Strength of the Pack
What I Feed My Dogs (and Why)
Dogs are not decor (although they are adorable).
They are our packmates, fellow travelers through life.
They share our homes, our love.
When their time comes to pass through to doggy-heaven, it can leave a terrible emptiness in our hearts. After each of my wonderful dogs has passed away, I think, “I can never get another dog; nothing can replace him/her.” I think I have lasted a few months each time, and then find myself at the local shelter.
Soul: Kate.
Assignment: Rescuer. Stubborn, lazy, self-centered, and too intense. She needs compassion. Let’s mix in bipolar, Asperger’s autism, and some serious anxiety — just to make things interesting.
Dogs? Oh, fine, if you insist — toss her a bone. She can rescue dogs from shelters.
(Cartoon courtesy of ChatGPT, reprinted from my book, Before I Lay Me Down to Sleep.) Available in English and Spanish.
These are the two who share my life now, in 2026. Sofia was four years old and came from a Humane Society. She is now 13 years old. She is calm, confident, stoic, and likes to climb.
Gabriela was eight when I adopted her from another shelter. She is now 11. I saw her forlorn face at the shelter’s webpage and knew she was mine. She was at a shelter 125 miles from my home. The drive across the mountains was worth it. We made it back through the pass as the snow began falling.
Sofia: From Chronic Skin Infections to Healing with Species-Appropriate Feeding
Chihuahuas can live for 18-20 yeasrs. Marius was only 13. His heart and his lungs failed. Knowing what I know now about dog kibble – no matter how expensive – I wonder how long he would have lived had I known about species-appropriate dog food.
I thought I could never have another dog after Marius. Nothing could replace him. And I didn’t want to go through the grieving again.
Yet, I found myself remembering that I had a home and love to give to another dog that was just waiting for its own human and a Forever Home.
I found myself driving by the Humane Society’s animal shelter. Three months later, I went in, “just to look.” The moment I saw this girl with her quirky face and big ears, I knew she was mine. She was such a tough-looking dog, she needed a soft name. Sofia.
Within two months, Sofia began developing a skin infection. Hot spots. Rashes.
Over the next four years she wass cycled through:
• repeated antibiotics
• steroids
• Apoquel
• Cytopoint injections
• prescription, “hypoallergenic” kibble
• medicated shampoos
• allergy testing (two different companies) and desensitization
Three different vets, three different approaches. Many thousands of dollars. Nothing produced lasting improvement.
I went on YouTube, searching for dogs and skin allergies. I found Karen Becker, DVM, a veterinarian with a YouTube channel who promoted a “species-appropriate diet.” I considered Sofia’s diet. Her allergy tests found allergy to chicken, duck, some fish, and more. But I was feeding her single-protein kibble. But…
Kibble is reportedly processed at super high heat. It is highly processed, low-moisture, and heavy in refined carbohydrates and omega-6 fats. Those are not natural food for canines. These factors are known to alter the gut microbiome and promote systemic inflammation. Skin disease is often a downstream effect of gut dysfunction.
So, I bought the same quality food that I ate: organic. I prepared beef, organs, vegetables, and targeted supplements according to Dr Becker’s recipe.
The results were wonderful and surprising. About two weeks after starting the diet, I noticed that she seemed to be growing thicker fur–I realized I couldn’t see her pink scalp through what had been thin fur on her head. She has not had another skin infection. Sofia is a healthy girl. I saved so much in vet bills that I decided I could afford a second dog.
Yes, this is just one dog’s experience, not a clinical trial. It makes sense though. High-heat processed kibble is reportedly inflammatory. Sofia’s little body is no longer inflammed, her gut has improved, and her skin is beautiful. I’m hoping she will have a chance of an 18 year life, despite her earlier medical challenges.
If you are coping with chronic skin or allergy problems in your dog (apparently the same goes for cats), then perhaps it’s worth looking into a less-processed diet — either raw or gently cooked.
References
Sandri M et al. Veterinary Microbiology, 2017 – Raw diets shift canine gut microbiome
Bermingham EN et al. Journal of Animal Science, 2017 – Extruded vs fresh diets alter digestion and fermentation
Darwin's Natural Pet Food - What I feed my dogs now
Darwin’s Natural Pet is my convenient, high quality source for Sofia and Gabriela’s food now. No more mess in my kitchen.
(This is not a sponsored link, nor do I receive any compensation from promoting them. This is what I buy except for months here and there when I want to make it myself.)
Twenty years in business. Their plant is kept to human-grade cleanliness. They were featured in the documentary, Pet Fooled. I used to live six miles from the plant and picked up the food each month. I met wonderful people, including the owner. Friendly, wonderful customer service.
Now that we live in Dallas, Darwin’s ships it to my home, with plenty of dry ice to keep it frozen in the Texas heat.
I prefer buying the dogs’ food from Darwin’s because I can trust that the dogs are getting a complete and balanced diet. No grains, no fillers. Just human-grade quality food for dogs and cats.
If you are concerned about raw, they may be coming out with a gently-cooked choice soon. They also have healthy dog treats.