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by Nicole Cammack

Hemp & CBD: Not All CBD is “Natural”

In part II we discussed phytoremediation, and why this is one of the largest hidden risks for those who give CBD to their pets or consume it themselves. To review, cannabis absorbs heavy metals, and many of the agricultural chemicals in the soil such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. If a company does not have processes and procedures in place that ensure their product is free from contaminants and is actually the concentration that is listed on the label. Don’t

by Nicole Cammack

CBD & Hemp: Legal or Illegal?

In Part I of our CBD Education Series we discussed the history of cannabis, which dates back over 6,000 years! We know that hemp and marijuana are both types of cannabis and that THC and CBD are just two types of cannabinoids out of over 400 that exist within cannabis. Even though we’re waiting for research to catch up to the popularity of CBD, we explored how CBD works and the different types of cannabinoids that can interact with the

by Nicole Cammack

CBD & Hemp: Hemp, CBD (and other) Safety Considerations

In part I and part II we discussed the history of CBD, how it works, and the legality behind CBD for pets & people. While this can all seem a little overwhelming, especially considering the wide availability of CBD – the main take away is that it is important to be safe when choosing any supplement. One of the reasons I decided to put together such a robust series was to explain why it was so important to look for

by Nicole Cammack

CBD & Hemp: What is CBD & how does it work?

History & Today The use of cannabis goes back through civilization as one of humanity’s oldest crops, with records of use dating as far back as 6,000 years ago.1 Even then, claims of benefit from cannabis included constipation, gout, rheumatism, and absent-mindedness.2 For canines & felines, numerous potential therapeutic uses of cannabis have surfaced over the last decade. Although there is more research for use in humans, like many supplements, animal research into CBD is lacking to validate these claims and benefits. In addition,

Food Quality Supplements

by Nicole Cammack

How to determine food & supplement quality

Transparency, or Lack Thereof Transparency has become a feel-good word for those who don’t know any better. However, for those that do, it’s become a cringe-worthy tagline that is an Achilles heel. In some ways, by leaning into companies who claim to be transparent, without holding them accountable to transparency one could argue that consumers and retailers are their own worst enemy. The fact of the matter is that many products within the pet industry, including food and supplements, lack measurable transparency, and

Food Quality Research Supplements

by Nicole Cammack

AVMA, Nutrition & (lack of) Ethics

How many times have you heard a veterinarian or the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) preach that those who are not veterinarians should not be giving nutritional advice? Probably more than a few times. Interesting, maybe the AVMA should take their own advice before distributing an unvalidated, unscientific internet blog. Or, maybe they should rise to meet their own ethics pillars when disseminating information which is unable to withstand basic scientific scrutiny. In short, this is a scientific body distributing subpar work

Food Quality Nutrition Research Supplements

by Nicole Cammack

Redefining Transparency: a dirty word

Transparency rarely exists in the pet industry. Despite what marketing tells us. So how do we fix it? There are a lot of products and companies that make health claims and clean sourcing which aim to provide a certain level of comfort to the consumer. However, most companies are not willing or able to prove it. Simple email requests for documentation of processes and testing from me, as a retailer, often go unanswered. The lack of response is sometimes from companies

Nutrition Supplements

by Nicole Cammack

Is Goat’s Milk Good for my Pet?

As a supplement, raw goat milk has nutritional benefits for your dog or cat. Many owners add it to kibble, canned and raw food for supplemental nutrition and extra moisture. Most goat milk for companion animal consumption does not go through pasteurization, meaning it also contains naturally occurring good microbes (probiotics) which may be beneficial for common digestive problems. However, with lack of pasteurization it is important to note that there may be increased risk of pathogens as well.1 In this

Food Quality Supplements

by Nicole Cammack

Supplements & Improving the Quality of Dry Food

We literally could write a blog every day for a year and still not cover every supplement and their use – this is such a big space with a huge market to match. There is a supplement that can benefit just about every condition and issue, and they can also be used to boost nutrition. We recommend a variety of supplements for varying reasons – however the most common reason is to improve upon kibble. For example, we may add moisture

Nutrition Research Supplements

by Nicole Cammack

Could Bacteria be the Secret to a Great Dog?

Author’s note: As I began to write this article, I realized that the best way to approach this topic would be to include a discussion on the health impact of probiotics and microbiota as part of a series. Throughout the past 3 months, several peer-reviewed articles indicated how critical the microbiota and micro-biome are to canine behavior, health and performance, each warranting its own discussion. The following article discusses why canines should regularly receive probiotic supplementation to support their unique

Nicole Cammack

Nicci is the founder & owner of award-winning independent pet store NorthPoint Pets & Company, in Cheshire Connecticut as well as the Founder & CEO of Undogmatic Inc.

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