Customer Testimonials - West Coast Canine Life

Our foster puppy Millie was one of many puppies suffering from severe mange who were part of a large rescue effort in Vancouver in which 23 dogs were seized. Millie is thriving on the West Coast Canine Life puppy muffins. She absolutely devours them, as does our other dog. In just 3 short weeks her hair has come in on her face and is beginning to grow on the rest of her body. I am sure that this whole foods diet, in combination with TLC, and ivermectin have greatly contributed to her new lease on life!

In addition, our resident dog who has tummy problems has not refused a single meal and has regular, normal bowl movements now. This is after trying every high end commercial allergy food for over 3 years with minimal results.

CANCER, SKIN PROBLEMS and our four fur kids

Like so many of us, my husband and I are animal lovers and we especially are drawn to dogs. We have four (4) in our household. Several years ago, we lost our beloved female Boxer Morgan, 6 yrs old, to cancer. Although I thought I knew a lot about dog nutrition, health, etc., I was really a novice. I also followed many of the traditional things our vet and others suggested. After we lost Morgan, I went on a mission to learn, and have since learned a great many new things, but I always try to keep up with better methods to help our fur family.

Then, 2 years ago, our 10 year old male Boxer Murphy developed mouth cancer and had to eventually be operated on. It was at that time I found Joanne and West Coast Canine Life. Murphy is now almost 13 years old and has been on the Canine Life Cancer Diet all this time. He gained back his weight, has a lot of play energy, and his beautiful eyes gleam.

These three are on the Canine Life Hypoallergenic formula, which really helps with their skin allergies.

We are all very busy and making the food does take more time, but I find that as I am preparing it, my focus is basically all about them. I usually double the batch and freeze it. I also feel that the quality and purity of the ingredients in the Canine Life food is the highest you could get - any ingredient in the Pre-Mix I could eat myself!

Nicky & Belle - Mysterious Digestive Issues

Belle, age 7, the smaller one with the prick ears, is on the left.
Nicky, age 8, a traditional male, is on the right.
Thanks for the wave!

My husband and I have two wonderful Border Collies, Nicky and Belle, now 8 and 7 years old. We have always been active in agility and herding, but several years ago Belle started to develop mysterious digestive issues that came on suddenly and would last for days. Nicky always had a very sensitive stomach too, and was a very picky eater.

During our first visit to the vet with Belle's digestive issue, her stomach x-rays revealed an issue with a degenerative disc in her back. As a result, our vet recommended that we retire her from agility. The following two years we had her back x-rayed each year to check the disc condition, and it was mildly progressing. In the meantime, we had bouts with the digestive issues and tried a number of premium dog foods with no success.

Finally, I started home cooking for both my dogs. They did much better on the home-cooked diet, but I was concerned about being able to provide the proper nutrition for such active working dogs and the correct amount of calcium for Belle's disc issue. I tried some add-in dog vitamins for home cooked meals, but my dogs would not eat it.

I started asking around and one of my co-workers introduced me to West Coast Canine Life. He gave me some sample muffins and my dogs loved them. I have been feeding my dogs West Coast Canine Life for about a year. Nicky and Belle's digestive issues are gone, and they both love their muffins and the treats I make using the mix.

Just last week we had Belle's back x-rayed again for her annual check up and learned some wonderful and unexpected news - her degenerative disc has not progressed at all this last year. I have to contribute this to the fresh, wholesome, nutritious West Coast Canine Life muffins we are feeding them, and the pure prescription-strength calcium in the mix.

Joanne has been incredibly helpful to me with my many, many questions. My vet recently commented on how knowledgeable Joanne is and how truly caring she is for her customers and their doggies.

Sincerely,
Mike and Julie Belote
Nick-a-Roo and Blazin' Bellerina
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

Bob, Kathy and Joey - Help With Tear Staining

Hi! My name is Joey. I'm a cute little Bichon Frise who just celebrated my 15th birthday on December 25, 2009! I was always a frisky, adventurous guy who loved long walks and could keep up with any of those big labs! In fact for a long time I thought I was one! Then, when I was about 8 years old, my health started to deteriorate. I developed skin problems, my eye and mouth areas were always stained and I looked like heck! To top it all off, one of my back legs started to give me trouble.

That's about the time my owners switched my food to West Coast Canine Life. Soon I started to feel like myself again, and even started looking better. Seven years later, although my hearing and sight are pretty bad, my quality of life is excellent. I rarely need a vet and can romp with the best of them! I still chase cats, have all my teeth, and keep my bulldog buddy "Bill" in line. Just ask him who's boss! (He's also on the WCCL diet and is pretty fun to hang out with!).

Testimonial for Beau - Thriving on Canine Life

Beau came to us just over 2 years ago when he was 11 weeks old. Circumstances led us on an unexpected journey that resulted in Beau coming into our lives...at a time when we desperately needed him.

I became familiar with Joanne and West Coast Canine Life after dealing with a variety of tummy issues with a puppy we had before Beau and had amazing results with the Canine Life food. So, without a second thought, I knew that I would continue to feed this food to Beau. Beau did not have any health issues whatsoever...he was the picture of health and happiness...and has continued to be since the day we brought him home. He is a WCCL dog through and through. I receive compliments on his coat and teeth all the time. People are always amazed at how silky and shiny his coat is and how his teeth are so clean. Fortunately, I have not had to deal with hot spots, ear or skin issues with Beau as I did with my first Golden boy, Dakota.

Making muffins is also a breeze now. It doesn't take me much time at all to whip up a few batched of muffins. I often mix all the wet ingredients and freeze in freezer bags. When I need a batch of muffins I just simply thaw, add the pre mix and bake.

I can't say enough about the service I receive from Joanne as well. She has been wonderful to me throughout the past 3 years and I cannot thank her enough for convincing me to use WCCL, and for helping us find our way to Beau. If you are reading this testimonial and are on the fence as to whether to try WCCL, please do your pet a favor and just try it. You will be amazed and thrilled. It is an investment in your pets health and with a bit of practice making the muffins becomes a breeze.

New Customer - Great Customer Service

Thank you very much for your quick response to the order I placed. I found out about your whole foods diet through our Veterinarian Dr. Robin Woodley, who practices Western and Chinese Medicine at the Kapaau Veterinary Center. Our dog has a variety of health issues, and we really want to provide him the best diet as possible. We're really looking forward to trying the liver diet formulation which you have suggested. I very pleased to hear that Dr. Woodley is now carrying your Pre-Mix at her clinic here on the big island!

I do really appreciate all of your help and advice. The prompt, friendly, helpful and personal service is truly heart warming. Thank you again for taking the time to share your knowledge and suggestions with us.

Cedarbrae Labradors - A Vet's Endorsement

My clinic specializes in Pre-and Post-Operative Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, Acupuncture and Holistic Healing, along with Geriatric Fitness and Mobility. Along with these services I recommend WEST COAST CANINE LIFE to my patients, and I have it available in my clinic.

We have been breeding and competing with working Retrievers for 25 years. Our goal has been to produce well balanced dogs that are competitive in shows, field and obedience. We travel extensively and are always looking for products to ensure optimal health and well-being of our “canine athletes”. When we found WEST COAST CANINE LIFE, we knew this would be a perfect food for our dogs.

Our dogs thrive on WEST COAST CANINE LIFE, and in particular Ricky, our versatility Labrador. From a Veterinarian’s point of view, this 100% human quality and organic food is balanced and meets the National Research Councils standards for a dog's daily nutritional requirements. Ricky loves the muffins and won’t eat anything else when we have females coming into season, or when he stresses while traveling away from home to compete in the field. The muffins keep the weight on, and his energy level up, while meeting all of his health needs. They're easy to bake, pack and feed. We also have a Boston Terrier, who had gastro issues as a puppy. This turned around immediately when she went onto WEST COAST CANINE LIFE. “Piggy” lives for her muffins! Our pregnant and lactating labs love the muffins, as do the puppies. When we’re traveling or hunting with our dogs, even the fussiest will eat the muffins.

We also make high protein energy bars from the Pre-Mix too. Recipes for really simple and nutritious biscuits are included in each bag of Pre-Mix. Believe me, I’m no baker, but even I can make WEST COAST CANINE LIFE muffins!

Kidney Failure - I found a miracle, with thanks

Cody is one of my beloved Golden Retrievers. Seven years ago when his mother Courtney gave birth to him, she just carried him over to me and dropped him in my lap. Ironically, it was my birthday! What an amazing gift he has been!!!!

Cody, my "Wonder Dog" thrives in spite of having faced some life threatening situations. He was the first born of nine pups, but sadly his mom suffered complications and Cody was the only pup that survived. I almost lost him to parvo when he was a young pup despite being vaccinated for it. Kidney disease has been his most recent nemesis.

He has always been prone to terrible hot spots, ear infections and his eyes teared constantly. In May of 2008 I took him in for his annual physical and the vet found nothing wrong. In December of 2008 his immune system crashed. He was lethargic, lost almost all his fur, his body swelled from retention of fluids, he had a terrible skin infection and he stopped eating.

The diagnosis was kidney failure and an improperly functioning thyroid
gland. I was told that the humane thing to do was to euthanize him -
advice I quickly rejected! I was not ready to give up on my "Wonder Dog".

Sadly, his Mom “Courtney” was battling cancer at the same time, and the thought of potentially loosing both of them crushed me. In desperation, I turned to the internet and blindly searched for a miracle. My miracle came in the form West Coast Canine Life and the owner of the company, Joanne Fraser.

I have always tried to be responsible and provide the best care for my Golden's. We made annual visits to the vet and I purchased the best commercial food for them that I could find. My greatest regret is that I did not find West Coast Canine Life sooner! We started on the cancer diet, however by then it was far too late, my Courtney lost her battle with cancer on February 4, 2009. She really enjoyed her muffins though, and they provided her with some much needed nutrition during her final weeks. She was 14, and we miss her very much! She is survived by Cody, her son and Indy, her mate.

I am happy to report that my Cody shows continued progress in his recovery! We monitor him closely, and visit the vet regularly. Over the past few months, we have been able to begin reducing some of his medications. Joanne Fraser told me this may happen, once commercial food has been eliminated, and he was being fed a whole foods diet. My vet is cautiously optimistic with the positive progress he has made! I am thrilled!! The quality of my Cody's life has improved immensely since December. Looking at him and watching him in action you'd be hard pressed to know that a mere 8 months ago he was given a death sentence!!

I credit Joanne and West Coast Canine in large part for his continued positive progress. Both he and Indy love the muffins that I make for them using West Coast Canine Life Pre-Mixes, combined with the recommended fresh ingredients! I also make crunchy dog biscuits for them using the provided recipes. Feeding them whole fresh real food that I prepare in my home gives me great piece of mind! Obviously, it is not as convenient as feeding them a commercially produced food but I no longer have to worry about what they're eating! I don't have to worry about inferior ingredients or product recalls! The incredible reward for the small amount of effort out weighs any inconvenience!!

I prepare two weeks worth of muffins at a time (about 112 muffins – as they eat 4 muffins a day each.) It takes me about three hours to complete from start to finish. I vacuum seal the muffins to ensure freshness and keep them in the refrigerator. Works great!! Ziplock bags can also be used. I would prepare more at once if I could, but storage is my issue. I plan on purchasing a stand alone freezer to satisfy my storage needs in the future.

The biscuits are even easier to prepare! It takes me less than an hour to prepare 80 biscuits. Roughly a two to three week supply for us. I store them in a wicker basket lined with a towel. I try to keep a variety of flavors on hand for them. Peanut butter/Banana, Salmon, Tuna, Liver, Blueberry. The dogs love them!

It's funny because now when I visit the vet and the assistants try to
give my guys a commercial dog treat they sniff it and just turn away. (Wise dogs) They show no interest at all in eating the commercially prepared treats. Everyone loves to tease me about baking for my dogs. My sister calls me "Muffin Man" and "Biscuit Boy" and I don't mind a bit. I am just thrilled with the amazing transformation in my dogs!!

It has been eight months since I started using West Coast Canine Life, and my guys have never looked more beautiful!! They are healthier, happier and have more energy than ever. Cody's tearing eye issues have completely disappeared! I get compliments all the time on how shinny their coats are. Now, I can say with confidence that I am doing everything possible to ensure the health and well being of my beloved companions!

Joanne, I could never thank you enough for your warmth, your care, your guidance and your amazing products!! You've help me save my Cody's life!!!!

Lee Waller
Tucson, Arizona, USA

Lisa's Dachshunds - A Breeder's Testimonial

I met Joanne at a seminar conducted by Dr. Jean Dodds from California. One of the topics covered in the seminar was Canine nutrition and when I presented a question regarding some problems I had been experiencing with a couple of my dogs, Dr. Dodds suggested talking with Joanne.

After discussing what my concerns were with the dogs, Joanne suggested trying the WCCL pre-mixes. We worked together to decide what formulas should be used. My wirehaired female was experiencing balding on the ears and had a thin coat lacking in undercoat, while my longhaired female was having problems with a sensitive stomach and would chew at herself on a regular basis. We decided on the hypo-allergenic pre-mix and went from there.

I am please to say that the wire girl is no longer experiencing the bald ears and her coat is now full with a correct undercoat; the longhaired girl no longer chews at herself and seems to have gotten over her sensitive stomach issues.

After seeing the results my older dogs were showing, I decided to wean my current litter directly onto the WCCL diet. They have done really well and are healthy happy pups. All have a wonderful shiny coat. I am impressed by the low volume of stools and the fact that there is little smell. Usually when I have a litter at home and go to work for the day, I come home and when I open the door I can tell immediately that there are puppies here, but not on the WCCL diet. Also when I de-worm my pups, I always see worms in the stools, but again, not with the WCCL diet. There were no visible worms after de-worming.

I am really impressed with what I am seeing in my dogs and would recommend that others take advantage of the opportunity to provide their dogs with a wholesome beneficial diet such as WCCL.

Jacqueline & Newman - Geriatric Kidney Problems

Just over 2 years ago, Newman, my Terrier/Poodle X went in for his geriatric blood panel, something I did every year prior to his teeth cleaning. This time the results were different. He was diagnosed with kidney disease. He was 14 years old. I asked what that meant and was told *the beginning of the end... that maybe he would be with us for 3-6 months and if we were lucky a year. Only 15-20% of his kidneys were working*. I was devastated.

I followed the recommended diet but Newman refused to eat without much coaching and added meats to the diet. Sometimes he would not eat at all. I then decided to cook for him following suggested recipes from scratch and supplement him myself. It was extremely stressful and there was much debate as to how much of this or that should he have. The science of cooking for him never seemed quite right or efficient. At one point with the commercial diet and home cooking from scratch, he ended up in the hospital for 3 days on fluids because he simply refuse to eat. There was no medical explanation for his condition and all his blood work and tests came back looking fine. He did recover. He continued to what one would say *get old*... he lost major muscle mass and became weaker. I too thought it was finally time to give into his age.

In the meantime we decided to add to our family. Our golden retriever, Griffin was born. Years before, my husband had a golden retriever that passed way before his time at the age of 8 from cancer. He vowed with his next golden he would *do it right* by cooking for him. Starting off we followed the commercial diets that were advised to us: from vet brands to high end pet store foods. Our plan was always to eventually cook for him but put it off because it was so overwhelming. I was extremely reluctant to take on home cooking for a puppy and a geriatric dog...both needing just the right balance of nutrients.

When Griffin began to develop skin and ear irritations I began again researching and inquiring about home cooked foods. I found WCCL...and finally was in the right direction. I spoke with Joanne on the phone and have never looked back! We discussed in length Newman’s needs and his history. Joanne assisted me on tweaking and supplementing Newman’s diet so that he could reach and maintain optimum health. After just one week of being on WCCL, Newman had an increase in energy appetite and basically seemed more alive! Griffin’s irritations disappeared. As you can see by the photos, I now have 2 very healthy, happy, energetic *loving their food* dogs.

I truly believe that WCCL has given Newman his quality of life back and that without it he would not be here today! He has more muscle tone and strength, he has warts but they no longer are oozing or growing, his teeth are cleaner, his breath is better, his nose is dark again, he again stretches and he again runs and has spring in his step. Also for the first time in YEARS he can stand on his hind legs! His fatty bumps on his body have shrunk. Newman is now 16 ½ years old. I know he is now getting the best nutrition possible and it shows. Baking is easy and stress free! I am always thrilled to pick up my bags of mix. It is so empowering to know that we are *doing it right* by providing Newman and Griffin with the very best balanced nutrition possible!

Feeding Giant Breeds - Skin Problems and Allergies

Our Bloodhounds and English Mastiffs are trained therapy dogs, and volunteer with Pat-a-Pup based out of Cloverdale and Langley in BC. Shown below are Tabatha and Chew, our English Mastiffs.

About 1 1/2 months after we began feeding Canine Life, some friends noticed their fur coats looked thicker and shiny. If someone else notices then, you know you're doing something right. One of our dogs has skin problems and eye allergies to grass and pollen; this has improved as well, and I attribute this to his new diet.

For Tabatha (our English Mastiff, black brindel color), the shine on her fur is unbelievable. She is a rescue dog fro Washington English Mastiff Club Rescue. She just turned 2 and her eyes sparkle and twinkle now. All this comes from good food and happiness.

With the cost of commercial dog food going up, and the amount you feed giant dogs, including treats, it can get very expensive, no matter what you buy. But with commercial food, there are so many additives and unknown ingredients, that you have no idea what you're getting. When I'm feeding Canine Life I know exactly what is going ino my dogs. I feel really great that I am home cooking for them.

Gemma, Larry & Sharon - Sensitive Tummy & Mange

Our girl, Gemma, is now one year old. When we brought her home as a puppy, we could not find a food that didn’t seem to upset her tummy. On top of that, she had developed demodex (mange). Prior to this pup, we had a beautiful champion Golden Retriever, who died far too young from liver cancer at 6 years old. While we could not determine the exact cause of the cancer, when we picked up Gemma, we vowed that we would try to have some control over her health.

We did some research, and contacted Joanne Fraser about getting Gemma started on Canine Life. It wasn’t long after she started on the muffins that she had no more tummy upset, and her demodex cleared up over time, with no medication. While this food is obviously more work to prepare than just putting kibble in a bowl, we are more than happy to bake for her. We will do whatever it takes to ensure she stays healthy. With Canine Life, we know exactly what our dog is eating.

She has been back to the vet and the breeder, and they are both very pleased with her health and development, and supportive of this diet. She is now a very healthy and happy active girl. Whenever we have had questions or concerns, Joanne has been there for us! When we first started on Canine Life, Joanne gave us a complete lesson on preparation. Her level of personalized service is beyond compare. We would recommend this food to anyone who cares about their pet’s health.

Shelby and Debbie - Cancer in the Senior Years

My name is Shelby. I'm a 16 year old border collie/sheltie cross. I have lived with my human since I was 8 weeks old and have always been a very healthy, extremely active girl, but in the summer of 2007 we were told I had abscessed molars and a small lump on my chest was diagnosed as a very invasive type of cancer that would likely spread very quickly. The vet said there was a chance I might not survive surgery for my teeth, but with the cancer diagnosis I only had weeks to live, so my human decided to take me home as she was told to enjoy every minute that was left with me.

My poor human was broken hearted. Every morning for a while my poor human would open the door where I slept in the morning with apprehension, not knowing whether I would be alive or not. I had gotten to the point where some mornings it took a little jostling to wake me up and I moved very slowly once I was mobile. My breathing was not good either, and it was taking us 30 to 45 minutes to walk around the block in my beloved town of Sidney.

Later that summer in July my human went to the Organic Islands festival at Glendale Gardens and visited the West Coast Canine Life booth. She spoke to Joanne and Dina and came away with a small bag of the Canine Life Pre-Mix to try. We wouldn't have been able to afford the thousands of dollars for surgery, but here was something we could afford to try. I was also eating very little and almost everything I was eating I was throwing up. My human started me on the Pre-Mix, and the rest is history.

My coat is glossy and beautiful, the lump is gone, my breath no longer smells horrible (and boy! was it bad) and I run and jump like a 5 year old again. I never throw up unless I am fed other dog food (which I usually turn my nose up at anyway!) and I still love a piece of raw carrot or a treat once in a while. You can see from the photograph what a beautiful girl I am and nobody that meets me believes my age; they usually guess about 5 or 6. I now go for at least 2 walks every day and even an hour each time is not enough for me, I have so much energy. I used to turn my nose up at anything that wasn't human food and now I am begging for my breakfast at 7:00 am and the delicious muffins are gone in just a minute or two. Humans really could eat them!

Thank you West Coast Canine Life for giving me my health back and giving my human back her beautiful girl and best friend. I love her soooooo much!

Bella, Porter & Deedee - Can't wait for more Canine Life!

Each time we cook a batch of Canine Life meaty muffins for our two Pugs Bella and Porter, they will not leave the kitchen for the entire evening, especially Bella. So while the rest of the family moves to the living room, she sits in front of the stove or sink.

Scott, Nicole & Mason - Help for Hair Loss & Pancreatitis

Mason is our healthy 6.5 year old Boxer. Over the years we have tried him on a number of different diets including raw. To keep weight on him we had to feed him about twice as much raw food as was suggested.

Just over a year ago, Mason started losing his hair on both sides of his body. After numerous allergy tests to try and determine what was wrong there was still no definitive answer. The diagnosis he was given was Alopecia (which means “hair loss”). This was very frustrating as we knew he had lost his hair, but we wanted to find out the cause! Mason had also gone from an active healthy fellow to a Boxer who was now sluggish and overweight.

Mason's hair loss was remedied after only 6 months on a
Canine Life gluten free whole foods diet.
Photos taken October 2008.

We had heard about West Coast Canine Life and contacted the owner of the company. We took Mason to see Joanne. She suggested we put him on the Gluten Free formula and ask us to make his muffins using only white fish as the protein. In the past Mason had also suffered from some mild bouts of pancreatitis. This was no longer a problem once we started feeding him the Gluten Free muffins made with white fish. You will see from the photos that it only took 6 months for Mason’s skin problems to clear up completely. It’s hard to believe this is the same dog! Within a month of starting on the West Coast Canine Life diet he was full of energy again. I just bought my husband a Kitchen Aid Mixer so he can make Mason’s muffins even faster now!

Scott and Nicole Rankin
Victoria, BC. Canada

Jill & Emma - Cancer & Quality of Life

Emma, our six year old Golden Retriever, was diagnosed early in February 2008 with oral fibro sarcoma located just behind her lower canines. Along with being a very aggressive form of cancer, it can be very painful and destructive locally. We were told that, if we did not remove most of her lower jaw, she only had 6 to 8 months to live. In addition, she was at risk of her teeth becoming loose and her jaw breaking. The Oncologist said we would see changes on a weekly basis.

After careful consideration, we decided not to have the surgery. As a Golden Retriever, Emma has a love for fetching and carrying things around in her mouth, and the thought of her not being able to do this after have a good portion of her jaw removed was unthinkable. We would do all we could be keep her comfortable, happy and out of pain as long as we could.

I reached out to a horse support group that I belong to on Yahoo, telling my story about Emma. One of the members referred me to The Animal Healing Center in Pennsylvania. They recommended I visit the Smiling Blue Skies website and suggested I try the Canine Life cancer diet.

I contacted West Coast Canine life and Smiling Blue Skies and they were a life saver. They work closely together supporting dogs with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. We started Emma on the Cancer Diet from West Coast Canine Life at the beginning of March 2008. Smiling Blue Skies offered loads of support and information around supplements for us to consider for Emma (which she is taking everyday). In mid May, I took her to the vet to have a nasty fox tail (speargrass) removed from her ear. While under anesthetic they did a close evaluation of the tumor and were pleasantly surprised. The Vet said he was amazed as to how little the tumor had grown, again stating that normally these types of tumors are very aggressive. He was very happy to see how well she was doing.

It’s now several months after Emma’s initial diagnosis; we’ve just finished a round of Tug a War with her favorite stuffed toy “Monkey”! This tells me if there was bone destruction as predicted, she would not have insisted that I try and steal “Monkey” from her. Quality of life is what we want for Emma, and I truly believe she is living proof of this. We don’t know how long we will be blessed with Emma, but we do know she is enjoying life to its fullest and loving her Canine Life muffins too..

Thank you West Coast Canine Life and Smiling Blue Skies for making us part of your family.

Jamie, Charlie & Foxy - No Longer a Picky Eater!

We have 2 Border Collies: Charlie (7) who will eat anything and Foxy (6) who will eat anything once but probably not again. She has always been a very fussy eater until we found Canine Life.

We had tried numerous different type of commercial diets (before knowing what really was in them!) and also fed a raw food diet for a couple of years, but found it difficult to travel or camp with. Keeping the food frozen and the bowls clean was hard, especially while camping. We were told about West Coast Canine Life by our Vet about 2 years ago and thought we should give it a try. She feeds it to her own dog, who is very active.

Well, Charlie absolutely loves it and more importantly so does the Foxy. Food does not stay in their bowls for more than a few seconds! We are very fortunate that so far our dogs have not had any serious health problems, and we’re hoping that with the help of this whole foods diet, they will continue to have good health and live long happy lives.

Virginia & Cinder - Relief from a Sensitive Stomach

I first heard about West Coast Canine Life from a friend of mine, who has her Bearded Collie on a diet of West Coast Canine Life, and he just loves it. Because my dogs are really picky and one has a very sensitive stomach, I have been home cooking for them. I am not comfortable feeding them raw and they don’t like it anyway. I was following a recipe from Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. I really loved the book but wanted something a bit simpler.

Well, the muffins made from WCCL Pre-Mix have been a complete hit! In the past neither of them EVER ate breakfast. From the very first morning we began this diet, they have wolfed down their muffins! The muffins are really easy to make and even easier to feed! No mess on the kitchen floor, which I really like.

What a difference I see in them. My Vet is impressed too. Before beginning West Coast Canine Life, Cinder, my Plott Hound/Catahoula mix, had stomach issues and an unsettled digestive system. When she was having digestive difficulties, Joanne, the owner of WCCL, gave me a Jasmine rice congee recipe to feed along with the muffins, and it has really helped Cinder. She has had no re-occurrence of gastro upsets.

Because of her digestive issues, Cinder was also underweight. She’s now a healthy weight for her size and has never looked better. Twice a week my dogs go to “Doggy Daycare”. I just pack their muffins and take them along. The other dogs are very jealous!

Thanks for this wonderful product and your help too..

Virginia O’Connor
Calgary, Alberta

Kristen & Her Shelties -
From a Breeder of Performance Dogs

Over the past 20 years, I have fed a number of commercially prepared dog foods and prescription diets to my Shelties. But over the past few years, I have questioned the ingredients and additives that are in these foods. My dogs were just not doing as well as I would like. Specifically, I had difficulty keeping weight on the very fussy eaters, and weight off the ones who tended to carry additional weight. Their coats lacked the luster that they should have had.

I began my quest for a new food to feed. I wanted a well balanced, food that would fit all of my dogs’ needs, without having to feed several different kinds of food as I have puppies, adults and senior dogs. I liked the thought of a home made diet where I controlled everything that went into the food, but worried about meeting their nutritional requirements. I also needed something that would interest my fussy shelties!

After looking at many different types of food and talking to many people, I decided the best thing to try was West Coast Canine Life (WCCL). Joanne, the owner of the company, helped me tailor fit the diets to each one of my dog’s needs. I was off and running, once I got into a routine - the baking was easy. I bake up several batches at a time and keep it in the freezer. My dogs love it (even my two very very fussy dogs love it!).

After I started feeding WCCL, my dog’s coat started to improve, those that were overweight started to slim down (after years of fighting the weight battle) and those that were underweight put weight on! I lead a very active life with my dogs. I teach and compete in numerous dog sports including obedience, agility, herding and Rally O. They have to be fit and healthy as performance dogs, and on WCCL they are!

Jocelyn & Callaway - Chronic Ear & Eye Infections

Jocelyn and her Standard Poodle Callaway

Callaway is my 6 year old Standard Poodle. For the first 3 years of his life he was a very healthy, happy dog. Shortly after 3 years of age, he developed chronic eye and ear infections, which Standard Poodles seem to be are prone to. Both infections were ongoing and extremely tough to treat, and even after several rounds of antibiotics and invasive ear procedures, the problems didn’t really ever clear up completely. The Vet bills were HUGE!

My Vet suggested I look at changing his diet. At the time, I was feeding a kibble recommended by our breeder and sometimes he wouldn’t eat it anyway, so I started doing my homework, looking into home prepared diets. I had heard about West Coast Canine Life from a friend who was feeding her dogs the Canine Life muffins and had her own success story, so I decided to give it a try.

I purchased the Gluten Free Pre-Mix for dogs with allergies and potential gluten intolerance. The directions were all in the bag, it was easy to make, and the company answered my additional questions. I add fish, pumpkin, apple and green beans to the Gluten Free Pre-Mix. I saw results almost immediately. Callaway now devours his meals and has been infection-free in both his eyes and ears for over three years now. Not only do I feel great about my dog’s good health, but also about the fact that I know that know what goes into his food and that the Pre-Mix we use is gluten free and organic.

Leslie and Chance - Energy, Stamina & Improved Skin

Leslie with her champion Golden Retriever Chase.

I started feeding my Golden Retriever "Chance" a diet of Canine Life before it was even available in BC. I had it sent out to me from Burlington, Ontario, to Vancouver Island where I live. "Chance" was not doing well on a diet of kibble, no matter which one I tried, and I tried lots. I was also very concerned about what I was feeding, because I had lost my first Golden to cancer at 8 years of age. This was devastating for me, so I wanted to do everything in my power to try and prevent that from happening again. "Chance" also had some skin irritations and with Joanne's guidance and West Coast Canine Life, I was able to adjust some of the ingredients to meet Chance's individual needs, and the skin problems disappeared.

I was thrilled when Joanne started milling the organic Pre-Mix locally, in small batches, under the name West Coast Canine Life. It is so helpful to be able to talk to Joanne, the owner of West Coast Canine Life, whenever I need nutritional information or advice.

Over the past five years, "Chance" has changed from a scrawny 58 pound two year old, to a fully mature, healthy and active boy. He has worked hard over the years earning a variety of titles, in conformation, obedience, tracking, and field. It's amazing! I feel this food has provided "Chance" with the energy and stamina he needs to maintain a high level of fitness and workability that he wouldn't have had otherwise.

Lesley Kenyon (and Chance)
CH Riverdance Double Duty TDX CDX JH WCI CGN VCX, Am.TD
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia

Leslie and Twiggy - Relief for Kidney Issues

Twiggy, our Affenpinscher / miniature schnauzer cross puppy had urinary issues which were evident by the time she was 6 months old. The most concerning was an over-abundance of crystals in her urine which lead to stones. We tried a variety of diet changes but saw no improvement.

I found West Coast Canine Life on the internet in a desperate attempt to find something that would help her. I phoned Joanne to question her about the diet and explained our dog’s particular health issues and what we had already tried. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. With nothing to lose we tried it and within 2 months we were ecstatic to find out that her crystals were almost no- existent already. The results were a dramatic change. The vet said whatever you are doing, keep doing it so we’re happily making patties and have our system down to an art so that it takes very little time.

The rewards vs. the effort are worth it. She has small stools with very little odor, she doesn’t have bad breath and she is not itchy like she was on some food we tried. I am thankful that I found this solution before our little dog ended up with stones and other health problems.

If you have a little dog with urinary issues I would highly recommend giving this diet a try. The small amount of effort involved is worth the reward.

Carl, Bob, Sadie & Gus -
WCCL Special Cancer Diet and Our Two Dogs

Gus and Sadie, dogs with cancer, are napping.

We have two rescue dogs. Sadie 7, a cattle dog cross, came to us when she was about 9 months old, and Gus 14, a Dalmatian, came to live with us at 12. Both of our beloved dogs have been diagnosed with cancer.

Sadie has an inoperable brain tumor. Before being diagnosed, she was literally screaming in pain and walking into walls. Our vet thought that perhaps she had a pinched nerve; however an MRI diagnosed a large mass in her brain. It was suggested we should put her down immediately, because there was no treatment for her. We decided to give her prednisone to reduce swelling, and prepare a home cooked diet for her. I had been feeding her a commercial food, but was happy to cook for her; however, I found the recipes overwhelming and time intensive, and wasn't sure they were doing enough to target the cancer.

I was looking for cancer diets on the internet one day, and found West Coast Canine Life. They said they had a diet specifically developed for dogs living with cancer. Because there already was a nutritional analysis done, I felt like I could feed this food and not worry, as it was already balanced and complete. All I had to do was follow the recipe. Shortly after beginning this diet, Sadie’s energy level came back, she’s getting into trouble again and full of mischief. Her tail is wagging again – it’s absolutely remarkable. We don’t know how long we’ll have her, but she’s certainly enjoying a good quality of life!

Gus has a rectal tumor, an adenoma, many lymphomas and "fatty" tumors, and a tumor on his lung. The vet suggested we remove his rectal tumor which had been growing since diagnosis. A couple of months after starting on the cancer diet, we took Gus into the Vet to have it removed. Later on that day, he called to say he had good news – he was not going to remove it as it had stopped growing! We don’t know why, but it is suspected that there is healthy tissue growing around the tumor, which has stopped the growth, and will hopefully cause it to begin shrinking. I’m sure that the West Coast Canine Life cancer diet has played a role in this. We know his days are numbered, but he sure likes his West Coast Canine Life muffins!

It really helps us emotionally when we know we can help our sick dogs. Cancer is such a horrible disease and anything we can do to enhance their precious days here with us – we will!

We will continue to rescue after these two special dogs have gone, and any new dogs that come into our home will be brought up on West Coast Canine Life.

Kassie, Price & Blue - Starting Puppies on Canine Life

Coton de Tulear dogs Price and Blue visit Santa

I have been using West Coast Canine Life since I brought home my first Coton de Tulear puppy, “Price”, in August 2005. I had his first batch of muffins baked before he even came through the door! I became aware of the product through my sister who had used it successfully to help put some weight on a finicky, malnourished rescue Vizsla she adopted (see her testimonial “Anastasia and Bob”).

With my previous dogs, I had experienced some severe skin allergies with even “high end” store bought foods, and so I was looking for a healthier alternative for my new puppy. By home cooking with WCCL, I know I’m feeding a well balanced human grade diet made from only the highest quality ingredients. Given the recent pet food recalls and resulting deaths of so many animals, knowing exactly what goes into the food I’m feeding is very important to me.

We decided to add a second Coton to our family last year, and “Blue” also came home to fresh baked muffins. I can report that both my boys are happy and healthy and have a couple of the most amazing coats I’ve ever seen on a Coton. I attribute all of this to their wonderful diet. I have recommended WCCL to several other Coton owners who are also using it successfully, and I continue to recommend it to any dog owner who comments on my beautiful boys.

Pattie, Bannag &Cuilti - Extra Energy for Elderly Dogs

Joanne, President of West Coast Canine Life, used to call Bannag the Energizer Bunny.

Bannag the Cairn Terror spent the last five of his 17 years as a WCCL dog. He never had any health problems, but when I retired him from agility at the age of 12, I just didn't feel he had the energy and enthusiasm he should have, given what good shape he was in.

I decided to give him an extended trial on WCCL. After three months, I was hooked. Bannag had his energy back, and I felt great about what I was feeding my best pal. WCCL is a natural fit with my "eat locally grown real food" philosophy, and the research that went into West Coast Canine Life took all the worry out of making sure that what Bannag ate was properly balanced and contained all the necessary nutrients in the appropriate quantities. I loved making his muffins with vegetables straight out of the garden.

Bannag went on to get his Tracking Dog title at nearly 14, and continued tracking for another year. When his "little brother" Cuilti arrived, Bannag was 15 and still walking a mile a day on rugged Highlands trails. He eventually got too old to go for walks, but always managed to bounce to his eating place for his muffin - which he started demanding two or three hours before mealtime.

Other than arthritis, for which he got chiro but rarely needed medication, and Cushing's disease which was controlled with minimal medication, Bannag's health was excellent right up until he developed lymphoma a few months before he died, well into his 18th year. I have no doubt that WCCL contributed to his longevity and vitality.

Cuilti enjoys his swim.

Of course, I've fed Cuilti WCCL since the day he came. After my experience with Bannag, I would be crazy not to. He's a bright, surefooted little speed demon, and I expect he'll be every bit the athlete Bannag was in his day - maybe even moreso, with WCCL to power him!

Mary Jane and Gus - Special Formula for Cancer

The following story was sent to West Coast Canine Life from
Gus' owner Mary Jane - What a lucky boy Gus is!
[ed. note - We are sad to say that Mary Jane died in July 2009
- she will be greatly missed.]

This is our good Golden pal, Gus, who had surgery for mast cell carcinoma in the spring of 2003, and is now recovering from surgery (June 2006) that removed a spindle cell sarcoma mass.

His treatments have involved Dr. Wen's Chinese herbal medicine, and now he is additionally receiving the Canine Life Cancer Formulation. As you can see, Gus loves his muffins so much, that he insists on licking Mom's muffin tins clean as well!

Linda and Rosie - Help With Skin Problems

Rosie is our 10 year old poodle who has been plagued with skin problems and allergies for almost 8 years. We have seen numerous vets and tried every different kind of food possible. She has been on so much medication over the years that her heart is damaged.

Six months ago a friend told me about West Coast Canine Life and I thought “Well I might as well give it a try” as Rosie was really bad at that time and her skin on her chest was hanging like a big piece of floppy leather. We went on the elimination diet with the help of West Coast Canine Life. I can gladly report that Rosie is about 80% better and the floppy skin has disappeared! She has never looked and smelled so good! I used to have to bath her with special shampoo every two days. Now I bath her every two weeks. Even the neighbour who isn't a doggy person commented on how much better Rosie looked and how much more energy she has.

Bill and Chubb - Energizing the Senior Years

Here comes "Chubb", a 16 year old mixed breed who has really come back to life since starting on WEST COAST CANINE LIFE. She has tons more energy, her coat is glossy, her skin is healthy, and her breath is now bearable!

Our heart goes out to Bill and Carol Nelson.
"Chubb" passed away quietly at 17 years old and
enjoyed her patties until the very end.
What a wonderful spirit she had!

Lacey, Sophie and Barkley - Triple Treats

Ever since we started feeding WEST COAST CANINE LIFE, our three Bichons, "Lacey", "Sophie", and "Barkley", anxiously await their patties. They have become more energetic, their coats look healthier and their eyes do not tear up and stain their white faces.

The dogs love their food and look forward to the times when their "moms" cook up the patties. The dogs sit at the oven door waiting for their patties to be cooked. Our dogs also love the recipe for "Under the Sea Treats" and now they perform a variety of "tricks" with great energy and excitement. Actually, being a Bichon, they tend to be stubborn, and the treats aid them in doing or going where they need to go, such as convincing them to go into the car or to come when being called.

One of the most noticeable changes is with the seven year old Bichon. Lacey, tended to be very quiet, non-sociable and wanted to sleep all day, just getting up to use the grass. Now she is a speedball of wild energy which is really reassuring for her mom to see and experience. Lacey seems to have become more active and social with both human friends and dog friends. Lacey has had long term issues with her teeth and gums and her teeth are cleaned regularly by her mom with a scaler and dog tooth brushes and paste. Lacey's teeth appear to have less noticeable tartar build up on them.

The three dogs thank you very much for providing them with a healthy alternative to dog food kibbles. We thank you for informing us about a healthy alternative to feeding our dogs. The proof is in the behavior changes that we have noticed in a very short period of time. We feel that we are providing our dogs with the best nutrition to meet their needs by feeding them WEST COAST CANINE LIFE.

Melanie and Barkley - Assisting with Arthritis

Since our dog, 10 year old Barkley, switched to the WCCL diet, almost a year ago now, his arthritis medication has been cut by half, which now allows him to swim and run like when he was a pup.

We had him on a raw food diet for 2 years,which I found very unsettling to prepare and serve, but the day we put the WCCL patties next to the raw food, he ate the patties, licked his lips, and we tossed the leftover raw in the trash. The patties are easy to make, smell good, serve up beautifully and greatly reduce the odour and size of the classic dog turd!

Brandi and Breaker - Solving Puppy Problems

Breaker came to our family at 7 weeks old. He was perfect, everything we hoped he would be. But it wasn’t long and Breaker started giving us reason to worry. He wasn’t eating much, and being that he wasn’t a chubby pup, he couldn’t afford to not eat. He then started having bouts of diarrhea. I tried changing his kibble to what I thought was a high quality kibble, but his gastro-intestinal problems continued. I was stressed because we had just lost our first Golden, at the age of 10, after watching him lose his battle with cancer, and the last thing we needed was a sick puppy.

After learning of Breaker’s digestive problems, a friend at the website "The Land of Pure Gold" referred me to West Coast Canine Life. I immediately contacted the owner of the company, Joanne Fraser, and from her first email, I knew Breaker was in good hands. Joanne sent me recipes so that I could take Breaker off of the kibble right away, and on the road to what is hopefully a long and healthy life. Breaker only gets West Coast Canine Life patties and treats made from the mix and has been thriving since we switched him to his beloved patties. His coat is gorgeous and soft and he’s has no more digestive problems. It’s an amazing product that takes the guess work out of home prepared food. I know that I’m feeding my boy the best there is.

Joanne’s heart is in what she does and her love for dogs shines through in the guidance and support she offers her customers. I believe that Breaker’s early health issues were a blessing in disguise. Had he not had problems, I would have continued to feed him kibble and from what I have reasearched about kibble and the way it is processed, we could have been facing more health issues in the future. Of course no food can offer a guarantee of perfect health and long life, but thanks to West Coast Canine Life I know Breaker is getting the very best there is!

Brandi Thornton

Kitimat, BC

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Gerri and Dublin - Gastrointestinal Remedies

After Dublin was weaned, she immediately developed gastrointestinal problems. She had chronic diarrhea and nothing seemed to help. We tried various "premium" foods as well as the canned fiber dog food the vet's office sells. Everything we tried was only a temporary fix... until, through the wonders of research on the internet, I found West Coast Canine Life. Actually, I think I saw the Smiling Blue Skies site first and read about the importance of a good diet, especially for dogs with health issues. There was a link on that site to West Coast Canine Life. I decided to try the pre-mix and bake the meaty patties with fresh ground turkey.

After the first batch of patties was made, it only took about 24-48 hours for Dublin to show major improvement – the runny stools disappeared! She was immediately happier and so were her owners!!!

We have at times run out of pre-mix, when I have forgot to order it, and she has had to have kibble temporarily until the pre-mix arrives. Feeding kibble always brings back loose stools and gastro upsets. I now order two bags at a time and when I finish one, I place my next order. This way I won’t run out again and have to subject my special girl to anything but her meaty patties!

I am a firm believer in the West Coast Canine Life approach to health through this wholesome fresh cooked diet. As Dublin's Mom, I can't thank West Coast Canine Life enough for all the good advice and excellent product.

Gerri Mitchell,

Brunswick, Georgia, USA

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Ben and Bill - Sensitive Stomach & Tear Staining Resolved!

“Bill” is our 18-month English Bulldog. We got him when he was about 12 months old. He had lots of the typical Bulldog health problems. He has a very sensitive stomach and would often throw up after eating and sometimes his food didn’t even get down his throat before he would vomit it back up. He also had a lot of phlegm in his throat which made him sound as if he was choking, especially when he exercised.

I am happy to say that all of this has changed since Bill has been on West Coast Canine Life. He has so much more energy too and he even smells better. We have also noticed that the tear stains under his eyes have disappeared. My Dad has a 13 year old Bichon, who is also on this food, and his tear stains have really improved too.

“Bill” loves his muffins and we are so happy with his health and vitality. He does a little dance around the kitchen at breakfast and dinner time. Give a bag a try, you won’t believe how easy it is to make, and how much better your dog will feel. One more thing – he poops less too and they are smaller – bonus!

Ben Kerr

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Kim and Spencer - Help for Weakened Immune System

I thank the day that Joanne introduced me to the WCCL food. My 11 year old golden retriever Spencer had been struggling for several years after a bad reaction to a vaccine which left him with a weakened immune system, painful joints, chronic skin irritations and ear infections.

Within a week of switching from a high grade commercial dry dog food to WCCL he had lost that “old dog smell”. Gradually over the next few months his skin and ear flare ups lessened to nearly none. He is more energized, and his joint pain is greatly relieved so that he can run and play again. His side-kick, 6 year old Elsa, loves the muffins too!

Thank you Canine Life!

Kim Luyten

Comox, BC

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Do you have a story to tell? We'd love to hear from you!

West Coast Canine Life
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

Rescue Puppy Millie with Mange – Getting Better Every Day!

CANCER, SKIN PROBLEMS and our four fur kids

Nicky & Belle - Mysterious Digestive Issues

Bob, Kathy and Joey - Help With Tear Staining

Testimonial for Beau - Thriving on Canine Life

New Customer - Great Customer Service

Cedarbrae Labradors - A Vet's Endorsement

Kidney Failure - I found a miracle, with thanks

Lisa's Dachshunds - A Breeder's Testimonial

Jacqueline & Newman - Geriatric Kidney Problems

Feeding Giant Breeds - Skin Problems and Allergies

Gemma, Larry & Sharon - Sensitive Tummy & Mange

Shelby and Debbie - Cancer in the Senior Years

Bella, Porter & Deedee - Can't wait for more Canine Life!

Scott, Nicole & Mason - Help for Hair Loss & Pancreatitis

Jill & Emma - Cancer & Quality of Life

Jamie, Charlie & Foxy - No Longer a Picky Eater!

Virginia & Cinder - Relief from a Sensitive Stomach

Kristen & Her Shelties -
From a Breeder of Performance Dogs

Jocelyn & Callaway - Chronic Ear & Eye Infections

Leslie and Chance - Energy, Stamina & Improved Skin

Leslie and Twiggy - Relief for Kidney Issues

Carl, Bob, Sadie & Gus -
WCCL Special Cancer Diet and Our Two Dogs

Kassie, Price & Blue - Starting Puppies on Canine Life

Pattie, Bannag &Cuilti - Extra Energy for Elderly Dogs

Mary Jane and Gus - Special Formula for Cancer

Linda and Rosie - Help With Skin Problems

Bill and Chubb - Energizing the Senior Years

Lacey, Sophie and Barkley - Triple Treats

Melanie and Barkley - Assisting with Arthritis

Brandi and Breaker - Solving Puppy Problems

Gerri and Dublin - Gastrointestinal Remedies

Ben and Bill - Sensitive Stomach & Tear Staining Resolved!

Kim and Spencer - Help for Weakened Immune System

West Coast Canine LifeCUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

Rescue Puppy Millie with Mange – Getting Better Every Day!

CANCER, SKIN PROBLEMS and our four fur kids

Nicky & Belle - Mysterious Digestive Issues

Bob, Kathy and Joey - Help With Tear Staining

Testimonial for Beau - Thriving on Canine Life

New Customer - Great Customer Service

Cedarbrae Labradors - A Vet's Endorsement

Kidney Failure - I found a miracle, with thanks

Lisa's Dachshunds - A Breeder's Testimonial

Jacqueline & Newman - Geriatric Kidney Problems

Feeding Giant Breeds - Skin Problems and Allergies

Gemma, Larry & Sharon - Sensitive Tummy & Mange

Shelby and Debbie - Cancer in the Senior Years

Bella, Porter & Deedee - Can't wait for more Canine Life!

Scott, Nicole & Mason - Help for Hair Loss & Pancreatitis

Jill & Emma - Cancer & Quality of Life

Jamie, Charlie & Foxy - No Longer a Picky Eater!

Virginia & Cinder - Relief from a Sensitive Stomach

Kristen & Her Shelties - From a Breeder of Performance Dogs

Jocelyn & Callaway - Chronic Ear & Eye Infections

Leslie and Chance - Energy, Stamina & Improved Skin

Leslie and Twiggy - Relief for Kidney Issues

Carl, Bob, Sadie & Gus - WCCL Special Cancer Diet and Our Two Dogs

Kassie, Price & Blue - Starting Puppies on Canine Life

Pattie, Bannag &Cuilti - Extra Energy for Elderly Dogs

Mary Jane and Gus - Special Formula for Cancer

Linda and Rosie - Help With Skin Problems

Bill and Chubb - Energizing the Senior Years

Lacey, Sophie and Barkley - Triple Treats

Melanie and Barkley - Assisting with Arthritis

Brandi and Breaker - Solving Puppy Problems

Gerri and Dublin - Gastrointestinal Remedies

Ben and Bill - Sensitive Stomach & Tear Staining Resolved!

Kim and Spencer - Help for Weakened Immune System

West Coast Canine Life
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

Kristen & Her Shelties -
From a Breeder of Performance Dogs

Carl, Bob, Sadie & Gus -
WCCL Special Cancer Diet and Our Two Dogs