Woofable - Bloemfontein

Before you change your training method, look at the bowl.

The gut-brain connection in dogs is real, well-researched and consistently under-discussed. The gut microbiome produces neurotransmitters, including serotonin, that influence mood, stress response and the ability to learn. When the microbiome is disrupted (a condition called dysbiosis), the effects show up in behaviour, not just digestion.

Dr Holly Gantz, PhD, is one of the world's leading researchers on the animal microbiome. At the African Pet Health Summit she'll be unpacking how gut health shapes immunity, digestion and disease and why it may be the missing piece in so many stubborn health puzzles.

If you work with animals, as a vet, behaviourist, trainer or nutritionist, this is the kind of joined-up thinking that changes how you see your cases.

🚀 WhatsApp "ORIGINAL" to 063 403 8581.
🌐 Visit: www.africanpethealth.co.za

Dr Nick Thompson has spent decades doing something quietly radical: instead of asking "what's the diagnosis?" he asks "why is this animal unwell in the first place?"

One of the UK's most respected integrative veterinarians and a founding voice in the raw-feeding movement, Nick brings a whole-animal view of chronic disease. One that considers diet, environment and lifestyle together, not just the symptoms in front of him.

He's joining us in Stellenbosch for the African Pet Health Summit and if you've ever wondered whether there's more to your pet's health than what fits into a 20-minute consult, this is the session you don't want to miss.

🚀 BOOK NOW—IT'S EASY:
📲 WhatsApp "APHS" and your name to 063 403 8581.
🌐 Visit: www.africanpethealth.co.za

🐾 Animal By-Products: Bad Ingredient or Bad Reputation?

The term "animal by-product" may be one of the most misunderstood phrases in pet nutrition.

Many pet parents see "animal by-products" on a kibble or canned food label and immediately assume it means low-quality waste. But the truth is more nuanced.

What exactly is an animal by-product❓️

In simple terms, a by-product is any edible animal tissue that is not skeletal muscle meat.

That means many foods commonly used in fresh feeding are technically by-products, including:

✔ Heart
✔ Gizzard
✔ Liver
✔ Kidney
✔ Spleen
✔ Green tripe
✔ Trachea

In fact, these tissues are often among the most nutrient-dense foods we can offer our dogs.

So then, why does the term raise concerns when it appears on a pet food label❓️

The difference lies in specificity.

When formulating fresh food diets, we intentionally select individual organs and tissues for their unique nutritional contributions. We know exactly what we are feeding and why we are feeding it.

For example:

▪️ Liver provides vitamin A, copper, and B vitamins.
▪️ Gizzards contribute protein and connective tissue nutrients.
▪️ Hearts supply taurine, CoQ10, and highly bioavailable minerals.
▪️ Trachea provides natural collagen and cartilage compounds.

Each ingredient serves a purpose.

By contrast, when a label simply states "animal by-products" or "poultry by-products," the ingredient may contain a varying mixture of tissues. While these ingredients can certainly provide valuable nutrition, the consumer has less transparency regarding exactly which tissues are included and in what proportions.

Another important distinction is protein quality.

Skeletal muscle meat generally provides a highly digestible, complete amino acid profile that serves as the foundation of a dog's diet.

Many organ tissues and connective tissues contribute valuable nutrients, but they are not always equivalent replacements for muscle meat on a pound-for-pound basis. This is why balanced fresh food diets use organs and other by-products strategically rather than as the primary protein source.

📌
Not all by-products are created equal.

A hand-selected mixture of heart, liver, kidney, and gizzard added to a balanced fresh food diet is very different from seeing a generic by-product ingredient on a label.

The term itself does not determine quality.

The questions that matter are:

🔍 What tissues are included?
🔍 How were they sourced?
🔍 How were they processed?
🔍 What nutritional purpose do they serve?

As always, context matters more than marketing.

— The Holistic Canine 🐾 theholisticcanine.us

📖 Fresh-Food Feeding Explained — the science your vet may not have been taught:
👉 theholisticcanine.us/ebook/

Don't miss your chance to be part of the final BOSMARK at Inibos! 🌿
🛍️ Stalls: R100
🍔 Food Stalls: R200
Join us for one last unforgettable market and showcase your products to the community.
👉 Use the link in the comments to book your stall today! Limited spaces available.

Hoop om julle daar te sien.

BOSMARK – 27 March | 5PM – 8PM 🌿
Bosmark is back at Inibos!
Join us for a relaxed evening under the trees—good food, unique stalls, and fresh air vibes.
🛍️ Want a stall? Limited spots left:
https://www.inibos.co.za/vendor-application⁠�
See you there 🌙