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Top 20 Supplements for cats and dogs
Does your
"Golden Oldie" need a new friend? Ear ye! ear ye!
Find out the latest buzz about honey
Tips for longeared dogs
Ruffing it with dogs
Pool safety for cats
Is your cat a
class clown?
Surviving
the pet food recall
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3
www.AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
animal wellness
contents
Photo: Mary Ellen
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features to 22 Antioxidants the rescue How these key nutrients protect her health
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Is your cat a “class clown”? This personality checklist gives you the answer
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animal wellness
How to tell if your “golden oldie” needs a new friend Consider these tips before adopting
his ears 32 Do hang low?
Proper care and grooming prevents problems
for trouble 40 AA nose look at
brachycephalic syndrome
the buzz 44 What’s about honey?
This sweet treat is nutritious as well as delicious
20 supplements 52 Top for dogs and cats
Vitamins, minerals, herbs and more
Click on this icon to visit featured links
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it” with dogs 81 In the swim 58 “Ruffing What you need to know How one reader taught if taking Rover on a hike or road trip
under 64 Isthekitty weather?
Wholesome food choices can help her back to health
her feline family about pool safety
for 86 Shopping supplements?
How to choose the right products for your companion
lends a the pet 94 Surviving 74 SafePet helping hand to victims food recall Help for victims of abuse and their pets
One reader’s journey
products 76 Cleaning with natural “appeel” This company fights cancer in two ways
animal wellness
minerals manganese Vitamin A Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin C
nese
Antioxidants
minerals manganese Vitamin E Vitamin E selenium, Vitamin A minerals Vitamin C selenium, Vitamin E selenium, manganese Vitamin A manganese minerals selenium,
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animal wellness
s
to the rescue
How these key nutrients protect her health
by Shawn Messonnier, DVM
W
e’ve all heard about antioxidants and how important they are for human health. They’re also important for your canine or feline companion. In fact, antioxidants are one of the most common classes of nutritional supplements prescribed by veterinarians to help prevent and treat disease.
Oxidation and free radicals Certain supplements, including vitamins and minerals, reduce oxidation in the body. Oxidation is a chemical process that occurs within the cells as a normal result of metabolism, detoxification, and energy production. After oxidation occurs, certain by-products called “free radicals” or Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are formed. Examples of free radicals include nitric oxide, superoxide, lipid peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide.
Some antioxidants are produced by the body on a regular basis, while others can be provided in the diet or through supplementation. Examples of naturally-occurring antioxidants in the body include superoxide dismutase, catalase, various peroxidases, glutathione, coenzyme Q-10, alpha-lipoic acid, and melatonin. •Superoxide dismutase breaks down the superoxide free radical into hydrogen peroxide, which is then broken down into water with the help of the antioxidant catalase.
Hint
Inflammation in the body is a major source of free radical production. Environmental toxins that cause cell damage are another. Free radicals are toxic to cells and surrounding tissues. They can damage cells by damaging membrane receptor proteins, inactivating proteins required for energy production by the body, and inactivating enzymes required for normal cellular metabolism. Many medical conditions can occur as a result of free radical damage. Cancer, atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases, diabetic cataracts, inflammatory bowel disease, nutrient deficiencies, premature aging, and viral infections can all be linked to free radical damage.
Enter antioxidants The body removes free radicals by producing additional substances called antioxidants that combat the oxidizing chemicals. Antioxidants neutralize oxidants, preventing or limiting cell damage. animal wellness
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