This past March, at the Global Pet Expo in Florida, we announced our new product line, “enhance“, a set of products designed to help pet parents easily add raw nutrition to any diet. We have started with three freeze-dried raw goat milk products that are supercharged with Mother Nature’s most powerful foods. In this blog article, we talk about DogNog, a delicious “smoothie” for pets. It is packed with fantastic health-boosting ingredients, specifically formulated to benefit pets with inflammatory diseases such as IBD, Allergies, and Arthritis. You will also see that its high level of nutrients and fatty acids make it great for growing puppies!
INGREDIENTS: Raw Goat Milk, Whole Egg, Coconut Flour, Cranberry, Turmeric, Yucca, and Bromelain
Raw Goat Milk
Raw goat milk has 25% more Vitamin B6, 47% more Vitamin A, and 134% more potassium than cow’s milk. It also is packed with probiotics, enzymes, electrolytes, and other micronutrients that have many health-boosting properties. It soothes inflammation and relieves symptoms of IBS, IBD, and other digestive issues. It can be digested in as little as 30 minutes – cow’s milk takes 6 hours. This means energy is saved during the digestive process, giving your pet more energy to focus on healing. It is a perfect daily treat for dogs that are lactose intolerant, due to the lower levels of the Alpha-s1 casein, which makes the curd much smaller.
Whole, Raw Egg
Eggs are one of the most complete foods available and contain 8 
essential amino acids. It also has Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Selenium, biotin, and Fatty Acids. The high levels of Vitamin D help calcium from the egg shell absorb better into the body. It is a common misconception that you should not give your pets raw eggs because the egg whites contain a biotin inhibitor, but since the egg yolks are high in biotin, this is not an issue as long as you feed the yoke in addition to the white. The fatty acids improve skin and coat health, and, of course, the egg is a great source of protein. So all around, you can’t go wrong with feeding your dog a raw egg!
Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is at least 60% pure fiber and is used as a detoxification booster. It contains about 14% coconut oil, making it a good source of medium chain fatty acids. It is also high in naturally occuring trace minerals. The low levels of carbohydrates reduces it’s glycemic index and balances blood sugar levels. It increases metabolism, supports digestive health and is grain- and gluten-free.
Cranberry
In DogNog we are not using the very sugary, dried kind you get in your bag of Craisins®. Our cranberries are tart and packed with Vitamin C, (immune boosting) fiber (improves digestion) and incredible flavonoids and polyphenols.
The flavonoids in cranberry are comprised as a complex profile of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which gives this ingredient the urinary tract-supporting elements and helps prevent UTIs. They also lower the pH in the bloodstream, creating a hostile environment for bad bacteria and preventing bacteria from adhering to the wall of the urinary bladder.
Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that have been proven to play a role in preventing degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, cranberries prevent plaque buildup on teeth, are good for brain health, balance, and improved eye health. They also dilate blood vessels and help lower blood pressure.
Turmeric
The bioactive compound in turmeric is curcumin, which gives it a bright orange color. It can detoxify the body, stimulate bile production in the liver (which helps the body process and use fat), and disinfect wounds. It is anti-inflammatory, which helps reduce arthritis pain, and it reduces allergies and other inflammatory diseases. It also can help rid the body of infections because its anti-bacterial components. In the UK is is being studied for its anticarcinogenic properties and has been proven to be effective at high doses when combined with black pepper. The black pepper helps to increase the absorption. In DogNog we have added bromelain to achieve better absorption.
Yucca
Yucca is a desert plant, and the highest amount of nutrition is found in the roots. It has high amounts of vitamin c, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorous, protein, and b-vitamins. Saponin compounds aid digestion and increases the bioavailability of the rest of the food the dog or cat is ingesting. It even reduces odor in urine and feces, by inhibiting production of anhydrous ammonia.
Yucca is also frequently used for pets as a holistic alternative to corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are most often used for inflammation issues but are very generally prescribed at the vet, and the long-term adverse health effects can result in kidney disease. Yucca, on the other hand, can provide the same benefits, alleviating pain, arthritis, joint and bone problems, swelling, skin problems/hot spots, digestive/bowel problems, and colic. It also cleanses the liver and kidneys and promotes blood flow and tissue repair, along with relieving allergies. It can even possibly help reduce the inflammation in the brain that can lead to seizures. The saponins block the release of toxins in the intestines that cause breakdown of cartilage, and help in cartilage formation, providing relief for symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It can also be used as a treatment for hip dysplasia, arthritis, and other degenerative joint and bone diseases. Yucca can regulate glucose levels in the blood, easing the symptoms of diabetes. In one study, yucca was found to be effective in fighting melanoma cells. It can also help protect against cardiovascular diseases because yucca extracts reduce platelet adhesion.
Bromelain
Bromelain is a super enzyme that comes from the stems of pineapple and has been used to treat everything from allergies to tendonitis. It also provides digestive support and can help alleviate symptoms associated with IBS and UITs. We have paired it with yucca and turmeric, as they work together well, boosting their anti-inflammatory properties.
How To Use DogNog
As with all our “enhance” products, DogNog comes in a reusable glass milk bottle and an 8-ounce refill carton. On the reusable milk bottle, there is a fill line with indicates how much liquid to add. Simply fill it up, shake to re-hydrate and store in your fridge. Each day pour the recommended feeding amount onto your dog’s kibble, canned or raw food. When you have used all the product, wash the bottle and refill with any of the enhance freeze-dried milk products. The 8-ounce refill containers are designed to give your pet a full month of raw, super nutrition.
