Good afternoon everyone and thank you for coming to this wonderful event! This is my first time at the Woodstock Pet Expo but it's certainly not my first time talking about pets-specifically pet allergies. My name is Rose. I am the owner and head baker of Blue Rose Pet Bakery. I offer all-natural, allergen-sensitive, locally-sourced dog cookies and Just Dried dehydrated pet treats for dogs, cats and small animal pets.. I also make healthy horse cookies. I am from Erin.

If you’ve ever looked at your dog or cat and thought, “Why are you scratching like you just rolled in poison ivy?” This one’s for you. Food allergies are surprisingly common in our furry family members. The usual suspects? Proteins like chicken, beef, dairy, and grains. And unlike humans, pets don’t usually get sneezy — they get itchy. We’re talking paw licking, ear infections, tummy troubles, and that nonstop scratch session at 2 a.m.

So what can you do?

First, think simple and specific. Limited-ingredient diets are your best friend. Look for foods with one novel protein like duck, venison, lamb or salmon and minimal extras or fillers such as peas, legumes and potatoes. Fewer ingredients mean fewer chances for something to trigger that itch.

Unfortunately, some breeds are just more prone to food and environmental allergies. Dalmations, Doodles, Frenchies and most barrel-chested breeds like Boxers and Bully breeds may suffer from food allergies. My blue merle Aussie, Gryphy, would lick his feet after walking through the “lovely freshly-cut grass, on our usual neighbourhood walk” only to come home and lick his feet like they were a beef-flavoured Popsicle! Benadryl is fine for occasional reactions but medication should not always be the answer. Elimination diets are often suggested until you find what triggers your pup's reactions, then avoid those foods.

It was then I learned about the health benefits of raw honey for dogs and for us! Raw honey contains natural antihistamines that help support the immune system to help fight the histamines that are often the cause of allergic reactions (itching, hot spots, tummy troubles). This is why I include local, raw honey in both my Peanut Butter and Beef Liver Gryphy's Cookies. When I first researched making my own dog cookies I learned that wheat, corn and soy are all common ingredients in dog food and treats because they are cheap. These are not ideal ingredients in your dogs' diet. I learned, through my research and speaking to vet techs, that brown rice and oats are the INCLUSIVE GRAINS.

Dogs and other canines are OMNIVORES, which means they eat both meat and plants. Well, not caesar salad with their hamburger, but you get the idea. In the wild, wolves, coyotes and foxes all eat creatures but also eat berries, fruit and grass. You've probably experienced your dog snacking on the back nine in your yard then proceeding to hack it back up again. Canines know eating grass helps get rid of hair balls
and settles their stomach. Pretty smart! This is why I created my Just Dried line of dog, cat and small animal treats. You will find single-ingredient, nothing added, proteins like dehydrated pork loin, ground turkey sticks, chicken hearts (for those dogs and cats NOT allergic to chicken) Have you met my friend No? Last name Chicken?

This line of products was inspired by Arlo, a lovely Dalmation from Brantford who is allergic to everything except pork, brown rice and a few fruits and vegetables. *He will do the DISHES for the pork loin and does his BEST SIT for the sweet potatoes. I also have dehydrated apple chips, peeled of course, and carrot chips.

We can't forget about the horses! Just Dried Carrot Chips are made from large carrots, not the cute little baby carrots. They have too much sugar, they can actually cause stomach upset. Large carrots have almost the same digestive benefits as pumpkin but my Just Dried carrot chips are much more convenient to put in your treat pouch.
Carrots are also high in beta-carotene which contributes to eye and heart health.

Speaking of heart health, I wanted to share with you a very serious heart condition that is on the rise; 
Dilated Cardiomyopathy. This is a disease that affects the heart. A lack of appropriate nutrients from grains has been shown to be a link between a totally grain-free diet and this very serious, and preventable, disease. It's truly unfortunate that companies can, and do, market their pet products using untrue nutritional information, just to sell you their food. This brings me to cats, or felines. I laugh every time I see a bag of cat food with “wholesome grains and berries” on the bag.

Felines are NATURALLY CARNIVORES. CARNIVORES EAT ONLY MEAT! Have you ever seen a tiger eat a fruit salad or a cheetah enjoy a piece of toast? NO! They eat other animals-the bones, the skin, the assorted innards and the flesh. They eat it raw! Have you ever seen a fox with a BBQ?
The feeding trend lately has been to feed raw. I fed my dogs raw long before it was trendy. I didn't mind adding a handful of chicken hearts to the top of my boys' bowls. Raw bones didn't bother me. I took the time to learn about why raw was a nutritious choice for dogs and cats. My 5 cats have turned their nose up at raw for meals but my 2 feral rescues love to “help supervise” when the pork loin and the sardines
are being prepped for dehydration, in case something happens to fall on the floor.

Some vets don't believe raw is the way to feed your pet. This puzzles me. Zoo keepers don't feed the lions kibble. They get whole chickens! I don't understand.

Pet food is a 37 billion dollar a year industry. Pet food companies are out to make money and may not have your pets' best interests in mind. Some of your pets may never have to deal with allergies. Yay! But for those of us who have allergies-food, environmental or both, there needs to be safe and appropriate choices so your pet can enjoy a treat, a reward or a cookie for being a good boy, a wonderful girl, the best dog ever, and always your VIP-Very Important Pet. The next time you are out to buy your pet's food, take a minute and read the ingredients, not the slogans. It may be a sale for the big pet food companies, but it's the safety of your pet that's most important. A big hug to all your furry family members. Thank you for your time and attention.

Alright, dog and cat parents — let’s talk about the itch that just won’t quit! Food allergies are super common in pets, and the usual troublemakers are proteins like chicken, beef, and dairy. Instead of sneezing like we do, our furry friends show allergies through itchy skin, paw licking, ear infections, and upset tummies. Not fun for anyone!

The fix? Keep it simple. Choose limited-ingredient diets with one novel protein like duck or salmon. And remember, canines are omnivores! They do need grains, just not wheat, corn, or soy. Go for inclusive grains like brown rice and oats — they’re gentler on sensitive systems and
help support heart health, reducing concerns like Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Now let’s sweeten the deal — literally. A little local raw honey can help strengthen your dog’s immune system and support their fight against histamines from food and environmental allergens. Think of it as nature’s tiny shield.

And here’s a fun twist: carrot is the new pumpkin! Large carrots offer similar digestive benefits, but dried carrot chips are way less messy than hauling around an open can of pumpkin puree.

Happy bellies, calm skin, wagging tails. That’s the goal!