ANIMAL WELLNESS
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WELLNESS PET FOOD
4 EASY WAYS TO KEEP HIS TEETH CLEAN AND
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healthy
– what’s being done?
3 tips to
DOGS OF
SAVE on VET BILLS
IQALUIT We travel to the Canadian Arctic to help an animal rescue in need.
Understanding
HOLISTIC CANCER
Natural fixes for
care
doggie breath
Envy &
BEAT the WINTER BLUES – and keep you and your dog fit!
TOP 4
BEHAVIORS every dog should know
Zain
These border collie rescues are inseparable – and their photogenic poses are taking the world by storm!
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 Display until March 15, 2017
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Contents February/March 2017
Features
18 HOW YOUR DOG EATS AFFECTS SPINAL AND ORAL HEALTH
Did you know that the way your dog eats can affect the health of both his spine and mouth? Here’s what you know to know – and what you can do about it.
46
22 WINTER FUN FOR YOU
AND YOUR DOG
Whether you and your dog need some exercise, or just a way to chase away the winter blues, these activities will do the trick.
26 4 TOP BEHAVIORS EVERY DOG SHOULD KNOW – PART 1
Training your dog starts with knowing the most important things to teach him. The first part of this article looks at why “stay” and “come” top the list.
30 ANTIOXIDANTS AND
YOUR DOG
They’re powerful tools for your dog’s health, but choosing the right antioxidants for his individual needs requires some detective work, including testing for inflammation.
34 VESTIBULAR DISEASE – WHEN YOUR PET IS OFF BALANCE
50 UNDERSTANDING HOLISTIC CANCER CARE FOR DOGS AND CATS
This 3-pronged alternative approach to cancer in pets covers all the bases – it helps the immune system do its job, employs anti-cancer therapies, and supports the whole body.
56 STOP YOUR DOG FROM
70 NATURAL GROOMING PRODUCTS FOR DOGS
Treating your dog to a “day at the spa” is great as long as the shampoos, sprays and scents you use are made with natural non-toxic ingredients.
77 NORTHWEST NATURALS
Backed by 60 years of experience in meat processing, and a dedication to high quality and pet health, this company’s raw diets and treats for dogs and cats more than make the cut.
82 IS YOUR PET GETTING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CALCIUM?
Dizziness, falling, a tilting head…these are all symptoms of vestibular syndrome in dogs and cats. It looks scary, but depending on the cause, the prognosis is promising.
This simple step-by-step training guide helps deter your dog from begging for food.
BEGGING
If you home-prepare you dog or cat’s food, you need to ensure he’s getting the right nutrients in the correct quantities – and that includes calcium.
38 NATURAL WAYS TO
58 4 NATURAL WAYS TO KEEP
91 8 WAYS TO KEEP INDOOR CATS HAPPY AND HEALTHY
PREVENT DOGGY BREATH
YOUR DOG’S TEETH CLEAN
You may assume bad breath just comes with the territory of having a dog, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some easy ways to sweeten his kisses.
How enzymes, homeopathy, herbals and raw bones work together to boost dental health and reduce the need for professional cleanings.
40 PET FOOD RECALLS It’s been ten years since the huge pet food
62 DOGS OF IQALUIT Animal Wellness responds to a call for help
recall that sickened thousands of dogs and cats. How has pet food safety improved – or not – since then?
45 COCOTHERAPY
The founders of this company have a lifetime’s knowledge of coconut oil and its health benefits, for both pets and people.
4
46 ENVY AND ZAIN
These striking border collies are the best of buddies, and thanks to their photographer “mom”, their portraits of unconditional love have made them social media favorites.
Animal Wellness
from an Arctic animal rescue.
66 3 PROACTIVE WAYS TO
SAVE MONEY ON VET BILLS
Keeping veterinary costs down means taking steps to build your dog or cat’s health and help prevent illness.
Indoor cats can get bored and lazy if you’re not careful. These tips will ensure your kitty stays fit and happy, both physically and mentally.
94 FEEDING YOUR CAT FOR
GOOD DENTAL HEALTH
Periodontal disease is extremely common in cats, but the good news is that a healthy diet can help prevent it.
96 IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENTS FOR CATS
Probiotics, fiber and Omega fatty acids are among the top supplemental nutrients that can benefit a cat’s health.
30 Columns
12 74 80 86 89 93 98
Yakkity yak Rewind
22
Passages Book reviews Tail end Cat chat FW book reviews
Departments 94
Social media Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
8
Editorial
53
Product picks
73
The scoop
78
Animal Wellness resource guide
85
Social media
87
Marketplace
88
Events calendar
88
ClassiďŹ eds February/March 2017
5
How your dog eats can affect his
spinal and oral health By Bill Ormston, DVM and Amy Hayek, DVM
Did you know that the way your dog eats can affect the health of both his spine and mouth? Here’s what you need to know – and what you can do about it.
18
Animal Wellness
Gingivitis, tartar, loose teeth – and the spine. Most people have no problem grouping the first three together, but where and how does the spine fit into a discussion of the mouth? The truth is, the position in which your dog eats can affect his spine as well as other bones and muscles associated with it – and most domestic dogs don’t eat the way nature intended. This can create not only misalignments, but also an acidic pH in the body, which can in turn contribute to oral issues such as gingivitis, tartar and loose teeth.
THE MECHANICS OF HOW DOGS EAT – WILD VS. DOMESTIC
It’s important to understand the mechanics of how dogs ingest their food. Getting food into the mouth requires use of the dog’s entire jaw and head. In the wild, a dog has to hunt down his prey; because he uses his whole head to get hold of his food, he loses sight of his prey when he bites down. When he opens his mouth to capture prey, his eyes follow the movement of his mandible (lower jaw), opposite to the movement of his head and maxilla (upper jaw), so he can keep his target in sight. After the prey has been captured and killed, a dog in the wild will often eat lying down. This way, he can hold his food between his front paws and look up at what is approaching from the front, thereby protecting his food. He can pay more attention to the food because it’s in a safer place where he can more easily defend it.
Wild dogs eat their prey while lying down.
Domestic dogs eat stationary food out of bowls, with their heads and necks in flexion. They end up looking down at their feet rather than forward. Protecting food becomes more difficult because the dog is unable to see who is approaching from the front. (For this reason, eating in this position may lead to behavior problems.) While eating, the canine teeth are primarily involved in getting food into the oral cavity, while the incisors are used for gnawing bits from larger objects. Biting down uses more force than opening the mouth, and also involves more than just the
February/March 2017
19