Animal wellness
Animalwellness For a long, healthy life!
SPECIAL ISSUE:
Nutrition Top 6
superfruits you can share with your pooch
What’s the
score?
5 “bad” behaviors
How does his food rate in terms of good nutrition?
can dogs become
What’s she really telling you?
mentally ill?
“That’s so
Birthday
irresponsible!” How to deal with the other kind of animal lover
cakes he’ll love! Celebrate his special day with these Detection dogs These clever canines sniff out everything from mold to bedbugs
Today’s training tools
We have tremendous land resources in North America. When you fly coast to coast, you can see there are large areas of the country which are sparsely populated. At least some of this land could be sustainably used for responsible ranching without harming the environment. Worldwide awareness of the problems associated with factory farms and the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones, and steroids has created a huge and growing demand for naturally and humanely raised meats. So shifting more of our meat industry to the humane and sustainable model would actually help increase American exports while improving human health and animal welfare. It’s a win-win proposition.
Where do you fit in? It’s really quite a simple plan. If you start to demand products made from humanely raised meats, and pet food manufacturers meet that demand by offering products designated as humanely produced, you could become a powerful force for change. By increasing the demand
for humanely produced meats, you decrease the demand for meats produced by “factory farms” and create an economic incentive to shift livestock management to a humane and sustainable model. You can start by looking for quality pet foods and treats made from humanely raised meats, thereby supporting those who run humane and sustainable farms, and the companies that support them. Research and study pet food products, and don’t be afraid to contact companies and ask questions about how and where they source their meat. A growing number of premium pet food manufacturers are using humanely-raised and sustainable ingredients in their products, so the range of choices is becoming larger. Clean and humanely produced muscle and organ meats are much healthier for your animal companion than those that come from CAFOs. By proactively searching out these products, you can help reconcile your love for your dog or cat with the practice of meat consumption, while also doing the planet, and your furry friend, a big favor.
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Contents October/November 2011
features 18 Detection dogs From mold to bedbugs to human illness, these clever canines can sniff out or sense a wide variety of problems.
22 6 top superfruits
Harness the power of healing fruits for an extra nutritional boost.
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26 What’s he telling you?
Before reacting negatively to “bad” behaviors in your dog, take a deep breath and look at what they might be telling you about his physical and emotional well being.
32 Harnessing a happy dog
Successful, pain-free training involves a fresh approach – and the right tools.
36 Nutrition for working dogs
From athletes to search and rescue dogs, working canines have nutritional and supplement needs that exceed those of the average family pooch.
39 A clear conscience
When it comes to clean, healthy, humanelyraised treats, this company really walks its talk.
42 Let them eat cake
Birthday parties for dogs are becoming a popular trend. Choose from one of these mouth-watering healthy cake recipes for your pooch’s big day.
46 “That’s so irresponsible!”
It’s easy to see red when people don’t pick up after their pooches or give them enough attention or care. Here’s how to deal with the other kind of animal lover.
52 Journey to a new life
Establishing an “underground railway” helped this couple set up a rescue organization for needy dogs in a remote Canadian town with no road access.
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55 What’s the score?
How does your dog’s food rate in terms of good nutrition? Use this scoring system to help make the best dietary choices for your companion.
56 Dogs can get lupus?
You’ve heard of this disease in people, but did you know canines can also get it? Discoid lupus is an immune-mediated condition that can afflict German shepherds, huskies and collies.
74 The cat who taught me chutzpah
Remembering Eddie, a feline character with spunk to spare.
76 Raw feeding your cat
It’s one of the healthiest choices you can make for your kitty, but here are two things you need to know before making the switch.
64 Humane pet food
84 Know what to do?
69 EFAs for felines
87 Magic for his skin
71 Top 5 herbs for cats
88 Behavior problem – or mental illness?
Concerned about the treatment and welfare of the animals that go into making pet food? Dogs and cats needs meat, but choosing quality foods made from humanely-raised meats can ease your mind.
Essential fatty acids not only give your cat a sleek coat and healthy skin – at the right dosage, they can also help reduce inflammation and protect against cancer.
These natural remedies can effectively treat a variety of common feline health problems, with minimal risk of side effects.
Stabilizing a sick or injured dog before heading to the vet can mean the difference between life and death. Here are six common health scenarios and what to do about them.
A degree in organic chemistry and a Yorkie with serious skin problems led this entrepreneur to create a line of natural skin care products for animals.
Is your dog acting out of character? It may be a simple behavioral issue, but here are two medical conditions that can cause your canine to become fearful, aggressive or destructive.
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78 Feline Wellness health talk with Dr. Patrick Mahaney
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91 Communication
Departments
94 Passages
8 Editorial
96 Book reviews
12 Mail bag
105 Tail end
50 Product picks 60 Animal Wellness resource guide
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81 Feline Wellness marketplace 82 The scoop 98 Animal Wellness marketplace 102 Classifieds
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104 Events calendar
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Topics include: disease prevention natural diets and nutrition natural health care
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On the cover photograph by:
Mauro Rodrigues
A happy dog is a healthy dog, and a healthy dog is one that enjoys quality nutrition. This pampered pup is a good example of what a wholesome diet can do – bright eyes, white teeth, a cheerful grin and an alert posture that just seems to shout: “Let’s go!” To help your dog become as chipper as this guy, read our nutrition articles in this issue.
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animal wellness
Volume 13 Issue 5
Editorial Department Editor-in-Chief: Dana Cox Managing Editor: Ann Brightman Senior Graphic Designer: Meaghan McGowan Graphic Designe Intern: Sarah Beranger Cover Photography: Mauro Rodrigues Tail End Illustration: Leanne Rosborough Columnists & Contributing Writers Anthony Bennie John Kevin Cole Caitlin Crawshaw Audi Donamor Alecia Evans Michael W. Fox, DVM Jean Hofve, DVM Sara Jackson Deva Khalsa, VMD Anabelle L. Macri Patrick Mahaney, VMD, CVA Marcia Martin, DVM Erin Mayo, DVM, CVA Shawn Messonnier, DVM Sandra Murphy Barbara Nefer Anna O’Brien, DVM Saralee Perel Juniper Russo Carol Schultz Bill Smart Julia Szabo
Advertising Sales National Sales Manager: Ann Beacom, (866) 764-1212 ext. 222 annbeacom@redstonemediagroup.com Western Regional Manager: Becky Starr, (866) 764-1212 ext. 221 becky@redstonemediagroup.com Classified Advertising: Lesia Wright classifiedads@animalwellnessmagazine.com To subscribe: Subscription price at time of this issue is $19.00 in the U.S. and $26.00 in Canada, including taxes for six issues shipped via surface mail. Subscriptions can be processed by: Website: www.animalwellnessmagazine.com Phone: 1-866-764-1212 US Mail: Animal Wellness Magazine, PMB 168, 8174 S. Holly St., Centennial, CO 80122 CDN Mail: Animal Wellness Magazine, 202-160 Charlotte St.Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 2T8.
Administration & Sales President/C.E.O.: Tim Hockley Office Manager: Lesia Wright Operations Director: John Allan IT Manager: Rick McMaster Administrative Assistant: Libby Sinden Submissions: Please send all editorial material, advertising material, photos and correspondence to: Animal Wellness Magazine, 202-160 Charlotte St. Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 2T8. We welcome previously unpublished articles and color pictures either in transparency 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. Email your articles to: info@redstonemediagroup.com.
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 or services 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 1-866-764-1212 and ask for dealer magazine sales, fax us at 705-742-4596 or e-mail at sales@animalwellnessmagazine.com.
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Animal Wellness Magazine (ISSN 1710-1190) is published six times a year by Redstone Media Group Inc. Publications Mail Agreement #40884047. Entire contents copyright© 2011. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: August 2011.
Improving the lives of animals... one reader at a time.
animal wellness
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editorial
feeling
Eating well & well
N
o matter how many years they’re with us, our dogs and cats never seem to live long enough. A couple of months ago, my family had to say goodbye to Robin, one of our 14-year-old cats. During the early part of the summer, I noticed Robin was becoming lethargic and was limping on one front leg. Most alarming of all, his infamous appetite was flagging so I knew something was wrong. A vet check revealed he had a heart problem. Given Robin’s age and fear of strange people and places, I opted not to put him through any stressful procedures, but to care for him at home where he would feel safe and comfortable. I ordered some homeopathic remedies to help with his condition, but didn’t get a chance to use them before he passed.
Although heartbroken, I knew my focus now was to help my remaining cat, Renny, cope with the loss of his lifelong companion. I booked a session with animal communicator Sue Becker, a regular contributor to Animal Wellness, and used flower essences and healthy treats to help him (and myself) deal with the grief. As it turned out, Renny proved to be quite the little trooper. In fact, I think he helped me more than I helped him! A loss of appetite is one of the main signs that something isn’t right with your dog or cat. And when your companion is healthy, a nutritious diet is one of the best ways to help ensure he stays that way. That’s why we’re devoting this issue to nutrition. We’re featuring all kinds
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animal wellness
of articles to help you keep your best friend eating well and feeling well. Learn from veterinarian Dr. Michael W. Fox how to rate the quality of your animal’s food using a comprehensive scoring system. We also cover the nutritional needs of working dogs, and highlight six healthy superfruits that both you and your dog can enjoy. For those concerned about humane feeding, we include an article about humane sourcing and the pet food industry. And if your dog has a birthday coming up (or any other cause for celebration), why not treat him to one of Audi Donamor’s wholesome and delicious cakes for canines? Cat lovers will find nutrition articles on raw feeding and essential fatty acids in our bonus Feline Wellness section, as well as a feature covering the top herbs for cats. This issue includes plenty of further reading as well, from how to know what your pooch is telling you to the world of detection dogs and the incidence of lupus in canines – and lots more! Have a healthy autumn,
Ann Brightman Managing Editor
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contributors
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1. 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. Turn to page 36 for Dr. Khalsa’s article on the nutritional needs of working dogs. 2. Veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier authored 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. For his advice on essential fatty acids for cats, check out page 69. 3. Audi Donamor has been creating special needs diets for cats and dogs for many years. She founded The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund through the University of Guelph’s Pet Trust. She is the only two-time recipient of the Golden Retriever Club of Canada’s Silmaril Kennel Trophy for the Human/Animal Bond. In this issue (page 42), she shows you how to create healthy birthday cakes for your dog. 4. Veterinarian Dr. Michael W. Fox also has degrees in medicine and animal behavior from the University of London, England.
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animal wellness
He writes the “Animal Doctor” syndicated newspaper column, and has written Supercat: Raising the Perfect Feline Companion, The Healing Touch for Cats and Cat Body, Cat Mind. His controversial book Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat & Dog Foods, co-authored with two other veterinarians, is making waves around the world. Dr. Fox presents a handy pet food rating scale on page 55.
5. Veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University in 1994. In addition to conventional veterinary training, she studied veterinary homeopathy, Reiki and holistic medicine. She researched pet food and feline nutrition for more than 16 years, and has written extensively about pet nutrition, supplements and the commercial pet food industry. She co-authored Holistic Cat Care with nutritionist Dr. Celeste Yarnall. Turn to page 76 for Dr. Hofve’s article on raw feeding for cats. 6. Veterinarian Dr. Erin Mayo graduated from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. She received her veterinary acupuncture and Chinese herbal certification from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and runs a house-call based business providing holistic and TCVM services for companion animals in central New Jersey. In this issue, (page 71), Dr. Mayo addresses the top herbs for cats.
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7. Veterinarian Dr. Marcia Martin practices at The Holistic Medicine Center in Mobile, Alabama. Her clinic offers state of the art diagnostics and 24-hour care as well as acupuncture, chiropractic and classical homeopathy. Dr. Martin is also the author of Quit Your Belly Aching, a homeopathic guide to colic treatment in horses. For more information on holistic healthcare for animals, read her blog at drmarcia.wordpress.com. In this issue, Dr. Martin writes about mental illness in dogs (page 88). 8. Barbara Nefer is an animal lover and freelance writer living in Celebration, Florida. She shares her life with three cats, two horses, and a Quaker parrot. On page 52, Barbara profiles Moosonee Puppy Rescue. 9. Sara Jackson lives on a 12-acre farm in American Canyon, just outside the Napa Valley. She is a graduate of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has a BFA in Screenwriting. She is a freelance writer and has written a number of short stories, two scripts and a book (sarajacksonwriter.com). Turn to page 84 for her article on emergency care at home. 10. Carol Schultz has been a professional Animal Communicator since 2000 (carolschultz.com) and is the Founder/ Managing Director of Animal Spirit Healing & Education® Network (animalspirtnetwork. com). She has studied with Penelope Smith,
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an internationally known pioneer in the field, and is a graduate of the Interspecies Life Awareness Coach training program with the Institute of Integrated Sciences. Turn to page 91 for her story on how animals can help us develop important life skills.
12. Julia Szabo is the author of six books, the “Living With Dogs” columnist for Dogster. com and a dog expert for Howcast.com. She writes on animal health and wellness topics. For this issue, she discusses discoid lupus in dogs (page 56).
11. Caitlin Crawshaw has been a freelance writer since 2002 in Edmonton, Alberta, penning articles about animals, science/ technology, business and education (inkslingermedia.com). In this edition (page 46), Caitlin gives tips on how to deal with irresponsible animal guardians.
Juniper Russo is a freelance writer and natural health consultant. She writes articles, guides and essays for online and print-based publications. Juniper lives in the southern US. For her article on the top five superfruits, see page 22.
Sandra Murphy lives in St Louis, Missouri. When she’s not writing, she works as a pet sitter. Turn to page 18 for Sandra’s article on detection dogs. Veterinarian Anna O’Brien practices in central Maryland. She has worked with numerous species, from cats and dogs to cattle and camels. Her animal family consists of a black Lab named Shadow and three cats, Amber, Scabs and Tuna. Turn to page 26 for Dr. O’Brien’s article on how to know what your dog is trying to tell you.
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mail bag In your Aug/Sept 2006 issue, you ran a story about my bloodhound, Ellie Mae, and her ability for finding lost pets. She has just won the California Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame Award for 2011! This award is given by the California Veterinary Medical Association Board of Governors. It is designed to honor animals whose daily interaction with people best represents the important bond between animals and humans. Landa Coldiron, via email
Editor’s note: Congratulations to Ellie Mae! We’re delighted to hear she is still doing search and rescue five years after our story – and that she’s receiving an award for it. We hope she can continue with her excellent work for another five years!
Regarding the “Case study” article about Baxter in the June/July 2011 issue: I adopted a two-and-a-half-year-old Scottie named Rocky who spent some time in the breeder’s kennel. Although he was well cared for, he had problems, one of which was “gulping”
his food. He did not know how to chew! At first I fed him by hand giving him one piece at a time which did slow his gulping somewhat. As he had gained some weight, his vet put him on a veggie diet -- lots of cooked carrots and green beans. I cut them up in large chunks and cooked them al dente to where he had to chew. Again, I fed by hand and he slowly grasped the idea of chewing. He has not completely forgotten the “gulp” reflex, but it has improved.
CASE STUDY
I purchased a “slow feed bowl” – it has a raised center – and it has improved his eating habits immensely. Even though he has short legs, I also found that putting his bowl on a 2” telephone book has seemed to slow his eating habits. I notice from the photos in the article that Baxter stands tall, so raising his bowl to just above his chest would probably help with the gulping and also prevent bloat.
BAXTER breathes EASY A dog with a chronic choking problem prompts his guardian to learn life-saving techniques.
Rocky is very special to me and I just felt we had to share our experience and hope that Baxter and others can benefit from what we are going through. Bear in mind, this is a slow process, but worth it.
BY ANABELLE L. MACRI
Learning how to deal with Baxter’s chronic choking problem involved understanding and research.
N
ot long ago, I was pet sitting for a friend, and had three large dogs in my home instead of the usual two. My German shepherd, Baxter, was spooked by the newcomer, gulped his food during dinner – and started to choke. Before I knew it, he was gasping for air. In a panic, I dropped to my knees, pried Baxter’s jaws apart, and stuck my whole hand and a third of my arm down his throat. I couldn’t pull out the source of the problem, so I pushed it down instead. Baxter swallowed hard, and aside from a sore throat, was fine. We were lucky. Instinct took over, and I was able to save his life. But the incident left me uneasy, and for good
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Because Baxter lived in a wilderness retreat before being rescued, he has a survival mentality, and is overly protective of his food. He still lives according to what he learned in the forest, which is to guard and gulp his food. From what I understand, it can be a common phenomenon among rescue dogs that had to fight for survival in their earlier years.
Editor’s note: Raised bowls are a good idea for many dogs. It’s easier on their overall digestion, they don’t swallow as much air with their food, and it puts less strain on their necks, backs and hips.
I was concerned that Baxter would choke again, and in a situation like that, there just isn’t time to get the dog to the vet before he suffocates. I needed a way to deal
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Dalyce Feemster, via email
reason. This wasn’t the first time Baxter had choked, even though it was by far the worst.
animal wellness
5/6/11 11:53:23 AM
VETERINARY CARE
market trends FIVE Courteously provide advice to clients when you feel they need it. For example, not everything they read online about a particular condition or treatment will be true. Guide them to reputable literature or websites if they want to learn more, or have printed information available.
LASER What’s the THERAPY buzz? Page10
Today’s pet owners are more educated about animal care and view their dogs and cats as family members. Meeting Dr. Steve their Marsden: winning expectations includes making vete themMeet an awa for the integ rinarian with a pass rdpart of your healthcare team. ion rative approac
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Here’s a checklist of things your clients might ask or expect of you and your clinic and staff. By being prepared and open to their expectations, you will build up good working relationships with clients that will endure for years – and consolidate and enhance the reputation of your practice. ONE Today’s pet owners want a clinic environment that’s comfortable, friendly and
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NUTRITION NEWS
TWO Clients will want to know that both they Foo Lab and their animalsdwill beels treated with kindness and sense of ingr 101: Making respect. All staff, including desk personnel, edient food packagi front lists pet should be compassionate, patient and on warmng. natured. Good communication skills are a must. THREE You want your clients to respect you as well as trust you. Always present a professional appearance and demeanour. FOUR Listen to your client’s concerns and opinions, even if you don’t particularly agree with them. If you feel a client is wrong about something, explain it to him/her in a courteous manner. Honest and open dialogue is important, as it also builds client trust and respect. Offer clients as many options as you can for their animals’ care, and help them choose the best ones.
Introduction how you can To Reiki: Find out
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use treatment it to support anim [A] vet should be able toals layyou out the plan. the What care are the expected outcomes? Exactly for. what does he plan to do, in what order? He should give [clients] materials to read so [they] can learn more and know what to ask.
“Let your patient’s first step on the table be a Soft Step.”
WHAT’ S NE
Dr. Mark Newkirk, BS, MS, VMD
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Equine vete drop in pati rinarians notice a challenges ents due to econom horse raci being imposed on ic ng industry the . it’s an emergency situation, EIGHT Don’t rush clients into making decisions. Unless give them time to think about how they want to proceed with their animals’ care.
HORS Equine Nutr E SENSE ition:
NINE If a client chooses a treatment you don’t offer, be willing and able to refer Pack ingwant him or her to someonepoun who ds does. may not to do acupuncture or herbal a few on“[You] an unde rweight er”toisrefer care, but [you] shouldkeep be able [the client] to someone “hard who does,” says Dr. easier than you may Paul McCutcheon of the East York Animal Clinic in Toronto. think. “I don’t do dental surgery, but I refer patients to traditional surgeons.” inte
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TEN Make it clear to clients that the health of your animal patients is your top priority. Those who get the impression that money comes first will lose their trust in your clinic and start looking for another veterinarian.
8/11/11
In summary, try to treat your clients like collaborative partners in their animals’ care. While your knowledge and experience are vital to ensuring they don’t make poor or ill-informed decisions, today’s pet owners want to feel they are taking a proactive role in how their companion animals will be cared for.
integrative veterinary care
IVC Prem.indd 40
by
SEVEN Don’t discredit any type of treatment. “It’s not about ‘leaving your Western mind at the door,’” says Dr. Narda Robinson, director of the Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine and Natural Healing at Colorado State University. “I still vaccinate and use antibiotics when there’s a need,” adds Dr. Mark Newkirk of Margate Animal Hospital and Alternative Care Center. “Traditional methods like ultrasound and steroids help with acute problems; holistic methods help when there’s a chronic condition and vitamins or amino acids are healthier long-term than steroids.”
MARKET TR ENDS
unintimidating, just as they would at their own doctors’ offices. Waiting rooms should be bright, spacious, cleanTeam and welcoming, Effort: 10furnished with tips for buil a stro ngdecorated comfortable chairs and ding relationwith shipcalmingclien color schemes. Depending on how muchwith space ts. you have, you might even consider separate waiting rooms for dogs and cats.
Pet Safety Mat
SIX Ensure your clients understand what you are telling them, especially when it comes to diagnoses and the available forms of treatment. This is another time when good communication skills come into play. Although many pet owners are well educated, don’t assume they understand technical or clinical terms. Explain disease processes and treatment procedures in a way that laypeople can understand, and answer any questions clients may have.
BY CHARLOTTE WALKER esponsible pet owners are a savvy bunch these days. That was the consensus after speaking with a number of pet owners and several veterinarians about the client/veterinarian relationship. Pet owners seem to know a lot more about animal healthcare than they did decades ago, thanks to the many pet publications out there and the advent of the internet. More than ever, they want to be regarded as proactive partners in their animals’ care, rather than just being told what to do. This is perhaps even truer of those who favor the integrative approach to their animals’ care. These people have done their homework, which is why they are looking forPrem alternative IVC .indd 1 healthcare options in the first place.
Many years ago, our little rat terrier had lick granuloma. Our vet suggested that we set aside two to three times a day to play with her for five to ten minutes, and make a habit of walking her more often. We did this and the licking went away; she was just bored! Sherry Groovy-Rose Grunder
Thanks for the thyroid article (June/July 2011)! We have ten rescued dogs, all abandoned for “behavioral” issues -- all ended up being low thyroid. Thyroxine “fixed” all of them.... I am Dr. [Jean] Dodds’ biggest fan! This article is a great synopsis of the problem and will educate a lot of people and encourage them to test their dogs. Catherine Ritlaw
Integrative Ten Tentips tipsfor forbuilding buildinga astrong strongrelationship relationshipwith withclients clients
From our
ANIMAL WELLNESS
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new trade publication, Integrative Veterinary Care, this fall! This info-packed magazine is aimed at savvy veterinarians who want to make their practices more integrative by learning about alternative therapies and offering their patients a wider range of healing options. Our Premiere issue contains articles on everything from the many benefits of integrative veterinary care, to the uses of acupuncture and how antioxidants can enhance canine eye health. Be sure to let your veterinarian know!
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yakkity yak New shelter legislation The San Diego Humane Society and the Humane Society of the United States have expressed their support for Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher’s Assembly Bill 1279, which will update the language in California law to more accurately reflect the mission of modern animal care and sheltering programs.
Pooch parade A Guinness World Record for the most dogs in a costume parade? That’s what the San Diego Padres and PETCO achieved on July 27 during the annual Dog Days of Summer Event in San Diego. No fewer than 337 costumed dogs took part in the ballpark parade, and Guinness World Record officials were on hand to verify the world record was set. The infield costume parade was led by Tillman, the world famous skateboarding dog, during the game between the Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It has been an amazing record attempt and I’m happy to say it was successful,” says Freddie Hoff, adjudicator for Guinness World Records. “The 337 dogs in the costume parade were way above the set amount and on behalf of Guinness World Records, I’d like to say congratulations.”
This new legislation would change the term “pound” to “animal shelter” and the term “destroy” to “euthanize.” “Pound” was a common term decades ago, when most of the laws were written, and reflects an outdated emphasis on animal control as contrasted with today’s balance between animal control and care. Similarly, California laws referring to euthanasia as “destroying” an animal are also outmoded. AB 1279 would remedy this to reinforce the state’s commitment to the humane handling and treatment of animals in distress. “Laws that call shelters ‘pounds’ and suggest that officers ‘destroy’ animals do not meet society’s current commitment or expectations to our animals nor do they recognize the dedicated and caring staff that work at these shelters,” says Dr. Mark Goldstein, president of the San Diego Human Society and SPCA. “The introduction of AB 1279 represents the first step in changing the outdated language that is currently used in California law.”
“We are passionate about having dogs active in all aspects of our life and thanks to our partnership with the San Diego Padres, this includes inviting hundreds of dogs out to the ballpark every year,” says Greg Seremetis, Vice President of Marketing for PETCO. “We were happy to sponsor tickets for two pet parents per dog in hopes of getting the community rallied behind the Guinness World Record attempt and we are thankful to all who participated.” Dogs also had the opportunity to participate in a pregame “tail” gate party and prior to the parade, prizes were awarded to the costumed dogs in a variety of categories. As well, a local adoption organization was in attendance to educate the public on the importance of adoption and help find animals a loving home.
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When feeding Thanksgiving scraps to your animal, avoid cooked bones, pieces of fat and rich gravy.
What’s your state dog? From Alaska to Wisconsin, many states show off their love of dogs by giving them official status, according to the American Kennel Club (akc.org). For example, Maryland was the first state to honor a dog with an official title. In 1964, the Chesapeake Bay retriever became the state dog of Maryland. Here are a few more state dogs: Alaska – Alaskan malamute Massachusetts – Boston terrier Pennsylvania – great Dane Virginia – American foxhound Wisconsin – American water spaniel
A taste for smoked salmon? If you and your dog enjoy a bit of smoked salmon now and then, you might be wondering how the smoking process affects the nutrient quality of the fish, especially when it comes to heart-healthy Omega-3 essential fatty acids. In response to a question submitted by a reader to Harvard Health Publications’ Harvard Health Letter, editor P.J. Skerrett found Dr. Marit Espe, a senior scientist with Norway’s National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, who has done extensive studies on the nutrient composition of fresh and smoked salmon. She reported that “the composition of Omega-3 fatty acids calculated as a percentage of the total lipids [fats] does not change during the smoking process.” So enjoying a bit of smoked fish with your dog won’t short you on Omega-3s… however, do watch the salt content. Smoked fish has much more sodium than fresh. animal wellness
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yakkity yak Your heart’s in it!
Service dog etiquette
Are you a dog lover with a big heart? If so, turn your passion for pooches into action by participating in a program that funds new research for canine heart disease – and perhaps win a vacation too! All you have to do is visit the Million Heart Challenge website (vetmedin.com/millionheartchallenge) and click on the heart. As soon as one million visitors have done so, Boehringer Ingeleheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) will donate $15,000 to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) to support independent canine cardiology research. BIVI also will give away a vacation to one lucky animal guardian.
Assistance dogs are on the rise and provide life-changing independence and companionship to children, adults and veterans. But as tempting as it may be, don’t pet or otherwise distract a working service dog without following a few guidelines from Canine Companions for Independence (cci.org): • Don’t touch the dog without asking permission first. • Never feed the dog; he may be on a special diet or feeding schedule. • Speak to the person, not the assistance dog. • Do not whistle or make sounds at the dog.
The best dog for you
Photo courtesy of Canine Companions for Independence.
Want to know the best dog breed for you? FindTheBest is an objective comparison website that helps you make big decisions easily. Along with cars, computers and other major purchases, the website has also created a unique tool for finding the perfect dog. All you need to do is check off what you’re looking for in terms of temperament, size, weight and whether or not the dog will be hypoallergenic or good with children, and the website delivers you a list of potential breeds to choose from, complete with photos, general information, grooming requirements and more. dog-breeds.findthebest.com
Brandon is assisted by Canine Companions for Independence Service Dog, Elaine II.
If you’re dressing your dog up for Halloween, avoid costumes with small pieces he could chew off and swallow. 16
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Canine comfort
Photo courtesy of Nicholas S. Benner, University of Missouri.
Of the two million United States Service members who have been in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s estimated that up to half experience combat-related issues ranging from substance abuse to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Now, a University of Missouri professor is conducting a study that will give military veterans a “training buddy” to help them cope while helping shelter dogs become more adoptable. The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) is studying the mutual benefits arising from veterans training shelter dogs. Researchers hope this partnership will make the dogs better family members while helping veterans adjust after returning home. For the first phase of the program, veterans are learning to train dogs in basic obedience. In phase two, they will be mentors to families who adopt shelter dogs, and in phase three, the best of the dogs will be trained as PTSD service dogs to work with soldiers who need this assistance.
Training dogs helps war veterans deal with PTSD and other combatrelated issues.
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Detection Dogs From mold to bedbugs to human illness, these clever canines can sniff out or sense a wide variety of problems. by Sandra Murphy
“
Will we have to tear up the whole floor or just where the washer leaked?” asks the homeowner. Dressed in a special white hooded suit, the mold specialist examines the laundry room and indicates where the floor is damaged. Mold has spread between tile and subfloor. The entire floor will have to be replaced. The verdict is not given is so many words because the mold specialist is Scooby McGurk, an American hairless terrier. Scooby was trained by his person, Greg Milien, using five boxes and a racquet ball. Scooby first learned to zero in on the box the ball was hidden in to get his reward. Then mold was added so he would associate the scent with finding the ball and getting the reward. To further challenge Scooby, additional racquet balls were added to other boxes, but only the box with the mold scent would release the prize. Finally, several mold samples were used. If Scooby indicated all of them correctly, the reward was his. Scooby learned to transition from classroom to work setting by searching an old trailer salted with mold samples. “Do I worry Scooby might get sick?” says Greg. “Yes, but I’m very sensitive to mold myself. If I react negatively, Scooby doesn’t go in. I use him when visual inspections don’t reveal obvious signs of mold.” Scooby’s accuracy on the job is about 90%.
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Pest control Most colleges, motels, apartment complexes and hotels keep pest removal services on speed dial, since when an outbreak occurs, a rapid and accurate response is needed. Enter Tracker, a Jack Russell terrier trained by Florida Canine Academy. “A human’s accuracy in finding every bedbug is about 20% to 30%,” said Caleb Fabry of K9 Bed Bug Investigations. “Tracker’s success rate is 97%. That means I can just treat the affected areas instead of the entire building.” Burns Pest Elimination in Phoenix also uses dogs trained by the FCA. “We have five mixed breed dogs, all from Humane Societies,” said Bree Hutchinson. “Each dog has over 1,000 hours of training and each handler over 300 hours.” The dogs go to work five days a week but only spend two to four hours detecting. The dogs can sniff out as few as three bedbug eggs. “The dogs learn minor obedience, odor identification, search patterns, scent discrimination, building search, socialization and vehicle rides,” said Bree. “The handlers learn how to work in different types of structure and how to care for the dogs, including canine first aid and CPR. It’s such a joy to have these dogs in our office. They are amazing inspectors; we consider them family.”
Scooby McGurk is an American hairless terrier who specializes in mold detection.
Helping diabetics At the Service Dog Academy in Seattle, dogs learn to become a red alert for diabetics. They’re trained in a wide range of circumstances and locations – outside, inside, when the person is seated, on the bed, floor or tub, alone or in a crowd, at work, the grocery store and even in the car. It can take a year or more to train this type of detection dog. “It’s our goal to create a thinking dog,” says Mary McNeight, owner and head trainer of the academy. “The first sign of a low in a diabetic person is a reduction in cognitive function. We want our dogs to be able to solve puzzles, to be our brains when ours are not at peak performance. We teach dogs to think, to try multiple avenues to solve the puzzle and to know it’s okay to be frustrated. A diabetic person may not respond to the first signal so we want the dogs to try again and again until he or she does.” Buddy is a good example. Only eight months old and not yet fully trained, Buddy recently
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saved his person, Eric. The man’s blood sugar crashed while he was at work, and he passed out. Because the office door was closed, no one saw that Eric was in trouble. But Buddy’s problem-solving skills kicked in. “Eric’s coworkers heard a loud howl,” Mary says. “They found Buddy, a dog who rarely barks, trying to get someone’s attention and help.” Rocky, a German shepherd, trained himself to help his person, Danni Rosemann, if her blood sugar levels fall as she sleeps. Danni’s doctor thinks Rocky responds to her shallow breathing. Thanks to the dog’s alerts, Danni wakes up and is able to reach for the juice and glucose tablets she keeps beside her bed. “I trust him with my life,” she says. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Knowing when the end is near Scamp does work of a different sort. As a pup, he was badly hurt. He needed constant care so his person, nurse Deidre Huth, took him with her to The Pines, a nursing home in Canton, Ohio, where the patients soon became invested in his recovery. Now that he’s well, he watches over the residents in turn.
Champion sniffers Dogs have 220 million olfactory cells to sniff out a myriad of odors. Humans have only five million. No wonder dogs find humans lacking in the sniffing department – and why many detection dogs play such a valuable role in uncovering things like mold, drugs and pests. And since dogs are able to sort and separate odors, a trained dog will still find his target even if other stronger smells are present.
“Scamp knows when a resident takes a turn for the worse, sometimes before the staff realizes it,” says Adeline Baker, the home’s manager. “He’ll jump up from a deep sleep, and run to a room and bark until we come. He once dragged his dog bed to an Alzheimer patient’s room and stayed with her until she passed away. Families find it a great comfort to know Scamp’s warning will
give them time to say goodbye. He’ll stay in the room until family arrives.”
Scooby wears a special protective suit when on the job.
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Although it’s believed Scamp can predict death because of a change in a person’s scent, no one has been able to explain why he barked and insisted nurses come to one particular man’s room while he was sitting in a chair reading, apparently fine. That night, Scamp went home with Adeline as usual. At five in the morning, he woke her with his anxious barking. Twenty minutes later, Adeline got a phone call. A resident had died – it was the man Scamp had alerted them to more than 12 hours before. “There are things in the universe we’ll never know or understand,” says Adeline. “But if we pay close attention, dogs will show us more than we could ever imagine.”
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Top superfruits Harness the power of healing fruits for an extra nutritional boost.
Blackberries
by Juniper Russo
W
e health-nutty humans can’t get enough of “superfruits” – those rich, flavorful fruits so densely packed with nutrients that they act as medicine as well as food. With exotic names like dragonfruit, acai, mangosteen and goji, these fruits contain potent antioxidants that defend against environmental damage while also helping repair the body from within. In recent years, superfruits have gone from a little-known health fad to a blossoming medical and nutritional innovation. Superfruits don’t just benefit our own bodies; they can also give a health boost to our furry friends. Dogs are fully capable of digesting almost all forms of fruit, and can benefit from superfuits to the same degree we can. Here are just six of the many fruity treats that can help heal as well as feed your canine companion.
2 Blackberries Another incredibly rich source of anthocyanins, the common blackberry is a champion among superfruits. After a well-designed scientific investigation, the USDA ranked blackberries among the top ten antioxidant foods consumed in the US. Although they may not be as exotic or novel as their tropical counterparts, blackberries can boost your dog’s defences against common sources of free radicals, including stress, disease and pollution. Because they grow abundantly throughout North America, you’re likely to find local, organic blackberries at a very fair and reasonable price. Try mixing blackberries with broccoli and whole egg for a delicious doggie “smoothie”.
1 Acai berries Among the most famous superfruits is the acai berry, which has a deliciously unusual flavor that is almost chocolatey in its richness. While your pooch can’t join you in sharing a chocolate bar, she can certainly have her fill of acai berries. These tasty treats are an incredibly dense source of anthocyanins, which are deep blue compounds capable of neutralizing superoxides, dangerous compounds that dogs produce in response to stress. Acai berries are also a good source of vegetarian proteins and fats, which dogs require in a balanced diet. If you do decide to share acai berries with your dog, try to aim for fair trade fruit; they provide sustainable income for people living in the Amazon rainforest, where the berries come from.
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Acai berries
3 Cranberries Cranberries have been valued for centuries for their healing powers, and their effects aren’t limited to human beings. A single cup of whole cranberries provides nearly 12 times the antioxidant capacity of a cup of orange juice. Cranberries are well-documented for their ability to improve urinary health in both humans and animals. Cranberries contain a natural medicinal compound that prevents bacteria from clinging to the walls of the bladder, urethra and kidneys. This means fewer infections and better detoxification for your furry companion. The tangy fruit also contains nontoxic doses of salicylic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory and painrelieving compound similar to aspirin. It’s a perfect tonic for an aging or arthritic dog, but some dislike its tartness. Try mixing it with other foods or giving it as you would a pill.
Among the most famous superfruits is the acai berry, which has a deliciously unusual flavor that is almost chocolatey in its richness. 4 Wolfberries Wolfberry owes its common name to the wild canines of the Orient, who adore this delicious and powerfully nutritious fruit. Your own little wolf will be equally eager to experience the flavors of the wolfberry, which are at once fruity, tomato-like, and delicately piney. Also known by its Chinese name goji, wolfberry appears to reduce inflammation, improve heart health, prevent eye disease, and even improve brain function in animals. It can also help modulate a dog’s immune system so he responds to infection in an healthy manner, but doesn’t experience unnecessary fever or inflammation when infection does strike.
5 Pomegranates Pomegranate fruit has been adored for centuries because of its combination of incredible flavor, balanced nutrition, and often-unexpected medicinal effects. Whole pomegranate is an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants for dogs, and pooches enjoy its taste and texture. But its benefits don’t end there: several studies animal wellness
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have found that this ancient fruit can help with heart disease in humans and animals alike. Its natural juices also coat a dog’s teeth with bacteria-fighting compounds that prevent cavities and gum disease. Interestingly, the antioxidants in pomegranate appear to specifically protect animals’ bowels. Given the increasing rates of colon cancer in dogs, it’s prudent to add pomegranate to your pal’s preventative health regimen.
Blueberries can also improve your pup’s brain health – several studies have found they improve mood and mental function in animals. Most dogs enjoy the sweet flavor of blueberries, but others find them too strong. If your companion declines them, he’s more likely to enjoy them in a “stew” made with meat and raw greens. Superfruits can be fed as treats, or sprinkled over or mixed into your dog’s food. They’ll add variety as well as extra nutrition and taste to his diet. What more could anyone ask for?
Fruits to avoid
Pomegranates
Although fruit is a healthy and essential part of a dog’s balanced diet, some fruits can actually be harmful or fatal. Grapes, although a healthy superfruit for humans, contain a compound that can trigger nearimmediate kidney failure in a dog. As few as seven raisins or grapes are enough to kill a medium-sized dog.
6 Blueberries Perhaps the queen of local superfruits, blueberries are the strongest antioxidant fruit grown in North America. They contain extremely concentrated antioxidants that inhibit the growth of cancer cells and actively reduce inflammation. Like cranberries, they hinder the growth of bacteria in an animal’s urinary tract, preventing infections and other common problems.
Blueberries
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Be sure to also limit your dog’s intake of pits and seeds in fruit. Although your friend can handle an occasional apple seed, most pits and seeds contain cyanide, which can poison a pooch if ingested in large quantities.
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What’s he telling you? Before reacting negatively to “bad” behaviors in your dog, take a deep breath and look at what they might be telling you about his physical and emotional well being.
by Anna O’Brien, DVM
“
If only he could talk.” It’s a common lament, especially when a dog is “misbehaving” or otherwise acting out of character and his person doesn’t know why. A study of body language can help, but sometimes the behavior itself can tell us the most about what’s going on – that is, if we pick up on the clues. Here are five common behaviors and some tips on deciphering what they might be saying about your dog’s health and well being.
Hyperactivity and destructive behavior Hyperactivity is normal in a puppy, and some breeds are known to be more highly strung than others. And if your dog bounces off the walls when you come home from work, that’s a good thing. But what about an adult dog who is constantly overactive, sometimes to the point of destruction? Most often, this is a result of not enough exercise. The majority of dogs should be outside for either walks or play time for at least 30 minutes a day. Larger, more active “working” breeds such as Labradors, shepherds
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and huskies need much more exercise time for both their physical and mental health. Play fetch or go for a jog. Your dog needs to burn up extra energy in a positive way outside, rather than in a destructive way inside. If your dog is exhibiting destructive behavior when left alone in the house, this may be a sign of separation anxiety. He may be telling you that being left alone makes him uneasy and he craves your company to the point of causing pathologic behavior. Cases such as these take a lot of time and effort to control. A starting point is, again, to give the dog more exercise. He may also need a crate to call his “safe haven” when alone in the house. Provide him with acceptable chew toys such as Kongs; filling these nearly indestructible toys with treats such as peanut butter will make their entertainment value last a long time, keeping your dog occupied and out of trouble. Providing your dog with more things to think about can help as well. Teach him tricks, take him
to obedience classes, or even introduce him to a sport such as canine agility. All these can re-direct some of his anxiety and excess energy into something constructive. Also, creating a regular routine for bathroom breaks and meals gives your dog some stability in his life, and that can lessen anxiety.
Aggression towards you A good-natured dog that suddenly becomes aggressive towards you has recently experienced something that caused him to act this way. Dogs do not suddenly wake up one morning and decide to bite their people out of the blue. There is almost always a logical reason for canine behaviors; we just have to figure out what it is. First and foremost, from a health standpoint, always try to rule out pain as the cause of aggression. Note clues such as when and how he was aggressive toward you. What were the circumstances? How long has it been going on? A dog that experiences a short, brief amount of pain will react in a surprised manner that either turns into a feeling of defensiveness or fear. Depending on the dog’s personality, this may be manifested as a yelp, a snap, a growl or hiding. A trip to the veterinarian will help uncover any potential medical reasons behind this behavior.
Inappetence and lethargy A normally active dog that is suddenly moping around the dog park is sending you a very strong message: I don’t feel good. Take note of how he is holding himself. Is his back hunched, indicating a sour stomach? Is he reluctant to move, suggesting possible joint pain? Dogs can have “off” days just like us, when they may not feel as lively as they normally do. But if your dog is acting more than just a little slow, and turns up his nose at dinner, these are big signs that things are not right. If your dog misses two meals in a 12-hour period, take him to the vet. Something is wrong.
Hyperactivity is normal in a puppy, and some breeds are known to be more highly strung than others. Characterize your dog’s sudden feeding change. Does he merely eat slowly, as if his mouth was hurting him, possibly indicating dental problems, or does he ignore his animal wellness
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bowl completely? Excessive drooling is a sign of nausea. Does he still drink water? Has there been any vomiting? These are some of the questions your veterinarian will ask you.
Accidents in the house If your dog starts having accidents inside, start by ruling out medical reasons by taking him to the vet. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem in dogs and cause a frequent and urgent need to urinate that sometimes cannot wait until the evening walk. Cystoliths, or bladder stones, can also be a culprit, causing bladder irritation. These can be found either by the presence of crystals in the urine or on radiographs. Sometimes a large stone can be felt on abdominal palpation.
If your dog has been given a clean bill of health, then his accidents (both urination and defecation) may be a sign of anxiety. Has anything changed in your environment recently? A new baby or animal, moving to a new house, even sometimes a new bed can trigger unease in a particularly sensitive dog.
Suddenly spooky If your usually laid-back dog is suddenly fearful of something, a change has occurred. If he seems frightened by a particular location, try to remember if there were any loud noises that might have scared him – a gunshot if you were in the woods, a car backfiring, or an unfriendly new neighbor dog. Also be on the lookout for anything your dog might have injured himself on – a piece of glass, a slick patch of ice, or maybe a stray fly ball from someone’s baseball practice. It might take time for him to regain his trust of that area or situation. Bring treats and reward your dog for being brave when you next encounter this same location.
If he seems frightened by a particular location, try to remember if there were any loud noises that might have scared him. Watch your dog in his home environment to see if he acts normally there. Sometimes, if an older dog is losing his hearing or sight, he may begin to feel jumpy. During this adjustment phase, help your dog by keeping things as low-key in the household as possible. Older dogs benefit from twice yearly veterinary check-ups to catch such agerelated changes more quickly. Understanding your dog is more than merely making sure his tail is constantly wagging. Changes in his behavior and personality are his way of saying that something has changed, and this is how he is responding because of it. Learning how to identify these changes and correctly deal with his responses can help you better understand and assist your dog.
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Harnessing
a happy dog
Successful, pain-free training involves a fresh approach – and the right tools. by Alecia Evans
A harness and leash that clip at the front help the dog connect to and collect his energy more efficiently.
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efore I became a dog trainer, over 17 years ago, I was instructed by a Certified Professional Dog Trainer to use certain training tools on my 16week-old Lab. Back then, training tools were archaic to say the least. Shock collars, prong collars, nose leads and my “favorite”, the metal choke chain, were guaranteed to choke and hurt the dog if he didn’t do as he was told.
could be inflicting on him. After not-so-successful puppy classes, we used a prong collar (which almost broke my finger when it got stuck in one of the prongs), then tried a nose lead which injured my dog’s neck, requiring the services of a chiropractor who had to put three of his vertebrae back in place.
It’s astounding to me now that I went along with the professional without ever questioning the damage I could be doing to my dog’s neck, throat and spine, and the pain I
Then I hired another dog trainer who suggested it would be easier to get my dog’s attention and focus by giving him treats as a motivation to learn. When I used this ap-
animal wellness
A new mindset
proach, my dog acted as if he had bionic hearing and somehow began anticipating what I would ask for. Those training sessions happened years before I ever trained my first dog professionally, but that “out of the box” thinking taught me to look at things very differently from the way most trainers did, and often still do. I took a critical look at traditional dog training tools and begin to wonder how we could train dogs more humanely and effectively. The theory behind most training is that we teach the dog to listen to our language and then apply tools to change his behavior. But what if it was up to us to learn the dog’s language, and learn how to work with him in a way he understands, without harming him? In a dog or puppy’s mind, training is about who best controls the energy, but dogs do so in a silent way that we would do well to learn. I now approach training by teaching dogs how to harness and master their own energy, thereby unleashing their greatest potential.
Harnessing energy Almost all traditional dog training tools are designed to control a dog from behind and are placed around the neck. This notion of controlling the dog by the throat has the tendency to disconnect him from his body. If you notice, a dog on a choke chain or prong collar will still pull. When he becomes disconnected from his body, it is much more challenging for him to learn, and the potential for injury increases. A harness will always be safer for your dog’s neck, throat and spine. It should clip in front at the dog’s chest, thereby putting the focus of his energy in front of him, not behind him. Placing the clip in front of him actually helps the dog connect to and collect his energy more effectively and efficiently. You then have a dog or puppy that is much more able to tune into your own energy and pay closer attention to you as his leader.
It should clip in front at the dog’s chest, thereby putting the focus of his energy in front of him, not behind him.
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What if it was up to us to learn the dog’s language, and learn how to work with him in a way he understands?
Clipping the leash at the dog’s chest allows you to control him with total respect for his throat and spine, and gives him the ability and awareness to choose to walk into the pressure, or move back from it.
Leash connections In addition to a front clip harness, you want a leash that will help you communicate with your dog or pup by providing clear and consistent boundaries that he will understand and respect. Think of it this way: if you tie your dog to a tree, he will know in ten seconds or less how much room he has because the tree will not move. So he backs off from the pressure. Compare this to taking a dog for a walk and it is easy to see how traditional training tools are not assisting you. As long as you move forward, the dog will continue to pull against the pressure because he believes that by doing so, he will eventually break free.
A properly designed harness takes pressure off the dog’s throat.
Most leashes provide the dog with no way to know where his boundaries are. A leash that has some type of clear marking on it lets you know how much room to give your dog. That way, the leash and an appropriate harness work together to help you create clear, consistent boundaries for your pooch. By using the proper training tools, you’ll feel more confidence in your role as a calm and clear leader, and that means the dog is set up for success. After all, what happens on one end of the leash travels down to the other end; a calm human means a calm, aware dog that easily takes direction.
Three steps A good training method needs to be easy and leave little room for error. It needs to help you become a consistent leader and your dog a consistent listener. It can be as simple as following these three steps:
1 Walk the dog. 2 Stop, allowing your dog to feel pressure on the harness and make the choice to back off
3 Once he backs off, praise him and walk again. Consistently repeating these simple steps will align and rebalance your relationship and have your dog backing off from pressure in no time!
The right harness, leash and training approach lead to relaxed, comfortable walks.
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Nutrition for working dogs
From athletes to search and rescue dogs, working canines have nutritional and supplement needs that exceed those of the average family pooch. by Deva Khalsa, VMD
“B
utch is an agility competitor and is on the go all the time,” says Kim of her two-year-old border collie cross. “I learned early on that, just like a human athlete, his body and brain need an extra boost of nutrition so he can perform well, avoid injury and keep up his stamina.” Working dogs cover a wide gamut – from agility and farm dogs to security, service, therapy and search and rescue canines. Their lives are much more demanding – both physically and mentally – than those of ordinary family dogs, and their bodies and brains need to be able to keep up with all the tasks required of them. This means they need extra supplementation to maintain their health, drive, intelligence and tenacity. Whether the dog is a police canine or is helping someone in a wheelchair,
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the long hours and demanding nature of the job require stamina and perseverance.
Preventing injuries Most sport injuries occur when an athlete is tired and muscle fatigue sets in. Balance, concentration and foot placement begin to deteriorate. Complete, balanced supplementation works to increase both concentration and stamina. This results in fewer injuries and illnesses, a greater enjoyment of work and play, and longer careers. In other words, excellent supplementation often results in a happier and healthier working dog.
Increasing stamina Complete supplementation increases stamina by keeping cellular processes working full on during times when
concentration and endurance are so very necessary. A full complement of B vitamins for stress, iodine and selenium for the thyroid, vitamins E and C and grape seed extract for antioxidant activity all help keep things running smoothly during times of stress. Phytochemicals provide even more energy and resilience because they remain available in the system far longer than vitamins and minerals. Additionally, bio-research has shown that the phytochemicals in foods such as broccoli, kale, cranberries, blueberries and carrots help prevent cancer as well as many other diseases.
Vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals are the tools needed to keep your working dog healthy. Mental agility Working dogs have to think things through, and thinking is work. A dog’s nutritional intake affects his brain function. The brain has very high energy and nutrient needs. Nutrient intake affects neurotransmitter levels, which in turn affects memory and problem-solving abilities. • Vitamin B6 is needed to produce most of the brain’s neurotransmitters. • Vitamin B12 maintains the outer coating of nerve cells. • Niacin helps with memory. • Vitamin D3 maintains the nervous system. • Boron, a trace mineral, enhances brain function. • Zinc is called “the intelligence mineral” and is required for mental development. It also helps in the production of about 100 enzymes in a dog’s body, builds a healthy immune system and maintains the sense of smell and taste. It’s also great for the skin and coat. • Vitamin A is important for sight; a deficiency in this vitamin can cause night blindness.
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Repair and regeneration At the end of a long day, working dogs need to repair and regenerate. Cells run a race against time, disease and aging. And they need specific tools to run this race and win. Imagine if a repairman came to fix your washing machine and you found him leaning against the wall doing nothing. “What’s the problem?” you ask. His answer: “I forgot my tools so I can’t fix your washing machine.” In
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NATURAL SKIN CARE FOR ANIMALS animal wellness
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the same way, a dog’s cells must have the necessary tools to create health and stave off disease.
in their formulations and should be designed with the needs of the species in mind
We usually think of food in terms of carbohydrates, fats and protein and duly search pet food labels to find out how much of each is in the dog food we’re buying. But it’s important to keep in mind that as important as these basic food groups are, they act as the structure, and not as the tools to maintain the structure.
• Depending on their job, many working dogs are exposed to more toxins than the average dog so a vitamin that helps decrease the toxic load will further benefit health and reduce disease.
Let’s look at it this way. To maintain your home you need cleaning solutions, a broom, mop, paint, screwdrivers, a hammer, nails and all manner of other tools. And it needs to be a complete set of tools, too. Imagine that repairman leaning against your dryer, once again failing to fix it: “I don’t have the right tools for this job because I didn’t bring the complete set with me.” Vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals are the tools needed to keep your working dog healthy. Several factors should be addressed when choosing a quality supplement. • The milligrams or international units should be listed on the bottle. • The composition of the vitamins should be complete and balanced. • The sources should be from a quality supplier, and bioavailable. As an example, calcium from powdered bone meal or oyster shells is not well absorbed or assimilated, but many vitamins use this as their calcium source. • The vitamins should incorporate new research on health
Hippocrates probably never dreamed that his famous words “let food be thy medicine” would be proven true in laboratories all over the world in the 21st century! And it’s as true of dogs as it of people. Excellent supplementation improves the rate of tissue repair and extends a working dog’s career. Retirement due to injury, loss of performance or illness is often devastating to both dog and person. But we can’t expect working dogs to stay healthy and ward off disease if they don’t have the necessary tools. Working dogs need to think through situations and handle problems. We put them at a disadvantage if we don’t provide all the tools they need for support. Quality supplements will help your working dog do his natural best and be happier and healthier, creating a perfect win-win situation.
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conscience A clear
When it comes to clean, healthy humanely-raised treats, this company really walks its talk. by Ann Brightman
W
hen you have 20 years of experience in the natural nutrition field, you know a thing or two. Anthony Bennie (right) fits that bill. “I started my career in 1991 and was fortunate to have been a pioneer in the natural pet movement,” he says. He and his wife, Amanda, are now the co-owners of Clear Conscience Pet, a company they launched a year ago. The couple’s focus is to create healthy, clean, humanely-raised treats and chews for dogs and cats. “Our mission is to focus not on the daily food portion of the diet but on the very important but rarely scrutinized part of the diet that is provided by treats, chews, and food enhancers,” explains Anthony. “Our feeling was that the industry has done a very good job of moving the masses towards more natural foods, but that there was still way too much ‘junk food’ and poor quality in the treat part of the diet.” Not only are Anthony and Amanda dedicated to providing companion animals with wholesome, natural, high quality treats, but they also put a strong emphasis on humane sourcing their ingredients – hence the company name. “Our philosophy is a call to greater awareness of not only how we feed and treat our animals, but to establish a link between what we feed our dogs and cats and how we raise and treat farm animals in this country and around the world,” says Anthony. With this in mind, the company’s products are all made from grass-fed, free-range or organically-raised livestock. This makes them not only more humane, but also cleaner and healthier for dogs and cats. When Clear Conscience Pet first launched, it offered
three products – that number has grown to 12 in just one year. “The treats are oven-roasted and made from organ meats that are rich in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients,” says Anthony. “This is opposed to the typical ‘cookies’ on the market full of grains, sugars and ‘fillers’ that add empty calories to the diet and can contribute to the huge problem of obesity.” The treats are made from ingredients such as roasted organic lung, liver and heart from bison, beef and lamb. The company also creates dental chews for dogs made from cartilage, trachea and tendons, as well as SuperGravy, which mixes with any pet food to form a nutritious brown gravy coating. “We use a patent-pending process called OSV™ that ‘enrobes’ the treats and chews with air dried organic ‘SuperVeggies’ to enhance the nutritional value.” Anthony and Amanda often make donations to rescue groups. “We also provide product for fundraising events and offer certified rescue groups and shelters special pricing on our entire line. I also try to personally help those who call or write with difficult nutritional challenges they are facing with their animals. If I can help that family and their animal, it is very gratifying for me.” animal wellness
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warm & Fuzzy
OF FAITH
by Anabelle L. Macri
The author enjoys an autumn outing with Baxter (left) and Summer.
W
hen my first dog Baxter found me, I was told he was unadoptable. And frankly, it seemed true, because the German shepherd pup was sporting coneshaped headgear and a steel pin in his leg from a recent accident that almost resulted in amputation. No one wanted him. But because of a dream I’d had that launched my search for a dog, I adopted him anyway – in spite of the fact that I didn’t know anything about being responsible for a dog, especially one that would obviously need physical
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therapy. All I cared about was what I remembered when I woke up from that dream – I was laughing, because in the dream, a dog named Baxter was licking my face and tickling me in the process. I could actually feel it, and the sensation remained even after I woke up…and when I realized there was actually no dog there to greet me, I was suddenly disappointed. That’s when I began wanting a dog. When I first met the German shepherd with the pin in his leg, I asked a simple question that changed my life forever: “Does he have a
name?” The woman in the adoption booth said, “Yes, we call him Baxter.” That was the name I called out in my sleep! I took the leap and adopted him. Once the pin was removed from Baxter’s leg, it took weeks to get him to walk around the corner. He would pull back, almost losing his balance, because of the one bad leg. This was his usual reaction when a truck was coming up the road, so I ascertained he’d been hit by one. There were daily massages for that weak leg, especially during the colder months of the year. With proper nutrition and regular visits to a veterinarian, Baxter soon became a strong, healthy German shepherd with slight hip dysplasia. The latter has not grown any worse in the six years he’s been with me because of the care he’s received, which has involved a combination of exercise and holistic medicine, including fish oil supplements. I’ve never regretted the leap of faith I took that day when I adopted the “unadoptable” dog. A year after I helped rehabilitate Baxter, he saved my life when a man tried to grab me from behind. In less time than it took me to gather my thoughts, Baxter had knocked the man down and was on top of him until he ran out of leash, at which point the man got away. If it had not been for the name I called out in my dream, I probably would have adopted a much smaller dog, since that was my original intent. I really only adopted Baxter because the name fit. I’ve shared Baxter’s story time and time again, with the result that he has inspired a campaign to rescue dogs and find homes for the unadoptable canines of this world. He has also inspired me to live my life differently, by focusing on the possibilities rather than the flaws. In fact, the second dog I adopted was in even worse shape than Baxter was, but because of him, I was able to see her potential. My sister, Kristina, said it best when I brought Baxter home for the first time. “I just want you to remember something,” she said. “You adopted a rescue dog, so it won’t necessarily be easy since he comes with some problems. But you’ll bond, and though there will be times you’ll be frustrated, what Baxter will ultimately give you for doing this will be priceless.” She was right, because he gave me my life. You can’t ask for anything better than that.
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A year after I helped rehabilitate Baxter, he saved my life when a man tried to grab me from behind.
I have a magnet on my car that reads, “Who Rescued Who?” I think that sums it up nicely. You never know what you might get in return from taking that leap of faith and welcoming an “unadoptable” dog into your life.
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www.soggydog.ca animal wellness
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Let them eat cake
Birthday parties for dogs are becoming a popular trend. Choose from one of these mouth-watering healthy cake recipes for your own pooch’s big day. by Audi Donamor
B
irthdays were a big deal when I was growing up. Whether it was a party for my brothers or me, everyone had a role to play, including our dogs, Julius and Caesar. Children congregated in our psychedelically painted basement, dressed to the “nines” in party dresses and little suits, entertained by clowns and magicians. There were always games, and the tables were covered with everything from sandwiches to perfect little sticks of carrots and celery, fabulous cake from our family’s favorite patisserie, and even ice cream shaped like the yummiest fresh fruits.
BB King and Rainey celebrate their 11th birthdays with a bone-shaped cake. flour, quinoa, hemp flour or a combination) 2/3 cup filtered water 1 teaspoon sea salt (optional) 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup carob powder (do not use cocoa powder!) 1/2 cup finely chopped unsalted nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts)
My love for great cake has never waned, and these days, I love creating birthday cakes for the dogs in my life as well as the people. You might not know when your dog’s birthday is, if you adopted him from a shelter or rescue, but every day you have him in your life is cause for celebration, so why not throw a party and treat him (and your guests) to one of these wholesome cakes?
Instructions
Bow-wow-licious brownie cake Ingredients
batter into the cake pan. Bake for approximately 25 minutes,
Try to use organic ingredients wherever possible. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a square cake pan or line with parchment paper, for easy cleanup. In a bowl, combine the flour with the water, until it is nice and smooth. Add the yogurt and mix well. Then add the remaining ingredients, making sure everything is well combined. Pour or spoon the or until the top of the cake is dry and springs back when you touch it with a finger. Cool completely before serving.
1 cup goat milk yogurt or Balkan/Greek style yogurt
(If you want to make this recipe extra easy, you can mix all the
2 cups whole grain flour (e.g. whole oat flour, whole spelt
ingredients right in the cake pan!)
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Lightly ice the cake with low fat cream cheese, and add biscuits and/or dried fruit for decoration. You can even color your cream cheese with fruit juices, like cranberry for a rich rose color, or blueberries for a perfect purple! Carob chips (not chocolate) work like a charm to spell out names, or visit a craft store for easy to use alphabet cookie cutters. Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator or cut into small squares and freeze. This is a cake the whole family can share. If you want to sweeten the recipe, all you have to do is use 3/4 cup of yogurt instead of 1 cup, and add 1/4 cup local unpasteurized honey. Fruit honeys are a real taste sensation! This recipe can also be used to make cupcakes.
Mini canine carrot cakes Ingredients
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1-1/2 cups whole oat flour or another whole flour of your choice 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup oat bran 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon (Saigon cinnamon has a robust flavor) 1 tablespoon carob powder 2 cups finely grated carrots, or use zucchini, apples, bananas or a combination of fruits and vegetables 1/2 cup sunflower seeds 1 whole egg, beaten 3 tablespoons cold pressed oil (e.g. safflower, hemp, olive) 1 cup liquid (e.g. chicken stock, apple juice, filtered water)
Instructions Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine flour, oats, bran, baking soda, cinnamon, carob, carrots, and seeds in a large bowl. Add beaten egg, oil and liquid. Make sure to combine the ingredients very well. Lightly grease mini-muffin tins or use liners. Fill tins with batter. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of a muffin. Remove muffins from the oven and cool completely before storing in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Top with low fat cream cheese and a biscuit. animal wellness
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Not so royal
juice until it’s super smooth. Add the yogurt and mix well. Add the remaining ingredients, making sure everything
Royal icing looks great, but it’s not for dogs.
is well combined. Spoon batter into cake pan. Bake in
It’s a pure white icing that dries to a smooth,
preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until the
hard matte finish, and is what makes cakes into
top is dry and springs back when you touch it with a finger.
such wonderful works of art. It is made from a
Cool for 10 minutes, then pop the cake out of the pan and
combination of powdered icing or confectioner’s
cool completely before serving.
sugar, lemon juice and raw egg whites. Since significant concerns have been raised about using
Consider icing your cake with low fat cream cheese. For
raw egg whites, because of the possible risk of
extra pizzazz, add pieces of dried fruit along with some
salmonella, many people choose to use meringue
carob chips.Yummy! You can also put some carob powder
powder instead. Meringue powder is made from
in a shaker and shake it along the sides of your cake.
dried egg whites, salt, vanillin and gum. Gum paste is made from confectioner’s sugar, gum
Store in refrigerator, or cut into small squares and freeze.
tragacanth or gum tex, liquid glucose, gelatin, warm water and lemon juice. Many of these ingredients, including sugar, are not good for your dog. So when icing your canine’s cake, use yogurt, low-fat cream cheese or cottage cheese!
Coconut curry cake with wild salmon Ingredients 4 cups coconut flour 4 cups filtered water 1/3 cup first pressed olive oil Olive oil for your cookie sheets 2 eggs 2 tins of wild salmon (6.5 ounces each) 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 clove garlic, finely minced or grated 1 teaspoon ginger Antarctic sea salt and kelp
Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets with olive oil. Combine all ingredients in a mixer or blender. This recipe also whips up easily by hand! Split
Gluten free coconut cake Ingredients
the mixture between the two cookie sheets, and then pat
2 cups gluten free all purpose baking flour
to 25 minutes. Look for golden edges. Let the cakes cool
2/3 cup pure fruit juice, filtered water or a combination 1 cup Balkan style/Greek yogurt 1 teaspoon sea salt (optional) 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup carob powder 1/2 cup coconut flour 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a round cake pan with a spring bottom. In a bowl, combine the flour with the fruit
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down so the dough has a flat surface. Gently score your curry cakes with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Bake for 20 completely before removing from the cookie sheets – be extra careful, as these cakes are like the finest holiday shortbreads. A spatula is the perfect tool. Sprinkle lightly with Antarctic sea salt and kelp before serving. These cakes store well in containers, and freeze well. This recipe can easily be split in half and coconut flour used in combination with other whole flours.
animal wellness
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“That’s so irresponsible!” It’s easy to see red when people don’t pick up after their pooches, leave them outside to bark all night, or don’t give them enough attention or care. Here’s how to deal with the other kind of animal lover.
by Caitlin Crawshaw
A
t the end of our dog walk, Truman and I rounded the corner and spotted someone lingering outside our house. It was a blustery evening and it took me a moment to spot the small white dog squatting in my front yard. Once it registered, I stormed up the sidewalk to the perpetrator. “Excuse me! Is your dog going to the bathroom on my lawn?” The older woman stiffened, but didn’t remove her dog from my property. “Oh, this is your house?” she asked nonchalantly. With zero restraint, I lit into her. “It doesn’t matter whose lawn it is,” I hissed. “It’s rude to let your dog do her business on someone else’s property. Especially a block away from a park, for heaven’s sake!”
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If she was surprised by my confrontation, it didn’t show. With minimal argument, she pulled a plastic bag out of her pocket and stomped over to pick up the waste. She muttered something and walked away, tiny dog in tow. Still seeing red, I called after her, “Keep your dog off my lawn!” Truman growled the entire time.
Try to cool it In hindsight, it was a silly over-reaction on my part – and definitely counter-productive. While it’s easy, and understandable, to react emotionally when people are irresponsible with their dogs – especially if their actions are likely to cause the animal discomfort or harm – it’s only likely to trigger defensiveness in the guilty party, notes Sherri Romig, owner of Tails of Success, a dog-training facility in Rochester, New York. That’s why she takes
a gentle approach when she encounters irresponsible animal people, regardless of the situation. “I think it’s important when you’re dealing with this to find a nonconfrontational, compassionate way to bring it up,” she advises. No one likes to see a dog being neglected, allowed to run or defecate all over the neighborhood, left outside in all weathers, or otherwise not being cared for properly. It’s upsetting, and when you’re upset it’s easy to assume the dog’s family just doesn’t care or can’t be bothered with the animal. As a savvy and educated animal lover, you naturally can’t think of any good excuse for such irresponsibility. And it’s true, unfortunately, that some people really don’t care about their animals.
Education is the best strategy.
But there are other reasons why people behave irresponsibly with their dogs, and often these arise from ignorance, not a desire to be negligent. For example, some people simply might not know how to deal with certain behavioral problems in their dogs and are too embarrassed to seek help. Or they’ve tried to correct the issues themselves, with no success, and simply gave up because they think the dog is untrainable. They just may not realize that, with the proper approach and knowledge, no dog is untrainable or hopeless.
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Other people take a more traditional view of animal “ownership”. “There are people who view them as property,” says Sherri. “They don’t understand that dogs have individual needs and that behavioral problems can arise from those needs not being met.” A little education can open their eyes, she adds.
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Diplomacy is important When approaching someone who is apparently treating his or her dog with irresponsibility or neglect, therefore, diplomacy is the name of the game even though it’s not always easy to keep a calm head – especially when that neglect is causing distress to the animal. “Few things infuriate me as much as irresponsible pet owners,” says Amy Ferguson Wolf, an animal lover who fosters dogs with her husband.
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There are several things you can do to help an animal that is being neglected or poorly cared for. Over the last few years, for example, Amy has struggled to be diplomatic with the family living next door to her in their LA suburb. This family has consistently neglected several animals, but instead of calling in law enforcement, or giving the family a tongue lashing, Amy has stepped up to care for the neglected animals.
adds Amy. “Follow your heart and do the right thing, but try not to be hostile or combative. Try to explain to people why being responsible is better for all involved. I hate to say this, but if your neighbors are lazy, do the homework for them.” Sometimes, you may find that people are willing to take action but don’t know where to turn.
Extreme cases
Once, the couple was awakened at the crack of dawn when their own dogs began barking at something outside. “There was this disheveled, dirty, scrappy little designer dog, with matted hair and goop in her eyes,” says Amy. With the aid of some dog treats, she got the little Shih tzu to come to her and took her to the vet. It turned out she was totally ravaged by fleas and infections.
Of course, some people won’t heed your advice, no matter how gently you approach them. Earlier this year, a pit bull in Elizabeth Boskey’s neighborhood in Montebello, New York, strangled to death. He’d been left outside all day, tied up by his collar. Elizabeth had given the family a chest harness and warned them of the risks of leaving their dog tied up, but they hadn’t used it.
Diplomacy is the name of the game even though it’s not always easy to keep a calm head.
After years of working as a sexual health educator, Elizabeth knows that some people are “aggressively ignorant” and will resist information that will force them to take action. In situations where nothing you say or do is helping, and people become nasty and abusive, it’s time to call your local Humane Society or a law enforcement official. Yes, you’ll probably make an enemy, but at the end of the day, the dog’s well being is more important than being on speaking terms with your neighbor.
Amy took the dog back home and was bathing her outside when the neglectful neighbor wandered by. “She said, ‘Oh, my God! Is that Princess?’” Rather than handing the dog over, Amy talked her into allowing someone else to adopt her, arguing that it was clear the family had their hands full. It’s important to keep your cool, for the animal’s sake,
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For the most part, however, education is the best strategy. Try talking to irresponsible dog people in a calm, nonthreatening way about what they can do to better care for their animals. You might even guide them to some books or magazines they could read, or a local training or obedience class. “A lot of people just don’t know any better,” Amy says. “If you give them the tools they need to make changes, they’re more likely to make them.”
– “Macbeth” Shakespeare
Are You Feeding FRANKENFISH to Your Dogs? If you read the last three ads written about Solid Gold dry dog food, then you realize that your dog’s life depends upon what you feed them. The articles were: 1) Does GMO Mean God Move Over? , 2)Chicken and the Egg and Salmonella Poisoning, and 3) Sundancer – Our New Dog Food with Curcumin. Solid Gold has been the leader in natural dog and cat food since 1975. We introduced the Hund-N-Flocken natural dog food with lamb and fish. Hund means dog, Flocken means flakes in German. The FDA said that there was no such thing as a natural dog food. We told them that Hund-N-Flocken had been a top seller in Germany for 20 years. They said, “Oh!” If you import a dog from Germany, frequently the export papers say that if you don’t feed the Solid Gold Hund -N-Flocken , and the Solid Gold Sea Meal powder, they will not guarantee the health of the dog. About six years ago, Solid Gold introduced a bison and Alaskan wild caught salmon in our “Just a Wee Bit”, for the small dog. For the large and giant breed, we introduced Wolf Cub and Wolf King. The owner of Solid Gold had flown to Alaska to interview the fisherman. Two were chosen. They were the only hook and line fishermen. So, if they caught a small fish, it was thrown back. Soon, as usual, other dog food companies copied us. But they used big nets. Within four years, the wild Alaskan salmon was fished out. Only FARMED salmon was available. Farmed salmon is fed GMO corn. The corn is sterile and cannot reproduce. The salmon are sterile and cannot reproduce. Guess what happens to the people and dogs that are fed this salmon? Solid Gold no longer uses salmon. They are concerned that the GMO salmon may cause cancer. GMO means Genetically Motified Organism Our Holistique Blendz dog food was introduced in 1985. Holistic does not mean natural or organic. It is fishbased and low 18% protein especially for the older dog to spare the liver and the kidneys. It is also for white dogs that are light-sensitive (photo aging). At a recent dog show, a dog food vendor was next to the Solid Gold booth. The salesman told us that his company also now had holistic dog food. We asked him what holistic meant. He said they put apples in it. Oh well! In April, 2011 the news said that in New Jersey, it is unlawful for people to plant tomato seeds. You now have to buy GMO tomato plants from the same company that developed GMO soybean and corn. The chemical company said they are doing this to protect the public. Seems that bugs will get on the tomato plants. For 20 years, I just washed off the bugs from my father’s tomato plants. These GMO plants were found to cause two harmful strains of bacteria that damage the intestinal tract and cause leaky gut syndrome. Dogs were developing leaky gut syndrome and infected anal glands. We use non-GMO tomatoes in our dog food. They are high in lycopene which is good for the heart and circulation. Any fruit or vegetable that is red supports the circulatory system, hormone system and thyroid system. In the recent radiation Japanese disaster, the red sea algae was rushed to Japan to build up the immune and hormone systems. Our Sea Meal contains 19 types of seaweed, including red sea algae. Always use our Sea Meal powder with our dog food. It keeps the dogs from chewing at the root of the tail and licking their feet. Our new Solid Gold dog food is Sundancer, which contains curcumin. To find out how curcumin works with cancer, see http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm In 1958 the US Congress wanted to fund a study for the use of curcumin and cancer. The big pharmaceutical companies objected and said it would interfere with revenues from their cancer drugs. The new World Order says that if you control the food production, you can control the people (and dogs). Read dog food labels, don’t feed Frankenfish and other GMO products to your dogs and cats. You can depend upon Solid Gold to produce the finest and healthiest pet foods. Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition Center 1331 N. Cuyamaca, El Cajon, CA 92020
For a catalog or store near you, call or email us at: (619) 258-7356 (M,W,F 10-5 PST) or E-mail us at sarah@solidgoldholistic.com or www.solidgoldhealth.com
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Product picks For eco-friendly pooches These aren’t ordinary dog treats. Max & Ruffy’s natural vegan oven-baked dog treats are made from 100% certified organic ingredients sourced from socially responsible companies. There are six flavors to choose from, including the grain-free Powerhouse Sweet Potato & Alfafa, rich in beta-carotene and other vitamins and minerals, and the antioxidantpacked W. P. Pizza, made from tomato paste with parsley, oregano, and garlic. The treats contain no GMO or animal ingredients. Original 8 oz: $9.50 Mini bites 5 oz: $6.50 maxandruffys.com
Protection plus For centuries, charms have been a favored way to give protective energy to loved ones. Animal communicator Ann Marie Hoff has designed a unique line of Pet Protection Charms to help protect your dog wherever he is. These beautiful handmade pieces are available in three colors – aqua blue, emerald green and royal blue – and feature sterling silver accents, a Chinese coin for good luck and a Swarovski crystal. Not recommended for large dogs that roughhouse. $38 RosezellasWay.com
Tread to fitness Hands-free bathing Giving a dog a bath can be a challenge – you need one hand to keep him from jumping out of the tub, and the other hand to do everything else, resulting in a lot of mess and frustration. The Pet Wash is a simple product that attaches to wall tiles or the side of your tub and features an adjustable webbing strap to keep your dog comfortably in place while you bathe him. No more trying to open a shampoo bottle with one hand while preventing your dog from making a run for it! $19.95 petwashhome.com
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animal wellness
Winter will soon be here, and that means cold, wet or snowy weather when your dog may not be able to get outside and exercise as much as he’d like. Dog Treader offers treadmills designed just for dogs. There are three different models, for small, medium and large dogs, and each includes side enclosures that help your dog stay focused and moving forward, as well as other safety features just for canine exercisers. The electronics are safely tucked away in an external box to protect them from dog hair, dust or drool, and the console is placed conveniently for easy access. Small: $489.99 Medium: $639.99 Large: $839.99 dogtreader.com
They’re all holistic
Healing mushrooms
If you’re looking for a wide and varied selection of reasonably-priced natural products for your companion, Urban Jungle Pets is the place to turn to. The company offers everything from supplements to detoxify the body and condition the organs, to geriatric products, natural mood elevators, preservative-free treats and products specifically for joint health, immune health, digestive and urinary issues, and much more. Many of these products contain herbs that have been grown organically. urbanjunglepets.com
They might seem humble and lowly, but many mushrooms have powerful healing benefits. Mushroom Matrix formulates supplements made from blends of ten powerful medicinal mushroom species from around the world, each of which offers unique healing qualities to your dog. Healthy Pet Matrix strengthens his immune system and helps ensure optimum wellness, while MRM Matrix provides some extra natural support for health recovery. The company also offers products for joint flexibility, skin and coat health, and for alleviating anxiety and stress. 30 grams: $12.99 200 grams: $39.99 mushroommatrix.com
Safe walking! A dog that persistently pulls on the leash can do serious damage to his throat and esophagus if he’s wearing the wrong type of collar. The Walk In Sync Humane Dog Walking and Training System features safe, easy and orthopedically correct training tools for dogs and humans. The Harness and Accu-grip Leash provide clear, consistent boundaries for instant leadership and will never choke your dog. They’re designed for comfort with soft sturdy webbing, fully adjustable neck and girth straps, comfort grips and reflective tabs for night walks. Harness and leash: $52 dogwalkinsync.com
Fight fall pests Summer might be over, but mosquitoes and other biting pests can remain a problem well into the fall in many regions. Buzz Guard from Earth Heart can help protect your dog from those stubborn autumn insects. This safe, non-toxic water-based mist contains polysorbate 20 along with a combination of pest-repelling oils, including neem, citronella, fir, geranium, rosewood, basil and myrrh. 2 oz bottle: $11.98 earthheartinc.com
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crowded, I just couldn’t cram the last dog I had walked back into his crate. His name was Toby, and his resistance told me I needed to take him home as a foster. I wasn’t really prepared and had never fostered before, but something about Toby made me act.” Sharron and Paul already owned two Airedales, and Toby bunked with them for four days before moving on to a new home. “He was more calm, attentive and agreeable than any dog we had ever known,” says Sharron. “He had come straight out of a shelter environment, yet was happy, hopeful and eager to please.”
Journey to aNEW LIFE Establishing an “underground railway” helped this couple set up a rescue organization for needy dogs in a remote Canadian town with no road access. by Ba rba ra N e f er
Back at the shelter, Sharron asked about Toby’s origins and learned he’d come from Moosonee. The shelter manager explained that a woman named Glenda was transporting dogs from the town to find them new homes, and leaving them at the shelter when she was unsuccessful. In order to do so, the Purdys were amazed to discover, Glenda had to take a five-hour train ride on the Polar Bear Express, then drive six more hours to Muskoka with the dogs.
Intrigued, Sharron contacted Glenda, and learned that Moosonee dogs lead rough lives. They aren’t spayed or neutered and are mostly left outside to run wild and breed freely. Puppies are born under houses, in debris piles, and in the brush. The elements kill many of them, since temperatures can dip below –50°F during northern Ontario winters. The ones left behind are culled in periodic “dog shoots”.
Puppies rescued from Moosonee are hardy husky, shepherd and collie crosses.
M
oosonee is a small town just a dozen miles south of James Bay in Ontario, Canada. Originally a fur trading post, this remote little community is home to fewer than 5,000 people, has no road access, and can only be reached by rail or air. It’s also the focus of Moosonee Puppy Rescue (moosoneepuppyrescue.com), a non-profit organization founded by Sharron and Paul Purdy.
Canine inspiration It all started eight years ago, thanks to a dog named Toby. “I was a volunteer at the Muskoka branch of the Ontario SPCA,” says Sharron. “One day, when the facility was
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Compelled to help Sharron and Paul decided to travel to Moosonee to assess the situation for themselves. “We were both retired, we live in the country and love dogs,” she explains. “I wasn’t sure what I could do, but something compelled me to pursue this.”
Glenda met the couple at the train station and introduced them to three local teachers who were helping with rescues, and another woman who was raising money to bring spay/neuter clinics to the town. Sharron and Paul spent three days in the area, brought two puppies home with them and agreed to take more later. Moosonee Puppy Rescue was born.
Like us, they need minerals and vitamins too!
A long way home Because Moosonee is so difficult to get to, one of the Purdys’ first priorities was to set up a “rescue route” for the dogs. It begins with a train ride from Moosonee and Moose Factory to a town called Cochrane, five hours away. Next comes a ride with truckers from Lloyd Richards Cartage. “The dogs aren’t treated like cargo,” stresses Sharron. “The drivers stop to let them out for breaks and often feed them treats on the way. The truck then pulls off at the side of the highway at some predetermined point and we meet them there.” When trucks aren’t scheduled to take that particular route, volunteers meet the train, keep the puppies overnight, turn them over to drivers who take them partway to Muskoka, with the Purdys meeting them halfway there. Not surprisingly, Sharron says transportation logistics are the hardest part of her work.
before
SKIN & COAT
JOINT & BONE ANTIOXIDANT
Sun-dried nutritious ocean kelp from Nova Scotia. With wild blueberries, organic flax, or glucosamine.
pet kelp
Boost nutrition for your dog Available at www.petkelp.com or at select retailers nationwide.
after
After adoption and proper care, Bella’s coat grew in much more luxuriously.
The rescue network saves about 100 dogs a year, but Sharron says Moosonee residents aren’t always supportive. “They recognize the dogs face abandonment, neglect and sometimes abuse, but they feel they belong to the community and should stay there. This makes our work more difficult.” Sharron adds that dog shoots continue out of tradition even though they are now largely unnecessary. “The spay/neuter clinics and rescue efforts have made the population more than manageable.” The dogs coming from Moosonee are crosses of hardy breeds like shepherds, retrievers, border collies, Labs and huskies. Most are surprisingly healthy. “Only the strong survive up north,” explains Sharron. “The dogs we get have animal wellness
53
to see 17 puppies running to me from all parts of the bush when I call them! “Any dog over five months of age lives in the house with us as part of our pack,” adds Sharron. “We have six dogs of our own, so they help with the rehabilitation of the rescued dogs. Most of the adults we rescue have never been in a house, heard the sound of a vacuum, or walked up and down stairs. We give them as much freedom as possible so they can choose to be a part of the pack or human family. Once they have made that choice, training is much easier. It amazes me that the adult dogs still have so much hope, character and integrity after all they have been through.” Moosonee Puppy Rescue also uses some foster homes. “We received 53 dogs in three months and were unable to care for them all ourselves. A few friends offered to foster, so we now have about five homes that take dogs until they can be placed. Flint relaxing at his new home.
managed to develop a strong immune system to overcome the threats to their health.” Most medical problems are usually related to abuse.
A roof over their heads The Purdys open their own doors to the dogs until they move on to forever homes. “For the puppies, we have a oneroom cabin with a woodstove and two dog doors that go out into a pen, so the puppies can live together as a litter,” says Sharron. “If their mom is with them, she comes and goes as she pleases by jumping the gate in the pen. We live in the bush, and have four fenced-in acres. We let the pups out several times a day to run and play freely. It’s wonderful
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animal wellness
“We do a home visit prior to placing each dog, and we require someone to be home with the young pups during the day. Our standards are very high because we know and love each dog. Living with them the way we do makes them feel like our own, so extra care is taken each time we let one go.” The Purdys were retired when they started Moosonee Puppy Rescue, but Paul went back to work part time to help cover expenses; the operation otherwise runs entirely on donations and fundraisers. “We are very fortunate to have the help and support of so many people who have adopted dogs from us,” Sharron says. “Some of our closest friends are people we met through dog adoption. These northern dogs are so impressive that people seem to want to be a part of saving them.”
What’ s the score? How does your dog’s food rate in terms of good nutrition? Use this scoring system to help you make the best dietary choices for your companion.
by Michael W. Fox, DSc, PhD, BVet Med, MRCVS
Y
ou want to feed your dog the best possible diet, but with so many products on store shelves these days, how do you decide which ones will offer your companion optimum nutrition, especially when ingredient labels can be so difficult to decipher? This scoring system will help you make the right selections. Here’s how to do it. Start at 100, and subtract or add points as follows.
Subtract 10 points:
• For every listing of “by-product” • For every non-specific animal source reference (e.g. meat, poultry, meal or fat as opposed to beef, lamb, or chicken, etc.) • If the food contains BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin
Subtract 5 points:
• For every grain “mill run” or non-specific grain source (specific examples should be wheat, barley, oats, etc.) • If the same grain is used two or more times in the first five ingredients (e.g. “ground brown rice”, “brewer’s rice”, “rice flour” are all the same grain)
Subtract 3 points:
Add 5 points:
• If any of the meat sources are organic • If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist • If the food is baked, not extruded
Add 3 points:
• If the food contains probiotics • If it contains fruit • If it contains vegetables (not corn or other grains)
Add 2 points:
• If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free • If the food contains barley • If it contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds)
Add 1 point:
• If the food contains oats or oatmeal • If it contains sunflower oil • If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin • If vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free • For each different specific animal protein source
• If the protein sources are meat meal and there are less than two meats in the top three ingredients • If the food contains any artificial colorants • If the food contains ground corn or whole grain corn
Once you’ve assessed the product using the above
Subtract 2 points:
94 – 100+ = A 86 – 93 = B 78 – 85 = C 70 – 77 = D <70 = F
• If corn is listed in the top five ingredients • If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil • If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources) • If the food contains soy or soybeans • If it contains wheat (unless you know your dog isn’t allergic to wheat) • If it contains beef (unless you know your dog isn’t allergic to beef)
Subtract 1 point:
system, take a look at your final figure and rate the food as follows.
You’ll soon see how your dog’s food scores in terms of good nutrition and will be able to make healthier choices in the future. It takes a little time and effort, but it’s an interesting exercise, and it’s more than worth your while!
• If the food contains salt
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Dogs can get lupus?
You’ve heard of this disease in people, but did you know canines can also get it? Discoid lupus is an immune-mediated condition that can afflict German shepherds, huskies and collies. by Julia Szabo
After treatment, Smokey’s nose looks much healthier.
I
n my many years of caring for rescue dogs, I’ve encountered some unusual canine ailments. But there’s one I’d never heard of until very recently. It’s an immunemediated disease called discoid lupus erythematosus (or discoid lupus for short). It’s often confused with solar dermatitis or ringworm. I recently rescued a lovely female German shepherd. Since I’ve always admired this breed but never lived with one until now, I’ve been doing some research into them. I learned, among other things, that German shepherds are on the short list of breeds predisposed to discoid lupus. The others are collies, Shetland sheepdogs, huskies, Brittany spaniels, and German shorthaired pointers.
Smokey’s nose shows the redness, scaling and pigment changes associated with discoid lupus.
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animal wellness
If you fancy any of these breeds, or have
adopted a mixed dog that has one or more of these breeds in his makeup, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to educate yourself about discoid lupus and how to cope with it. If not properly diagnosed and treated, it can cause your dog serious discomfort and diminish his quality of life.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want my best friend with me alwaysâ&#x20AC;?
Skin signs and symptoms â&#x20AC;&#x153;The symptoms of discoid lupus include loss of pigment, redness, scaling or crusting of the nose with loss of the noseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s normal â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cobblestoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; appearance,â&#x20AC;? says Dr. Heather Peikes, a board-certified dermatologist at New York City Veterinary Specialists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Loss of pigment and cobblestone are earlier symptoms; later symptoms include ulceration and crusting, especially when a secondary bacterial infection is present. The most common area to be affected is the nose, but discoid lupus can also affect the bridge of the nose. Less common areas to be affected include around the eyes, the ear flaps, lipfolds, genitals or anus.â&#x20AC;? Dr. Peikes adds that discoid lupus is not related to systemic lupus in any way.
The administration of oral vitamin E, either alone or with a combination of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, may be helpful as an adjunct treatment.
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How does it feel to have this condition? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Early pigment changes do not lead to discomfort,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Peikes says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But more chronic cases can be itchy or uncomfortable. If the nose is affected, ulceration close to the blood vessels can lead to bleeding. If the vulva is affected, it can lead to pain when urinating. The most common disease to cause similar symptoms is a bacterial infection.â&#x20AC;?
Allopathic and alternative treatments Conventional treatment involves a course of oral antibiotics for six weeks based on a culture, to rule out skin infection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the condition is not improving, a skin biopsy is necessary to diagnose discoid lupus; the biopsy usually requires general anaesthesia,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Peikes says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After treatment, the prognosis is usually good. In mild cases, topical treatment alone may be able to manage symptoms.â&#x20AC;?
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Additional suggestions • Sun exposure seriously aggravates the symptoms of discoid lupus, so sun avoidance and/or suncreen application is strongly recommended. When selecting UV protection for your dog, read the ingredients and avoid all products that contain zinc oxide, which is toxic to animals if licked off. A safe bet for preventing and soothing canine sunburn include products such as Natural Dog Snout Soother ( n a t u r a l d o g c o m p a n y. com), a blend of shea butter, kukui nut oil, and vitamin E. • Neem oil, an extract of the neem tree, has been used for centuries to heal a variety of skin irritations and burns on animal and human skin. An added benefit is that neem is a natural insect repellent – and keeping germ-carrying pests away from the vulnerable nose of a discoid lupus dog is critical to help avoid infection.
Collies and related mixes are among the breeds prone to developing discoid lupus. Initially, steroids would be used, then an attempt would be made to use less potent medications. Topical tacrolimus has been helpful in managing cases, Dr. Peikes allows, but it can take a few weeks to see improvement. The administration of oral vitamin E, either alone or with a combination of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, may be helpful as an adjunct treatment. “I remember a dog named Sam, an eight-year old female Lab who was experiencing nasal ulceration and crusting as well as ulceration of the vulva,” Dr. Peikes says. “We treated her with vitamin E, Omega 3 and 6, and topical application of tacrolimus. Sam had been very painful when urinating, and was rubbing her nose until it bled. After treatment, she was a much happier and more comfortable dog.”
“Feeding an anti-inflammatory diet that contains no grains is imperative, and so is avoiding vaccinations.” 58
animal wellness
• Stress can trigger a flare-up of the condition. Holistic veterinarian Dr. Michele Yasson recommends adding a few drops of Rescue Remedy to your dog’s water to help him cope with stressful situations such as long-distance travel, moving house, or other changes. • Perhaps most important for a dog with discoid lupus is to implement what Dr. Yasson calls an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. “Feeding an anti-inflammatory diet that contains no grains is imperative, and so is avoiding vaccinations,” she says. If your dog has been diagnosed with discoid lupus, locate an integrative vet who will draw on a variety of options to ease the condition. A well-rounded treatment approach will give your companion the best possible chance of staying comfortable and happy.
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ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
CALIFORNIA
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION & ENERGY PRACTICES PENNSYLVANIA
Sue Becker Kitchener, ON Canada Phone: (519) 896-2600 Email: suebecker@cyg.net www.AnimalParadiseCommunication.com â&#x20AC;˘ 703-648-1866 Website: www.suebecker.net
Communication, Counselling, Bach Flower Remedies, Tellington TTouch.
VIRGINIA
!
ONTARIO
Dr.Susan L. Shaw
CertiďŹ ed Animal Chiropractor
157 Bradford St. Barrie, ON L4N 3B4
705.725.8632 | www.shawchiropractic.ca
Integrative Veterinarians Trainers & Behaviorists Pet Sitters Natural Product Retailers, Manufacturers & Distributors Shelters & Rescues Reiki Chiropractic Acupressure Acupuncture
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animal wellness
www.AnimalParadiseCommunication.com â&#x20AC;˘ 703-648-1866
WASHINGTON
Communications With Love Amboy , WA USA Phone: (360) 247-7284 Email: morgine@tds.net Website: www.theanimaltranslator.com
HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNICATORS NEW YORK
Janice DeFonda Can We Talk Fayetteville, NY USA Phone: (315) 329-0116 Email: angelwhispurr@gmail.com Website: www.ark-angels.org
Compassionate Consultations and Reiki Energy Healing with Love
Massage Therapists
ONTARIO
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INTEGRATIVE VETS
ALBERTA
Steven Marsden, DVM Edmonton Holistic Veterinary Clinic Edmonton, AB Canada Phone: 780-436-4944 Advertise your business in the Wellness Resource Guide 1-866-764-1212
alternative therapy - behavior practices - communicators - holistic healthcare - integrative vets
ARIZONA
Judy Stolz DVM ND Arizona City, AZ USA Phone: (520) 494-9571 Website: www.drstolz.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Tree of Life Veterinary Care Courtenay , BC Canada Phone: (250) 338-2316 Website: www.animalhealingchoices.com Gail Jewell, DVM Kelowna, BC Canada Phone: (888) 622-8300 Website: www.holisticvet.ca
CALIFORNIA
Affordable Holistic Animal Therapies West Hollywood, CA USA Phone: 323-304-2984
CONNECTICUT
Home Vet Weston , CT USA Phone: (203) 222-7979 Website: www.homevet.com
ILLINOIS
Ness Exotic Wellness Center Lisle, IL USA Phone: 630-737-1281 Email: nessexotic@aol.com
IOWA
Coddingtown Vet Clinic Santa Rosa, CA USA Phone: (707) 546-4646 Holistic Animal Care Stephanie Chalmers, DVM, CVH Santa Rosa, CA USA Phone: (707) 538-4643
Homeopathy and nutrition for dogs, cats & horses. Phone consultations available.
Shingle Springs Vet Clinic Shingle Springs, CA USA Phone: 530-677-0390 Email: drb@deanbaderdvm.com Website: www.deanbaderdvm.com
Specializing in Holistic Analysis for pathogens, allergies, chronic degenerative diseases, etc.
Offering More Solutions with Alternative Therapies â&#x20AC;˘ Allergy â&#x20AC;˘ Chronic Disease â&#x20AC;˘ Cancer
Phone consultations
www.alternativevet.com
Animal Holistic Care Mark Haimann, DVM Floral Park, NY USA Phone: 718-631-1396 SmithRidge Veterinary Services Dr. Marty Goldstein South Salem, NY USA Phone: (914) 533-6066 Website: www.smithridge.com
Holistic Veterinary Center Calabasas, CA USA Phone: (818) 880-0838 Website: www.holistic-vet-center.com
Integrated Veterinary Clinic Sacramento, CA USA Phone: 916-454-1825
Dr. Mark Newkirk
NEW YORK
Acupuncture, Chinese herbals, Tui-na
Creature Comfort Oakland, CA USA Phone: (510) 530-1373
NEWKIRK FAMILY VETERINARIANS
E: mnewk@aol.com P: 609-645-2120
Caroline Goulard DVM CVA (949) 813-4107 Aliso Viejo, CA USA Phone: (949) 813-4107 Email: c.goulard@cox.net Website: www.carolinegoularddvm.com
EverGlo-Naturals Gloria Dodd, DVM Gualala, CA USA Phone: 707-785-9171 Email: everglo@mcn.org Website: www.holisticvetpetcare.net
NEW JERSEY
ONTARIO
Burgess Veterinary Mobile Services Dundas, ON Canada Phone: 905-379-3824 Website: www.burgessvet.com
KENTUCKY
Horizon Veterinary Services Susan Maier, DVM Simpsonville, KY USA Phone: (502) 722-8231 Email: horizonvetserv@yahoo.com Website: www.horizonvetserv.com
MASSACHUSETTS
Family Veterinary Center Haydenville, MA USA Phone: (413) 268-8387 Website: www.famvets.com Canterbury Tails Vet Clinic Ware, MA USA Phone: 413-967-4545 Parkway Veterinary Hospital West Roxbury, MA USA Phone: (617) 469-8400
Acupuncture, Animal communication, Flower essences, QXCI Biofeedback therapy,Reiki Nutritional Counselling
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Guelph Animal Hospital Guelph, ON Canada Phone: (519) 836-2782 Email: info@guelphvet.com Website: www.guelphvet.com
Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Massage, Therapeutic Nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine
Advertise your business in the Wellness Resource Guide 1-866-764-1212
animal wellness
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integrative vets - natural product manufacturers/distributors - natural product retailer
Rockledge Veterinary Clinic
North-East Newmarket Veterinary Service
Sasan Haghighat (Hyatt), D.V.M., C.V.A. Autumn Drouin, D.V.M., N.D.
Acupuncture, Bach Remedies, Chiropractic, Clinical Nutrition, Herbs (western and chinese), Homeopathy, Homotoxicology, Integrative Medicine, TCVM.
Cynthia Harcourt, DVM Queensville, ON Canada Phone: (905) 478-1995
Homeopathy, Nutrition, Food Sensitivity Testing, Flower Essences, Herbalism, TTouch
Ballantrae Animal Hospital Margaret Hacking, DVM Stouffville, ON Canada Phone: (905) 640-6809 Website: www.AnimalWellnessCentre.com
Conventional & Alternative Medicine, Homeopathy
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Beaver Animal Clinic Beaver, PA USA Phone: 724-774-8047 Website: www.beaveranimalclinic.com
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Dr. Shawn Messonnier Paws and Claws Vet Clinic Plano, TX USA Phone: (972) 712-0893 Email: shawnvet@sbcglobal.net Website: www.pettogethers.net/healthypet Integrative health care for pets.
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Paws to Heal Vet Clinic Vienna, VA USA Phone: (703) 938-2563 Email: info@paws2heal.com Website: www.vetrehab.org
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Concerned about the treatment and welfare of the animals that go into making pet food? Dogs and cats need meat in order to thrive, but choosing quality foods made from humanely-raised meats can help ease your mind by Anthony Bennie
W
e love our animals. We talk to them, let them sleep on our beds, give them parties and buy them gifts. In short, we treat them as furry four-legged humans. Many of us have come to deeply believe in the inherent “soulfulness” of animals, and don’t doubt they are intelligent, emotional and intuitive. But what about the animals that go into making the food our companions eat? Humans can become vegetarians if their concern for the humane treatment of animals extends to cows, chickens and pigs, but that isn’t usually an option for dogs, and never with cats. Carnivores need to eat meat, which seems to indicate other animals must suffer in order to keep them healthy. So what’s the solution? Can we share our lives and homes with companion animals while making life better for livestock animals, and the planet?
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What needs fixing? The overwhelming majority of meat-based commercial pet food and treat ingredients come from “factory farms” and mega feedlots instead of humanely raised, grass fed meats. The term CAFO, which is an acronym for “Combined Animal Feeding Operation”, is used by the USDA to identify mass “meat factories” and mega-feedlots in which thousands of animals are raised in unnaturally cramped conditions, with very little freedom of movement and little or no intra-species socialization. While such operations succeed in producing lots of meat per square foot, they negatively impact not only the health and well-being of the animals, but also the larger environment and even human health. • Cramped conditions foster disease and lead to the overuse of antibiotics. This has resulted in antibiotic-resistant
bacteria, which threatens both animal and human health since it reduces the likelihood that antibiotics will work when needed to treat an infection. • The use of added growth hormones to help confined livestock grow more quickly also introduces these hormones into the human and animal food stream, bringing many possible long term side effects. • The negative environmental impact of various types of CAFOs is well documented. The unnatural concentration of thousands of animals in small areas creates huge waste disposal problems, leading at times to serious groundwater pollution. Soil erosion is another by product of CAFOs.
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• Livestock eating only commercial feed and no grass produce meat that is much less nutritious than those with at least partial access to grazing. Grass-fed animals produce meat that is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and other important vitamins and minerals. CAFO-raised animals do not provide these benefits at anywhere near the same levels. “Since people are responsible for breeding and raising farm animals, they must also take the responsibility to give the animals living conditions that provide a decent life and a painless death,” writes Temple Grandin in Animals Make Us Human, co-written with Catherine Johnson. “During the animal’s life, both its physical needs and its emotional needs should be satisfied.” The mass feedlot/factory farm meat production model does not satisfy these criteria. A large animal cramped in a tiny space that lives only to eat, eliminate and eventually be slaughtered doesn’t really have a life in any sense that we would recognize. His physical needs to graze and exercise are unmet, and his emotional need for interaction and socialization with members of his own species is denied. In short, CAFOs are an unsustainable and inhumane model for the management of livestock.
Worldwide awareness of the problems associated with factory farms and the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones, and steroids has created a huge and growing demand for naturally and humanely raised meats.
An alternative to CAFOs The quality of life for farm animals and our environment can be improved dramatically by supporting the shift away from CAFOs and back to humanely raised, grass fed, free range and pasture kept livestock. But many feel this would hurt our economy at a time when we need American businesses to grow, not shrink even further.
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We have tremendous land resources in North America. When you fly coast to coast, you can see there are large areas of the country which are sparsely populated. At least some of this land could be sustainably used for responsible ranching without harming the environment. Worldwide awareness of the problems associated with factory farms and the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones, and steroids has created a huge and growing demand for naturally and humanely raised meats. So shifting more of our meat industry to the humane and sustainable model would actually help increase American exports while improving human health and animal welfare. It’s a win-win proposition.
Where do you fit in? It’s really quite a simple plan. If you start to demand products made from humanely raised meats, and pet food manufacturers meet that demand by offering products designated as humanely produced, you could become a powerful force for change. By increasing the demand
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for humanely produced meats, you decrease the demand for meats produced by “factory farms” and create an economic incentive to shift livestock management to a humane and sustainable model. You can start by looking for quality pet foods and treats made from humanely raised meats, thereby supporting those who run humane and sustainable farms, and the companies that support them. Research and study pet food products, and don’t be afraid to contact companies and ask questions about how and where they source their meat. A growing number of premium pet food manufacturers are using humanely-raised and sustainable ingredients in their products, so the range of choices is becoming larger. Clean and humanely produced muscle and organ meats are much healthier for your animal companion than those that come from CAFOs. By proactively searching out these products, you can help reconcile your love for your dog or cat with the practice of meat consumption, while also doing the planet, and your furry friend, a big favor.
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Essential fatty acids not only give your cat a sleek coat and healthy skin – at the right dosage, they can also help reduce inflammation and protect against cancer. by Shawn Messonnier, DVM
W
e hear a lot these days about reducing our fat intake, not only in ourselves, but in our animals as well. But the important thing to remember is that fats are not all bad. They’re an important part of your cat’s diet, and certain fatty acids are actually “essential” to keeping him healthy. These fats are considered essential because the the cat cannot make them in his own body – they need to be supplied by the diet. The main fatty acids that your cat’s diet needs to include are arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaneoic acid (DHA).
Focus on fish oil As a doctor, I usually don’t worry too much about whether or not my feline patients are getting adequate amounts of their required essential fatty acids. I’m typically more concerned about how I can use fatty acids, specifically
fish oil (high in Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA), to improve my patients’ health and help me fight disease in a natural way. Because of their ability to decrease inflammation in the body, Omega-3 fatty acids are helpful for numerous inflammatory conditions that occur in cats. These conditions include, but are not limited to, skin diseases (especially allergies), asthma, gastrointestinal disease (especially inflammatory bowel disease), arthritis, diseases of the immune system, and any kind of cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids are most commonly found in high amounts in cold water fish such as salmon and tuna (and some vegetable sources such as walnuts and flax). Fish oil works in a number of ways to reduce inflammation and fight disease. In general, though, keep in mind that when using fish oil, you’re actually changing your cat’s cellular biology! That’s because the EPA and DHA in fish oil are feline wellness
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gene switch (transcription factor) that is important to cancer cell initiation, promotion and survival.
Determining dosage Probably the most important take-home message from this article is to learn how to properly dose fish oil for your cat. The standard dosages on most supplements may be fine to keep his hair shiny, but they’re way too low to use in the treatment of various diseases. Here’s a quick guideline to proper dosing. Look at the product label, whether it be a liquid or capsule. Forget how much fish oil is in each daily dose (the label will define the daily dose as one capsule, one teaspoon, etc., depending on the product). What you’re really looking for is how much EPA and DHA is in each dose. Add together the amount of EPA and DHA from the recommended daily dose to get the total dose of active Omega-3s.
actually incorporated into his cell membranes, changing their biochemistry. Cats eating diets that are high in the more inflammatory Omega-6 fatty acids also tend to have those fatty acids in their cell membranes, which can lead to disease. When you give your cat fish oil, you are essentially replacing some of the Omega-6 fatty acids in your cat’s cell membranes with the more healthy, less inflammatory Omega-3s.
Omega-3s and cancer Omega-3 fatty acids (primarily EPA and DHA) have been shown to retard the growth of cancer and inhibit tumor development and metastasis. EPA and DHA inhibit the pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), an enzyme that leads to inflammation and therefore promotes cancer and many chronic diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids activate a cell membrane receptor called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), which is a key regulator of fat metabolism but is also capable of shutting down proliferative growth activity in many cells of the body, decreasing the chances of cancer development. Fish oils have anti-proliferative effects at high doses, reducing the growth of cancer cells. Fish oils also suppress the activation of NFKB, a pro-inflammatory
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For most cats, I recommend 500mg of EPA+DHA twice daily. For example, if one capsule contains 500mg of EPA+DHA, your cat would get one capsule twice daily. If one capsule contains 100mg of EPA+DHA, your cat would get five capsules twice daily. This is why it’s a good idea to choose the most concentrated product you can find so you don’t have to give your cat too many capsules with each meal. Fish oil is one of my favorite supplements for maintaining feline health and treating sick cats. A high quality product at the proper dose will help protect your own cat from the damage of inflammation, and reduce his risks of developing cancer.
I’m often asked if it’s okay to give cats fish oil formulated for people. In general, I’m not overly concerned about whether you use a human product or an animal product, as long as it’s made from high quality fish oil. Inexpensive products do not contain high quality oil and become rancid easily. Quality supplements formulated especially for animals tend to be prepared in a way that makes them more palatable to cats and easier to administer.
These natural remedies can effectively treat a variety of common feline health problems, with minimal risk of side effects. by Erin Mayo, DVM, CVA
C
ats are sensitive creatures and susceptible to a variety of health conditions. While conventional medications are effective, they may come with unpleasant side effects and high price tags. Cat lovers looking for alternative options might consider Western herbs. But with so many different herbs available, it can be confusing to know which ones are effective for a specific condition. Here are a few options for some of the most common kitty complaints.
Saw palmetto for urinary blockage You know how frustrating litter box issues can be. Male cats are especially prone to urinary obstruction, commonly known as being “blocked”. This condition is an emergency, so prevention is important. It can be done with dietary modification and saw palmetto berry (Serenoa repens). Studies have demonstrated saw palmetto’s diuretic, urinary antiseptic and urethral anti-spasmodic properties. Cats with a history of urinary blockage can safely take this herb long term, and there are few reports of side effects. Saw palmetto is also helpful for urinary tract infection and cystitis, because it has antiinflammatory effects on the bladder.
Hawthorne for the heart Feline heart disease is difficult to observe, because cats frequently show no visible signs of illness. When it is
finally found, it may already be advanced with severe heart damage. Hawthorne (Crataegus laevigata) can be helpful in improving heart muscle function through a variety of actions. Hawthorne acts directly on the heart muscle to decrease arrhythmias and increase contraction. It also causes vasodilation, both peripherally and within the coronary arteries. This relaxes the vessels and allows the blood to flow more easily, thus decreasing the amount of work the heart has to do. While hawthorne offers many potential positive benefits, it should not be used lightly. It could potentially interact with many commonly used cardiac medications, such as digitalis and beta-blockers. If your cat is already on medications, consult with your veterinarian or veterinary cardiologist before using hawthorne.
Ginkgo for cognition Cats are living longer than ever before and are experiencing many of the problems that come with advanced age. Many people are looking for ways to keep their cats young, both in body and mind. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has been used for human dementia patients and can be just as helpful for old kitties that don’t seem “with it” anymore. In humans, ginkgo has been shown to improve cognition during everyday tasks, and to improve mood. feline wellness
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can be successfully managed with little concern for side effects or interaction with other medications.
Marshmallow, the all-round herb Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) has demulcent properties, which means it can soothe and restore mucus membranes. It contains mucilage, a sticky polysaccharide that coats mucus membranes. This creates a barrier, like a Band-Aid, to allow these delicate tissues to heal or protect them from further harm. Mucus membranes are present throughout the body, so this herb has many potential uses for our feline friends. Respiratory problems such as chronic bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, or stomatitis (painful swelling of gums) can be eased with marshmallow. Urinary problems, including cystitis and stones, may also respond to marshmallow.
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This may be due to the herb’s effects on the brain’s blood flow. Ginkgo increases peripheral circulation and blood flow in the brain and protects the brain from oxidative damage. These circulatory effects make ginkgo potentially useful for other disorders, such as stroke, retinal diseases involving the blood vessels, and asthma. Ginkgo is generally extremely safe to give for long periods, but it should be used cautiously with cats that are taking anti-coagulant medications. The combination may increase the risk of bleeding.
Dandelion for tummy trouble Constipation can be a frustrating chronic issue in cats. Conventional treatments utilize medications to lubricate the colon or increase muscular contractions, but they can result in diarrhea or uncomfortable cramping. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) acts as a laxative while addressing the underlying problem of poor digestion. Dandelion has been shown to increase the function of both the liver and gallbladder. Both organs are vital for proper digestion. This in turn allows the intestines to metabolize food more efficiently and produce less waste. Thanks to dandelion’s laxative qualities, constipation
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Another advantage of this herb is its safety and neutral flavor. Marshmallow can be used long term with no side effects or interactions with other substances. Administering many herbs to cats can be difficult because of their strong odor, but marshmallow is very mild, and even the most discerning feline will accept dried extract when mixed with canned food. Sooner or later, you’ll likely have to deal with at least one of these ailments in your feline friend. If you’re looking for an alternative to drugs, give these herbs a try. Whether used alone, or in some cases in combination with conventional medicines, under the supervision of your vet, you will see how effective these native plant species can be for treating your kitty’s condition.
Safety tips These herbs have been around for a long time, and most are extremely safe when used properly. As with anything you give your cat, though, be sure to always consult with your veterinarian first. While rare, some herbs will interfere or react negatively with medications and other treatments. If you are interested in learning more about using Western herbs for your cat, a wonderful resource is Veterinary Herbal Medicine by Drs. Wynn and Fougère.
©2011 P&G
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The cat who taught me chutzpah Remembering Eddie, a feline character with spunk to spare. by Saralee Perel
I
can still picture the morning I was sitting with a dozen mewing kittens at the local animal shelter, when I noticed a slight movement between two pillows on the far side of the cage. That’s where I found Eddie. He was on his back trying to get some sleep “in this lousy joint”, as I imagined an independent cat like him would say. He was a plain gray tabby, as common as a housefly. “He’s the one,” I said to my husband, Bob. Eddie swaggered to the food bowl, pushing four other kittens out of the way. “He’s so ratty,” Bob said, picking him up. “And he only has one whisker.” Eddie tenderly pressed his face against mine. Then he put his sharp baby teeth around my gold earring and yanked with the strength of a sumo wrestler. Eddie had chutzpah and he knew how to use it. That first night home, he was restless. with a song from the musical, Oliver. I “Food, glorious food, hot sausage and closed his eyes and purred. From then always soothed him.
I calmed him sang it softly: mustard.” He on, that song
Next day, Eddie got up before we did. I knew it from the sound of breaking glass. We found him on the mantel where my favorite glass
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Eddie ta
kes a bre
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plate used to be. The floor was covered with glass shards. He quickly put his paw behind a blue china vase and chucked that off the mantel too. At first I felt bad. But it didn’t last. Things are just things. Our animals are family. Eddie was a real character. While we were sleeping, he bit our earlobes, toes and fingers. He preferred protruding parts. Imagine what poor Bob endured. When we’d watch TV in bed, he’d scratch us for attention. Eventually, I learned there are times when family, friends and animals are more important than TV. And when are those times? Always. One day, after my mother’s death, I was on the phone with a rabbi. He was doing the sermon for her funeral and asked about her interests. I began, “Mom loved painting and –” That’s when Eddie came running in with something in his mouth. He had opened the new box of tampons I bought that morning and started flinging one in the air like it was a toy mouse. I couldn’t stop laughing. The rabbi assumed I was having a traumatic stress reaction and said, “When we lose a loved one, we’re often not in control of our emotions and that’s okay. It’s fine to laugh.” That cracked me up even more. I managed to blurt out, “She made jewelry!” before seeing
the tampon go flying across the room. Then I hung up – on a rabbi yet. Eddie learned to open cabinets by putting his paws around the knobs. Vitamin bottles made great rattling noises upon crash landings. We bought child-proof magnets at the hardware store. Eddie simply tugged a little harder. Back to the hardware store for hook and eye locks. Eddie flipped the hooks open with one paw. Back to the hardware store for deadbolt locks. He easily slid those bolts to the side. The guy at the hardware store already had combination locks on the counter. To Eddie, obstacles were challenges. When barriers thwarted him, he never quit trying. Words like “can’t” and “hopeless” were only beliefs. He knew that beliefs can be changed. In his final two years, Eddie fell ill. I spent lots of time massaging him on either side of his face. He always loved that. One afternoon, I used my fingers to comb through the lovely full set of whiskers he had eventually grown. That was when I discovered the one side effect of the medicine he was taking. As I gently rubbed along his face, all his whiskers came off, except for one. I placed them in a tiny needlepoint purse my mother had once made for me. Eddie came into our lives with one whisker. And that is how he would leave.
Eddie learned to open cabinets by putting his paws around the knobs. Several months ago, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, I kissed his forehead and whispered, “I love you.” He looked up at me with love. As Bob softly sang, “Food, glorious food, hot sausage and mustard,” Eddie took his last breath. While his body was still warm, I cradled him in my arms and rocked him. I held his head so he was nestled against my neck. “Eddie, you will always be a part of me.” I didn’t want to let him go. But Bob lovingly and gently took him away. Now I honor the life of my wonderful cat who, from the beginning, stood apart from all the others. My beautiful cat, my Eddie, just a plain gray tabby, as common as a housefly.
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Raw feeding your cat It’s one of the healthiest choices you can make for your kitty, but here are two things you need to know before making the switch. by Jean Hofve, DVM
U
nless you live under a rock, you’ll have heard or read about the benefits of raw meat-based diets. Raw proponents believe because cats evolved eating whole, raw prey animals that modern cats should be fed in a similar way – or as close to it as we can get. But a lot of veterinarians, the FDA, and many others claim that raw meat diets are dangerous, not only to your cat but to everyone in the household. What’s the right answer? The popularity of raw diets has increased exponentially in the last decade, especially after the melaminecontamination recall scandal in 2007, which sickened or killed tens of thousands of cats and dogs. But the debate between raw feeders and everyone else continues and focuses mainly on two areas: quality and safety. Let’s look at the reality, so you can draw your own conclusions.
Consider quality Many raw food enthusiasts like to home prepare their cats’ food, pointing out that when you buy the ingredients, you control the quality of those ingredients. Certainly, the quality of low-end commercial pet foods has been in question for a long time. These foods may contain so-called “4-D” meat products, which include whole carcasses and other unappetizing items from “dead, dying, diseased or disabled” livestock, as well as parts unwanted for human consumption, such as lungs and intestines. The ingredients on commercial cat food labels most likely to contain such unsavory items are “meat and bone meal”, “meat by-products” and “animal fat.” High quality natural cat foods do not use these ingredients. Given all this, home-preparing a raw diet from scratch
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may seem the best way to go, but you need to take into account the nutritional quality of the diet. For cats, with their rigid nutrient requirements, good quality is crucial. Although cats need meat in order to survive, an all-meat diet is actually terribly unbalanced because it lacks calcium and other vitamins and minerals. Many cats fed nothing but meat will suffer bone fractures, deformities and other health problems due to severe nutritional deficiencies. And although lot of websites and cookbooks for animals contain plenty of great-sounding recipes, the majority are not balanced for the long term, and can cause medical problems if fed exclusively for more than a few weeks. Moreover, a phenomenon called “diet drift” can turn even a balanced recipe into a problem. This occurs when you stray from the original recipe, or end up feeding only the particular meat or recipe that the cat prefers, rather than providing him with the variety he needs. This is another road that leads to nutritional deficiencies or excesses.
The popularity of raw diets has increased exponentially in the last decade, especially after the melamine-contamination recall scandal in 2007. In order to ensure your cat is getting a good quality raw diet that provides him with all the nutrition and variety he needs, you either need to thoroughly educate yourself on feline nutrition, or purchase some of the growing number of premium raw frozen diets that are especially created to be balanced and well-rounded.
– there have been multiple recalls of pet food due to salmonella contamination. The amoebic parasite toxoplasma is the other major raw food risk. Human infection occurs mainly from eating undercooked meat or through contact with contaminated items, such as garden soil or reptiles. To prevent infection, remove cat feces from the litter box daily (it takes the cysts 24 to 72 hours to become infectious) and wash your hands thoroughly after gardening, cooking or cleaning the litter box. Freezing raw meat to -4ºF for 72 hours destroys toxoplasma cysts. Other bacteria and parasites may be present in raw meat, although most do not present a serious health risk to cats. If you’re concerned, periodic blood and stool tests can catch such invaders, so your cat can be treated if necessary. And always be sure to follow safe meat handling procedures – thoroughly clean your hands, kitchen surfaces, bowls and utensils after working with raw meat, just as you would after preparing a roast or turkey for your human family.
The bottom line As a feline veterinarian, I have seen hundreds of cats regain their health on raw diets. It doesn’t have to be complicated or unsanitary. Check out the frozen raw diets available at your local pet supply store – they’re designed to be not only balanced and healthy, but also convenient and easy to handle. Even adding a small scoop of raw meat alongside your cat’s regular food will provide great benefits. As animal nutritionist Dr. Celeste Yarnall says: “There’s nothing better than a properly prepared raw diet.”
Safety concerns Chemical and bacterial contamination in our modern meat supply is admittedly a serious concern, and raw meat can potentially pose a significant risk to very young, very old, immuno-compromised or chronically ill cats, as well as to human family members. Salmonella is frequently cited as a major danger associated with raw meat. And indeed, a survey of raw diets found that 80% of samples tested positive for salmonella. However, most food-borne bacteria do not pose a serious threat to healthy cats. In fact, about 18% of healthy cats (nearly all of whom eat commercial pet food!) are already asymptomatic salmonella carriers. Low-end commercial pet foods have a much worse safety record than raw foods in this regard feline wellness
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HEALTH TALK with Dr. Patrick Mahaney
Veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. He is a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. He started California Pet Acupuncture and Wellness, Inc. to offer house call based integrative veterinary medicine to dogs and cats in
Los Angeles.
Dr Mahaney writes a veterinary blog for patrickmahaney.com His first book, The Uncomfortable Vet, will be available by the end of 2011. and contributes to pet media sites, radio and television.
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I want to give my elderly arthritic cat glucosamine, but I don’t know what product to choose or how much to give him. I did some research online and just ended up more confused. My vet isn’t interested in doing anything other than prescribing drugs so I can’t ask her for advice. I recently bought a liquid glucosamine supplement at a local pet store, but it has such a strong odor that my cat won’t touch it, even when it’s mixed into his food. It’s actually for dogs, but the guy at the pet store said it could be used for cats too. Are there any tasteless, odorless glucosamine powders or liquids available for cats, and what should the dosage be?
One of the best means involves the cooperation of your veterinarian and is called Adequan. It is an injectable joint supplement made by Novartis and is labeled for intramuscular injection in dogs. This is my preferred product for both dogs and cats, as it completely bypasses the stomach and intestines, and effectively enters the joints once absorbed into the bloodstream. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has approved its use as a subcutaneous injection in cats. Adequan is typically given on a once weekly frequency for four to six injections, then tapered down to every two to four weeks for long term administration. A proactive owner (as it sounds you are) can be instructed on how to properly give Adequan injections at home.
Managing cats with osteoarthritis is always a challenge, considering that medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not well tolerated by most feline digestive tracts and kidneys. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways you can safely make your cat more comfortable on his joints.
As chondroprotectant (joint supplement) molecules are large and inefficiently absorbed by the digestive tract, I recommend giving a supplement that is appropriate for cats. An oral joint supplement that is effective and well tolerated is Nutramax Dasuquin for Cats. It comes in sprinkle capsules which are easily mixed into soft food or a treat.
feline wellness
Besides a joint supplement, consider giving your cat Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), which have a natural anti-inflammatory effect and are an effective complement to an injectable or oral chondroprotectant. Nutramax makes a great fish oil supplement called Welactin for Cats. As for dosing, I legally cannot recommend a specific quantity without first having examined your cat (as of the past 12 months in the state of California). Most supplements have the per body weight dose right on the bottle.
I empathize with the great challenge you face in managing your cat’s illness while best looking out for her quality of life. Pseudomonas is a bacterial infection that can be cultured from your cat’s respiratory tract, other locations on her body, or from the environment. We also have to consider that the pseudomonas diagnosis may not necessarily be completely representative of the primary
If your veterinarian is unwilling to cooperate in improving your cat’s quality of life via multimodal pain management, it is time to start looking for a new feline health care practitioner. Consider seeking out a veterinarian who does acupuncture (another helpful tool). See the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) “veterinarian search tool” at ivas.org/Members/VetSearch/ tabid/124/Default.aspx.
We have an eight-year-old cat diagnosed with pseudomonas in her respiratory tract/nasal passages. She is very difficult to pill so we have resorted to once daily Baytril injections. (Two other courses of different oral antibiotics yielded no results.) The lymph nodes under her eyes are swelling and she has started to “bleed” from her eyes. She also breathes with a snort; we’re told pseudomonas can cause destruction of the nasal cavity so she may always sound like that. Have you had any experience with pseudomonas? I get the impression the professionals at the clinic feel we should save the money and aggravation and euthanize our cat. feline wellness
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and/or secondary disease processes currently affecting your cat’s respiratory tract. If there has been limited response to treatment, then underlying inflammation (environmental allergens, etc.), infection (bacteria besides pseudomonas and fungal, parasitic or viral organisms), or neoplasia (cancer) may be present. The best way to make a true diagnosis is through biopsy, where a piece of tissue is collected during an anesthetized rhinoscopy (fiberoptic scoping of the nasal passages). Performing an upper respiratory disease panel (Idexx URD Panel) on an oral and conjunctival swab can help isolate other bacteria or viruses that may not show up on a biopsy or nasal discharge culture. From an allopathic perspective, your cat’s pseudomonas may respond better to the combination of Zithromax (Azithromycin) and Baytril (Enrofloxacin), as compared to single agent treatment with Baytril. The Zithromax helps to break down the cell wall protecting pseudomonas, which allows better penetration by Baytril or other appropriate anti-microbial agents. Besides the antibiotic, are you supporting her respiratory tract by strengthening her immune system and using nebulization therapy (see next paragraph)? A variety
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of treatments and supplements can augment a cat’s immune health and have an anti-inflammatory effect, including acupuncture (especially B12 aquapuncture), Omega 3 fatty acids, and whole food-based vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Nebulization uses steam therapy to moisten airways and break up congesting nasal discharge. Most cats are very tolerant of being confined to a steamy bathroom with the door closed and shower on (with your cat not in the shower, of course) for ten to 15 minutes at least twice daily. Short term use of Little Noses decongestant can also help reduce airway secretions. Nasal irrigation with saline solution can safely help flush the nose of debris on an as-needed or frequent basis. As cats rely heavily on smell to eat, make sure to feed soft cat or baby foods that are slightly warmed; this makes eating more appealing (aroma is released when food is warmed) and is easier on your kitty’s sore mouth. As for euthanasia based on her current condition, I would explore other options first, provided her quality of life has not significantly decreased and that the cost associated with further diagnostics and treatment is within your means.
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the scoop Specializing in quality Choosing a healthy food is one of the most important choices you can make for your animal. Tail Blazers Health Food Store for Pets specializes in providing wholesome, high quality products for dogs and cats, from raw, dry and canned foods and treats to supplements for everything from joint and urinary health, as well as Chinese herbs and flower remedies. Franchise opportunities are available – the company is expanding into Ontario and other locations across Canada. tailblazers.com
Tea, anyone? Herbal teas aren’t just for people – they’re good for your animal companion too. The Honest Kitchen has announced the launch of two new herbal teas for dogs and cats. Easy Peesy Tea supports urinary tract health and contains horsetail, cleavers, clover, nettle and marshmallow root. Quiet Tea helps promote calmness and alleviate anxiety and is made with oatstraw, chamomile, passionflower, skullcap and valerian root. thehonestkitchen.com
Medication alert
A promise of care A responsible animal guardian keeps good records on every aspect of her companion’s care. The Petkeeper helps you live out this commitment. This quality organizational tool features pouches, pockets, booklets and more – all designed to help you keep everything in one place and easily accessible, including medical records, photographs, extra ID tags, magazine articles, phone numbers for pet sitters, groomers or trainers – and anything and everything else to do with your dog or cat’s care. petkeeper.com
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“Nearly half the calls we receive are for pets that have accidentally ingested human medications,” says Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, the associate director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics has released a report that includes the top five human prescription drugs dispensed in the United States:
1. Lipitor (atorvastatin) 2. Nexium (esomeprazole) 3. Plavix (clopidogrel) 4. Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) 5. Abilify (aripiprazole) Be sure to keep these and all other human medications stored well out of reach of your animal. petpoisonhelpline.com
What makes a detection dog?
Back to class
AKC Companion Animal Recovery has donated $110,000 to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine to help fund a health registry for search and rescue and other detection dogs. The AKC CAR Detection Dog DNA Bank and Health Registry will contribute to research on the work-related medical issues that affect these dogs, identify the behavioral or performance phenotype of success, and create a genetic profile of a successful detection dog. pennvetwdc.org
The kids are back at school now – and so are the dogs! The Association of Pet Dog Trainers has launched a new certification program for dogs called Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.). The program uses positive reinforcement techniques to teach proper behavior and manners. To begin the program, sign up at APDT’s website, which provides resources to finding a locally certified dog trainer. You and your dog then attend a six to eight week program, after which your dog is evaluated by a professional trainer and can achieve certification. mydoghasclass.com
Food for thought
BSc in animal care Employment of animal care workers is expected to grow 21% over the next decade. Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania now offers an online regionally accredited Bachelor of Science Degree in Humane Leadership. The degree is intended to meet the needs of individuals working or interested in animal care, control or advocacy. Courses in the degree program include Animal Health and Behavior in a Shelter Environment, Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence, and Studies in Humane Education. duq.edu
Nature’s Logic recently donated 2,000 pounds of its premium food to the Missouri German Shepherd Rescue in Kansas City. “We try to donate whenever we can,” says owner Scott Freeman. “Rescues rely on food donations because they otherwise can’t afford to save so many lives. Food donations free up precious funds the groups need for medical treatments, to nurse neglected pets back to health and help them find good homes.” natureslogic.com animal wellness
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Know what to do? Stabilizing a sick or injured dog before heading to the veterinarian may sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Here are six common health scenarios and what you can do about them right away. by Sara Jackson
C
arrie and her family moved out to the country recently. They love the peace and quiet, but it means they’re now 45 minutes away from the nearest sizeable town – and vet clinic. Since she has two dogs, Carrie realized that if one of them was to get seriously ill or hurt, she’d have to know what to do to help or stabilize him until she could get him to the veterinarian. Even if you live only minutes away from your veterinarian, it’s a good idea to know how to act if your dog gets injured or suddenly falls ill, especially after hours or on Sundays, when many small town clinics are closed and emergency help might be miles away.
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Here’s a look at six common scenarios and what to do if they happen to your dog.
1 | Diarrhea and vomiting Both can be caused by any number of things, so start by removing all food and and keeping watch to see if the symptoms persist. “When an animal is suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, people often think that withholding water will help treat the symptoms,” says Lisa Wagner, Operations Director for Walk ‘n’ Wags Pet First Aid. “Keeping an animal hydrated is extremely important when he is losing fluids so dramatically, so continue to allow and encourage drinking.” If diarrhea and/or vomiting
continue, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to seek veterinary care, because both can lead to serious loss of fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
2 | Fractures and broken bones To stabilize a fractured or broken bone, you will need to fashion a splint of some kind. Lisa says that splints can be made from many different items you can find in your home including pens, Popsicle sticks or rulers. If your dog has a fractured or broken pelvis or rib, however, you will not be able to stabilize the area with a splint.
to in time could cause shock. Your first priority before getting your dog to a veterinarian is to stop or at least get the bleeding under control. To do this, gently apply pressure to the wound until the blood begins to clot. If your dog is bleeding from the leg or foot, elevate the limb so the wound is above the level of the heart. Remember to keep applying pressure. Again, use Arnica montana to help stabilize your dog until you get to the vet.
4 | Bee stings and insect bites Unfortunately, most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know their dogs are
Keep the animal as still as possible and on a hard surface en route to your veterinarian. Arnica montana is a good homeopathic remedy to have on hand for any kind of injury, shock or trauma. It can help stabilize your dog until you get him to the clinic.
Try humming to block the negative thoughts out of your head; it will be a good distraction for you and will help calm your dog.
3 | External bleeding Trauma of any kind may result in external bleeding, and if not attended animal wellness
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allergic to bee stings or insect bites until a reaction is in progress. Signs that your dog has been stung or bitten include redness, swelling and itching around the affected area. Where applicable, try to locate and extract the stinger. To ease some of the irritation around the site, apply a paste mixture of baking soda and water. If your dog is allergic, a sting or bite can become a lifethreatening situation that requires veterinary attention. “Watch for the following signs that will involve immediate first aid and veterinary care: swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing, collapse and unconsciousness,” explains Lisa. Apis mellifica is another homeopathic remedy than can help relieve your dog’s symptoms en route to the vet.
5 | Dehydration The symptoms of dehydration – vomiting, diarrhea and fever – can mimic the symptoms of other ailments, so the best way to get a definitive diagnosis is to check your dog’s mouth and eyes. His gums should be moist, not dry, and his eyes should not sink into the sockets Immediately move your dog to a cool area and frequently administer small amounts of water until he returns to normal. If symptoms persist or worsen, it’s time to head to the vet.
6 | Heat stroke Heat stroke occurs when the dog’s body temperature is elevated to an abnormal level. Usually indicative of a high fever, other symptoms include an inability to stand and heavy panting. If you suspect heat stroke, move the dog to a shaded or cool area, and begin applying cool (not cold) water to the trunk and legs. Your dog should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible for further examination.
Arnica montana is a good homeopathic remedy to have on hand for any kind of injury, shock or trauma. Staying calm is crucial It can be hard to stay calm in the event of a medical emergency – seeing your beloved pooch injured, in pain or near death can stop you dead in your tracks, making it difficult to act rationally. “Take a deep breath and remind yourself of your Emergency Action Plan (EAP),” advises Lisa. “Remind yourself that your dog is counting on you to do the best you can. Try humming to block the negative thoughts out of your head; it will be a good distraction for you and will help calm your dog. “Remember that first aid is meant as interim, first response care only,” Lisa adds. “Your job is to stabilize the dog as best you can right away, before heading to the vet. It will give him a higher chance of a successful recovery.”
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Mag ic FOR his skin
A degree in organic chemistry and a Yorkie with serious skin problems led this entrepreneur to create a line of natural skin care products for animals. by Ann Brightman
Adelia and her canine friend, Skoshi.
“Y
ears ago, I used to raise and show Yorkshire terriers,” says Dr. Adelia Ritchie. “When my little female, Shenanigan, started to itch and lose her hair, we had to take her out of the show circuit and begin expensive treatments that included steroids and antibiotics.” Shenanigan didn’t improve, and was so miserable that the vet thought she should be euthanized, even though she was only a few years old. But Adelia wasn’t going to give up. “At the time I was teaching organic chemistry at a local college, and had access to a lab, equipment and ingredients I thought might help. My father used to have a jar of what he called ‘gunk’ on our farm, and it was a miracle potion. I started with some of those ingredients to try on Shenanigan.” It took Adelia several days to hit on the right blend of ingredients, but when she did, the little dog improved rapidly. “Within two days she was happy again, growing hair and whiskers in all the bald places. In six months, she was back in the show ring. This was the start of my company, DERMagic, although it was some years more before we were able to refine the products and work through the manufacturing process.” As the name suggests, DERMagic focuses on products for dermatological issues. For the past five years, the company has been offering a variety of products to
help with problems ranging from hot spots and allergies to fungal infections and parasites. “Our mission is to provide skin care products so that all animals can be free of itchiness without steroids, harsh chemicals or drugs,” says Adelia. “We also have a full line of grooming products, including shampoo and conditioner, both of which support the treatment of skin problems. For doggie dandruff, we developed a product made with salt from the Dead Sea and other natural minerals.” The company also has certified organic shampoo bars for eco-conscious dog lovers. “We have several ‘flavors’ of these bars, but the most popular is our Skin Rescue Bar, with lemongrass, spearmint, sulfur and neem oil for problem skin. We think people are looking for organic products more and more and we wanted to provide them. We also support an organization in Oregon that plants native trees, one for every ten shampoo bars we sell. We have planted close to 1,000 trees since launching our shampoo bars a couple of years ago.” Adelia knows from experience how frustrating dealing with skin problems can be. “I love hearing from people who say ‘thank you for creating these products’,” she says. “Many people have been through a pile of cash trying to find some relief for their animals, and they are so grateful. It makes all the hard work so worth it!”
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Behavior problem – or
MENTAL ILLNESS? Is your dog acting out of character? It may just be a simple behavioral issue, but PTSD and vaccineinduced rabies miasm are two medical conditions that can cause your canine to become fearful, aggressive or destructive. by Marcia Martin, DVM
“
After my husband died, our dog started acting strangely,” says Bernice. “She became scared and snappy and began having accidents in the house. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong with her. We knew Maja was grieving for my husband, as we all were, but nothing we did seemed to help her.” Maja was most likely suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, a form of mental illness that can affect animals as well as people. Mental illness in dogs can arise as an extension of physical illness (a progression of disease from the physical to the psyche), or it can actually arise in the psyche in response to external factors such as persistent grief, anger, humiliation or fright. We also need to take into account animals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury in the past. The problem with diagnosing mental illness in companion animals is that the symptoms are so varied that it makes categorizing them difficult. To complicate matters, there are no good, readily available tests for mental illness in animals. In my practice, two of the most common forms of mental illness – and by mental illness, I mean cases where the primary symptoms are mental/emotional and expressed as changes in behavior – are rabies miasm and post traumatic stress disorder. Rabies miasm is a syndrome recognized by veterinary homeopaths. It is believed that by repeatedly vaccinating animals against rabies, we are creating a form of chronic disease characterized by a wide range of symptoms common to animals infected with the rabies virus. Clinically we see a change in behavior within months of receiving a rabies vaccine. Animals can be affected to different degrees. In mild cases, symptoms can be restlessness, a desire to be alone, trouble swallowing, and a change in the character of the voice. Severely affected animals can become prone to sudden, violent rages and acts of self mutilation such as chewing the tail.
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These animals are often euthanized because they pose a very real threat to themselves and everyone around them. Behavior modification fails in these animals because they are suffering from a disease that needs to be treated medically. In human terms, they lack empathy and impulse control. They are the sociopaths of the animal kingdom. Treatment with homeopathy to remove the “vaccine taint” can be successful in many cases but should be undertaken with caution as these animals remain dangerous while undergoing therapy. I treated just such a case several years ago. She came to me after having been unsuccessfully treated by the local veterinary behaviorist. This particular dog’s history included skin eruptions and hives, immediately following rabies vaccination. The veterinarian administered a steroid and antihistamine to suppress the eruptions. The eruptions were a sign the body was attempting to rid itself of the vaccine energy but the medication prevented it from doing so – it actually pushed the disease from the skin deep into the nervous system. Shortly thereafter, this once sweet dog killed another household animal. She could no longer be trusted with the three other household dogs. Her person described her as unpredictable and said she would attack without warning or provocation. She was doing very well on a homeopathic remedy until she was unfortunately once again given a steroid shot by another veterinarian to treat the return of her skin eruptions. The very next day, she viciously attacked one of the other dogs. This is an extreme example, but it demonstrates how difficult this disease can be to treat. Rabies vaccines are currently required by law in most regions, but the Rabies Challenge Fund study is working to prove an extended duration of immunity for rabies vaccinations, which means the law will hopefully change in years to come. What happens when an organism is faced with a situation which he is incapable of handling emotionally? It is stored as energy within the nervous system. Left unresolved, the brain and body store the energy in the neural networks where it is constantly re-experienced. This is the basis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Animals who have experienced extreme trauma such as a motor vehicle accident, the death of a loved one, the loss of home and family, etc. animal wellness
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are often seen to have “behavioral disorders”. Extreme fear, fear-based aggression, destructive behavior and house soiling are common among this group of animals. Behavioral modification can be very rewarding in these dogs, but sometimes a more holistic approach is needed. I was called out to treat a dog who had been labeled savage due to his unpredictable behavior. During the examination process, I learned that his person purchased him from his previous family when he saw the dog being mistreated. As I worked on this poor dog, I noticed that even though he had a history of explosive behavior, I couldn’t get him to respond to anything I was doing. He just ignored
me. He had withdrawn from the world, only emerging when his previous trauma was released from his nervous system, sending him into panic. Craniosacral therapy allowed him to reintegrate and release the negative and fearful prior experiences from his nervous system, and natural training helped him rebuild his relationship with his person. Not all behavior problems indicate a deeper underlying problem. Sometimes a banana is just a banana. But if you have a dog who undergoes a sudden change in temperament, or you work with abused animals, consider looking beyond a behavioral diagnosis, especially if the animal is not responding to the appropriate behavioral modification and properly prescribed treatments. A well trained holistic veterinarian can help determine if a different course of action may be needed to return your dog to health.
It is believed that by repeatedly vaccinating animals against rabies, we are creating a form of chronic disease characterized by a wide range of symptoms common to animals infected with the rabies virus.
www.leispet.com 1-800-665-2139 90
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Bernice took Maja to an integrative vet who confirmed that the dog indeed had PTSD brought on by the loss of her “dad”. It took time and patience, but a combination of behavior modification, homeopathic remedies and other therapies gradually helped Maja overcome the disorder and regain her sweet, laid-back personality. “She’s her old self again,” Bernice says gratefully.
communication
self care
Lessons in
How speaking with animals helped this communicator learn to take better care of herself and those around her. by Carol Schultz
W
ith everything that goes on in our lives, it’s sometimes easy to forget to look after ourselves properly. One thing I’ve learned from speaking to animals is that self care is critical. The animals have taught me that taking good care of ourselves enables us to move more gracefully through the challenges we all experience in life. I have been following the path of animal communication for over 11 years. During that time, many life challenges have come up that I never would have believed I’d be able to handle. Fortunately, I have had the unconditional love and intuitive guidance of the animals to help me. I cannot begin to fully express how precious their gifts of healing support have become on this journey. Every time the feeling of “I can’t do this anymore” arises, when chaos seems to reign and the bubble seems ready to burst, their calming, grounding, peace-filled presence and telepathic connection calms the waters. I’ve found through my own experiences, and those of my students and clients, that animals are masters at helping us navigate through life’s challenges while providing encouragement, hope, healing and inspiration.
The journey begins At the beginning of my own journey, I did not have a clue about telepathic communication with animals. I came from the corporate left-brained world of numbers, figures and logistics. But when my dear feline companion, Panda, became suddenly ill, all bets were off about what I thought was real and possible. The emotions flowed and the desperation and need to physically rescue Panda overwhelmed me. During the six weeks of her illness, my entire life changed. As Panda’s physical body declined, her Spirit seemed to grow exponentially. During her final weeks, she reached out to me and I began to clearly sense her thoughts and feelings. Panda’s pending physical transition opened me up to being able to listen intuitively to animals, and it all came rushing through. When it was time to help Panda leave her physical body, what might have been a sorrowful experience for me was instead transformed into a joy-filled and mutual release. The gift I received of feeling her lift from her body to playfully enjoy her spiritual freedom brought tears of joy and happiness to my eyes. Panda’s choice to remain animal wellness
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spiritually present with me through the coming days, supporting the transformational experience for us both, inspired me to assist others with their animal companions in some way. It opened the door to my life’s purpose.
well being as well as those of the animals and people I work and live with. I’ve learned how to: • set clear intentions • listen actively
From the time of Panda’s physical transition, I started reading books by Penelope Smith and taking classes in animal communication and related healing modalities. As I did so, my own personal growth unfolded in very deep and healing ways, with a steady flow of assistance from the animals.
Learning life skills In looking back over my life during that time, I know that connecting to the animals has inspired me to take better care of myself. And I’ve become aware that the positive effects of self care don’t just influence myself and the animals I help, but ripple outwards with a healing frequency to the animal caretakers, practitioners, family members and other people in my life.
• be fully present • be centered and grounded • clear distractions • be open hearted • create sacred space • be patient, compassionate and non-judgmental • transform belief patterns • remove internal blocks • neutralize emotional triggers • become aware of brain wave patterns • facilitate harmony • focus on positive outcomes • have rock solid ethics/integrity • create healthy boundaries
Communicating with animals has taught me many important life skills that have helped me improve my own
Try this meditation Find some quiet time each day to spend with your animal companion. Be fully present to experience his open heart, allowing him to share with you healing gifts of colors, sensations, images and maybe even words and thoughts of encouragement and support. During this time, you might bring to mind something you’d like to change, and allow your animal to help you float that aspect away. Then imagine and bring something into your intuitive awareness that you might like to add to your life, and acknowledge its presence and positive impact.
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• generate empowerment for self and others • move my ego and filters aside
• improve my diet and self care • surround myself with positive influences • feel emotional peacefulness • achieve heightened senses • enhance my communication style • maintain energetic balance • establish better relationship dynamics • feel better self-esteem
These life skills all have the potential to create rich and continuous personal growth on many levels. They can support us through many problems and stressful times, such as divorce/relationship shifts, relocation, single parenting, health concerns, elder care, the physical transition of loved ones, and every other potential bump in the road that comes with being human. Be open to the possibility of your own animals assisting you in this way. It can be a simple, wonderful self care step. Your companion may help you to a greater, more sustainable sense of peace, balance and wholeness in your life.
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passages
THAT GOOD
Night by bill smart
Dylan, in his younger days, sets out to explore his favorite field.
I
t took awhile, but eventually it dawned on me. No one wants to hear about the death of my dog.
I’ve even struck out with the folks at the off-leash area. (“So, where’s your friend today? Hey…don’t say it.”) Then they just turn and walk back into the pack. Maybe part of the problem is that in the history of English literature, there aren’t many “good” scenes describing the death of the family dog. Oh sure, there’s Old Yeller. But it’s not well done. At the end, Old Yeller is shot in the head by little Travis, a crude attempt to save his family from a possible brush with rabies. (In fact, the rabies scare turns out to be groundless and Old Yeller really didn’t have to die, except for literary reasons.) And there’s a wonderful Zane Grey story in which a cowboy and his dog are starving to death together in the sagebrush. The dog offers (with his eyes) his edible tail before the end.
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Anyway, I guess by now you can tell I’m just stalling….
The toughest decision I had no idea dogs were subject to diabetes. But when Dylan started to drink four liters of water every day, he ended up taking daily insulin injections in the shoulder, an antibiotic for a skin problem, eye drops, ear drops and an anti-inflammatory for his back half which dragged him down in the grass like a dirty trick.
I’d settle for such a graceful end. Visiting dogs seemed the first to sense what was coming. They would smell my dog’s derriere, the canine form of polite greeting, then suddenly back away. Whoa!
Everyone had an opinion on my dog’s lack of progress and my delay in sending him off to the Big Pasture. “It’s a terrible thing what that dog is going through, isn’t it?” they would say. “But then it’s your decision.”
He finished off one of his bones, stretched his body and then closed his eyes. Of course, the judgments of veterinarians, friends and relatives (and the visiting dogs) eventually prevailed. We laid him on the grass in the backyard while waiting for the vet. He finished off one of his bones, stretched his body and then closed his eyes. For an hour, he slept at my feet. He didn’t wake up even as the solution went in. There was no spasm, no flickering of eyelids, no hesitation whatsoever during those silent seconds.
Coincidentally, on the way home from the kennel the first day we picked Dylan up 13 years ago, we decided to name him after the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, who wrote a famous poem about death: “Do not go gentle into that good night…rage, rage against the dying of the light.” I’m no expert on human death, but my experience is that most people in their final days do rage – some right up to the unpleasant end. And at that end, many of my own dearly departed friends, neighbors and relatives weren’t helped enough by their higher consciousness or their religions. In other words, not one of them was given the gift of our Dylan’s death. As far as I can tell, going gentle into death is the best way, if you can pull it off. Come to think of it, I wish the dear ones I’ve lost could have had the same death as the dog we all loved so much. I’d settle for such a graceful end – a high pain threshold just at the right hour, maybe a little warm grass or wind and, sliding into the quiet, an animal sense that a couple of friends were not far off.
Karen, the vet, kept her hand on the empty syringe. “There…you can let go. His heart has stopped.” I could not believe the speed at which life could slide so softly into death. Fifteen minutes later, my wife and I buried Dylan in a corner of the big field that he loved.
Thoughts on death The week after Dylan’s death, I noticed my own pharmaceuticals and his had somehow become mixed together on the same shelf. I really should have discarded the ones that were his. Now, they’ve turned into a memento mori. Even more, they have helped me realize that we might learn from a study of the way dogs take their leave of us. In How We Die, (Reflections On Life’s Final Chapter), author Sherwin B. Nuland argues that most of us simply don’t know enough about our inevitable fate. The result, which he calls the “fear of the terra incognita of death – leads to self deception and disillusions.” animal wellness
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Book reviews ancient wisdom modern solutions Dr. Rose’s Remedies Skin Treatment is an all-natural herbal salve that promotes rapid and complete healing of skin ailments. It can be used on a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, and horses. ÝÛ?]YdkÛogmf\k ÛZmjfk ÛZjmak]kÛ and lacerations ÝÛ?]dhkÛkh]]\Û`]Ydaf_Ûg^Û surgical wounds ÝÛI]da]n]kÛafyÛYeeYlagfÛYf\ÛajjalYlagfÛ associated with inter-digital infection ÝI]da]n]kÛal[`qÛkcaf ÝDgaklmjar]kÛkcaf ÝKj]YlkÛjYafÛjgl ÝKj]YlkÛ`glÛkhglkÛÛ 610-558-4610 | drrosesremedies.com tony@drrosesremedies.com
Title: The
Ultimate Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy Guide for Dogs
Author: Helga
Schmitt
Arthritis, hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, cancer...a lot of conditions can affect the mobility, health and quality of life of our canine companions. In The Ultimate Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy Guide for Dogs, a book written by Registered Certified Canine Hydrotherapist Helga Schmitt, who also holds degrees in holistic nutrition and homeopathy, you’ll learn about a multitude of available options for getting your dog back on his feet and feeling himself again. The first chapter is devoted to everything you need to know about hydrotherapy, including the many health benefits of swimming pools and underwater treadmills, and a “case study” of how the author rehabbed her own dogs using hydrotherapy, among other modalities. You’ll also find chapters on anterior cruciate ligament injuries and arthritis, the conventional and alternative treatments you can choose from, and more tips on how Helga successfully helped dogs of her own with these conditions, without the use of surgery. The book includes sections on holistic dog care, covering everything from herbs and homeopathy to acupressure, nutrition, exercise and nutraceuticals; and on cancer – including symptoms, treatments and personal experience suggestions from the author.
Online courses for the dog owner, trainer, breeder and enthusiast.
If your dog is facing an issue that affects his mobility and/or his overall health, this book will get you on the right track to helping him regain his wellness, strength and happiness.
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Title: Training Your
the Humane Way
Author: Alana
Dog
Stevenson
What is positive training? It’s a question that’s comprehensively answered by animal behaviorist and trainer Alana Stevenson in her new book Training Your Dog the Humane Way. She provides you with the basic principles of animal learning so you can prevent and remedy behaviorial issues using a humane, positive approach rather than punishment. Learn simple training basics such as sit, stand, down and leave it, then discover gentle and effective ways to deter unwanted behaviors such as jumping, chewing, barking and stool-eating. Entire chapters are dedicated to how to get your dog to walk on a relaxed leash, as well as behavior modification for aggression, separation anxiety, and fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. Illustrated with helpful and practical black and white photos, Training Your Dog the Humane Way approaches every behavioral problem from a positive angle, thereby ensuring success -- and a happy, well-adjusted dog.
Publisher: New World Library
Title: Sugarbabies Author:Randi
E. Golub, CVT
Diabetes is an increasingly common problem among dogs and cats. Thankfully, when properly treated, an animal can lead a relatively normal life. In Sugarbabies: A Holistic Guide to Caring for your Diabetic Pet, veterinary technician Randi E. Golub offers support and guidance that can be used in conjunction with your animal’s veterinary care. The book opens with a discussion of what diabetes mellitus is, along with its various causes and the signs and symptoms you should be aware of. Golub also presents information on the available treatment options, including alternative therapies such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and nutraceuticals, and addresses the importance of a healthy diet and exercise in enhancing the animal’s well being. There are also tips on how to monitor a diabetic dog or cat at home, and how to recognize and handle emergencies. Whether your companion has just been diagnosed with diabetes, or has had the disease for some time, Sugarbabies will assist you in giving him the best possible care for as many years as possible.
Publisher: Randi E. Golub, CVT, catnurseoncall.com animal wellness
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Equine
Your natural resource!
WELLNESS
IMMUNE INVASION
How to review your vaccine protocols
DATING
Getting a “FEEL” for it
GAME
Learning the native language of horses
Tips on choosing the right stallion for your mare
FACE TIME
EAPD
What do swirls tell you about your horse’s personality?
Using horse sense to help you learn about yourself
PASTURES OF PLENTY
LAUREL’S STORY
How to boost your hay-eating horse’s immune system
What you can do in the face of serious injury
KNOW YOUR
BUDDING HEALTH
H2O
Discover the healing power of plant and tree buds
September/October 2009 Display until October 13, 2009 $5.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5
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Classifieds Animal Communicators ANIMAL HEALINGS – Animal Communication/Reiki for Animals: all species. Compassionate professional, loving support for your whole pet family, help resolve behavior problems, learn about healthcare/enrichment needs, find lost pets, end of life/grieving support. Email & phone sessions anywhere in the USA: (941) 321-8484 www. AnimalHealing.com CAN WE TALK? Animal and Soul Communicator, Janice DeFonda says, “Yes! Bless your Hearts and Souls through the communion this connection can provide. Share your love, laugh, cry, grow and expand the depth of your understanding with your Animal Friends. Extend
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your connection with those who are in spirit and Restore Harmony and Balance through energy healing.” Phone Consults (315) 329-0116 angelwhispurr@gmail.com www. ark-angels.org CAROL SCHULTZ – Animal Communicator/Interspecies Life Coach. Interactive, compassionate and insightful Consultations and Healing for all animal species. (815) 531-2850 www.carolschultz.com Founder/Director of www.AnimalSpiritNetwork.com online learning institute, Animal Healing Arts Education and Professional Development.
INGRID BRAMMER – On-line classes, on-site workshops, and home study programs available that will teach you how to intuitively communicate with animals with explanation of how it is possible. Contact Ingrid (705) 742-3297 or ibrammer@sympatico.ca or www.animalillumination.com JANET DOBBS – WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS. Animal communication, Animal/human Reiki. Deepening the bond between animals and humans. For information about hosting a workshop in your area. janet@ animalparadisecommunication.com, (703) 648-1866 or www.animalparadisecommunication.com
LOVING ANIMAL COACHING & CONVERSATIONS through End of Life situations, Missing Animals, Training & unique Personal Messages just for you. Inspiring your Brilliance to Connect & Understand your animals too. Priceless Wisdom. Contact: Morgine morgine@tds.net (360) 247-7284 www.CommunicationsWithLove.com SHIRLEY SCOTT – Internationally known Animal Communicator & Clairvoyant connects with your pets here or in spirit. She reads emotional/behavior/health problems, provides classes & workshops in animal communication & training. www.animaltalkhealing.com (509) 526-5020 SUE BECKER – Interspecies Communication, Registered Practitioner of Tellington TTouch and Bach Flower Remedies. Resolve problems and stress, improve behaviour, deepen understanding and your relationship. Emotional healing, animals in spirit. Consultations by phone/in person, lectures, workshops. Call (519) 8962600 suebecker@cyg.net www.suebecker.net
Animal Health DR. ROSE’S REMEDIES – 100% all natural skin treatment salve and spray. Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal; can be used for most skin conditions including hot spots. www.drrosesremedies. com (610) 558-4610 GENEFLORA FOR PETS – Naturally Building Your Pet’s Health With Every Scoop. Recommended by Veterinarians, Groomers, Breeders and Animal Lovers Just Like You! www.Cycles-of-Life.com or call: (800) 498-6640 PET KELP – Nutrition Boosters for pets. Ocean kelpbased minerals and vitamins with vet recommended levels of mobility, antioxidant, or skin/coat supplements. Nutrients they need, extras they deserve! (707) 955-5357 info@petkelp.com WAPITI LABS INC. – offers naturally shed Elk Antler Chews and supplements containing Elk Velvet Antler. Find us at www.wapitilabsinc.com or call (763) 746-0980. Mention this ad for 10% off your order.
Distributors/Retailers BUDDY BEDS – Orthopedic Memory Foam Dog Beds. Voted “Best Pet Bed” by Pet Age Magazine. Eliminates all painful pressure points. Waterproof liner protects the memory foam. Vet recommended. www.BuddyBeds.com (303) 744-0424 JUST BECAUSE FOR DOGS – Treats for dogs with special needs! Overweight, Diabetic, Allergic to Wheat. All treats are made using “Human Grade” all natural ingredients. Inquires @ www.JustBecauseForDogs.com or call (866) 974-DOGS NORTHWEST NATURALS - #1 frozen RAW pet food – Best value in RAW frozen pet food – Most convenient – IW Bars and Nuggets – USDA raw materials – USDA facilities – Become a Distributor/Retailer today! www. rawnaturalpetfood.com (503) 517-9800 SOJOURNER FARMS PET PRODUCTS – Our foods offer the superior nutrition of naturally-occurring vitamins, minerals and enzymes that you can’t get from a cooked, processed pellet. No preservatives. Nothing artificial. Just all-natural, human-quality ingredients. Natural food and treats since 1985. Inquires @ www.sojos.com or (612) 343-7262
Flower Essence Therapy ALDARON ANIMAL ESSENCES – Bach Flower remedies for behavioral wellness. Our behavior support formulas gently, safely reduce fears and reactivity, improve stress thresholds, facilitate recovery from emotional trauma, and more. Formula line and custom blends available. Free US Shipping. www.aldaronessences.com
Healing Essences PETS HAVE EMOTIONS TOO! – Canadian Forest Tree Essences offers Vibrational Tree Essences for cats, dogs, horses, alpacas and other animals…Available for vets, animal communicators, retailers and individuals. Web: www.essences.ca Email: cfte@essences.ca Tel: (888) 410-4325
Holistic Veterinarians
Associations CANADIAN ANIMAL MASSAGE & BODYWORKERS ASSOCAITION – A growing group of qualified, complementary practitioners working to maintain the highest standard of Ethical Practice for the benefit of and respect for lives we impact. www.c-amba.org INTERNATIONAL ASS’N OF ANIMAL MASSAGE & BODYWORK/ASS’N OF CANINE WATER THERAPY – Welcome trained practitioners of Animal Massage and Bodywork. The IAAMB/ACWT supports and promotes the practitioners of complementary care for animals through networking, continuing education, website, online referrals, newsletters, insurance, annual educational conferences, lobbying and credentialing of schools. www.IAAMB.org
Books & Publications ANIMALS AND THE AFTERLIFE – This amazing book offers immense reassurance and contains beautifully compelling experiences. A must read for animal lovers… and a wonderful gift! Visit: www.AnimalsAndTheAfterlife. com or call (800) 564-5126 LEARN CANINE MASSAGE – PetMassage for the Family Dog, PetMassage Art and Essence of Canine Massage, PetMassage Energy Work for Dogs, Transitions (for the aging and dying dog), Dogs Kids PetMassage (for children), Creating and Marketing Your Animal Massage Business, plus instructional DVD’s by Jonathan Rudinger. www.petmassage.com, US (800) 779-1001, Canada (419) 475-3539
EAST YORK ANIMAL CLINIC HOLISTIC CENTRE – Dr. Paul McCutcheon, Dr. Cindy Kneebone & Dr. Anya Yushchenko. We provide a wide variety of integrative diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Please visit our website to explore our services. www.holisticpetvet.com eyac@holisticpetvet.com (416) 757-3569, 805 O’Connor Drive, Toronto, ON, M4B 2S7 ESSEX ANIMAL HOSPITAL, REHAB & K9 FITNESS CENTRE – Dr. Janice Huntingford practices integrative medicine for optimal pet health. Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Physical Rehab, Therapy pool and underwater treadmill, Alternative Medicine, Chinese Herbs, Holistic Consults. Please visit our website and facebook page. (519) 776-7325 Essex, ON. essexanimalhospital@cogeco.net www. essexanimalhospital.ca GUELPH ANIMAL HOSPITAL – Offers a full range of conventional veterinary services as well as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, herbal and nutritional. Dr. Rob Butler is certified in veterinary acupuncture and is also trained in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. By integrating conventional and complementary therapies, treatments can be tailored to the individual needs and preferences of the animal and client. Guelph Animal Hospital (519) 836-2782 www.guelphvet.com ROCKLEDGE VETERINARY CLINIC – Thoughtful, Compassionate, Veterinary Care. Conventional Medicine & Surgery, Classical Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Cold Laser for Arthritis, Vaccine Titers, Home Prepared Diets, Hospice. (215) 3791677, Rockledge, PA rockledgevet@aol.com www. rockledgevet.com
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Reiki HEALING WITH LOVE – NOT DRUGS – Gentle Reiki treatments for animals and their people by an Usui Master. “Amazing!” --RR, NYC. “Purrcival hasn’t been this lively in ages.”—DKA, NJ BernieLibster@optonline. net (201) 288-8617 Distant treatments available.
Rescues & Shelters GREY2K USA – National greyhound protection group working to end dog racing nationwide. Join our team, support us and buy fun dog-themed gifts at GREY2KUSA.org
Schools & Training ANIMAL HEALING ARTS TRAINING & CERTIFICATE STUDY PROGRAMS – Animal Spirit Healing & Education® Network provides distance learning and on-site courses in Animal Communication, Shamanic Animal Healing, Animal Reiki, Grief Support Skills, Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, Species Behavior, and Holistic Animal Health. Learn more at www. AnimalSpiritNetwork.com or contact Founder, Carol Schultz, (815) 531-2850 info@animalspiritnetwork.com BRANDENBURG MASSAGE THERAPY, LLC – Hands on Training and Certification Program for Equine and Canine Massage Therapy. Small class size. (740) 6336639 or www.horseanddogtherapy.com INTEGRATED TOUCH THERAPY, INC. – Has taught animal massage to thousands of students from all over the world for over 17 years. Offering intensive, hands-on workshops. Free Brochure: (800) 251-0007 wshaw1@ bright.net www.integratedtouchtherapy.com PETMASSAGE (FOR DOGS) TRAINING AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE – Toledo, OH USA. Learn the PetMassage Method of Canine Massage. Hands-on Foundation, Advanced and WaterWork (canine water massage) workshops, online modules for anatomy and marketing. Resource books and DVD’s. Complete children’s K9 massage program for families and educators. FREE Online newsletter. www.petmassage.com info@ petmassage.com WALKS ‘N’ WAGS PET FIRST AID – Natural Leaders in Pet First Aid Certification Courses for dogs and cats. Learn preventative skills and practice emergency bandaging with live wiggly pets. Distance Learning also available. www.walksnwags.com or (800) 298-1152
1-866-764-1212 or classified@animalwellnessmagazine.com
Animal Wellness Magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising submitted, make stylistic changes or cancel any advertising accepted upon refund of payment made.
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Events PetMassage Foundation Workshop October 21-24, 2011 Toledo, OH Foundation level workshops are professional level training. PetMassage™ is a hands-on skill that is best learned one on one in a workshop or classroom setting. It is in workshops that students learn the specifics of animal body language, safe body mechanics, correct application of massage techniques, benefits, contraindications,specific condition applications, legal issues, marketing, specifics of canine body language, and safe body mechanics.
•what you have never been told about health • how does choice affect your animal companion’s health? • how is your animal companion’s health connected to your health? • if your animal companion has free choice • things you can do to help your animal companion in any situation •and so much more.... Making small changes can increase your animal companion’s quality of life, health and longevity. For more information: Claudia Hehr (519) 833-2382 info@animalhealthandlongevity.com www.animalhealthandlongevity.com
For more information: Beth Farkas 1800-779-1001 info@petmassage.com www.petmassage.com Animal Health & Longevity - Seminar October 23, 2011 Caledon Community Complex 6215 Old Church Rd. Caledon E., Ontario L7C 1J7, Canada Come and find out the truth about health and how some simple changes can increase the health and longevity of your animal companions. Join internationally acclaimed animal communication specialist and author Claudia Hehr, at this one day seminar and gain insight about your animal companions and how to improve their quality of life, health and longevity. Find out: • how everyday toxins threaten your animal companion’s health • how stress can affect your animal companion and what you can do about it • how complementary health modalities can help your animal companion • how nutrition can affect your animal companion’s health •what really is health and dis-ease?
Animal Communication: The Essentials by Teleclass Thursdays at 8PM Eastern Time October 27, November 3, 10 & 17 Teleconference Requirement: The Basic 2-Day Animal Communication Workshop or a course with another animal communication teacher. Description: So you have completed the Basic 2-Day Animal communication Workshop and you would like more practice and experience. Maybe you are not feeling confident enough to participate in the student practice group on-line. Maybe you are ready to go deeper with your communication with the animals. No matter what level you are, this is the course for you. This course consists of 4 lessons and corresponding homework assignments. Lessons will be sent to you via email once a week, giving you enough time to complete the homework before the next class. Each lesson will help you deepen your connection with animals as you
learn what ways you receive information from the animals best. Each week you will practice with different animals, build your confidence as well as your ability to connect with the animals on a very deep level in any situation. On the day/evening of the class meeting students will call into a teleconference line (long distance charges may apply). Don’t worry if you are not able to make the live teleconference calls. You will receive a recording of the class by the following day along with the next week’s homework assignment and lesson(s). Upon completing all of the homework assignments students will receive a certificate of completion. For more information: Janet Dobbs 703-648-1866 www.animalparadisecommunication.com Animal Communication: The Basic Course October 29-30, 2011 Vienna, VA & Traveller’s Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary Beginning Animal Communication You will be led through the basic steps of animal communication with guided meditations, enlightening discussions and telepathic exercises. You will build and form a foundation as you learn various ways to receive communication from animals. This 2-day workshop will give you an overview of what animal communication is and how you already communicate with your animal companions, animal friends and even wild animals. For more information: janet Dobbs 703-648-1866 janet@animalparadisecommunication.com www.animalparadisecommunication.com
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Tail end
Wet work by John Kevin Cole
C
ollecting urine from a small male dog is a task best left to the experienced and qualified. And yet my wife Patti and I, batting 0 for 3 on that scale, found ourselves tasked by our vet with collecting a firstthing-in-the-morning specimen from our four-year-old Maltese, Liam. Liam had come to us on New Year’s Eve the previous year via a Maltese rescue group. The affectionate little character has been a constant source of joy and comfort, and Patti and I would do absolutely anything to ensure his well being. Hence, urine collection.
“Oh, heck!” I heard Patti say once or twice. “Aw, nuts!” I said a time or two. But finally, well after the sun went down, Patti happened to be in the right place at the right time when Liam lifted a leg against a cardboard box in our basement. She positioned the implement perfectly and was rewarded with a well-soaked sponge. We cheered! “That turned out well,” said I from the basement stairs. “For you maybe,” Patti replied, applying paper toweling to her well-moistened digits.
To make the collection, the vet gave us a small flat rectangular sponge on a small plastic handle. The objective was to position the sponge in front of the “spigot” at precisely the right moment and collect whatever issued forth. In theory, once moistened, the sponge was to be placed into a small zipper-top plastic bag and then presented to the vet for analysis.
The next day we presented the specimen to the vet.
In the excitement of anticipating the task, we somehow overlooked the vet’s advice to take the sample from Liam’s first urination of the day. Instead, we took turns on a daylong pee-collection patrol throughout the house. Wherever Liam went, one of us went. We had a little more than one day to complete the mission, so the clock was ticking.
Oh, poop!
“From first thing this morning, right?” the vet asked. Patti and I looked at each other, then at the urine specimen – collected the night before – then at each other again.
Which, of course, may be a tale for another time.
Throughout the day, one of us remained glued to Liam, sponge-stick in hand, eyes peeled, mind alert, like a soccer player gauging where on the field the ball might possibly be in the next moment, and the moment after that. We chuckled at the mental picture we must have presented, a couple of plainclothes Keystone Kops racing here and there, up stairs and down, secreting ourselves behind doorjambs, being pulled around the house by a little white buzzsaw. But the little dickens didn’t seem at all impressed by our attempt to play an important part in his continued good health. Several times during the day, unfortunately, the spongebearer would blink and – wouldn’t you know it! – that’s when our boy would cut loose. “Oh, rats!” I blurted on one such occasion. animal wellness
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Take A Bite Out Of Cat And Dog Dental Troubles by: Bud Groth
Here’s an idea to chew over: You are now able to prolong your pet’s life while improving its health and breath. How? By protecting your cat or dog from oral disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3. Besides causing receding gums and tooth loss, the infection may enter the bloodstream, potentially infecting the heart, liver and kidneys. “Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets,” agreed Dr. Henry Childers, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. What are the symptoms indicating potential problems? Bad breath, pain around the mouth, swelling or irritation of the gums, bleeding, swelling around the jaw or nose, fever, lethargy, pain when eating, or refusal to eat. A solution: Until recently, the only way to remove plaque and tartar has been a visit to the vet for a dental cleaning. This usually involves the use of a general anesthetic, and that can be a problem. Anesthetic reactions can cause injury and even death. Statistics indicate that over 50,000 dogs and cats die every year, and 1.3 million are injured (some permanently), just from anesthesia! “Fortunately, we now have an additional tool in our dental tool chest,” states Dr. Joann Baldwin, DVM for 30 years at Cardinal Animal Hospital. “Now there’s a safe and efficient way to control plaque and tartar without your pet undergoing anesthesia.”
Bud Groth is getting a licking from “Lucas,” Michael Vick’s former champion fighting dog rescued by Best Friends Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Lucas is licking away Groth’s tears, shed at the sight of the dog’s fighting scars. Groth loves pets and says, “Pet owners should be concerned if any pet product uses the statement ‘Not for human consumption.”’
“Safe and efective dental health products, like PetzLife Oral Care, are part of the missing link in holistic pet health care,” states Animal Doctor syndicated columnist Dr. Michael Fox. Used daily, PetzLife Oral Care spray or gel can help remove plaque and tartar, control bacteria and eliminate bad breath, and you don’t have to brush. The active ingredients are a blend of herbs and oils including grapefruit seed extract, a natural compound known for killing bacteria. The ingredients are 100 percent natural and “human grade,” so they’re perfectly safe for dogs and cats. Over 1.5 million bottles have been sold without one injury or death, and are now available in over 10,000 retail stores and all PetSmarts and over 6,000 vet clinics. PetzLIfe also produces @-Eaze Calming Support for Pets. When applied directly or mixed with foods or treats, @-Eaze works within minutes to help promote a restful relaxed state without causing reduced alertness. It helps relieve stress and anxiety in pets. In addition, the company also offers a complete line of shampoos, conditioners, aromatherapy mists, flea and tick repellent, de-wormer and low fat treats. Made in USA
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enter 20% code: â&#x20AC;&#x153;WELLNESSâ&#x20AC;? on the first page of the checkout or call and mention code.
100% Natural, uniquely formulated with L-Theanin a natural occurring amino acid in green tea, that helps promote a restful relaxed state without causing reduced alertness. Relieves stress and anxiety in pets.
Made in USA
Specially formulated to peak the senses without alcohol or detergents. One spray will convince you this is the finest combination fo your special pet. Great for daily refreshing, between washings and for bedding
The Miraculous healing power of Cranberry seed oil has been added to a pet shampoo combining Honey Quat, Karate & Soy into the most luxurious Shampoo available on the market.
The Healthy, low-fat Rewards for in-between meals or training. Free of unwanted additives that strain the body. PetzLife FIT-TREATZ Fresh Chicken Snacks, contains only high-quality ingredients that are approved for human consumtion.
Flea and Tick Repellent Protectz is an herbal product that repels fleas and other biting insects, including ticks. Does not contain any chemicals.
This combination contains herbs that aid the body to cleanse, and demulcents to help soothe the mucous membranes, thus causing no discomfort.
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