I just watched the interview from Rodney Habib with Brian McLaren, owner of Maggie the 30 year old dog. This is an interview that I have been waiting to watch with great anticipation for the last few months. Ever since Maggie's story went viral about a year ago I have been wondering "What the heck did this dog eat?"& "What was her life like on the farm?". Not one single news anchor or journalist thought to ask these questions!
So THANK YOU to Planet Paws & Rodney Habib for landing this interview and getting those questions answered for the millions of pet parents who must be wondering the same things.
If you haven't heard of the pet nutrition blogger, Rodney Habib, then let me tell you that he is one to watch. He is not the first to be preaching the value of a fresh diet, nor the detriments of pet obesity and over-vaccination. However, he is one of the few who is compiling the scientific data to support his claims and talking to knowledgable leaders in their respective research fields. Not to mention he makes the coolest videos and infographics to explain his findings to the masses of caring pet parents.
Every day I put myself in this fantasy world that Tank is simply going to live forever. Some moments I convince myself that we will win the lottery or make our millions with dog treats so that he can be cloned (but in my heart I know that won't be the same- so I usually just stick the the fantasy world). I can't be the only person wishing that my best friend and faithful four legged companion will be with me forever. This wish is what inspired me to start Tanker Tots and share a healthy, homemade dog treat with anyone who would listen to my crazy rantings about proper canine nutrition. Well, it turns out that I may just not be completely off my rocker.
Maggie was a Kelpie living in Australia on a dairy farm in Woolsthorp, Victoria. She lived an amazing and idyllic 30 years with the McLaren family as their farm dog. After watching the interview it was clear that a few key lifestyle choices contributed to her longevity.
1. Low Stress
She was a calm dog that lived in an atmosphere that did not stress her out. Brian mentions that she didn't bark constantly, was not aggressive, and didn't even have obsessive chewing problems.
2. Exercise
Maggie ran up to 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) each day. HOLY COW! I realize that this goal is unattainable to many of us that have busy city lives. However, this kind of constant and daily exercise appears crucial to longevity in canines. I think it is also important to note that heavy exercise can bring down the stress levels, especially for indoor dogs that are crated for hours a day.
3. Less Than Typical Veterinary Medicine Intervention
A) She only got vaccines as a pup, so there was not a continual assault to the immune system (over-vaccination). I'm usually pretty quiet about this issue, but I've felt strongly for years that annual vaccinations are just not necessary in a healthy animal. Recently there have been studies to show that over vaccinating can be detrimental and I think this school of thought will become more mainstream.
B) Maggie didn't get spayed until she was over 10 years old! To my friends in the rescue community this is complete heresy. I understand why spaying and neutering is crucial to stop pet overpopulation;spaying is a much better alternative to euthanizing. However...when in the correct set of circumstances....studies are showing that waiting to spay or neuter will have a positive effect on the future health of the dog. Dogs that have not been altered or have alteration delayed (past first year) tend to have less ligament issues and less hormone driven cancers.
C) She was only wormed when it was necessary and given flea powder on a seasonal basis. Therefore her system didn't have a heavy toxic load.
4. Non-Processed, Varied Fresh Diet
Maggie was fed what was on the farm. She ate house scraps twice a day, which included raw meat (mince) and leftover vegetables. Her owner gave her daily servings of warm, raw milk from grass fed, antibiotic free cows. I was most surprised by the milk since most of my research over the years suggests canines digest dairy very poorly. However, this was a raw product high in fat and very different in vitamin content as compared to the traditional north american milk product. The high content of omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin K, and vitamin A would have provided many anti-inflammatory properties. She also ate cow afterbirth and stillborn calves when roaming the fields. To most of us that is very unsettling, and just not possible to re-create for city dwelling pups. I think the key takeaway is to implement a source of raw, nutrient and moisture dense food such as organ meat. Notice there was no grain or major source of carbohydrate given on a regular basis!
The other key is that the owner made a point to not overfeed! As a farmer, he knew that feeding an animal too much or too little will yield poor results. So he only fed small portions twice a day. If Maggie didn't turn up for feeding time, then he didn't leave out food because he figured she didn't want or need it. Periods of fasting are also showing in studies to be a benefit to human and canine metabolism.
Challenge what you think you know or have been told about canine health and nutrition. The pet food industry has successfully brainwashed us into thinking table or human food is bad for dogs. I've been feeding a rotational diet of fresh, raw and kibble for years. Whenever Tank has a digestive problem it's when I'm being lazy and therefore he is being fed kibble. Some dry foods are better than others, but I'm convinced that fresh food is the way to a healthier pet.
Will you be implementing any of Maggie's secrets into your dog's life?
If my summary has intrigued you....Check out the trailer and consider watching the vimeo video for $1 by clicking this link: How To Grow A Dog To Be 30.
