* Note: These are ideas and places to find good things. You do not have to use them all. Make sure you are not duplicating nutrients or overdosing them. Try to be informed on what you are feeding and why.
** The website for Dr.Monique Maniet,
A great source for holistic veterinary advice, including diet.There are many good links on her web page. Check under resources to find all kinds of things you can do to improve the health of your dog, including the rationale behind raw food and less vaccines.
**Dental Care
* Veterinarian Quality Dental Care Products: This is one place you can find them without paying the higher prices at the vet office! By the way for these small dogs, half of one of the petite chews is enough.
** Recommended by Veterinarians for oral health, Oxyfresh.
Non toxic, odorless, tasteless and safe for all animals and people, this product when mixed in pet's drinking water or sprayed on the teeth can go a long way in helping his overall oral health.
**New Formula Greenies
Try the New Formula Greenies for chew treats that really help clean teeth. You can get them many places but here is their home page. I recommend the new teenie size for these little dogs.
**Ideas for Nutrition and Supplements
Main Diets
**HOME COOKED, RAW, or PARTIALLY RAW DIET PREPARED BY YOU
This would be my preference for the health of your dog. If you could do the research on how to feed fresh whole raw foods to your little friends it is better for them to eat a balanced fresh meal than any prepared diet. Also because of their size we sometimes have to modify what a larger dog could tolerate so do not hesitate to ask me for references on people who own several of my dogs and feed home cooked meals. The also do extensive research into the different diets and what works best.
**Nature's Logic Dog Food.
An all natural dog food that relies on the natural ingredients in good food to nourish your dog. This can be particularly good in the case of tiny tots. Because these dogs can be so small it is easy to OVER use vitamins and minerals. Try this food and see how your dog does.
Nature's Logic E Mail: Natures Logic
** NATURES VARIETY INSTINCT and PRAIRIE DOG FOODS:
Rather than one type of bagged or canned food they have a whole variety of formulas and ways to feed. Frozen raw, freeze dried, canned kibble, all made with good health in mind and the very best ingredients. They also have grain free formulas (Instinct) which I really like.
*HOME MADE FOR LIFE
Another really good site for pre-made and pre-balanced fresh frozen raw food. These people also take great care with the safe preparation of their foods. It is also a great source of information of how dogs naturally eat. Again, work with a vet who understand raw food feeding while you do this, as these little guy can run into some problems with constipation.
**INNOVA DOG FOOD (Canned and Dry)
If you are going to feed dry or canned consider this food. Just go to the site and read the ingredients. It's all human grade meat with fruits and veggies too. They even make sure the food is cooled before spraying on all the good probiotics (good gut bugs) so that they aren't destroyed by the cooking process. You can find out where to buy it from Natura Pet Products.
Naturapet 1-800-532-7261
*WELLNESS DOG FOOD
If you can't or don't want to feed fresh food this is another very good quality canned and dry food from Old Mother Hubbard. They use only top quality ingredients. They also have a lot of diversity in the types of meat and the specialized diets you might be looking for.
Supplements
** My favorite all around supplement is NUPRO.
If you have to choose just one supplement to use, this would be my choice. This can be added to any of the main diets you choose to make sure he is not missing anything. Read the label and you will see why I like it. Look for it online or you can find it at Pet Food Direct under dog supplements. Search for Nupro at
** MISSING LINK:
Canine formula with health supporting nutrients. This will really make your dog's coat shine! It puts back some of the stuff our over processed food takes out. High in Omega 3. This can be used instead of Nupro or alternated with it.
Missing Link 1-800-774-7387
**CANINE "PLUS" VITAMINS
From Vetri-Science (with digestive enzymes) Most of our highly processed foods are missing some or all of the natural enzymes in whole natural food.
** Supplements from Pet food Direct online store.
Look under DOG SUPPLEMENTS for
AZMIRAS DIGESTZYMEZ (digestive enzymes)
HALO VITA DREAMS DAILY GREENS: multi vitamin & Mineral Supplement for dogs and cats.
NU-PET GRANULAR GREENS From ARK NATURALS
NUPRO food supplement is there also.
http://petfooddirect.com/store
** Gardens Alive organic store
Other great dog Vitamins to check out. Look under pet vitamins on their site and read the ingredients:
* More and more we seem to be moving towards holistic and natural products for our animals as well as ourselves. Try these web sites for great new products to help keep your pet healthy. As always check with your vet before giving any supplements.
** Liv-a-Little Whole Chicken or other meat treats:
Recommended by many Holistic Vets as healthy treats for training etc. They are freeze dried USDA meats (nothing else added) and need to be refrigerated but are very easy to feed They also have only 3% fat and are all natural. 1-813-854-2214
** Charlee Bear Dog treats:
Made with Liver, vitamin E, a little salt and Garlic. They are very small, easy to carry and break even for the smallest dog and only 3% fat for a low fat treat when training. 1-800-880-2327
Training ideas:
** The Gentle Leader Training System:
(Made by Premier). A great way to humanely teach your dogs not to jump up or pull on the leash when walking, and many other things. Endorsed by the Holistic Veterinary Society and most training professionals.
** SNOOT LOOP
( Nose Halter for dogs) Developed by Peter L. Borchelt Ph.D. Animal Behavior Consultants Inc. 1-800-339-9505 or go to their site
We are finding this to be superior in comfort to the gentle leader and can be custom made for any size dog. It seems even more comfortable and better tolerated too.
** Try Clicker Training:
A fun and effective way for both you and your dog to learn obedience. It's based on positive reinforcement and a hand held "clicker" instead of jerking your dog with a choke chain. The dog learns faster and loves you for training him.
http://www.dogwise.com mail@dogwise.com
Things to wear:
** Barb's Handmade Dog sweaters:
This is a personal friend of ours who makes wonderful handmade sweaters exactly to fit your little one. She is reasonably priced and can do just about anything you want. Here's the link to her. This is a wonderful site with pictures of dogs modeling her sweaters and an e mail to contact her.
** Snugglemutts:
Snuggle Mutts offers easy to use clothes and coats of superior quality, fantastic workmanship, and the highest in warmth and protection for your little ones -- and your big ones ! "
** Sylvan and Sons:
They make incredible collars and leashes in tiny sizes and all colors. They also make larger collars and leashes.
** Premier Pet Products:
They have a wide selection of tiny collars and leashes in all colors. They also make the "Gentle Leader" system of training to fit all dogs. Give them a call and they can tell you how to measure your dog and what they have. Everything we have tried from them is very well made.
1-804-379-4702 1-800-933-5595
Other Friends to visit:
Didn't find what you wanted here? Visit my friends, Monty and Dana Curtis and their Rat Terrier page. Just click on their banner. They also have more information and helpful tips about Rat Terriers. Monty also did this graphic for his page and some of the others on my web page.
**CASA DE RATS:
Another good friend of mine is Lou Blanco of Casa De Rats in California. She is an excellent breeder with very high standards. Visit her site at
Lou Blanco's Casa De Rats
* Meadow Springs NRTA Site: (I am updating this site soon)
http://www.nrta.com/breederswebpages/meadowspringsshiller/shiller.shtml
** The National Rat Terrier Association
* Looking for a different breed of small dog like tiny Shihtzus? Try this site.
Updated June 9th, 2008