Lava Paws

08/15/2026

This is extremely common with raw diets. Especially those made by people who don’t know how or bother to formulate blends.

Feeding neck bones and muscle meats around the neck will drastically increase iodine which is directly related to thyroid health.

And yes it’s easy to address. If your dog is raw or fresh feed and has high thyroid levels and your vet thinks it’s hyperthyroidism, lower the amount of neck raw meaty bones and such.

If you’re buying a blend from your local farmer or other raw dog food companies, ask questions. If they can’t give you 100% transparency, don’t feed it.

What do I practice for my dog food? Muscle meats not from the neck region, never ground neck bones, iodine is sourced from kemp which is formulated to meet NRC standards with lab certified nutritional values.

If your DIY and feed neck bones, maybe only feed 1-2 per week and only add kelp to meals a few days after a neck bone.

A 7-year-old Bull Terrier was evaluated for a 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 of increased drinking and urination, panting, restlessness, and weight loss despite a good appetite.

Testing revealed 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗲 (𝗧𝟰) and a markedly low 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱-𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲 (𝗧𝗦𝗛) concentration, consistent with 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 (𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆). However, CT and thyroid scintigraphy found 𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁.

The dog had been eating a commercially available 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘁-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁, and the onset of clinical signs coincided with the introduction of the food.

A sample of the diet was tested and found to contain 𝟱.𝟭 μ𝗴/𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝟰—almost 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 higher than the maximum dietary concentration suggested by the analysing laboratory (less than 𝟬.𝟳𝟱 μg/g). Microscopic examination also identified 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 in the food.

The dog was switched to another diet with a much lower measured T4 concentration. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝟲𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀, the polyuria/polydipsia and restlessness had resolved, body weight had increased, and thyroid hormone results showed recovery.

The findings strongly supported 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱-𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 caused by exposure to thyroid hormones in the diet.

This case is a reminder that when a dog shows signs and laboratory findings consistent with thyroid hormone excess—but no functional thyroid tumour can be identified—𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁, 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱.

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08/09/2026

It’s been a loooooooong summer. What’s that you 👀? Kibble? Why yes it is. When I travel for extended periods of time, I will put the dogs on partial kibble. Without a meat grinder it is really, really hard for me to prep 150lbs/3 weeks of raw dog food.
Because I’m traveling again in a few weeks, the dogs are still on kibble until I get back.
This gave me the perfect opportunity to show you my mixed bowls. Part of the issue with kibble is the fact that your dog is not getting a high moisture diet. Eating raw meat is naturally high in moisture which is why a raw fed dog typically drinks a lot less water. Also having moisture in meats makes the nutrients more bioavailable. I love adding in raw or gently cooked (if it makes you feel better) meats and raw meaty bones. And my friends, your local farmers are your best friends. Find someone with “byproducts”. My other go to, besides local butcher shops for liver and other goodies, is Costco. Ghee, chicken feet, pork loin, cottage cheese, eggs and more are great add in’s for your dog.
Ok ok, I have to share with you my friends. The green stuff is Hawaiian Limu (seaweed) that I dehydrated and brought back with me.
Healthy dog food doesn’t need to be fancy and complicated. Feed variety, feed left over human food, feed high moisture foods.

07/26/2026

Ok Lava Paws Ohana. We have choke treats cow ears, rabbit ears, cow hides rabbit hide, ahi sticks, steak crisps, beef lung (get it while you can), and much more.
We also have a ton of frozen Whole Prey Wild Turkey harvested from Waimea includes the entire bird plus feathers. We also have a ton of whole rabbits and we can grind whole prey rabbit too. Both raw options are a very great option for overweight dogs, dogs with food sensitivities, and by feeding whole prey (fur or feathers included) you are supporting your dogs gut microbiome. Honestly if I could have found a way to bring this to the mainland I would have. My loss, my dogs miss it. Your gain. Things will be discounted. So let me know.

07/23/2026

Mahalo nui loa from the bottom of my heart. So many friends and dogs along the way. So many wonderful people trying their best for their pets. So many heartaches but so many victories. Yall should be proud of the pet owners you’ve become.
Please follow me at Meghan Jerolaman because I’m not done with my journey.

07/21/2026

Aloha Friends and Animal Lovers.
After 10 years of building my business, Lava Paws and being supported by such a wonderful community, it’s time for us to close the business.
I’ve been living in Winston Salem, North Carolina for the past year, recovering from business burnout. It has given me time to really think about a lot of things. But for the first time in my life, I actually put myself, my physical and mental health first.
That being said, I am on island for the next week and would love together, catch up, and show my appreciation and love to you. We are slowly closing things down in the next 3 months to ensure our clients make this transition smoothly. If you need anything please let me know.
It’s been an honor to talk story with all you wonderful pet people over the years.
I encourage you to friend me or follow me on instagram Meghan Jerolaman
I will be starting a new business and would love the continued support as I embark on new adventures with canine nutrition, service dogs and veterans.
Also for those who knew Pinky, my bulldog, she crossed the rainbow bridge a month ago. She was one of the many inspirational dogs that shaped my business and me. My heart is empty without that sassy girl. Her death came after this decision so everything is pretty sensitive for me right now.
My friends, while this chapter ends, another begins. Mahalo nui loa for being such an important part of my life. Please message me and we’ll get your orders filled or message me to Cruz.
I hope over the 10 years your pets have become healthier and you are a more empowered pet parent.
With love and light ❤️🧡💛🖤 Meghan

10/24/2025

Hi Y’all just popping on to give an update.

One of the few reasons we moved to the mainland was to be back in dog culture AND have more affordable and easier vet care for our dogs.

Pinky will be turning 12 in 2 months. She’s doing great and still the b*tch of the house… but her body is starting to show signs of her early life neglect and probably breed related issues.

What we thought was an eye ulcer (diagnosed by a few vets) is actually a mass on her eye which is causing her blood vessels to swell and even bleed.

Just when we thought Pinky couldn’t be any more metal, here she is dripping blood out of her eye lol.

Why I love where we are living. I booked online, within minutes they called me said her case sounded pretty urgent and if they have any cancellations they’ll squeeze me in. A few hours later, they made her an appointment for the following day.
Today after getting a few opinions they gave us a referral to an eye specialist that actually has openings next week.
I’ve been told that yes it looks horrible it’s not actually painful. Pinky doesn’t seem at all phase by her eye and still gives everyone a hard time. So now we wait until next week to see what our plan of attack will be for her.

09/29/2025

Woohoo. Finally back to agility.

09/26/2025

Photo dump of the last few weeks. Where life has been and where it’s taking us.

700 linear ft fence installed by my mom and I 💪 and more home repairs.

Next week Sarge goes into a new training class while Buddy and I step foot on an agility field for the first time in a year. We get to train with some of Team USA agility gurus and then we head to a weekend long seminar.

I’ve been pretty busy with home repairs, dog stuff, and I started working out to be a better handler for Buddy. But also for myself. So many years I put my business, dogs, and partner ahead of my needs and my health.

It’s so easy getting caught up in success in a business and the life you created. It’s addicting but then eventually burnout happens with poor management. For a good amount of time I lost joy in my work and life. Things are better but it’s a slow recovery.

Thanks for everyone still following along and continuing to support our little but might pet business.

08/20/2025

The boys had fun in their Trekkers group. Sarge did amazing with strangers and other dogs. We stayed behind, walked more and stop by the historical village where a blacksmith made us a gift.

He as well has a border collie and was so kind to Sarge and gave him his space. By the end of the demonstration, Sarge was relaxing and lying down.

We’ve been working with front leg movements and “touch”. Sarge does a lot better on natural surfaces vs artificial. He’s been such a lax boy to train and I’m interested to see if his speed of learning picks up or am I just so used to Buddy speed.