V22I1 (Feb/Mar 2020)

ANIMAL

For a long, healthy life!

WELLNESS Winter

HOW DOES YOUR DOG’S

MIND WORK?

PAW CARE TIPS

GENETIC TESTING

— WHAT IT CAN TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR ANIMAL

OPTIMIZE DENTAL HEALTH WITH NUTRITION

COLLARS VS. HARNESSES — which should you use, and when?

NATURAL WAYS TO

REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 Display until March 9, 2020

$6.95 USA/Canada

VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1

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CONTENTS February/March 2020

Columns

18 SPOTLIGHT

What genetic testing can tell you about your dog or cat

Is your pet prone to developing certain health problems? Genetic testing can help you find out.

22 CANINE

COGNITION

How does your dog’s mind work?

48

Ongoing research reveals that the cognitive and emotional lives of our dogs are much richer and more complex than we think.

26 CAT NUTRITION

Features 14 dental health

F eeding your dog or cat for optimal Good nutrition, along with the right forms of food, can go a long way to keeping your pet’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.

34 D ental extractions in dogs and cats A comprehensive look at when and why your animal might need to have one or more teeth removed.

48 W inter paw care for your dog

From the best protective products to proper cleaning tips, here’s everything you need to know about winter paw care for your canine companion!

74 dog wear?

C ollar or harness — which should your A comprehensive discussion of collars and harnesses and how and when to use them.

Why cats have to eat meat

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, and have wondered if your cat could be too — the answer is no. Cats must have meat in their diets in order to stay healthy. This article explains why.

30 IN FOCUS

Hypothyroidism and your dog

This common disease can be treated or even prevented by improving and supporting the health of your dog’s thyroid.

38 AT HOME

Finding the perfect pet sitter

Ask these 10 questions to ensure you’re hiring the right pet sitter for your needs — and the needs of your dog or cat.

41 NEWSWORTHY Purebred dogs have hidden genes

Is your purebred "different" from others of his kind? A recent discovery made by scientists might explain why.

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42 CANINE BEHAVIOR

Help for the “shutdown” dog

Dogs that freeze, flatten to the ground, or act like they’re “just not there” have essentially shut down. Here’s how to recognize the signs, why they happen, and what to do to help.

46 FELINE HEALTH Keep on top of kitty’s dental health

Taking care of your cat’s teeth and gums is an important part of his health regime. These products and tips can help make the job easier.

52 DIAGNOSTICS

Testing for kidney disease in your dog or cat

A large number of older animals develop kidney disease or failure. With correct diagnostic testing, the problem can be caught early enough for more successful treatment.

56 YOUR RESCUE DOG

Is it okay to change your dog’s name?

You’ve just adopted a rescue pup! Everything about her is perfect… except her name. Will she get confused or stop listening to you if you change it? Here’s what you need to know.

26

18 to ours? Here’s what happens when you drop your dog off for a dental.

78 EMOTIONAL

60 AGING WELL

End-of-life care for your pet — how essential oils can help

WELL-BEING

INSIDE & OUT

Supporting your pet’s gut health Find out why the state of your dog or cat’s microbiome is so important to his overall health, and how proper nutrition can help bring it back into balance.

68 AT THE VET’S

Your dog’s dental exam

Our four-legged friends need oral care just like us, but do veterinary dental exams bear any similarities

90 EATING WELL

Reduce your dog’s stress, naturally

Preparing to say goodbye to a beloved dog or cat is never going to be easy, but essential oils are an effective way to alleviate the physical and emotional challenges of this difficult time.

64 HEALING

symptomatic relief of periodontal disease while you work with your vet to restore your animal’s dental health.

From loud noises to trips to the vet, a variety of situations can cause stress in dogs.

Fortunately, there are lots of safe and effective ways to help anxious pooches feel calmer.

82 KITTY

LIFESTYLE

Feral to friendly — transitioning a cat to life with humans

Can feral cats be socialized and transformed into household companions?

It can be done in many cases, but it requires patience and commitment.

Feeding your dog the TCM way

Exploring the Yin and Yang of different foods to enhance the health and well-being of your canine companion.

98 NEWSWORTHY It’s a fact — cats are getting fatter

A new study reveals that cats are heavier now than they were 20 years ago, and it’s negatively affecting their health and well-being.

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84 HERBS FOR HEALING

Top 4 herbs for your pet’s dental health These herbs (along with kelp!) can provide

Departments 8 From the Editor 12 In the news 21 From the NASC 37 Product picks 51 Cure those

72 Wellness

resource guide

81 Let's get social 88 To the rescue

95 Marketplace 96 Must reads 97 Classifieds

94 Events

winter blues!

Social Media

Tips, contests and more!

AnimalWellnessMagazine

News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine

Tips, pet photos, and more!

AnimalWellnessMagazine

Crafts, laughs, and more!

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ANIMAL

For a long, healthy life!

WELLNESS

VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Editor-in-Chief: Dana Cox Managing Editor: Ann Brightman Associate Editor: Emily Watson Senior Graphic Designer: Dawn Cumby-Dallin Senior Graphic Designer: Alyssa Dow Social/Digital Media Manager: Elisabeth Dunphy Multimedia Content Developer: Rebecca Bloom Web Design & Development: Lace Imson Cover Image Courtesy of: X. Kunclova COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sally E. Bahner Suzi Beber Bill Bookout Christine Caplan, RVT W. Jean Dodds, DVM Tammy M. Donaldson, MS, PhD, CAAB Andrea Gronwald Jodie Gruenstern, DVM, CVA Tamara Hebbler, DVM Jean Hofve, DVM Shawn Messonnier, DVM Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT Nancy Scanlan, DVM, MS, CVA Beth Stultz-Hairston Greg Tilford Tonya Wilhelm ADMINISTRATION & SALES President/C.E.O.: Tim Hockley Accounting: Susan Smith Circulation & Office Manager: Libby Sinden Subscription Services/Marketing & Administration Associate: Brittany Silloats

ADVERTISING SALES National Sales Manager/Editorial Associate: Kat Shaw, (866) 764-1212 ext. 315 katshaw@redstonemediagroup.com Western Regional Manager: Becky Starr, (866) 764-1212 ext. 221 becky@redstonemediagroup.com Multimedia Consultant: Jamie McClure, (866) 764-1212 ext 227 jamie@redstonemediagroup.com Multimedia Consultant: Britt Silver, (866) 764-1212 ext 226 britt@redstonemediagroup.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Libby Sinden classifiedads@animalwellnessmagazine.com TO SUBSCRIBE: Subscription price at time of this issue is $24.00 in the U.S. and Canada, including taxes for six issues shipped via surface mail. Subscriptions can be processed by: Website: www.animalwellnessmagazine.com Phone: (866) 764-1212 ext 115 US MAIL: Animal Wellness Magazine, 6834 S University Blvd PMB 155 Centennial, CO 80122 CDN MAIL: Animal Wellness Magazine, 160 Charlotte St., Suite 202, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 2T8

SUBMISSIONS: Please email all editorial material to Ann Brightman, Managing Editor, at ann@redstonemediagroup.com. We welcome previously unpublished articles and color pictures either in jpeg, tif or disc form at 300 dpi. We cannot guarantee that either articles or pictures will be used or that they will be returned. We reserve the right to publish all letters received.

You can also mail submissions to: Animal Wellness Magazine, 160 Charlotte St., Suite 202, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 2T8.

Please direct other correspondence to info@redstonemediagroup.com.

Subscriptions are payable by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, check or money order. The material in this magazine is not intended to replace the care of veterinary practitioners. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor, and different views may appear in other issues. Redstone Media Group Inc., publisher of Animal Wellness, does not promote any of the products orservices advertised by a third party advertiser in this publication, nor does Redstone Media Group Inc. verify the accuracy of any claims made in connection with such advertisers. Refund policy: call or write our customer service department and we will refund unmailed issues.

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DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME: Animal Wellness Magazine is available at a discount for resale in retail shops and through various organizations. Call Libby at (866) 764-1212 ext 100 and ask for dealer magazine sales, fax us at (705) 742-4596 or e-mail at libby@animalwellnessmagazine.com

ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF:

X.Kunclova Given how happy this pooch looks, he must enjoy good dental health!

Periodontal disease can cause a lot of pain and can make dogs (and cats) miserable. This issue helps you keep your own best friend's teeth and gums in top shape, so he'll look as contented as this guy does!

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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 copyrightŠ 2020. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: January 2020. proudly supporting

improving the lives of animals... one reader at a time.

FROM THE EDITOR

Something to chew on

D

ental health is so important to our fur-kids, but they don’t always make it easy. While our Siberian husky, Sabrina, would crowd into our tiny bathroom every night to have her teeth brushed, our little Shih poo rescue, Muffie, buries her head in her bed when she sees me coming with her toothbrush. Of course, given her genetics and puppy mill breeding, Muffie’s the one who needs dental attention the most. Our bigger dogs just had fewer dental requirements, and raw bones helped.

But at almost 13 years old, Muffie has already lost several teeth; the vet said some of her front teeth were so loose they basically fell out at her last cleaning.

We continue to be diligent, despite Muffie’s objections, and spray or brush every day. We will preserve the teeth she has for as long as possible.

While dental disease is one of the most common ailments afflicting dogs and cats, your own furry friend doesn’t have to be another statistic. There are lots of things you can do to ensure his teeth and gums remain healthy and strong, and that’s what this issue focuses on. Nutrition is a major player when it comes to dental health, so be sure to read Dr. Judy Morgan’s article on how feeding your dog or cat the right types and forms of food can help prevent periodontal disease. Also check out Greg Tilford’s column on the top herbs for supporting good dental health, and Christine Caplan’s piece on what a typical veterinary dental exam involves. Dr. Nancy Scanlan takes a comprehensive look at when and why a dental extraction might be necessary in

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your companion. And because dental care in kitties can be especially challenging, we feature an article on a variety of products that can help make the job a lot easier.

This issue also delves into canine cognition with a fascinating article on how dogs think — you’ll find out they’re a whole lot smarter than we used to believe! As well, learn about “shut-down” dogs and how to help them, and discover natural ways to reduce stress in your canine companion.

Spring isn’t far off, but in the meantime, brush up on winter paw care. Take a look at the differences between collars and harnesses and how to use them correctly; and learn what genetic testing can reveal about your best friend and his susceptibility to certain health conditions. On the food front, we feature advice on the TCM approach to feeding dogs, and why cats have to eat meat in order to stay healthy.

There’s plenty of great reading in this issue to keep the February blues at bay!

Dana Cox Editor-in-Cheif

Visit our facebook page at facebook.com/AnimalWellnessMagazine

CONTRIBUTORS Veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds received her veterinary degree in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College. In 1986, she established Hemopet, the first nonprofit national blood bank program for animals. Dr. Dodds has been a member of many committees on hematology, animal models of human disease and veterinary medicine. She received the Holistic Veterinarian of the Year Award from the AHVMA in 1994. Turn to page 18 for her article on genetic testing for pets.

Veterinarian Dr. Jodie Gruenstern graduated from UW-Madison in 1987. She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and food therapist by the Chi Institute; is former VP of the Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy Association (VMAA); and a member of the AHVMA and AzVMA. She authored Live with Your Pet in Mind, and founded Dr. Jodie’s Natural Pets, Integrating People for Animal Wellness (iPAW) and Dr. Jodie’s Integrative Consulting, PLLC. She was former owner of the Animal Doctor Holistic Veterinary Complex. Visit DrJodiesNaturalPets.com or email docjodie@DrJodiesNaturalPets.com. In this issue (page 60), she discusses essential oils for end-of-life care.

Veterinarian Dr. Tamara Hebbler (“Doctor AMara”, reflecting her belief in “I AM” consciousness) has a holistic practice in San Diego. She uses many modalities, including nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and flower essences, as well as energy screening and healing techniques. She’s especially well-versed in endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disease, skin disease and neurological/ musculoskeletal conditions, and has a special interest in treating vaccinosis and autoimmune conditions. Doctor AMara is launching online integrative classes for pet owners (healinghope.net). She discusses natural approaches to hypothyroidism on page 30.

Retired veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University.

She also studied veterinary homeopathy, homotoxicology, Reiki and other holistic modalities. She has researched pet food and feline nutrition for more than two decades, and is an expert on holistic pet health and the commercial pet food industry. Dr. Hofve is an official advisor to AAFCO, and co-authored the books Holistic Cat Care and Paleo Dog. Read her article on page 26 about why cats must have meat in their diets.

Veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier wrote The Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats, The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs and 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog. He’s the pet care expert for Martha Stewart Living’s “Dr. Shawn — The Natural Vet” on Sirius Satellite Radio, and creator of Dr. Shawn’s Pet Organics.

His practice, Paws & Claws Animal Hospital (petcarenaturally.com), is in Plano, Texas. Dr. Messonnier’s article on diagnostic tests for kidney disease is on page 52.

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Veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. She earned her certification for Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation in 1995, then earned certifications for Acupuncture and Food Therapy from the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Morgan is a nationally-renowned author, speaker and holistic veterinarian certified in acupuncture, food therapy, and chiropractic care for dogs, cats and horses.

She has authored four books on holistic pet care and feeding, and has over 700 educational videos on Facebook and YouTube (drjudymorgan.com). On page14, Dr. Morgan covers nutrition for dental health.

Veterinarian Dr. Nancy Scanlan is Executive Director for the AHVM Foundation, a board member of the World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and a consultant on the Veterinary Information Network.

She has been using complementary health therapies in her veterinary practice since 1970, including nutraceuticals, acupuncture, non-classical homeopathy, and Chinese and Western herbs. Dr. Scanlan was Executive Director of the AHVMA for three years and president of the VBMA for two years. See page 34 for her article on dental extractions, and why they’re sometimes necessary.

Christine Caplan is a Certified Vet Tech, and a long-time PR veteran and content marketing expert who brings her unique understanding of social and digital media to connect dog lovers to brands both on and offline. She lives with three hounds — two “doxies” and a beagle/ basset hound mix — who constantly teach her about life and companionship (mylifewithdogspdx.com). Check out Christine’s article (page 68) on dental exams for pets.

Dr. Suzi Beber has been successfully creating special needs diets for companion animals for two decades.

She founded the University of Guelph’s Smiling Blue Skies® Cancer Fund and Smiling Blue Skies® Fund for Innovative Research. She is the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and received the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, for her work in cancer, from the University of Guelph/Ontario Veterinary College. The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund is the recipient of the “Pets + Us” Community Outreach Champion Award. In this issue (page 90), Suzi looks at TCM approaches to feeding dogs.

Greg Tilford is a well-known educator in the field of botanical veterinary medicine. He is the author of the acclaimed book Herbs for Pets - The Natural Way to Enhance your Pet’s Life (2nd edition, Fox Chapel Books, 2009).

Greg’s article on the top herbs for dental health support in animals can be found on page 84.

Dr. Tammy Donaldson is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. She is the proprietor of Applied Animal Behavior Consulting and co-author of The Science Behind a Happy Dog: Canine Thinking, Training and Behavior.

She received a masters and doctorate in animal behavior at Washington State University (WSU) and studied Clinical Animal Behavior at WSU and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Behavior Clinic. Her graduate research focused on behavioral evaluation for detecting canine aggression. On page 22, Dr. Donaldson looks at canine cognition.

Andrea Gronwald is a certified family dog trainer through Raise with Praise, Inc., owned and operated by Paul Owens, a leading positive dog training expert. She has worked with dogs as a volunteer for two Humane Societies.

Andrea and her dog are also part of a volunteer pet therapy program for veterans. She also works as a trainer for a local dog training company. Andrea is a strong proponent of positive training methods. For her article on collars and harnesses, turn to page 74.

Tonya Wilhelm is a dog training and cat care specialist who promotes positive ways to prevent and manage behavior issues. Named one of the top ten dog trainers in the US, she has helped thousands build happy relationships with their dogs using humane, positive training methods. She wrote Proactive Puppy Care; offers dog training classes; provides training and behavior services; and does workshops at pet expos (raisingyourpetsnaturally.com). Read Tonya’s article on “shut-down” dogs (page 42).

Sally E. Bahner specializes in catrelated issues, specifically nutrition, holistic care and behavior. She has offered her services as a feline behavior and care consultant and gives classes on cat care. Sally is the resident cat behavior expert on Tracie Hotchner’s Cat Chat radio program, and a member of the Cat Writers’ Association and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Turn to page 82 for her article on socializing feral cats.

Beth Stultz-Hairston is the president of Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. She is an award-winning writer, editor of Pet Sitter’s World magazine and a frequent contributor to The PSI blog at petsit.com. On page 38, Beth provides ten important questions to ask a potential pet sitter.

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IN THE NEWS PROGRAM BENEFITS TRAVELERS AND RESCUE DOGS Do you miss your dog when you're on the road? Ever wish you could borrow one to get your “dog fix”? With Mutual Rescue’s Doggy Day Out program, you can do just that! This unique program encourages people to take dogs from local shelters on hikes, to the beach, to dinner at pet-friendly restaurants, or on other “field trips”. The outings help shelter dogs manage kennel stress, burn off energy, and get more exposure in their communities. As a bonus, they give traveling animal

lovers an opportunity to spend time with dogs if they’re missing their own canine companions.

“These programs are a win-win for participants, the dogs and the shelters,” says Carol Novello, president and founder of Mutual Rescue. “Traveling can be stressful and spending time with dogs can greatly reduce that stress. It’s a fantastic opportunity to do something good for yourself and help change a shelter dog’s life.”

MutualRescue.org/doggydayout/

This map shows the states where Doggy Day Out programs are available.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND Photo courtesy of CertaPet

Veterinary students at the University of CaliforniaDavis and Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee have made a case for the long-touted belief that animals can be therapeutic.

During a meeting organized

by AVMA Vice President, Dr. Grace Bransford, the two schools shared strategies to reduce the stress of university life. As well, 240 of the students took a wellness survey, in which most stated they would be more likely to seek out counseling if it included an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).

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Although the students don’t have access to animalassisted therapy on campus, CertaPet (an online service that grants ESA status to qualifying canines) reported that approximately 22,000 users aged 18 to 24 visited their site in November of 2019 alone. "Emotional support animals are incredibly helpful for managing mental health symptoms, as we know, but they are also creating a powerful movement for those who might not otherwise have reached out to seek mental health services,” says Prairie Conlon, Clinical Director at CertaPet. “We need to continue to do whatever we can do to break the stigma of mental health and get people the services they need."

CertaPet.com

BEHAVIORS AMONG ANIMAL PARENTS A recent in-depth study conducted by Bigeye revealed how animal parents in the US spend their money, and what influences them to try new pet products and services.

Here are some highlights: •V eterinary care ( 36%) and grooming (24%) top the most commonlypurchased services.

•

43% of study participants are currently using CBD products to alleviate anxiety and stress in their animals.

• 25% have insurance for their animals, with younger people (aged 25 to 34) significantly more likely to have pet health insurance (40%) than those aged 35 to 44 (25%).

•W hen it comes to deciding what to feed their animals, almost half of all participants (49%) look to recommendations from their veterinarians.

• Backed by research from over 780 animal parents across the country, the report also revealed some noteworthy stats about CBD use in animal companions (see graphic).

Graphic courtesy of Bigeye

BigEyeAgency.com

UBER INTRODUCES NEW PET-FRIENDLY FEATURE In several American cities, Uber users are now able to bring their animals along for the ride! The new pilot feature, Uber Pet, was launched in Denver, Austin, Nashville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tampa Bay at the end of 2019. For an extra $2 per trip, any pet-friendly Uber car will allow riders to bring their dogs and cats (and other critters). According to the ridesharing company, dogs may even be offered a yummy treat from the driver!

Dogs and cats are expected to be kept on leashes while in a vehicle, and drivers are allowed to turn away anyone with more than one animal, at their discretion.

Riders will also be expected to pay a cleaning fee for any major incidents. Service animals will still be permitted in any Uber vehicle at no extra cost.

Uber.com

HOW MANY PHOTOS OF YOUR CAT DO YOU HAVE? It seems cat guardians really love photographing their kitties! A study conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of Fresh Step, observed the behavior of 1,000 cat parents to see how they interacted with their feline companions. They found that 41% of participants had framed photos of their cats proudly displayed in their homes. The study also revealed that cat parents spend around 1,016 hours with their kitties every year — almost three hours per day — and that during these

three hours, they take an average of seven photos of their feline friends.

What about other pastimes cat parents share with their kitties? Nearly 60% of those polled said they like to snuggle with their felines, and about 75% said they talk to their cats. A whopping 66% even claimed they’d rather spend time with their cats than with other humans!

OnePoll.com Animal Wellness

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FEEDING YOUR DOG OR CAT FOR

D gs Cats

OPTIMAL DENTAL HEALTH

By Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT

GOOD NUTRITION, ALONG WITH THE RIGHT FORMS OF FOOD, CAN GO A LONG WAY TO KEEPING YOUR PET’S TEETH AND GUMS CLEAN AND HEALTHY. Dental health is a very important part of your dog or cat’s overall health. Periodontal disease not only causes a lot of pain and discomfort, but it’s linked to systemic diseases of the kidneys, liver and heart. Your animal should receive a thorough dental examination at least once a year, while home dental care can help maintain good oral hygiene in between vet visits. One of the most important ways to improve dental health is to feed your dog or cat the correct diet.

DIET CAN MINIMIZE PLAQUE AND CALCULUS The most important factor influencing the development of gingivitis and periodontal disease is the presence and persistence of plaque on tooth surfaces. These deposits put pressure on the gums, causing inflammation, swelling and

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receding gums. Pockets form between the gums and teeth where more debris collects, worsening the problem. A serious complication is the development of a painful abscess, which destroys the root of the tooth. Bleeding gums, foul breath, excessive salivation, painful chewing, dropping food while eating, turning the head to one side while eating, and possibly loss of appetite or weight are all symptoms of severe dental disease.

Diet can play an important role in minimizing plaque and calculus formation, and aid in the removal of plaque that has already formed.

The type of diet fed, along with the frequency of tooth brushing and access to chew toys, dental chews and hard chews, will factor into either the persistence or removal of plaque.

Once plaque has formed on the surface of the tooth, it is most efficiently removed by mechanical abrasion. This can be accomplished through diet, tooth brushing, or chewing on supplemental toys or foods.

THE FORM OF THE FOOD IS KEY Historically, the form of food given to dogs and cats has been implicated as a potential risk factor for the development of dental disease. Studies concluded that dogs and cats fed exclusively soft diets such as canned or home-cooked foods had more dental calculus and periodontal

disease than dogs and cats fed primarily dry kibble or a mixture of soft food with kibble.

However, even the kibblefed dogs and cats had significant dental disease, including plaque accumulation, gingivitis and periodontal disease.

One reason for this is the high carbohydrate concentration found in most commercial kibbles, which provide sugars that feed bacteria in the mouth.

A FOOD-BASED

“TOOTHPASTE” Daily brushing can be accomplished naturally using ground eggshell mixed with coconut oil on a small soft toothbrush designed for use in animals. Wash the eggs first, and make sure the shells are very finely ground — use a food processor or coffee grinder. The ground eggshell provides abrasive action, while the coconut oil

Also, contrary to popular has antibacterial properties against belief, the consumption of dry pathogenic bacteria. Most animals food does not provide enough will tolerate this well because mechanical abrasion to prevent the development of plaque and dental they like the taste. disease. Studies showed no significant association between feeding a diet made up exclusively of dry pet food and the reduction of calculus, gingivitis or tooth attachment loss.

WHAT ABOUT RAW FOOD? Raw-fed dogs and cats may have less gingivitis and periodontal disease, but this depends on breed as well as diet. Some dogs are not suited to eat raw meat and vegetables or to chew on bones because they lack the tooth structure, jaws and strength to do so.

Eating raw bones and raw meat is better suited to breeds that have strong jaws and long muzzles, including working and hunting dogs. Small dogs that were bred as house companions have evolved eating cooked meats, grains and vegetables. These dogs developed smaller teeth because they ate more starches and vegetables by living with people who farmed instead of hunted.

Specifically, the jaws of brachycephalic (short-muzzled) breeds are not mechanically designed to be able to chew bones effectively.

Continued on page 16.

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Repair of gum tissue will be hastened if the diet contains vegetables rich in niacin, folate and minerals, such as dark leafy greens (kale, collards and dandelion), broccoli and asparagus.

SUPPLEMENTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS TO ENHANCE DENTAL WELLNESS • Nutrients that may help decrease bacterial populations contributing to periodontal disease include a group of compounds found in green tea. In particular, epigallocatechin gallate (catechin) has been shown to decrease bacterial numbers, gingival inflammation and oral odor.

• Zinc ascorbate and zinc gluconate have been incorporated into dental products to control plaque.

• An herbal tea made by boiling one tablespoon of plantain leaves in a cup of water will diminish gum inflammation when used as a mouth rinse.

• There is evidence that certain essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, peppermint and cinnamon have an inhibitory effect on bad breath and gingivitis. However, only high quality therapeutic oils must be used, and they should never be administered undiluted.

Consult with an integrative or holistic veterinarian who is well-versed in essential oils before using them with your animal.

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Continued from page 15.

However, raw food does contain natural enzymes that help prevent tartar buildup. Raw meat does not stick to the teeth like the starches found in dry kibble diets. Raw diets with larger pieces of muscle meat that must be chewed are more effective at reducing tartar and plaque. While dry kibble is touted as having an abrasive action on the teeth, most animals swallow the pieces whole without thoroughly chewing. Dry dog food formulated into very large pieces is more effective at removing tartar in canines.

RAW BONES PROVIDE MECHANICAL ABRASION Raw meaty bones will help keep teeth clean. Bones must be fed raw. Boiling a bone for at least one hour or cooking it in a pressure cooker will soften it if the animal cannot tolerate raw bones. Baked or broiled bones are likely to splinter and damage the mouth and digestive tract.

Bones should be given after meals for 20 minutes of chewing, then wrapped and refrigerated for the following day, or discarded. Shank or knuckle bones are appropriate for large breeds, while rib bones may be better for medium dogs. Small dogs and cats can be fed the tips of chicken wings, duck or chicken necks, or smaller marrow bones. Bones should be introduced with care and supervision. Offer bones that cannot be swallowed whole.

Inappropriate feeding of bones can cause constipation (too much bone in the diet), gastric irritation, obstructions and perforations. Do not offer bones when your animal is hungry and likely to overeat or gulp.

Do not offer brittle or sharp bones.

Make sure the dog or cat is chewing, and not swallowing whole bone.

Chewing on bones and toys provides the mechanical abrasion necessary to decrease plaque accumulation on the teeth. Animals should have at least one or two chewing opportunities per day. Hard biscuit-type treats did not improve dental health in veterinary studies.

FOODS THAT HELP REPAIR GUM TISSUE Gingivitis and stomatitis result in painful gums. Repair of gum tissue will be hastened if the diet contains vegetables rich in niacin, folate and minerals, such as dark leafy greens (kale, collards and dandelion), broccoli and asparagus. Fresh liver and eggs also contain folate and vitamin A; the latter is very beneficial for healing mucous membranes. Bone broth can help strengthen teeth and daily probiotics will provide beneficial bacteria in the mouth.

With a proper diet, good nutrition and daily attention to oral hygiene, your dog or cat can maintain healthy teeth and gums well into old age.

SPOTLIGHT

WHAT

GENETIC TESTING D gs Cats

CAN TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR DOG OR CAT

By W. Jean Dodds, DVM

IS YOUR PET PRONE TO DEVELOPING CERTAIN HEALTH PROBLEMS? GENETIC TESTING CAN HELP YOU FIND OUT. Depending on your dog or cat’s breed, or mix of breeds, he may be susceptible to developing particular health conditions during his lifetime. But how do you know, especially if you’re not sure what his ancestry is? Thanks to our growing understanding of genetics, together with advances in technology, you can now use genetic testing as a way to identify your animal’s breed makeup, and determine what his risk is for certain health problems.

SOME SCIENCE TO GET YOU STARTED Current science aims to integrate genomics (gene expression) with genetics (predisposition, or the DNA genomic “blueprint”) and epigenetics (programming or imprinting).

Epigenetics studies how the genome is

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programmed for health and longevity.

Genetic and epigenetic markers define predisposition and susceptibility to disease, and require study of the epigenome, which is tissue- and stageof-life-dependent, and varies markedly between individuals and species.

Genes make up just 2% of the genome.

Humans, cats and dogs have about 22,000 genes. The remainder of the genome (98%) holds the vast majority of information that programs the genes and controls gene expression.

MOST DOG BREEDS DON’T SHARE GENETIC DETERMINANTS Today, there are nearly 400 domestic dog breeds with unique histories and genetic profiles. Breed prototypes have been

forming through selective pressures since ancient times, depending on the jobs they were most required to perform.

In a recent major study of 161 dog breeds, the authors observed that the majority of breeds either do not share large haplotypes (DNA signature sets of genetic determinants located on a single chromosome) outside their clade (group comprising all evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor), or else they share them with only one remote breed.

The data supported the existence of 23 clades of breeds representing breed types that existed long before the advent of breed clubs and registries.

THE ROLE OF GENETICS IN CANINE HYPOTHYROIDISM Hypothyroidism is a complex clinical condition quite commonly found in

both humans and dogs. It’s believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (for more on the environmental causes of this disease, see page 30).

Studies from the early and mid-2000s, performed by multi-breed analyses of predisposing genetic risk factors for hypothyroidism in dogs, identified three high-risk breeds — the Gordon setter, Hovawart and Rhodesian ridgeback.

Using a genome-wide association approach and meta-analysis, researchers found that a major hypothyroidism risk locus was shared by these breeds on canine chromosome 12. This breedshared risk haplotype included three genes that had not been previously identified as candidate genes for canine hypothyroid disease.

Other genetic markers for canine thyroid disease have been associated with the

NEW THERAPY TO CORRECT GENETIC DEFECTS

Gene Prime Editing is a versatile and precise genome editing method that directly writes new genetic information into a specified DNA site in an individual. It’s a new therapy for humans that should eventually correct 89% of genetic defects; it should also apply to heritable animal traits. canine CTLA-4 gene in the following breeds: boxer, English setter, Labrador retriever, Rhodesian ridgeback and their crossbreeds. At least six chromosomes are involved. Other affected breeds include the giant Schnauzer, Alaskan Klee Kai, Doberman pinscher, bearded collie, Eurasier, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Kerry blue terrier, and Irish water spaniel.

DNA study published to date. The results showed that:

PUREBREDS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE RECESSIVE DISEASES

• Mixed breeds were 1.4 times more likely than purebreds to be carriers of a recessive disease.

In 2018 and 2019, scientists examined the frequency and distribution of 152 genetic disease variants in over 100,000 mixed breed and purebred dogs. This represents the largest dog

• Only 3% had a genetic disease, but 38% were carriers for a recessive genetic disease.

• Purebred dogs were 2.8 times more likely than mixed breeds to have a recessive disease.

The table on page 20 lists more conditions shown by genetic testing to be associated with certain breeds.

Continued on page 20.

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Continued from page 19.

COMMON DISORDERS IN CATS — HOW MANY ARE GENETIC? The most common health issues in cats affect the mouth, according to a very large recent study from the University of Helsinki. The researchers found that among all cats, the category of disease with the highest prevalence included dental and oral diseases (28%), of which the most common were dental calculus and gingivitis, at 21% and 8% respectively.

Other disease categories with a high prevalence included skin and urinary tract disorders (12%); digestive tract

disorders (11%); ocular and musculoskeletal disorders (10%), and disorders of the genitals in female cats (17%).

The research group also identified nearly 60 additional illnesses specific to particular feline breeds. Only six of the identified diseases have known associated genetic mutations. Among other findings, the study revealed the prevalence of asthma among Korats, and a renal disease in ragdolls. When it comes to behavior,

ADDITIONAL CANINE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO GENETICS

British shorthairs are calmer than many other breeds, while Turkish Vans and Bengals are more active and aggressive.

If your dog or cat is a mixed breed, then chances are you’re not sure what his ancestral makeup is. Genetic testing can help give you some answers — and also give you a heads up on which health issues he might be prone to — so you and your vet can take steps early on to help prevent or slow the progression of these problems.

Disease

Affected breeds

Epilepsy

Belgian shepherd

Dystrophin deficiency

Cavalier King Charles spaniel

Ichthyosis

Golden retriever, American bulldog

Von Willebrand disease (vWD)

Type 1 (many breeds, especially Doberman pinscher); Type 2 (e.g. German wirehaired pointer); Type 3 (e.g. Scottish terrier)

Other bleeding disorders of platelets and coagulation factors

Many breeds

Addison’s disease

Many breeds, especially standard poodle, Portuguese water dog

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD)

Irish setter

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Giant Schnauzer

Pituitary dwarfism

Alaskan malamute, giant Schnauzer and other breeds

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

Golden retrievers

Laryngeal paralysis

Leonberger, Labrador retriever

Inherited cataracts

Many breeds, especially cocker spaniel, toy and miniature poodle

Progressive retinal atrophy

Many breeds, especially standard poodle

Paw Print Genetics, pawprintgenetics.com

Degenerative myelopathy

Many breeds, especially Bernese mountain dog

Hypoparathyroidism

Basset hound

VetGen, vetgen.com

Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO)

Many breeds, especially West Highland white terrier, Parson/Jack Russell terrier

Dermatomyositis

Many breeds, especially collie varieties and Shetland sheepdog

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GENETICS TESTING LABORATORY SERVICES FOR PETS Animal Genetics, animalgenetics.us Embark, embarkvet.com HealthGene, healthgene.com OFA, ofa.org OptiGen, optigen.com

Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Washington State University, vetmed.wsu.edu/vcpl Wisdom Panel, wisdompanel.com

From the NASC Common supplements for dogs and cats

By Bill Bookout

Even if you’re feeding your dog or cat the best food on the market, he’s likely to benefit from supplements to help optimize his nutrition, or help with an issue unrelated to diet. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few common supplements that tend to benefit most dogs or cats at some point in their lives: Multivitamins: While good quality pet foods are formulated to provide a complete and balanced diet, a multivitamin could help ensure your dog or cat gets the very best nutrition.

If you feed a home-prepared diet, he is certainly receiving high quality whole foods but may be missing out on essential micronutrients.

Multivitamin supplements contain important vitamins and minerals that can complement his diet, but won’t make up for poor nutrition.

Joint supplements: As your animal ages, you may begin to notice behaviors that suggest he has joint issues; he may get up more slowly, have difficulty navigating stairs, or is stiff when he moves. Daily joint supplements can be started early in life and may help stack the odds in his favor as he ages. Common ingredients include glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid to

help lubricate and benefit the joints and maintain the health of soft tissue, along with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and herbs such as turmeric, boswellia and yucca to help with agerelated discomfort.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs): Every mammal needs EFAs, fat-carried nutrients that affect everything from proper organ function to healthy skin and coat. Omega-3s for animals are derived mostly from fish oil and flaxseed oil, while Omega-6s are available from many vegetable sources. Even animals that show no obvious signs of an EFA deficiency will often experience improved vitality and appearance when an EFA supplement is added.

Antioxidants: These play an important role in helping to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals; these unstable molecules produced by the body can lead to chronic inflammation and degenerative changes associated with aging. Antioxidants can help protect your dog or cat against cell damage and contribute to disease prevention. Common antioxidants for animals include vitamins A, C and E, zinc, selenium, coenzyme-Q10 and lycopene.

Probiotics: The good bacteria in probiotics can help get your animal’s gut health back on track. They are measured in colony-forming units (CFUs) and work best when given in sufficiently large numbers, usually in the billions of CFUs per administration. Adding probiotics alone may help improve your dog or cat’s gut bacteria, but they may have the greatest effect when paired with prebiotics, carbohydrate-rich plantbased fibers that feed probiotics.

Finally, remember to look for the NASC Quality Seal when buying supplements for your animal. This tells you the product comes from a responsible supplier that has passed a comprehensive facility audit, and that maintains ongoing compliance with NASC’s rigorous quality standards, which include strict guidelines for product quality assurance, adverse event reporting and labeling standards.

Visit nasc.cc/members for a complete list of NASC member companies that have earned the Quality Seal.

Bill Bookout is president and founder of the National Animal Supplement Council. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the animal health industry and holds a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences from the University of Wyoming, and a master’s degree from the Pepperdine University Presidents and Key Executives MBA program.

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CANINE COGNITION

HOW

MIND WORK? DOES YOUR DOG’S

By Tammy M. Donaldson, MS, PhD, CAAB

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Ongoing research reveals that the cognitive and emotional lives of our dogs are much richer and more complex than we think.

We live in an age of discovery when it comes to the inner lives of our dogs. A multitude of recent studies have offered intriguing insights into canine cognition and emotions. We are learning that dogs have a unique bond with us and are mentally capable of much more than we previously thought. Although the jury is still out on the canine ability to experience complex human emotions such as guilt, shame and jealousy, we do know that dogs can read our body language and respond extremely well to it.

They can also recognize our faces and decipher our emotions. They look to us for information and use it to build a relationship with us and maintain their safety. In this article, we’ll look at some of the studies that are expanding our understanding of what goes on inside the canine mind.

CANINES HAVE A FORM OF SOCIAL COMPETENCE Dogs live and work in close association with humans (see sidebar at right), and through this relationship have developed exceptional social communication skills, a form of social competence.

Social competence is the ability to get along with people; know what is expected for social interactions, such as making eye contact; “reading” people’s facial expressions and gestures; recognizing emotions; and communicating effectively. In fact, researchers from dog cognition labs, including the Max Planck Institute and the Duke Canine Cognition Center, have found that dogs routinely outperform chimpanzees in tests of social cognitive ability, such as following a person’s finger point or head nod to find hidden food.

ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION? A number of studies have shown that dogs know when we are paying attention to them and can capitalize on that information. In a study by Brian Call from the Duke Canine Cognition Center, dogs were forbidden to take a piece of food, after which the experimenter either kept her eyes open and on the food, closed her eyes, feigned distraction by a computer game or turned her back.

The dogs ate less food when the person was paying attention to them, compared to all other situations.

Marta Gácsi and colleagues at the Clever Dog Lab found that dogs will obey commands faster when the person giving the command is facing them and in sight. They also learned that dogs can tell the difference between intentional communications, such as pointing to food versus accidental pointing (when checking a wristwatch, for example).

In another study on attention in dogs, Juliane Bräuer at the Max Planck Institute found that dogs know what people can see, and use that information to make choices. In tests in which dogs were challenged with forbidden food, they took it more often when the human could clearly see the food, as opposed to when the person’s view was obstructed by a large barrier. These findings provide evidence that dogs know when we are paying attention to them. and use this information to guide their behavior.

OUR UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH DOGS Dogs have evolved to have a close relationship with humans.

In fact, research shows that people are important to dogs.

In studies similar to those used to test for attachment in children (originally performed

by Mary Ainsworth in the 1960s), researchers Michael Tomasello and Juliane Kaminski found that dogs display behaviors in response to their humans that are similar to the behaviors seen in infants. Dogs will approach their people when stressed, use them as a safe base for exploration, and exuberantly reunite with them after a separation.

Overall, these results support the idea that dogs form real attachment bonds with their humans. By exploring this unique relationship between dogs and humans, we can determine what canines have learned from living with us and what capacities they have for complex communication, cognition and emotion.

WHAT DO DOGS KNOW ABOUT OUR EMOTIONS? We have learned that dogs have strong attachments and pay attention to us, but what do they know about our emotions? Studies show they can Animal Wellness

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LIMITS ON CANINE PERSPECTIVE There are some limits on what a dog “knows” about a person’s perspective. In other words, dogs may be able to tell what we can see, but not what we know (based on our previous experience) about a situation.

Studies that test canine abilities to use information from an informed person (i.e. someone who has seen where food is hidden in the dog’s presence) versus an uninformed person, found only weak evidence that dogs can use this information, and other studies have not been able to replicate these findings.

recognize our faces. Ludwig Huber and his colleagues at the Clever Dog Lab found that dogs discriminate between images of their humans and unfamiliar people. Studies by Laura Cuaya and her colleagues, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), show that dogs use areas in their brains similar to the ones we use for processing human faces and voices. Dogs determine the meanings of our facial expressions using information from multiple facial features (not just the eyes). Researchers Sanni Somppi and colleagues at the University of Helsinki found that dogs respond rapidly and with avoidance behavior to threatening facial expressions in people.

Dogs appeared to deem angry human faces as threatening to their safety, and acted to dispel this threat.

Dogs also can decode the emotion in our voices. In other fMRI studies, Atilla Andics with the Comparative Ethology

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Research Group found that the brain regions dogs use for processing human voices respond more strongly to positive vocalizations. To further understand what dogs know about our emotional states, Natalia Albuquerque and her colleagues presented dogs with photos of human faces that were either happy or angry, and paired each image with a vocalization that was either positive or negative. Dogs looked longer when the emotion on the face matched the emotion in the vocalization. These findings show that dogs can understand the validity of emotional information and can process these cues similarly to how we do.

DOGS USE SOCIAL REFERENCING Dogs also use information around how a person feels about a situation to determine how to react, a phenomenon called social referencing.

Isabella Merola and her colleagues found that when dogs received positive messages from a person approaching an unfamiliar object, they also approached the object. This wasn’t the case when the person gave a negative emotional message about the object. Dogs responded even more strongly when their owners were giving the messages. This shows that dogs take in emotional information from us and use it to determine how they will respond to a situation.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? More studies may further deepen our perceptions of the canine mind; for example, we may find their emotional lives might be just as rich as our own. For the time being, just understand that your dog is deeply bonded to you and looks to you for information and guidance on how to navigate his world.

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CAT NUTRITION

Why cats have to

EAT MEAT

By Jean Hofve, DVM

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, and have wondered if your cat could be too — the answer is no. Cats must have meat in their diets in order to stay healthy. This article explains why.

Vegetarian and vegan diets are increasingly popular. People choosing these paths believe — justifiably — that they are healthier, more humane, and more sustainable. Those who opt for this lifestyle often want to apply the same principles to their cats; in fact, you can actually buy commercial vegetarian or vegan cat foods.

However, these diets are not appropriate for felines (see sidebar at right). Cats are

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“obligate carnivores” — the very word “carnivore” means “meat eater”. In other words, a cat’s complex nutritional needs simply cannot be met by a diet that’s devoid of animal products. In this article, we’ll explore why your cat has to eat meat in order to thrive.

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN DIETS ARE TOO HIGH IN CARBS FOR CATS Plant-based diets are high in carbohydrates; often, more than 50% of their calories come from carbs. All carbohydrates (except fiber) ultimately break down into glucose; and refined processed carbs do this very quickly.

This causes unnaturally large swings in a cat’s blood glucose, which in turn leads to insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.

Cats eating carb-heavy diets also tend to gain weight — another factor in diabetes. They digest carbohydrates perfectly well; but they can only use dietary glucose for their immediate energy needs (which are low). The remainder of the carbohydrates in the food are quickly and efficiently stored as fat.

CATS HAVE HIGHER PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS THAN OTHER ANIMALS While dogs, humans and other omnivores readily use carbohydrates, protein or fat for energy, the feline

Arginine is so important to cats that a single meal containing no arginine is fatal to kittens. metabolism preferentially uses protein for energy as well as for structuring tissues and producing hormones and other vital molecules. That’s why a cat’s protein requirements are higher than those of other animals.

Proteins are made from amino acids, which means the feline requirement for specific amino acids is also higher.

Humans need nine essential amino acids, and dogs need ten, including arginine. Cats need 11, including arginine and taurine. Several of these amino acids (taurine, arginine, tyrosine and carnitine) are found primarily in meat. Since the cat's natural diet of raw prey animals contains these nutrients in abundance, access to these amino acids only becomes a problem when meat is absent. Essential nutrients like these must be consumed in the diet; the body can’t make them.

THESE AMINO ACIDS MUST COME FROM MEAT 1. T aurine is essential for brain, nerve, eye and heart health. It is also a component of bile acids, which aid in the digestion of fat.

Taurine has been in the news lately because dogs (who were thought to produce sufficient taurine on

their own from other amino acids), have been developing dilated cardiomyopathy when fed certain commercial dog foods. However, while taurine deficiency is a likely suspect, there may be many other factors involved (see “Do grainfree diets really cause canine heart disease?”, Animal Wellness, Volume 21, Issue 5). Cats are also being affected, even though commercial cat foods (which often contain insufficient quality meat protein) are supplemented with taurine.

2. Arginine is so important to cats that a single meal containing no arginine is fatal to kittens.

3. T yrosine is considered conditionally essential; it is used to produce the

Commercial vegan cat foods are not the answer

Despite claims of being “complete and balanced,” commercial vegetarian and vegan cat foods may not be sufficient. Researchers found that of five out of seven commercial vegetarian diets for cats did not meet the minimum requirements for taurine and/or other essential amino acids, even though all contained added taurine. They also found that only five out of 21 vegetarian or vegan pet foods met all the requirements for nutritional adequacy and labeling.

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Additional issues with vegetarian and vegan diets • High-carb diets limit the cat’s ability to digest and absorb protein; even though there is enough protein on paper, the cat may be unable to use it.

• B vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine) and B12 are deficient for a cat’s requirements.

• Vitamin A,* found only in animal tissues, is also deficient. Other animals can make vitamin A from beta-carotene, but cats cannot.

• Vitamin D3,* found primarily in the liver, is deficient. The plant-based substitute, vitamin D2, is only 30% as potent, and has a much shorter duration of action.

• The fats linoleic acid (Omega-6) and alpha linolenic acid (Omega-3) are essential, and while both are found in vegetables, vegan cat foods tend to be low in fat, leading to dry skin and poor coat condition.

• Arachidonic acid, not found in vascular plants, is essential for the feline immune system.

• The Omega-3s EPA and DHA are essential for kittens, and highly beneficial to all cats.

Currently, available vegan cat foods do not contain either.

• Commercial vegetarian and vegan cat foods use highly-processed, fractionated, chemically-extracted and synthesized ingredients to provide enough protein and other nutrients. Whole foods containing all the trace minerals, co-factors, and nutrient groups are far healthier than refined or synthetic versions.

• Cats consuming meat-based diets have a naturally-low acidic urinary pH of about 5 to 6. Vegetables cause urine pH to become alkaline, which may allow urinary crystals and stones to form. This can cause life-threatening urinary blockages in male cats. A survey of 300 vegetarian- or vegan-fed dogs also found a higher incidence of urinary tract, ear, and other infections.

* Vitamins A and D are toxic if overdosed; simply adding extra to your cat’s food can be dangerous.

neurotransmitter dopamine and the stress hormone adrenaline.

Interestingly, tyrosine deficiency will cause a black cat’s fur to lose melanin and turn reddish-brown.

4. Carnitine can be made in the cat’s body, but the ability to do so may be impaired in cases of obesity (which affects more than 50% of US cats), kidney disease, liver disorders, and any time the appetite is reduced.

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From a veterinary viewpoint, the consequences of feeding a vegetarian or vegan diet to cats are reasonably expected to include obesity, diabetes, urinary tract disease, kidney disease, allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and skin and coat problems (see sidebar above). However, veterinary nutrition is a young and inexact science; we are all still learning. Maybe one day these deficiencies will be resolved, but for now — please feed your cat a meat-based diet!

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IN FOCUS

By Tamara Hebbler, DVM

AND YOUR DOG This common disease can be treated or even prevented by improving and supporting the health of your dog’s thyroid.

Hypothyroidism runs rampant in the human world — just ask any doctor.

I believe similar conditions have also existed in the canine world for many years, yet are continually misdiagnosed and poorly understood. Recognizing the signs of disease and working to approach optimal health is so important, especially when it comes to hypothyroidism and associated conditions of chronic degeneration. In this article, we’ll focus on hypothyroidism in dogs, what you should know about it, and how it can be treated, naturally.

EXPLAINING HYPOTHYROIDISM The thyroid glands are located in the back of the neck. They release hormones (thyroxine-T4 and triodothyrine-T3) into the system that

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regulate how the body uses energy and responds to other hormones.

The thyroid works as part of a complex system with the adrenal glands, hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland. Together, they regulate the hormones in the body. For example, stress can cause the adrenals to release a cascade of hormones, causing a negative feedback loop to the hypothalamus and pituitary. This decreases the release of their specific hormones, slowing the production of more hormones from the thyroid and adrenals. It’s all intricately connected.

If a dog has hypothyroidism, it means his thyroid glands aren’t producing enough of those hormones, and as a result, his body isn’t circulating, absorbing or using them.

Blocks can occur anywhere in the pathway; for example, in the conversion of T4 to T3 and in the cellular uptake of free T4/T3.

WHY DO DOGS DEVELOP HYPOTHYROIDISM? Generally, canine hypothyroidism is caused by impaired metabolic or detoxification pathways and related nutrient deficiencies.

In fact, many respected holistic veterinarians agree that 90% of cases are autoimmune in nature, and likely caused by many factors, including: • Vaccinosis (the toxic effects of vaccines) and over-vaccination • Chemical toxicity from medications, toxic “preventatives” and environmental exposure (especially to heavy metals and pesticides such as Roundup)

• Estrogen dominance, when there is too much estrogen or too many toxic estrogen metabolites in the tissues and blood, often from plastic containers for food and water • EMF (electromagnetic frequency) radiation (e.g. Wi-Fi, cell phones, cordless phones) which all create primary and secondary endocrine disruption.

DIAGNOSIS CAN BE DIFFICULT There are a wide range of hypothyroidism symptoms (see sidebar at right). Some are easy to spot, while others are often overlooked or attributed to something else.

Standard lab testing for T4 alone is not adequate; as well, standard reference ranges are inadequate because of inherent diagnosis issues. Even full extensive thyroid panels don’t tell the whole story. Many experts are still unaware that blocks can occur all along the pathway, and that the reference ranges are misrepresentative.

Most cases I see have some degree of autoimmunity (especially Labs, goldens, German shepherds and poodles). All have toxicity, and many have T4 to T3 conversion issues (sluggish liver

toxicity). Some also have cellular issues blocking uptake.

Many people, including veterinarians, don’t appreciate how hypothyroidism can be directly associated with anxiety or depression, as well as with behavior changes. Keep a close eye out for any of these symptoms. If you notice them, make an appointment with a holistic or integrative veterinarian for closer inspection, as early intervention is crucial for support and healing. I would say that 99% of all seizure cases I have seen are primary hypothyroid and have significant toxicity issues. Most dogs never need seizure medications when we can get them the proper thyroid and detoxification therapy.

SUPPORTING AND IMPROVING THYROID HEALTH NATURALLY My number one recommendation for supporting and improving thyroid health is EMF reduction and mitigation.

EMF toxicity may be the missing link. It increases extreme dysbiosis and is the primary factor in endocrine disruption, making EMFs the single most preventable secondary and primary cause of all endocrine issues.

Signs of hypothyroidism in dogs

COMMONLY RECOGNIZED SYMPTOMS • Lethargy

• Thinning hair, coarse or poor quality coat • Exercise or cold intolerance • Severe weight gain, obesity

LESS RECOGNIZED SYMPTOMS • Chronic skin or ear issues

• Allergies of any kind — including food intolerances • Dry, dull rough coat or coat color changes • Neurological disorders — seizures, tremors, behavior issues • Reluctance to exercise, laziness • Wounds that are slow to heal • Poor immune function

Continued on page 32.

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Continued from page 31.

G entle thyroid support can include thyroid flower essences, low potency homeopathy (Thyroidinum or Calcarea carbonica) and glandular supplements. With significant symptoms, herbal hypothyroid combinations may also be an excellent place to start. Some herbs I find effective are turmeric, ashwagandha and Coleus forskohlii.

For seizure cases or progressed signs, I strongly recommend low dosing with natural thyroid hormone support (e.g. Armour Thyroid, Nature Throid or WP Thyroid) Detoxification is also very important. Because of the link between toxins and autoimmune issues, all cases need gentle detox. My favorite detoxifiers are milk thistle and homeopathy. General immune support and treating co-infections are critical, as significant symptoms may present when detoxification processes are underway.

Go slow and steady; pay attention, as only you know your dog best.

Inflammation can show up anywhere in the body during the healing process, but don’t stop — get experienced advice from your vet. Anti-seizure medications should not be discontinued during the initial detox and the dog must be weaned off them very slowly.

A slow and gentle increase of physical activity, along with Earthing time in nature, can immensely benefit chronic cases. Ensure your dog gets enough good quality sleep to optimize cellular repair and regeneration; limit or remove possible EMF sources in his sleeping areas. At the very least, turn off the Wi-Fi when you leave the house and at bedtime.

NUTRITION FOR BOOSTING THYROID HEALTH Several nutritional supplements can be added to help manage existing hypothyroidism, and prevent thyroid issues in the first place. Here are some of the important nutrients required for healthy thyroid function: • Vitamin A • Zinc • Selenium

Seek experienced advice from your vet if using supplements, since types and dosages can vary depending on your dog’s needs.

I also recommend whole food-sourced vitamins and minerals to start for support, such as kelp, liver, sardines and oysters.

Incorporating some

Gentle thyroid support can include thyroid flower essences, low potency homeopathy (Thyroidinum or Calcarea carbonica) and glandular supplements.

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• Vitamin D • Iodine • Ferritin or iron

natural fiber is also excellent. Small to moderate amounts of organ meat, blueberries, avocados, almonds, pumpkin seeds and flaxseed oil can be very beneficial for the prevention of early hypothyroidism symptoms.

Addressing the dog’s microbiome, digestion and absorption of key nutrients, along with incorporating cellular detoxification support like CBD (cannabidiol) are also key prevention and first-step therapies. Adding fermented foods and/or apple cider vinegar to your dog’s diet may be ideal for prevention or when a severe case has stabilized.

I strongly believe that most of our dogs are experiencing early aging due to this misdiagnosed and poorly-understood problem of canine hypothyroidism.

I also believe that most degenerative conditions are a sequelae to undiagnosed hypothyroidism because of poor lymphatic drainage and circulation, and impaired immune function. With raised awareness as a holistic canine healthcare community, however, we can begin earlier treatment and support, and make so many dogs’ lives better!

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By Nancy Scanlan, DVM, MS, CVA

When it’s time to

PULL THAT TOOTH

— dental extractions in dogs and cats D gs Cats

No one wants to have to extract a dog or cat’s tooth. And the necessity for doing so can be minimized if the animal has the right anatomy and has received good dental care from the start.

But there are times when a tooth is so damaged that pulling it is the only answer for better health, and to stop pain. In this article, we’ll look at why and when dental extractions are needed, and what to expect for your animal companion if he has to have a tooth removed.

A comprehensive look at when and why your animal might need to have one or more teeth removed.

WHEN ARE EXTRACTIONS NECESSARY? Loose teeth The obvious cases for tooth removal are when one or more of the teeth are so loose that you can wiggle them with a finger.

This is caused by long-term neglect. Sometimes you see this in strays, and sometimes you see it in dogs or cats whose people treat them like furniture and give them as little care as they can give away with. But many times, loose teeth are caused by well-meaning caregivers who misunderstand the problem’s severity, or fear that anesthetics are dangerous.

All medical decisions involve balancing the pros and cons of a situation, and dental extractions are no exception. Do you leave the tooth alone? Do you use herbs? Do you use antibiotics? Do you use anesthesia? In the case of a tooth you can wiggle with your finger, the tooth has very little attachment to the gums.

The tooth is usually always covered with tartar, but even if you remove the tartar, the tooth will not re-attach. Bleeding may also be involved, and some of those pets are anemic. In the very worst cases, you can actually grab the tooth with a thumb and forefinger and pull it out, in which case the tooth is

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definitely dead and full of infection. In these instances, you see an immediate improvement in the dog or cat’s health once the tooth is gone.

Most of the time things don’t get that far, but when people are afraid of the potential hazards of anesthetics, the problem may develop longer than it should before the tooth comes out. If you see a single tooth in your dog or cat’s mouth that is covered with tartar when none of the others are, or that looks dark gray when all the other teeth are a normal white or cream color, that tooth is in trouble, and usually dead.

Often, you can wiggle it with a finger, but it is still firmly enough attached that veterinary instruments will be required to remove it. And, frankly, it would be cruel to do that without anesthetic. The good news is that if the pet is in good health, anesthetics pose minimal risk. If the tooth stays in, however, any infection around the roots will enter the bloodstream sooner or later. Bacteria in the bloodstream that gets lodged in the kidney as it filters debris from the blood can cause small localized infections. This contributes to kidney disease, which is ultimately a killer. Removing the tooth removes the problem.

OTHER CAUSES OF

LOOSE TEETH

Kidney disease and an unbalanced diet with too much phosphorus and not enough calcium can also cause loose teeth. If severe enough, you will also see “rubber jaw”, where you can actually move the jaw back and forth because there is not enough calcium left. As long as the animal’s nutrition is corrected in time and there have been no injuries to the teeth, this problem can be reversible. If it has gone on for too long, however, the teeth may become too badly infected or too separated from the gums and sockets, and will need to come out even if the jaw repairs itself.

Tumors can also be a cause of loose teeth. When a normal-looking tooth becomes looser and looser until it obviously needs to come out, your veterinarian may find a small tumor during or after the extraction. This isn’t common, luckily, but it’s always a possibility if all other causes are ruled out.

It’s important to realize that when teeth are this far gone, they do not respond to mouth washes or herbal remedies. There is not enough circulation around the tooth to carry any remedy deep enough into the tissues to fix anything.

Abscesses Sometimes, an abscess will develop deep in the root of a tooth. The top of the tooth usually looks pretty healthy, but the abscess will come to a head and usually starts draining at the bottom of the root, through the gums, or even through the skin over the abscessed area in the bone. Your veterinarian can evaluate an abscess with a thorough exam that includes x-rays studies, but the outcome will almost always be that the tooth needs to come out. An x-ray will often show an area around the bottom of the root where the bone is eroding away. When the tooth is pulled, there might be a need for some kind of drain to help all the infection drain away. You might need to flush the area with an antiseptic solution until the infection is gone, as well as administer antibiotics and/or herbal remedies to help.

Fractures There are two kinds of fracture in which the tooth might need to be removed.

• One is a slab fracture of the molar, where it looks as if somebody cracked off the side surface of the tooth. This often occurs in a large dog with strong jaws when chewing

on a very hard bone or on rocks. When you crack the side off, the pulp cavity is exposed. Sometimes there is a also a secondary fracture. Most of these teeth need to be removed, although some can be saved with fancy dental work. The problem for rock chewers is that they usually keep it up and break the tooth further.

•T he second type of fracture is when one of the big canine teeth is broken. If it just involves the tip, there is usually no problem. If the fracture is far enough down to expose the root, the choices are a root canal (just as for people) or to pull the tooth. Keep in mind that if it’s a dog and he’s a chewer, he may crack the crown of the tooth right back off.

Continued on page 36.

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Cats may develop lymphocytic plasmacytic stomatitis This is an extreme inflammation of the gums and throat, which can extend onto the tongue and even affect the lips. It causes a lot of pain and very bad breath. Part of the cause is a reaction to the teeth and the bacteria around the teeth. The conventional treatment that works best is to remove all the teeth. Some cats respond to acupuncture and some herbal therapies, but for the latter, you have to be able to get the herbs into the cat, and he will already have a very sore mouth. Some veterinarians leave the cat’s canine teeth, but board-certified veterinary dentists mostly agree that all the teeth should be removed in these cases.

Continued from page 35.

Big dogs often don’t display the same signs of pain that we would when a large area of tooth root is exposed (i.e. screaming!). Many dogs are stoics — they will show they are feeling pain in different ways — by not eating as much, picking up a dog biscuit with the side of the mouth, chewing only on the opposite side of the mouth, or shying away if you reach out toward the bad side (even if you only want to pet the top of his head). Cats have fewer reservations about letting you know; they often drool and may whack you with their claws if you get too close to their heads.

I have also seen fractures in which the top of the tooth comes off but there is a large crack that continues down below the gum line. Board-certified veterinary dentists might be able to help, but again, if the problem is because your dog is a rock chewer, you might see it happen again. So you have to decide whether he is likely to undo all the work you paid for, or if it’s better to just have the tooth removed.

Cats don’t suffer from tooth fractures as often as dogs do. But they can suffer a fractured jaw if hit by a car. If the jaw heals crooked (which can happen to strays), one tooth may end up so misaligned that it starts poking a hole in the cat’s palate. Better to remove that tooth than to have a permanent hole in the roof of the mouth.

EXTRACTION AFTER-CARE — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW After-care depends on which tooth or teeth are pulled, and whether or not there

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Animal Wellness

is an infection or any stitches. In really infected mouths with lots of tartar and loose teeth, the holes will usually not be stitched up. To do so would be to wall in the infection. Although that sounds painful, these dogs or cats often start eating better almost immediately, have more energy, and start sleeping less and playing more. Any bleeding that was occurring because of infection, tartar and loose teeth will stop.

• If most of your animal’s teeth have been pulled, your veterinarian may recommend soft food until the mouth has had a few days to heal up.

• If infection is severe enough, your veterinarian may recommend an antiseptic mouthwash to syringe onto your dog or cat’s gums. You can also use calendula tea as a mouthwash.

• If a large molar was pulled, the resulting hole will often have stitches. Usually these are the slowly-dissolving type so they will not have to be removed.

• Be sure to return to your vet when she asks you to. It is important for her to be able to see that any infection is under control, and everything is healing up properly.

With diligent and consistent dental care, starting from an early age, chances are your dog or cat won’t need any teeth pulled. But it’s important to know when it might be necessary, and how to care for him after the extraction.

Product Picks

New hemp chews for dogs

What we love:

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Stella & Chewy’s has launched two new hemp oil supplement chews for dogs. The Calming product includes chamomile and lavender for relieving stress and anxiety, while Hip & Joint contains glucosamine and chondroitin for relief and support. These broad spectrum CBD supplements contain 3 mg of CBD per chew and are 100% THC-free.

StellaAndChewys.com

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What we love:

Enhance your dog's diet

What we love:

Can be used as a complete meal or a topper!

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For your canine Valentine Show your dog how much you care this Valentine’s Day with a gift box of all-natural Barkarons from Chews Happiness™.

Handcrafted in small batches, these doggie desserts are created from wholesome super-healthy ingredients from some of the world’s most pristine locations. Available in beautiful eco-friendly gift boxes made with handmade paper. Sustainably sourced and fairly traded.

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What we love:

They get their ingredients from responsible and clean sources.

These foods are the cat’s meow!

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Discerning cats like quality and variety in their diets! The Essence pet food line for cats uses the highest quality proteins, with ingredients such as guinea fowl, duck, chicken, sardines, mackerel, goat, pork, turkey, herring, salmon, boar and lamb.

Available in both wet and dry formulas, the food contains at least 85% animal protein and is free of alfalfa, flaxseed, grains, potato, peas and sunflower oil. EssencePetFoods.com

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AT HOME

D gs Cats

By Beth Stultz-Hairston

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Animal Wellness

The pet sitting industry has grown dramatically in the last decade. A quick online search will likely yield numerous pet sitters in your area, which means you have a lot of options when it comes time to choose one. At the same time, though, this means you need to be more prudent in your search for reliable care for your dog or cat. Finding the right pet sitter for you and your animal requires an investment of time to do phone interviews, conduct an in-home meeting, and thoroughly check references on those you’re thinking of hiring. Read on for a list of ten questions you should ask a potential pet sitter before handing over your keys.

1. Will you meet with me and my animal in advance to discuss his care needs?

Never book the services of a pet sitter you have not met in person. A pet sitter should come to your home to meet you and your dog or cat, learn about your animal’s routine, and document your care requests. Some pet sitters offer this service at no charge, while others charge a nominal fee for time and travel expenses.

2. Do you have the proper business license (if required)?

If your city or state requires a business license, any professional will have a valid license or permit. While many pet sitters care for animals in their clients’ homes, some do offer limited boarding in their own homes. In the latter case, ensure the pet sitter also

has the proper authorization and license to offer this service.

3. Are you insured and bonded?

Ask for proof of coverage that’s tailored to pet sitting. A pet sitter’s insurance coverage should protect both your home and your animals. Both the insurance and bonding policies should indicate they also cover staff sitters, if the pet sitting company uses staff.

4. Can you provide proof of clear criminal history?

Remember, the pet sitter will have access to your property and animals.

Ask for proof of a current and clean background check.

5. Do you provide client references?

A pet sitter should have a list of references you can contact. Some also include testimonials on their company websites, and you can also check for online reviews on Google and other sites.

6. Will you use a pet sitting services agreement or contract?

The contract should detail the services that will be provided, along with all fees and the expected length of time that will be spent with your dog or cat. The pet sitter will also document your contact information, as well as that of your emergency contact and veterinarian.

Continued on page 40.

Whether you want a daily text, or would like to Facetime with your animal a few times while you’re away, there’s no request a professional pet sitter hasn’t already heard!

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Continued from page 39.

7. Are you a Certified Professional Pet Sitter and/or have you participated in other training, such as pet first aid?

A qualified professional pet sitter will be trained in pet first aid and may also have pet sitter-specific certification. Those committed to ongoing education will be up to date on best animal care practices.

8. Are you a member of a professional and educational association that provides access to ongoing education?

Association membership demonstrates a pet sitter’s commitment to their profession — and provides them with access to up-to-date educational resources and business tools to help them offer the best services.

9. Do you have experience with my specific type and/or breed of animal?

Make sure the pet sitter has specific experience with the type of animal you have. Experience in caring for special needs dogs or cats is also helpful if that is what you require. If your animal has very specific needs, the pet sitter can also work with you to learn what care is needed.

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Animal Wellness

When you find the right pet sitter and decide to book his or her services, be upfront about your communication preferences. Whether you want a daily text while you’re away, or would like to Facetime with your animal a few times during your absence, there’s no request a professional pet sitter hasn’t already heard! The sitter’s goal is to offer your dog or cat the highest level of care, while reassuring you that your animals will be in the best hands while you are away.

Sitters committed to ongoing education will be up to date on best animal care practices.

10. If you use staff, are they also background checked and thoroughly trained?

Many pet-sitting businesses use staff sitters.

If anyone besides the company owner will have access to your home, ask for proof of their background checks and animal care experience.

Finding the perfect pet sitter takes some extra time and effort, but it’s worth it.

Having a professional reliable caregiver is a win-win for you and your fourlegged friend!

HIRE A

PROFESSIONAL

When searching for a pet sitter, you want to make sure you are choosing a professional business.

Simply using someone who loves animals and wants to earn some extra cash isn’t enough. A professional pet sitter has the experience, educational training, and insurance coverage to deal with any scenario that may occur while you’re away.

Photo courtesy of Purdue University

NEWSWORTHY

PUREBRED DOGS HAVE

HIDDEN

GENES

IS YOUR PUREBRED "DIFFERENT" FROM OTHERS OF HIS KIND? A RECENT DISCOVERY MADE BY SCIENTISTS MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY.

Most purebred dogs within a breed look the same — from size to coat color, they’re very similar. But every once in a while, a puppy is born with different features. Although many breeders and those who frequent dog shows might consider this a flaw, it’s more than likely just a gene variant, according to researchers from Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The research team, led by Kari Ekenstedt, DVM, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy and genetics, and Dayna Dreger, PhD, the lead scientist in Dr. Ekenstedt’s laboratory, studied a dozen different genes in 212 dog breeds, and discovered that some have hidden coat colors and other traits that have been dormant all along.

“These are purebred dogs with traits that their breed clubs say they’re not supposed to have,” says Dr. Ekenstedt, whose research program focuses on canine genetics. “The message of this paper is: ‘Hey, these gene variants exist in your breed, and if a few dogs

are born with these traits, it’s not caused by accidental breeding and it’s not a mutt; it’s a purebred showing this known genetic potential.’”

Many different traits might show up, but one example is the tailless gene variant. Around 18 breeds have the genetic potential to be born without a tail — such as the Australian shepherd. But according to the new research, up to 48 of the breeds analyzed possess the tailless gene variant, including the Dachshund.

“A breeder would certainly be surprised to see a Dachshund born without a tail,” says Dr. Dreger. “The chances are low, but our research shows the potential is there.

Drs. Dreger and Ekenstedt both hope the research prompts some discussions within the dog community, and lowers expectations when it comes to what a breed “should or shouldn’t” look like. purdue.edu

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CANINE BEHAVIOR

HELP FOR THE

By Tonya Wilhelm

Dogs that freeze, flatten to the ground, or act like they’re “JUST NOT THERE” have essentially shut down. Here’s how to recognize the signs, why they happen, and what to do to help.

Canine anxiety can be tricky to understand and treat. Dogs show stress in a variety of ways, from trembling and cowering to growling and whining.

Alternatively, they may totally freeze, flatten themselves on the ground, or seem “empty”, which are indications they have completely shut down.

Recognizing the signs of a shut-down dog, and why he’s experiencing such extreme anxiety, are the first steps to helping him.

WHAT CAUSES A DOG TO SHUT DOWN? There are a variety of reasons a dog may shut down. Puppies that are not properly socialized by being introduced to a variety of people, places and things can grow up afraid of the world they live in. Isolation from friendly people and positive social

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Animal Wellness

situations can also lead to a dog becoming shut down or scared. This is especially true for dogs raised in puppy mills or who live in backyards without any human interaction or empathy.

Dogs who are trained with harsh or intolerant techniques often develop learned helplessness; they recognize there is no way out of a negative situation, so they just take it because they feel helpless to do anything else.

They become fearful and tolerate anything that happens to them because they feel the alternative may be worse.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR DOG IS SHUT DOWN This can be very tricky for dog parents who are new to understanding canine behavior and body language. Even

professional trainers can miss the signs of a shut-down dog. Below are a few behaviors that can help determine if a dog is shut down. These are especially important to understand if you have just adopted a rescue or shelter dog and don’t know anything about his background.

He seems “empty”: If a dog acts and looks like he's just not there, it may indicate he is in complete shutdown. You might look at the dog and notice he has a glazed expression and is unresponsive to you or his environment.

1

He’s frozen in place: A dog that just freezes up and doesn't budge can also be showing fear.

He seems to be locked in place, and if you try to move him, he may panic as if you are about to do him harm.

2

A closer look at the SHUT-

DOWN DOG He’s having a panic attack: These dogs move rapidly, as if the world was about to end.

This behaviour is much more intense than typical pacing. They may actually run, try to dig to escape, can go through windows and eat through walls.

3

He doesn’t respond, even to kindness: This behavior tends to be tricky for people to grasp.

A typical well-adjusted dog will respond affectionately to kind words, gestures and touch. A shut-down dog won't respond and may even move away.

4

A dog that is shut down is deeply stressed. He may freeze in place and not move, or crouch down flat to the ground. On the other hand, he may perform the task at hand but still be so overwhelmed by the situation that his body language and mental state reflect the utmost anxiety. He may be fine one minute, but will shut down in a certain situation that causes him extreme stress. Sadly, some shutdown dogs may remain in this state during most of their waking hours.

The sad thing about shut-down dogs is that their fear is often overlooked because they don’t seem to display typical signs of anxiety such as whining, growling or shaking. People often think a shut-down dog is being “good” or is “okay” because he isn't acting out. Even worse is when unknowledgeable trainers think shut-down dogs are actually calm and relaxed.

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He “doesn’t listen”: Often, dog parents will think their canines aren’t listening to behavior requests or cues because they’re being disobedient. Often, though, it's a sign the dog is stressed and beginning to shut down emotionally.

5

TIPS FOR HELPING AND TRAINING A SHUT-DOWN DOG After a medical workup at the vet’s office (see sidebar below), behavior modification is the next step in his overall treatment plan. Your best bet is to work with a positive dog trainer who is well-versed in helping fearful animals.

A good trainer can teach you confidencebuilding activities that will help your dog build up his self-esteem. He or she will also be able to outline a good behavior modification program specific to your dog's needs.

Here are some additional tips to keep you on the right track: • Understand that training a shut-down dog is about focusing not on his behaviors, but on his emotional state.

• Keep in mind that your main goals are to help your dog feel safe and secure, and to build his trust in you.

Have him checked out by the vet first Whenever your dog is experiencing

a behavioral issue, it's always a good idea to take him to the veterinarian for a full evaluation. The vet will

likely perform a thorough physical examination, run blood work, and

may even recommend a neurological exam. You want to address all your

dog's needs, and make sure he doesn't have an underlying medical issue that’s contributing to his behavior.

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Animal Wellness

• When you are interacting with him, stay positive and happy.

•D o not reprimand your dog, but set him up to be successful in life.

Whether a dog is only mildly anxious or is completely shut down, it is crucial to his well-being to seek both veterinary and behavioral assistance. If you happen to have adopted a dog that is completely shut down, you don’t have to be alone on your journey to helping him become happy and balanced. Being patient and surrounding yourself with the right professionals can be a lifechanger for him.

Advertorial

After 25 years…

Leba III keeps on working Thousands of dog and cat parents are still choosing Leba III to keep their animals’ teeth clean.

They spread the news, and the word on the street is: Leba III … simply the best …

Lise Guerin built her company, Lebalab, on a foundation of integrity. Her goal back then was to prevent pets from having to undergo repeated periodontal cleaning. “As pets get older, they often cannot tolerate anaesthesia.” Today, she’s proud to say that she’s upheld those values. We know Leba III works, and pets deserve a product that is safe and effective .”

In 1992, Lise’s beloved dog, Mercy, died after receiving a dental procedure under anesthesia. Her passing came as quite a shock as Mercy was in excellent health.

“I felt guilty after putting her through that elective procedure, I did not want other pets and owners to go through this and started looking for an alternative.” says Lise. She contacted doctors and herbalists across the globe, eventually gathering enough information to produce Leba III — an all-natural teeth cleaning solution that works.

To prove the efficacy of Leba III, veterinarians suggested that a renowned expert in dental health be involved.

“We met with Dr. Herald Pook, head of

veterinary dentistry at Guelph University who designed the protocol, a way to test Leba III in a series of double blind trials involving two groups — one treated with Leba III and the other with a placebo.” It verified what they already knew — Leba worked 100% of the time. Results from the tests can be found at lebalab.com.

Most other dental products have antibacterial components that destroy good and bad bacteria in the mouth.

Pets cannot rinse so they ingest these components. For this reason, Lise wanted to ensure that all the ingredients in her product were human food grade.

“Leba III has a different action than other dental products, promoting good flora in the mouth,” says Lise. “Good bacteria is essential in creating a healthy balance.”

Leba III is easy to use — just spray in the pet's mouth. Do not spray teeth or gums directly. Some cats or dogs may not like the spray, in which case use the dropper.

Lise recommends that pets who build tartar very fast remain on Leba III twice a day for their entire lives. Brushing is not necessary with Leba III, but if you want

to brush the teeth, use only water on the brush. Do not use toothpaste.

Since 1994, thousands of pets have been using Leba III daily. It is available through veterinarians and pet stores in both the US and Canada.

It is also distributed internationally in Japan, Asia and Europe.

Pets give us all their love, all their trust; they deserve the best — Leba III If you have any questions or trouble finding Leba III, please call the Lebalab office at 519-542-4236.

You can also order online at www.lebalab.com Or toll free number: 1-866-LEBALAB(532-2522)

FELINE HEALTH

KEEP ON TOP

OF KITTY’S

DENTAL HEALTH

By Ann Brightman

Taking care of your cat’s teeth and gums is an important part of his health regime. These products and tips can help make the job easier.

Periodontal disease is one of the most common health problems in cats. Because it causes a lot of pain and discomfort, and can impact a cat’s overall well-being, it’s important that you take steps to keep your own kitty’s teeth and gums as healthy as possible. There are lots of products on the market to help make that job easier — let’s look at a few of them.

TOOTHBRUSHES AND TOOTHPASTES Abrasive action helps remove the plaque that leads to tartar buildup. If your cat will let you, brushing his teeth every day goes a long way to preventing dental problems down the road. Just be sure to buy a toothbrush that’s specifically designed for a cat’s mouth — a human toothbrush is too large and won’t do the job properly. And if the bristles are too stiff, they could injure his gums.

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Animal Wellness

When it comes to toothpaste, never use human products for your cat.

Unlike us, cats don’t spit after brushing, which means they end up ingesting the fluoride and other chemicals in human toothpastes. You can purchase toothpastes or dental gels formulated especially for cats, and because they’re often flavored with something kitties like, such as chicken, your kitty is more likely to accept them. One example is Enzadent Toothpaste from Vetoquinol; this poultry-flavored toothpaste is formulated specifically for cats and dogs, and can be swallowed safely.

T P Most adult cats won’t accept having their teeth brushed for the first time.

If possible, start your cat young, and gradually get him used to the idea.

Be gentle and patient, and make the experience a positive one by rewarding him with a healthy treat after each session.

TOOTHBRUSH ALTERNATIVES Fingerbrushes are a popular alternative to toothbrushes; they feature soft bristles that do a similar job to a toothbrush. A fingerbrush may give you more dexterity than a brush, furthering your ability to reach all your cat’s teeth and his gums.

You can also use dental wipes, which help prevent plaque and tartar. For example, Bluestem’s Dental Wipes are designed to wrap around your finger so you can clean your cat’s teeth and gums, and there’s no need to add toothpaste.

NO-BRUSH PRODUCTS If your cat won’t accept brushing no matter what, don’t give up. There are lots of brush-free products that will help keep his teeth clean without a struggle.

• Oral sprays simply involve squirting a bit of a solution into your cat’s mouth once or twice a day. Leba III from LebaLab Inc. is one such product. It includes herbs from the mint and rose family that balance the chemistry in the mouth to get rid of tartar. There’s no need to directly target your cat’s teeth with the spray — it will start working when it mixes with his saliva.

• Perhaps the easiest way to maintain your cat’s dental health is to use a water or food additive. These are good options for cats that don’t like having their mouths handled. Scruffy Paws Scrub and Shine Dental Powder is an example of a natural powdered food additive that inhibits plaque formation, reduces inflammation and freshens breath. It’s made from natural zeolites along with zinc, cranberry, probiotics and other ingredients, and starts working as soon as your cat starts eating.

• Products that you add to water are another alternative. Some are tasteless, but others, like Bluestem’s Water Additive, have a chicken-flavored option. It combats plaque and tartar by softening and breaking down the biofilm structure formed by oral bacteria. It also freshens breath and enhances overall oral health.

T P If your cat doesn’t drink as much as he should, a flavored water additive may encourage him to drink more while helping to keep his teeth and gums healthy.

It’s important to remember that good dental health also involves a proper diet (see sidebar above right), along with regular veterinary check-ups. Along with these important foundations, the products discussed in this article make it easier to keep your cat’s teeth and gums in tip-top condition!

DIETARY TIPS FOR DENTAL HEALTH

•F eed your cat a high quality meat-based diet. Foods that contain chunks of muscle meat encourage chewing and can help keep teeth clean. Raw or freezedried diets are a good choice, or look for premium canned foods that include pieces of meat – e.g. stews as opposed to pates.

• If you feed kibble, avoid low-end commercial brands — they may be touted as good for dental health, but they’re not. For one thing, cats will often swallow the pieces whole if they’re small enough. Secondly, poor quality dry foods are high in carbs, which can actually contribute to inflammation in the body, including the gums. High quality kibbles that are whole meat-based are a better choice, and are more widely available now. Just make sure your cat has access to clean, fresh water.

• Raw bones such as chicken necks or wings encourage chewing and help keep your cat’s teeth and gums in good shape. Never give him cooked bones — they splinter easily and can injure his mouth, throat, and digestive tract.

• Good quality dental treats are also useful. Vetoquinol’s Enzadent Oral Care Chews are formulated for cats; they’re poultry-flavored and offer an abrading action that helps remove food debris from the teeth.

They also contain chlorophyll for freshening breath.

SHOPPING LIST BLUESTEM, bluestempets.com LEBALAB INC., lebalab.com SCRUFFY PAWS, scruffypawsnutrition.com VETOQUINOL, vetoquinol.ca/eng/products-list/358 Animal Wellness

47

P

Winte r

W CA RE

fo r your dog

By Emily Watson

From the best protective products to proper cleaning tips, here’s everything you need to know about winter paw care for your canine companion!

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Animal Wellness

Whether you’re a dog or a human, the winter season has much to offer. Fresh snowfalls provide a blank canvas for fun and games, the crisp air is the perfect excuse to wear all the wool, and there’s nothing better than curling up with your pup next to a roaring fire! But despite the joys, winter also brings a big downfall that no dog or his parent can escape — cracked dry paws. Need some help keeping his feet healthy until spring?

Read on for some essential winter paw care tips!

PROTECTION IS KEY If you walked around without boots or socks all winter, your feet would suffer some damage, too! Although canine paws are much better equipped than our own to handle the elements, they can still use a little extra help every now and again.

Investing in one or more of the following products will help keep his tender tootsies in top condition.

Boots Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see dogs of all sizes prancing around in booties. They’re available in a variety of styles — from “casual” to “sport” — and they’re a sure-fire way to keep paws protected.

“Dogs fall into two categories — some are divas about wet and cold, while others are very stoic, even if you later find cuts or salt burns on their paws,” says Katherine Taylor, social media manager with Hurtta America (hurtta247.com). “Regularly check your dog’s paws, nails, and between the pads for cracks, redness and blisters, especially if he’s been walking on salted sidewalks, ice or granular snow. If your pup is frequently exposed to harsh conditions, boots are the best way to protect his feet.”

Balms Balms, salves and butters — oh my! There are lots of different paw ointments available, and they’re all designed to keep paws supple and healthy.

Typically, they work on two levels. First, they act as an invisible shield to repel snow, ice and other winter elements that can lead to cracking and drying. Secondly, they moisturize and heal tissue that’s already damaged. Some even contain ingredients that help with inflammation and infection.

When shopping for a paw product for your pup, be sure to check the ingredients list. Avoid those with a long list of chemical names, and opt instead for something with natural healing ingredients, like Shea butter, coconut oil, vitamin E, beeswax and essential oils. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own paw balm (see sidebar on page 50).

Wax Though paw wax is similar to a lotion, it tends to be a bit more protective than it is healing. If warding off irritants is your main goal, go with this option. You can always apply a wax before your walk and a lotion after for extra support. Again, look for natural products.

EXTRA PAW CARE TIPS Keep walks short

This is especially important if the temperature is below -25°C (-13°F) or the wind chill is strong. Even though dogs have hair to protect their feet, frostbite on sub-zero days is still a big

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49

DIY DOGGIE PAW BALM INGREDIENTS

6 1-ounce heat-safe tins Small pot or double boiler

concern. Though tolerance to the cold varies by breed and age, it’s still safer to take your pup on a series of short walks throughout the day as opposed to one long one. If your own toes are cold, his probably are too!

Use a pet-safe ice melt It’s not just snow and ice that’s doing damage to his sensitive paw pads. The chemicals in certain ice melts are also a primary culprit. For your driveway and sidewalks, reach for something more pet-friendly. The ice melt you choose should be made with natural ingredients, and the pellets should be round. No sharp edges means no cuts between his pads!

While salt-based ice melts are popular, they aren’t the best choice either. “Rock salt such as calcium chloride can heat up to 175°F, and dogs and cats get second degree burns at 125°F,” says Alecia Chrin, Global Director of Strategy at Safe Paw (safepaw.com). “Salt-free ice melters offer a very different way of melting ice, without heat. They actually add inhibitors to water molecules to unfreeze them, and prevent the water from refreezing.”

1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons organic virgin coconut oil 1 tablespoon Shea butter 4 ounces all-natural beeswax 10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops frankincense essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

In the pot or double boiler, melt all ingredients over low heat, stirring continuously. Carefully pour the mixture into tins, and let cool at room temperature until hard. Apply to your dog’s pads before walks, all year round. Seal and store for up to one or two years.

Don’t forget to wipe!

Most people assume they only need to wipe their dogs’ paws when it’s muddy outside. But giving your pup’s feet a quick rubdown with a warm damp towel is also important after a winter stroll. It’ll ensure the removal of chemical residues from your neighbor’s not-so-pet-friendly ice melt, and give you a chance to check for any cuts or scrapes. If any snowballs accumulate between his pads, you can use the towel to remove them.

Winter paw care doesn’t have to be expensive or timeconsuming. With just a little extra attention, you can keep his tootsies safe and healthy all season long!

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Animal Wellness

CURE THOSE WINTER

blues!

Fresh food, home delivery

Treat your best friend to fresh healthy pet food – without leaving the coziness of your home! Expertly-formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, NomNomNow helps your animal reach his weight goals and improve his health. Your dog or cat’s meals will ship in individual serving sizes so you'll never have to worry about over- or underfeeding. nomnomnow.com

This oil has it all

Does your animal need a mid-winter wellness boost? Finnessiam™ SMART Oil is a holistic synergistic blend of high quality oils. A wonderful alternative to CBD, the ingredients help activate the endocannabinod system for allround maintenance. It can help with many conditions, including pain, inflammation, digestive issues, and skin and coat problems. dogsofpride.com

An idea for March Break

Know any kids who love animals and want something new to do for March Break (and beyond)? Tell them about the Brutus Broth Kids Committee. Launched

by Brutus Broth, which makes bone broth and bone broth biscuits for dogs, this program teaches youngsters from five to 16 about entrepreneurship and philanthropy. brutusbroth.com

Switching him to raw?

Winter is as good a time as any to change your dog or cat to a raw diet! Northwest Naturals has what you need. Their high quality frozen raw diets are complete and balanced, and come in a variety of forms, from chubs, dinner bars and nuggets for dogs, to nibbles for cats. They also offer freeze-dried raw diets, as well as meaty bones for dogs. nw-naturals.net

Wrap him up

Does your dog get stressed out easily? A Therapeutic & Anxiety Body Wrap from Healers Pet Care will help calm him. These wraps are also ideal for post-surgical care protection and can be used for dogs that are incontinent or in heat. They come in six sizes, from XXS to XL and feature a breathable mesh material and Velcro fastenings. healerspetcare.com

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DIAGNOSTICS A large number of older dogs and cats develop kidney disease or failure. With correct diagnostic testing, the problem can be caught early enough for more successful treatment.

TESTING FOR

KIDNEY DISEASE

IN YOUR DOG OR CAT

D gs Cats

By Shawn Messonnier, DVM

Kidney disease and failure is one of the most common disorders I see in dogs and cats. It’s extremely prevalent as animals age, especially in those eight years of age and up. While it can be fatal, kidney disease can usually be treated and even cured if caught early. Let’s look at the testing that allows for the early diagnosis of this frequently-seen health problem in dogs and cats.

BLOOD TESTS • The BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is one of three blood tests for kidney function. It is a good screening test but not perfect, as it only elevates significantly if kidney function is destroyed by 60% to 70%.

However, it is inexpensive to run and part of most blood panels. BUN is also affected by diet, exercise and muscle mass, so results can be skewed due to non-kidney factors; increased results must be interpreted in light of these factors.

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• Creatinine refers to an amino acid constituent of muscle protein. Like BUN, this test also doesn’t show significantlyelevated results until kidney function has deteriorated by 60% to 70%. It is also affected by diet, exercise and muscle mass, though not as much as BUN is. Blood profiles that incorporate only these two tests can accurately diagnose kidney disease once the disease has progressed to a later stage, but are not so good at diagnosing very early disease.

•T herefore, a third test called SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine), which tests for the amino acid arginine, may be incorporated into the blood panel.

SDMA levels elevate very early in the course of kidney disease, anywhere from 12 to 36 months before BUN and creatinine elevate (reflecting only 25% kidney damage versus 60% to 70%).

Blood test

UNDERSTANDING KIDNEY DISEASE AND FAILURE

Urine test

Other blood tests that can help diagnose pets with kidney failure include measuring blood levels of phosphorus and calcium. Phosphorus in particular tells us about the severity of kidney issues since it elevates when the kidneys are severely damaged.

Pets with elevated blood phosphorus levels and elevated levels of the kidney enzymes just mentioned are much harder to treat and have a poorer prognosis.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE TESTING Other than bacterial infections such as E. coli or Proteus, which move from the bladder to the kidneys, the most common bacterial infection of the kidneys in animals (especially dogs) is leptospirosis. It results from contact with infected urine, typically of rodents and other animals.

It is important to consider this a cause of kidney disease for two reasons. First, early diagnosis and treatment is essential — the longer you

wait to diagnose and treat the greater the chance the animal will die. Secondly, this infection is easily transmitted to other animals and people.

Leptospirosis titers, which can take one to two weeks to be reported, are useful but can be skewed by prior leptospirosis vaccination.

URINE TESTING While a urinalysis is typically done when you visit your own doctor, most veterinarians unfortunately do not routinely do this important test.

This can occur because it’s harder to collect urine from animals, or because doctors don’t appreciate how much information we glean from urine testing. Regardless, this is an important adjunct to blood testing.

Kidney disease is basically any insult (infection, trauma, inflammation, poisoning, tumor) that affects the kidneys. Kidney failure occurs whenever 2 /3 to ¾ of both kidneys can no longer adequately filter toxins from the blood.

There are two basic forms of kidney disease/ failure:

1. Acute kidney failure occurs quickly (overnight or within a few hours to days of the kidney insult). It usually results from an infection such as leptospirosis, poisoning (usually antifreeze) or kidney stones (rare in pets). Acute kidney failure is difficult to treat, but when properly done it’s usually cured with no long-term effects for the animal.

2. Chronic kidney failure typically occurs in older

pets (so is often called “old age kidney failure”).

It results from years of low-grade insult to the kidneys (the initial insult may never be known, but chronic vitamin D toxicity from pet foods can be a culprit, which is why regular vitamin D testing is important in animals). Chronic kidney failure is usually incurable (except for kidney transplantation in cats), but it’s more easily treated than acute kidney failure — that is, when it’s diagnosed early, hence the reason for regular testing, usually at least every six months.

The urinalysis can complement results noted in blood tests, as well as give us additional information the blood testing may not provide. For example, urine testing shows if glucose or ketones are present (indicating diabetes

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WHY ULTRASONOGRAPHY IS IMPORTANT FOR DOGS Ultrasound exams are very helpful when assessing dogs with kidney disease, but like radiography, they can also reveal unsuspected problems that may be even more serious than the original kidney disorder.

For example, Scottish terriers have a high incidence of bladder cancer, and larger dogs (especially retrievers) have a high incidence of cancer of the spleen and liver. These problems are often discovered while performing ultrasonography on dogs with kidney disease.

I also recommend that these breeds typically receive screening ultrasounds beginning around five years of age; they should be done every six months to check for these serious and often fatal diseases. mellitus). We can also detect early protein (albumin) loss through the kidneys in a urinalysis. This isn’t detected in a blood profile; excessive urine protein loss is very common in dogs and requires early treatment to prevent more serious problems.

Examining the urine microscopically also tells us about the possible presence of inflammation, infection, bleeding, cancer and bladder stones. If you can collect urine from your dog or cat, it should be analyzed at least every six months.

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Radiography

URINE CULTURE A urine culture tells us two important things: if an infection of the kidneys or bladder is present, and which bacterium is causing the infection. Additionally, if bacteria are seen, the cultured bacteria are examined for susceptibility for antibiotic responsiveness.

I often see animals with “bladder infections/UTIs” diagnosed by other doctors, but who don’t truly have infections. The (mis)diagnosis occurs because it was made based only on seeing white blood cells in a urinalysis (which indicates inflammation but not necessarily infection). While a urinalysis may indicate a possible infection, only a culture can determine if the infection is actually present and if antibiotics are needed. In order to reduce the need for antibiotics and prevent further antibiotic resistance (many bladder issues are easily treated without them), a culture should be done before these drugs are used.

Exceptions include animals that are

bleeding heavily in their urine, or those with urinary blockages where an underlying infection is a likely cause.

Note: if an animal is treated for a UTI with antibiotics, based on a culture, a follow-up culture should be done in one to two weeks after finishing the antibiotics to make sure the bacteria are killed and to prevent a worse infection due to incorrect treatment.

RADIOGRAPHY This test involves small amounts of X-ray radiation to allow the doctor to look inside your dog or cat’s body.

For animals with kidney issues, radiography may allow detection of stones or tumors. While radiographs are an important part of testing for possible kidney disease, and may allow identification of other problems, ultrasonography typically reveals better information about kidney status in animals.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY Any time I see an unexplained illness that is not diagnosed with the other tests I’ve discussed, or if my screening tests for inflammation and cancer (TK, CRP, CRA) are elevated. I find that ultrasonography is necessary to look for the causes of these abnormal tests.

Ultrasound exams are safe as they use sound waves rather than radiation. They can usually be done on an awake pet without the need for sedation, unless he is fractious. Because ultrasounds image tissue in a different way from radiographs, it is typically important to do both (usually starting with radiographs since they are easier and less expensive to do).

Ultrasonography

As you can see, a variety of tests are important in evaluating your dog or cat's urinary system.

Work with your veterinarian to do whatever testing is needed to maximize the chances of an early and correct diagnosis. Ongoing monitoring via tests is especially important in a holistic treatment approach, in order to catch changes early and alter treatment if needed.

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YOUR RESCUE DOG

sI it okay to

e g n a h cyour dog’'s name?

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Animal Wellness

By Emily Wa

tson

adopted a You’ve just Everything rescue pup! perfect… about her is name. Will except her p fused or sto she get con u o you if y listening to ere’s what change it? H know. you need to

Choosing the right name When adopting a rescue dog, many people hem and haw over whether or not they should change her name. From a human perspective, a new name is a big deal! But dogs aren’t bound by the concept of identity the way we are. Your dog doesn’t go around thinking, “I am Rover”, and she isn’t emotionally attached to her name — she just hears it as a cue to pay attention. So essentially any name will do!

WHY RENAMING ISN’T A BIG DEAL Sometimes, shelter staff know the names of their four-legged residents when they arrive. More often than not, though, they don’t.

If the latter is true, the staff will assign the dog a moniker that seems fitting. But because time and resources are scarce at most rescues, dogs often don’t learn their “shelter names”, especially if they aren’t there for long. This means that by the time you bring your rescue pup home, renaming her (again) won’t be a big deal!

In fact, in some situations, changing your dog’s name can be beneficial — for example, if she was abused in the past. “If a dog hears her name and cowers or runs away, it would make sense to change it,” says Shelby Semel, Head Trainer at Animal Haven Shelter.

“This is a sign that the name itself has a negative connotation, and changing an association is harder than creating a positive new one.”

Continued on page 58.

Because time and resources are scarce at most rescues, dogs often don’t learn their “shelter names”, especially if they AREN'T there for long.

Despite the myths, your pup’s new name doesn’t have to be similar to her old one. A dog will learn any name with enough positive reinforcement.

But there are a few things to keep in mind before committing to a new moniker. For instance, you want to pick something that’s easy to say.

Fluffy McFurrington III might be cute, but it won’t roll easily off the tongue if you need to call your dog back to you quickly. Go with something a bit more concise. Trainers recommend names with one or two syllables.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, “a [dog] by any other name would [be] as sweet”. In other words, your dog’s new name won’t determine her personality, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. That said, the name you choose will inevitably change the way others view her. For instance, a name like Killer might not be the wisest choice. Chances are, your dog is a sweetheart — and you don’t want to scare everyone at the dog park into thinking otherwise. She’ll pick up on their fear and potentially even develop bad behaviors as a result.

Last but not least, think about the name phonetically. It’s difficult for dogs to notice the difference between similar sounds, so don’t name your dog Wren if your son’s name is Ben. An overuse of the same sound in your household will make it difficult for her to learn her new name, and will only lead to confusion down the road. It’s also best to avoid names like Mo or Bo, as they sound too much like “no”. Your dog might think she’s being scolded every time you call her!

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Continued from page 57.

A NOTE ABOUT NICKNAMES We all do it — give our dogs more nicknames than we can count. Rover becomes Roves, which becomes Ro-Ro, which becomes Rosie, which becomes Flower… and so on. Eventually, a dog will learn to respond to any name that’s assigned to her.

So if you’re thinking about changing her name, don’t worry!

It’s a lot easier than you might think.

When should you keep the name she came with?

There are a few instances when it’s in your dog’s best interest to keep her existing name. If she’s a working dog, for instance, she’s probably gone through years of training, and has grown more accustomed than most canines to hearing her moniker.

Is she a senior who was relinquished to the shelter because her previous caretaker could no longer look after her? This happens more often than you might think — and it’s another good example of a situation when a dog’s name should be left as is. She might not be attached to it, but if it’s all she’s known for 14 years she might, at the very least, take comfort in it.

“If a surrendered dog responds positively to her name being called, and you can keep it, great!” says Shelby. “It’s one less thing for her learn. But changing a name is not emotional for a dog and she can learn a new one pretty easily.” At the end of the day, there’s no rule that says you should or shouldn’t change her name. Just ask yourself what’s best for your pup, and go from there!

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MAKING THE SWITCH There are, however, a few ways to make the name transition easier. Remember, your new rescue pup has already undergone a lot of change in her life, so the last thing you want to do is make things even more confusing for her. Before you rename her, consider the following tips: • Decide on a new name (see sidebar on page 57), and make sure it’s “the one”. You don’t want to have to go through the name change process again in a few months when you decide you no longer like it.

• Use her new name as often as possible — try not to use generic terms of endearment like “sweetie” or “good pup”, at least for the first few weeks.

Repetition is key!

• Whenever your pup responds to her new name, reward her — whether it’s with treats, play, praise, etc. Make sure she knows she did the right thing by paying attention to that cue word.

With time and consistency, your dog will associate her name with a reward and will respond to it enthusiastically! “A totally new name for a new life is perfectly fine,” says Shelby. “Have fun with it and pick whatever name makes you happy and fits your new rescue. You both deserve it!”

There are a lot of things to focus on when you adopt a dog. If you want to change her name, made the switch early on, then spend your valuable energy training, exercising and getting to know your new family member!

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AGING WELL

D gs Cats

End-of-life care for your pet

– HOW ESSENTIAL OILS CAN HELP

By Jodie Gruenstern, DVM, CVA

Preparing to say goodbye to a beloved dog or cat is never going to be easy, but essential oils are an effective way to alleviate the physical and emotional challenges of this difficult time, for both you and your animal.

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As your dog or cat ages and nears the end of his life, your priorities may shift to ensuring his comfort above all else. At the same time, you’re preparing yourself for the day when you have to let him go. This difficult time can be eased with essential oils, which when used safely and effectively will provide physical and emotional support for both of you.

A MOVE TOWARDS HOSPICE CARE Today, many older dogs and cats are managed in a home hospice situation, as more animal parents favor nurturing their animals towards a natural passing rather than opting for premature euthanasia. Essential oils are ideal for animal parents who are caring for their companions in

this way. Our dogs and cats are very sensitive to the impact of aromatherapy as they have many more nociceptors in their nasal passages than we do. Medicinal fragrances easily traverse through the sinuses directly to the amygdala, the brain’s control center for emotions.

Hospice patients can become very agitated and may need oils to provide calming and relaxation.

Alternatively, depression is common and oils can be selected to raise mood. Elevating the spirit can improve appetite and even mobility.

Here are my top seven oils, along with two blends, that can help your animal and yourself through end-oflife challenges.

1 q Lavender

Lavender is the Swiss army knife of essential oils. It’s the one to reach for when it comes to its safety, potential to promote relaxation, soothe irritated skin and calm the mind, and for its antifungal and antibacterial properties. Lavendar can alleviate stress by lowering cortisol.

Diffuse or apply lavender topically to senior and hospice patients who have dermatitis or secondary infections from lying in one place too long. It can also help you and your animal sleep better.

w Valerian

Valerian is stronger than lavender.

It can be almost sedating and may relieve seizure activity when sprinkled into the mouth of a seizing animal. Valerian has been described as smelling like dirty socks, but its benefits can outweigh its odor.

e Copaiba

3

Copaiba is sap from a tree in the Amazon. It is high in a natural antiinflammatory chemical constituent

called beta-caryophyllene. Senior pets and those challenged by end-of-life situations are often afflicted with inflammatory conditions; probably the most common is arthritis. You can use copaiba “neat” (or undiluted) and massage it onto affected joints and along the spine to support the musculoskeletal system. I call a good massage “petting with intent”. Copaiba has a very pleasant earthy scent you will both enjoy.

2

r Cedarwood

Cedarwood diffusion takes you right into the forest! It is oxygenating, opens the mind and creates a general sense of well-being. Oils from trees stimulate feelings of strength and grounding.

Cedarwood is also anti-parasitic; many pests, such as fleas, like to take advantage of the old and weak. This oil can be diluted and sprayed on topically. Always remember, when diluting essential oils in water, to add an emulsifying healthy soap so the oil does not simply float on top of the water.

Continued on page 62.

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5

Essential oils and vibrational frequency

If you understand something about quantum physics, and believe in energy medicine, then you have probably heard that humans, animals, plants — and essential oils — have specific vibrational frequencies. Many renowned scientists, from Einstein to current-day Harvard grads, have discussed the energy, electromagnetic waves and atoms that combine to make us who we are — energetic beings.

Understanding and measuring vibrational frequencies is a tool for explaining the use of essential oils to affect an individual’s energy.

Many natural health practitioners believe our frequency can decrease as we age. A balanced frequency is important to good health. A high frequency can make an individual emotionally fun. If the frequency is too high, s/he can be manic, too low and s/he is depressed. If you surround yourself with high-frequency individuals, they can lift you up.

Low-frequency people can bring you down. In a similar way, the frequency of an essential oil can lift or depress your spirit.

In turn, mood or attitude can influence physical parameters.

Stressful thoughts, for example, can cause hormonal releases that negatively impact organ function. This is the basic key to the science behind emotional and physical balancing with aromatherapy. Although the scientific measurement of these frequencies may be controversial, the information obtained and charted has been useful in achieving successful outcomes.

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6 Continued from page 61.

t Fennel

Proper digestive capabilities are often lost when an ill dog or cat is not eating well, too immobile and not defecating properly. Fennel may be used by itself, mixed in water and syringed into the mouth, or in combination with other oils to support good digestion. It can help relieve the discomfort of gas build-up and flatulence. Fennel smells like licorice and sometimes just the scent or a belly massage can make a tummy feel better.

y Frankincense

Frankincense has long been revered as a spiritual oil to assist with a peaceful passing. It can provide tranquility when you are feeling overwhelmed.

7

Additionally, some tree species are anti-inflammatory, and some have been shown in studies to have anti-cancer properties. This Biblical oil should be present at every euthanasia. It may be diffused or applied topically. Just an open bottle in the room can be useful.

u Rose

Rose is touted as having the highest frequency of all oils. It is not surprising that it’s the most soughtafter oil. Rose is very uplifting. One drop goes a long way. It can support healthy skin when utilized in an ointment. This oil is nice to put in a mister bottle and spritz in the room where you and your dog or cat spend your most challenging days together.

TWO EFFECTIVE ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS

1. Clove, wintergreen, helichrysum, peppermint This blend is often used topically. I do not diffuse it. The oils contain constituents that can numb sore tissues, decrease redness and swelling, improve circulation and neurologic function, and improve mental acuity. A couple drops can be rubbed between your palms and then massaged along the spine and uncomfortable areas.

It creates a warm-cool sensation and smells deliciously minty. It can be layered with copaiba.

2. Clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary This blend can been diffused, used orally, and when combined with mild soap even used as a household cleaner! In a hospice situation, cleanliness is mandatory and the avoidance of toxic cleaners is vitally important.

Diffuse this antiseptic blend to kill germs in the air. It can also be

used to clean bowls, cages, towels, bedding, counters and floors. It kills microbes without contributing to dangerous bacterial resistance.

Oral health often becomes neglected as an animal ages because senior dogs and cats often object to dental care. I think brushing teeth and gums and battling bad breath are among the most important services a caregiver can offer.

Your animal wants to be loved, kissed and cuddled right up until the last day, and good breath is necessary for this. Poor oral health also leads to more systemic disease.

Clove will numb a sore mouth and is highly antimicrobial.

Cinnamon and lemon smell wonderful and taste delicious.

Eucalyptus opens congested sinus passages and airways.

Combine this blend with coconut oil for a fabulous natural toothpaste. Apply with gauze to make it easy and effective.

Essential oils also help on a physical level

Chemical analyses of essential oils show they have natural constituents that may be anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal or anti-parasitic.

Fragile seniors are susceptible to side effects from many medications. And years of repetitive antibiotic use can create antibiotic resistance and immune inadequacies.

Essential oils are a perfect way to support the body’s fight against many microbial and inflammatory disorders.

When used properly, side effects are nonexistent and resistance is unheard of.

Combine your knowledge of essential oils usage with prayer, petting with intent, and a strong positive outlook and you will be able to navigate your dog or cat’s end-of-life journey with calm, compassion and confidence — and give him the strength he needs to live comfortably and pass peacefully.

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HEALING INSIDE & OUT

Supporting your pet’s gut health

By Ann Brightman

Find out why the state of your dog or cat’s microbiome is so important to his overall health, and how proper nutrition can help bring it back into balance.

D gs Cats

The microbiome is a hot topic right now, and no wonder. The more we learn about it, the more we realize how important balanced populations of microbes are to overall health, not only in ourselves but in our dogs and cats as well. Ongoing research indicates that an imbalanced microbiome may contribute to a host of health issues. It’s also no surprise that nutrition plays a major role in the health of an animal’s (or human’s!) microbiome. This article answers some key questions about the connection between nutrition and your dog or cat’s microbiome.

Q

What are some signs of a microbiome that’s in need of nutritional help? Are there any symptoms, besides digestive ones, that animal guardians might miss or overlook?

A

The answer is yes, and some of these signs you might not ordinarily associate with the GI system. “While diarrhea, vomiting and constipation are more acute symptoms, there are also more subtle signs including bad breath, runny poop, irregular bowel movements, low energy, dull coat and a disinterest in eating,” says Jasmine Galligan, founder of Wet Noses.

“Some less obvious signs that an animal’s gut is out of balance are skin and coat issues, allergies and lethargy,” adds Mika Wheelwright, CEO of Fidobiotics. Straining during bowel movements can be yet another red flag, as can eating grass and feces.

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Animal Wellness

It’s important to take your animal to the veterinarian if you notice any of these signs on a regular basis.

Some of these symptoms can also be associated with other health problems, but the only way to find out is by having your dog or cat checked.

Q

Do gut problems always arise from imbalances in gut flora? For example, can gut inflammation be caused solely by feeding the wrong foods (as in the case of allergies or intolerances), or is it mainly affected by problems with the microbiome? Or is it a bit of both?

A

“This is an interesting question that is being actively studied,” say Drs. Ryan Honaker and Justin Shmalberg of NomNomNow. “Are gut imbalances the cause of disease, a response to underlying disease, or a combination? Allergies and infection are both known to cause inflammation, leading to a variety of short and long-term symptoms.

However microbiome composition and function can also impact inflammation. Another example is cancer; the microbiome can have a direct impact on the risk of cancer development and tumor progression, both of which are also linked to inflammation. So the two are very closely intertwined, and in all likelihood most diseases will be a link between the two.”

Rei Kawano, Founder and CEO of Heed Foods, agrees that there’s a

link between the microbiome and problems caused by poor nutrition.

“What the animal eats as well as the environment he lives in has a significant influence on his microbiome makeup,” she says.

“A healthy microbiome increases the probability of overall well-being.

However, while the strain of the bacteria can evolve throughout the animal’s lifetime, the total bacterial population remains unchanged. This is evidence that while diet and environment can change the microbiome to a certain degree, it cannot change it completely. Other factors can also affect your pup’s overall gut health: age, obesity, environment — and, often overlooked, stress.”

Q

Which foods and ingredients have the most negative impact on dog or cat gut health, and why?

A

Not surprisingly, overly processed foods and synthetic ingredients top the list of substances that can have a negative impact on an animal’s microbiome and overall gut health. It makes perfect sense, since our animals’ bodies — and their gut flora — have evolved over millennia to thrive on whole foods; they’re not designed to properly digest artificial or overlyprocessed ingredients. “Dogs and cats don’t digest them properly,” says Barbara Fellnermayr, President of Amore Pet Foods. “You can see the result in their poop, breath, teeth, eyes and coat.”

PROBIOTICS, PREBIOTICS AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTS Supplements containing probiotics and prebiotics are also helpful, as are two other nutrients you may not be as familiar with — mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) and organic acids.

“MOS is a type of probiotic derived from yeast,” explains Rei. “It is used to prevent the growth of pathogens in the intestine, in particular Salmonella and E. coli. MOS also stimulates the production of mucin, a protein that acts as the first line of defence against bad bacteria and plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy microbial population.

Organic acids help acidify the intestine. This creates an environment that favors the growth of good over bad bacteria.”

“The microbiome, which has been linked to a wide variety of health issues, changes in response to the diet, and there is emerging evidence that prebiotics and probiotics that target the microbiome can have positive effects.” add Drs. Honaker and Shmalberg.

Continued on page 66.

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Continued from page 65.

Too much fat or protein can also disturb an animal’s digestion, as can rendered meat and bone meals, which are difficult to digest and offer limited nutrition, according to Dave Fedorchak, Vice President of R&D and Procurement at PetGuard. “Corn also presents a challenge, due to its tough cellulose coat,” he says.

Of course, many dogs and cats have specific food allergies or intolerances that can cause inflammation and may have a disruptive influence on gut flora and function. Some animals are allergic to common proteins, such as beef or even chicken, while wheat can be a problem for others. A visit to the vet will help you determine if your own dog or cat has a food allergy or intolerance, and which foods are the culprits.

Q

What foods and ingredients best support gut health and the microbiome?

A

Think natural high quality foods and you’re off to a good start. Minimally-processed diets made from whole food ingredients, with no artificial additives, are the best.

“Many whole food ingredients are natural prebiotics, meaning they feed and help establish good bacteria throughout the digestive tract,” adds Mika. “A lot of vegetables contain inulin, an important prebiotic, while oats and barley contain beta-glucan fibers, a great source of prebiotics.”

Our animals’ bodies — and their gut flora — have evolved over millennia to thrive on whole foods; they’re not designed to properly digest artificial or overlyprocessed ingredients.

A range of individual foods also have a positive impact on digestion and overall gut health. “A high quality diet consisting of natural unadulterated foods can do a lot to promote a more balanced digestive tract,” says Dave. “Foods like sweet potatoes and flaxseed are rich in fiber, which is great for the digestive tract, and Omega-3 fatty acids help keep the gut microbiota diverse and healthy,” Pumpkin, yellow mustard, beets and thyme are also gut-healthy foods — “ground yellow mustard is a powerful anti-inflammatory,” says Cecelia Carrera of BrightPet Nutrition Group Your dog or cat’s gut microbiome is a complex system that’s easily thrown out of whack by poor nutrition, especially nowadays when highly processed foods, synthetic ingredients and additives abound. By giving your animal whole, natural foods and supplements that keep his microbiome happy and balanced, you’ll help ensure that his gut — along with his whole being — stays healthy.

RESOURCES Amore Pet Foods, amorepetfoods.com BrightPet Nutrition Group, brightpetnutrition.com Fidobiotics, fidobiotics.com Heed Foods, heedfoods.com NomNomNow, nomnomnow.com PetGuard, petguard.com Wet Noses, wet-noses.com

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AT THE VET'S

Your dog’s dental exam

By Christine Caplan, RVT

Our four-legged friends need oral care just like us, but do veterinary dental exams bear any similarities to ours? Here’s what happens when you drop your dog off for a dental.

Because periodontal disease is so common in dogs, regular dental exams are an important part of their care regimen. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that dogs receive annual dental cleanings beginning at the age of one or two. My own dogs, now seniors, have had yearly dental exams since they were pups. But how exactly are these exams and cleanings done, and do vets use the

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same procedures and tools as human dentists do? Here’s what to expect when you take your own dog in for a dental.

WHAT HAPPENS FIRST? A few weeks before your dog’s dental exam, your veterinarian should perform pre-anesthetic tests and examine him for any underlying disorders.

This is very important because certain health problems could change the way in which the dental exam is done. For example, some drugs used for sedation make the kidneys work harder, so if your dog is discovered to have kidney disease, your vet will need to discuss the dental procedure with you so you can decide how to proceed. If your vet doesn’t recommend preanesthetic tests, ask her about them.

What about anestheticfree dentistry?

Some people opt for anesthetic-free dentistry (AFD) to avoid having their dogs put under. However, it’s important to understand that AFD can only do so much.

“Dental cleaning without anesthesia is controversial since you cannot check for deeper dental disease and the teeth can only be superficially scaled,” says Dr. Kayser.

“A thorough oral health exam can’t be done on a dog that is awake,” states the American Veterinary Dental College. “During a thorough exam, all surfaces of your pet’s mouth are evaluated and radiographs are taken. This allows a veterinarian to identify painful problems, including broken teeth, periodontal disease or even oral tumors.”

If your dog is a senior, or has heart issues or other serious health problems, discuss your concerns about anesthesia with your vet.

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM? A dental begins with a comprehensive oral examination of your dog to evaluate the structures of his face, head and neck. Then, intraoral structures are examined, including teeth and soft tissues.

Full mouth radiographs (x-rays) are also obtained. This is extremely

important, as disease can easily be missed without examining beneath the gum margin (the border of the gingiva surrounding, but unattached to, the substance of the teeth). Multiple studies have shown significant diagnostic benefits in obtaining dental radiographs. Without these x-rays, you are only seeing approximately half the tooth structure.

Continued on page 70.

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IS ANESTHESIA ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY? One of the most common reasons people avoid taking their dogs in for dentals is because they are anxious about the anesthesia. However, sedation or anesthesia is necessary for your veterinarian to make a comprehensive dental exam.

Continued from page 69.

Red flags that signal dental disease Knowing the signs of dental problems in your dog is important — see a vet if you notice any of the following: • Red swollen gums • Increased drooling • Dropping food from the mouth • Whining while eating • Loss of appetite or weight • Loose or discolored teeth • Bleeding from the mouth • Decreased energy and grumpiness

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Scaling and polishing are the most common dental cleaning procedures. After the x-rays are taken, while the dog is still under sedation, special hand and ultrasonic scalers designed for animals (human scalers don’t work!) are used to remove the plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. The use of any instrument on tooth enamel will cause microscopic scratches to the surface that will ultimately damage the tooth surface, leading to further disease — this is the reason teeth are polished after removing tartar with dental instruments.

“Your veterinarian can often look in the mouth and decide if a more extensive dental exam is needed,” says integrative veterinarian, Dr. Nicole Kayser.

“Unfortunately, sedation or anesthesia is needed to do a thorough dental exam, which will include radiographs to look at the tooth roots and surrounding bone, and dental probes to assess the pocket depth and look for any enamel damage. Unlike human dental exams, if a bad tooth is found upon examination it is usually dealt with at the same time, since the dog is already under anesthesia.”

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW — BUT NEED TO! Oral exams also allow a veterinarian to identify painful

problems, including broken teeth, periodontal disease, infections and abscesses, loose teeth or even oral tumors. If your dog is dropping food from his mouth or isn’t eating, it’s often due to discomfort. In some situations, however, you may not even know your dog is in pain.

My doxie fractured his tooth when chewing on a bone and we had no idea until he went in for a routine dental exam. His pre-molar had to be removed.

When anything serious is found during a routine dental exam, your vet will talk to you about all the options. For example, if you have a dog that’s a powerful chewer, you could get a call from your vet about a fractured tooth while your dog is still sedated, so be prepared to discuss treatment scenarios.

Whatever the problem, whether it’s a cracked tooth, an abscess or a tumor, there are lots of options for care. Dental veterinary specialists handle more difficult cases like root canals, while veterinary anesthesiologists are also available for dental procedures.

“As vigilant as you are with your dog’s dental health, it may not negate the need for a professional dental cleaning a few times in his life,” says Dr. Kayser. “Certain breeds and those with poor genetics or low quality nutrition may be more prone to dental disease and need more dental care throughout

their lives. Let your veterinarian help you decide when professional cleaning or care is needed.” While you may not be talking to your vet about cavities, you will be discussing periodontal disease or the risk of fractured teeth. Don’t be afraid to ask questions based on this guide!

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COMMUNICATORS

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

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

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

Animal Wellness

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

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

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

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Individualized, Integrative Veterinary Care

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

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

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

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

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

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

PET PSYCHICS

NATURAL PRODUCT

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

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

Well Animal Institute Brighton, CO USA Phone: (303) 514-0076 Email: info@wellanimalinstitute.com Website: www.wellanimalinstitute.com

SHELTERS & RESCUES

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

Healing Touch for Animals Highlands Ranch, CO USA Phone: (303) 470-6572 Email: drea@healingtouchforanimals.com Website: www.healingtouchforanimals.co

Alaskan Malamute Mt. Gilead, OH USA Phone: (419) 512-2423 Email: shaman@brightnet.net American Brittany Rescue Sugar Grove, IL USA Phone: (866) BRIT-911 Email: rhonda@americanbrittanyrescue.org Website: www.americanbrittanyrescue.org

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

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

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

Advertise your business in the Wellness Resource Guide

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COLLAR

V

A comprehensive discussion

of collars and harnesses and how and when to use them.

By Andrea Gronwald

At a recent dog event I attended, a search and rescue trainer stated that harnesses are for fun activities and collars are for obedience training, meaning she uses the latter for corrections.

I could not disagree more. Collars and harnesses are not obedience training tools, but rather tools to keep your dog safe.

Nowadays you can find an abundance of both on the market.

So which should you buy for your own dog? What is the purpose of a collar and when should you use a harness?

COLLARS The main function of a collar is to keep identification tags on your dog He should not be walked with a leash attached to his collar. Constant pulling may cause injuries or permanent harm to a dog’s neck, including damage to the thyroid and trachea.

Even if your dog doesn’t pull on the leash, he may suddenly lunge towards a squirrel, and that is all it takes for him to sustain an injury to his neck. Harnesses are a much better option when you walk your dog on leash (more on this later).

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•O f course, we never want to use collars that may hurt our dogs in any way, such as choke, prong or shock collars.

Instead, a flat collar with a buckle or a plastic snap for quick release works best. Apart from dogs grabbing each other by the collar during play, collars can get caught on crates, furniture, fences and other objects, and collar strangulation accidents may injure or even kill a dog.

Quick-release or breakaway collars can help prevent tragic accidents because they have special plastic closures designed to release automatically when pressure is applied.

Often, doggy daycare facilities will require quick-release collars for the dogs in their care. The plastic closure allows for quick opening of the collar in case dogs get entangled during play or a scuffle.

• A martingale collar is recommended for dogs with heads that are narrower than their necks, such as greyhounds and whippets. When your dog tries to back out of a martingale

s.

HARNESS

— which should your dog wear? collar, it will tighten around him neck but won’t choke him as long as it’s properly adjusted. Make sure you can still fit two fingers between the fully-tightened collar and your dog’s neck. Martingale collars should be removed when a dog is left unsupervised because the front loop may get caught on something and seriously injure him.

TIP:

•F or walks in the dark, light-up collars offer additional safety.

They are usually battery-operated, and some are rechargeable. Be aware that most of these products are made of plastic and are designed only to make your dog more visible in the dark. Don’t attach a leash to them.

Constant pulling may cause injuries or permanent harm to a dog’s neck, including damage to the thyroid and trachea.

I like collars that are the least intrusive for my dog. So I look for lightweight collars made of a soft material.

Some feature heavy metal buckles, and I would not want my dog to wear a collar like that around his neck all day.

Continued on page 76.

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Collar and harness safety

Both harnesses and collars need to be fitted properly. Make sure you adjust them or, if necessary, replace them when your dog has outgrown them, either because he has matured from a puppy to an adult, or has experienced any weight changes. If the collar or harness is too loose, he could slip out of them; if it’s too tight, it will cause him discomfort and inhibit his movement. Damaged or ripped collars and harnesses are no longer safe and should be replaced immediately.

The most important thing about a harness is that it needs to fit properly. A poorly-fitted harness can inhibit your dog’s movement and alter his natural gait, or chafe his skin and cause him discomfort. Make sure the harness does not compromise your dog’s shoulder movement.

There are many new and improved products on today’s market that are designed to minimize any interference with the dog’s natural movement. Some harnesses feature multiple adjustment points or are constructed from individual pieces that can be purchased separately to ensure the perfect fit for any body type.

If your dog shows any signs of fear when you put a collar or harness on him, take the time to gently and gradually get him used to it. Build a positive association for him by pairing the collar and harness with yummy treats.

HARNESSES A body harness is always recommended for walking your dog.

Attaching the leash to a harness eliminates the strain on his neck while still keeping him securely connected to you. There are two main types of harnesses:

q Front-clip harnesses help to minimize pulling, although they are not a substitute for training your dog to walk nicely on a leash.

w Back-clip harnesses may encourage your dog to pull even more; think sled dog.

Make sure the harness does not compromise

While harnesses should not be too tight, they should fit snugly because a loose harness that constantly rubs against your dog’s body can irritate or injure his skin. Some harnesses provide extra padding for additional comfort. Harnesses come in many different sizes, from extra small to extra large, so you should be able to find the perfect one for your dog. When purchasing and fitting the harness, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

For travel, a special car harness is highly recommended. It allows you to secure your dog with a seat belt. Not only will this prevent him from jumping in your lap while you are driving, but it will also help keep him safe should you get into an accident. Look for a high quality car harness; some have even been crash-tested. The harness should allow your dog to sit and lie down, rather than forcing him into a seated position only.

TIP:

Continued from page 75.

Niko wearing a quickrelease collar and back-clip harness.

Some harnesses offer both a back and a front clip, and allow you to attach a leash to both clips simultaneously for more control of very powerful pullers.

your dog’s shoulder movement.

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In summary, collars are best used for identification purposes, while harnesses come into play when you’re walking your dog. Used properly, these tools will make life easier and more comfortable for both of you!

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EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING From loud noises to trips to the vet, a variety of situations can cause stress in dogs.

Fortunately, there are lots of safe and effective ways to help anxious pooches feel calmer.

naturally

By Charlotte Walker

ogs get stressed just like we do, though usually for different reasons. While work pressures, finances, family upsets and health problems are among our top stressors, canine stress often arises from changes in routine, household upheaval, loud noises, insufficient exercise, separation anxiety, and of course, visits to the vet! While many of these situations may be unavoidable, the good news is that there are lots of natural and effective ways to ease your dog’s stress and help him feel better.

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FLOWER ESSENCES Safe and easy to administer, flower essences can be very helpful for calming a stressed dog. Bach’s Rescue Remedy is a go-to formula for any stressful situation. Just rub a few drops into the dog’s ears or paw pads, or add a bit to his drinking water. Individual essences such as Aspen, Mimulus, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem can also help with anxiety and stress.

Where do I find them?

Although Bach (bachflower.com/rescueremedy-pets-bach-flower/) is probably the best known flower essence brand, there are other companies to choose from as well. Look for products that are formulated for animals.

ESSENTIAL OILS High quality essential oils are another effective way to calm stress in dogs.

Lavender is especially effective, while Chamomile, Rose and Ylang Ylang are

Aspen

also helpful. Dilute just a few drops in a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil, rub some of the mixture between your palms, and massage it on your dog’s coat.

Good quality essential oils can also be diffused into the air for a calming effect.

Where do I find them?

It’s vitally important to use pure therapeutic-grade essential oils, not cheap, adulterated and potentially toxic products from department or dollar stores.

Companies such as animalEO (animaleo.info) and Young Living (youngliving.com) make high quality essential oils as does Essential Herban Pet Life (essentialherbanpetlife. com), whose Dog Anxiety blend comes in spray, topical or diffuser forms.

CHEWS AND SUPPLEMENTS A variety of natural supplements and even treats are formulated to help ease canine stress. They may contain ingredients such as L-tryptohphan (an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin) and chamomile (an herb known for its ability to reduce anxiety and stress), along with other relaxing herbs such as valerian and passionflower.

Incorporated into a palatable treat or chewable supplement, they can help calm stressed canines.

Ylang-ylang

Where do I find them?

Products include Tomlyn’s Relax & Calm chicken-flavored chews (tomlyn.com), and NOW’s Pet Relaxant Chewables with beef liver powder and natural chicken flavor (nowfoods.com).

CBD PRODUCTS In recent years, CBD has exploded onto the market with all kinds of products for animals — from oils and tinctures to treats and supplements. Among many other things, CBD is effective for relieving stress and anxiety. The catch is that there are a lot of companies popping up that are taking advantage of the CBD “craze”, so it’s important to ensure that any CBD you buy for

Don’t know why he’s

STRESSED?

If your dog is showing signs of anxiety or stress with no apparent cause, take him to the vet. Many physical problems, such as dental disease, arthritis, ear infections and other painful conditions can cause a dog to become stressed. Before trying the products in this article, it’s important to first have any potential physical issues diagnosed and addressed.

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Dogs can show stress in a variety of ways, some of which are subtle and/or may be confused with other problems. Here are some signs of stress and anxiety in canines.

• Panting • Pacing • Whining • Trembling • Restlessness • Excessive yawning

• Excessive shedding •H aving accidents in the house • Lip-licking • Hiding • Clinginess • Loss of appetite

Where do I find them?

Here is a list of companies that sell quality CBD products for animals: Animal Nutritional Products (anpvet.com) Grizzly Pet Products (grizzlypetproducts. com/grizzly-hemp-enhanced-supplements/) Iceland Pure (icelandpure.com/cbd-byiceland-pure/) LolaHemp (lolahemp.com) Medterra (medterracbd.com/category-pets) Rovers Pet Products (roverspet.com) Santeer (santeer.com) Smart Hemp CBD (mysmarthempcbd.com)

ANXIETY WRAPS

CBD Oil

Being swaddled is comforting to babies, so why not for dogs too?

Therapeutic body wraps can be effective for calming canine anxiety and stress in the event of loud noises or other stressful situations. These garments create a gentle but constant pressure over the dog’s body that eases anxiety and helps him feel more secure.

Where do I find them?

Healers Pet Care (healerspetcare.com) has a Therapeutic & Anxiety Body Wrap that comes in six sizes. The Thundershirt (thundershirt.com) is another option.

MINIMIZING OR REDUCING STRESSORS Keep in mind that it’s also important to understand why your dog is stressed

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Pet Care

STRESS

Body Wrap

rs Photo courtesy of Heale

SIGNS OF

your dog comes from a reputable source whose products are backed up by solid science and research. Also be sure to carefully follow dosage directions when giving a CBD product to your dog.

to begin with, and to take steps to identify and reduce the stressors in his life. If his stress is associated with separation anxiety, you might need the help of a trainer or animal behaviorist to solve the problem. If your dog gets particularly stressed by loud noises, keep him indoors when it’s thundering, or if someone is setting off fireworks. Make sure he’s getting enough exercise, companionship and mental stimulation so he doesn’t get bored or lonely. If you’re moving house, or having renovations done, try to keep his routine as normal as possible. The same applies if there’s a change in the household — e.g. a child leaving home, a companion animal (or person) dying, or someone new (human or animal!) moving in.

And remember to keep your own stress levels under control — if you’re stressed, he’ll feel it too.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to help ease your dog’s stress without resorting to conventional medications!

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81

KITTY LIFESTYLE

FERAL FRIENDLY — transitioning a cat to life with humans

By Sally E. Bahner

TO

Can feral cats be socialized and transformed into household companions? It can be done in many cases, but it requires patience and commitment.

Is it possible to turn a feral or community cat who has always lived outdoors into a household pet? The answer is frequently yes, but it takes a lot of time and patience. Often, these cats have grown up with no to minimal human contact, and/or are afraid of people because of bad experiences with those who don’t want them around. People who work with feral cats know that socializing these kitties is a process. Let’s learn a bit about this process and how you might encourage a feral cat in your neighborhood to become your friend.

FERAL BEHAVIOR VARIES Many of these cats display various degrees of feral behavior. Some are totally wild, having no human contact

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or only negative human contact. Some are semi-feral, having experienced some positive human contact. Abandoned housecats may also become semi-feral.

Feral and community cats that are transitioned into homes often come from managed colonies or have been hanging around a home and have some human contact. They may keep their distance, but they recognize their caregivers and interact with them.

Kittens are more easily adoptable and can be socialized relatively quickly, even if they are born to feral moms.

Other circumstances may also bring a feral cat indoors — for example, she might be injured and in need of care, or has just had a litter of kittens.

Some feral cats may be unadoptable. In managed colonies, these cats are TNR’d (trapped, spayed/neutered, then returned to the colony), where their numbers hopefully diminish over the years.

SIX STEPS TO MAKING FRIENDS WITH A FERAL CAT

q The first step is to have a comfortable, secure room prepared in advance.

There should be plenty of cozy hiding spaces in the room — tunnels, boxes and perches — to allow the kitty to decompress, along with food and water bowls and a litter box. Add a comfortable chair for yourself, to allow the cat to get used to your “in home” presence. Also consider a plugin pheromone diffuser.

w A humane trap is the safest way to capture and transport a feral

LAURIE’S STORY

cat; cover the trap with a blanket once she’s inside.

e The cat can be released once she’s in the “safe room” — open the door of the trap and leave her alone with her food and water to allow her to decompress.

on the cat. However, it’s important to be patient, and let her determine the level of interaction. Enter the room quietly and spend some time reading and speaking softly to her. Watch her body language and try to engage her in play with a fishing pole toy or feather toy. Make eye contact via the slow blink — staring directly at her may be seen as a threat. Once the cat seems relaxed, try offering her a brush, which may be less threatening than a hand. Once she’s comfortable with the brush, extend her a finger to sniff. Confine your initial pets to her cheeks and the top of her head.

t Remember that each cat moves at her own pace. Laurie Goldstein (see sidebar at right) says it’s all about building trust, and adds that feral and community cats learn from interacting with friendly cats. With this in mind, consider introducing a friendly cat already living in the household. Do this slowly and carefully, however, keeping in mind that your existing cat will also take time to adjust to the newcomer.

y Once the kitty is comfortable, leave the door ajar and allow her to explore the house in short stints, always giving her the option to return to her safe zone.

Bringing a feral or community cat into your home involves committing to a gradual socialization process. And it’s important to understand that there’s no guarantee you’ll end up with a cuddly lap cat. However, those who have the patience to go through the process find it incredibly rewarding.

Laurie and Gary Goldstein spent some time living in an RV park in rural northwest New Jersey. Over the course of ten years, they socialized a local colony of community cats, later incorporating them into the household once they moved to a spacious new home.

During the first few years, the first group of cats Laurie and Gary TNR’d were older felines already living in the territory, versus those being attracted to it by the food the couple offered. “We would catch glimpses of them waiting a ‘safe’ distance away while we put out the food,” says Laurie. “Each had their own safe space, but none became pettable. We really don't know how many we fed on an ongoing basis.”

Once Laurie and Gary moved to their new house, they made the decision to bring along the cats that had learned to interact with them and depend on them for food, as well as several they had already brought inside.

It was a tough decision to leave the others behind, but they knew the cats had other resources (the area was rural and good for hunting, and other homes and farms were nearby).

At the new location, the couple set up a tent with the intention of maintaining the colony outdoors, but circumstances led them to bring them inside, where they’ve remained. Medical issues added to the challenge, but bringing the cats indoors probably saved the life of Bean, who developed immunemediated hemolytic anemia (a condition in which the immune system destroys its own blood cells). Laurie has become quite adept at taking Bean for vet visits, as well as medicating and preparing special diets for him.

Laurie believes that each cat comes to trust in his or her own time. In her experience, it’s almost like a switch that turns on. Once the "trust" switch flips, she says, the cats quite quickly become friendly in their individual ways.

Now, five years after being introduced to indoor life, the cats are pettable and even accept visits from company. “It's been such a joy watching this metamorphosis,” says Laurie.

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Photos courtesy of Laurie Goldstein

r The time it takes to socialize the cat can vary widely, depending

HERBS FOR HEALING

4 herbs

D gs Cats

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FOR YOUR PET’S DENTAL HEALTH

By Greg Tilford

Bad teeth, red gums and smelly breath…periodontal disease affects at least half of all dogs and cats. These herbs (along with kelp!) can provide symptomatic relief while you work with your vet to restore your animal’s dental health.

Periodontal disease is extremely common in our dogs and cats.

The right diet, along with regular veterinary checkups, can go a long way to helping prevent this problem — but if your dog or cat is like most pets, he may already have some level of dental disease. In this article, I will introduce you to a few of my favorite herbs (and an alga!) that can help bring your companion’s mouth back into balanced health. Just keep in

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mind that that these are symptomatic remedies, not cures, so be sure to also take a hard look at the food you’re giving your animal, and include an occasional raw bone to scrub off tartar and build healthy gleaming teeth.

For infections of the mouth, or as a preventative against gingivitis, a tincture (see sidebar on page 87) or very strong

PERIODONTAL DISEASE…HIGHLY PREVALENT IN BOTH ANIMALS AND HUMANS

MYRRH

tea of any of the following herbs can be applied directly to the gum lines or infected sites with a swab.

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Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) Myrrh is a reddish-brown dried sap from a thorny tree native to Africa and southwest Asia. Its uses as a powerful antiseptic agent date back to ancient Egypt, and it is still widely used today as an antibacterial ingredient in toothpastes, mouthwash formulas, and antiseptic gum preparations. Myrrh is very strong — only a few drops of the tincture are needed.

If too much is swallowed, it may cause stomach upset and flatulence. For this reason, most of my myrrh formulations

will include fennel seed extract (also antibacterial for the mouth), to help prevent flatulence and to freshen breath.

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Oregon Grape (mahonia spp.)

The rhizomes and roots of Oregon grape are rich with a bright yellow and bitter alkaloid called berberine, a compound that has been extensively researched for its powerful antimicrobial properties. More than a few studies have shown berberine to be more effective than some forms of prescription antibiotics, including chloramphenicol, when used against various forms of Staphylococci, Escherichia coli (E-coli) and other gram negative-type bacteria.

Continued on page 86.

SAGE

By the age of three, most dogs and cats are likely to exhibit early symptoms of periodontal disease, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Likewise, findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that at least 50% of American humans aged 30 or older have periodontitis, the more advanced form of periodontal disease. These statistics are significant in that they basically indicate that dogs, cats and humans are on similar tracks toward developing periodontal disease at approximately the same stage of life (one cat year equals about seven human years).

While the answers to why certainly include genetic predispositions, traumatic injury and other factors, the bigger truth is that we and our animals are consuming foods that are contrary to oral health. In short, we are passing bad eating habits onto our furry companions. While refined sugar may be relatively low on the list when it comes to the diets of dogs and cats, poor quality foods containing too much grain, preservatives and processed food ingredients are not. Foods that are inappropriate for nourishing carnivores are also inappropriate for maintaining healthy microbial and enzymatic balances in their mouths. Grains and cheap meat by-products that are continuously lodged between the teeth and beneath the gum line will almost certainly lead to periodontal disease if left unchecked. The result is an oral environment that allows pathogenic bacteria to thrive where they would otherwise be quelled by the body’s natural defenses.

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OREGON GRAPE

Continued from page 85.

Not only is berberine effective at knocking down most of the pathogens it’s bound to meet in the mouth, it has a unique ability to penetrate into mucus tissues, where various types of bacteria embed themselves. Oregon Grape extract is equally useful for the ears, eyes, and the mucus membranes of the vagina and urinary tract, where it combats various fungal infections as well.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) also contains berberine, as well as another alkaloid called hydrastine, which is equally effective in the mouth.

However, goldenseal is much more bitter, making it harder to apply, and the plants are very close to becoming endangered in the wild, so I opt for Oregon grape instead.

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Sage (Salvia officinalis) Sage is an excellent remedy for infections or ulceration of the mouth, skin or digestive tract. Most of its antimicrobial activity is attributed to thujone, a volatile oil that is effective against Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella species, Klebsiella ozanae, Bacillus subtillis and various fungi, namely Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. pseudotropicalis, Torulopsis glabrata and Cryptococcus neoformans.

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In the mouth, a strong sage tea or tincture is useful for treating or preventing gingivitis, as well as infections secondary to injury or dental surgery.

Sage can also be used as a simple poultice. Mix the dried herb with just enough water to form a thick paste which can then be rubbed onto infected gums. If you also have thyme in your kitchen spice cabinet, add some to your sage poultice for enhanced antimicrobial activity.

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Thyme (Thymus spp.)

This common kitchen herb is also highly active against pathogenic bacteria in the mouth. Its medicinal activity is generally attributed to its volatile oil constituents — thymol and carvacrol. Thymol is a very good antiseptic for the mouth and throat and is useful for fighting gingivitis in dogs and cats. In fact, it is used as the active ingredient in many commercial toothpaste and mouthwash formulas.

Kelp also helps Although technically not an herb but an alga, kelp (Ascophyllum nosodum, Laminaria and other species) has been long regarded as an excellent source of

More about

TINCTURES A tincture is made by mixing dried or fresh herb material (depending on the nature of the individual herb) into an appropriate solvent, such as alcohol or glycerin. I usually opt for tinctures made with vegetable glycerin, which is very sweet and much easier to feed than those made with alcohol.

The ratio of herbs to solvent is determined by a variety of factors, such as the desired strength of the finished product, the nature of the solvent used, and the solubility of the herb material. After macerating (soaking) for a number of days or weeks, the mixture is pressed, strained and bottled for use. There are many excellent herbal texts available that will teach you how to make your own tinctures, or you can buy one already made — look for a quality product made by a reputable company.

THYME trace minerals for the teeth and the body, and it serves to reduce plaque as well. Until recently, studies substantiating the effectiveness of kelp against plaque could only reveal that it does work, but not why it works.

That is, until a 2012 study at Newcastle University in the UK found that Bacillus licheniformis, a bacteria that lives on the surface of kelp, is the hero here. When these bacteria are ingested and die, they produce a special amylase enzyme that destroys the biofilm that otherwise forms dental plaque. Kelp is very easy to feed; you only need to add ¼ to ½ teaspoon per day to your pet’s food. Results are usually seen within one month.

Adding the healing properties of these herbs (and of kelp!) to your dog or cat’s dental wellness protocol will help minimize discomfort while enhancing the health of his teeth and gums — and keep his breath sweeter!

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TO THE RESCUE

Monkey’s House

Photos courtesy of Monkey's House

Animal Wellness will donate 25% of each subscription purchased using promo code MH to Monkey’s House.

Monkey’s House uses a variety of alternative therapies — including comprehensive pain management and oxygen therapy during emergencies — to help heal animals and minimize discomfort.

They often take in dogs with severe heart or lung diseases, kidney or liver failure, diabetes, seizures and cancer. A lot of their canine residents are blind and/or deaf.

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2015 LOCATION: Southampton, NJ TYPES OF ANIMAL THEY WORK WITH: “Our focus is on hospice dogs that would otherwise be euthanized in shelters due to a terminal diagnosis,” says co-founder Jeff Allen.

NUMBER OF STAFF/VOLUNTEERS/FOSTER HOMES: Monkey’s House is volunteer-run. The dogs receive round-theclock care from a volunteer base of 20. They also have a team of foster families who play a critical role in the organization.

FUNDRAISING PROJECTS: Many local businesses host benefits for Monkey’s House and, according to Jeff, they also get a great response with their Amazon Wish List. But most of their fundraising is done through social media. “We like to call our 65K Facebook followers our Monkey’s House Family,” says Jeff.

“When we’re running low on supplies, we put a plea out on social media and they are replenished.”

FAVORITE RESCUE STORY: Hannah Bear was pulled from a kill shelter in Philadelphia. This sweet Pomeranian mix had ulcerated mammary masses and no hair from the neck down. She was seen

by Monkey House’s vet, who didn’t think there would be enough skin left to completely close her chest after removing the masses.

Hannah Bear was treated with neoplascene, a herbal salve that

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eats cancer cells, in the hope it would prepare her for surgery.

While the formula was doing its job, the team worked to improve Hannah’s nutritional status and overall physical health.

Hannah was sweet and cooperative in those early weeks, but just before her surgery, she became lethargic and withdrawn. She stopped eating and the Monkey’s House team began to fear the worst. Around that time, complications arose. The vet announced that the cancer had spread to her lungs, and they almost didn’t operate. Luckily, something told them to go forward as planned.

The surgery was a success. The masses, as well as Hannah’s infected uterus and a few bad teeth, were removed. “Just a few days after surgery, she felt well enough to chase our cat,” says co-founder Michele Allen. “That’s when we learned she has a spicy side!”

Thanks to a keto-based raw diet, Hannah grew a beautiful thick coat. Today, she is on supplements to support her organs and boost her immune system, as well as Chinese herbs that slow the progression of cancer. She has been at Monkey’s House over two years. She loves belly rubs, lying in the sun, and walks along the Jersey shore with the other shelter pups.

facebook.com/monkeyshouse.org/

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EATING WELL

FEEDING YOUR DOG THE

TCM way

By Suzi Beber

Exploring the Yin and Yang of different foods to enhance the health and well-being of your canine companion.

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Have you ever heard people talk about “cooling” or “warming” foods, either for themselves or their dogs, and wondered what they meant? This terminology is part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach to health and diet, in which concepts such as Yin and Yang play important roles. Let’s explore this approach in more depth, and look at how it can be used to enhance your dog’s nutrition and well-being.

A PERSONAL STORY Growing up in Toronto, my family had a favourite Chinese restaurant, and from time to time, the chef was a very welcome face in our own kitchen.

Sometimes he prepared special dishes, carefully explaining why he combined certain foods and spices, and how the different combinations benefitted our health. I was too young to fully understand the Yin and Yang of food and life, but later, I was lucky to be given the opportunity to spend time studying with two Chinese physicians, one of whom was a sixth generation herbalist.

He taught me a lot about the universal principles of life and the balance of all things, including the Five Elements (see sidebar on page 93). In teaching me that, he also taught me how we can work towards a balance and harmony of foods that meet not only our needs, but also those of our dogs.

UNDERSTANDING YIN AND YANG The earliest Chinese characters for Yin and Yang were found on “oracle bones”. These bones were the skeletal remains of different animals, and were used in ancient Chinese divination practices going all the way back to the 14th century BC. Simply put, Yin is the darkness and Yang is the sunlight.

In TCM, this concept of dualism and its fundamental principle underlie physiology, pathology, and the treatment of illnesses.

Yin and Yang classify diseases as either “cooling” or “warming”. Warming diseases are treated with cooling foods and herbs, while cooling diseases are treated with warming foods and herbs.

Our goal, then, is to work towards a balance of “hot” and “cold” in our dogs’ bodies so that optimal health can be achieved. Such a dog shows no outward sign of illness or disease, doesn’t have skin issues, has nice clear eyes, no stinky breath, and a tongue that is pink/red in colour. Mentally, a balanced dog can adapt to a variety of different environments.

WARMING, COOLING OR NEUTRAL FOODS

a great little book called Eastern Food Therapy for Pets by Marc Smith, DVM and Casey Damron, DVM: “One type of fish lives in the deepest and darkest part of the lake and another fish lives near the surface of the lake where the water is warmer. The fish at the bottom of the lake are less active and they prefer the cooler temperatures. The fish living closer to the surface of the lake are more active and prefer the warmer temperatures. The fish at the bottom of the lake would be classified as a cooling food, while the fish living closer to the surface of the lake would be considered a warming food.”

Continued on page 92.

All foods have a special energy, whether warming, cooling or neutral. Warming foods increase metabolism, cooling foods decrease metabolism, and neutral foods are just that — neutral. Today, we call this TCMderived approach Food Energetics.

The theory suggests that a properly-balanced diet keeps your dog’s body healthy, and if need be, helps bring back health and harmony when he’s challenged with illness and disease. The focus is on the quality of the food rather than its quantity or caloric value and is the perfect descriptor for “more does not mean better.”

Here is an easy-tounderstand example from Animal Wellness

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BALANCE HIS YIN AND YANG, AND TONIFY HIS QI, WITH THIS “NEUTRAL” FOOD FEST These are very easy recipes to prepare as a sauté in a large pan, or in a slow cooker. They can also be served raw. The foods listed here can be used on their own or in combination, and can also be used to modify a cool or hot diet.

Meats: Beef, beef liver, bison, pork, pork liver, pork kidneys, tripe Fish: Mackerel, salmon, sardines, sturgeon, tuna Vegetables: Cabbage, carrots, green beans, pumpkin, yam, Shiitake mushrooms

1 pound grass-fed ground beef 1/2 pound beef liver 1/2 pound beef heart

OR

1 cup quinoa + 2 cups filtered water or broth* 2 tablespoons first-pressed olive oil 1 teaspoon basil, dried

Fruits: Pomegranate, raspberries

2 teaspoons oregano, dried (oregano promotes Qi circulation, supporting the bladder, heart, kidneys, liver, and spleen)

Grains: Cooked whole brown rice, whole white rice, rye, quinoa

* When serving this recipe raw, omit the quinoa, or cook and cool it, then add the other ingredients.

Continued from page 91.

This is very different from Western food science, which is based on specific amounts of food; focuses on the number of calories found in a cup of food; and looks at how it is metabolized in the body.

COOLING FOODS FOR “HOT” DOGS A “hot” dog is one that is always looking for the coolest place in the house. He will likely prefer lying on tile rather than carpet, and may pant a lot, especially in the evening. He may also be restless, moving from place to place and having difficulty settling down.

His skin may be hot to the touch and have patchy red spots. This is a dog who needs cooling foods.

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According to TCM, if you feed this dog cooling foods — sometimes called Yin Tonic Foods — such as white fish (e.g. pollock, cod), duck or rabbit, then he’ll cool down too. Consider adding some whole fruits and vegetables, like apples, bananas, cranberries, watermelon, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers and celery, as well as mushrooms. Add a sprinkle of sea salt, kelp or other seaweeds such as Nori. Whole grains like barley and millet are also suggested for a cooling diet, while buckwheat is another cooling food to consider. To top it all off, add a drizzle of first-pressed sesame or flax seed oil, and a dollop of goat yogurt.

WARMING FOODS FOR “COLD” DOGS “Cold” dogs may experience general weakness and fatigue, as well as exercise intolerance. They may have shortness of breath and be slow-moving, preferring instead to lie around. Cold dogs seek out warm places, and may be stiff after

WOOD

Fire = Heart

Earth = Spleen

Water = Kidney

It’s a good idea to work with a TCM practitioner when using this approach with

Wood = Liver

EARTH

This is when you can make up a pot of warming foods (Yang or Qi Tonic Foods), such as chicken and chicken liver, turkey, lamb or venison, with some squash and whole oats, a sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger and turmeric, and a drizzle of unsulphured blackstrap molasses. For a warming fishy snack for your dog, try anchovies.

Metal = Lung

While each element works independently in a dog’s body (and your own), together they provide overall health and balance. While this concept is in reality very complex, we can develop a template to begin using some of this philosophy when preparing foods for our dogs.

METAL

they have been lying down for a while. Cold weather is an invitation to joint pain and even arthritis in these dogs. They may turn away from food.

FIRE

WATER

FIVE ELEMENT THEORY The Five Element Theory further shapes our understanding of Yin and Yang and the balance we want to strive towards in our dogs. The five elements are Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal and Water.

These elements are a reflection of natural law in the universe, and within that, we can explore imbalance in the body since each element corresponds to a major organ:

your dog’s food. You can find practitioners in the US and Canada by visiting the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies’ online directory at civtedu.org/directory/. In the meantime, harmonize your dog’s Yin and Yang by trying the accompanying “neutral” recipe (see page 92), and get on the road to maximizing his health.

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EVENTS Global Pet Expo February 26–28, 2020 – Orlando, FL

Super Pet Expo March 20–22, 2020 – Chantilly, VA

The pet industry’s largest annual trade show, Global Pet Expo, is open to independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers and other qualified professionals. The 2019 show featured over 1100 exhibitors and more than 3000 new product launches with almost 7000 pet product buyers from around the world in attendance.

Shop the best pet products from over 150+ local and national exhibitors and speak with representatives from local rescue organizations to learn about the adoption process. Meet and greet with pet experts in a variety of specialties, including training, nutrition and health.

Leashed, friendly pets are always welcome!

This event is presented by the American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association.

For more information: info@superpetexpo.com www.superpetexpo.com

Whether it is entertainment, education or other opportunities you are seeking, there is something for everyone at this show.

Healing Touch for Animals® Level 1 Course March 20–22, 2020 – San Diego, CA

For more information: www.canadianpetexpo.ca

Introduction to Healing Touch: Friday / 6:00pm – 10:00pm This class is a prerequisite of the Small Animal Class.

Calgary Pet Expo May 2–3, 2020 – Calgary, AB

Small Animal Class: Saturday / 9:00am – 6:00pm This class is a prerequisite of the Large Animal Class.

Join us for two days where you will find hundreds of pets, pet products, service providers, entertainers, clubs and organizations that cater to pets. This pet expo strives to include all types of pets – from dogs and cats, to reptiles and other small caged exotics.

For more information: (203) 532-0000 globalpetexpo@americanpetproducts.org www.globalpetexpo.org Whiskers Wine & Dine 2020 March 14, 2020 – Lakewood, WA In its 16th year, this annual fundraiser’s goal is to help raise money to end pet overpopulation. This event will be held at the McGavick Convention Center and includes dinner as well as a silent live and dessert auction.

Proceeds support Northwest Spay and Neuter Center, a local nonprofit providing affordable spay and neuter services for cats, dogs, and rabbits.

For more information: wwd@nwspayneuter.org https://whiskerswinedine.org/ Birmingham Pet Expo March 14–15, 2020 – Birmingham, AL Fabulous prize giveaways and fun for both the two-legged and four-legged!

This pet expo involves dozens of rescue groups and a mega-adoption event, discounted vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm and flea preventatives, free nail trims, agility demonstrations, live entertainment, obedience demonstrations and author readings/book signings. Plus, shop the latest and greatest pet products!

Learn about pet care, volunteerism, grooming, pet behavior and training, traveling with your pet, and how you can make a difference. Plus, discover different types of pets/breeds, enjoy a veterinarian FAQ, and plenty of fun activities for you and your pet!

For more information: (800) 977-3609 https://birminghampetexpo.com/

Large Animal Class: Sunday / 9:00am – 6:00pm This class is required in order to apply to become a Healing Touch for Animals® Certified Practitioner. Working with the horses' large energy systems benefits students with greater energetic awareness and well-rounded experience.

For more information: Kristin Simmons (619) 261-9496 SanDiego@HealingTouchforAnimals.com www.healingtouchforanimals.com Chicagoland Family Pet Expo March 20–22, 2020 – Arlington Heights, IL Chicagoland's favorite pet expo returns for its 27th year and is set to deliver top-quality entertainment, demonstrations, presentations and the latest products, services and rescue organizations for pet owners and pet enthusiasts.

The pet expo will showcase a wide range of product and service categories including grooming supplies, leashes, collars, leads, pet clothing, pet beds and furniture, food, treats, toys, veterinary services, pet boarding and sitting, training, breed clubs, animal rescue organizations and much more!

Canadian Pet Expo April 10–12, 2020 – Toronto, ON The Canadian Pet Expo is a world-class pet show that promotes responsible pet ownership and celebrates all types of pets from all walks of life. This show features hundreds of vendors as well as interactive events, demonstrations, workshops and renowned speakers.

All of these animals can be seen on-site during the show for you to interact with!

For more information: (855) 723-1156 http://calgarypetexpo.com/ Vancouver Island Pet Expo May 2–3, 2020 – Victoria, BC Vancouver Island Pet Expo is the only show of its kind and is designed to educate and entertain the public about the wonderful world of pets! This expo is a family-oriented show where you have the opportunity to see a wide variety of animals up close, experience talented pets during presentations and learn everything you need to know about your pet. Find booths full of pet products, service providers, entertainers, trusted pet experts, as well as clubs and organizations that cater to pets.

For more information: info@pvevents.ca www.vancouverislandpetexpo.com

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Email your event to: info@animalwellnessmagazine.com 94

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MUST READS

Title: Kindness for All Creatures Author: Sarah C. Beasley Are you doing all you can for your animal’s well-being? This is the question asked on the jacket of Sarah C. Beasley’s new book, Kindness for All Creatures: Buddhist Advice for Compassionate Animal Care. But Beasley doesn’t just ask the question — she answers it. In beautifully written prose that both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike will appreciate, she offers numerous ways that we, as humans, can strive to be more compassionate and empathic toward our furry friends.

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Title: Doctor Dogs Author: Maria Goodavage In her new book, Doctor Dogs: How Our Best Friends Are Becoming Our Best Medicine, journalist Maria Goodavage delves into the fascinating ways dogs are saving the lives of humans. She recounts a journey she took around the globe, during which she investigated the science behind the dog’s miraculous ability to sniff out disease and help people who suffer from health problems. From Japan to Vancouver and numerous locations in between, Goodavage interviewed training teams and met lifesaving dogs — and now she’s sharing her accounts and findings in this beautiful narrative.

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Doctor Dogs is a testament to a commonly overlooked fact — that dogs are so much more than man’s best friend. They’re humankind’s heroes!

Publisher: DUTTON

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IT’S A FACT

— CATS ARE GETTING

FATTER A new study reveals that cats are heavier now than they were 20 years ago, and it’s negatively affecting their health and well-being.

New research conducted at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph shows that obesity in cats is much more of a concern now than it was in the 1990s. The research team analyzed weight measurements taken from over 19 million cats across North America between 1981 and 2016, and observed weight gain and loss patterns over the course of the cats’ lives.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, reveals that most of the cats continued to put on weight once they reached adulthood, and that their heaviest mean weight is higher now than it was two decades ago.

THE DATA ALSO SHOWED THAT: • The cats’ mean weight reached its peak between six and ten years of age • Males generally hit higher weight peaks than females • Cats that were spayed or neutered tended to be heavier.

The mean weight of neutered eight-year-old domestic cats increased by approximately ¼ kg between 1995 and 2005 and then remained steady for the next ten years.

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"It might not seem like much, but half a pound is still a significant amount for a cat," says lead study author, Adam Campigotto.

Though the study didn’t look at what caused the weight gain, Campigotto suggests it might have to do with changes in cat parents’ feeding behaviors over time, improved palatability of cat food, or the fact that more people have begun to keep their cats indoors.

"Treats can have a big impact on weight, and often people associate giving treats as a kind of love," Campigotto adds.

If you’re worried about your own cat’s weight, cut back on the treats you’re feeding him and replace that form of affection with quality time. Boredom can also lead to overeating, so engage him in interactive play and make sure he’s getting enough exercise and mental stimulation.

Theresa Bernardo, a professor at the Ontario Veterinary College and one of the co-authors of the study, also suggests that cat parents weigh their felines at home if it’s not being done regularly at the vet clinic. Because weight changes may be linked to other health issues such as diabetes, some cancers and arthritis, it’s important to monitor your cat’s weight closely. avmajournals.avma.org

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