pant excessively even when at rest, and they will seek out cold places to lie. These dogs should be fed cool or neutral proteins.

Cool dogs suffer from fatigue, exercise intolerance; low appetite and they are slow moving. Cool dogs will often suffer from joint pain and stiffness during the cooler winter months. These dogs should be fed warm or neutral proteins.

Treats should also be considered when dietary alterations are made. Dogs that run warm should not be fed treats with hot proteins or grain fillers. Natural beef and duck jerky are great alternatives to biscuits. Dogs can also be kept busy with natural chews such as Elk and Deer Antler Dog Chews from the Silver Gate Antler Company without fear of an allergic reaction!