V20I5 (Oct/Nov 2018) by Redstone Media Group

ANIMAL WELLNESS

For a long, healthy life!

WELLNESS

CAN DOGS BENEFIT FROM A

PALEO DIET? THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR DOG’S

TOP 6

OILS & FATS

MICROBIOME HOW INDOOR

AIR QUALITY

DOGGIE PLAYTIME

AFFECTS HIS HEALTH

WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT!

Rehabilitating

RESCUE DOGS CANINE OBESITY – 5-step plan to a healthier weight

HERO This “Super Collie” wowed the world with his performances on America’s Got Talent, and he’s still turning heads everywhere he goes!

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 Display until November 12, 2018

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Contents October/November 2018

18 THE WELL-OILED DOG

Fats and oils aren’t bad for dogs. In fact, some can be exceptionally healthy. Take a look at 6 fats and oils that can enhance your dog’s well-being.

38 Photo courtesy of Rachel Kinberger Goyette

Features

22 DOES YOUR DOG GET TO PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS?

Find out if your four-legged friend might benefit from spending more playtime with other dogs, and how to go about it.

26 PROTECTING YOUR PET FROM INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on your dog or cat’s health. Here are some common sources of pollution, and what you can do to eliminate or minimize them.

28 YOUR DOG’S

MICROBIOME

A healthy gut equals a healthy dog. Take a closeup look at his gut microbome, and why it’s so vital to his well-being.

32 3 COMMON OBJECTIONS TO HOLISTIC VETERINARY MEDICINE

Conventional veterinary medicine claims holistic therapies don’t work. Here are some powerful counterarguments against these claims.

36 HOW YOUR PET’S BRAIN AND BODY REGULATE HIS APPETITE

A properly-functioning appetite regulation system helps prevent obesity in dogs and cats by controlling feelings of hunger and satiety.

38 HERO

This “Super Collie” wowed the world with his performances on America’s Got Talent, and he’s still turning heads everywhere he goes!

42 THE PALEO DIET AND

YOUR PET

Learn how the popular and healthy Paleo Diet can be adapted to your dog or cat.

Animal Wellness

54 COMMON DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS IN DOGS

Chances are, your dog will have a few digestive upsets in his lifetime. Understand what the most common problems are, and what do to when symptoms arise.

58 PHYTONUTRIENTS FOR

YOUR DOG

Phytonutrients offer significant antioxidant effects that can help with many canine health problems, from age-related issues to chronic diseases like cancer.

64 MAINTAINING YOUR

DOG’S GOOD BEHAVIOR

You worked hard to train your dog when he was young, but how do you maintain his good behavior on an ongoing basis?

66 TIPPING THE SCALES:

AVOIDING PET OBESITY

A lean dog or cat is much healthier than one that’s overweight, and will also enjoy a longer life. This simple five-step plan will help keep the pounds off.

72 DRIED RAW FOOD

TREATS FOR DOGS AND CATS

Freeze-dried, air-dried and dehydrated treats made from raw whole food ingredients are healthy and nutritious, as well as convenient and easy to handle.

76 REHABILITATION FOR RESCUE DOGS

A behind-the-scenes look at the physical, mental and emotional rehab efforts that give shelter and rescue dogs a second chance at life.

80 MORINGA – THE NEW

SUPERFOOD ON THE BLOCK

Derived from a tropical tree that’s now being grown in the US, Moringa is packed with nutrients that can support and improve the health of dogs and cats.

91 DOES YOUR CAT HAVE HAIRBALLS?

Most cats will throw up the occasional hairball, but if it happens a lot, it may mean an underlying health issue.

94 FEEDING YOUR CAT AS A HUNTER

Research that explores the intersection between our cats’ hunting and eating habits is changing how we feed our kitties – and has a positive impact on feline health and behavior.

96 8 HOUSEPLANTS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS

There are quite a few house plants that are nontoxic to cats, so with a little planning, you can have the best of both worlds.

Columns

12 Yakkity yak 41 Business proﬁle – CocoTherapy

48 Passages

50 Rewind 69 Business proﬁle –

Goodwinol Products

83 To the rescue 87 Tail end 98 Cat chat

32 Departments 8

Editorial

Product picks

The scoop

Animal Wellness resource guide

News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine

Marketplace

Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine

Classiﬁeds

Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness

Events

Social media Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine

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VOLUME 20 ISSUE 5

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Editor-in-Chief: Dana Cox Managing Editor: Ann Brightman Associate Editor: Emily Watson Senior Graphic Designer: Dawn Cumby-Dallin Graphic Designer: Anna Dezsi Social/Digital Media Manager: Theresa Gannon Web Design & Development: Brad Vader Tail End Illustration: Libby Sinden Cover Image Courtesy of: Sara Carson COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Adolphe, PhD, RD Nadia Ali Matthew Berk Stephanie Bouchard Christine Caplan, CVT Susan Dalton, PhD W. Jean Dodds, DVM Jennifer Hinders Jean Hofve, DVM Claire Jones Deva Khalsa, VMD Anabelle Lee Macri Shawn Messonnier, DVM Paul Owens Nancy Scanlan, DVM, MS, CVA Karen Shaw Becker, DVM David Termine

Editorial & Multimedia Specialist: Carlisle Froese, (866) 764-1212 ext. 224 carlisle@redstonemediagroup.com

TO SUBSCRIBE: Subscription price at time of this issue is $24.00 in the U.S. and Canada, including taxes for six issues shipped via surface mail. Subscriptions can be processed by: Website: www.animalwellnessmagazine.com Phone: (866) 764-1212 ext 115 US MAIL: Animal Wellness Magazine, 6834 S University Blvd PMB 155 Centennial, CO 80122

SUBMISSIONS: Please email all editorial material to Ann Brightman, Managing Editor, at ann@redstonemediagroup.com. We welcome previously unpublished articles and color pictures either in jpeg, tif or disc form at 300 dpi. We cannot guarantee that either articles or pictures will be used or that they will be returned. We reserve the right to publish all letters received. You can also mail submissions to: Animal Wellness Magazine, 160 Charlotte St., Suite 202, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 2T8. Please direct other correspondence to info@redstonemediagroup.com.

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ADMINISTRATION & SALES President/C.E.O.: Tim Hockley Accounting: Susan Smith Circulation & Office Manager: Libby Sinden Subscription Services Manager: Brittany Tufts Marketing & Administration Associate: Ericka Carbonneau

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CDN MAIL: Animal Wellness Magazine, 160 Charlotte St., Suite 202, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 2T8 Subscriptions are payable by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, check or money order. The material in this magazine is not intended to replace the care of veterinary practitioners. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor, and different views may appear in other issues. Redstone Media Group Inc., publisher of Animal Wellness, does not promote any of the products orservices advertised by a third party advertiser in this publication, nor does Redstone Media Group Inc. verify the accuracy of any claims made in connection with such advertisers. Refund policy: call or write our customer service department and we will refund unmailed issues. DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME: Animal Wellness Magazine is available at a discount for resale in retail shops and through various organizations. Call Libby at (866) 764-1212 ext 100 and ask for dealer magazine sales, fax us at (705) 742-4596 or e-mail at libby@animalwellnessmagazine.com

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Sara Carson He started from humble beginnings, but is now a famous canine celebrity! Hero the “Super Collie” delighted audiences with his clever performances on America’s Got Talent and now has millions of fans worldwide. Turn to page 38 to read his full story.

Animal Wellness

Animal Wellness Magazine (ISSN 1710-1190) is published six times a year by Redstone Media Group Inc. Publications Mail Agreement #40884047. Entire contents copyright© 2018. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: September 2018.

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS... ONE READER AT A TIME.

editorial

What’s new in

NUTRITION?

bout 20 years ago, an emaciated Siberian husky made her way through the bush to our cabin up north. She was filthy and had obviously been wandering for a while. Her condition – brittle coat, watery stools and a tendency to eat grass like a goat – quickly told me she needed nutritional help, and fast. At that point, we didn’t have access to a local holistic veterinarian, but we had just started getting Animal Wellness Magazine off the ground, so we used our resources and research to help our new addition, who we named Shayla. Digestive enzymes and a customized whole food diet, complete with slippery elm to help the intestinal tract, and some homeopathy, all worked quite well, but Shayla still suffered the odd bout of diarrhea throughout the rest of her life. Knowing what we know today about the microbiome (see Dr. Karen Becker’s article in this issue), I think Shayla would have been a prime candidate for a fecal transplant. It’s fascinating stuff for dogs and humans alike! Of course, Shayla was a fairly extreme case. But we all know that good health can’t happen without good nutrition, so making sure your four-legged friend is eating right is paramount to his well-being and longevity. In this issue, focused on nutrition, we start off with an article by Dr. Deva Khalsa that looks at the importance of healthy fats and oils, and the best choices you can make for your dog. Next, explore the canine microbiome with Dr. Becker – learn why it’s so necessary for proper digestion and wellness, and how to keep it functioning optimally.

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We also feature an article by Dr. Jean Dodds on how your pet’s brain and body regulate his appetite, and what happens when that regulation gets out of balance. Don’t miss Dr. Jean Hofve’s advice on adapting the popular Paleo Diet to your dog or cat; and Dr. Nancy Scanlan’s discussion on phytonutrients and why they’re so vital to your companion’s health. We also include articles on the obesity epidemic and what we can do about it; common digestive problems in dogs; and healthy raw food treats for both dogs and cats. In our cover story, you’ll meet Hero, an aptly-named member of the “Super Collies”, who along with his person, award-winning dog trainer Sara Carson, mesmerized the world with his performances on America’s Got Talent. And now that fall’s here and we’re spending more time inside, we take a look at indoor air quality and how to improve it for your pet’s health (and your own). There’s plenty more in this issue too! In our bonus Feline Wellness section, we continue the nutrition theme by exploring why feeding our cats as the hunters they are can improve their well-being. Articles on hairballs and cat-friendly houseplants round out our “kitty corner”. Naturally,

Dana Cox Editor-in-Chief

Celebrating VISIT ANIMALWELLNESSMARKET.COM

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contributors

1. Veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds received her veterinary degree in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College. In 1986, she established Hemopet, the first non-profit national blood bank program for animals. Dr. Dodds has been a member of many committees on hematology, animal models of human disease and veterinary medicine. She received the Holistic Veterinarian of the Year Award from the AHVMA in 1994. Turn to page 36 for Dr. Dodds’ article on how your pet’s brain and body regulate his appetite. 2. Veterinarian Dr. Deva Khalsa authored Dr. Khalsa’s The Natural Dog and co-authored Healing Your Horse: Alternative Therapies. She lectures internationally and is a professor at the British Institute of Homeopathy. She has almost 30 years of experience in holistic modalities. On page 18, Dr. Khalsa discusses healthy oils and fats for dogs. 3. Veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier wrote The Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats, The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs, and 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog. He’s the pet care expert for Martha Stewart Living’s “Dr. Shawn – The Natural Vet” on Sirius Satellite Radio, and creator of Dr. Shawn’s Pet Organics. His practice, Paws & Claws Animal Hospital (petcarenaturally.com), is in Plano, Texas. In this issue, he looks at common objections to holistic medicine, and how to handle them (page 32).

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4. Veterinarian Dr. Nancy Scanlan is Executive Director for the AHVM Foundation, a board member of the World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and a consultant on the Veterinary Information Network. She has been using complementary health therapies in her veterinary practice since 1970, including nutraceuticals, acupuncture, non-classical homeopathy, and Chinese and Western herbs. Dr. Scanlan was Executive Director of the AHVMA for three years and president of the VBMA for two years. On page 58, she focuses on phytonutrients for dogs. 5. Veterinarian Dr. Karen Shaw Becker received her degree from the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. She owns/ operates Natural Pet Animal Hospital, Feathers Bird Clinic, TheraPaw Rehabilitation and Pain Management Clinic and Covenant Wildlife Rehabilitation in Illinois. She coauthored Real Food for Healthy Pets and hosts a holistic animal wellness website (mercolahealthypets.com). Karen writes about the canine microbiome on page 28. 6. Retired veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University. In addition to conventional veterinary training, she studied veterinary homeopathy, homotoxicology, Reiki and other holistic modalities. She has researched pet food and feline nutrition for more than two decades, and is an expert on holistic pet health and the commercial pet

food industry. Dr. Hofve is an official advisor to AAFCO, and co-authored the books Holistic Cat Care and Paleo Dog. On page 42, she looks at the benefits of the Paleo Diet for dogs and cats. 7. Dr. Jennifer Adolphe graduated with her PhD in companion animal nutrition from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Her PhD research examined the effects of carbohydrates on metabolic and cardiovascular health in lean and obese dogs. Dr. Adolphe is the recipient of over 20 awards and scholarships for her academic work and has numerous peerreviewed publications. Her work in the pet food industry has focused on product development and ingredient procurement. She is currently the Senior Nutritionist at Petcurean Pet Nutrition. Dr. Adolphe discusses pet obesity on page 66. 8. Christine Caplan is a Certified Vet Tech, and a long-time PR veteran and content marketing expert who brings her unique understanding of social and digital media to connect dog lovers to brands both on and ofﬂine. She lives with three hounds – two “doxies” and a beagle/basset hound mix -- who constantly teach her about life and companionship (mylifewithdogspdx.com). For this issue (page 54), Christine features an article on common canine digestive problems.

9. Dr. Susan Dalton grew up in the wilds of Florida where she developed her love for animals. After obtaining her PhD she spent many years teaching and writing about legal systems and how they grow and change. After retirement in 2003, she returned to her love of animals, founded the California School for Dogs, Inc. and began producing a line of premium 100% meat dog treats called Dr. Dalton's Premium Treats. She provides tips on how to maintain a dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good behavior on page 64.

contributors

10. Nadia Ali is a freelance writer who was born in London, England and now lives on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. She is inspired by Cici, her family cat. Her work has been published online and in print. In this issue (page 80), Nadia introduces you to Moringa, a new superfood. 11. Stephanie Bouchard is a freelance pet writer living in Maine (stephaniebouchard. net). For tips on how to feed your cat like the hunter she is, read her article on page 94.

12. Jennifer Hinders is a freelance writer, editor and dog lover who lives in Fairfax, Virginia (jhinders.com). See page 22 for her article on how to tell if your dog is getting enough playtime with other canines. 13. Claire Jones is a freelance writer. When sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not writing, she can often be found being taken for long walks by Bertie, a small brown dog of mixed parentage. On page 26, Claire looks at how to improve pet health by improving indoor air quality in our homes.

Animal Wellness

yakkity yak PET LEASING BAN PASSED IN NEW YORK Have you heard of pet leases? These unethical high-interest financing plans are offered by some pet stores as a way for customers to take puppies home without buying them. The pets are owned by leasing companies rather than their families, and are paid for in increments over the course of months or years. Not surprisingly, this practice poses numerous problems for pets and their guardians, and raises questions regarding who is permitted to make medical decisions for the animals during the leasing period. In 2017, a couple of state governments took action against pet leasing. Nevada became the first state to ban the practice, followed closely by California. Recently, a third state stepped up to the plate– on June 14, New York lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting financial schemes such as pet leasing. As of this writing, the bill is with Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose support and signature will enact it into law. nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/s7415/amendment/a

PARVO WARD SAVES 500 SICK PUPPIES Parvovirus leads to the euthanization of many puppies in shelters. Since most facilities don’t have a quarantined space to house affected dogs, this highly contagious virus can easily be spread to other four-legged residents. Rather than putting the rest of the shelter population at risk, parvo patients are killed. But Shannon Wells, the Director of Operations at Kansas City Pet Project in Missouri, wasn’t willing to accept this drastic solution. She took matters into her own hands, creating a Parvo Ward in the shelter to safely treat sick puppies. They’ve since saved the lives of over 500 dogs. Earlier this year, Shannon was chosen by the Petco Foundation and Victoria Stilwel to receive the Unsung Hero Award for her dedication to helping puppies with parvo. Victoria and her film crew spent two days at the shelter, producing a beautiful video that highlights Shannon’s work in the Parvo Ward. In addition, $35,000 was granted to Kansas City Pet Project. kcpetproject.org

Left: Shannon Wells received Petco's Unsung Hero Award for saving the lives of over 500 parvo-stricken puppies. Right: Gizmo is one of the puppies who received a second chance at life thanks to Shannon's Parvo Ward.

Animal Wellness

Unsweetened

pumpkin makes a healthy topping for your dog’s meals, and can also help

relieve both

diarrhea and constipation.

Animal Wellness

yakkity yak C. DIFF DOGS – FULLY TRAINED AND SAVING LIVES! In our Feb/Mar 2017 issue, Animal Wellness included a “Yakkity yak” report on Angus – an English springer spaniel trained to sniff out C. difficile at Vancouver General Hospital. At the time, Angus was the only certified C. diff detection dog in Canada, but the hospital’s program has since expanded to include a second detection canine named Dodger (pictured here). Each contamination alert is acted upon immediately and used to educate healthcare workers, cleaning staff and patients. Earlier this year, an award was granted to the program for its innovative approach to C. diff detection – since being implemented in 2016, C. diff rates in the hospital have steadily declined. Angus is also traveling to help control this dangerous superbug at other health centers. vch.ca

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF REIKI IN SHELTERS

Image courtesy of SARA

In 2008, 20 people and five shelters came together to form the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA). Their goal was to bring Animal Reiki meditation to shelters and rescues around the world. Over the past ten years, they’ve turned that goal into a reality. Today, SARA is a global community of more than 250 members and 75 shelters, sanctuaries and rescues.

SARA uses the Let Animals Lead™ approach, which incorporates Reiki meditation and a gentle, ethical approach toward animals.

Animal Reiki meditation creates a peaceful healing environment within animal care settings – and SARA provides the tools shelters and rescues need to make it happen. The non-profit organization has over 1,000 staff and volunteers, all trained in the ethical and effective Let Animals Lead™ approach created by Kathleen Prasad, world-renowned Animal Reiki expert. This Reiki method is ideal for rescued animals who have suffered from stress, abuse or trauma. shelteranimalreikiassociation.org

EDUCATING CHINESE LOCALS TO END DOG MEAT TRADE The Chinese dog and cat meat trade is responsible for the inhumane slaughter of thousands of animals for human consumption each year. Education might be only way to save these innocent animals. As part of their initiative to educate locals and promote compassion toward animals, The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation recently announced the opening of its education center in Changsha, China. The center is connected to the foundation’s existing rescue, through which more than 200 dogs have been saved from slaughterhouses. “We can continue to rescue animals forever, but what’s necessary is education,” says Barbara Gitlitz, the head of the foundation’s board. “Once we open people's hearts and minds and get them to see how valuable dogs can be as companions, then the rescue missions become unnecessary. That has always been our goal.” animalhopeandwellness.org

Animal Wellness

The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation’s educators will encourage schoolchildren to interact with the shelter dogs and show them how meaningful a loving bond can be between people and their pets.

Animal Wellness

yakkity MUST-SEE MOVIE!

This past summer, some of the most well-trained dogs in the country gathered to compete in the 2018 AKC National Obedience and Rally Championships in Wilmington, Ohio. The winners are pictured.

If you’ve ever wondered how Seeing Eye dogs are raised, wonder no more. Pick of the Litter is a new documentary that goes behind the scenes. Cameras follow a litter of spirited puppies through an intense two-year journey as they train to become dogs whose ultimate responsibility is protecting their blind human partners from harm. Along the way, these remarkable animals rely on a community of dedicated individuals who train them to do amazing, life-changing things in the service of their humans.

Left: Streak, a golden retriever handled by Bridget Carlsen of Yorkville, IL, was the Obedience winner. Obedience demonstrates an ability to follow speciﬁed routines in heeling, jumping and retrieving as directed by the handler.

Image courtesy of The American Kennel Club

OBEDIENCE AND RALLY CHAMPS

Visit youtube.com/watch?v=V_ hGN3xObGI to watch the trailer.

Right: Reese, a golden retriever handled by Sharon M. Albright of Cary, NC, was the Rally winner. Rally combines elements of Obedience and Agility. The dog and handler move through a course of numbered exercises, all while the handler is communicating with and praising the dog.

OCTOBER IS ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH It’s time to celebrate the joy of canine adoption and help dogs in shelters find loving happy homes! October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and the ASPCA is working with shelters and rescues across the country to help expand digital exposure for shelter dogs, and raise awareness about the many benefits of adopting.

When buying

harness for your dog, be sure to measure

The ASPCA estimates that approximately 3.3 million dogs enter shelters nationwide every year, where they sit waiting to be adopted. To find out how you can get involved and help more of these dogs find homes, visit aspca.org/fido.

Animal Wellness

Images courtesy of the ASPCA

Countless dogs are left unadopted in shelters every single year. Adopt a Shelter Dog month aims to ﬁnd forever homes for these animals.

a new

him ﬁrst to

make sure you get the right

fit.

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THE

WELL-OILED DOG

By Deva Khalsa, VMD

Contrary to popular belief, fat is not bad for your dog. The fact is, we’ve all been fed a lot of false information on the subject of fats in the diet, and old research has been debunked. Fats are actually a healthy and important ingredient in both our dogs’ diets, and our own. That said, there are many different kinds of fats and oils so it’s important to learn what’s healthiest. We’ll look in detail at several good fats for dogs.

1. OLIVE OIL I particularly like cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil for cooking. Many commonly-used oils break down at high heat, and that can affect digestibility. Olive oil does not, making it the preferred oil to use when cooking for your dog. Rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin E, as well as phytonutrients, olive oil is best stored in the refrigerator to keep it from being degraded by heat and light. It tends to harden during refrigeration, but will liquify when allowed to warm up to room temperature.

Fats and oils aren’t bad for dogs. In fact, some can be exceptionally healthy. Take a look at 6 fats and oils that can enhance your dog’s well-being. 18

Animal Wellness

The monounsaturated fats in olive oil actually encourage unwanted pounds to vacate the premises by breaking down the fat inside fat cells. Certain compounds in olive oil are also believed to be effective in preventing cancer. If you simply want to add olive oil to your dog’s meal, use a teaspoon a day for a 30lb to 40lb dog, or up to a tablespoon for a large 90lb dog.

2. COCONUT OIL This popular oil has many health benefits – for the skin, immune and digestive systems, and even for bone and brain health. Coconut oil is my favorite for keeping coats gleaming, soft and fresh. It decreases “doggy” odor; even those with a musty scent begin to smell sweet. Coconut oil is also great to cook with. Coconuts are classified as a “functional food”, and their oil provides many benefits beyond its super-healthy nutritional content. The secret to its healing power is its medium-chain fatty acids, which contain special healthgiving properties. The fats in coconut oil are similar to those in mother’s milk, and they have similar healing attributes. Aside from human breast milk, coconut oil is nature’s most abundant source of lauric acid, which has been used to kill viruses, bacteria and yeast as well as prevent tooth decay. It also supports thyroid function and enhances metabolism. Dogs love coconut oil as a condiment on their food. I recommend organic coconut oil. A half to one teaspoon daily for a mediumsized dog (30lb to 40 lbs) is an average portion. Both olive and coconut oils are healthy for your dog’s insides, and the great thing is that it will show on his outside. A well-oiled pet will have soft skin and a coat that shines. Omega Check Oil from The Natural Vet is one example of a supplement made with coconut oil.

3. PASTURED/GRASS-FED/YELLOW BUTTER One fat no one seems to mention much is butter. Decadesold research stating that butter is bad for us has been totally debunked. In fact, butter is super-duper healthy – that is, pastured, grass-fed or “yellow” butter is super-duper healthy. Yellow, grass-fed butter has a totally different effect on health than the pale anemic butter we most commonly purchase, and is the only kind I recommend. Kerry Gold Butter from Ireland is a yellow butter made from grass-fed cows. Cows that eat grass and flowers store in their fat a yellow pigment called beta carotene, Animal Wellness

Healthy fat treat for your dog 1 raw egg yolk 1 tablespoon melted organic coconut oil 1 tablespoon room temperature yellow butter Beat all ingredients together. Feed one-third of this mixture once a day with your dog’s meal. Refrigerate, covered, for no more than three days.

which also gets carried over into the milk. This butter is rich in the most easily absorbable form of vitamin A, in addition to being an excellent source of vitamins E, K and D. Yellow butter is also a rich source of cancer-preventing selenium, along with iodine, zinc, copper, manganese and chromium. It contains lauric acid (also found in coconut and mother’s milk), which protects against yeast and fungal infections. In addition, yellow butter contains a compound called Activator X, which helps the body absorb minerals. This makes it great for dental health. Grass-fed butter is also good for thyroid, gut and bone health. Butyric acid, a short-chain saturated fat found in butter, appears to have very promising results on general inflammation, cancer and digestion, according to studies. Dogs absolutely love butter. You can coat their veggies with it, make an omelet with it, or just give them butter pats for treats. Ghee made from yellow butter is another healthy alternative. I always use a yellow butter pat to give my dogs any supplement in pill form – it molds around the pill and they love the taste.

4. AVOCADO OIL Almost 70% of avocado oil consists of oleic acid, a monounsaturated Omega-9 fatty acid which is also the main component of olive oil. Extracts from avocado oil have been found to reduce the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis – particularly of the knee – and are also effective against gum disease. Avocado has unique benefits, as its antioxidants are able to penetrate down to the mitochondria and actually improve the function of the cells. Mitochondrial function is a very important keystone for health.

5. RAW FAT FROM MEAT AND POULTRY These fats contain vitamin D, another very important component of your dog’s diet. We humans can create vitamin D in our bodies when sunlight reaches our skin, but dogs will only get

Animal Wellness

it from their diets. Studies have shown that 75% of all pets fed a commercial diet are D3 deficient. This doesn’t say much for the form of vitamin D added to these these highly heated and compressed commercial pet foods (cooking animal fat destroys the natural D content). Dogs fed a raw diet with raw fat are able to get their vitamin D from the fat. In fact, dogs need more fat in their diets than we do because we have the advantage of being able to create our own D3 from sunlight exposure.

6. RAW EGG YOLKS Raw egg yolks from free-range pastured hens have twice the concentration of Omega-3s as regular eggs, thereby increasing the anti-inflammatory effect dogs can get from the yolks. Raw egg yolks also provide healthy vitamin A, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B12, iron and selenium, making them a nutritious food for dogs. It’s easy to give your dog a range of fats rather than sticking to one source alone. Each of the above fats has its own benefits, will work to improve your dog’s health, and add extra flavor to his meals.

Editor’s note

Fish oils – quality is key

Oils derived from cold water fish are a rich source of the Omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and can help support joint and cognitive health along with improving skin and coat condition. Examples of cold water fish used for making Omega-3 supplements include wild salmon, mackerel, anchovies and sardines. When buying a fish oil for your dog or yourself, it’s vital that you buy high quality supplements and avoid cheap commercial products that could contain contaminants and additives. Do your homework and choose a reputable company that uses solid quality control protocols.

Animal Wellness

DOES YOUR DOG GET TO PLAY WITH

other dogs? By Jennifer Hinders

As pack animals, dogs are social animals. This means the average canine thrives on having regular play dates with others of his kind. Find out if your four-legged friend might benefit from spending more time with other dogs, and how to go about it.

We all know that regular play is crucial to a dog’s happiness and well-being. Playing with other dogs as well as with humans can be an important part of achieving that well-being. It’s true that some dogs, due to breed, a poor upbringing or lack of socialization early in life, don’t get on well with others of their own kind. But most dogs thrive on regular play dates with canine friends. In fact, not getting enough playtime with other canines can be detrimental to these dogs.

KEEP CANINE PLAYTIME SAFE

Mixing with other dogs is a happy experience for most canines. Dogs have emotional intelligence, and learn signals from other dogs early on if they’re properly socialized with others of their kind. For example, they learn there are some dogs they can roughhouse with, but that they need to play more gently with puppies.

Again, depending on your dog’s past (and his breed – see next page), he may not get along that well with other dogs. If your dog shows signs of fear or aggression when encountering another dog, never force an interaction. Consult a trainer or canine behaviorist to see if you can get to the root of why your dog is acting this way and how the problem can be resolved.

DOGS ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS Nature has set up your dog to be social – canines are pack animals after all. So fill up his calendar – this is especially important if he spends a lot of time alone in the house when you’re out or at

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work. “The best way to fill your dog’s social needs is to get him out every day to mix with other dogs, or to get another dog,” says renowned dog behaviorist, Dr. Nicholas Dodman. “If you decide to get another dog, choose a compatible breed. At first, your dog may be upset with the newcomer, but after several days they should get along fine.”

If your dog is sociable and friendly, however, he would most likely benefit from more playtime with other canines. Here are some things to consider, whether you choose to adopt another dog, or take your dog out to meet others of his kind.

A second dog as a buddy If you’re considering a second dog, it’s important to do your homework so you pick one that’s the best fit. Here are a few basics to keep in mind: • Choose a gender opposite to that of your existing dog, especially if your dog is a male. Males may battle for pack leader position, which can result in serious injury. That being said, two female dogs are usually compatible, depending on the breed. A friend of mine has two female Labs. Having two has made her life easier because they love to play with one another. • Pick out a dog that’s compatible with your first dog’s personality. If he’s laid back, it’s best to pick a dog with a similar laidback disposition. • Select a breed that likes other dogs. My family had a female cattle dog, and we assumed she would love the sweet Lab someone gave us. But our dog’s personality changed overnight. She became extremely protective of us when the Lab ran up to greet us. Sadly, we had to rehome the Lab to protect her from serious injury. After she left, our cattle dog went back to her sweet nature. Continued on page 24.

DOES YOUR DOG NEED MORE CANINE COMPANY? When friends or family members come over to visit us, they often bring their dogs along to play with my own canine, Sam. He loves playing with his buddies – but in the days after they’ve gone home, he’s droopy and sad. He begs to be let outside as if he’s looking for them, a sure sign that he’s craving more time with his friends. If your dog is the type who enjoys the company of other canines, watch for signs that he may be not be getting enough playtime with his four-legged buddies. •D ogs not getting enough playtime can display sadness. As with Sam, your dog can experience real sadness after his buddies leave. Very social dogs really enjoy the company of other dogs, and the end of playtime can feel like the end of a good thing for your canine. It’s similar to a child who has a birthday party, then feels unhappy afterwards because she knows she won’t have another party for a long time. • Dogs can get bored if they aren’t mixing with other dogs. Humans are often dull compared to dogs. We sit on the sofa. We watch television. We work or do chores around the house. Your dog will probably sleep a lot if he’s bored. You can try to be a dog and play with him all you want – and that’s great, of course – but many dogs are happier playing with other dogs. It’s the way they’re wired.

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STUDYING CANINE BEHAVIOR

Recently, Dr. Dodman and a team of professionals set up the Center for Canine Behavior Studies. This organization’s mission is “to maintain the behavioral wellness of dogs and strengthen the humancompanion animal bond to ensure that dogs remain in their owners’ home as trusted and valued companions for life.” Needless to say, encouraging canine play – with both humans and other dogs – is an important part to achieving such a mission. To learn more, visit centerforcaninebehaviorstudies.org/about-ccbs. Continued from page 23.

Dog park besties If you don’t have friends or family with dogs of their own, the most obvious place for your canine to make friends is the local dog park. However, because these are public places, it’s important to consider safety by being alert to your surroundings and the other dogs at the park.

q Keep an open eye for any lax safety issues. Recently, a friend of mine took his Labradoodle to a local dog park, only to find the back gate broken and some fencing down. He immediately left the park since he didn’t feel it was a safe place for his dog to play, even though other people were there with their dogs.

w You also need to stay aware of your dog’s behavior, and the behavior of other dogs. A dog park is a great place to meet and greet fellow dog lovers, but it’s easy to get distracted. If your dog is disruptive or displaying bad manners, it’s your responsibility to get him under control. Conversely, if you notice another dog acting aggressively towards your own, alert his person right away or remove your dog from the park. “Once in a while, you’ll come across a ‘bad’ dog and this can be a negative experience for your dog,” says Dr. Dodman. Interacting with other dogs should have positive associations for your own canine, so it’s important to abort potentially negative encounters before they happen.

e Before taking your dog into an environment with other canines, make sure he’s in good health and is protected from infectious diseases with core vaccines and regular titer testing. If you see a dog at the park – or anywhere else – that’s acting sick, remove your own dog immediately. Dogs are sociable creatures and usually love spending with their buddies. Assess your own dog’s need for canine interaction, and take steps to enrich his life with a second dog or play dates at the local dog park (while keeping his health and safety in mind). You’ll end up with a happier, more contented companion!

Animal Wellness

Protecting your pet from By Claire Jones

indoor air pollution Indoor air pollution is an issue in every modern home. In fact, inside air can contain a cocktail of pollutants from dozens of different sources. And because dogs and cats are smaller than we are, and tend to spend more time inside than we do, they’re particularly susceptible to the health problems that indoor air pollution can cause. Being aware of where these contaminants are coming from, and how they can be reduced, is the key step in improving inside air quality and protecting your dog or cat’s health.

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Many household items contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which evaporate readily into the air. These compounds are found in furnishings, solvents, aerosols, cleaning products, air fresheners, adhesives, sealants, pesticides and dry cleaning chemicals. Formaldehyde is a commonly-occurring VOC. It is found in paint, tobacco smoke, gas and kerosene heaters, laminate flooring and synthetic fabrics. It is also used as a binding resin in pressed wood furniture.

Red flags In dogs and cats, VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, skin reactions, headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. In severe cases, there could be organ damage and cancer; while this is unlikely in an ordinary, careful household, it does illustrate how dangerous these chemicals are.

What to do • The simplest way to lower the concentrations of VOCs in the air is to ensure good, regular ventilation. Open windows when

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Poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on your dog or cat’s

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health. Here are some of the most common sources of pollution, and what you can do to eliminate or minimize them.

weather permits, and keep tobacco smoke and car exhaust fumes well away from the house • When choosing new furnishings, look for natural woods and textiles that have been subjected to minimal processing. Choose solid wood furniture rather than pressed wood; this eliminates much of the formaldehyde found in resins. • Avoid aerosols, artificial fragrances and paraffin wax candles. While they may seem to make the air more pleasant, they are actually adding VOCs to the atmosphere. • Keep dry cleaning to a minimum and hang clothes in a wellventilated area for a couple of days after treatment. • Use paints and decorating materials that are certified to be low in VOCs. Keep windows open while paint dries, and for a few days after buying anything that may contain VOCs.

NATURALLY-OCCURRING MICROBES Mold, mildew, bacteria and dust mites proliferate in damp environments, and their airborne spores and waste products can be dangerous to both animal and human health.

Red flags Molds, mildew and bacteria can result in coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose, lethargy, paw licking, loss of appetite and noisy or labored breathing. Animals can develop allergies to house dust mites; these allergies manifest as itching, skin problems and recurrent ear infections.

What to do • The best method of keeping mold, mildew and bacteria levels low is to try and reduce humidity in the home. Hang washing outdoors or use a dryer that ventilates to the outside. Regularly empty any drip trays in driers and dehumidifiers and change the water in AC units daily. Check for leaks in pipes, or for dripping taps. • If moisture and fungal growth are a problem, you may want to minimize the number of indoor plants. Although plants can help with air quality by absorbing toxins and releasing oxygen, there is a risk that humid soil can add to the level of airborne microorganisms in a damp home. • Where visible mold appears, clean it away regularly. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that any infected area larger than 10m² should be professionally removed. If it’s suspected that the AC system is the root of the problem, it should also be professionally decontaminated. • Washing bedding (both pet and human) at 140°F will kill house dust mites. If this is done every couple of weeks, it will prevent a buildup of mites and their waste. • Soft toys and other items that can’t be washed can be placed in the freezer for 24 to 48 hours to kill dust mites. Note, however, that although the mites will then be dead, their waste products will remain in the item unless it can be cleaned. • Keep dust to a minimum, as mites cannot live without it. Use a vacuum with an HEPA filter to reduce not only house dust mites and their waste, but other contaminant particles such as pollen, smoke, spores and soot.

CARBON MONOXIDE There is also a risk of carbon monoxide from appliances that burn gas, coal, oil or wood, such as furnaces, generators, fireplaces, wood burners and motor vehicles that may be running in adjacent garages.

Red flags Carbon monoxide is dangerous to dogs, cats and humans. It can be lethal in high amounts, but even low-level exposure causes drowsiness, lethargy, breathlessness and collapse.

What to do • Carbon monoxide is a silent killer of both pets and people, so install alarms near furnaces and other heating appliances. Make sure wood burners are properly sealed and avoid burning timber that has had any chemical treatment. • Service and maintain furnaces and heating systems, even if they’re new, and keep chimneys swept and flues in good order, checking frequently for cracks. While it’s impossible to avoid all indoor air pollution, it’s fairly easy to reduce it to an acceptable level. Being careful about the chemicals you bring into your home, keeping everything clean and clutter-free, and making sure you ventilate rooms properly will all go a long way to making sure the air you and your dog or cat breathes is clean. Animal Wellness

YOUR DOG’S

MICROBIOME By Karen Shaw Becker, DVM

A healthy gut equals a healthy dog. Take a close-up look at his gut microbome, and why it’s so vital to his well-being. By now, you’ve probably heard the term “microbiome”, although you may not know exactly what it means. The microbiome describes the collection of billions of microorganisms (microbiota) that live in and on your dog’s body (and your own). The microbiome is made up of several distinct areas, including the eyes, genitals, mouth and skin, as well as the intestines, which comprises the all-important gut microbiome. Microbiota serve many beneficial functions – they control pathogens, support gut health and the immune system, produce vitamins and short chain fatty acids, and much more. In this article, we’ll focus on the gut microbiome, and how it influences your dog’s overall health.

WHY THE GUT MICROBIOME IS SO IMPORTANT Some microbes promote health while some are harmful. To describe the non-harmful relationships, researchers use the terms “commensalism” and “mutualism”. A commensal relationship means the microbe is beneficial by being in the host body, but it doesn’t affect the host. A mutual relationship means the microbe is good for the host, and the host body conditions are favorable to the microbe.

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Both commensal and mutual relationships can be very useful for the host. For example, some microbes in the human gut digest vegetable fibers, and in turn, the microbes are given food and energy. Some harmful microbes are also part of your dog’s microbiome. They can, for example, excrete metabolites that are not beneficial to the host body, or can even be pathogenic, meaning they cause illness. Salmonella is a pathogenic microbe. It can cause diarrhea in humans, but dogs very rarely get sick from it, even though they may have it in their gut quite often. In recent years, it has become abundantly clear that the composition of microbes in the gut plays a crucial role in health and disease prevention. This makes sense because 70% to 80% of your dog’s immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract. When we disrupt the gut microbiome, we automatically disrupt immune function, which can have far-reaching consequences. In humans, studies have established an association between gut microbes and dozens of health conditions, including obesity,

allergies, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, Parkinson’s, autism, organ disease, depression and more. Studies of dogs (and cats) suggest that many of the conditions often seen in today’s pets, such as oral disease, GI diseases such as IBD, skin and urinary tract problems, and bacterial infections, are all linked to changes in the gut microbiome. It’s also important to realize that genetics account for only about 10% of canine illnesses. The remaining 90% have environmental causes, with the most prevalent being an inappropriate diet.

MAINTAINING YOUR DOG’S MICROBIOME HEALTH • One of the most important steps you can take to keeping your dog’s microbiome healthy is to avoid antibiotic use, except when a bacterial infection has been definitively diagnosed and all other treatment options have been exhausted. Continued on page 30.

ANTIBIOTICS

– ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO THE MICROBIOME Antibiotics indiscriminately kill gut bacteria, both good and bad. This is why secondary infections and lowered immune function are common side effects of taking antibiotics. Chronic low-dose exposure to antibiotics through food also takes a toll on the gut microbiome, and can result in chronic ill health and increased risk of drug resistance. Scientists who have studied the impact of early-life antibiotic therapy on body composition have proven that altered microbiota, which can be the result of antibiotics, can cause obesity through processes that create inflammation or change metabolic activity in the gut. These processes can also result in diabetes and fatty liver disease. Research additionally suggests that antibiotics disrupt the early development of microbiota. Studies involving livestock animals that receive sub-therapeutic (low dose) levels of antibiotics to promote growth show that the earlier in life the antibiotics are given, the more profound the effect. Exposure to antibiotics in early infancy changes the composition of the animal’s microbiota, leaving it more vulnerable to disruption. These results show a clear link between antibiotics and changes in metabolic pathways. Further research shows that a high-fat diet exacerbates the problem, and that changes in the metabolic pathways remain throughout life. Animal Wellness

OTHER FACTORS THAT DISRUPT GUT BACTERIAL BALANCE The bacteria in your dog’s GI tract can be inﬂuenced by a number of additional factors – everything from emotional stress to an unhealthy lifestyle. Stressors that can throw your dog’s gut bacteria out of balance include:

AS A PUPPY, YOUR DOG’S PARENTS AND LITTERMATES, HER DIET AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES CONTRIBUTED TO HER MICROBIOME IN WAYS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE HER LIFELONG HEALTH.

• Sudden change in diet • Poor quality or biologically inappropriate diet • Pica (eating non-food items such as feces, sticks, rocks, etc.) • Drinking contaminated water • Vaccinations • Surgery • GI disease • Travel or boarding • Emotional stress (often caused by a change in routine or environment) When physical or emotional stress upsets the bacterial balance in your dog’s gut, it can trigger a cascade of nutritional problems, including poor nutrient absorption and intermittent or chronic diarrhea. It also opens the door to leaky gut syndrome (dysbiosis), which means partially digested amino acids and allergens are able to enter the bloodstream. This in turn can create a host of other health problems, from allergies to autoimmune disease and changes in behavior.

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Continued from page 29. If your veterinarian recommends a course of antibiotics, insist that he or she first perform a culture and sensitivity test to identify the bacteria involved and the best drug to treat it. If your vet does not complete a culture and sensitivity test, it means he or she is guessing at what antibiotic will be necessary to cure the infection, which isn’t good medicine and certainly not good for your pet’s microbiome. • Another very important step in preserving your dog’s long-term gut health is to perform damage control in situations where the microbiome may be altered, such as in the case of antibiotic therapy for a life-threatening infection. This involves providing your pet with foods and supplements that nourish gut flora. For the purposes of both mitigating damage and maintaining the resiliency of your dog’s gut, your best option is to feed a nutritionally-balanced, species-appropriate, non-genetically modified, fresh food diet. Researchers in Italy conducted a study to investigate the influence of a raw pet food diet versus an extruded (dry food) diet on the microbiome of dogs. The results suggest that raw diets promote a more balanced growth of gut bacterial communities, and a positive change in healthy gut function. • Offering fermented vegetables to your dog is another great way to help feed his gut microbiome. • High quality probiotic supplements restore the microbiome after drug therapy or during times of stress. • Another very beneficial supplement for promoting healthy digestion in your dog is digestive enzymes. High quality digestive enzymes for pets should be animal-derived and ideally contain some or all of these ingredients: betaine HCI, ox bile extract, bromelain, papain, pancreatin, protease, amylase and lipase. Your dog’s gut is home to a diverse and complex community of microbiota that serve a range of important functions. Keeping his gut microbiome balanced is crucial to maintaining his overall health and helping to prevent a variety of diseases.

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COMMON OBJECTIONS TO HOLISTIC VETERINARY MEDICINE Conventional veterinary medicine claims that holistic therapies don’t work, or that any healing that does occur can be written off as coincidence or placebo effect. Here are some powerful counterarguments against these claims.

D gs Cats By Shawn Messonnier, DVM

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Many of my clients run into a number of objections when they try to talk to their conventional veterinarians about holistic care for their dogs and cats. They feel frustrated because the doctors won’t even consider something that isn’t “mainstream conventional care”. In this article, I’ll share with you the three most common objections that traditional medicine poses against holistic medicine, and how I respond to them.

OBJECTION #1

– “THERE’S NO PROOF HOLISTIC MEDICINE WORKS.” A large number of conventional doctors don’t believe there is any proof holistic therapies work. This is one of the objections that arose when I participated in a debate with a skeptical veterinarian at an AVMA conference, and it’s a common claim. When I wrote my most recent book (actually, all my books), I had to include “proof” that what I was saying was true, or else the editor wouldn’t move forward. It’s true that double-blind, placebocontrolled studies are sometimes lacking when it comes to holistic medicine, but keep in mind that this type of study didn’t even exist until fairly recently. Doctors learned and shared with colleagues what worked and what didn’t work, based upon clinical experience. My clients only want to know if my treatment can help their pets;

and I answer that question based on my own experiences and those of my colleagues. Proof that holistic medicine works does exist if you look for it – although this isn’t to say veterinarians will accept it. One area in which the question of proof is often discussed concerns annual vaccines, which are not necessary and should not be given. Titer blood tests are preferable to determining if and when a vaccine might be needed. Vets who are against titers often say there’s no proof they work (actually, there is a lot of data showing their effectiveness). If you run up against a vet or anyone else who disagrees that titers are effective, simply ask him or her to show you proof that pets need annual shots. They won’t be able to give it to you because there isn’t any. Vets only give shots annually because that’s what they’ve always done, not because of any proof they’re needed!

OBJECTION #2

– “IF HOLISTIC MEDICINE SEEMS TO WORK, IT’S JUST A PLACEBO EFFECT.” A conventional doctor will often dismiss a successful clinical response to a holistic therapy as a placebo effect. There are actually two types of placebo effect, but only one can occur in pets.

• The placebo effect we’re most familiar with cannot apply to dogs and cats. Here’s why. Suppose you have hurt your arm, and your doctor tells you the medicine he is prescribing should make it feel better; if it doesn’t, he will have to amputate! Believe me, you’re going to do everything possible to make sure your arm feels better soon. In effect, your mind is telling your body to get better. Obviously, we can’t tell a dog or cat that he needs to feel better – either he responds to the therapy or he doesn’t. • The second type of placebo effect does occur in pets as well as people. It involves the fact that unless a disease is terminal, a percentage of patients will get better regardless of treatment. It follows that if a natural therapy might not have worked, yet the pet recovers even without it, the same can be said of a drug. Continued on page 34.

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“Why don’t you publish more articles in mainstream journals?” During the Q&A following the debate I took part in, a conventional doctor mentioned that if holistic doctors published more articles in mainstream journals, the chances of our therapies being accepted would be higher. I agreed, but shared two stories with him about how challenging this can be. • Many years ago, I wrote an article detailing the side effects of supplements. It was rejected by a prominent veterinary journal because the editor questioned why any vet would need to know this! Fortunately, a magazine whose audience was comprised of pet owners decided to run the article. • Another time, I did research for a company that made a choline supplement. I wrote up the research, detailing how this supplement successfully treated Alzheimer’s (cognitive disorder) in dogs. The AVMA

Journal turned it down, saying that since there was no such disease in dogs, my treatment could not have worked! Ten years later, a drug was discovered to help senile dogs, at which time the journal and the profession at large accepted cognitive disorder as a real disease.

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Continued from page 33. As a holistic doctor, I actually love the placebo effect because it shows me that my patients can get better on their own without the need for harsh conventional medications. At times, it may be hard to know if my therapy worked, or if the pet simply improved through placebo, but consider the following two points.

1. Isn’t it better to treat the dog or cat with something natural and devoid of side effects, rather than a harsh chemical, if he might get better anyway? And since I know my natural therapies can reduce pain and inflammation, and support the immune system during healing, isn’t it likely the animal gets some benefit without side effects, even if it’s just through feeling better and recovering from disease more quickly?

2. Many

of the cases I see are chronically ill animals that should have recovered already, either by placebo effect or with conventional treatment. By the time I see them, enough time has passed for the pet to have improved, thereby eliminating the possibility of placebo effect or coincidence (see below).

OBJECTION #3

– “IT’S ONLY A COINCIDENCE WHEN HOLISTIC MEDICINE SEEMS TO HEAL.” The final objection brought up by the skeptical veterinarian during our debate was the possibility of coincidence. Basically, as he stated it, there is always the chance that a holistic doctor is just plain lucky that the pet got better, and that it had nothing to do with the therapy. This objection is similar to that of the placebo effect, but has more to do with chance. However, when does “luck” become “reality?” How many cases must I treat before a skeptic admits I’m not simply lucky, but that actual healing occurred? Most of the cases I and my holistic colleagues see are the really tough ones that have not responded to any conventional treatments. These are the so-called “hopeless” cases I wrote about in the last issue (see “Holistic medicine for ‘hopeless’ cases”, AW V20I4). They’re the cases that failed to respond to numerous treatment attempts by several doctors, including board-certified specialists. If coincidence was the only explanation for my success, then I’m the luckiest doctor on earth! And why should I be so lucky? How come no other (conventional) doctor achieves this level of success? Are only holistic doctors so lucky that we heal and often cure the hopeless, incurable cases? I think any open-minded person has to admit that much more than luck, coincidence and a placebo effect are involved when so many people and pets who failed to respond to conventional medicine improve with natural therapies! As you can see, we have our work cut out for us when dealing with vets and others who are skeptical of holistic medicine. However, consider some of these common arguments against holistic care, and use some of the counterarguments that I use to try to win them over. And yes, I actually did win the debate against the skeptical vet at the conference!

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How your pet’s

BRAIN BODY APPETITE and

regulate his

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A properly-functioning appetite regulation system (or “appestat”) helps prevent obesity in dogs and cats by controlling feelings of hunger and satiety. However, dietary indiscretions and lack of exercise can affect this regulation, leading to overeating and weight gain. By W. Jean Dodds, DVM Obesity is a major problem in both humans and their companion animals, and one of the contributors is a dysfunction in appetite regulation. (For more about obesity, turn to page 66.) If a pet or person feels hungry all the time, he can easily overeat and gain weight. The brain and central nervous system work to regulate appetite in dogs and cats (and people!), but lifestyle and dietary factors can affect this regulation.

HOW YOUR DOG OR CAT’S APPETITE IS REGULATED Appetite is controlled by feelings of hunger and satiety (the so-called “appestat”), and is regulated centrally through the hypothalamus of the forebrain, as well as the midbrain and brain stem.

1. Hypothalamus The hypothalamus is the main regulatory effector organ of appetite, and controls the volume of food consumed. It communicates with other central nervous system (CNS) areas of the brain stem, as well as the reward-related limbic pathways of the midbrain.

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It acts as a sensor via numerous hormones (more on these later), and as a biological clock that stimulates hunger. Hunger occurs when the body’s store of nutrients is depleted: short-term reservoir stores are carbohydrates while long-term reservoir stores are fat. Glucose regulates short-term control over appetite, and the lipostat (the part of the brain that controls how much weight the body should carry) controls long-term appetite through a cumulative effect over time. The hypothalamus interprets and integrates the input of neural and humoral (circulating) factors that result in the body’s coordinated feeding and energy expenditure responses. The hypothalamus induces the secretion of adiponectin (a hormone that regulates insulin secretion and fatty acid oxidation), as well as leptin and ghrelin (the “stop” and “go” hunger hormones, respectively). Leptin comes from white adipose tissue cells and decreases appetite. Basically, these hormones act as signals for satiety, thereby regulating food intake. Leptin and another biomarker, serotonin, function in separate systems to control appetite. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT),

a biochemical marker of mood, is associated with several behavioral and psychological factors. It is also involved in the hypothalamic regulation of energy consumption and is inﬂuenced by energy conditions. The more fat (adipose) cells that are in the body, the more they secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines that help regulate immunity and chronic systemic tissue inflammation. This induces cellular oxidative stress, which leads not only to obesity, but also to infections and even cancers. Adiponectin and leptin are the fat-regulating hormones. The proinﬂammatory cytokines and bioactive peptides secreted from the adipose tissue are called adipokines.

2. Brain stem The brain stem transfers information from the peripheral nervous system to the midbrain and forebrain. It directly connects with the gut via neuronal (nervous system) pathways and regulates mechanical processes involving appetite and food intake, such as chewing and swallowing. The brain stem can organize certain aspects of feeding behavior without input from the hypothalamus. It is involved in the regulation of energy balance. Together with the hypothalamus, the brain stem also controls carbohydrate metabolism. In one study, leptin concentrations were higher in a group of obese dogs than in a group of lean dogs. Adiponectin and cerebrospinal ﬂuid 5-HT concentrations were higher in the lean group than in the obese group. Analysis of the gut microbiome also revealed that the diversity of microbes was lower in the obese group (see sidebar at right). Microbes from the phylum Firmicutes (85%) were the predominant group in the gut microbiota of the lean dogs.

3. Midbrain The limbic structures within and around the midbrain support a variety of functions, including emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and sense of smell (olfaction). When it comes to appetite regulation, the midbrain reward system partakes in the control of “hedonic” feeding (intake of palatable foods), which can override the satiety signal. Dogs, cats and humans are facing escalating problems associated with weight gain and obesity. Successful appetite control can depend on effective targeted conventional drugs and supplements – but these should always be used in conjunction with dietary modification (avoiding highglycemic carbohydrates and “bad” fats) and lifestyle changes incorporating more exercise.

CONTRIBUTING CAUSES TO DYSFUNCTIONAL APPETITE REGULATION

The desire to eat is regulated by an interaction between the digestive tract, adipose tissue and the brain. During stress, appetite levels – and therefore calories consumed – may increase, whereas dysregulation of appetite can also lead to overeating.

1. LIFESTYLE AND LACK OF EXERCISE Two chief hormones affected by exercise also control appetite, but in different directions. Ghrelin stimulates appetite, causing hunger, while peptide YY suppresses appetite. The sedentary lifestyle of most urban populations, and the pets that share their homes, has no doubt contributed to the reduced utilization of metabolic calorie intake. When coupled with a lack of regular exercise, caloric utilization is further stagnated. Calorie restriction has been shown to increase lifespan by increasing the dietary activators of sirtuins, proteins that regulate metabolism and lifespan, such as resveratrol and other polyphenols (green and black tea, and grape seed extract).

2. DIETARY ISSUES AND INDISCRETION A transient “sugar high” results from foods with a high glycemic index, such as sugars, ﬂour, rice, white potatoes, breads, and fruits like bananas and watermelon. This is followed by feelings of hunger, which promote a craving for more food. Furthermore, well-intentioned people may share unsuitable foods with their “hungry” pets to stop them begging, such as bacon, burgers or fries, which just aggravates the situation.

3. THE GUT MICROBIOME Gut bacteria can affect how different foods are digested and produce chemicals that produce a feeling of satiety. People and pets that eat food high in fiber generally have lower weight, likely due to the role of gut bacteria in digesting fiber. These bacteria also digest certain antioxidants, known as flavonoids, found in plants; this helps prevent weight gain. Lastly, gut bacteria can influence how dietary fats are absorbed in the intestines, which can affect how body fat is stored. Gut microbiota regulate the brain-gut axis. While the hypothalamus and brain stem are the primary central sites of appetite regulation, the gut microbiome can stimulate peripheral sensory neurons (cells that transmit nerve impulses). The vagus nerve is the major nervous system pathway involved and conveys information from the gastrointestinal contents to the brain: it also modulates gastrointestinal motility and feeding behavior. (For more about the microbiome, turn to page 28.) Animal Wellness

Hero atson By Emily W

“Super Collie”

Photo courtesy of Rachel Kinberger Goyette

This wowed the world with his performances on America’s Got Talent, and he’s still turning heads everywhere he goes!

it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a “Super Collie”! Meet Hero, one of the world’s most famous canines. Born on a farm in Peterborough, Ontario, this sweet pup boasts a story very similar to Clark Kent’s. From small beginnings, he’s become a beloved icon that fans across the globe recognize – and it all started when he was adopted by a young girl named Sara Carson. Now an award-winning dog trainer, Sara decided she was ready to raise a puppy when she was 17. She began her search locally,

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looking for adoptable border collies in her home town of North Bay, Ontario. A huge supporter of rescue, Sara was set on finding a homeless pup to adopt, but her applications were all denied due to her young age and lack of experience with herding breeds. But she knew she was ready, so she expanded her search to other communities. “I eventually tried looking on Kijiji and spotted Hero right away,” says Sara. The small black and white collie was the last puppy left in the litter, and Sara knew immediately that he was for her.

Sara soon found that Hero loved to play. But she also quickly noticed that his joie de vivre was equally matched by a more serious, mature demeanor. “He always thought out his actions before doing them and learned very quickly,” she says. “I took Hero to puppy classes and he didn’t really enjoy playing with the other dogs. Instead, he waited until I told him what to do.” Before long, Hero’s sharp focus and eagerness to please inspired Sara to take his training beyond the basics. She began teaching him tricks, and he excelled. Hero’s skill level very quickly went from excellent to extraordinary. Drawing on her background in agility training, Sara continued to teach him as many tricks and sports as he could handle – she even taught him to blow bubbles! Wowed by his talent, she began filming his “acts” to share on social media. To her surprise, his videos went viral. “It started with a million views,” says Sara. “Very soon, some videos were being shared and hitting up to 25 million views!” As Hero’s love of performance grew, so did his fan base, until eventually he was recognized by the big guys.

Five years and countless performances later, Sara began dreaming of getting Hero onto a larger stage. He thrived in front of a crowd, and she knew he was capable of even bigger things. So when a call came from America’s Got Talent in early 2017, asking if they were interested in auditioning, she was quick to agree. She and Hero needed to prepare a handful of different acts, which meant learning a lot more tricks. It also meant adding more dogs to the team. Her two other border collies, Marvel and Loki, joined Hero and Sara on the America’s Got Talent stage once the duo had progressed to the show’s quarter-finals – and the crowd went wild. Continued on page 40.

Carson Photos courtesy of Sara

In 2012, Sara and Hero were invited to appear on the Late Night Show with David Letterman. Hero was 14 months old at the time, and Sara still a teenager. “I didn’t watch Letterman – I just loved training my dog!” says Sara, adding that she and Hero had a wonderful time appearing on the show, and exploring NYC. Hero was the world’s first bubble-blowing dog and he performed the trick flawlessly on Letterman’s stage. So flawlessly, in fact, that Sara’s phone began to ring off the hook. In the following years, the duo appeared on several news channels throughout North America, as well as The Marilyn Denis Show and MUCH. They also showed off their skills at several live events, and were featured in a clip on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Top to bottom: Hero loves giving hugs – especially to his sister, Marvel! ; Hero’s brother, Loki, performed in the quarter ﬁnals of America’s Got Talent alongside Sara and Hero; Hero learned to skateboard when he was two years old. He loves going to the park and showing off to the humans!

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Find Hero online

Continued from page 39. Sara and her “Super Collies” subsequently moved on to the semi-finals, where Loki once again joined them onstage. Their performance garnered a standing ovation from all the judges, and a ticket to the final round. Competing for a chance to win a million dollars, the “Super Collies” brought their A-game and dazzled the audience with dock diving, agility – and, of course, tricks! “Hero and I placed fifth overall out of almost 600,000 other acts,” says Sara. “It was the biggest adventure we have ever been on and I truly can’t believe it happened.”

thesupercollies.com facebook.com/TheSuperCollies/ instagram.com/thesupercollies/

It only took Sara a few short sessions to teach Hero to balance on her feet. A “footstall” normally takes a lot of training for the human and very little training for the dog!

So how did it happen, exactly? Sara credits Hero’s talent to positive training. “All the tricks you see my dogs perform have been taught using positive reinforcement,” she says. “I find what works best as a motivator for the dog and use that to teach each behavior. It’s all about rewarding them and showing them that training is really all about fun!” Sara now teaches positive training workshops around the globe, and recently released a mobile app called Puppr to help pet parents train their canine companions. It offers step-by-step instructions on how to teach basic behaviors and advanced circus tricks – all demonstrated by Hero himself!

Photo courtesy of Sara Carson

After the America’s Got Talent finale last fall, Sara, Hero and the rest of their furry family permanently relocated to California. Today, they still travel across North America to perform at different events – but Sara makes sure Hero also has plenty of time to lounge. “After seven years of full-time travel and performing, it’s nice to settle down and focus on our little family,” she says. “When Hero was younger, we would go hiking and I would take him to the lake. He still enjoys those things, but now, being seven years old, he would much rather snuggle and watch a movie.” And though she continues to teach training workshops around the globe, Sara is more than happy to curl up next to her four-legged companion in between times. “Hero is a very wise old soul and I am just so thankful to have him in my life.”

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Hero might not have super powers, but he is undoubtedly super special. In 2014, he became a certified service dog to help Sara overcome her mental health issues; he has since continued his training to assist with other medical conditions. And just this summer, Hero broke the Guinness World Records title for “Most tricks performed by a dog in one minute”, completing 49 tricks in 60 seconds. He has earned a multitude of agility titles and is savvy in dock diving, Frisbee and canine freestyle. Not to mention he knows hundreds of tricks, boasts hundreds of thousands of social media fans, and has performed in front of hundreds of millions of people. If that’s not super, nothing is!

Business Profile

CocoTherapy By Matthew Berk

Coconut oil offers many

benefits to our

animal companions – but not all products are created equal. Here’s how one company makes

quality a priority. Charisa (right) with her Yorkie, Camille, and Carmina (left) with Charisa's kitties.

oconut oil has become a staple in almost every household. It moisturizes skin, improves digestion, boosts energy and offers other health benefits to humans and their animal companions. But quality is key. Many low-grade coconut oils actually do more harm than good, and most people don’t know the difference. Sisters Charisa Antigua and Carmina O’Connor were taught the difference from a very young age, and their company, CocoTherapy, reflects a wisdom and experience that has been passed down through generations. Hailing from a third-generation coconut family, Charisa and Carmina have a passion for quality that runs deep. But producing the very best therapeutic-grade oil became even more personal for them when Charisa’s one-year-old Yorkie, Violet, was diagnosed with severe allergies. The pup was already on a raw diet, but it was clear she needed additional support. Charisa gave her coconut oil made in their familyowned facility, and in time, she was able to wean Violet off the prednisone she was taking. After witnessing Violet’s recovery, Charisa and Carmina began researching other ways that coconut oil could help animals. They soon realized that the benefits were numerous, but the availability of therapeutic-grade coconut oil was severely lacking. So in 2009, they launched their own product that checked all the boxes – low moisture content, high medium-chain triglycerides, and optimal lauric acid levels. All these factors, combined

with the company’s strict manufacturing process, has made CocoTherapy one of the most respected coconut oils on the market today. Unlike many manufacturers who work with private-label companies and independent farmers, CocoTherapy grows and harvests their coconuts in their own USDA-certified organic coconut plantation. This enables them to ensure quality from start to finish, and guarantee consistency from batch to batch. Their coconuts are harvested at exactly 12 months old – the optimum time, according to Charisa – and are opened and used between four to eight hours after harvesting to preserve freshness. The coconuts are then cold-pressed by hand – a step that preserves the oil’s natural flavors and nutritional quality. Coconut oil can be fed to pets to improve metabolic function and brain health, enhance immunity, and boost digestive health. It can also be applied topically to treat skin problems, fight infection, and repel ticks and fleas. But again, quality is crucial. “It is very difficult to tell just by labels alone whether or not the coconut oil is high quality,” says Charisa, who along with her sister is dedicated to educating consumers. It’s why they’ve made their company so transparent, and why they put so much time and effort into making the best oil possible. “For three generations, our family’s legacy has been to produce the highest quality coconut oil. It’s our responsibility to maintain the same standard of quality for our customers and the animals we love.” Animal Wellness

The

Paleo Diet By Jean Hofve, DVM

D gs Cats

and your pet

Learn how the popular and healthy Paleo Diet can be adapted to your dog or cat.

The Paleo Diet has become very popular in the last few years. The idea is to eat the way our ancestors did during the Stone Age (the Paleolithic period) – prior to the development of agriculture and the advent of grains, which occurred about 12,000 years ago. In other words, it’s a basic "hunter-gatherer" diet: meat, fish and seafood (when they could catch it), along with nuts, vegetables, fruit and honey. Given the Paleo Diet’s popularity, it's not surprising there’s a corresponding movement to feed domestic dogs and cats based on their own ancestral diets.

ANCESTRAL CANINE AND FELINE DIETS So, what were dogs and cats eating in the misty past? Both species are classified in the Order Carnivora. Cats are easy to figure out: until recently (and currently, in many cases), they ate whole raw prey. This diet is common to all cats, large and small. Dogs, however, are considered facultative omnivores, meaning they can get nutrition from plant-derived foods as well as meat. Dogs are descended from wolves. Domestication may have begun as early as 30,000 years ago. Wild wolves, hanging around people, learned to pick up scraps and leftovers. People probably raided wolf dens to pick the friendliest cubs to raise alongside them, ultimately creating the first true dogs.

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Humans have been using fire for hundreds of thousands of years, and likely cooked most or all of their meat. Early dogs may have shared in cooked scraps, but they also scavenged the parts of carcasses the humans did not eat. Dogs also likely continued to hunt on their own, consuming their prey raw.

THE RISE OF GRAINS As agriculture and society developed, grains became a larger part of the human diet. As meat became scarcer and costlier, it was reserved mostly for the upper class. Poorer folk depended on grains, fruits and vegetables. But dogs in any class of society ate what the surrounding people ate. It benefitted dogs to adapt to a wide variety of foods; and indeed, dogs today are better able to digest starch than their wolf cousins.

PET FOOD IS A RECENT INNOVATION It’s only since the 1940s that commercially-produced pet food became popular and turned into the sole diet for most North American dogs and cats. Pet food manufacturers have taken advantage of the dog's nutritional flexibility by substituting grains and starchy vegetables for meat, particularly in dry kibble products. The same has happened with many cat foods, even though cats are obligate carnivores. Dry food is the cheapest

to produce, and consequently the most profitable. Unfortunately, the proliferation of cheap, poor quality pet foods has given rise to a range of health problems in dogs and cats, ranging from diabetes to dental disease.

ADAPTING THE PALEO DIET TO YOUR DOG OR CAT Most of us aren't going to stock freshly-killed prey in our kitchens, but we can follow the Paleo Diet's general nutritional framework based on the prey animals dogs and cats used to eat. A rodent, for example, contains about 55% protein, 40% fat and <10% carbohydrate. A white-tailed deer fawn comprises 57% protein, 25% fat, 11% minerals and 7% carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are mostly in the form of glycogen and other sugars stored in the liver and muscles, and in the contents of the prey's digestive tract. Raw, homemade and even many high quality canned feline diets approximate this distribution fairly well. Dogs can thrive on this nutritional makeup, but equally well on diets containing more Paleo-acceptable carbohydrates. While most humans use cooked meat in their own Paleo program, for dogs and cats the meat may be either raw or cooked. Grains play no part in the Paleo Diet, because they were not available during the earliest periods of history. Continued on page 44.

BENEFITS OF A

PALEO DIET • “Live” enzymes (in raw ingredients). The many enzymes present in raw foods are destroyed by cooking. Just keep in mind that vegetables need "pre-digestion" by heat or mechanical breakdown. • Increased bioavailability. Raw or lightly-cooked meat and organs are more digestible for both dogs and cats, and can therefore be better absorbed and utilized by the body. • Weight management. Many Paleo-type diets are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. In cats, dogs and humans, low-carbohydrate diets have proven their value in weight loss. • Better insulin metabolism. For cats, eliminating highcarbohydrate foods will virtually eliminate their chances of developing diabetes, and will help many already-diabetic cats achieve remission. For dogs, the diet-diabetes link is less clear, but a low-carb diet provides better blood glucose control for diabetic dogs than typical high-carb dog foods. • Healthier immune system. The microbiome (gut bacteria) has a huge influence on the immune system. One of the most consistently-reported changes in dogs fed a raw Paleo Diet is that inflammatory problems diminish or disappear.

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Continued from page 43. Both raw and cooked vegetables and fruits may be included in a Paleo Diet for dogs. But for cats, high-starch vegetables and nearly all fruits should be avoided. • Green leafy vegetables are best, followed by zucchini, celery and green beans. • Somewhat starchier veggies, such as green peas, beets and sweet potatoes, can be used sparingly if weight is not an issue. • Cruciferous vegetables, like cabbage, broccoli and kale, are extremely nutritious, and while they are said to interfere with thyroid function, this is not a concern when they’re cooked and fed in moderation. • Spinach and rhubarb should be avoided in pets with a history of urinary crystals or stones. • Plant foods that are or could be toxic to dogs or cats include onions, garlic, grapes/raisins, cherries and macadamia nuts. Do not feed fruit containing seeds or pits, which may contain cyanide.

A BASIC PALEO DIET FOR PETS

• Fresh meat, poultry, organ meat and eggs • Fresh, non-starchy vegetables and fruits (up to 25% of the diet for dogs, 15% for cats) • Omega-3 fatty acids • Probiotics and digestive enzymes • Vitamin and mineral supplements as needed Ideally, ingredients should be organic, 100% grass-fed or pasture-raised, and/or locally sourced. However, adding any fresh foods to your dog or cat’s diet will have farreaching benefits. The closer you get to the natural ancestral diet, the better.

Dogs and cats do not produce the enzymes needed to digest plant cell walls, so veggies need to be steamed and/or pureed to access the nutrients. For example, raw carrot chunks do not contribute any meaningful nutrition, although they do provide flavor, entertainment and a little chewing action, which many dogs enjoy. Organic baby food is a very easy way to include veggies and fruits in a dog or cat’s diet. Adding a digestive enzyme supplement (but not pancreatic extract) is also helpful. As with any major dietary change, the Paleo Diet should be introduced gradually to your dog or cat. Ultimately, most pets do very well with this approach.

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product picks Support for healthy

immunity

A strong immune system is a cornerstone to good health. NOW® Pets Immune Support is designed to help maintain your pet’s immune system and innate resistance to pathogens. It also helps enhance liver and kidney function. The product is formulated with a proprietary organic mushroom blend, and includes added support from milk thistle, turmeric root, licorice root, and more. NowFoods.com/pet-health

Delicious

and nutritious

We love our dogs, so it’s only natural that we want to give them treats. Besides, who can resist those big pleading eyes? V-dog’s New Blueberry Wiggle Biscuits are 100% vegan and USDA organic. Made in the US and packed with grain-free superfoods like coconut, kale, buckwheat and blueberries, they're super tasty and packed with the kind of organic goodness your furry monster deserves to stay happy and healthy. V-Dog.com

Packed

with protein

Redbarn’s new Protein Puffs are a natural, clean label treat for cats and dogs loaded with a milk protein derived from human-grade caseinate. These low-calorie, low-fat puffs contain 75% protein at less than one calorie per treat, and are also packed with essential amino acids. Light and crispy, these healthy treats can also be used as food toppers or training aids. Made in the US. RedBarnInc.com

Enhance your senior’s

mobility

Muscle loss, arthritis, orthopedic/neurologic issues and general aging can cause dogs to experience mobility problems, especially on smooth ﬂoors. PawFriction is a veterinarian-designed paw pad coating system that improves quality of life for senior dogs and those with orthopedic or neurological conditions. It decreases sliding on smooth ﬂoors, increases mobility, and reduces risk of injury. PawFriction restores your dog's traction and is completely safe. PawFriction.com

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Reward him with optimal

Omega-3s dog or cat

for your

While most of us know we need Omega-3 essential fatty acids for optimal human health, not everyone knows that dogs and cats need them too. Omega-3s are good for their skin and coats, and also help with joint health. Baierun’s 100% human grade ﬁsh oils are a pure and potent source of EPA and DHA Omega3s to help support lasting good health for your dog or cat.

nutrition

Our dogs and cats bring wonder, joy and love to our lives. In return, they deserve no less than our very best. Nutrena’s Loyall Life® Super Premium Pet Food rewards our best friends for their companionship and devotion, at every age and activity level. The company’s exclusive Opti-Cook® technology helps ensure nutrient consistency, supporting a healthy digestive tract. NutrenaWorld.com

BaieRun.com

Two-in-one grooming

tool

Want your dog to look her best? The Bass Hybrid Groomer features a breakthrough design that fuses the coatshining power of natural bristles with the detangling beneﬁts of alloy pins. With the pins positioned in a concentric ring around the bristles, the product separates the hair, allowing the bristles to thoroughly sweep through dense coat layers and giving a more complete detangling and polishing effect with much less work. BassHybridGroomer.com

Healing

power of turkey tail mushroom

The turkey tail mushroom has been shown to modulate the immune system, which is important for ﬁghting diseases such as cancer and infections. Healthy Hemp Pet Company has launched a revolutionary new health product to boost pet immunity. CannaDrops Immune Supporter combines USDA full-ﬂower organic turkey tail mushroom with USDA organic, vapor-distilled PCR-hemp oil for a powerhouse formulation that may help pets with a variety of health conditions, including cancer. HealthyHempPet.com/ turkeytailmushroom

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passages

Love

AMBASSADOR OF By David Termine

By David Termine

Just over 14 years ago, I fell for a Jack Russell mix puppy. He stole my heart and holds a piece of it to this very day. He had just arrived from Puerto Rico with the Save-A-Sato program, and even came with a letter from his foster person that said: “God bless you for giving this little guy a home.” That day at the shelter, it took me one look, one hold, and one second to say “yes”. I always felt our union was no accident because my first Sato rescue received a terminal diagnosis at about the same time Jasper was born in Puerto Rico. Eight months later, this same little dog would rescue me as much as I did him.

Jasper was like an angel on paws – so loving, comical and sweet, and with such a quiet demeanor. His face endeared him to many, and it was as if he knew it because he barely “barked” a word. But as they say, the eyes are the windows to the soul, and with this little guy a look was usually all it took. Jasper shared every aspect of our lives. When it came to food, we often gave in to his desire for a taste of whatever we could share.

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His faves were organic apples and carrots, and a little exhalation of breath was his reminder that he was down there waiting for what was his to receive and ours to gladly give. He would perch between the front seats on long trips for work or leisure travel; accompany us on fund-raising walks; or charge into our bedroom in the morning to kiss us awake. He was also the ring bearer at our wedding, donning a tuxedo and boutonniere. We would include Jasper in anything we could, and his little trooper spirit and seemingly endless happiness just to be alive taught me many lessons. When Jasper was nine, he was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease. For five years after that, good complementary protocols kept things at bay, but eventually, the complications of the disease started to take their toll on him. Up until his 14th birthday, you’d never have known he was sick. Within a few months after that, however, his quality of life became a distant stranger to us. Just after he turned 14½, I made the decision to set him free. It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made, yet also the most loving thing I could do. Looking back now, his last five months were very difficult for me and others marveled

at my devotion. But if the tables could have been turned, I know Jasper would have done the same for me. The weekend before Jasper was to leave for the Rainbow Bridge, we visited an animal communicator. During our session, she conveyed to me that Jasper was telling her he was the “Ambassador of Love” and that our plan for his departure was best for us both. He then “brought” her a butterfly and told me to look for a sign, because she sensed our bond was beyond the here and now.

Three days later, after Jasper was gone, I was packing my car when a red admiral butterfly spent almost 20 minutes with me. It first landed on my sneaker, then on my jeans. It flew into my car and onto the console and later settled on the passenger side dash. It even allowed me to hold it in my palm before finally flying off! Friends and family are still mesmerized by the videos on my phone. I knew I had to notify the animal communicator the following week. More importantly, I knew I was definitely not alone. It was a magical 20 minutes that I’ll never forget. Life is a series of lessons and I’ll cherish the time Jasper and I had together – from the many times I adoringly asked others, “Have you seen his face?” to the moments I reflected upon never before knowing I could love a canine so much. Jasper taught me that true love is not only unconditional but also effortless, and most of all, endless.

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This column features articles from our library at AnimalWellnessMagazine.com

Many people don’t realize that the same parenting principles that kept us safe and helped us learn and grow as children also work with dogs. All unwanted behaviors in dogs can be relieved by applying some good, proactive parenting skills.

Top

dog parenting tips By Paul Owens

Having trouble getting your dog to do what you ask? Training success means being a good pooch parent.

Good parenting is all about maintaining health and safety, setting realistic goals, being consistent, using non-violent discipline, stimulating mental and physical growth with play and exercise, and making sure your dog has quiet time and a place to get away from it all.

TAKE CARE OF HIS HEALTH

Successful training depends on you and your dog’s developing skills; however, his health must always be first and foremost. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to ensure your dog has a clean bill of health.

USE RESTRAINT AND CONFINEMENT (it’s not what you think!)

Many of my clients express an aversion to restraining or confining their dogs – some even feel it’s cruel and inhumane. Since positive training is all about flow rather than physically competing with the dog, they question how restraint and confinement could even be considered. Restraint simply means putting the dog on a leash or cable. Confinement simply means placing him behind a barrier such as a baby gate, exercise pen, fence or dog run. Think of a parent holding a child by the hand. Until the child becomes responsible, he or she must be protected. Similarly, until your dog is reliable and no longer running into the street, chewing up everything in the house, or eliminating on floors and carpets, management is required. I tell clients that if they follow step-by-step procedures of positive training for tethering in the house, the dog is not traumatized in the least. And within weeks, he will graduate and be allowed to roam free in the house without having to be tethered. Successful tethering eliminates the need for corrections because the dog can’t get into trouble and it keeps everyone safe. It is achieved easily and without stress by simply: • Tying your dog’s leash or cable to something so it’s flat on the ground. • Standing in front of your dog and giving highly-valued treats (like chicken) so that being restrained is associated with something wonderful. • Progressing to asking him to lie down (a relaxed position) and then giving him treats.

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• Gradually increasing your distance and the duration of time before giving treats. It would be abusive to tie a dog to something and allow him to exhaust or hurt himself trying to get free. That’s why it’s so important to acclimatize your dog gradually and never leave him tethered if you are not in the same room with him.

HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

Older or larger dogs can’t always do what younger or smaller ones can do, and vice versa. Train at your dog’s individual learning rate and take his physical and emotional abilities into account.

INSTALL ROUTINES AND CONSISTENCY

Being consistent includes establishing daily routines. A dog’s temperament and his ability to handle stress are directly related to his ability to “predict the future”. If you feed your dog at set times, play and walk at set times, groom and massage at set times, he will learn to relax and remain calm at other times. This doesn’t mean you should become a prisoner to a schedule or that spontaneity is lost; dogs have to learn to roll with life’s vagaries just as we do. It simply means that doing some things routinely through the day can dramatically improve his stress management skills.

Inconsistent human behavior results in sloppy and inconsistent behavior from the dog. A good example is getting a dog to “stay”. For example, don’t say “stay” then walk out the door without releasing the dog. The dog will quickly realize he can get up whenever he wants because there’s no one around to tell him otherwise. It’s important to give a clear signal when asking for a behavior – and another clear signal to complete it. “Stay” must always be linked with a release signal such as “okay”. Lastly, every family member needs to use the same signals. If everyone isn’t consistent, the dog won’t be either.

GIVE HIM EXERCISE AND EMPLOYMENT

Effective training includes providing your dog with sufficient exercise and employment. There are two times during the day when your dog’s afterburners kick in and you’ll see him running and sliding across the kitchen floor, jumping and bumping into you and the furniture, chewing, stealing and more. This happens early in the morning up to around 11am, and again in the early evening between 4pm and 8pm. If you don’t give your dog something to do to redirect this energy, he will find something to do on his own. The solution is simple. Become your dog's employer by providing “jobs” such as hunting and “killing” treat-filled toys, playing hide-and-seek, teaching him to put his toys in his toy

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PROACTIVE VS. REACTIVE

People who have problems with their dogs often create an environment of militaristic competition. This is because we are a reactive society. We wait for stuff to happen and then try to fix it. This means people often react to their dogs’ behavior by punishing them after the fact, in an effort to stop them from doing the behavior again. And there are many trainers out there who still foster the notion that punishment works. So navigating these waters can sometimes be tricky. Rather than trying to fix a problem by stopping a behavior in the act, be proactive. Set up the environment so the behavior can’t happen, then replace the problem behavior with something else. You don’t give a young child a box of crayons and say, “I’m leaving for the day, don’t use these crayons.” What’s going to happen? When you get home there will be drawings all over the walls. A proactive parent teaches the child to use a coloring book, and keeps the crayons put away until she knows the child will use the book instead of the walls. Proactive training involves setting up the environment for safety and success by preventing the dog from making the mistake in the first place. Then the dog is taught and rewarded for successes. Always ask yourself what you want your dog to do in any given situation. If you don’t know, he can’t possibly know either. Teach him substitute behaviors. Instead of jumping, teach him to sit. Instead of stealing food off the table, teach him to run to his bed whenever food is put on the table. Instead of digging, teach him to hunt for hidden treats.

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box, and so on. Employment is important because it not only provides stimulation but also promotes and develops a sense of self, purpose and pride. The objective of giving your dog a job is to establish yourself as boss. When you become his employer, you tell him when and where he should do all these behaviors…or not. And with that leadership role established, everyone lives happily ever after.

INCORPORATE PLAY AND REWARD-BASED DISCIPLINE

Having fun and playing with your dog are the cornerstones to developing the happiest, healthiest relationship possible. All training is a game and all behaviors are tricks. If it’s not fun for you, it’s not fun for your dog. That being said, new trainers often have a difficult time reconciling positive training with discipline. After all, if a dog isn’t being reprimanded and corrected, how can a behavior become reliable? Discipline means setting boundaries and enforcing rules. It does not mean using physical punishment. The answer lies in learning the difference between correcting the behavior and correcting the dog. The deal you make with your dog includes a promise of no hitting, kicking, shocking, pinning or jerking. However, the dog must earn everything he wants. So rewards such as affection, tug games, fetch, going for a walk, getting on the furniture, getting to sniff on a walk, and so on, are given in abundance if the dog earns them. It’s simple. Teach your dog to sit, lie down or stay or walk by your side, and if he does these things, he gets everything he wants. This is done incrementally, beginning at a kindergarten level and progressing to a PhD.

GIVE HIM QUIET TIME

Imagine constantly have your senses bombarded with the sights, sounds, touches and smells of the world. If you didn’t have the opportunity to get away from it all now and then, you might get really grumpy. It’s important to keep training sessions short, and play times structured for duration and intensity. Dogs are supposed to relieve stress, not increase it. Incorporating and practicing these seven suggestions will ensure a safe, happy, lifelong relationship of peace with your number one fan – your dog!

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Common digestive problems in dogs By Christine Caplan, CVT

Chances are, your dog will have a few digestive upsets in his lifetime. Understand what the most common problems are, and what do to when symptoms arise.

Digestive disorders are among the most common reasons people take their dogs to the vet. There are two types – acute and chronic – and how they’re treated depend on the causes and symptoms, which can range from vomiting and diarrhea to inappetence and weight loss.

turkeys covered in butter, or other foods high in fat. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that causes diarrhea and vomiting. If your dog accidentally eats a large quantity of fatty food (at any time of year!) and is showing signs of sickness, a trip to the vet is in order. A blood test can rule out pancreatitis.

TOP ACUTE DIGESTIVE DISORDERS

Foreign body obstruction

Acute digestive problems all trigger gastritis, and there are many causes for each.

We see this all the time! Obstructions occur when dogs consume items that will not readily pass through the gastrointestinal tract. These can include clothing, sticks, or even food products like bones. One of the first signs of obstruction can be diarrhea and vomiting; it’s considered an emergency so get your dog to the vet ASAP.

Bloat Also known as gastric dilation-volvulus or torsion, bloat is common in larger breeds with deep chests, such as like Akitas and great Danes. Dogs at the greatest risk are those that eat too fast, while those that eat only once daily may also be at risk. Gastric distention causes the stomach to twist, which closes the esophagus. This means your dog can no longer expel gas or vomit. You’ll notice a distended abdomen, pain and drooling. Bloat is a medical emergency, and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Pancreatitis This is an acute disorder that can be more often diagnosed around the holidays. That’s because dogs get into Thanksgiving

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TOP CHRONIC DIGESTIVE DISORDERS Chronic disorders can be hard to diagnose, but they can also lead to gastritis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) IBS occurs when inflammatory cells take over the intestine. Your dog will have chronic vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. If your dog seems to get sick more often than is normal, and isn’t maintaining his weight, it’s a good idea to have him checked for IBD. This disease can be caused or exacerbated by a food intolerance, so a change in diet can sometimes do wonders.

WHAT’S GASTROENTERITIS?

Gastroenteritis is a medical term referring to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, usually the stomach and intestines. It can be caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or by reactions to medications or new foods. It often involves abdominal discomfort or pain, diarrhea and/or vomiting.

Toxic plant ingestion (can also be acute) Many common houseplants – and garden plants – are toxic to dogs. The ASPCA has a list of almost 500 plants that can make dogs sick. Azalea, hemlock, English ivy and thorn apple are at the top of the list. These all have intense effects on the GI tract and may cause chronic vomiting and diarrhea.

Parasites (can also be acute) Common parasitic infections that cause varying degrees of GI upset are giardia and coccidia. Some dogs with giardia may go a long time without signs, but then develop diarrhea and vomiting. Coccidia impacts the small intestine, which can cause vomiting and bloody diarrhea and can be life-threatening. As you can see, the causes, signs and symptoms of both acute and chronic canine digestive symptoms vary. They can be sudden

and intense, as in the case of sudden vomiting or diarrhea; or less dramatic and slower in progression, such as gradual loss of appetite or weight, abdominal bloating and constipation. When any digestive symptoms arise in your dog, it’s important to know when you need to head to the vet, or when you can simply observe your dog to see if the problem gets better, while supporting him with home remedies and a bland diet. If your dog is in distress and/or you’re in any doubt about what the problem is, see a vet as soon as possible. If acute vomiting and/ or diarrhea don’t clear up within a day, it’s also important to take your dog to the vet to avoid dehydration. The same applies if any symptoms recur or become chronic.

NATURAL TREATMENT OPTIONS How your dog’s digestive problem is treated depends heavily on what’s causing it, but there are some natural remedies that can help. • Slippery elm is the go-to herb for the GI tract. Herbalists and holistic/ integrative vets recognize this tree bark as a first-line treatment

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VOMITING – is it serious or not?

Some dogs will vomit occasionally. Keeping track of the frequency, consistency and color, along with the dog’s overall health and behavior, is key to determining if the vomiting is a serious problem. Is he vomiting because he just ate some grass? Not an emergency. Is he vomiting because he ate some chocolate? Definitely an emergency. Is he throwing up bile in the early mornings? Could be a sign of an underlying problem that requires a vet check.

for diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. “I frequently use slippery elm with patients that have common digestive disorders,” says Dr. Becky Jester, a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Herbalist “I see a lot of dogs with sensitive stomachs while some pet owners come to me so I can address appetite stimulation. Other patients may have IBD.” •A dditional gentle anti-inflammatory herbs include chamomile, raspberry leaf, plantain, cranberry, nettle and couchgrass. The tannins in these herbs shrink up the mucus membranes. • High quality food grade essential oils such as peppertming can also be used to help soothe digestive issues, but it’s important to work with a veterinarian or other professional who is knowledgeable about essential oil use.

If a dog is feeling nauseous, he will exhibit the following signs: • Drooling • Licking his lips • Swallowing excessively Typically, if a dog needs to vomit, he will race to the door. Home treatment options Based on my experience as a certified vet tech, the most popular go-to treatment for vomiting is a bland diet after resting the dog’s stomach. The key is to skip a meal (sometimes for as long as 24 hours), and then feed the dog a small meal of boiled chicken and boiled white rice. If there is no more vomiting, simply observe your dog. If the vomiting continues, take him to the vet immediately. When is it time to call the vet? Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice the following: • Blood in your dog’s vomit • Fever, lethargy and/or pain • Acute and persistent vomiting • You saw him eating a foreign object beforehand. Keep in mind that if your dog is a senior, and has underlying issues, it’s important to have him seen by your vet as soon as possible if he starts vomiting. Natural solutions for mild cases Ginger’s nausea-relieving properties are well known. It’s often used as a remedy for vomiting and motion sickness. “A dog who tends to be carsick might benefit from powdered ginger root capsules given half an hour before the excursion,” says Denise Flaim, author of The Holistic Dog Book. “Because of its properties as a stomach soother, this herb also helps treat indigestion.” Essential oils can help too. Peppermint is known for calming upset stomachs. Denise suggests diluting peppermint essential oil in an equal amount of carrier oil (coconut oil is popular) and putting it in an area where the dog will lick it. Again, be absolutely certain you are using a high quality food grade oil. Is there ever a reason to induce vomiting? If you suspect your dog has ingested something poisonous, call the closest emergency vet and head there immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless you’ve spoken with your vet first and he/she recommends it. Otherwise, you can cause more harm than good.

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Phytonutrients for your dog

Found in a range of colorful vegetables and fruits, phytonutrients offer signiﬁcant antioxidant effects that can help with many canine health problems, from age-related issues to chronic diseases like cancer.

By Nancy Scanlan, DVM, MS, CVA In the last issue of Animal Wellness (V20I4), we looked at micronutrients, the common vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay healthy. Now we’ll zero in on the lesser-known phytonutrients, plant-based nutrients essential to animal (and human) well-being. Although phytonutrients are not required for your dog’s growth or development, they contribute to overall long-term health. Higher levels of phytonutrients can even help prevent or reverse chronic disease, and decrease problems associated with aging.

PHYTONUTRIENTS ABOUND IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Thousands of phytonutrients are found in plants, and there is no single chemical category for all of them. Some, like sulforaphane, are in a category by themselves. Others, like flavonoids and carotenoids, are large groups with numerous compounds – over 5,000 flavonoids alone have been identified. Fortunately, a much smaller number have been shown to play the biggest part in maintaining health, and the fruits and vegetables containing the highest concentrations of these phytonutrients have been identified. Phytonutrients are why diets high in fruits and vegetables are healthier than average diets supplemented with synthetic vitamins. Even supplementing the diet with vegetable and fruit powders offers proven health benefits for humans. Animal guardians also note that their dogs do better on diets that contain fresh whole foods, including vegetables and fruits. Phytonutrients are mostly responsible for vibrant plant colors, especially dark green, rich red, orange, blue and purple. So

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it makes sense that fruits and vegetables with the most phytonutrients are dark leafy greens, berries (red, blue and purple), and veggies such as yams and winter squash with orange and yellow flesh. The nutrients reside in the colored parts of the food, so red apple peel has a higher concentration of phytonutrients than the rest of the apple. Red-fleshed fruits like raspberries have nutrients spread throughout the fruit. In short, if you want to add some phytonutrient-rich fruits and veggies to your companion’s diet, go for the bright colors. (Just be sure to avoid fruits and veggies that are toxic to dogs, such as grapes of any color, as well as raisins.)

2 STAND-ALONE PHYTONUTRIENTS

1. Sulforaphane is found in the broccoli family. The highest levels are found in broccoli sprouts, but there are large amounts in the plants themselves, including broccoli, kale, cauliflower, collard greens and others in this family. Sulforaphane offers some of the strongest anti-cancer effects of all phytonutrients. Commercially-frozen broccoli does not contain a usable form, but adding a little daikon (Japanese radish) fixes that problem. Most pills are not reliable when it comes to the correct form or quantity of sulforaphane.

2. Resveratrol lies at the root of the “French paradox”, and is why

the French can eat high-fat foods such as cheese and butter without suffering heart disease. Resveratrol is a red-purple pigment found in the skins of red grapes, and in berries such as blueberries and cranberries. Resveratrol is an excellent antiinflammatory nutrient with anti-aging and broad anti-cancer

WHAT ARE PHYTONUTRIENTS GOOD FOR? The best-known of all phytonutrients have a number of things in common. They offer high antioxidant activity. Consequently, they are anti-inflammatory and have at least some anti-cancer action (either by helping prevent or treat it, or both, depending on the nutrient). Phytonutrients can also assist with muscle strength in older animals, and help promote healthy aging. In humans (and probably in cats as well), they can help modulate blood sugar levels to control Type II diabetes. Some phytonutrients are especially helpful for specific problems, such as cataracts or respiratory disease.

activities. This nutrient has been shown to prevent cancer at three stages – in pro-cancer environments (such as cases of repeated sunburn), in the beginnings of tumor growth, and in slowing the rapid growth phase.

CAROTENOIDS The carotenoid family of phytonutrients is especially good for skin and eye problems. Carotenoids are fat-soluble, which means they are absorbed better if given with a healthy fat or oil, such as fish, olive, avocado or almond oils. They are highest in foods with a red or orange color, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, winter squash, cantaloupe and papaya. They are also found in kale and other dark green leafy and cruciferous vegetables. • Unlike most nutrients, the lycopene found in tomatoes is released in greater quantities when the tomatoes are cooked. This is especially true when they’re cooked in an

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The flavonoid family has a strong antioxidant effect. Because of this, they have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In humans they are also especially good for the health of the heart and blood vessels. • Citrus bioflavonoids are found at high concentrations in peels, not only of oranges but also other citrus fruits like lemons, limes, tangerines and grapefruit. Besides the standard antioxidant action, these bioflavonoids are especially good at protecting the respiratory system, and they boost the Just because phytonutrients do great things, it does not mean you can choose just one for you or action of vitamin C.

Phytonutrients work best in groups

your dog and get all the help you need. Many separate chemical pathways lead to inflammation, cancer and aging, and a single phytonutrient does not cover every one. So for the best effect, you need a variety of phytonutrients to cover the broadest number of pathways.

• Rutin is a flavonoid found in buckwheat, olives, asparagus oil. Interestingly, canned and raspberry. It is especially tomatoes do not have this useful for decreasing bruising increased level of lycopene, In addition, many phytonutrients have one or more and reducing blood clots in probably because the canning additional benefits, so if you use only one for your dog, the case of stroke. temperature is so high. you will not get the full range of effects possible. Lycopene is an especially good In plants, phytonutrients come in groups, so it’s • Quercitin is found in leafy cancer fighter, and may help best to use them the same way. Animals were designed to eat whole foods, not greens, tomatoes, berries and with memory problems (and with individual pills. broccoli. It is one of the most Alzheimer’s disease in humans). widely distributed and abundant plant nutrients, with strong antioxidant effects. • Another carotenoid, beta carotene, has an It has been found helpful for allergies, chronic antioxidant effect when given in low doses. But when fatigue and autoimmune problems. given in very high doses, it actually has a pro-oxidant effect. The pro-oxidant form has a pro-inflammatory action, which helps cancer cells invade and multiply more rapidly. Rather than giving your animal pure beta carotene, its beneficial effects on the skin and eyes are best administered by giving him carrot powder, which contains a balance of carotenoids at a dose that helps the body. • A third carotenoid is the red-orange pigment astaxanthin. It’s found in algae; in krill, which eat those algae; and in salmon, which eat the krill. Astaxanthin is primarily responsible for the bright orange color of wild-caught salmon; it only shows up as a very pale color in farm-raised salmon. This carotenoid helps vision by specifically protecting the cells of the retina. It has a similar effect on brain cells, and can help with age-related memory problems in older animals. It also improves exercise performance in human competitive cyclists, and could help canine athletes as well.

FLAVONOIDS Many people associate the word “bioflavonoids” with oranges and vitamin C. Bioflavonoids may also be called flavonoids, which makes the main name of this family a little confusing. The bioflavonoid family also contains flavonols and flavones, so many call the version found in oranges and other citrus fruits by the term “citrus bioflavonoids.”

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•P rocyanidins are found in pine bark and in grape seeds. They are also found in apples; however, amounts vary greatly, depending on the variety of apple, and do not depend on the level of pigment. For example, Granny Smith apples have more procyanidins than McIntosh apples, but Red Delicious apples have more than both. Procyandians are especially good for memory problems associated with old age, and for high cholesterol. They may also help with high blood pressure. In general, phytonutrients offer health benefits that help with chronic disease. You may want to give your dog a specific phytonutrient for a specific problem. To get the same benefits that humans derive from a diet high in fruits and vegetables, consider high quality fruit and vegetable powders as the easiest way to get a lot of nutrients into your dog at once. Some dogs also enjoy fresh vegetables and/ or fruits added to their diet. Experiment with a few and see what your dog likes. Phytonutrients can benefit all animals, especially during their golden years.

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the scoop QUALITY DOG ACCESSORIES

The PupRug Faux Fur Memory Foam Orthopedic Bed doubles as an attractive rug. Covered in ultra-soft faux fur, it comes in two styles and sizes, and is ﬁlled with premium long-lasting memory foam. The PupProtector Car Seat Cover is made from waterproof polyester to protect car seats from water, dirt, hair and scratching damage. TreatADog.com

LIGHT THERAPY

Treat arthritis, soft tissue injuries and more thanks to Canine Light Therapy. The company’s light therapy pads use the same therapeutic energy as a laser, and at a fraction of the cost. There are four pad sizes to choose from. Light therapy is easy, convenient, affordable – and it works! CanineLightTherapy.com

SKIN AND COAT SUPPORT BioSKIN&COAT is a natural bioﬂavonoid-based antihistamine. It’s designed to promote skin and coat health in cats and dogs by supporting normal immune and histamine response to allergens. Quercetin, bromelain, enzymes and more are blended in an organic, whole food, lignan-rich ﬁber that optimizes palatability and nutrient bioavailability. BiologicVet.com

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

HomeoVet is a complete line of 14 natural remedies tailored for the health concerns of our furry friends. Formulated by homeopathic experts at the company’s Montreal laboratory, the line consists of pharmaceutical-grade remedies dedicated to animal health. All remedies are free of artiﬁcial ﬂavor, sugar, gluten and color. Homeocan.ca

NEW PROGRAM TO INCREASE DOG ADOPTIONS

The SPCA of Texas is the ﬁrst animal welfare agency to participate in the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center’s new Learning Lab program. This innovative program is designed to help shelters implement specialized scientiﬁcally-based rehabilitation techniques and protocols to assist homeless dogs in overcoming fearful behaviors that prevent adoption. ASPCA.org, SPCA.org

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ANIMALS IN NEED

Do you need help paying for a pet’s critical or urgent vet bills? Violet's Friends in Need is a program that can help animals and their owners by providing financial assistance for urgent or critical veterinary care. Applicants must meet specific qualifications, and can apply for assistance online. OscarNewman.com or CocoTherapy.com

HOMEMADE FOOD MADE EASY

Preparing a homemade diet can be overwhelming, but EZComplete by Food Fur Life premixes make the process simple. Just mix with boneless meat and water. That’s it! The result is a delicious balanced and complete food for your dog or cat – the way nature intended. For all life stages. FoodFurLife.com

FAST RELIEF FOR INJURIES

Soos™ Mineral Enriched Rescue Cream is a natural topical treatment that treats dermal injuries and speeds healing. It’s made with minerals from the Dead Sea and includes 93 natural ingredients to stop pain, create a protective barrier and prevent infection. For cuts, rashes, hotspots, dry/cracked paws, eczema, bug bites, sores, dry elbows and more. SoosPets.com

POST-SURGICAL PET GARMENTS

The Cover Me by Tui from Tulane’s Closet, LLC, is a one-piece garment designed to prevent pets from licking or chewing sutures, hot spots, lick granulomas or skin allergies. This breathable, washable, step-into or pullover pet garment has a built-in potty cover so there’s no need to remove the cover during bathroom breaks. TulanesCloset.com

FELINE MYSTERIES

An artefact gone missing. A jungle full of clues. Can one cat detective save a national treasure? Serendipity Mystery is the seventh standalone children’s book in the Diary of a Snoopy Cat series by R.F. Kristi. It features Inca, a Siberian kitty sleuth whose adventures in this latest book take her to Sri Lanka. IncaBookSeries.com

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You worked hard to train your dog when he was young, but how do you maintain his good behavior on an ongoing basis? By Susan Dalton PhD

MAINTAINING YOUR DOG’S

GOOD BEHAVIOR

You adopt a new puppy and enroll him in a basic obedience class that uses reward-based training. He seems to struggle at first, but you don’t give up. You take him to more classes while practicing every day. Eventually, around the age of two, your pup becomes the well-behaved adult you’ve been aiming for. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s really just beginning. Your dog will continue learning throughout his life, so it’s important to keep up with his training to maintain the good behavior you both worked so hard for.

BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS For the first year or two, we lean on basic obedience skills as a way to keep our dogs calm and happy, while helping them stay out of trouble (for the most part!). This small cluster of six to eight behaviors – the “basic obedience set” – helps us develop a system in which we give the commands and our dogs perform them. They also help teach our dogs the difference between wanted and unwanted behaviors. We encourage and reward some behaviors (sit, down, stay) while finding others (pooping in the living room) unacceptable. Using nothing more than our “basic obedience set”, we mold a dog’s behavior, replacing unwanted behaviors with those we prefer, all without any punishment.

APPLYING THESE SKILLS IN THE REAL WORLD This training serves another hidden purpose. Each time you thoughtfully interact with your dog, in any setting, you give him real-time feedback regarding his behavior. If you are on a walk and he suddenly raises his hackles and barks when a new dog comes into view, you may ask him to sit; this tells him there is no danger, and staying calm is the appropriate response. If, however, you are distracted and not paying attention to your dog, you allow his incorrect interpretation of the event to stand. What he learns from this short interaction

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depends entirely on your response. If you ignore him, he learns this is a dangerous situation to which he needs to respond with arousal and barking. But if you calmly acknowledge the strange dog, and then ask your own to sit quietly, your interpretation of the event – that there is no threat – wins out and changes your dog’s interpretation. Over time, he will begin interpreting all other dogs passing by as non-threatening and will happily walk on with confidence.

A TURNING POINT Having faced the first situation in which your dog wrongly interprets the events around you, and then responds with unwanted behavior, you have reached a turning point that depends on your own actions. If you continue walking him in a distracted state, paying no attention and giving him no guidance, he will continue misinterpreting events and misbehaving while you unknowingly reinforce that behavior. This usually continues until your dog’s responses become enough of a problem that you are forced to pay attention again. Suddenly, you realize that your cute well-behaved puppy has become a full-grown dog exhibiting unwanted behaviors.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? What happens from this point forward depends entirely on you. If you attempt to control your dog’s unwanted behaviors by introducing new commands like “stop it”, “no” or “bad dog”, you are off to a bad start. These commands are useless. Dog don’t speak English; they simply recognize a selection of specific words. If you have not taught your dog what the new words mean, they are simply gibberish to him. Second, the words your dog learns must mean the same thing every time you use them. “Sit” always means “put your butt on the ground and hold it there”. Commands like “stop it”, “no” or “bad dog” mean different things depending on the context

in which they are used. “No” can mean “don’t bite me”, “don’t take food off the table” and “stop barking”– all in a single day. What’s a dog to do?

GO BACK TO THE BASICS There’s a simple way out – go back to basic obedience skills. Once again, begin asking your dog to “sit”, “down” and “stay”. Do this in quiet places where it is easy for him to pay attention, and then reward him when he complies. Once these behaviors become wellestablished again, begin to use them in your front yard and at street crossings when things are calm and quiet. You can then begin slowly introducing these skills into more difficult situations, such as when your dog notices another dog he doesn’t like. If you immediately ask for a sit, and your dog is too agitated to comply, you are moving too fast. Go back to the quiet places and practice some more. As you walk your dog, practice the same few commands often.

KEEP HIM SHARP BY TEACHING HIM TRICKS Commit to teaching your dog ten new behaviors or tricks each year. For ideas, check out social media or books on dog tricks. Just be sure to keep your training sessions light and fun. Once a dog figures out training sessions are enjoyable, he’ll begin anticipating them. When dogs figure out that learning is fun as well as challenging, they get better at it.

DAILY PRACTICE IS KEY You won’t have to backtrack with your training if you use basic obedience skills every single day, and begin introducing your dog to more skills over time. There are an unlimited number of behaviors that are easy to teach, and fun to practice. This simple pattern of continually teaching your dog new behaviors – and then practicing them while you are both out and about – keeps you engaged in what your dog is doing. It also keeps him engaged in you and how you are responding to the world. In this way, you remain the interpreter of all events and your dog learns to take that interpretation and use it to guide his behavior. In short, perhaps the single most important thing you can do to maintain your dog’s training and good behavior is to pay attention to him. When you are interacting with your dog, he is interacting with you. This doesn’t mean you’re staring at one another all the time. It simply means you are always aware of your dog, and that you occasionally let him know it by practicing a behavior or skill. These simple daily interactions will continually shape your relationship with your dog over his lifetime, and keep him at his best behavior. Animal Wellness

PhD, RD

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D gs Cats

SCALES:

AVOIDING PET OBESITY

A lean dog or cat is much healthier than one that is overweight, and will also enjoy a longer life. This simple five-step plan wil help keep the pounds off. Obesity is the most common nutrition issue faced by dogs and cats. Up to 44% of pets are estimated to be above their ideal body weight, and that puts them at risk for a range of serious health problems. Keeping our dogs and cats lean is one of the best things we can do for their long-term health, and unlike many other issues, it’s something we can control by taking the right steps.

OBESITY IS LINKED TO MANY DISEASES Many life-threatening diseases affecting dogs and cats are associated with obesity. In cats, for example, diabetes and obesity often go hand in hand. For dogs, even a slight increase in weight may decrease lifespan and quality of life. Osteoarthritis, renal disease, pancreatitis and respiratory issues are common consequences of excess weight in dogs, and the negative effects of being overweight can start to develop just a few weeks after the onset of obesity. As with humans, body weight in dogs and cats involves a balancing act of “energy in” (food) versus “energy out” (activity). To lose weight, food consumption needs to be decreased and/or the level of activity needs to be increased. It is best to prevent weight gain in the first place since weight loss can be difficult to achieve. Also, pets that have lost excess weight may be more susceptible to regaining it.

WHY ARE SO MANY PETS OVERWEIGHT? Why are growing numbers of dogs and cats overweight? There are a number of factors at play. As opposed to 50 or so years ago, pet foods are more widely available and convenient than they used to be. And while any food can contribute to weight gain if overfed, low quality foods and treats that entice pets to eat too much can pack on the pounds. Additionally, pet food has become highly palatable, which means animals may want to eat more. Of course we want our pets to fully enjoy their food, but it is our job to ensure they don’t overeat. Treats should also be used sparingly, and only healthy products used. This is especially true for small dogs and cats. The other side of the energy-balance equation, physical activity (or more accurately, a lack of physical activity), is also contributing to pet obesity. As more people become city dwellers, more pets become couch potatoes. Daily physical exercise is very important for the health of people and their animal companions.

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WEIGHT LOSS PLAN FOR PETS How do you determine if your pet’s shape is not ideal, and what should you do if he’s overweight? Here’s a five-point step-by-step guide to keep him fit and trim for years to come.

Step 1: Consult a body score chart A body score chart (you can find one at petcurean.com/bodyscorechart) allows you to determine if your pet is underweight, overweight or at his ideal weight. When at an ideal weight, dogs and cats should have a proportioned, slightly hourglass-shaped body when viewed from above, a slight tummy tuck, and a thin covering of body fat over the ribs and spine. When running your hands along your pet’s body, you should be able to feel the ribs and hips without pressing hard.

L-carnitine and weight loss L-carnitine is a molecule in the body that’s involved in fatty acid metabolism. It is also available as a dietary supplement and has been shown in some studies to help promote weight loss and the maintenance of lean body mass. L-carnitine is involved in transporting fatty acids in body cells to produce energy, so supplementation may help optimize fatty acid oxidation.

If you discover your dog or cat needs to shed a pound or two, proceed to Step 2. If he is already at an ideal body weight, congratulations! Careful monitoring and adjusting his food intake as needed will ensure he stays lean for the rest of his life.

Step 2: Determine his actual weight Visit your vet to weigh your dog or cat, and for a health check to make sure there are no underlying health conditions. For weekly followups at home, you can weigh your pet using a bathroom scale. Weigh yourself, then pick up your animal (if he’s not too big to lift!) and weigh again. Subtract the difference to determine his weight. Continued on page 68.

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Diet trends and your pet

Everywhere you turn in the human nutrition world, there seems to be someone promoting a new weight-loss diet. Unfortunately, most of these diets do not result in long-term weight loss. Myths and misconceptions also routinely surround weight loss regimes for pets. High-protein low-carbohydrate diets have been a popular diet trend for humans. For dogs and cats that are overweight, extra protein may provide some benefit in helping prevent the loss of muscle mass during calorie restriction. A diet low in fat and high in dietary fiber will provide fewer calories, which may help pets lose weight while keeping them satisfied and preventing them from begging for food. Humans are known to respond differently to weight loss diets, depending on factors like insulin resistance, genotype, and the types of microbes in the gut. The same is true for pets. So, if one type of diet does not seem to be helping your dog or cat lose weight, it may be worthwhile trying another. Be sure to work with a holistic or integrative veterinarian with a good knowledge of healthy nutrition.

Continued from page 67.

Step 3: Consider food selection and quantity

If your dog or cat only needs to lose a little weight, you may decide to continue feeding him the same food and just reduce the quantity. If more weight needs to be shed, choose a high quality diet made with whole food ingredients, forumlated to help with weight loss. It can help keep your pet feeling satisfied while reducing calories.

Ideally, your pet’s food should be weighed, not measured or free-fed. Weighing is more accurate and allows you to monitor exactly how much you are feeding. Using a smaller food dish and scoop may also help prevent overfeeding. Determine how much you are currently feeding your dog or cat and cut this amount down slightly. After a week, weigh him again to see how much has been lost. A 1% to 2% weight loss per week is ideal. Weekly weigh-ins are important because a rapid decline in weight can be harmful to your pet – especially to cats, which are more susceptible to developing a severe liver disease called hepatic lipidosis.

Step 4: Monitor progress and stay on track

Adjust the amount of food your pet receives until a slow and steady weight loss is achieved, and continue to monitor his weight and body condition score. Avoid the temptation of giving him extra treats. It is also helpful to keep a record of your dog or cat’s progress.

Step 5: Make sure he’s

getting adequate exercise Don’t forget to include regular physical activity in your pet’s weight loss program. Start slowly, and cater the amount and duration of exercise to your dog or cat’s age, breed, health status, etc. A daily walk

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is essential for most dogs, while indoor interactive play can help keep your cat active. A team effort keeps him in tip-top shape And if you need some help or guidance developing a weight loss plan for your dog or cat, talk to your vet or contact a pet health and nutrition specialist. Whenever you take your pet to the vet, discuss his weight. Also be sure to educate everyone in your household about not overfeeding or giving extra treats, about your pet’s exercise plan, and about monitoring for optimal body weight. By staying on top of your dog or cat’s weight and overall health, you can keep him in optimum body condition, help maintain his health, and ensure his companionship for years to come.

Business Profile

GOODWINOL PRODUCTS By Matthew Berk

This company’s natural formulas are soothing the skin of animals across the country – and it all started with an innovative idea.

As the owners of a drug store, Ben Baron and his father were always coming up with creative ideas for new healthcare products. Until the 1940s, these ideas weren’t acted upon. But one particular brainchild – a natural ointment to maintain the health of a dog’s skin – seemed too valuable to dismiss. The father and son duo made a prototype, and contacted a practicing veterinarian – Dr. Goodwin – to test the product. Not long after the trial, Goodwinol Products Corporation was born. Throughout the 1950s, Ben made the ointment himself. “He’d cook it in a huge stainless steel pot on the kitchen stove,” says Ben’s daughter, Elli Rathbun, who now owns the company. “Then he’d carry it down to the basement where he had a commercial mixer.” After the batch was mixed, it was poured into the hopper – a funnel-shaped device used to move material from one receptacle to another. The hopper would pour the ointment into tubes one at a time, while Ben packaged them into boxes. At the time, Ben considered himself successful if he sold 144 units of ointment a month. He was attending school full-time to complete his degree in education, so Goodwinol was a “side project”. “He started teaching in 1957 and taught into the 1970s while continuing to grow his small business,” says Elli. Along the way, demand for the ointment slowly began to increase. By the time Ben relocated to Colorado in 1987, a second product – now known as Goodwinol Shampoo – was added to his growing line.

Today, Elli continues to operate Goodwinol out of the barns and outbuildings on their property in Colorado. The company provides products to distributors, veterinary clinics and retail shops in the pet, horse, livestock and poultry industries. Two additional brands have been added under the Goodwinol name – VetRx and LeGear – which have become respected product lines in the animal world. And it all started with a simple idea. “Our goal has always been to provide safe and effective products at an affordable price,” says Amberly Dyer, the company’s marketing director. “We believe in the quality and effectiveness of each of our products, and enjoy being able to help so many people with their animals.” Goodwinol products contain natural ingredients, making them a safe alternative to harsh chemical remedies. The ointment provides effective relief for common skin issues such as mange and hot spots, and the shampoo contains cedar oil to help alleviate itching, flaking and scratching. It’s gentle enough to use on puppies and kittens as young as six weeks – a fact that Amberly, a pet parent herself, can confidently confirm. “All of us at Goodwinol are animal lovers and have animals of our own,” she says. “We also donate to many great organizations that help animals.” And at the end of the day, helping animals is what it’s all about.

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COMMUNICATORS

INTEGRATIVE VETS Affordable Holistic Animal Therapies West Hollywood, CA USA Phone: 323-304-2984 Ballantrae Animal Hospital Margaret Hacking, DVM Stouffville, ON Canada Phone: (905) 640-6809 Website: www.AnimalWellnessCentre.com Beechmount Animal Hospital Waterloo, ON Canada Phone: (519) 888-6590 Website: www.beechmountanhosp.ca Dr. Lisa Burgess Millgrove Veterinary Services Millgrove, ON Canada Phone: (905) 690-4557 Email: service@burgessvet.com Website: www.millgrovevet.com Sharon R. Doolittle, DVM, Inc. Smithfield, RI USA Phone: (401) 349-2668 Email: vetinfo@holisticanimalvet.com Website: www.holisticanimalvet.com

Janice DeFonda Can We Talk Fayetteville, NY USA Phone: (315) 329-0116 Email: angelwhispurr@gmail.com Website: www.angelwhispurr.com

Dr. Autumn Drouin, DVM, ND and Dr. Sasan Haghighat (Hyatt), DVM, CVA North-East Newmarket Veterinary Service Newmarket, ON Canada Phone: (905) 830-1030 Email: holisticveterinarian@gmail.com Website: www.holistic-vet.ca

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• Acupuncture • Chiropractic •Conventional Medicine •Therapeutic Nutrition •Traditional Chinese Medicine Guelph, Ontario, Canada (519)836-2782 www.GuelphVet.com info@GuelphVet.com Harwood Oaks Animal Clinic Bedford, TX USA Phone: 817-354-7676 Website: www.harwoodoaksanimalclinic.com Hawks Prairie Veterinary Hospital Lacey, WA USA Phone: (360) 459-6556 Email: hawksprairievet@yahoo.com Website: www.hawksprairieveterinaryhospital.com Holistic Animal Care Stephanie Chalmers, DVM, CVH Santa Rosa, CA USA Phone: (707) 538-4643 Home Vet Weston, CT USA Phone: (203) 222-7979 Website: www.homevet.com

Carrie Hutchinson, VMD Rockledge Veterinary Clinic Rockledge, PA USA Phone: (215) 379-1677 Email: info@rockledgevet.com Website: www.rockledgevet.com

Essex Animal Hospital Essex, ON CAN Phone: (519) 776-7325 Email: info@essexanimalhospital.ca Website: www.essexanimalhospital.ca Family Veterinary Center Haydenville, MA USA Phone: (413) 268-8387 Website: www.famvets.com

Individualized, Integrative Veterinary Care

Horizon Veterinary Services Susan Maier, DVM Simpsonville, KY USA Phone: (502) 722-8231 Email: horizonvetserv@yahoo.com Website: www.horizonvetserv.com

Lydia Hiby Mysticviz Burbank, CA USA Phone: (818)-244-0091 Website: www.lydiahiby.com Lynn McKenzie Animal Energy Sedona, AZ USA Phone: (512) 827-0505 x 8642 Email: lynn@animalenergy.com Website: www.animalenergy.com

Dr. Caroline Goulard, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVPP Paws on the Go Laguna Woods, CA USA Phone: (949) 707-1696 Email: cgoulard@pawsonthego.net Website: www.pawsonthego.net

Integrated Veterinary Clinic Sacramento, CA USA Phone: 916-454-1825 Gail Jewell, DVM Kelowna, BC Canada Phone: (888) 622-8300 Website: www.holisticvet.ca

communicators • integrative vets • natural products • pet psychics • publications • Reiki therapy • schools & wellness education • shelters & rescues •

REIKI THERAPY Aileen D’Angelo, RMT, Cn. TPM Hoof, Paw & Claw Reiki Northboro, MA USA Phone: (508) 393-3684 Email: hoofpawclaw@verizon.net Website: www.reikiforcritters.com

PET PSYCHICS

Amy Pikalek Hikari Natural Healing Madison, WI USA Phone: (608) 886-8778 Email: hikarihealing@yahoo.com Website: www.hikarihealing.com

SCHOOLS & WELLNESS EDUCATION

Dr. Shawn Messonnier Paws and Claws Vet Clinic Plano, TX USA Phone: (972) 712-0893 Email: shawnvet@sbcglobal.net Website: www.pettogethers.net/healthypet Mark Newkirk, VMD Newkirk Family Veterinarians Egg Harbor Township, NJ USA Phone: (609) 645-2120 Email: mnewk@alternativevet.com Website: www.alternativevet.com

PetMassage, Ltd. Toledo, OH USA Toll Free: (800) 779-1001 Phone: (419) 475-3539 Email: info@petmassage.com Website: www.petmassage.com

PUBLICATIONS

Healing Touch for Animals Highlands Ranch, CO USA Phone: (303) 470-6572 Email: drea@healingtouchforanimals.com Website: www.healingtouchforanimals.co Well Animal Institute Brighton, CO USA Phone: (303) 514-0076 Email: info@wellanimalinstitute.com Website: www.wellanimalinstitute.com

NATURAL PRODUCT

SHELTERS & RESCUES

MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS

Alaskan Malamute Mt. Gilead, OH USA Phone: (419) 512-2423 Email: shaman@brightnet.net

Azmira Holistic Animal Care Tuscon, AZ USA Phone: (800) 497-5665 Email: info@azmira.com Website: www.azmira.com

American Brittany Rescue Sugar Grove, IL USA Phone: (866) BRIT-911 Email: rhonda@americanbrittanyrescue.org Website: www.americanbrittanyrescue.org

NATURAL PRODUCT RETAILERS Dog Gone Dirt All Natural Dog & Horse Skin Care Products Crescent City, FL USA Phone: (386) 559-3454 Email: doggonedirt@yahoo.com Website: www.doggonedirt.com

Animal Avengers Los Angeles, CA USA Phone: (323) 655-4220 Email: admin@animalavengers.com Website: www.animalavengers.com

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DRIED RAW FOOD TREATS

Photo courtesy of Ziwi Peak

By Ann Brightman

Animal Wellness

FOR DOGS & CATS

Freeze-dried, air-dried and dehydrated treats made from raw whole food ingredients offer you and your pet the best of both worlds. They’re healthy and nutritious, and they’re also convenient and easy to handle.

ore people are switching to raw diets for their dogs and cats, which means there’s an ever-expanding range of nutritious raw pet food products to choose from – and that includes treats. High quality treats made from simple raw food ingredients are far healthier than the low-end commercial pet treats you find on most store shelves. Because the ingredients in these raw food treats are freeze-dried, air-dried or dehydrated, they maintain their nutritional integrity. The processes used also kill pathogens, a plus for those wary about handling raw meat. And raw food treats are highly palatable and less likely to contribute to weight gain than poor quality pet treats.

FREEZE-DRIED, AIR-DRIED OR DEHYDRATED? 1. Freeze-drying

In this process, the raw food is first frozen. It then has the moisture removed from it while it’s still in the frozen state. Simply put, this is done through a process called sublimation, which involves transforming a solid (in this case ice) directly into a gas (water vapor), while bypassing the liquid stage. To achieve this, frozen food is placed in a vacuum which vaporizes the water in the food and draws it out before it can turn into liquid. “The first step in freeze-drying is to freeze the food below its triple point to ensure that sublimation, rather than melting, will occur,” explains Patti Salladay of Northwest Naturals. “This is done in our blast freezer, which drops the product temperature to -30°F degrees. “The second phase is primary drying (sublimation), in which the pressure is lowered, and indirect controlled heat is added to the food in order for the water to sublimate,” she continues. “The vacuum speeds sublimation. About 95% of the water is removed in this phase. The product is then loaded into freeze dryers, the vacuum is initiated and the controlled heat plates make the ice crystals in the product vaporize. “The final phase is secondary drying (adsorption), during which the ionically-bound water molecules are removed. By raising the temperature higher than in the primary drying phase, the bonds are broken between the product and the water molecules.” Freeze-drying preserves raw food without jeopardizing its flavor or nutritional integrity. “It retains taste, smell and texture, which is very appealing to pets – especially those that are picky or have dental issues,” say Patti. “Freeze-dried treats combine the benefits of raw food with the convenience of kibble.”

2. Dehydration and air-drying As with freeze-drying, the goal of dehydration and air-drying is to remove moisture from the food while preserving its nutritional Animal Wellness

content. In the case of dehydration, this is achieved by exposing raw unfrozen food to low heat for a long period of time. Because such low temperatures are used, dehydration doesn’t negatively impact the nutrients, enzymes and amino acids found in the food. Airdrying is similar to dehydration, and can be done using either warm or cool air. The cooler the air, the more nutrients are preserved. • Air-drying Ziwi Peak is one company that uses air-drying to make its raw pet treats. “Air-drying is a technique that has been used for centuries to naturally preserve meats,” the company states. “Our method stays true to this artisan approach, while eliminating the need for artificial preservatives, sugars or glycerines. Our slow, gentle, twin stage air-drying process crafts a food that’s as nutrient-dense and digestible as a completely raw diet, but is safe and clean to handle and can be stored for up to 21 months.”

• Dehydration “Our treats are produced using a dehydration process,” says Susan Dalton, PhD, of Dr. Dalton’s Premium Treats. “They benefit from

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this process because dehydration preserves most of the naturallyoccurring nutrients that are a wonderful benefit of raw meat. The product also maintains a readily recognizable meat shape, taste and smell that’s alluring to dogs. “Our processes add extra properties to our treats,” adds Dr. Dalton. “They’re oil- and grease-free to the touch, which means no handwiping is needed after handling. They don’t carry unpleasant odors, and are specifically created to withstand moderate pummeling, meaning they don’t easily crumble.”

Photo courtesy of Northwest Naturals

LifeFORCE also uses an air-drying method to make its treats. “Our cool air-drying process is based on clean air circulation, and the temperature doesn’t get above 80°F (26°C),” says Marketing Manager Ericka Carbonneau. “Our goal with this type of drying process is to slowly remove the moisture from the ingredients in the most non-invasive way possible, ensuring optimal raw flavor and texture. By using a cool air-drying process, we can provide a product that has the most bio-available raw nutrition possible, plus the most enviromentally sustainable production system available.”

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Many additional companies specialize in crafting high quality freeze-dried, air-dried and dehydrated raw food treats for dogs and cats (see sidebar below). Whether you already feed your pet a raw diet, and want raw food treats to go with it; or are just looking for convenient yet healthy treat choices that are packed with nutrients and free of unhealthy additives, this is an ideal route to take.

Shopping list Photo courtesy of Ziwi Peak

Here’s a list of companies that offer high quality freeze-dried, air-dried or dehydrated raw food treats for dogs and cats. Dane Creek, danecreekcap.com Dr Dalton’s Premium Treats, drdaltons.com LifeFORCE, lifeforcepet.com Northwest Naturals, nw-naturals.net Rocky Mountain Raw, rockymountainraw.ca Tuckers Raw Frozen and Treats, mytuckers.com Ziwi Peak, ziwipets.com

Animal Wellness

A behind-the-scenes look at the physical, mental and emotional rehab efforts that give shelter and rescue dogs a second chance at life.

Rehabilitation for By Emily Watson

RESCUE DOGS While some dogs in shelters and rescues have healthy bodies and minds, others aren’t so lucky. Every day, rescue organizations and animal shelters bring in four-legged victims of neglect and abuse – some who are close to death – and it’s up to the staff and volunteers to provide the rehabilitation these canines require. The rehab process varies widely from case to case, but established shelters and rescue organizations have plans and policies in place to ensure every dog receives the care he needs. Let’s take a closer look at how they do it.

REHAB BEGINS AT INTAKE When a dog is brought to a shelter, an intake examination determines his physical and emotional state. At larger organizations, this assessment is performed by a variety of experts, and can take anywhere from one hour to multiple weeks. In foster-based rescues, the foster parent and a veterinarian work together to determine if additional experts are required. The initial assessment helps shelter staff determine the next best steps for each dog. If a dog shows few to no signs of physical or emotional trauma, he’s fast-tracked toward the end goal – adoption. Behavior consultants, veterinarians, vet techs, shelter team leaders, managers and volunteers all play a role. “Depending

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on the dog, he may start spending more time with volunteers, and once assessed by a behavior consultant may begin going for sleepovers and outings,” says Haylee Heisel , Dogtown Behavior Consultant at Best Friends Animal Society, the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals. “Dogs who are shy or defensive will start relationship-based training programs to help build their confidence so they can become more adoptable.”

A LONG AND WINDING ROAD For many dogs, preparation for adoption can take years. Once any pressing medical issues are addressed, shelter staff and volunteers take steps to overcome any emotional hurdles preventing the dog from living a happy life. Some canines, for example, display behavior problems such as aggression and anxiety, and lack basic obedience skills. But perhaps the most challenging problem to overcome – and the most common – is fear. “Dogs can be fearful due to lack of socialization, or to past experiences that were negative or traumatic for them,” says Haylee. “Some dogs with fear issues tend to run away or shut down, while others bark, lunge, or even bite. Through science-based training methods, we can start to change a fearful response to a more positive emotional one.”

Depending on the case, various remedies and behavior modification techniques are used to rehabilitate dogs. “For calming, we have found natural hormones, melatonin or lavender oils to be helpful,” says Deb Marsh, President of Blind Dog Rescue Alliance (BDRA), a foster-based nonprofit that rescues blind and visuallyimpaired canines. “The Thundershirt or a snugly-fitting T-shirt gives the same comforting effect. Unfortunately, there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ remedy, just a lot of trial and error.” The key is finding products or techniques that make a dog feel comfortable and relaxed, and using plenty of positive reinforcement to instill these calm emotions.

ADOPTION AND BEYOND In most cases, a dog’s rehabilitation at the shelter or rescue is just the beginning. His adoptive parents are responsible for providing care for the rest of his life, so the right fit is crucial. Rescues take steps to match each dog with the perfect family to ensure he’ll continue to thrive once he leaves the shelter. “We consider most of our dogs to be adoptable if the interested person is the right fit,” says Haylee. “We're always striving to find ways to individualize training and environmental management so we can place the right tools in our adopters' hands and set everyone up for success.” Often, a successful adoption rests on adequate education. The staff or foster parent talks to potential adopters to relay everything about the dog – what he likes/dislikes, how to handle certain situations, what commands/training tools they have been using, and more. “They give the adopter the best information to prepare for a smooth transition,” says Deb. BDRA has a flyer of tips for living with a blind dog that they include in their adoption package, while Best Friends

offers written “well-being plans” to new pet parents, outlining steps essential to a dog's success in his new home. Most shelters also make themselves available to new adopters in case any questions arise over the first few months. They understand that the process is ongoing, and that keeping the lines of communication open is fundamental to setting the dogs up for success. Moreover, this final step in the rehab process helps keep dogs in their adoptive homes, preventing the cycle from starting all over again. After all, despite the incredible programs in place for rehabilitating rescue dogs, not having any dogs to rehabilitate in the first place would be even better. See case studies on page 78. Animal Wellness

Radar

CASE STUDIES

Radar came into BDRA’s foster care program in 2013. He was found sleeping on a paper plate in an alley in Baltimore – at the time, he weighed only 1½ pounds. He was dehydrated, emaciated, had sarcoptic mange, and both his eyes were ruptured and infected. Radar’s foster mom gave him sub-Q fluids every couple of hours, and tiny bits of food every half hour, to keep him from becoming hypoglycemic. He was taken to the vet for fluids, and it was decided he would be given medicated baths and lime dips to treat his mange, because he was too weak for stronger treatments. (Conventional medications are required for severe cases of mange.) He was bathed and dipped twice a week for a few weeks, and his foster mom continued with round-the-clock feedings and sub-Q fluids until he grew strong enough to drink on his own.

Images courtesy of Blind Dog Rescue Alliance

Mange is contagious, so Radar’s foster mom wore gloves and a gown to interact with him. Since he was not able to have animal company, he was given washable toys to enrich his environment, and his foster mom began clicker training him. Radar was on a number of antibiotics and conventional medications. He was eating a partially raw diet, and raw goat’s milk helped increase his intake of pre- and probiotics. He began steadily gaining weight and maintaining good hydration, and his blood sugar levels stabilized.

Left: Radar being handfed shortly after intake.

AFTER

BEFORE Right: Thanks to an incredible rehabilitation program, Radar is living a full, healthy life.

After a month, Radar was switched to a more effective mange product, which was applied topically every two weeks. Soon, he was able to play outside with his fourlegged foster brothers. Two months later, Radar was strong enough for eye surgery. He required enucleation in one eye, but the other healed well. Radar now lives at his forever home, competing in nose work and agility. He is also a therapy and reading assistance dog.

Animal Wellness

CASE STUDY #2 –

Greta

Greta was living in the woods of Indiana when she was discovered. She was so fearful of humans that she had to be live trapped. Greta could not be safely touched when she first arrived at Best Friends, and she was not comfortable in the presence of humans.

Left: When Greta first arrived at Best Friends, she was too terrified of humans to accept proper care.

AFTER

BEFORE Right: After undergoing an extensive rehab process, Greta (now Cynder) is living a full life with her adopter.

The staff focused on finding her a very people-friendly dog companion to begin her rehabilitation process. Dogs who are fearful of humans, but get along with others of their own kind, often benefit enormously from having a role model dog they can bond with. Watching the other dog enjoy positive interactions with people can help the rescue learn to trust again. After about six months at the sanctuary, Best Friends staff started to see significant progress in Greta. Her caregivers were able to slip a lead on her to take her for a walk. She also started approaching them when her canine friend sought attention. The staff encouraged this behavior by giving Greta treats. Soon, volunteers were able to hand-feed her. She started to accept interactions, then began to seek them out. They were able to put a body harness on her, teach her to get in the car, and take her to new places. This process took about two years in total. Finally, Greta had made so much progress that she was adopted, and is now living very happily in her new home, where she is now known as Cynder. She lives with cats, another dog, and is starting to go hiking with her family.

Images courtesy of Alaina Muinzer.

CASE STUDY #1 –

Animal Wellness

By Nadia Ali

– the new superfood on the block

D gs Cats

Derived from a tropical tree that’s now being grown in the US, Moringa is packed with nutrients that can support and improve the health of dogs and cats. Have you heard of Moringa yet? It’s a superfood herb that’s gaining global recognition for its health benefits – not just for people, but for dogs and cats too. Let’s take a look at this recent addition to the natural nutrition tool chest, how it can enhance your pet’s health, and what to look for when buying it.

WHAT IS MORINGA? Moringa is derived from a small fast-growing tree (Moringa oleifera) that’s native to the Philippines, Asia and Africa. Its rising popularity means it’s now being grown on farms in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii and Texas. Moringa is also known as the horseradish tree, the drumstick tree or the ben oil tree. It’s a slender tree with gray bark and cream flowers. All parts of the tree are edible, including the bark, flowers, leaves, pods (drumsticks) and roots, as well as the seeds, which provide their own oil.

WHAT HEALTH BENEFITS DOES IT OFFER? This remarkable herb is fully loaded with vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids. It has a range of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, acts to lower cholesterol, promotes healthy digestion and circulation, boosts the immune system and increases mental clarity and energy levels.

herbs when it comes to detoxification. It’s particularly efficacious for binding heavy metals.”

IS THERE ANY PROOF? Moringa’s medicinal benefits have been explored and confirmed by a plethora of scientific reports, many of which have been contributed by Dr. J. W. Fahey, Sc.D. and Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Schools of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Fahey has studied Moringa for more than 15 years. His 2005 report affirms that “ounce-for-ounce, Moringa leaves contain more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more vitamin C than oranges, and more potassium than bananas”. In her book Miracle Tree, author Dr Monica G. Marcu, PharmD, PhD writes: “Moringa provides a rich and rare combination of nutrients, amino acids, antioxidants, anti-aging and antiinflammatory properties used for nutrition and healing.” The book is based on conclusions Dr. Marcu formed at her clinical and analytical laboratory, giving evidence and supportive scientific proof that Moringa is a nutritional powerhouse.

HOW CAN MORINGA HELP DOGS AND CATS? “It’s an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, as well as lots of antioxidants,” concurs veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker. “It is also an excellent natural chelator, so it’s one of my go-to

Moringa has been proven to be beneficial for disease prevention and long-term health issues. It is currently being used to assist with pet ailments such as cancer, obesity, digestive problems and diabetes. Continued on page 82.

Animal Wellness

MORINGA MAY INCREASE ENERGY LEVELS IN DOGS AND CATS Even though Moringa is still relatively new to the US as far as pet use goes, there are people who have tried it on their dogs and cats, and shared their experiences on various online forums. For example, one woman noted that her 14-year-old cat was sluggish prior to being given Moringa, but that he’s now more energetic. Similarly, another pet parent said his 13-year-old dog was moving very slowly; after adding Moringa powder to his food, the dog regained his energy and was back to enjoying walks and runs in the park. Again, it’s important to work with a holistic or integrative vet before introducing Moringa (or any other herb to supplement) to your dog or cat’s diet.

“�OUNCE-FOR-OUNCE, MORINGA LEAVES CONTAIN MORE VITAMIN A THAN CARROTS, MORE CALCIUM THAN MILK, MORE IRON THAN SPINACH, MORE VITAMIN C THAN ORANGES, AND MORE POTASSIUM THAN BANANAS.”

Continued from page 80. “It’s a superfood that can be beneficial for mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles,” says Dr. Becker. “As a whole food, it carries far fewer potential side effects than synthetic multivitamins.” She adds that she has used Moringa as an iron supplement to assist anemic animals. She has also used it to strengthen cellular nutrition in shelter animals.

WHAT FORMS DOES MORINGA COME IN? Moringa is available in the form of capsules, leaf powder, drops and seed oil. You can also find pet shampoos, soaps and natural repellents that contain the herb. If you want to try Moringa with your pet, start by getting a list of recommended brands from a holistic or integrative veterinarian. Also be sure to ask for your vet’s advice on the correct dosage, which is determined in accordance with your pet’s weight, breed and specific condition. Dr. Patricia Jordan, a Doctor of Veterinary Naturopathic Medicine, recognizes the nutritional profile of Moringa oleifera and says that she’s currently assisting with a project to formulate a pet food with Moringa as an ingredient. “Given its nutrition, I expect it to be a useful ingredient in whole food supplements,” she adds. Although it’s a relative newcomer, Moringa is packed with potent nutritional and medicinal benefits for both pets and people. With the guidance of your vet, it’s well worth exploring as a way to enhance the health of your canine or feline companion.

Animal Wellness

to the rescue California Bully Crew Rescue Rescue code: CBCR

Clockwise from left: Bodhi was rescued from a situation of abuse and neglect when he was only six months old; To soothe his separation anxiety, he snuggles with his favorite stuffed snake. He's also given CBD oil daily; Bodhi is a special needs rescue that has been in foster care nearly four years. He is still actively looking for a home.

LOCATION: Lake Arrowhead, California YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2011 NUMBER OF STAFF/VOLUNTEERS/OR FOSTER HOMES: California Bully Crew Rescue (CBCR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with four staff members, seven foster homes, and nine volunteers. TYPES OF ANIMAL THEY WORK WITH: “We work with pit bulls, bull terriers and bulldog mixes,” says Tamara Nolan, CEO and founder. They typically house up to 16 dogs at a time in their shelter. FUNDRAISING PROJECTS: CBCR hosts regular online auctions and fundraisers. They also sell products designed in-house. “I have taken the rescue logo and made merchandise,” explains Tamara. “We have a store on Etsy, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram called Bully Crew Shop.” FAVORITE RESCUE STORY: Bodhi was brought to CBCR after being seized from an animal cruelty case. He came in with numerous injuries –

including a broken back and pelvis – that had gone untreated for more than a month. He couldn’t walk, and was in severe pain. Tamara took Bodhi to an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist. Unfortunately, both veterinarians turned down the case, claiming the injuries were “too old”. So Tamara, who had taken Bodhi into her own home as a foster, turned to alternative medicine. He was switched to a raw food diet, and was given a variety of supplements to support healing. “With acupuncture, acuscope and underwater treadmill therapy, he walks again,” says Tamara. Today, nearly four years after arriving at CBCR, Bodhi is a thriving special needs dog. Though he wears diapers due to incontinence issues as a result of his injuries, he has fully regained the use of his legs. He loves to snuggle, nap, sunbathe, run, and play fetch. He is still actively seeking his forever home. Follow CBCR on Facebook at facebook.com/ CaliforniaBullyCrewRescue/

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EVENTS

IACP Annual Educational Conference September 16–19, 2018 – St. Pete Beach, FL

For more information: http://pghpetexpo.com

The International Association of Canine Professionals is where dog owners, dog trainers and canine professionals come together!

National Pet Show 2018 November 3–4, 2018 – Birmingham, AL

Do you want to learn more and share your experiences and knowledge with other professionals? Early Bird registration is now open!

Home of the cute and cuddly and the weird and wonderful! Whether you like dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, reptiles, ponies, fish, chickens or chinchillas (and lots more animals!) – the National Pet Show promises to be a great day out for any animal lover. See animal experts and celebrities, including the Supervet Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and TV presenter Michaela Strachan. Get up close and personal to find out more about your favorite pet and how to take care of them.

Featured speakers include Dr. Karen Becker, Nelson Hodges, Morgance Ellis and Bill Grimmer, Tawni Coleen McBee, Kristi Smith, Dr. Allison Marshall, Sara Carson, Christine Hixson, Mark McCabe, Sarah Kalnajs, Aimee Sadler, Ivan Balabanov and Janine Driver. For more information: (512) 564-1011 www.canineprofessionals.com/conference Healing Touch for Animals® Level 1 Course October 5–7, 2018 – Birmingham, AL Introduction to Healing Touch: Friday / 6:00pm – 10:00pm This class is a prerequisite of the Small Animal Class. Small Animal Class: Saturday / 9:00am – 6:00pm This class is a prerequisite of the Large Animal Class. Large Animal Class: Sunday / 9:00am – 6:00pm This class is required in order to apply to become a Healing Touch for Animals® Certified Practitioner. Working with the horses' large energy systems benefits students with greater energetic awareness and a well-rounded experience. For more information: Tammy Hydrick (404) 372-6979 Birmingham@HealingTouchforAnimals.com www.healingtouchforanimals.com C.A.R.E. 4 Paws’ 9th Annual Wags n’ Whiskers Festival October 10, 2018 – Santa Barbara, CA This event — the largest animal festival on the Central Coast — features adoptable dogs and cats from close to 25 animal shelters and rescue groups, and showcases a wide range of local pet service providers and animal welfare groups. Festival-goers enjoy a great mix of activities, such as a “best in” show, a pawparazzi photo booth and red carpet, face painting, awesome raffle prizes – including a Disneyland escape for four – and performances by search and rescue heroes and many other local pets. For more information: info@care4paws.org www.care4paws.org Pittsburgh Pet Expo November 2–4, 2018 – Pittsburgh, PA Come out for the Pittsburgh Pet Expo and experience all the fun this event has to offer, including the Rescue Me, Rodeo Round Up Grooming Competition, North American Diving Dogs Competition, National Dachshund Races, Luring 101, Steel City Reptile Expo, That Guy With The Birds, Santa Paws Pet Photos, Ask the Vet, and more than 200 vendor booths featuring fantastic pet products and services.

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For more information: info@thenationalpetshow.com www.thenationalpetshow.com Whole Life Expo 2018 November 9–11, 2018 – Toronto, ON Whole Life Expo is Canada's largest showcase of natural health, alternative medicine, and eco-friendly lifestyles. With 75 speakers and over 200 exhibitors, it brings you the most comprehensive array of special promotions and free samples from natural health product retailers presented by our dynamic exhibitors. For more information: (416) 515-1330 info@wholelifeexpo.ca www.wholelifeexpo.ca Great Indy Pet Expo November 10–11, 2018 – Indianapolis, IN Whether you're a current pet owner or just thinking about bringing a companion animal into your home, the Great Indy Pet Expo welcomes anyone who loves animals. It's a great event for family entertainment, and is a must for your holiday shopping list! Featuring NEW DogLoversDays lure course, one of the nation's premiere dog trainers, $10 nail trims and filing, HOOTERS for NOOTERS low-cost spay and neuter for your pets, free contests and so much more! For more information: info@greatmidwestpetexpos.com www.greatindypetexpo.com/ Ottawa Pet Expo 2018 November 10–11, 2018 – Ottawa, ON The Ottawa Pet Expo is for pet owners...and their pets. Bring your dogs and cats and birds and rats! Shop for unique pet products, meet animal rescue groups, speak with breeders, learn about pet nutrition, and have FUN! For more information: (613) 241-7775 www.OttawaPetExpo.ca

Email your event to: info@animalwellnessmagazine.com

By Anabelle Lee Macri

There I was, ready to pick up my dog from the groomer. The phone rang and the woman behind the register motioned to me to give her just a few minutes. In the meantime, I saw my German shepherd, Boo, pass by in what was supposed to be the crated area of the shop. Seconds later, I saw him again, and this time, he was headed in the opposite direction. I tried to get the employee’s attention, but she shook her head at me. So I continued to watch as my dog kept going by, now with other dogs ready to follow him wherever he went. I recalled my friendly reminder to the woman when I dropped off Boo for grooming that day. “Ma’am, please be sure he doesn’t see how you manipulate the lock on the cage door,” I instructed. “You must understand he learns quickly, and he has an excellent head for details.”

tail end

Boo s ’ groomer party

I smiled as I said, “I tried to tell you, ma’am, he’s a German shepherd, so he tends to be quite the little problem solver. In fact, outsmarting him on a daily basis has become a fulltime job.” After that, Boo and I went home for a game I called “Keep Away”. He would grab a toy, usually a stuffed ball, and I would chase after him trying to get it. With an athletic ability not altogether unlike Michael Jordan’s, he would fake a move to the left, dart around me to the right, and then be upstairs before I even knew he had left the living room. I often regret I did not find Boo an agent. Between his comedy hour antics, and his superior agility, he would have been the perfect addition to one of Hollywood’s newest sitcoms. I could have retired early, and be happily learning how to do the Macarena on a white sandy beach somewhere.

Evidentially, the employee did not follow my suggestion, as my dog not only freed himself from his crate, but was actively freeing other dogs to play with him. Then Boo finally noticed me watching him. By this time, his impromptu party was in full swing – literally, as his tail was happily wagging from side to side. He pressed his whole body up against the glass partition and began to entertain all with his version of the Macarena. At which point, the woman saw the expression on my face. She quickly turned to look behind her, and discovered there was indeed a dire need for her to end her call since the grooming shop was quickly becoming a canine happy hour. Alarmed, the woman dropped the phone in mid-sentence as she swiftly ran to the back of the shop. Several moments ticked by before she returned with my dog at her side. She looked at me, and I at her. Animal Wellness

Animal Wellness

feline WELLNESS Hip, cool and healthy!

INDOOR PLANTS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS

HAIRBALLS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; HOW TO COMBAT THIS COMMON PROBLEM

Why you should feed your cat like the hunter she is

CAT CHAT

By Ann Brightman

You may think hairballs just come with the territory when you have a kitty. It’s true that most cats will throw up the occasional hairball, but if it happens a lot, it may mean an underlying health issue.

DOES YOUR CAT HAVE

HAIRBALLS? If you have a cat, you’re probably familiar with hairballs, those yucky sausage-shaped lumps of hair that she occasionally regurgitates on your floors or furniture. While you may assume hairballs are normal and natural, if your cat chucks them up on a frequent and regular basis, she may have a health problem that needs to be addressed.

HAIRBALLS MAY HAVE SEVERAL CAUSES When a cat grooms herself, the little hooks on her tongue pull out loose hair. This hair is swallowed and ends up in the gastrointestinal system. In a healthy cat, the hair will move normally through the GI tract to be passed in the feces. In some cases, however, the hair accumulates in the stomach and forms a dense clump that eventually has to be passed through vomiting. Because the wad of hair has to move through the esophagus on the way back up, it usually appears tubular in shape once it’s out on your floor.

q Up until fairly recently, it was believed that hairballs were simply caused by too much shedding, leading to excessive

ingestion of fur. And this is certainly a factor. Longer-haired breeds such as Persians, Himalayans and Maine Coons can be especially prone to hairballs. But even short-coated breeds can develop hairball problems.

w E xcessive grooming may be an issue with some cats. Allergies or other uncomfortable skin problems that prompt a lot of licking and biting may result in the ingestion of extra fur. Excessive grooming may also be a behaviorial problem arising from stress, or can even indicate a neurological condition. So if your cat seems to spend an inordinate amount of time washing herself, whether she has hairballs or not, take her to the vet for a checkup.

e In

recent years, with more studies being done on the gut microbiome in humans and animals, another reason for hairballs in cats has come to light. The gut microbiome is a system comprising billions of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. When the microbiome gets out of balance, a variety of digestive problems can result. Gut motility Feline Wellness

Omega-3s can improve her skin and coat health and help reduce shedding. is affected, which means ingested fur doesn’t pass through the GI tract as it should. Instead, it builds up in the stomach, from which it eventually has to be voided through vomiting.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT HAIRBALLS? The best way to treat hairballs is to get to the root cause of the problem before taking steps to alleviate it. • If your cat is regularly throwing up hairballs, start by taking her to a holistic or integrative vet for an evaluation. This is the only way to determine if there are any underlying health problems that may be contributing to the hairballs. • Avoid commercial hairball remedies. Many of these contain petroleum, and it doesn’t take rocket science to know that giving your cat petroleum can’t be good for her. • Switching to a high quality, whole meat-based and grain-free diet can also help. A good diet improves overall wellness, including gut health and motility. Take it very slow when switching your cat to a new diet – too abrupt a change can result in digestive upsets and diarrhea. • Make sure your cat has 24/7 access to fresh, pure water. If she doesn’t seem to drink as much as she should, add a bit of warm water to her food, or invest in a pet drinking fountain – many times, cats are more attracted to water that’s moving. • Be sure to groom your cat regularly, especially if she’s long-coated. Many cats love being brushed. Be sure to use grooming tools that won’t scratch her skin. • Ask your vet about any supplements your cat might benefit from. For example, Omega-3s can improve her skin and coat health and help reduce shedding, while probiotics may be needed to help balance her intestinal flora, if this is a problem. Hairballs may seem like nothing much to worry about – and if they happen only rarely, they probably aren’t. But if your cat is regurgitating them frequently and regularly, it’s time to take her to the vet to find out what’s going on, do what’s needed to fix the problem – and minimize the number of messes you have to clean up!

Feline Wellness

Feeding your cat as a

As obligate carnivores, cats are hunters at heart. Research that explores the intersection between their hunting and eating habits is changing how we feed our kitties – and it’s having a positive impact on feline health and behavior. By Stephanie Bouchard

Like most domestic animals, your kitty probably eats from a bowl or dish at set times of the day. But if you’ve ever watched a cat hunting, you’ll know that the way felines feed in the wild is very different from how we feed them in our homes. Research into feline behavior is changing our understanding of the link between our cats’ hunting and feeding needs, and how catering to these needs can improve feline health and well-being.

their natural patterns of eating little and often, day and night,” Elizabeth says.

CATS IN THE WILD

BOREDOM LEADS TO HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

Living on their own in the wild, free-ranging cats are solitary hunters that stalk and catch small prey, says Elizabeth Waring, a feline behaviorist with International Cat Care in the United Kingdom. In order to meet their daily energy and nutritional requirements, these cats need to kill and eat an average of ten prey animals each day. This means they consume small, frequent meals and spend most of their waking hours seeking and hunting for food. Additionally, because feline prey is more active at dawn and dusk, that’s when cats are most actively hunting. “It’s therefore easy to see how a cat’s feeding behavior might be in conflict with an owner’s routine,” Elizabeth says.

INDOOR CATS DON’T GET TO HUNT In most human households, pet cats are feed a couple of times a day (unless dry food is left out in a bowl all day) at the convenience of their people. “This means cats no longer follow

Feline Wellness

The majority of cat owners also keep their kitties indoors, leading boring lives where they walk from the couch to the food bowl and back to the couch. This doesn’t even approximate what they do in the wild.

This disconnect can result in health and behavioral problems. Boredom can lead to inactivity, which can lead to overeating and obesity, which can then lead to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and behavioral issues such as urinating or defecating outside the litter box, bolting food then vomiting, waking people at night, and even aggression. “How you feed your cat is every bit as important as what you feed him,” says veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Bales, creator of the Indoor Hunting Feeder, a set of mouse-shaped feeders that cats “hunt”. People love their cats and give them the best of everything, she notes – but it’s the best of everything from a human perspective, not a feline one. In nature, Dr. Bales explains, a cat’s whole purpose is to hunt and find prey. “When you take that purpose away, and just give him a bowl of food, it shifts everything for him.”

She adds that cats, unlike dogs, are not genetically built to express their needs. When their innate needs are not being met, they become stressed and exhibit that stress by peeing outside the box, becoming food obsessed, and being destructive or aggressive. Worse, cats can “emotionally shut down” and simply sleep all the time.

ENGAGING CATS IN HUNTING BEHAVIOR Being able to engage in hunting behavior to eat, Dr. Bales says, changes all that. Cats are less anxious and more relaxed, so they’re not urinating or defecating outside the litter box or being aggressive with people or other cats. They stop waking people in the middle of the night to be fed, and “scarf and barf” behavior disappears. The research that has been done exploring the intersection of cat behavior and nutrition reveals ways to feed cats that are better suited to their natural feeding patterns (see sidebar at right). As research into feline feeding needs moves beyond the veterinary research community and into the mainstream, Dr Bale thinks feeding cats once or twice a day from the same bowl in the same place will become less and less the norm. More people will be seeking to improve their cats’ health and behavior by giving them ways to “hunt” for their food.

Feline feeding tips • Feline behaviorist Elizabeth Waring recommends dividing a cat’s daily food intake into small meals, with a minimum of five portions. You can hide these portions throughout the home at different times of the day, so your cat has to “hunt” for them. It’s a good idea to change the locations of the food; in nature, cats wouldn’t find their prey in the same spot all the time. • If hiding portions of food isn’t an option, or you’re not available to feed your cat at least small five meals a day, timed automatic feeders can be a solution. While they don’t address feline hunting needs, they can be programmed to dispense smaller, multiple meals a day, which is still an approximation of how cats have naturally evolved to feed.

Feline Wellness

You can have cats or houseplants, but not both – right? Wrong! Turns out there are quite a few house plants that are non-toxic to cats, so with a little planning, you can have the best of both worlds.

HOUSEPLANTS that are safe for cats By Ann Brightman

We hear a lot about toxic houseplants, along with warnings to keep cats well away from them. But are there any houseplants that kitties can safely co-exist safely with, even if they nibble a leaf or a flower now and then? Turns out there are more than you might think. And now that the days are getting cooler and shorter, and we’re spending more time inside, there’s no better season to build a cat-friendly indoor garden. A quick Google search will throw up a huge list of so-called cat-friendly houseplants, but be sure you get your info from a reputable source. There’s a lot of misinformation on the Internet about all topics, and toxic and non-toxic houseplants are among them. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (aspca.org) offers an exhaustive list of both types of plants. In this article, we’ll provide a glossary of eight of the most common, so you and your feline friend can start creating your indoor oasis as autumn advances. African violet – This old-fashioned favorite comes in a wide range of floral colors, from white and pink to maroon and violet. They don’t like direct sun, but will do well in a north- or eastfacing window. Bamboo – A symbol of good luck, the bamboo plant can be found at most places where houseplants are sold. It can grow in water,

Feline Wellness

and is often sold in a container filled with pebbles rather than soil, so the root base is in direct contact with moisture at all times. Keep bamboo in a bright area, but away from direct sunlight. Boston fern – While some ferns aren’t toxic to cats, others are, so it’s important to get the right variety. The Boston fern is a safe choice. This beautiful feathery plant likes a cool environment with high humidity and indirect light. If your house gets dry in the winter, you can raise the humidity around your fern by placing it on a tray of pebbles filled with water, and by misting it once or twice a week. Christmas cactus – As the name implies, the Christmas cactus blooms during the holiday season. Keep it out of direct sunlight most of the year, although know that the weaker winter sun is less likely to harm it.

Bottle palm – As with ferns, some palms are toxic to cats, while others aren’t. The sago palm is definitely toxic, for example, so steer clear of that one. Opt for the bottle palm instead. Though mostly grown outdoors in warm climates, it can also grow indoors in a container. Make sure it has lots of bright light. Let the soil dry thoroughly between watering. Hens and chicks – Succulents have become very popular in recent years, and hens and chicks are a cat-friendly variety. A rock garden standby during the summer, they can also be grown indoors in shallow planters. They need direct sunlight, and do better with minimal watering. Phalaenopsis orchid – Orchids are another trendy favorite, but again, you need to make sure the variety you purchase is safe for your cat. Also called the moth orchid, the Phalaenopsis orchid is one to look for. Keep the plant out of direct sunlight, and water sparingly. Spider plant – Among the most familiar houseplants, spider plants are easy to grow and do well in low light. A bonus is that they help purify the air inside the home. Because they send out trailing plantlets, they make an attractive hanging plant. There are many additional non-toxic houseplants to choose from – for a complete list, visit aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list. In the meantime, these will get you started on bringing the outdoors in – the cat-friendly way!

Cat-friendly herbs

There’s nothing nicer than growing your own culinary herbs indoors during the cold weather months. Even better, many herbs are safe for cats. They include: Basil Cilantro Dill Sage Thyme Most herbs need lots of sun, so put your herb plants in a south-facing window if you can.

Feline Wellness

CELEBRATING BLACK CATS

cat chat

If you’re thinking of adopting a cat this fall, consider a black one! National Black Cat Day, observed on October 27 – just four days before Halloween – aims to dispel superstitious beliefs about black felines that prevent them from finding forever homes. According to Black Cat Holistic Rescue: • Black cats are much less likely than other cats to be adopted from shelters. • They •

are considered bad luck, but this is nothing more than a myth.

Black kitties are often passed over because they don't photograph well, but they are beautiful in person.

• Black

cats are just as lovable and deserving of homes and families as all other cats.

The truth is, black kitties are no different than their white, brown, ginger, gray, tabby and tortoiseshell counterparts, and they make wonderful pets! BlackCatHolisticRescue.org

NEW FELINE ANESTHESIA GUIDELINES

Aesthesia can be risky for cats due to their small size and unique physiology. To solve this problem, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has released the first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery earlier this year. These standardized evidence-based guidelines address ways of avoiding complications associated with monitoring, airway management, ﬂuid therapy, and recovery once anesthesia is administered. "By proactively developing an individualized anesthetic plan that considers the uniqueness of each feline patient, and recognizing that 'one size does not fit all', the experience for the cat can be improved and the outcome successful,” state the guidelines’ co-chairs Dr. Susan M. Gogolski, DVM and Dr. Sheilah A. Robertson, BVMS (Hons), PhD. “It is our hope that these guidelines will become the practice's go-to resource, and each team member will have a new awareness of all the tools and techniques available to them.” CatVets.com

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Feline Wellness