Okka Steel - Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Okka Steel - Staffordshire Bull Terriers Australian bred Staffordshire Bull Terriers located in the Far North Coast of New South Wales. Regist

07/12/2025

☀️ Stay cool, everyone! ☀️

Don’t forget that on those really hot days, your dog or puppy feels the heat just as much as you do. Sometimes they can only be walked in the very coolest parts of the day ...… and sometimes the safest option is no walk at all.

Remember: they don’t wear shoes, and surfaces can become scorching hot very quickly. 🐾🔥

To help them stay comfortable, try:
💦 A shaded splash pool
🧊 Frozen treats
🧴 A cool, damp towel to lie on
❄️ Ice added to their water or bottles

A little extra thought goes a long way in keeping your pup safe and happy on hot days! 💛🐶

- Donna Williams,
Emerald Park Border Collies.

"My mission is to make life better for at least one dog today!"

07/12/2025

🐶 Why Many Experts Now Recommend Feeding Dogs Once a Day

Dogs evolved as scavenger-predators, designed to eat a substantial meal and then go hours - even a day or more - without eating. Their bodies are built for this rhythm, and modern research is starting to show why once-daily feeding may actually be healthier for many dogs.

Here’s what we know 👇

🕒 1. Better Digestion & Gut Rest

Just like humans, dogs benefit from periods where the gut isn’t digesting food.

When the gut has time to “switch off”:

* Inflammation decreases

* The microbiome stabilises

* The body performs cellular repair instead of processing food

* Bloating and gastric discomfort often reduce

This rest period is similar to intermittent fasting in humans, which has been well-studied.

🍽️ 2. Improved Appetite Regulation

When dogs graze or eat multiple small meals:

* Hunger hormones never stabilise

* The digestive system is constantly stimulated

One solid daily meal helps regulate:

* Ghrelin (hunger hormone)

* Insulin

* Digestion timing

Dogs often become more content, less frantic around food, and better at self-regulating behaviourally.

🔥 3. Supports Metabolic Health

Longer fasting periods help:

* Improve insulin sensitivity

* Reduce inflammation

* Support healthy weight

* Reduce the risk of metabolic disorders

A 2022 study (Dog Aging Project) found that dogs fed once a day had:
📉 lower rates of cognitive decline
📉 fewer gastrointestinal problems
📉 fewer orthopedic issues
📉 fewer kidney and urinary disorders
📉 overall better health markers

This was a huge multi-thousand-dog study, not a small anecdotal one.

🦴 4. Mimics the Natural Feeding Pattern of Canines

Wild canids:

Eat large, nutrient-rich meals

Then fast until the next hunt

Remain alert, active, and energetic between meals

Dogs have the same digestive system:

* Highly acidic stomach

* Elastic stomach designed for big meals

* Bile released in pulses, not continuously

They are not built for constant eating like grazing animals.

😌 5. Behavioural Benefits

Many owners notice:

* Calmer behaviour

* Better focus

* Less fixation on food

* Better crate settling

* Reduced begging

The body isn’t constantly cycling through small bursts of digestion, which can increase internal agitation for sensitive or high-drive breeds.

❗ When Not to Feed Once a Day

Some dogs should still have 2–3 meals a day:

* Puppies

* Diabetic dogs

* Extremely active sporting dogs

* Dogs prone to vomiting bile in the mornings

* Pregnant or nursing bi***es

* Dogs with specific medical conditions requiring divided meals

Healthy adult dogs, however, often thrive on one well-balanced daily meal.

💡 Bottom Line

Feeding once a day gives the body time to repair, reset, and function optimally. This is something modern feeding schedules often interrupt.

For many adult dogs:
👉 One meal a day = better digestion, better metabolism, and better long-term health.

- Donna Williams,
Emerald Park Border Collies.

"My mission is to make life better for at least one dog today!"

07/12/2025

Pears are more than just a juicy treat. They’re a delectable little health booster for dogs.

They contain four key phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, catechins, epicatechins, and flavonols), all of which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These natural compounds help neutralise free radicals, support cellular health, and may even contribute to healthier aging.

But the benefits don’t stop there:

🍐 Why pears can be great for dogs

* High in fibre, supporting healthy digestion and firm stools

* Rich in vitamin C, which plays a role in immune health

* A natural source of vitamin K, beneficial for bone health

* Low in calories compared to many fruits

_ Hydrating, thanks to their high-water content

⚠️ Things to keep in mind

* Feed in small, sensible portions. Too much can cause loose stools.

* Always remove the seeds and core, which contain trace amounts of cyanogenic compounds.

* Avoid canned pears, which usually contain added sugar.

When fed fresh and in moderation, pears make a refreshing, nutritious addition to your dog’s diet. A sweet snack that delivers real benefits from nature’s own antioxidant powerhouse.

- Donna Williams,
Emerald Park Border Collies.

"My missions is to make life better for at least one dog today!"

07/12/2025

🌿 PRE + PROBIOTICS FOR DOGS — WHY I LOVE THEM! 🐾

Supporting your dog’s gut health is one of the easiest ways to boost their overall wellbeing. A healthy gut means better digestion, stronger immunity, calmer behaviour, and improved nutrient absorption. That’s where prebiotics and probiotics come in.

✨ Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria (the “good guys” from Greek yoghurt, kefir and fermented vegetables).
✨ Prebiotics are the fibres that feed those good bacteria so they can thrive.

Your dog needs both to keep their microbiome balanced, especially if they’re stressed, on medication, itchy, gassy, or have inconsistent poos.

Here’s how I personally include gentle, natural prebiotics in my dogs’ meals:

🥣 Rolled oats (cooked & cooled) - a fantastic source of resistant starch. I prepare and keep a small jar in the fridge, and once I finish that jar, I rotate onto something else. I’ve just finished a batch of rolled oats.
🥣 Quinoa - I feed it the same way as rolled oats, but its resistant starch is lower. It does have other great benefits, though.

🌾 Barley (cooked & cooled) - another lovely prebiotic grain I use the same way.

🍠 Cooked & cooled sweet potato or potato - simple and excellent sources of resistant starch.

🌱 Freshly ground flax/linseed I blitz a small amount in a coffee grinder and feed it fresh. It’s rich in soluble fibre and has great prebiotic activity.

🍌 Green mashed banana — another gentle, natural prebiotic most dogs enjoy.

🌑 Chia seed jelly - honestly, this is the one I use most of the time. So easy, and so good for the gut!

Feeding a variety of prebiotics helps nourish a diverse population of good bacteria. And diversity is one of the biggest markers of gut health. Combine these with a good-quality probiotic, and you’ve got a powerhouse team working inside your dog every day. 💚🐾

- Donna Williams,
Emerald Park Border Collies.

"My mission is to make life better for at least one dog today!"

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Ballina, NSW

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