Kassi’s Korner

Kassi’s Korner Kassi’s Korner Kassi’s Korner

by Jennifer Marthers

Well, Fall is behind us and colder weather is ahead. Fall is a wonderful time of the year! Leaves fall like snow and the cool air makes me feel like a youngster of past times. Winter can get rough as you get older and have more aliments. I still miss totally livin’ in the house; but, since my accident I stay in the Florida room at night and usually in the big pen during the day. In August I got sick! I just felt terrible and I could barely hold my little head up, truthfully. When I walked my head was down and my little legs just didn’t want to go. I was sick on my stomach too. Jennifer took me to Dr. Rosemary. I was so sick I just plain didn’t care what they did to me. They stuck me with a needle for bloodwork; poked on me; stretched me this way and that; did urine check and all sorts of things! I got a shot and was sent home with pills and to rest. I had a fever, my white blood count was low and my back and right back leg were sore. I had some type of infection. When I got home, I was worn out! Crawled in my orthopedic bed, I did, and went soundly to sleepy town. Slept for several hours, ate a tiny bit, took meds and back to sleepy town. The next morning I felt stronger and better but stayed in the house. Within several days I was back on my feet ready to go! Go we did… all the way to the beach!!! Yep, we shore did… me, Grandmama, Jennifer and Taude (Jennifer’s brother— for some reason I just can’t say Claude! Like I can’t say Christmas either. Comes out Tismas every time.) I got to ride with Taude. Grandmama didn’t want a dog in her car… so in other words, she kicked me out the car. Oh well, I’d rather ride with Taude and listen to cool tunes cruising down the highways and byways; even though, I wish he’d just let Jimmy Buffett do the singing. Sorry Taude… you won’t make it in Nashville… Ha! No hard feelin’s buddy… ok!?! When we hit the coast, he rolled down the windows so I could catch the smell of the ocean… oh, so fine…! We had a fantastic time and stayed for 2 weeks! We went back to the beach in September and stayed 2 weeks. We had a nice time but I still didn’t get on the beach. Jennifer’s back went south on her so she wasn’t into much. It rained and stormed lots on that trip. Well hang doodle, I got sick again in November. I had to go back to Dr. Rosemary. I had lost 1½ lbs and that really shows up on me. On a good day I weigh a steady 32 lbs. I stay busy even in my old age of probably 14yrs now—thus I keep my figure. Well I got stuck with that needle again, poked and prodded, urine tested again and such. Dr. Rosemary came back with a serious look. It seems I have Renal Failure!! NOT GOOD! I will have an ultrasound, oh shoot…, with an internist at her office on 12-7-22 to see if the adrenal cancer has gone to my kidneys or anywhere else. My little kidney functions were terrible to say the least! My food was immediately changed again to Renal Support with Chewy before we left. I was sent home with an antibiotic because of something else with my urine test. Oh boy Jennifer didn’t hold up well and I went over and sat by her. Dr. Rosemary talked with Jennifer as this is getting close to the time when Grand Daddy passed away last year so this a rough, tough time for my family. She told Jennifer not to get too upset yet as it may not be so negative. She did remind her that I am getting on in age and suffered a near death accident this year with that stupid tree. Jennifer was VERY depressed for a week; but, finally pulled on her boots and started stomping around! I think she decided to love me, have fun with me, spend all the time she can with me and make the best of our time together. Since the weather is cool, she takes me on errands around town with her and etc. You know I am getting very old but I don’t get around like a 14 yr. old. That throws people off… I still run, play, and trot and walk briskly! I see fantastically, though my hearing has worsened since September. I now have a lot wrong with me. Let’s see: Chronic UTI with crystals- treatment/controlled: Cushing’s Disease- treatment/ controlled: probably adrenal cancer; and now renal disease-diet treatment. Oh yes, I take Glycoflex to keep me running…lol Well this has been a tough year for me and my family. Hope my little self will be around to visit with you some more. I’m going to trot off to bed and dream of Christmas toys. At this special time of year, remember the homeless little animals. They are out there losing their lives in shelters every day. Take food and items, even used toys, crate mats, bandannas, to your local shelter. If you have room in your home and heart, don’t pity a shelter animal— adopt one! Shelter/ rescue animals have so much love to give. Be proud to have their greatness by your side! They are just waiting and praying for you to walk through that door! I know I was… `xÜÜç V{Ü|áàÅtá tÇw [ÉÑx TÄÄ `xÜÜç V{Ü|áàÅtá tÇw [ÉÑx TÄÄ `xÜÜç V{Ü|áàÅtá tÇw [ÉÑx TÄÄ `xÜÜç V{Ü|áàÅtá tÇw [ÉÑx TÄÄ lÉâÜ WÜxtÅá VÉÅx gÜâx4 lÉâÜ WÜxtÅá VÉÅx gÜâx4 lÉâÜ WÜxtÅá VÉÅx gÜâx4 lÉâÜ WÜxtÅá VÉÅx gÜâx4

~KassiVeda, CGC, CGCA, TKN, TKI, TKA

Vet’s View

Pet Food Myth Busters - Part One

By Emily Hoppmann, DVM Elgin Veterinary Hospital, Elgin, SC

here are a lot of different pet food T companies popping-up now. Many have wonderful advertising or marketing campaigns, but the information is not necessarily medically true. One huge problem with these newer companies is that producers of pet foods are allowed to vary the ingredients listed on the back of the bag, as long as they at least produce one single batch that matches the ingredients once every 6 months. This can lead to an owner buying the same type of food as usual, but their pet having signs of gastrointestinal upset (such as vomiting or diarrhea) because it is literally like they have been switched to a new diet overnight.

The companies are also not legally required to put on the bag where the ingredients came from, so they could be from anywhere from China to North Dakota – you just don’t know.

Furthermore, we now know that keeping our pets at an ideal body weight or body fat index of 20% can add up to two years to the life of our pet. The feeding guidelines on the back of food are usually suggesting feeding way too much food – they want to sell more food and aren’t all that concerned about making sure our babies are at a healthy weight. You can call the 1800 number on the bag to find out how many calories are actually in a cup of food to be sure that you are feeding your pet the correct number of calories to maintain a good body weight. You should be feeding your pet based on calories (including treats) and not by what the bag suggests. We are always happy to do a nutritional analyzes to help determine that number and get a weight loss plan in place if needed. There are a lot of pet food companies to choose from and the salesman working at the pet food store is not educated in pet nutrition. They only know what the manufacturers of the food tell them and what food has incentives for them to sell. It doesn't matter how many new companies e m er g e w i th go o d m ar k e t i n g campaigns. I only trust the companies that have been around for a long time, and the ones whose plants I have visited so that I can feel secure in making my recommendations to each individual patient! Information about Animal Digest - is it a low-quality ingredient in food or not?

It is actually a myth that animal digest is considered a substandard pet food ingredient. In some cases, this is because the word "digest" is mistakenly thought to describe the c o n t e n t s o f t h e d i g e s t i v e tract. Actually, the word "digest" in "animal digest" refers to the digestive process used in production, not the ingredients. The process starts with animal protein such as muscle and soft tissue supplied by USDAinspected facilities. These ingredients are hydrolyzed or "digested" to break down the animal protein into peptides (smaller, more easily digestible type of protein) in a manner similar to digestion in the body.

About Dr. Emily Hoppmann

Dr. Emily Hoppmann completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. She works with pre-veterinary and pharmacy students to further their educations. She has many informative articles for pet owners. She is the proud owner of the Elgin Veterinary Hospital in Elgin, South Carolina, which she bought in 2011. Since high school, Emily has volunteered with Homeworks, a program like Habitat for Humanity. She enjoys fitness, reading, going to the beach, and rescuing animals.

Pet Food continued on page 12

The resulting digest is in a liquid, but can also be made into a paste or powder, but in any form it improves the quality of food. Animal digest is extremely palatable and is an excellent source of highquality protein. It is often used in small amounts to enhance the taste of dry pet foods, and spraying animal digest on kibble or mixing it with the food significantly increases the palatability. Animal digest is a h i gh - qu al i ty i n gr edi en t th at provides an excellent source of p r o t e i n a n d e n h an c e s t h e palatability of pet foods.

Information about By-products - Is it a poor quality ingredient in food or not?

Many of these missing nutrients are abundant in meat by-products or poultry by-products. By-products are also an excellent source of protein and amino acids. For example, poultry by-product meal contains 60% to 70% protein and can be highly digestible. Natural, Organic, and Holistic Pet Foods- are they really healthier?

It is a myth that by-products are low quality ingredients that shouldn't be included in pet foods. By-products are actually an excellent source of protein and other nutrients. A by-product is defined as any ingredient that is produced or left over when some other product or ingredient is made. Broths and gelatin are examples of meat byproducts in human foods. Byproducts in pet foods that meet Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO) guidelines come from clean animal parts other than meat, such as liver, kidney, lungs, and spleen. By-products cannot be from feathers, hair, hide, hooves, or intestinal contents. By-products can actually be more nutritious than meat alone. Muscle meat is deficient in many nutrients, including calcium, other minerals, and vitamins. In grocery stores and pet stores, the terms "natural", "organic", and "holistic" are frequently and freely used on packages to imply that foods with these labels are healthier than those without. It should be noted that "natural" and "organic" do not mean the same thing. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines and regulates the term "natural" for pet food and animal feed. The term "natural" means any feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources that have not been produced by a chemically synthetic process. In addition, natural feed and ingredients do not contain any additives or processing aids that are ch emi call y s yn th eti c. Ho wev er , chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals, and other trace nutrients are acceptable. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program defines and regulates the term "organic" for pet food and human food. "Organic" refers to the way a crop or animal is grown or raised and handled. Organic crops must be grown on land free from pesticides for three years. Organic livestock is fed organic feed, is not given antibiotics or hormones, and has access to the outdoors. Natural and organic foods are not n e c e s s a r i l y h e a l t h i e r t h a n conventional foods. The USDA makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. Organic food differs from conventionally produced food in the way that it is grown, handled, and processed. In addition, not all foods labeled as organic contain only organic ingredients. There are four levels of organic foods: 100% organic, organic (95%), made with organic (70%-95%), and less than 70% organic. Be sure to look for the USDA organic seal as proof of a certified organic pet food. Pet foods with that seal must contain 95% to 100% organic ingredients. On the other hand, "holistic" is a vague term that can have many different meanings. As it refers to pet foods, "holistic" is not defined or regulated by any regulatory body. Although pet foods labeled as natural, organic, and/or holistic are increasingly popular, the use of these terms can be misleading or confusing when trying to choose the best food for your pet. These terms do not guarantee better nutrition for your pet. In the next issue, we will continue to examine pet food and how to make the best selection for your furry family members!

W E ’ R E H I R I N G ! V E T E R I N A R I A N Dr. Emily Hoppmann, the owner and solo practitioner of Elgin Veterinary Hospital, a small and exotic animal practice in Elgin SC, is looking for another VETERINARIAN to join the EVH Family who loves the freedom to practice highquality medicine in a non-corporate, family-based environment! Welcoming any and all veterinarians, from relief veterinarians looking for another clinic to add to their calendar, to veterinarians with aspirations of owning their own veterinary hospital. Please submit your information to alwaysdonoharm@gmail.com and check out more about our hospital at www.elginvethospital.com

W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e W h e r e I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r I g o f o r g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g g r o o m i n g A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s g o o d i e s! !! ! ! !! ! ! !! !

For all your pets’ medical needs, trust Battle Animal Care! Preventative Care Emergency Medicine

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Enjoy playtimes, naptime, treats, and lots of hugs Separate boarding for your feline friends!

Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Closed Sunday 9367 Garners Ferry Rd Hopkins, SC

Jacob Battle Jr, DVM