we share tips that make life safer, smarter, and more heartfelt—for you and your furry family too.
Today’s post comes from a deeply personal place, and if you’re a pet parent, it’s one you need to read.
💔 A Tragic Loss That Taught Us a Powerful Lesson
Before we had Luke, our golden retriever, we had Ben—another sweet golden with a heart of gold. He was healthy and happy until, one day, everything changed.
We opened a new bag of his usual holistic dog food, and within days, Ben became violently ill. What we didn’t know at the time was that that very food was part of a recall—one that tragically cost Ben his life.
We later discovered we weren’t alone. Other pet parents were going through the same devastating experience with the same brand. Had we known sooner, we might have been able to save him.
🛑 The Pet Food Resources You Should Know About
If you have a dog or cat, we strongly encourage you to stay informed. Two incredibly helpful websites we’ve discovered are:
Both offer free newsletters, alert you to pet food recalls, ingredient warnings, lawsuit updates, and provide ratings and rankings for hundreds of brands. These tools are invaluable for making informed choices.
🧼 Clean Bowls = Healthy Pets
According to the American Kennel Club, pet bowls are among the germiest items in your home. Left unwashed, they can harbor bacteria and slimy biofilm that leads to serious illness.
Key bowl-cleaning tips:
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Wash food and water bowls daily with hot, soapy water.
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Wet food residue encourages more bacteria than dry food.
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Replace water daily—never just “top it off.”
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Keep your pet’s water bowl as clean as your own glass!
A neighbor once told us how his dog almost died just because he never washed the water bowl—only added fresh water on top. It was a wake-up call we never forgot.
🐶 Small Dogs? Buy Small Bags
Here’s another lesser-known tip: If you have a small dog, avoid buying large bags of dog food. It takes them too long to finish, and the food can go rancid or stale before they’re done.
Large dogs = large bags.
Small dogs = small bags, always.
🧡 Final Thoughts
We share these lessons in honor of Ben, and in the hope of saving other pets from preventable harm. Please take the time to learn more about your pet’s food, clean their bowls regularly, and sign up for pet food alerts.
And if this post helped you—or could help someone you know—please share it and subscribe to Sonja’s Way for more tips that protect what matters most.