animal
HOLISTIC RESOURCE GUIDE
wellness N O W
I N S I D E
educating�your�passion
Hip Dysplasia:
the alternatives to surgery
Katrina Warren
TV’s Beverly Hills Vet finds adventure in L.A.
Inside: North America’s most Amazing Animals! $4.95 USA/$5.95 Canada
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 1
www.animalwellnessmagazine.com
animal wellness
1
contents
A spec
artic
PETe
Colos
22
www
features 12 Hip dysplasia
Yes, there are alternatives to surgery
22 Katrina Warren
Animal Planet’s Beverly Hills Vet finds adventure in L.A.
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24 Different Strokes The benefits of massage for our four-legged folks
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28 Fish or flax
The super healing power of Essential Fatty Acids
32 Happy horses are healthy horses
Creating a more natural environment for equines
46 Animal hero
Chris DeRose Why he’s many animal’s best hope
48 Under wraps
Cold weather fashions you and your dog will love
35 Living with FeLV
Dispelling the myths around Feline Leukemia Virus
columns 8 Yakkity yak
51 Book
reviews
18 Dr. Martin Goldstein 52 Leagle beagle 31 Breed-specific diets 54 Animal passages
56 Communing with animals
66 The tail end
departments 35
6 7
Editorial Pony express
37 Holistic
resource guide
45 Product picks
57 Ad spots 65 Classifieds
Animal Wellness Magazine (ISSN 0838-5408) is published six times a year by Redstone Media Group Inc. Publications Mail Agreement #40884047. Entire contents copyright© 2004. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. Publication date: January, 2004
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animal wellness
A special information article paid for by PETerna® Brand Colostrum Product www.peterna.com
COLOSTRUM…LIFE’S FIRST FOOD. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COLOSTRUM...IMPORTANT FAQ’S YOU SHOULD KNOW. WHAT IS COLOSTRUM? Life’s perfect first food, colostrum is the pre-milk fluid produced by all female mammals prior to giving birth. Naturally rich in immune and growth factors, colostrum helps insure the health of the newborn. Animals of all ages can benefit from taking colostrum because it provides multiple health enhancing factors for every stage of life. Colostrum and its components have been used for many years to treat a variety of diseases and health problems. Historically, bovine colostrum has played a significant role in natural healing. In Western medicine, bovine colostrum was used extensively for immune purposes prior to the discovery of antibiotics and sulfa drugs. WHY WOULD AN ADULT NEED COLOSTRUM? Research has shown that, as pets age, their bodies gradually produce less of the immune and growth factors that help their bodies fight off disease, promote energy and vitality, and heal damaged body tissue. Colostrum contains a variety of naturally occurring substances that have demonstrated the ability to kill bacteria and viral invaders, stimulate tissue repair (particularly the bowel lining), stimulate fat utilization for fuel and optimize cellular reproduction. Colostrum is the only natural source in nature that can provide this marvelous combination of molecules.
PETerna® is not only a source of nutrients; it
also contains several biologically active molecules with recognized anti-microbial activity including:
LYSOZYME: This natural enzyme causes the hydrolysis of bacterial cell walls that results in bacterial death. Lysozyme constitutes an important first line of defense against bacterial infections at mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose, and gastrointestinal tract.
HOW SAFE IS COLOSTRUM? Colostrum is a food and can be consumed by most pets without any side effects. It has no known drug interactions. Colostrum is not recommended for pets that are lactose (milk sugar) intolerant. There is no known toxicity associated with the consumption of colostrum. WHY SHOULD I USE PETerna® BOVINE COLOSTRUM FOR MY PET? • Improved skin and haircoat • Enhanced tissue growth, healing and repair • Enhanced metabolism • Effective anti aging compounds • Contains immune factors • Promotes gum health, and so much more WHY CHOOSE PETerna® BRAND? PETerna® is the only colostrum product tested to ensure the levels of key ingredients. PETerna® is collected using the same standards as for milk used for human consumption, always ensuring appropriate feeding for the calf.
My family would like to thank PETerna® My youngest dog suffered from a reactíon after her vaccinations. She had trouble putting on weight, lost her appetite and was lethargic. She only weighed two pounds so you can imagine my concern. When I came across Peterna I thought “Why Not” lets give it a try. Within two weeks she had gained an entire pound. I was so excited with this new product that I started giving it to all my dogs. I have one with bad knees and two that do agility so how could I go wrong? I really believe that Peterna has helped all my dogs in one way or another. When you have working dogs it is really important to keep up their energy level and I believe Peterna does that. Thanks, Tracey Geddes
LACTOPEROXIDASE: This enzyme is considered a major anti-bacterial substance in colostrum. It acts by inhibiting bacterial metabolism.
LACTOFERRIN: This molecule is a potent iron-binding protein shown to be capable of inhibiting the growth of many pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella sp., and Giardia lamblia
1-866-949-3119
colleen@peterna.com To learn more about colostrum visit:
www.peterna.com
IMMUNOGLOBULINS: Also known as antibodies, they are the best-recognized anti-microbial substances in colostrum. They exert potent anti-microbial activity in the gastrointestinal system.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
animal wellness
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Fish or flax? The super healing power of EFAs by Shawn Messonnier, DVM
M
ost of us know something about the importance of essential fatty acids to human health. But can they help our animal companions as well? The answer is yes. In fact, fatty acids have become the most commonly used nutritional supplements for dogs and cats. They’ve been successfully used long enough that most conventional veterinarians now include them in the treatment of at least some diseases.
The facts on fatty acids Medicinal fatty acids are divided into two categories: omega-3 and omega-6. In general, omega-6s tend to promote inflammation, whereas omega-3s reduce it. Omega-3 fatty acids are therefore used in diseases where anti-inflammatory activity is needed, and can be substituted for medications such as corticosteroids. Omega-6s, meanwhile, are used mainly for coat and skin maintenance. The most commonly used fatty acid supplements are fish and flaxseed oils, both of which contain omega-3s. Flaxseed oil actually has more omega-3s than fish oil, but in an inactive form; research studies have therefore indicated that the latter is most beneficial for both people and animals. For this reason, fish oil is generally recommended as the omega-3 fatty acid supplement of choice. Active omega-3s — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — are derived from the oils of coldwater fish such as salmon, trout, or most commonly, menhaden fish. Flaxseed oil, meanwhile, comes from the seeds of the flax plant and has been proposed as a less smelly alternative to fish oil. It contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. Flaxseed oil is also a source of omega-6 fatty acids. Animals with inf lammatory diseases may respond to supplementation with flaxseed oil. However, many animals, as well as people, cannot efficiently convert ALA to the more active EPA and DHA. In one study, flaxseed oil was found to
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animal wellness
be ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA in humans. Nor was flaxseed oil as beneficial as fish oil in animals with kidney disease. So while flaxseed oil has been suggested as a substitute for fish oil, there is no evidence that it is effective when used for the same therapeutic purposes. In fact, there is little evidence that flaxseed oil is effective for any specific therapeutic purpose aside from improving the coat and skin, although the lignans contained in the oil may have anti-cancer benefits.
How can fish oil help? Fish oil supplementation may help animals with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and cancer and has demonstrated benefits in animals with allergies, kidney disease and heart disease. It might also help with diabetes: just as people with this disease can have fatty acid derangement and require supplementation, this may also be true for animals. Fish oil has also shown benefits as an anti-depressant in people with mild depression. In short, animals with any type of inflammatory disease may benefit from fish oil supplementation. In general, more severe disease requires higher doses than those commonly recommended, and additional supplements such as herbs, homeopathics and antioxidants are frequently necessary as fish oil is not often useful on its own. Fish oil is very effective in some animals with allergic skin disease. It is easy to administer (via gel caps or liquid) and can reduce the amount of corticosteroid or antihistamine needed to control itching. The response is variable in other diseases (such as kidney disease) but fish oil appears effective in research studies. In animals with some types of cancer, fish oil has slowed down the growth and spread of the disease. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, it’s generally recommended that fish oil be added to the diets of all animals with cancer.
In my opinion, any animal may benefit from fatty acid supplementation. While we don’t always have hard “proof” that it works in every case, the science shows how it works and suggests that it may be useful any time inflammation is a problem.
flax oil but it should be combined with other supplements for maximum effectiveness. Isn’t it nice to know that a supplement that’s good for you is also good for your four-footed friend?
How safe are fatty acids? Many people are concerned about the contamination of fish with environmental poisons such as mercury, but this does not apply to fish oil since the toxins are found in the meat, not the oil. Supplementation with fish oil can also result in decreased levels of vitamin E, which is why the supplements have vitamin E added to them.
DR. SHAWN MESSONNIER
IS THE AUTHOR OF THE AWARD-WINNING
The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats Healthy Dog. HIS HOSPITAL,
VETERINARY PRACTICE,
IS LOCATED IN
AND
8 Weeks to a
PAWS & CLAWS ANIMAL
PLANO, TEXAS. YOU
CAN CONTACT HIM AT
WWW.PETCARENATURALLY.COM OR NATURALVET@JUNO.COM.
Fish oil supplementation is very safe. Because it has a mild “blood-thinning” effect, it should not be combined with powerful “blood-thinning” medications such as Coumadin (warfarin) or heparin, except on a veterinarian’s advice. In people, high doses of fish oil (four grams or more a day) when combined with ginkgo biloba has caused serious bleeding problems. However, fish oil does not seem to cause these problems when taken on its own at commonly recommended dosages. Nor does it appear to raise blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, despite earlier concerns. Flaxseed oil, meanwhile, does not seem to cause any “blood thinning.” If you’re worried about giving extra “fat” to your animal, especially if he’s overweight, take comfort. Fatty acid supplements contain only a handful of calories and are unlikely to hurt any animal on a diet. To achieve results, dosages much higher than those recommended on the label are needed. As a rule, I try to start with 2 to 4 times the label dose when treating disease, and adjust the dose depending upon the animal’s response. I only use the label dose when recommending fatty acids as a coat or skin supplement. Animal guardians should be cautious about buying products without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some may not contain the labeled amount of fish oil. Fatty acids are becoming a part of our mainstream therapy for many animal disorders. In general, fish oil is preferred to animal wellness
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