ANIMAL
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS inspired ideas
Th
FOR CELEBRATING AT HOME WITH YOUR FUR-KIDS!
Holiday
HOW TO
Gi
BOOST HIS IMMUNE
f t G u ide
10 MOST COMMON HEALTH ISSUES IN DOGS AND CATS
SYSTEM
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG
DOESN’T LIKE KIDS HOME HEALTH CHECKLIST
BUYING A PET CAM?
FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 Display until January 30, 2021
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 22 ISSUE 6
e U l t i m at e
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
CONTENTS December 2020/January 2021
Columns 16 NEED TO KNOW The best ID options for your dog
From traditional tags to GPS, there are lots of ways to ID your dog, so if he ever gets lost or goes missing, you have a much better chance of finding him again.
34 Features 12
T op 10 ways to naturally support your dog or cat’s immune system
Healthy immunity is one of the foundations of wellness for your dog or cat. Here are the ten best ways you can naturally support his immune system.
24 Novel proteins for your dog or cat From boar to yak, novel protein sources offer variety to your dog or cat’s diet, help with allergies, and widen your options in a time when food supply chains can get shaky.
34
1 0 ways to celebrate the holidays with your animals…in 2020
57
The holidays will be quieter this year due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the merriment at home with your fur babes!
y dog doesn’t like kids — what M should I do?
If your dog doesn’t like kids, counter-conditioning, desensitization, and other training techniques can help him feel more comfortable in the presence of children.
20 4
Animal Wellness
20 WELLNESS WISDOM
A home health check for your dog or cat
Doing a regular headto-tail health check on your dog or cat is a good way to keep on top of any changes in his wellbeing that might require veterinary attention.
28 EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING 6 ways to calm a stressed cat
Some cats seem especially prone to getting stressed, and it can be challenging to find the cause.
30 HEALTH WATCH
Can I give human medications to my dog or cat?
Certain common human medications are sometimes used in animals, but should be done only under veterinary supervision.
42 IN FOCUS
Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund
Dedicated to “taking a bite out of cancer”, Smiling Blue Skies helps fund studies to learn more about this devastating disease, and make a difference in the lives of our dogs.
44 ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
Is PEMF therapy an option for your dog or cat?
Short for “pulsed electromagnetic field therapy”, PEMF has a variety of applications for dogs and cats, from wound healing to anxiety relief.
48 FINANCIAL MATTERS
When you can’t pay your vet bills
Combine the high cost of vet care with an unstable economy, and it’s no surprise that many people are having a hard time paying their vet bills. There’s help for those who qualify.
50 KNOW
YOUR CAT
How do a cat’s five senses compare to ours?
If you suspect your cat’s senses are superior to a human’s, you’re right — for the most part. Let’s look at how his five senses compare to yours.
52 SAFETY FIRST 6 safety tips for dog toys
Playing with toys is important to your dog’s well-being and happiness. To guard against accidental injury, follow these six toy safety tips.
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62 SPOTLIGHT
10 most common medical conditions in dogs and cats
74 REWIND
From allergies to thyroid problems…take a look at the most common medical conditions veterinarians see in their dog and cat patients.
How to make vet visits less stressful for your dog
Vet visits are a lot easier on everyone when your dog is stress-free. Here are six ways to help him chill out.
66 AT HOME
Pet cams — why all the hype?
Pet cams have become very trendy in recent years… and with good reason! Take a look at what these devices do, and how to choose the right one for your own home.
Dog and human brains process faces differently
ACUPRESSURE Supporting your cat’s kidneys with acupressure
70 ANIMAL HERO Betty White: Golden Girl and animal welfare advocate
79 NEWSWORTHY
72 ANIMAL
Regarded as “The Root of Life”, the kidneys are vital to your cat’s health and survival. These acupressure sessions can help support and vitalize her kidney function.
Researchers in Hungary discover striking similarities and differences in how dog and human brains process visual information about others.
28
Her show business career has spanned eight decades, but Betty White has been an animal lover even longer than that.
Departments 7 From the Editor 10 In the news
56 From the NASC 61 Training tips
80 Marketplace
37 Business profile
64 Wellness
80 Events
38 Holiday gift
69 Welcome to
55 Product picks
77 Let's get social
— Sleepypod guide
Social Media
resource guide winter!
78 Must reads
81 Classifieds 82 The A-maze-ing treat hunt
Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
Animal Wellness
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Top 10 ways to naturally
support your dog or cat’s
immune system By Katie Kangas, DVM, CVA, CVCP
Healthy immunity is one of the foundations of wellness for your dog or cat. Here are the ten best ways you can naturally support his immune system.
You probably know that the immune system is responsible for protecting your dog or cat’s body (and your own!) from infections. But it does much more than that. The immune system also regulates inflammation (the source of all chronic disease), suppresses cancer cells, and helps identify and rid the body of chemicals, toxins, germs, etc. Clearly, a healthy immune system is paramount for optimal well-being, so it’s important to make immune care a big part of your dog or cat’s wellness regimen. This article highlights ten ways to naturally support your dog or cat’s immune system so that he stays as strong and healthy as possible.
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Animal Wellness
D gs Cats
HEALTHY IMMUNITY STARTS IN THE GUT What you may not know is that your dog or cat’s capacity for a healthy immune system actually starts in his gastrointestinal tract. In fact, it is estimated that the majority of the immune system is based in the gut! This means your dog or cat will be heartier, healthier, and more resilient to all kinds of diseases if he has a healthy gut. This ground zero immune function relies significantly on two very important factors (see sidebar on page 14). With this knowledge, it is easy to understand that protecting and/or healing your dog or cat’s gut is a powerfully proactive
way to keep him healthier and less likely to develop infections or diseases, and to improve his vitality and longevity.
TOP 10 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUPPORTING IMMUNE HEALTH Using a functional medicine approach (see sidebar below right), we can now look at specific methods and tools to support your dog or cat’s gut health, and thereby optimize his immune health. Another important goal is to minimize his exposure to the common offenders that can suppress immune system function, such as toxins in food and water, excessive vaccines, and overuse of prescription medications. 1. Feed your dog or cat a balanced, fresh, or low-processed diet that contains speciesappropriate ingredients. Heavily-processed
foods that contain high carbohydrate percentages (i.e. most commercial pet foods) alter the gut microbiome and cause inflammation, which can lead to leaky gut syndrome, digestive problems, immune system compromise, etc. Processed pet foods also contain a lot of additives and preservatives, in addition to the glyphosates/ herbicides used in growing the ingredients. 2. Provide a trace mineral supplement, such as in the form of kelp or seaweed powder. Trace minerals are
typically deficient in all diets, yet are strategically important in immune health, endocrine health, digestion, and all organ system function. This group of minerals includes magnesium, selenium, zinc, potassium, and iodine. 3. Give a daily serving of fermented foods to your animal. Fermented foods can out-
perform many probiotics by naturally providing a wide diversity of beneficial bacteria/microbes, digestive enzymes, minerals, etc. This promotes healthy digestion and a healthy intestinal environment. Fermented food options for dogs and cats include kefir/raw fermented dairy, small quantities of fermented veggies, fermented fish stock, etc. 4. Add a digestive enzyme supplement to his meals every day. The ancestral diets of dogs and
cats were not cooked, especially not at the high temperatures used in modern-day commercial pet food processing. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above 115°F. Adding digestive enzymes to your animal’s meals can support improved digestion and gut health.
5. Provide colostrum as a daily supplement. Bovine
colostrum is a natural and powerful healing food for your animal’s gut and entire body. It provides immune factors necessary to protect and rebuild the gut lining and immune system. This special food also provides growth factors for the repair and healing of the body. Consider using a liposomal form of colostrum, which allows for optimal delivery and absorption of these specialized nutrients in the gut. 6. Add a daily medicinal mushroom supplement to your animal’s food. Mushrooms such as
Reishi, Shitake, Maitake, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, and Lion’s Mane qualify as “superfood” supplements, as they provide numerous health benefits. They are most recognized for immune modulation and anti-cancer properties, but also provide minerals, antioxidants, prebiotic fibers, and vitamin D. 7. Add a clinoptilolite powder supplement to your dog or cat’s food once a day. Clinoptilolite is a type of zeolite, special
mineral substances derived from the volcanic ash layer of the earth. Zeolites have a powerful adsorbent capacity within their molecular structure that traps and safely removes toxins, chemicals, and heavy metals from the body. Zeolites also help repair the gut and have immune support benefits too, including antiviral and anticancer properties. Additionally, clinoptilolite has no flavor, and is readily accepted by dogs and cats when mixed into their food.
Functional medicine As an integrative veterinarian, I know there are multitudes of ways to support animal health and wellness with natural and holistic approaches. My go-to approach has evolved into supporting my patients with a functional medicine mindset. Functional medicine is a term used in holistic human health too, and applies two main principles:
1. Build and support the body’s ability to achieve and maintain optimal function, via tools such as optimal diet, strategic nutritional supplements, specific herbal formulas, etc.
2. Avoid or minimize any offenders that cause dysfunction,
inflammation, degeneration and disease, such as toxins/ chemicals, tap water, poor diet, excess vaccines, overuse of medications/antibiotics, etc. Animal Wellness
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