The Nicholberry Dispatch
What Harper and Grizzly 399 have in common, Bark! Fest, and a new study on diet associated DCM
BOOK NEWS
Just as I never anticipated how much I would fall in love with the people I met through Nicholberry Goldens, I never anticipated how much I would fall in love with the people I met through Puppy Brain. The book is my way of loving dogs better through their humans, but the gift back is the way I’ve been loved better through their humans.
One such human is Zazie Todd, who wrote a guest article here a few months back that was very popular, and who is the author of Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog. I have loved getting to know Zazie better and am honored to have been invited by her to attend Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers. As Zazie explains, “23 authors of books about animals, from much-loved classics to exciting new titles, will be in conversation about their books in a series of online events in September 2024.”
Stay tuned for more details!
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE
I have been obsessed with Grizzly 399 for many years now, as she somehow reminds me of Harper: resilient, steadfast, and beautiful. Like so many, I anxiously awaited news of her this spring and was delighted to hear that not only is she still alive, but she, yet again, has cubs in tow. However. Not only cubs, but five cubs. If they are all hers, it is a record. If they are not, then that means that she adopted cubs whose mama could no longer care for them. As if she couldn’t remind me even more of my girl…
SOMETHING TO READ
I first heard about diet associated DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) from Dr. Joshua Stern many years ago at a breeder symposium. He explained how he began to see Goldens cropping up with DCM, despite the fact that this is not a condition with which Goldens typically struggle. Thus began an investigation into the underlying cause. From there, DCM burst onto the scene, resulting in the FDA issuing warnings and all sorts of confusing, contradictory advice running rampant on social media. As a result, I have followed it closely and read every article that I can find, including this one on a study of traditional versus nontraditional diets and their impact on DCM.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
- Henry David Thoreau
SOMETHING TO LOVE
I wish I knew what non traditional versus traditional diet is defined as in study. Based on their conclusion I would have liked to know food recommendations. Was helpful to hear that taurine levels were not found to be a key indicator
Yes- what are we supposed to feed our Goldens then?