Lincolnshire Canine Nutrition

16/11/2025

If any local dog/cat businesses would like to donate to our annual Advent Raffle, please get in touch.
This year we are giving away 3 hampers - two for dogs (winner and runner up) and one for cats.
We have decided to raise money for Laxey House Bird Rescue - Scunthorpe because the sad plight of the Moorwell Road geese back in the summer touched many of our customer’s hearts.

If you’d like to be involved, please message our page. The raffle will go live on December 1st with the winners chosen on December 22nd.

14/11/2025

A few people have contacted me recently and not got my reply!
I always reply to emails so if you haven’t had a reply within 48 hours, please check your junk/spam folder and if, I’m not there, send another email or a FB message

13/11/2025

I have been working with a lot of dogs recently that have acid reflux and/or morning pukes - 4 in just over a month! It’s very common but vets usually just prescribe Omeprazole without looking at the root causes and without knowing if the reflux is from acid being too high or too low.

IS YOUR DOG PUKING IN THE MORNING? (aka BILIOUS VOMITTING)...THIS IS FOR YOU...

Did you know morning pukes is very often the result of LOW stomach acidity, not high?!

You would think it was always an excessive thing, but here's what's often happening:

If a dog has low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), their food isn’t fully digested after dinner. That's the first problem.

What follows now is that undigested food particles reach the intestines, where they will feed....something. As protein and fat are supposed to be fully digested at that stage for the good guys to eat, we're more talking bad guys here. This can lead to dysbiosis in their gut, which is highly inflammatory. So now you're sort of dealing with two things - low acid and a festering, crappy gut flora. Both often need addressing.

And it doesn't end there for low-acid doggos. As the stomach contents aren’t acidic enough, they don't trigger the pyloric sphincter (the gate valve to the small intestine) to stay closed tightly. It thinks digestion is complete. This means some of the bacterial-rich, acidic digesta from the intestines can sneak back up and into the stomach.

By early morning, that stagnant pool of bile-rich gloop has been sitting in their stomach, irritating the stomach lining. Your dog wakes up nauseous and vomits up the yellow foamy bile on the only bit of carpet you have left downstairs.

Unfortunately, the world believes that all reflux is simply "too much acid", take an antacid or a Rennie.

They will tell you not to use Rennie in dogs but ask them why! The only ingredient I can see in there that I wish wasn't is saccharin sodium, for me and them, but the toxic amounts of that are hundreds of tablets so giving him one or half is not going to harm him in the slightest.

There are lots of other antacids out there and no doubt some somewhere use sweeteners like Xylitol. This your dog cannot have.

Then there is the vet's favourite, Omeprazole.

Termed a proton-pump inhibitor, Omeprazole is a fancier way of doing the exact same thing the other two do for virtually nothing - neutralising excess acid in the gut, only while Rennie simply neutralises existing acid in the stomach (immediately relieving you of the acid burning), Omeprazole actually stops acid production. That means it takes longer to work but its effects last longer (many hours as opposed to 2 with the Rennie).

Herein lies the problem. If Omeprazole is used unwisely in a patient that is struggling to get their acidity up, not down, then the drug is very likely going to make things much worse for the patient over time.

Worse again, you'll see on the back of the packet that the top side effect of Omeprazole is gastrointestinal issues in the patient, such as bloat and gas. Know why? Because, by further lessening the amount of acid in the gut, you further hamper digestion, further fueling that dysbiosis, the top symptoms of which are excess gas from the ramped up bacterial numbers that are pigging out on the new food source (and ever worsening poo scores)

THE SIMPLE CHECK FOR HYPO ACIDITY BILLOUS VOMITTING...
Try adding a dash of Apple Cider Vinegar to your dog's dinner the night before. This will better acidify the stomach contents, triggering a stronger acid-secreting reflex in the gastric mucosa. He will more fully digest his dinner, and that sphincter might get the message, opening and closing properly.

For even better results, give the ACV before a meal. This is trickier but can be done with a small amount of food or a lovely drink of broth. They don't mind it. It's theorised that this "wakes" up the digestive process (The stomach’s acid secretion is tightly controlled by the vagus nerve and gastrin cells in the stomach. Sour or acidic tastes, especially on an empty stomach, trigger these pathways to reflexively secrete HCl and pepsin, ready for the meal).

So easy and well worth a shot. If it doesn't work you can try some of the stuff below.

OTHER SOLUTIONS FOR MORNING PUKERS...
Absolutely, you can and should try shifting the time of his meals around. If that works, great, but you shouldn't have to KEEP doing it, is the thing. Bandages like Rennie and Omeprazole are rarely the solution. They're a sticking plaster. Something is wrong. As ever, you need to find the "why" if you're ever going to recover. The top causes I can see are:

1. DYSBIOSIS
Maybe he doesn't have any low acid or something structurally wrong in there. Maybe he simple has a dysbiosis in the intestinal tract, causing lots of inflammation and its upsetting things. We know this is common enough too as such dogs are often remedied with a change in diet and probiotics. That shifts the biome, the good guys get back on top and presto, the problem resolves. If that doesn't work and you're pretty sure it's a SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, a blood test will often read low in vitamin B12 as an indicator...), FMT is wonderful too.

2. LOW PROTEIN FOODS
Gastric acid secretion is strongly stimulated by protein and mineral salts in food, especially animal protein and bone. Go figure! Ultra-processed or carbohydrate-heavy diets produce little stimulation, leading to chronic underuse of parietal cells. Over time, this reduces both acid output and pepsin activation. If you're still feeding high carb dry food, do your dog and cat a favour, read my book Feeding Dogs and jump over to real, biologically appropriate (lots of meat) diets for your meat eaters. Now's the time.

3. STRESS
Chronic stress (be it emotional or physical, thinking agility dogs) shifts the autonomic nervous system toward sympathetic dominance (“fight or flight”). This inhibits vagal (parasympathetic) signalling to the stomach — the main driver of acid secretion. Chronically anxious, kenneled, or pain-suffering dogs may therefore produce much less acid. What stressors is your dog under?

4. INFECTION
Helicobacter heilmannii among others, can get out of hand, usually after a dose of antibiotics, and begin to run rampant in the gastric mucosa, causing inflammation and loss of acid-secreting cells. Instead of focusing on how to kill Heliobacter (which you need in small numbers...) ask yourself WHY your dog got an infection there? What happened beforehand? Take a probiotic approach to fixing the infection before going for the na**lm.

5. OMEPRAZOLE
Chronic suppression of the acid-pumping parietal cell’s with Omeprazole leads to glandular atrophy and gastrin overproduction. This further dysregulates acid secretion, even when the drug is stopped. In fact, even short courses of Omeprazole can cause weeks of rebound hypochlorhydria (didn't they tell you?!).

6. HYPOTHYROIDISM
Thyroid hormone supports parietal cell function and gastric motility. Hypothyroidism reduces basal metabolism and acid output, contributing to chronic bloating, constipation, and poor protein digestion. A blood panel is needed to investigate this.

7. DAMAGE TO VAGUS NERVE
The vagus nerve emerges out from the thoracic spinal cord around T5–T9. If these vertebrae or surrounding structures are affected (chiropractors say particularly T6-T8), this can disrupt autonomic balance, reducing vagal stimulation and increasing “sympathetic tone”, which tends to suppress gastric acid secretion. If you think your dog might be a case, you need a chiropractor to check them over. Those, and acupuncturuists, are unbelievable at righting wrongs neither you nor your vet would ever know were there.

8. OVER-FEEDING
You've all heard about fasting by now. If not, read up. We're using our guts too much. They're active too much. And that's us omnivores, perpetual grazers. Dogs and cats eat sporadically. Perhaps its not MORE meals this animal needs but less. Check out the comments below - lots of folk jumped to one meaty meal a day and presto, problems evaporate.

9. AGE
In some studies, aged dogs have up to 50% lower basal gastric acid output compared to young adults. However, I assume this is simply the chronic effects of many of the above taking a toll over time *EDIT: folk are saying its a real thing below!). Not sure what you can do about the age thing. If you find something, let me know!!!

***
If you're looking for something to help soothe his guts while you work on the cause, I recommend BioFunction8. It contains chamomile which is an anti-inflammatory of that area and marshmallow which adds some mucous to soothe things. Check out our Black November deals over on dogsfirst. ie/shop where you will find the majority of our supplements, including BioFunction8, all marked down by 33% for the month of November. While stocks last.

12/11/2025

If your dog isn’t thriving — maybe they’re itchy, have digestive issues, or just not themselves — adding more to their bowl won’t fix it. 🥣
You have to change their terrain both inside and out.

🦴 Change their food.
🧼 Change your cleaning products.
🌳 Change where they walk.
💆 Change the stress — theirs and yours!
💊 Reduce unnecessary meds.
🦠 Support their microbiome.

True healing starts with change.

Need support making these changes? Get in touch.

11/11/2025

💫Healing isn’t linear and that’s okay.

When we help our dogs move from imbalance to balance, or from ill health to wellness, the journey can be full of little ups and downs. Some days feel like huge leaps forward, and others… like a few steps back.

There may be healing crises - moments when the body is working hard to release old toxins and restore balance - which can sometimes make things seem worse before they get better. But this is all part of the process. 🌱

Along the way, we’ll might need to make gentle adjustments, listening carefully to how your dog responds. Every tweak, every pause, every small sign of progress matters.

Because healing isn’t about perfection.
It’s about persistence, patience, and trust. 💚

With steady care and compassion, balance will come.

10/11/2025

Superfood Jellies

One of my favourite things to make for my dogs and seriously, is there anything more satisfying than wibbly-wobbly jelly?

These contain:

Beef Gelatine – Excellent for skin, coat, and joint health. Naturally rich in collagen and amino acids that support mobility and flexibility, reduce inflammation, and aid digestion by soothing the gut lining.

Berries and Leafy Greens – Packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and soluble fibre. They help protect cells from oxidative stress, support heart health, and promote healthy digestion and immunity. Great for overall vitality and longevity.

Bone Broth – A nourishing source of essential minerals and vitamins. Supports healthy joints and mobility, improves skin and coat condition, and improves gut health. It’s also gentle on digestion and helps boost the immune system and liver detoxification.

Chamomile Tea – Naturally calming and anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce stress and anxiety while soothing the digestive tract.

How to Make

1. Chamomile tea - brew as normal using either a pure chamomile teabag (ensure it’s good quality and nothing else added) or use the herb.
2. Bone Broth - using a powdered form add the chamomile tea to make up the bone broth.
3 Add gelatine to this liquid and follow the instructions on the packet on how to make a jelly
4. Add fruit/veg to jelly before it sets.
5. Pour into moulds and allow to set.

Be creative. Try different herbal teas or add different foods to the jellies.

08/11/2025

🐾 Are you proactive or reactive when it comes to your dog’s health?
So often, we wait until our dogs show signs of discomfort before making changes but true wellness starts long before that point.

Being proactive with your dog’s nutrition helps maintain balance, strengthen immunity, and support their body so it doesn’t have to “ask for help.” 🌿

Focus on nourishing your dog from the inside out. It’s never too early to start nourishing your dog for longevity. Just don’t leave it too late.

💚 Let’s work together to keep your dog thriving, not just surviving.

07/11/2025

Do you find your pets get more itchy in the colder months?

Helping blood flow to and within the peripheral blood vessels can help. You can help by providing gentle massage, exercise and keeping the extremities warm.

Also try offering herbs that help support blood flow in the peripheral vessels. Some herbs to try include:

Hawthorn, ginkgo, rosemary, gotu kola, turmeric, ginger, and garlic.

These herbs can gently encourage better oxygen delivery and skin health, helping to ease that winter itch from the inside out.

06/11/2025

💚 The H.E.A.R.T. Method

Holistic Evaluation and Restorative Therapy

Every dog has a story and every symptom tells a part of it.
The H.E.A.R.T. Method is a gentle, whole-dog approach that looks beyond surface symptoms to understand what your dog truly needs to heal and thrive.

Together, we explore your dog’s full history - from medical experiences to emotional moments that may have shaped their wellbeing. By combining this deeper understanding with evidence-based nutrition and carefully selected herbal support, we create a plan that restores balance from the inside out.

This isn’t about managing symptoms; it’s about listening to your dog’s story, honouring their individuality, and helping them return to a place of comfort, vitality, and joy.

Healing begins with H.E.A.R.T.

Get in touch today

04/11/2025

A question I often get asked is “Can I cook the raw food I’ve bought for my dog?”

If the food has any type of bone (whole bone, ground bone, bone meal), from any animal, then no.

But why?
🦴Cooked bone becomes brittle. When bone is exposed to heat, its structure changes. Moisture and collagen are lost, making it hard, dry, and prone to splintering. These sharp fragments can puncture or block the digestive tract, posing serious health risks.
🦴Cooked bone is harder to digest. The heating process denatures proteins and binds minerals like calcium and phosphorus, making them less soluble and harder for your pet’s stomach acids to break down. Instead of soft, digestible raw bone, you end up with a tough, indigestible substance that can cause constipation, blockages and internal injury.
🦴Cooking reduces the bones nutritional qualities meaning the food that was potentially complete and balanced isn’t any longer.

It doesn’t matter the size or the type of bone, DO NOT COOK IT! This includes cooked bones that are sold as treats.

If you want to feed your dog a fresh, cooked food, there are some good ones on the market that don’t contain bone, or a complete and balanced recipe can be formulated especially for your dog - just get in touch.