Tips & FAQ
FAQ
Are Max & Ruffy’s dog treats certified organic?
Aren’t dogs carnivores? I thought that dogs are supposed to eat diets that are meat-based.
Is it fair to impose vegan beliefs on a dog?
Why does Max & Ruffy’s only use human-grade ingredients?
Why should I choose Max & Ruffy’s vegan dog treats for my dog?
What health benefits can I expect for my dog by giving them an animal-free, organic diet?
Tips
Dispose of your dog’s waste in an environmentally friendly way
Socialize your Dog and Have Fun Doing It!
Are Max & Ruffy’s dog treats certified organic?
Yes! Max & Ruffy’s is USDA Organic certified through the Maryland Department of Agirculture.
Since your treats are made without the use of preservatives, what kind of shelf life can I expect from my recent purchase?
You can expect your treats to remain fresh, for at least 1 year without the use of refrigeration. Before launching our product line, we did our own shelf life testing to determine what our dog treats could endure. As time went on, we continued to do shelf-life testing and have increased our shelf-life from the original 6 month life to a one-year life. However, we do recommend keeping the bag closed with a twist tie, transferring the treats to a sealed container, or putting them in the refrigerator to maintain a fresh quality for your companion.
Aren’t dogs carnivores? I thought that dogs are supposed to eat diets that are meat-based.
Dogs are often mistaken as carnivores when in actuality they are omnivores or scavengers. According to Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 4th edition, “The word carnivore can be used to indicate either a taxonomic classification or a type of feeding behavior. The order Carnivora is quite diverse and consists of 12 families containing more than 260 species. Omnivorous and carnivorous feeding behaviors are most common among members of the order Carnivora; however, the order also includes species that are herbivores (e.g. pandas). Dogs are opportunistic eaters and have developed anatomic and physiologic characteristics that permit digestion and usage of a varied diet.”
Is it fair to impose vegan beliefs on a dog?
At Max & Ruffy’s we do not view giving your dog incredibly delicious, nutritious, organic vegan treats and / or food as imposing. We view it as being a loving guardian of your dog’s health by offering them our treats. There are of course other wonderful benefits to other sentient beings and to the planet that are a direct result from choosing vegan treats and / or food for your dog. By choosing a vegan diet you are: reducing the suffering endured by animals raised for food; taking a huge step to reduce the negative impact on the environment caused by the meat and dairy industry; reducing suffering and injuries that widely occur to slaughterhouse workers; and offering your dog a compassionate, clean, and healthy diet that is free from diseased animals. After all, dogs do not need a meat-based diet to be healthy. Dogs are opportunistic eaters or scavengers that have developed anatomical and physiologic characteristics that permit digestion and usage of a varied diet.
Why does Max & Ruffy’s only use human-grade ingredients?
The Max & Ruffy’s pack is dedicated to serving only the best to our best friends – that simply means that if we won’t eat it we won’t include it. In our minds, if it is not good enough for us then it is not good enough for them. With that said, you will never find an ingredient in our product line that is “not fit for human consumption.” A human-grade ingredient is defined as an ingredient that has met the standards for human consumption and has undergone stringent testing protocols to insure quality and the absence of anything not fit for humans.
Why should I choose Max & Ruffy’s vegan dog treats for my dog?
Offering your companion our vegan treats – which are comprised of clean human-grade ingredients free from hormones, animal products, preservatives, artificial coloring and other unnecessary additives – is something that we believe is crucial in contributing to the health and longevity of your companion. By opting for Max & Ruffy’s you will be offering your dog delicious treats, while simultaneously helping the planet and it’s inhabitants by:
- Supporting a company that uses eco-friendly packaging solutions- read more about Max & Ruffy’s Eco-Friendly Packaging
- NOT supporting the meat and dairy industry, an industry that creates more greenhouse gas than transportation – read more about the Environmental Impacts of the Meat Industry
- Reducing the suffering that is continually placed on animals that are raised for food.
What health benefits can I expect for my dog by giving them an animal-free, organic diet?
Various case reports indicate the following health benefits experienced by dogs that eat an animal-free diet:
- Increased overall health and vitality
- Decreased incidences of cancer, infections, and hypothyroidism
- Decrease of parasites that live outside of the body (fleas, ticks, lice and mites)
- Improved coat condition
- Control of allergies
- Reduction in obesity
- Arthritis regression
- Diabetes regression
- Cataract resolution and
- Better digestion
**source The facts about meat-based and vegetarian cat and dog diets. Andrew Knight BSc., BVMS, CertAW, MRCVS, Veterinarian**
Tips
Grow your own wheatgrass!
As most of us know, dogs love to eat grass when given the opportunity. However, not all grasses are safe. Neighborhood grasses can be harmful to your dog because of pesticide applications and environmental runoff, but growing your own wheatgrass offers a fun, easy, and safe alternative.
Wheatgrass offers dogs a wonderful source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins and chlorophyll in a natural living food while aiding in digestion and metabolization of nutrients.
Growing your own wheatgrass in 7 simple steps:
What you’ll need:
Bleach-free sprouting tray or small pot, organic potting soil, and organic wheat berries.
1) Soak 1-2 Tbl of organic wheat berries overnight.
2) Drain water (maybe quench a houseplant’s thirst with excess water)
3) Almost fill your sprouting tray or pot with organic potting soil.
4) Sprinkle the soaked wheat berries evenly on top, spacing about one berry apart.
5) Cover the wheat berries with ¼ inch of potting soil.
6) Water daily maintaining a slightly moist soil.
7) Offer to your companion when the grass has grown to about 4 inches tall or cut with scissors and add finely chopped grass to your dog’s food.
Dispose of your dog’s waste in an environmentally friendly way.
Max & Ruffy’s supports disposing of pet waste in environmentally friendly ways. This can be done using either biodegradable pet waste bags or by making or purchasing a pet waste compost system for your backyard.
Backyard composting your dog’s waste is economically beneficial and environmentally friendly. You may find the following sites useful in learning how to build your own dog waste composter:
http://www.cityfarmer.org/petwaste.html
http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/
PhotoAlbum22.html
http://www.doggiedooley.com
Natural Flea and Tick Control
Have you ever questioned why commercial flea and tick prevention companies instruct humans to “avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing?” Fipronil, a slow acting poison, is a common active ingredient in commercial flea and tick prevention applications. This broad spectrum insecticide, yes, the same thing that is sprayed on many lawns across the country, is used in controlling unwanted insects, such as fleas, on your loved companion. The good news is that there are much safer solutions to practice natural flea and tick prevention.
Here are a few tips to help keep your companion flea and tick free:
- Thoroughly vacuum and clean your floors and furniture at least once a week. This is especially important in the area where your companion most often rests.
- Wash your companion’s bedding frequently. Wash your companion’s bedding in hot, soapy water at least once a week. Be sure to dry on maximum heat.
- Give your companion lemon water rinses. To do this simply take a thinly sliced lemon and add it to about 1 pint of hot water (almost boiling) and let it steep overnight. Then with a washcloth, wipe the lemon water onto your companion’s skin and let them air dry.
- Purchase beneficial Nematodes. Beneficial Nematodes offer a safe and effective solution to naturally controlling fleas. Beneficial Nematodes, short non-segmented worms, live below the soil surface looking for food such as flea larvae. To learn more about Beneficial Nematodes visit:
http://www.marchbiological.com/L/beneficial_nematodes.html http://www.arbico-organics.com/beneficial-nematodes.html - Fleas: Citronella, geranium, lavender (spike), lemongrass, pennyroyal, peppermint and spearmint
- Ticks: Citronella, geranium, lavender (spike), lemongrass, pennyroyal, sage and thyme
- Mosquitoes: Citronella, lavender (spike), lemongrass, myrrh, rosemary
- Rose Geranium Repellent Recipe
Make your own essential oil repellent for your dog. This is an easy, eco-friendly, and inexpensive way of preventing fleas and ticks. Below is a list of essential oils that are great for repelling ticks, fleas and mosquitoes:
– 20 drops of rose geranium or geranium (bourbon) essential oil
– 3 drops of citronella essential oil (avoid this oil as well as basil, pennyroyal and cedar with pregnant animals)
– Dash of bay leaf tincture (this dissolves the essential oils since they do not mix with water; make sure the tincture is vegetable glycerin or cider vinegar based. You can also alternate with black walnut tincture, which is another great insect repellent
– 10 ounces of water in a spray bottle (make sure you use a dark blue or dark amber bottle to maintain the integrity of the oils)
Essential Oil Source adapted from: Puotinen, C.J., (2000). The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care. McGraw-Hill Professional.
For another natural repellent, consider Rosie’s Remedies. Rosie’s Remedies mission is to help pets by educating and informing their care takers (that’s you), about how certain potentially harmful or dangerous products can be replaced by non-toxic and chemical free remedies.
Click the link to watch a short video on how to make your flea and trick repellent. Max and Ruffys Essential Oil
Socialize your Dog and Have Fun Doing It!
In our experience, our dog’s playtime has been the perfect partner to a healthy diet. Their world revolves around play and luckily for us, it doesn’t cost a thing! When your dog is a pup, try finding a free “Puppy Play” group to help them meet others, learn the rules of the pack, and of course to wear them out! We have been successful in coordinating play dates with neighbors; this is especially helpful when the day gets busy. They also like to work out with us: skateboarding, going for a short run, joining us on a hike, taking a dip, or just going for a good old fashioned walk. If you can, try a positive-reinforcement obedience class. We found an affordable one that was one night a week for several weeks. Our dog loved it and learned how to behave around other dogs all the while teaching us how to communicate with her. In the end, positive obedience makes for a much happier, healthier, and better behaved (at home and around others) companion!
Another great social outing that our dogs love is a trip to a designated off-leash dog park. These parks are usually free and open every day of the week! Check out the links below to find local dog parks in your area.
http://www.usadogparks.com/
http://animal.discovery.com/features/
dogpark/dogpark.html
