What I Learned Too Late: Cooper’s Story….

                   

What I Learned Too Late: Cooper’s Story and Why I Started making My Own Dog Food.

Sometimes the hardest lessons in life come wrapped up in love and loss. Seven years wasn’t long enough, not nearly long enough. When we lost our sweet Cooper, our hearts broke in ways that only pet owners truly understand. Dogs aren’t “just animals,” they’re family. They are the quiet companions through the hard days, the overly excited greeting at the door and the ones who love you without conditions.

After Cooper died, I found myself asking the questions many grieving pet owners ask, Could I have done something differently? That question sent me down a path of research that I wish I had taken years earlier. Before Cooper, we had a 14 year old lab named Coal. Although he lived to be 14, which is pretty good for a lab, at the end he had all the symptoms that were named in a lawsuit against the dog food called “Beneful”, which we thought was a good quality food for him. After his passing, there were news reports, articles, and then a lawsuit,  that stated that many dogs had died due to the ingredients in Beneful. After reading about it, we realized that Coal had many if not all of the same symptoms these other Beneful eating dogs had. We thought his issues were just old age, but after reading about the other dogs of all ages whose diet was mostly that dog food, we believe it played a huge role.

After we lost our beloved Coal, it wasn’t long before we started looking for another dog. We did rescue one who we named Willow, sadly, the circumstances from where Willow came were not told to us, we were told a different story. After we got her, we signed her up for training and of course vet well checks. At almost a year old and after catching the rescue we went through in a lie, we found out that Willow was likely inbred and from a puppy mill or something like it. After thousands of dollars on vet visits, testing and training, she bit the trainer as well as the vet and nipped at a friend. We called the rescue that she came from because part of the contract was before rehoming her, they would take her back. Once they realized she bit people, they considered her unadoptable. They told us if they took her back, they would euthanize her, free of charge. We knew this is what had to happen and as hard as it was, we opted for Mike to take her to the vet so she was with someone familiar, it was worth it to pay for it, the last thing we wanted was for her to be afraid and with strangers. Long story short, Willow had to be euthanized.  It was a really hard time in our lives, we were still hurting over our loss of Coal (this has never gone away). We were harshly judged by people who had no idea how much time, effort and money we had put into Willow and that the decision we along with the trainer and vet made was not taken lightly. It was horrible! 

We were hesitant to get another dog after the heartache we had endured between losing both Coal and Willow. I started really hating coming home each day, I missed the excited greeting at the door. I missed the snuggles from my over sized lap dogs. Mike and I missed the clickity-clack of a dog’s nails on the wood floor. The silence was deafening. After many long talks, we decided it was time to get another dog. Although we know owning a dog always ends in heartbreak because their life spans are too short, the good of owning a dog out weighs the bad. We not only wanted, but needed the happiness dogs brought into our home once again. After what we went through with Willow, we decided to go the breeder route. We still think rescuing dogs who need a home is very important, but at that time, we really needed to know exactly what we were getting. We weren’t ready to risk another Willow situation. 

We found a breeder and put down a deposit on a litter due in April of 2015, another terribly sad time in our life. We unexpectedly lost our brother in law Barry. Cooper was born on the day of Barry’s funeral. With all the sadness, it was nice to have something happy to look forward to. We were invited to meet our new pup a couple of times before the long awaited time came to bring him home. He was everything we dreamed of. A quick learner, loved to play and equally loved to snuggle. Cooper became our gentle giant. Due to the Beneful crisis, we started buying what was considered to be high quality dog food at the pet store. A bit more expensive, but we wanted what was best for our boy. Cooper was such a wonderful soul and we loved him so much, the following April, we put a deposit down on a brother for Cooper. Same parents, different litter. That litter was actually born on the first anniversary of Barry’s death. We named him Oscar, with the middle initial B, after Barry. Many of Barry’s nieces and nephews adoringly called him “Uncle B”. Oscar was a typical little brother, always stealing from passive Cooper and demanding to wrestle when Cooper wanted to rest.  They adored each other and did everything together. Life was good with our pups for the next 6 years, when suddenly Cooper got sick. For about 24 hours, he started vomiting and refusing to eat, hardly drank and got pretty lethargic. The day after the first bout of vomiting, we took him to the emergency veterinarian hospital. They decided it was best to keep him over night for IV fluids and to run some blood tests. It was hard just saying goodbye for the night, I cried all the way home, but we’d be back first thing in the morning to get him. Only an hour or two after dropping him off, we got a phone call I would never wish on anyone. It was the vet, telling us that Cooper had diabetes and was in liver failure. They said even if we had unlimited money, he wouldn’t live much longer. It was horrifying. Mike and I cried for hours, then off and on for days, weeks, months and even now 4 years later, we still cry over losing our big teddy bear. Oscar has never been the same either. Heck, the other day while at the pet store, a woman brought in a little black lab puppy. She let me pat him and by the time I got to my truck, I was in tears, thinking about Coal, he looked exactly like that little pup when we got him years ago. I guess like any one else you’ve loved and lost, the scars fade but never heal completely. 

I feel a sense of PTSD. Since Cooper died, every birthday that Oscar has had, I have made a special time for him, singing to him, buying him new toys and treats, but with each birthday, my heart sinks, knowing eventually the inevitable is coming.

It wasn’t long after Cooper died that I dug deep into researching what the commercial, factory made dog food was really made of. It is all highly processed and filled with fillers instead of real nutrition. Most brands contain by-products, preservatives, artificial colors and dyes, and ingredients that provide very little nutritional value. I have learned that many Veterinarian's and and pet nutrition researchers have raised concerns about links between poor diet and rising health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease, liver problems, certain cancers, skin conditions and allergies, obesity and digestive problems. I realize that not every illness is preventable, some come with age or genetics, some breeds are more prone to something than others. I couldn’t help but wonder if better nutrition might have helped Cooper’s body fight harder and longer. That thought stayed with me.

I can’t go back and change Cooper’s story, but I could change what I did moving forward. I want Oscar to stay on this earth and enjoy his life as long as possible. This is when I decided enough is enough. Dogs are a gift from God in my opinion, they are loyal and they love unconditionally. They deserve the best life has to offer. This is when I decided to make my own dog food. Not because I’m an expert, but because I love my dog and want to give him the best nourishment I can.

I began making simple, wholesome meals using ingredients I could spell, pronounce and recognize. Chicken gizzards, chicken thighs, or breast meat, fresh vegetables and brown rice. There is something satisfying about preparing Oscar’s meals the same way we prepare food for people we love. Oscar immediately liked the change in his diet, he has always had a sensitive stomach but it has improved since we started feeding him homemade food. At his most recent vet visit, the vet asked me what I feed him. She said he is a perfect weight, he has a healthy spark in his eyes and all his blood work came back good. She suggested I keep doing what I’m doing. Only problem he had was a knee injury which has improved over time with joint supplements. He also appears to have a little arthritis which comes with age, but even that has appeared to improve. I also started making some of his treats at home. One of his favorite things is a simple frozen treat. we call it “Ice Cream” and when we ask him if he wants it, he gets so excited, jumping up and down and making noises. I also make dog cookies from time to time, not as often as I should due to time constraints but he does love those too.

Cooper’s life may have only been 7 years, but his impact changed how I care for Oscar or how I will care for any future pets. Loss often teaches us what comfort never could. His story pushed me to learn more, to do better. Maybe that’s one of the ways love continues after loss.

I don’t think guilt helps anyone. We do the best we can with what we know at the time. When we learn better, we can do better. That’s what Cooper taught me. Love sometimes looks like learning the hard way, and making changes because someone you loved mattered that much.

Cooper was deeply loved, and because of him other dogs in my care will be loved a little more intentionally too. Maybe that’s part of his legacy.   

If you are still reading this blog post and you too want to start feeding your fur baby a healthier diet. Here are some of the ingredients I use. I don’t really measure much, I kind of eye ball it, except for brown rice, I usually add 2 cups for a 5-7 day supply, because too much rice isn’t a great idea. Meats and veggies should be the main ingredients. For his food, I use chicken gizzards, breasts and thighs, I use gizzards in every batch because they are cheap, good for him and he loves them. I use breasts or thighs, but not both in one batch, I change it up, depending on the prices. I also use several veggies, but not all in one batch, again I change it up for variety, some of the veggies I’ve used is 100% pumpkin, canned is fine, if it’s 100%, there will be no other ingredients, read labels. Frozen peas (protein, vitamins A,C,K & fiber) and carrots in moderation, peas are starchy, fresh carrots (beta-carotene & fiber), sweet potatoes (Vitamin A), spinach (iron, but not too often because I also give him kidney beans and both are high in iron, too much iron can cause constipation. If using bagged kidney beans, make sure they are boiled until soft, or use canned, but rinse well. Broccoli (antioxidants, calcium, vitamins C & K), green beans (vitamins A,C,and K as well as iron and calcium). Unsalted or at least low sodium chicken or beef stock or bone broth. Do not add any seasonings.

The ingredients I have used in dog cookie/bones are all natural peanut butter, NO XYLITOL (toxic to dogs), pumpkin, apple sauce, whole wheat flour, Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

For frozen treat ingredients, I use plain Greek yogurt, apple sauce, pumpkin, peanut butter, blue berries, apple chunks, watermelon. I usually limit his “ice cream” to 2-3 ingredients. The only one he snubbed so far was banana, he doesn’t like them, but some dogs do.

For just every day snacking, there are many healthy options, carrots, celery (celery is good for breath and hydration), cucumbers (he’s not a fan), green apples (his favorite). Blue berries, raspberries, black berries.

I am considering bringing my business “K-9 Kookies” back to life this summer if any of you readers are interested in homemade dog treats, cookies, training bites (kibble), sweet potato chews, or frozen treats, feel free to reach out. 

I couldn’t save Cooper, but his story might help me save someone else’s dog.