RAWPETDIGEST
February/ March2018
Easy w ays to k eep your i ndoor cat sl i m and tri m
Addressingyour dog'simpactedanal glandsnaturally Cannabi s and your cani ne: th e pros, th e cons, th e possi bi l i ti es
Fel i ne arth ri ti s: 3 essenti al th i ngs ev ery cat parent sh oul d k now
Using homeopathyto addressyour dog'sGIissues
Raw Pet Digest Editor-in-chief: Kristin Clark
Subscribe at www.rawpet digest .com For advert ising inf ormat ion, cont act krist in@rawpet digest .com All emails and letters become the property of Raw Pet Digest and may be reprinted in future issues.
Our mission at Raw Pet Digest is to share information that supports natural health with a broad audience to help improve the lives of our carnivore pets. We believe that only the body is capable of achieving and maintaining true health, but we also believe that there are many things that we can do to help support the body in its quest to maintain balance (health). Raw Pet Digest aims to help educate and inform you about those things so that you can help your pet live a long life and thrive naturally.
DISCLAIMER: All information contained in Raw Pet Digest is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prevent, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body or pets, and the author(s), publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility for such use. Anyone or their pets suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult with their physician or veterinarian. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, all views expressed herein by those being interviewed or featured are their own views and do not necessarily represent the views of Raw Pet Digest. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author(s) and Editor-in-Chief. The articles herein are for educational purposes only. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader.
On our cover: The beaut if ul raw-f ed Siberian show cat , Zuko. Phot o credit Jana Lembke On t h e back : A Dogu e de Bor deau x. Copyr igh t Jose M an u el Gelpi Diaz
FEATURES 5 Six Easy W ays to Get Your Indoor Cat
COLUMNS
Slim and Trim
4 Letter from the Editor
11Out for a Stroll
22 Raw Pets Thrive! Puzzle
12 Medical Marijuana for Dogs
24 The Beginner's Corner
17 Your Guide to Optimal Feline Nutrition
49 Spotlight on Health
31DIY Raw Feeding Made Easier 34 Poop, Poots, and General GI Ickies: A
63 The Raw-Pawthecary
Homeopathic Approach
65 Raw Pets Thrive!
38 Feline Arthritis
December 2017/January 2018 Puzzle Answer Key
42 Bacteria and Raw Diets: Should You be Concerned?
58 Overcoming Impacted Anal Glands
Letter fromtheEditor Welcome to the February/ March 2018 issue of Raw Pet Digest! I can?t believe it?s already been almost 3 years since we launched the magazine. We?ve grown, we?ve made some changes, but our core mission remains the same: to empower you with the information you need to keep your furry family members happy and healthy naturally. And along the way, we hope to be able to surprise you, to make you smile, and to help you understand your four-legged friends a little bit more.
Kristin with Cleo, Motley, Elle, and Barkley. Photo credit Adam Gilbert
and share some videos of him out for a walk This issue has lots of great stuff in it for dog around the neighborhood, in ?Out for a Stroll? and cat parents alike. If you have an indoor on page 11. And there's stuff for dog parents cat who isn?t as sleek as they once were, check too: for example, our feature article ?Medical out our feature ?6 Easy W ays to Get Your Marijuana for Dogs? on page 12 discusses Indoor Cat Slim and Trim? on page 5. Ever essential things you should know if you?re thought about teaching your cat to walk on a considering giving your dog cannabis. We also leash?It?s not as hard as it looks: I share how I discuss how to prevent impacted anal glands in taught my 17-year-old cat to walk on a leash, your dog once and for all on page 58. We don?t stop there, though: we take you to Vancouver Island, the home of Growlies pet store, for an interview with the owner. We talk about homeopathy for your pooch?s GI troubles, 3 essential things you need to know about arthritis in cats, we give you the facts about bacteria in raw diets, and much more. Enjoy the issue, my fellow pet parent! And if there's anything I can do to help make your life with your pet better, drop me a line at kristin@rawpetdigest.com. Until next time, Kristin Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours!
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6 EA SY WA YS TO GET YOUR I NDOOR CA T
SLIM AND TRIM
Cats, especially if they?re indoor cats, are often a little thicker around the middle than they should be. Like us, our feline friends are suffering from an epidemic of obesity. And just like us, when our cats are obese or overweight, it can have lots of negative health effects. But there?s hope: with a few simple changes, you can help get your feline friend slim and trim. Doing so will help them feel better, could reduce the occurrence and/ or severity of many illnesses (such as fatty liver, diabetes, arthritis, and more), and could also help them live longer while improving their overall quality of life.
To decide whether your cat needs to lose a little weight, check their ribs and backbone. If you can?t feel them easily, your cat can probably stand to shed some ounces. Also, check to make sure they don?t have a big lower belly? that?s a prime place for many overweight cats to store excess fat. If your cat needs to lose some weight, don?t despair! Even indoor cats can win the battle of the bulge. Read on for some tips you can implement easily to help them slim down and reveal the sleeker figure hiding beneath the chub. 1. Consider swit ching your cat from a highly processed commercial food diet (such as kibble or canned food) t o a speciesappropriat e raw food diet . You may need to make the change gradually (for example, if you feed your cat kibble, you may want to switch to a canned wet food first, and then on to a raw diet). There are lots of resources available to help you learn how to switch your cat to a raw diet. Check out the August/ September 2015, the December/ January 2016,
Copyright Viktoria Kondysenko
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and the February/ March 2016 issues of Raw Pet Digest for tips. 2. If you current ly free-feed your cat , consider cut t ing off t hat all-youcan-eat buffet and feeding t hem t hree or four t imes per day inst ead. W hile cats should eat more than once per day, leaving food down all the time can often lead to unnecessary weight gain (and make it harder to transition them to raw). Remember, though, that cats need to eat daily, so don?t be tempted to cut off food for a few days. Fasting cats is not recommended, as it can have severe consequences, such as fatty liver syndrome, also known as hepatic lipidosis (which can be fatal).
3. Cat s are creat ures of rout ine, so use t hat t o your advant age, and get your cat in t he rout ine of exercise. Spending 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon playing with your cat can do wonders for her health and her waistline! If your cat is out of the habit of moving around, it may take some time to entice her to play for 20 minutes per day, but be persistent. Eventually, she?ll get into the spirit of things! 4. Variet y is t he spice of life, and exercise is no except ion. Try lots of different toys to entice your cat to play? some of my cat Gryphon?s particular favorites are ?Da Bird?and feathery wand toys. He?s almost 18 now, but when he was younger, he also loved chasing toy mice. Lasers are a great option for lots of cats too (if you go the laser route, give them a ?real? toy at the end that they can actually ?catch,?so they don?t get frustrated. Also, don?t ever shine the laser into their eyes.). For maximum effect, rotate through toys and get creative about the toys you try (crinkly paper has always been a hit with my cats). 5. Get out side and get some fresh air. W ith some time and practice, you can get your cat used to a harness and leash, and take her on walks with you. I introduced my cat Gryphon to a harness and leash a few years ago, and he loves going out on walks. Just remember to take it slowly? put the harness on them first when they?re in a safe, familiar place. W hen they?re used to the harness, you can attach the
Gryphon. Photo credit Kristin Clark
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Adver t isement s
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leash. Let them get used to the leash when you?re in safe place before taking them into an unfamiliar environment. It can take a few weeks to get your cat used to the harness and leash, but there?s no rush. Better to make it a pleasant experience, even if it takes a little longer, than an unpleasant one. W ith cats, it?s also a good idea to let them set the pace and the direction of the walk. Don?t drag them around, but instead, encourage them to walk with you. And remember they love routine, so try taking the same route every time you walk with them. Before you know it, they may be walking with you better than a dog would! 6. Agilit y? for cat s? Yep, that?s right: agility courses can be a great way to help your cat get some fun
exercise! You can go online and see examples of agility courses you can set up for your cat right in your own home. Use your cat?s favorite toy to lure him over and through the different obstacles. It may take a little time to get your cat used to doing agility, but the physical and mental stimulation it can provide can be hugely beneficial for his overall wellbeing. W ith cats, it?s best to approach weight loss gradually. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Losing weight too rapidly can cause inflammation, particularly in their lungs and/ or joints, and it can also cause hypoglycemia. Implement the suggestions above in a moderate and mindful way to safely and easily get your cat on the road to good health. -By Kristin Clark
Photo credit Tracy Dion
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MEDICALMARIJUANA FORDOGS
W hen our Canaan dog, Cleo, was in her super-golden years (18 and 19), she would sometimes get stiff and uncomfortable from arthritis. Her diet was optimal, she was getting plenty of quality rest, she got exercise appropriate to her age and ability, I was regularly using TTouch and massage to help ease her pain, and yet sometimes, she needed something more. And so I eventually turned to cannabis (specifically for dogs) to ease her discomfort. W hen the 4th of July rolled around last year, I gave Barkley, our English Shepherd, cannabis (also specifically for dogs) to help reduce his anxiety over the fireworks. For both Cleo and Barkley, I noticed a tremendous improvement in their quality of life after giving them this canine cannabis. And I?m not the only one: In a study published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (JAHVMA) in 2016, they found over half of dog owners surveyed said they currently use a hemp product for their dog. Over ž of the owners who give their dogs hemp use it for an illness or condition diagnosed by their dog?s veterinarian (most frequently for seizures, cancer, anxiety, and arthritis)[i]. According to the study, the most frequently cited reasons dog owners decided to use a cannabis product for their pet were: -
They liked the idea product came from natural sources
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They thought the product would work as an adjunct to other therapies The cost of the product They preferred hemp products to conventional medicines
It?s really no surprise to me that so many pet parents have reported such great success with using cannabis products for their dogs. Both marijuana and hemp contain plant-based chemicals known as cannabinoids, including THCA and CBDA (which become THC and CBD when processed appropriately). Dogs have the same natural cannabinoid receptors in their brains and peripheral nervous systems as people do. These receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system (side note: scientists have found that all vertebrates have an endocannabinoid system), are involved with various physiological processes, such as appetite, pain sensation, memory, and even mood. Not only that, but the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoids are part of how our dogs? bodies fight inflammation[ii]. As you may know, researchers are starting to realize that inflammation is the root cause of most chronic diseases, including arthritis and cancer. CBD has been shown to help address inflammation, which is vital when it comes to addressing the root cause of many chronic diseases. Now, we?re all used to the term ?medical marijuana.? But when pet owners buy cannabis products for their dogs, what they?re actually getting is hemp, not