Health and Diet Blog

Madeleine Innocent asked:




Health is directly related to nutrition. This is true for you and every animal under the sun. That old saying of garbage in, garbage out is so very true, that few people doubt it.

Lets have a look at a few reasons why cat health problems seem to abound:

in the wild, cats live on freshly killed, raw prey, whereas in domesticity, cats who are fed commercial pet food have a diet of cooked food, often for long periods at high temperatures and pressures in the wild, cat‘s prey will be mostly quality muscle meat, little fat, a small amount of organ meat, little or no carbohydrates (stomach contents) and lots of bones to crunch up, whereas cats who are fed commercial pet food have a low quality meat meal or meat by-products, high fat content (its cheap), high levels of carbohydrates (to bulk it out) and no bones to crunch on a wild cats diet is always freshly killed, whereas a commercial brand of cat food is full of toxic preservatives, too toxic to be allowed into human food a wild cat’s diet is naturally high in nutritious content, whereas a commercial pet food has synthetic and isolated nutrients, of questionable absorbability, added a wild cat’s diet is pure, natural, organic, whereas many brands of pet food contain ‘meat’ from euthanased animals, including the chemical used to kill, and laboratory animals, including the tested drug which may have killed the animal in the wild a cat will only eat if the hunt was successful, which means they often go hungry, whereas a domestic cat often has food left out all the time. This can be the cause of digestive problems later in life, as it is not in keeping with how they evolved cat health problems are few and far between in the wild – we can see this as wild cats are highly successful at colonising a new area

I believe there are other reasons for cat health problems, but by far the major contributor is the diet. The food a cat eats every day means the potential for the toxins to build up gradually, giving the appearance that the diet is not to blame.

Most of us, cats included, can manage not to succumb to disease or health problems, even if we have an inadequate diet for a short time. If however, it continues, then chronic deficiencies start to appear.

It is a sad testament to our times that money talks. Many of the larger commercial brands of pet food now have a significant influence in most of the veterinary schools. So vets are taught that commercial brands of pet foods are the most healthy. Which explains why almost all veterinary clinics are now loaded with the top commercial brands of pet food.

I never ask people to believe me. I simply put what I consider to be valid arguments and leave you, fair reader, to make up your own mind.

Could your cat health problems be a result of the diet she is fed?

What feelings and thoughts do you have on this? Perhaps you need to do a little research yourself? Thorough and unbiased research will always lead you to the truth.

Once I opened up my mind to consider everything in my quest for the cause of cat health problems, the answers came flooding in. I was the barrier, with my pre-conceived ideas.

Ben Anton asked:


Canine gastric dilatation, commonly referred to as bloat, is a fairly common and potentially fatal medical condition. Bloat occurs when gas accumulates in the dog’s stomach and causes it to become overstretched. Bloat can also involve a twisting of the dog’s stomach, known as volvulus, which leads to very high mortality rates. Volvulus has the potential to close off the esophagus of the dog, preventing it from belching or vomiting, as well as decreasing blood flow to the liver and spleen, often leading to blood poisoning or death by toxic shock.

Bloat can be caused by a number of things; age, breed, stress, and even the shape of the dog’s chest can be bloat-inducing factors. Gastrointestinal disease and inflammatory bowel disease can also increase your dog’s chances of developing bloat. The most common cause of bloat, however, is what and how your dog is eating. It is important to take preventative measures to ensure your dog doesn’t develop canine gastric dilatation. Regular veterinarian check-ups are imperative; while a trained veterinarian can usually treat the situation with surgery, a sudden bad case of bloat can become fatal in a matter of minutes.

Dog bloat isn’t the easiest canine ailment to detect. According to a study conducted by the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University, the breeds most likely to develop bloat are Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Collies. Great Danes, Akitas and Bloodhounds are least likely to develop bloat. Unlike external problems with visible symptoms, internal medical complications may not become noticeable until your dog has developed a serious problem. The most common symptom to be on the lookout for is general distress. Is your dog standing awkwardly or seem to be in pain for no apparent reason? Does it seem depressed or weak? Is it having problems breathing or experiencing weight loss, vomiting or a decreased appetite? These are all basic symptoms for bloat and should act as a red flag for any pet owner. If the dog is in an advanced stage of gastric dilatation it might even show symptoms of shock; pale mucous membranes, poor pulse strength and increased heart rate. A fairly large percentage of dogs also develop cardiac arrhythmias with bloat, a dangerous heart condition that can cause cardiac arrest and even sudden death.

Resuscitation and emergency surgery are often needed for dogs that develop a bad case of bloat. These complicated and dangerous procedures usually involve intravenous fluid therapy, gastrectomy, and passing trocars (sharp, hollow cylinders used to drain high-pressure areas of the body) directly through the skin into the stomach. It is a painful, long process, and does not guarantee that bloat attacks won’t reoccur. Much like a heart attack in humans, dogs with previous bloat attacks, even ones that underwent invasive surgeries, still often develop gas distension of the stomach. Dogs that were treated without surgery are at a much higher risk of having more attacks.

While the dog’s age and breed factors into whether it will develop bloat, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent the occurrence. Studies suggest that dietary factors play a big role in developing bloat, not so much in what the dog is eating but how much and how fast. Dogs that eat a large volume of food once daily are at the highest risk for developing bloat, as are those that eat foods containing a large amount of added oils or fats. This means dogs that are fed too much too fast are being set up for this painful and potentially fatal medical condition. The simple remedy for this is to feed your dog a number of small meals throughout the day, instead of one giant meal in the morning or evening. Slowing down the speed at which your dog eats using a barrier in the bowl or a bowl made specifically for overeating dogs can also be helpful. Another preventative method is to keep your dog’s food bowl at his or her feet. This minimizes not only occurrence of bloat but also stressful situations that could aggravate a current condition. It also helps to not exercise your dog immediately before or after feeding.

Canine gastric dilatation is a very scary medical condition, one that requires a lot of time, money and energy in treating. Luckily, simple feeding techniques, plenty of exercise, and regular veterinary check-ups can help prevent your pooch from developing this painful, debilitating and possibly deadly ailment.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Chrisanne Sternal asked:




Holistic pet care is gaining popularity by the droves. Holistic medicine involves everything from homeopathic treatments to acupuncture for dogs and other pets. Holistic veterinarians say these treatments can successfully treat and cure many chronic and acute diseases like cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, allergies, asthma, urinary tract problems and behavioral problems.

So what should you consider when deciding on whether to treat your pup with traditional medicine or take the less traveled road and join those who have decided to explore a natural approach?

With holistic health care the emphasis is on the patient rather than the disease. Signs and symptoms are not the total issue. They simply represent imbalances in the patient’s body. The holistic practitioner has a large number of tools to support and motivate the body to heal. Natural therapies have the ability to allow the body to self-regulate and heal itself.

Holistic veterinarians will tell you they have seen acupuncture, homeopathy and good nutrition help cases that had seemed incurable with conventional therapy.

A holistic approach is focused on preventing disease. Part of that process includes feeding your dog natural dog food free of harmful chemicals and by-products. A natural diet is known to minimize cell damage.

Additionally, the holistic approach minimizes vaccines and the use of medications and toxins. Finally, a well-prescribed supplement regimen can reduce inflammation and oxidation in your pet’s body, decreasing the chances of your pet developing chronic diseases.

We wrote an article on this topic for That Mutt blog which was just published. It gives several reasons to consider holistic pet care. They include:

1. Holistic pet care can prevent disease

2. Holistic pet care minimizes drug intake

3. Holistic pet care heals the “whole” pet rather than the disease

4. Holistic pet care can save you money

5. Holistic pet care minimizes vaccinations

If you are interested in checking out the full article, which expands on these five reasons to consider holistic pet care, click HERE.

Kelly Marshall asked:




Dogs are primarily carnivorous creatures that have short and fast digestive tracts. They do not eat like human beings, who are omnivores, and they certainly don’t eat anything like cows or other herbivores. It is important to make this distinction because most of the health problems of our furry friends can be attributed to their diet. That is, their human engineered diet. The fact is that dogs in the wild eat differently than domestic dogs. They are hunters and they are scavengers. While they prefer fresh meat and flesh, they will often have to eat carcasses, bones, or even insects.

But when we take a domestic dog into our home, we often ignore the history of the animal and begin to feed them food that does not contain the vitamins or protein they need to grow up healthy and to maintain their energy. That is why many veterinarians recommend a combination diet that includes mixing bits of raw or cooked meat in with their regular dry or canned food. This provides domestic dogs with the protein and nutrients they so desperately need.

In fact, the digestive system of a dog is specifically designed to break down, absorb protein, fat, and even bones. Their stomachs actually have higher levels of acids that help them quickly break down meats. Dogs have absolutely no need for plants, vegetable or any kinds of carbohydrates in their diets.

But, as we mentioned, most dog owners are completely unaware that what they are feeding their beloved pets is unhealthy. Truth is that most commercial products use grains, corns or wheat as their primary ingredients not only because it’s cheaper, but also because they know most pet owners don’t know any better.

Though some people still maintain that dogs are omnivores because they sometimes see their pets eating grass, you can clearly see when we take a quick look at their digestive systems that they are mistaken.

The Mouth

The first thing you notice when you examine the mouth of a dog is, of course, its large fangs. These teeth are used for grabbing and holding onto prey. The front teeth help the dog scrape meat off the bone, while the incisors act as scissors to cut meat. Lastly, the molars are there to crack and crush bones. As you can see, all of these teeth are specifically designed for hunting and tearing meat.

Saliva

While human saliva contains chemicals that help us break down food, dog saliva is simply used as a lubricant and is chemical free. It is also true that dogs do not and cannot grind or chew their food. They just break it down and swallow it whole or nearly whole. The stomach is responsible for all of the digestion in dogs, just as it is in other carnivores.

Intestines

The intestines of dogs are shorter than those of either the omnivore or the herbivore. As a result, they are simply not long enough to digest plants or vegetables, which require more time to break down.

As you can see from this brief look at the digestive system of the dog, they are clearly carnivores and therefore should not be feed plants or vegetables. Though a dog may in fact eat these foods if they are mixed in with meaty flavoring, like many commercial dog foods, it they will not help him grow up healthy and strong.

Matthew Homfray asked:


One of the most common reasons pet owners seek the help of a veterinarian is because their pet has diarrhea. Whether it is a regular occurrence for a pet with an over sensitive digestive system or a one off event, it always signifies that something is not right and requires action to firm those stools up again. This article explains in simple terms some of the more common causes of diarrhea in dogs and cats, and how best to deal with the problem.

OK, so you have noticed your pet has diarrhea. The first question to ask yourself is to describe the nature of the *****. The consistency, color and even smell of the ***** gives the veterinarian vital clues as to the cause. Here are some questions to ask yourself, so that you are well prepared to answer any questions your veterinarian might ask if you end up seeking his/her advice.

1. How long has your pet had diarrhea for? Has your pet suffered from episodes of diarrhea in the past? If yes, there may be a dietary intolerance to deal with and therefore specific foods to avoid.

2. Is your dog/cat bright and well or depressed and lethargic? If the latter is true, more urgent diagnostics and treatment may be necessary.

3. How is your pets appetite? If your pet is still eating it is a good sign that the cause of the diarrhea is a simple one that is easy to fix.

4. Is the diarrhea watery or just slightly loose? If it is very watery then it suggests fluid is being actively secreted into the intestines, and there is more of a danger from your pet suffering from dehydration due to fluid loss.

5. Has there been any vomiting at all? If your pet has been vomiting too then the disease is affecting the front end of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach and small intestine) in addition to the back end (small intestine and large intestine). This could be due to something your pet has eaten, or due to toxins in the bloodstream that make the animal feel nauSEOus.

6. Is there any blood in the diarrhea? Blood can take on two forms; bleeding into the small intestine results in black ***** as the blood is partly digested by the time it reaches the ****. Bleeding into the large intestine or rectum leads to reddish feces, with more fresh looking blood. The nature of the blood and the color of the stool tells us the location of the problem. Puppies and kittens commonly have streaks of blood in their feces; this is often no major cause of concern. Copious blood in the ***** however is a huge worry and needs immediate veterinary investigation to check for nasties such as anticoagulant toxicity, severe infections and tumors.

7. Which of these two descriptions best fits the diarrhea: A) your pet is producing huge amounts of explosive diarrhea a couple of times a day at most, or B) your pet is straining to defecate and passing small amounts of mucus covered diarrhea 4 or more times during the day. If the answer is A, the small intestine is the source of the problem whereas if the answer is B, the large intestine is where the disease is. This is also important in how the diarrhea is treated.

8. Could your pet have swallowed an object that is lodged somewhere? This is far more common in dogs, particularly those that play with sticks and toys, or those that are given bones to chew. However it does happen to cats occasionally, with things such as elastic, string or cotton. If your pet has swallowed something that is stuck it will usually be vomiting first and foremost, and off its food. An object stuck in the intestine somewhere will often cause diarrhea though, which can lead to rapid dehydration. This scenario requires urgent veterinary attention, for xrays and possible surgery.

Common causes of diarrhea in dogs and cats

1. Intestinal parasites. Make sure your dog/cat is wormed with a licensed veterinary product every 3 months to prevent an infestation building up and causing diarrhea and weight loss.

2. Bacterial infections. Arguably the most common cause of diarrhea in pets. Many animals are by nature scavengers and will gobble up things they find lying around outside, some of which might be harbouring nasty bacteria that cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. Certain bacteria are worse than others; the 3 ones to worry about are E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter as these can be passed to humans. However, bacterial infections are usually easily treated by a course of antibiotics. Veterinarians usually prescribe a non specific broad spectrum antibiotic to start with, and if the stools do not firm up then a swab is taken to determine the species of bacteria involved and which antibiotics it is sensitive to.

3. Viral infections. Though quite rare nowadays in the USA and UK due to widespread vaccination, viral infections are often more deadly than their bacterial counterparts. One of the better known and most deadly ones in dogs is Parvovirus, which causes an explosive foul smelling bloody diarrhea, usually with vomiting, and severe dehydration. Since antiviral drugs are seldom used in veterinary practice, treatment usually focuses on keeping the dog hydrated via an intravenous drip, and treating any secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics.

4. Dietary intolerance. Also widely known as food allergy, this is a hypersensitivity reaction to certain ingredients in a pets diet. Certain breeds are more prone to it than others, and it can occur in pets that have been fed the same diet for years but suddenly develop an allergy to one of its ingredients. The symptoms can either be diarrhea, though the animal usually remains bright with a good appetite throughout, or itchiness, in particular licking at the paws. Diagnosis is either via a blood test sent to a specialised laboratory to measure antibodies to different ingredients, or by conducting a strict dietary trial and feeding nothing but chicken and rice for 6 weeks, with no treats at all. Long term resolution is identifying the ingredient responsible and eliminating it from the diet.

5. Inflammatory bowel disease. This is an inflammation of the wall of the intestines, usually due to a defective immune system. It is characterised by a long history of intermittent or constant diarrhea that is non responsive to antibiotics or a dietary trial. Diagnosis is best achieved by taking biopsies of the intestines and having the tissue samples examined by a pathologist. The disease cannot be cured and is often managed with low dose steroids and/or a prescription diet.

6. Liver disease. This tends to occur more in older animals and is easily diagnosed via simple blood tests. There are medications to lessen the symptoms, and a low protein, high fibre diet is advised.

7. Hormonal imbalances. Disease of the adrenal or thyroid glands can cause diarrhea. These can be diagnosed via blood tests and treated appropriately.

8. Cancer. This is unlikely to occur in young animals. There are a number of different types of cancer that can cause diarrhea, all of which have different prognoses. Early identification and surgical removal of some types may be curative, but if they have already spread via the lymphatic system the outcome is poor.

What you should do

If your pet has recently developed diarrhea (and/or vomiting) and seems depressed, lethargic or flat, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If your pet is off his/her food completely, or is unable to hold down water, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If your pets diarrhea (or vomit) contains a large amount of blood or is very dark looking, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If you suspect your pet has a high temperature or is dehydrated, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If none of the above apply, first of all starve your pet for 24 hours. Make sure plenty of water is available during this period (not too cold), but no food at all. Once your pet has been starved for 24 hours, offer him/her a small amount of chicken and rice. If it is eaten, continue feeding small amounts of chicken and rice 3 times a day for the next 5 days. This bland diet will be gentle on the digestive system as your pet recovers. The majority of cases of sudden onset diarrhea will respond to this protocol.