CELTIC CONNECTION DRY FOOD - WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW

Questions for Linda M. Gould, author of Celtic Connection kibble recipes, which are the best dog food for us.

Which of the ingredients in Celtic Connection food do you consider the most valuable and what is its function in the dog's body?

The most important thing is of course the MEAT! Dogs are "functional omnivores", which means they SURVIVE with the plant side, but if you look at their bone structure, jaws, teeth, digestive tract... it's clear that they are ADAPTED to eating meat. For them, meat is a source of all the necessary amino acids, and their body and digestion are perfectly adapted to it.

So why should feed contain fruits, vegetables and herbs?

Vegetables, fruits and herbs should always be represented in the feed only in the second place, never in the first place. In nature, wild dogs, wolves and other canids animals themselves look for berries, fruits, herbs and vegetables to supplement vitamins and minerals . Mother Nature has wisely equipped us with instincts that help us to know from which sources to supplement the substances that the body lacks. That's why even we humans sometimes have an irresistible taste for a particular food. The plant components of the feed are also a source of fiber, necessary for good digestion and maintaining a healthy intestinal microflora.

Some sources state that a gluten-free/grain-free diet has no factual basis in dogs. So are grain-free dog foods a real benefit?

Clinical gluten intolerance has been proven so far in perhaps only one (maybe two?) dogs, but the fact remains that gluten in food comes from ingredients that do not have a natural place in a dog's diet, typically from cereals. Honestly, have you ever seen a dog that LIGHTS up and starts salivating when it sees wheat rope? AND Gluten , as the name suggests, is a sticky substance that sticks to the villi of the small intestine, which can reduce the absorption of important nutrients. In addition, the phytic acid in the grain binds zinc and magnesium, minerals that are essential for muscles, the immune system and energy regulation, reducing their absorption . So gluten and grains not only do not give dogs what they need, but also block the natural and desirable management of beneficial substances contained in the diet. Their negative influence is therefore of two kinds. According to some opinions, gluten also affects the condition of the brain, which can cause mood swings, mood swings... Have you ever noticed how in dogs, fed with grain granules, their activity skyrockets after a meal to the point that they are even able to fight with a second dog in the household? It is not only a rapid increase in blood sugar level, which is also common with rice or potatoes, but also because gluten potentiates inflammatory processes in the body and brain, which can also be manifested by a change in behavior.

What is the function of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM in the body and is their continuous administration appropriate?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are minerals found most abundantly at the ends of long bones, where they participate in the construction and formation of cartilage tissue. Wild beasts therefore always consume smaller bones from their prey as a source of calcium, and it is the ends of long bones from which they obtain glucosamine and chondroitin for themselves.

MSM is a biologically active organic sulfur molecule with a phosphorus bond. In nature, we would find it in rainwater and fruits and vegetables that absorb it. MSM is broken down into amino acids with sulfur, methionine and cysteine, necessary for example for the production of taurine necessary for a healthy heart and eyes. Sulfur is necessary for the formation of cell membranes and their proper permeability.

Glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM in our food not only supply the dog's body with building blocks for the proper formation of cartilage and bones, but also create conditions for the formation of healthy cells that will be able to properly absorb and excrete these nutrients. Thanks to their synergistic effect, you can count on the fact that you have done and are doing your best for your pet's healthy joints.

Would you recommend Celtic Connection specifically for any breed or type of dog?

Each and every dog ​​deserves only the best, health, care and comfort, so I can't single out just someone. Puppies and seniors thrive on our kibbles.

We are happy that they are also tasty for picky and picky dogs. I have a friend who's refusal to eat forced him to change his feeding almost every month, and his household was filled with leftovers of uneaten kibble of all brands. Which, among other things, cost him a lot of money. I gave him a 2.5 kg package for free and the dog liked it very much. However, the friend was convinced that the old scenario would soon repeat itself and the dog would start rejecting our pellets as well. The weeks went by and my friend got a 5.5 kg and then a 12 kg bag. Our food still tastes good to his pussy, it's been five years now. Her vet cannot praise enough how excellent her condition is and how well she moves, despite her advanced age.

However, our food is highly suitable for dogs with proven or suspected food intolerance . Although this was one of the factors I took into account when creating the first feed, the results exceeded my expectations.
Dogs with food allergies react negatively to beef in 85% of cases, so I avoided that completely. 42% hate chicken (some dogs even hate chicken and beef). Therefore, many manufacturers produce granules from, for example, fish, but you will still find chicken fat in the composition, so such feed does not solve much. So our first feeds were built on one protein - poultry, fish or lamb.

However, I wasn't completely satisfied with that, because lamb meat, for example, does not contain all the essential amino acids in the amount needed for perfect health. If you feed the dog permanently only lamb, after time the body will recognize the need to supplement the amino acids it is not getting and the dog will instinctively start looking for other sources to supplement them, as I described above. And because we feed the dogs from a bowl and do not allow them to eat anything outside, this deficit is most often manifested by digestive disorders, skin problems or refusal of food. We think the dog is picky, but he is actually sick.

Therefore, in order to ensure a truly optimal amount and composition of amino acids in my feeds, I decided to use TWO protein sources in each of them. Lamb meat, for example, lacks amino acids that are abundantly found in goat meat and vice versa. So by combining the meats of these animals from the same subfamily, we have a complete spectrum of amino acids, we can feed this feed indefinitely and still have a hypoallergenic formula . And that's great news for ladies. They didn't understand why their allergic dog on a monoprotein hypoallergenic diet suddenly started having problems that they solved by finding a new food every few months. And they attributed these problems to additional acquired sensitivities to a specific feed component.

Can you share with us the story of a particular dog that Celtic Connection has helped?

I think a great example is a golden retriever named Gribouille who suffered from severe itching and kept scratching. The owner went through the wheel of recommendations from veterinarians, breeders, advice from friends, but poor Gribouille was still bothered by itching to the point that he licked and bit his fur and hurt himself a lot. Finally, a neighbor recommended Celtic Connection, and within a few weeks, not only did the itching stop, Gribouille's fur grew back and his skin healed, but he also became very calm. He became a visibly more satisfied and happy dog, and his master was just as happy, and eventually me too! Look at the photos.

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