ANIMAL
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS HOW NUTRITION CAN
HEAL HER SKIN
5 TIPS
FOR WALKING YOUR DOG DURING COVID
REPEL FLEAS & TICKS WITH THESE 5 COMMON KITCHEN INGREDIENTS
TOP EARTH-FRIENDLY OPTIONS FOR PET WASTE DISPOSAL APRIL/MAY 2021 Display until May 30, 2021
TRAIN HIM TO ENJOY
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DOES YOUR CAT HAVE
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VOLUME 23 ISSUE 2
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
CONTENTS April/May 2021
Columns 16 PEST CONTROL 5 ingredients in your kitchen that repel fleas and ticks Help keep fleas and ticks off your dog and cat with these ten common ingredients!
18 FEET FIRST
26 Features 10
Healing your dog or cat’s skin with nutrition and supplements
Resolving allergies and other skin problems in your animal means getting to the root cause, and using nutrition and supplementation to help heal his skin from the inside out.
26 36
ow to train your dog to enjoy H vet visits
One key to taking the anxiety out of vet visits is to train your dog to calmly accept handling and gentle restraint, and to make the experience from start to finish as pleasant as possible.
Earth-friendly pet waste disposal
68
4
What goes in, must come out…and that means finding safe, earth-friendly ways to dispose of your dog or cat’s waste. Here are some options.
hat can your dog or cat’s skin W tell you about his health?
Pay attention to the condition of your dog or cat’s skin. As his largest and hardest-working organ, it can tell you a lot about his overall health and well-being.
Animal Wellness
Year-round paw care for dogs Taking care of your dog’s paws isn’t just an occasional task. Tending to his tootsies year round helps ensure he keeps all four feet on the ground.
22 FELINE HEALTH What is feline hyperesthesia?
Also called rippling skin syndrome, feline hyperesthesia is an unusual condition that affects cats.
44 CAT
NUTRITION
Does your cat have a food allergy — or a food intolerance? They’re not one and the same. Understanding the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance is the first step to helping your cat back to health.
47 PANDEMIC POINTERS
5 social distancing tips for walking your dog Exercise is essential for you and your dog during COVID-19, but you also need to keep social distancing in mind. Here’s how.
47
30 COAT CARE
Why is my dog or cat losing his hair? Hair loss in dogs and cats has many potential causes. Getting a definitive diagnosis from your veterinarian is the first step to solving the problem.
40 HEALING
INSIDE & OUT
Does apitherapy have applications for dogs and cats? Apitherapy is the medical use of bee products such as pollen, venom, honey and propolis to help treat a variety of conditons. Can this approach be applied to dogs and cats?
40
48 NEED TO KNOW
When your dog or cat loses her appetite Inappetence can have many underlying causes, from physical to behavioral. Here are some common reasons your dog or cat may lose her appetite, along with tips to tempt her to eat.
52 LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD
Compassionate dog grooming The term “compassionate dog grooming” has been trending on social media lately. Here’s an inside look at what it’s all about.
68 56 EATING WELL
6 foods that can ward off worms in your dog Intestinal worms are more common in our canine companions than you may think. A variety of foods, from kefir to oats, can help keep these unwanted parasites at bay.
62 IN FOCUS
Understanding vaccinosis in dogs and cats Defined as an adverse reaction to a shot, vaccinosis can affect dogs and cats in various ways, from mild to severe.
66 KNOW
YOUR CAT
DNA testing tells you a lot about your cat From her ancestry to her genetic makeup, DNA testing can reveal some fascinating facts about your cat, while helping scientists learn more about the feline genome.
76 AT THE VET
The annual veterinary exam — what to expect Your dog or cat should see the veterinarian at least once a year for a check-up. Let’s take a look at what an annual veterinary exam entails.
72 NUTRITION FACTS
82 FUN FACTS
How to safely feed your dog a plantbased diet From health benefits to environmental sustainability, there are a lot of perks to plantbased diets. But can our dogs thrive without eating meat or other animal products?
What does your dog’s wagging tail really mean? A wagging tail doesn’t always indicate that your dog is happy. Learn how to read your canine companion’s “tail language”.
22
Departments 7 Editorial 15 Newsworthy 21 From the NASC 34 Product picks
60 Wellness
75 Let's get social
resource guide
65 Spring specialties 71 Business profile — ArtemiPet
79 Marketplace 79 Events 81 Classifieds
43 Recall roundup
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Animal Wellness
5
PEST CONTROL
ingredients in your kitchen that repel fleas and ticks
D gs Cats
By Emily Watson
Help keep fleas and ticks off your dog and cat with these five common ingredients!
It’s almost that time of year again…flea and tick season. Instead of reaching for chemical spot-on preventatives (which can do more harm than good), why not prevent your dog or cat from being bugged in a more natural fashion? Believe it or not, a number of common ingredients can be used to fend off fleas and ticks — and they might already be in your fridge or pantry!
16
Animal Wellness
Apple cider vinegar Is there anything ACV isn’t good for? Because of its acidity, this ingredient is displeasing to fleas and ticks. That said, its acidity also makes it a too bit harsh to apply directly to your animal’s skin, so be careful! Instead of applying it undiluted, you can use ACV to make your own homemade bug spray using the following recipe:
• 4 cups distilled water • 1 cup apple cider vinegar • 3 tablespoons aloe vera • 1 tablespoon peppermint castile soap Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and apply liberally to your animal’s coat as needed.
Yeast Brewer’s yeast is another ingredient with high acidity, which makes it a great weapon against fleas and ticks. It also contains many vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, B vitamins, and antioxidants. You can add this ingredient to your pup’s meals — just be careful not to give him too much as it’s known to cause gas.
COMBAT fleas AND ticks WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
High quality, therapeutic grade essential oils make a great addition to any bug-repelling regime. Certain EOs like citronella, clove, lemongrass, eucalyptus, cedarwood and lavender work to deter most insects. Simply mix a few drops in a bottle with water and spritz your indoor and outdoor spaces. You can also add a drop or two directly to your animal’s collar, bed or coat. Again, be absolutely sure to use a top quality brand that’s safe for dogs and cats, and avoid spraying essential oils near his face!
Roughly one tablespoon per day for a 50lb dog is recommended.
Lemon juice No discussion about acidity would be complete without a mention of citrus! Combine equal parts lemon juice and water and spritz your dog (and yourself) to combat fleas and ticks. Don’t use this blend on cats — they tend to not like lemon.
Herbs Common herbs like rosemary and mint are a great way to flavor your favorite dishes…and fend off bugs! Boil the leaves from these herbs and allow the water to cool before spraying it on your animal’s coat.
No lemon juice on hand? Boil some orange peels and use that water instead… once it’s cooled, of course.
Almond oil This nutty oil contains sulfur, a natural tick repellent. Just put some on your palms and massage it directly into your animal’s skin and coat to keep biters at bay. He’ll also reap the additional benefits almond oil has to offer — it’ll moisturize, condition and help reduce skin inflammation!
WHY ARE SPOT-ON FLEA AND TICK PRODUCTS SO DANGEROUS? Visit animalwellnessmagazine.com/spoton-flea-tick-preventives to find out!
Already have fleas? If your home is already flea-infested, it’ll take more than a little lemon juice to rectify the problem. To rid your space (and animals) of these pests, follow these steps: 1 . Clean your space — Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, upholstery and mattresses, wash (and heat dry) your bedding and clothes, and wipe down all surfaces, including walls and baseboards, with a natural all-purpose cleaner. 2 . Bath your animal — Pick up a natural flea shampoo and wash your dog or cat from head to tail. Fleas typically gravitate toward the neck and base of the tail, so spend extra time scrubbing those areas. Rinse well. 3 . Remove flea eggs — Using a flea comb, remove eggs and dead adult fleas from your animal’s coat. Note: unless you opt to use chemicalbased products around your house and on your animal (which should only be a last resort), this three-step process may have to be repeated a few times before you’re flea-free.
Animal Wellness
17