Next month, I get to host my own class with dog (and some cat) info. It'll be mostly on nutrition and good preventative care and I'm so excited for it! Where I live, there really aren't many options for people to learn about natural pet care and things like good foods, why vaccinating for 400 different things every year is bad, and things like that. The local vets are all very quick to shut down anything like that too, so I'm a little bit nervous.

Anyway, I was just wondering if you wonderful husky folks had any input. I'm working with several companies to get sample bags put together for people and compiling info packets. Its a huge undertaking and I kinda wish I had a little bit more notice, but the place that I'm having the class offered me a spot during their anniversary weekend celebration and that'll mean more people will be there.

So far, I have stuff from The Honest Kitchen, Sojos, Grandma Lucy's, Orijen, Acana, Dr. Harveys, and Hemopet. I'm still getting in touch with a few other companies and everyone has been really awesome so far. Fromm and Earthborn Holistic won't return my calls, but everyone else is great lol

We're also going to be talking about vaccines and titers, and general preventative healthcare things. Vets around here vaccinate yearly and I think there's only like two in my area that will do titers if you ask. So, yeah, we really need to get the word out around here.

Any ideas for me?

Myndi,

Great stuff!! I too live out in the middle of nowhere, and most people are unaware of information that can be found online. With that being said, I too try to educate people here in my little community, because most vets are quite often unwilling to work with the patients, in giving proper preventive information.

My suggestions are to stress proper usage of flea and tick preventives, far too often people do not use these products properly and "think" it no longer works, and look for "better" solutions. Another is heartworm protection, many country dogs, as well as people who are older do not understand the importance of using heartworm preventives. Lastly, explaining the diseases and parasites that our pets can encounter because of the lack of using these preventives. Tape worm for example is hugely undetected, because pets have fleas, or kill small animals.

My last thing, can pure pumpkin, do you know how many people are unaware that a simple thing like pumpkin can help with loose stools as well as too hard of stools and that it is safe and effective for dogs and cats? Also, people still believe cooked bones are safe, huh? The benefits of raw bones, and what type to give would be beneficial.

My suggestions, you probably have in place. Nutrition is a big priority in the country where info is not readily available or with folks here they don't have any time to do the research. But, imho, preventive care is just as important. I hope I helped a smidge, Good Luck Have Fun, and post up on how well it turns out!

I don't have much to add other than GotAntler.com does sample bags of their treats they keep on hand. They might be someone to talk to about getting some other high quality treats from. Or if you do a segment on what are safe chews for dogs and what isn't: going into the dos and don'ts of bones.