Resolutions are for the Cats -- and Dogs

Resolutions are for the Cats -- and Dogss
By Dr. Jevon D. Clark, D.V.M, Flathead Living, Winter 2011-12, Volume 4, Issue 4

I resolve to lose a little around the middle this year again.  Holiday, little sun, and cold weather tend to make all of us "blossom" in the winter.  But sorry, blaming the season is foolish.  This is an "us" problem.  Nutritionally unbalanced diets, too many treats, and far too little exercise all conspire to fatten up Garfield and Snoopy (and me!).  Pets no longer work for a living.  The don't spend their days searching for tonight's dinner.  Food arrives in a bowl or worse, come straight from our hands.  As a result, 45% of dogs and 58% of cats are overweight.

"So who cares if 'fluffy' is a little plump?  Well, as a veterinarian, I do.  The increased risks of diabetes, arthritis, and shortened life spans secondary to obesity have been well-documented in dogs and cats for years.  Pets that are the appropriate weight are much healthier throughout their life and they live significantly longer than overweight pets.

It is painfully simple for our pets to lose weight as it is for us.  In order to lose weight the energy used by the body must exceed the energy put into the body; decrease the calories and increase the exercise.  Sound familiar?

One of our favorite sayings in my practice is "Food is not love."  I'll let you in on a little secret.  There is an easy and inexpensive trick that everyone can do that will positively impact your pet's weight.  Don't feed your pet human food.  That's it, period.  Our food is incredibly calorie-dense.  One hot dog to a 20-pound dog is equivalent to a person consuming three entire hamburgers or two whole chocolate bars.  More shocking, one ounce of cheese to a 10-pound cat is equivalent to 3 1/2 hamburgers for a person!  Holy Creme Brule, Batman.  So, think twice next time before giving in to Fido with the one little bite of fillet.

Show me an overweight pet and I'll show you a person who doesn't get enough exercise.  It's no surpirse that your pets want to spend more time with you.  If you are sitting, they'll sit on you.  But, if you are active, they will be, too.  Nothing burns calories faster than spending 30 minutes walking your dog on a cold winter day.
 
All right, so walking a cat is not really practical, but you can at least play with him in the house for 30 minutes.  Your pets will absolutely love the attention and you'll feel better, too.

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Keep Your Kitty Healthy and Happy

Eight Ways to Keep a Cat Healthy and Happy
Credit: Saturday, September 24, 2011, Daily Interlake Newspaper

(MS) – Most people view their pets as an extension of the family. Therefore, pet parents are interested in the best ways to ensure their dogs, cats, birds, or small mammals are healthy and happy.

It doesn’t take much to keep a pet healthy, but these steps are essential for the well-being of the animal. An individual who is not able to provide the general care for a pet – whether financially or emotionally – should reconsider if it is the right time to bring a pet into the household. A pet that is well cared for can live many years and provide great rewards.

1. Choose healthy foods.   Many commercially prepared foods are full of fillers and sugars in stead of fresh meats and grains. Although it may cost a bit more, pet food that is formulated with good quality meat and grains with minimal preservatives, artificial flavorings or colorings can keep a pet in better form. Diet can affect health in a number of ways including energy levels and coat appearance. So good health begins with good food.

2. Keep fresh water handy.   All animals should be given fresh water that is routinely changed. Bacteria and viruses can multiply in water that is left sitting around. Plus, there could be other contaminants in unfiltered water that is left stagnant. If a person wouldn’t drink the water, it should not be offered to a pet.

3. Exercise your pet.   All animals need exercise to be healthy. Exercise helps to keep weight in check, banish boredom and ensure that the systems of the body all get pushed to their potential. A dog that does not get to exercise may become destructive in the house when the owners are not home.

4. Consult with a veterinarian.   Routine health checkups should be part of keeping a pet healthy. Not only does the vet give pets annual vaccinations that can prevent common diseases, but also the vet will examine the animal to diagnose or catch illnesses early. If a pet is not acting normally, consult your vet.

5. Groom the pet regularly.   Some animals groom themselves. Others can use the help of nail clipping, bathing and fur cutting to keep in top form. Matted fur can pull at the skin and cause irritation. Dogs and cats may lick or bite at a wound and cause more trouble. In general, a clean pet is a happy pet.

6. Know pet dangers around the house.   Pet proof the home just as one would baby-proof it. Keep chemical products locked up so they cannot be consumed. Certain products smell sweet and inviting to unsuspecting pets, but consumption can be deadly. Even certain house plants can be deadly when eaten.

7. Avoid “people” food.   Certain fruits and vegetables can be supplemented in a pet’s diet (consult with a veterinarian). However, on the whole, limit the amount of human food that pets eat. It may not provide the nutritional value the animal needs and can contribute to obesity. Foods like raisins, grapes, onions and macadamia nuts can be toxic to dogs and cats and should be avoided.

8. Show interest in the pet.   A pet needs a certain level of interaction to be content. Discipline, affection and exercise with a pet parent are key components of animal health.

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Portly Cats Need to Lose Weight

Portly Pets a Problem for Many Owners
Daily Inter Lake, Saturday, September 17, 2011


It's not just two legged animals that are having a problem with obesity.  According to recent reports, pets are heavier than ever.

A 2009 national survey of veterinarians by the Association for the Prevention of Pet Obesity found 45 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats were overweight or obese.

Inactivity, too many snacks and poor diets are to blame for both pet and human obesity issues.  The health implication can be severe for everyone involved.

Overweight animals can have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, be at risk for heart attack or stroke, be at risk for skeletal problems, such as hip dysplasia, and low self-esteem, among other things.

The good news is some the same methods humans use to lose weight could be effective for pets, too.

1. Choose foods that list meat (protein) first.  Too many pet foods have replaced the majority of protein with high-carbohydrate ingredients such as corn and wheat.
2. Watch portion sizes.  Use the portion suggestions on the food as a guideline for feeding a pet.
3. Consider smaller, more frequent meals.  Instead of one large meal, feed a dog or cat three small meals a day.
4. Cut out nutritionally poor treats.  Replace fatty dog bones with crunch carrots or broccoli for better health.
5. Get moving.  Walking a pet is good for everyone involved.  Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of activity a day.  This will also improve joint flexibility.

Pets don't raid the refrigerator at night and often rely on their owners for exercise and care.  Poor habits on the part of pet owners could spell trouble for pets in terms of weight gain.

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Information about Lifes Abundance Healthy Cat Treats
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Cats Behaving Badly

Cats Behaving Badly
from Thursday March 24,2011, Lifes Abundance Blog by Dr. Jane Bicks

As a holistic vet, I’m frequently asked, “How can I deal with my cat’s bad attitude?” The problem area dubbed “feline aggression” can be complicated, upsetting and potentially hazardous for pet parents. Not only can cat bites and scratches really hurt, they can transmit diseases, too, such as cat scratch fever (yes, it is real). While most cat moms and dads prefer a purring lap-warmer, especially on cold winter nights, some felines need extra help learning how to sheathe their claws.

Unfortunately, feline aggression is not well understood or handled appropriately. An important first step in dealing with this frustrating issue is to understand the behavior. Learning why a cat lashes out can help pet parents deal with the issue patiently and properly.

In this post I’ll be covering the five basic types of aggression in cats.

Pain or Health-Related Aggression

A cat who is experiencing pain or ailing may exhibit aggressive behavior, so it’s vital that your first stop be a trip to your vet, especially if what you’re witnessing is a recent change in behavior. Medical conditions that can cause pain and aggression include abscesses, dental disease and arthritis. Additionally, hyperthyroidism is associated with increased aggression in older cats. Alleviation of underlying medical conditions can often resolve the aggressive behavior.

Play Aggression

This form of aggression is typical of young cats and kittens. You can recognize play aggression by the feline’s posture: stalking or crouching like a lion, lashing the tail from side-to-side, especially when their pupils are dilated. As unsuspecting “prey” passes, whether it’s your dog or your spouse ... pounce! The cat who attacks your ankle and then disappears in a flurry of fur isn’t trying to maim you - he’s playing, albeit aggressively.

The best way to address play aggression is integrate a toy, such as a cat fishing pole or a laser pointer, into play sessions. These toys serve a dual purpose - they will hold your cat’s attention while burning off excess energy and keep your hands out of the “strike zone”. A stuffed sock can provide the perfectly-pouncible object. If additional measures are required to curb the behavior, consider blocking access to your cat’s favorite stalking places or use a noise deterrent, such as shaking a can full of coins. Remember that you must use a noise deterrent within the first few seconds of the inappropriate behavior for it to be effective. Never let your cat, even when he is a cute kitty, view you as an acceptable chew-toy. You might also trim her nails to minimize the “ouch factor” (here’s a video that shows you how).

Fear Aggression

When a fearful cat encounters an unpleasant situation, such as the veterinary office, he will likely take steps to protect himself. Fear clues include crouching with tail and legs tucked under, hissing and baring teeth, flattened ears, dilated pupils and fur standing on end. If your cat is fearful, it is important to identify and avoid, if possible, the thing triggering the fear. To overcome fear aggression, you can try to desensitize your cat to the fear-inducing object by keeping it at a distance and rewarding your cat with treats for non-aggressive behavior. Also, try to minimize stress in a fearful feline’s home environment. If your cat is completely out of control, have your veterinarian refer you to a behavioral specialist who can work with you and possibly prescribe medications to get your cat through the rough spots.

Redirected Aggression

I like to refer to this type as “innocent bystander aggression”. Redirected aggression typically occurs when a cat is aroused by one stimulus, such as a bird outside, when another pet or person intervenes. A cat exhibiting redirected aggression can be staring at something while growling and pacing with a lashing tail and dilated eyes. Avoid this cat until he has calmed down because interaction can lead to injury. If you can identify the stimulus that sets off your cat, you may be able to prevent the aggression. If it’s an external stimulus for an indoor cat, try using sticky tape or window blinds to prevent him from perching on windowsills. This, coupled with motion-activated lights (or sprinklers) to discourage outdoor visitors, could end the behavior. If your cat is aroused for an extended period of time, you can herd him with a thick folded blanket to a “time out” room equipped with food, water and litter. After he becomes calm, reward him with loads of attention.

Overstimulation

Similar to redirected aggression, overstimulation usually occurs when you are petting your cat and out of the blue they grab you and sink their teeth or claws into you. For highly reactive and vivacious cats, even a single long stroke down the spine can elicit an aggressive reaction. The key here is to recognize the warning signs: when the tail starts twitching, stop petting. Restrict your affections to areas that your cat enjoys, such as behind the ears or under the chin. If your cat grabs you, try not to overact; in fact, if you can, simply freeze … they will usually calm down quickly and let go.

If you take-away anything from this article, I hope it’s to never, ever hit a biting or scratching cat. Physical punishment, even a light rap on the nose, can increase fear and anxiety, potentially worsening the aggressive behavior. With time and patience, you can turn even the most claw-happy kitty into a loving companion.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals,

Dr. Jane Bicks

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Vitamin E and Antioxidants

Vitamin E and Antioxidants
by Dr. Jane Bicks, HealthyPetNet Newsletter, May 2010 Online Issue

As a holistic veterinarian, I feel it is incredibly important to take the whole animal into consideration when it comes to nutrition. And, whenever practical, my preference is to provide nutrients, minerals and vitamins in their natural forms. In this post, I’d like to talk to you specifically about vitamin E, to review both the strengths and weaknesses of natural and synthetic forms.

Vitamin E is an incredibly complex and important nutrient that, among other things, functions as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are naturally occurring nutrients that promote health by slowing the destructive aging process of cells (a breakdown called “peroxidation”). In peroxidation, damaged molecules known as free radicals steal pieces from other cells, like fat, protein or DNA. The damage can spread, damaging and killing entire groups of cells. While peroxidation can be useful to destroy old cells or germs and parasites, when left unchecked, free radicals produced by peroxidation also damages healthy cells. Antioxidants can help to stem the tide of peroxidation, thus stabilizing free radicals.

Antioxidants like vitamin E are crucial to the health of companion animals of any age. They can improve the quality of the immune response and the effectiveness of vaccines in young pets, and help maintain a vital immune system in seniors.

Vitamin E occurs in one of two forms, either natural or synthetic. Natural vitamin E is a collection of eight chemically unique compounds that are derived from plants, including four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. More commonly used and less expensive, synthetic vitamin E is one compound – alpha-tocopherol.

For me, the choice of using natural or synthetic vitamin E in my formulas couldn’t be clearer, and neither could the evidence. The synthetic form of vitamin E is not as active or easily absorbed as the natural form of vitamin E. The molecular structure of vitamin E determines how well the body can utilize it. In human trials, researchers found that proteins in the liver specifically select the natural form of vitamin E and largely ignore the synthetic form. In a Japanese study, scientists found that it took three times the amount of synthetic vitamin E to equal the blood levels of natural vitamin E. In the U.S., researchers found that body tissues and blood retained far higher levels of natural vitamin E versus synthetic. In addition, synthetic alpha-tocopherol vitamin E has only half the vitamin activity of the natural alpha-tocopherol vitamin E.

Why is there such a difference between synthetic and natural forms of vitamin E? The key to understanding how the body absorbs these two types differently lies on the molecular level. The cellular structure of mammals more easily recognizes natural forms of vitamins. And cellular proteins and blood plasma bind to natural forms more readily than their synthetic counterparts. Unfortunately, synthetic vitamins are cheaper and, therefore, are more prevalent in many products on the market today.

So, how can you determine if the products you are using contain the synthetic or natural form of vitamin E? Simply check out the ingredient labels! Natural vitamin E is listed as a-tocopherol acetate, d-alpha tocopherol, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate or d-alpha tocopheryl succinate. Alternately, synthetic forms of vitamin E are labeled with a “dl-“ prefix.

References:
Kiyose C, et al. Biodiscrimination of alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers in humans after oral administration. Am J Clin Nutr 1997 (Mar); 65 (3): 785-9

Burton GW, et al. Human plasma and tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations in response to supplementation with deuterated natural and synthetic vitamin E Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 67: 669-84

Traber MG, et al. Synthetic as compared with natural vitamin E is preferentially excreted as a-CEHC in human urine: studies using deuterated a-tocopheryl acetate FEBS Letters 1998 (Oct 16); 437: 145-8

Yu W, Jia L, Wang P, et al. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of anticancer actions of natural and synthetic vitamin E forms. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008;52:447-456.

Blatt DH, Pryor WA, Mata JE, et al. Re-evaluation of the relative potency of synthetic and natural α-tocopherol: experimental and clinical observations. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2004;15:380-395.

Weiss WP, Hogan JS, and Wyatt DJ. Relative bioavailability of all-rac and RRR vitamin E based on neutrophil function and total α-tocopherol and isomer concentrations in periparturient dairy cows and their calves. J Dairy Sci. 2009;92:720-731.


Lauridsen C, Engel H, Jensen SK, et al. Lactating sows and suckling piglets preferentially incorporate RRR- over All-rac-α-tocopherol into milk, plasma and tissues. J Nutr. 2002;132:1258-1264.


Sen CK, Khanna S, and Roy S. Tocotrienols in health and disease: The other half of the natural vitamin E family. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 2007;28-692-728.


Hayek MG, et al. Dietary vitamin E improves immune function in cats. In: Reinhart GA, Carey DP eds. Recent Advances in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Vol III: 2000 Iams Nutrition Symposium Proceedings. Wilmington, OH: Orange Frazer Press, 2000; 555-564.

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Here We Go Again - More Cat Food Contamination

Here we go again. MSNBC reported on yet another life threatening pet food recall from pet food maker Diamond in December 2009. The two foods in question were Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat Food.

In this recall, it was not a matter of tainted ingredients but a lack of essential ingredients that could lead to gastrointestinal problems or neurological problems.

If cats fed these foods have no other source of nutrition, they could develop thiamine deficiency. If untreated, this disorder could result in death, said the Meta, Mo., manufacturer.

Read More from MSNBC...

From the Author: Folks, I can not emphasize more the importance of knowing what's in your cat's food and the importance of trusting your pet food brand. Time and time again, we are getting bad food from supposedly well-known and trusted pet food manufacturers. You never know when you might be feeding your kitty contaminated food. That's why we strongly recommend Lifes Abundance Cat Food. Lifes Abundance Pet Food has never, ever been on a recall list. Get a free sample of Lifes Abundance Cat Food today.

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