sweaters for cats: January 2007

Ethical Ranking of Professions

A survey ranked how honest and ethical people considered members of different professions. The results were noted in the February 1, 2007, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).

The survey question was: “Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields—very high, high, average, low, or very low?

Below are the responses as reported in JAVMA.

Professions Percent ranking the profession high or very high
Nurses 84%
Pharmacists 73
Veterinarians 71
medical doctors 69
dentists 62
engineers 61
college teachers 58
clergy 58
policemen 54
psychiatrists 38
bankers 37
chiropractors 36
journalists 26
state governors 22
executives 18
lawyers 18
stockbrokers 17
senators 15
congressmen 14
insurance sales 13
HMO managers 12
advertising 11
car salesmen 7

As you can see, advertising execs are at the bottom of the list with car salespeople. This is because those in advertising often say what they want to say rather than what is true. When you buy pet products, notice that the labels, website descriptions and e-mail flyers describing these products are written by advertisers. Always ask veterinarians (who are at the top of the list) to help you distinguish fact from fiction regarding pet medications.

Pharmacists are at the top of the list too, but if you're looking for information about pet medications, most pharmacists don't have any formal education in veterinary medicine. If the pharmacist you're asking about pet medications doesn't have formal education, check with your veterinarian to confirm what you're told.

Weight Loss

If you’ve ever sworn you’re putting on weight and it’s a genetic problem, there’s research that suggests you may be right. A protein (SH2B1) in the brain and throughout the body, including in fat cells and major organs, such as the pancreas and liver, helps regulate weight and fat storage. Scientists are trying to manipulate SH2B1 protein to control fat storage and prevent obesity.

Because dogs and cats have proteins and cells that are nearly identical to those of humans, the research being done at the University of Michigan is likely to benefit many aspects of pet health. If we can control obesity, we can decrease the number of dogs and cats that develop diabetes. If we can control obesity, we can help lessen the pain and suffering caused by arthritis. If we can prevent growing dogs from being chubby, we can help decrease the number of dogs developing hip dysplasia.

Until we have a target for SH2B1 protein, we’ll have to use the other methods we have to prevent obesity in pets. Be sure your pet is not eating a food containing mostly simple carbohydrates, such as flour, white rice and cornmeal.

Be Active

Be active and support the causes you believe in! Here in the Broward County Florida area we have walks for people and their pets coming up this spring, such as the Walk to Cure PKD. You may have similar walks in your area. Do your part to make a difference. Become involved in projects that support pets and save pets’ lives.

Cancer in Pets: Electromagnetic Radiation

Epidemiologist and professor, Anssi Auvinen, has shown that long-term mobile phone use is linked to an increase in brain cancer on the side of the head that the handset is held. The increase in cancer is significant (39%) and not unexpected. All electromagnetic waves influence the body, and cells in the brain are particularly vulnerable.

We don’t need to worry about cell phone use in our pets—although most are smart enough to use a phone—but we do expose pets to many forms of potentially harmful electromagnetic (EM) radiation. For example, EM waves are generated by working, plugged-in appliances, as well as by the power lines running into the house. High EM radiation levels are often measured near power lines and inside the house near televisions and microwaves. We can lessen pets’ exposure to this radiation by locating their beds and favorite feeding spots away from the television, microwave, and power lines. Because EM waves pass through walls, consider what’s on the other side of the wall when locating your pet’s bed. For example, don’t place the bed so that a television or microwave is located directly across from it through the wall.

In addition to increasing the distance between your pet and sources of EM radiation, you can provide herbs, fatty acids, and antioxidants that help protect your pet’s cells from free radical damage cause by radiation. Free radicals alter cellular DNA, and altered DNA can progress to tumor growth. To help protect your dog or cat use Omega 3 fatty acids from fish or flax and decaffeinated green tea.

Pet Vitamins: Lead Found In Pet Tabs

Mistakes are made by companies producing pet food, vitamins, and medications. Some of these mistakes are inconsequential, but other mistakes cause death or chronic poor health. Among the mistakes that lead to chronic poor health is the contamination of pet vitamins with low levels of lead. This is a serious problem because lead is stored permanently in the body and affects every organ. Problems pets (and people) experience when poisoned by lead include:

anemia,
loss of appetite
vomiting,
abdominal pain,
hysteria,
seizures, and
blindness.

Health problems become more severe if the pet is pregnant or nursing. If lead is consumed by a pregnant pet, the babies in the uterus are affected. If the lead is consumed by a lactating pet, the nursing young are affected. Unborn or nursing puppies and kittens are highly sensitive to lead because their nervous systems are still developing. Even small amounts are dangerous and can lead to long-term debility or death. Because lead prevents the brain and nerves from working as they should, the young behave differently and learn more slowly than normal young.

It is tragic when pets are exposed to lead, and it is particularly troubling when they are exposed because their daily vitamin is contaminated. If symptoms caused by lead were temporary and pets naturally recovered once the lead-contaminated vitamin was stopped, the problems would be bad enough, but these symptoms don’t go away unless the pet is treated. Treatment for lead poisoning is expensive and time-consuming and may include IV fluids, chelation therapy, and medications to control seizures, vomiting, and anemia.

We buy vitamins to keep our dogs and cats maximally healthy, but if the vitamin is lead-contaminated—even in small amounts—we are slowly poisoning our pets. This is one of the reasons that I advise against the use of Pet Tabs and Pet Tabs Plus in pets. ConsumerLab.com found Pet Tabs were contaminated with 1.4 micrograms of lead per tablet. Even though this amount of contamination is below the concentration that causes instant poisoning, this lead level is unhealthy because all amounts of lead, even tiny amounts, accumulate in the body.

Joint Supplements for Dogs and Cats

Oral Joint Supplements
Most joint supplements contain chondroitin and glucosamine. Chondroitin is made from processed cattle tracheas (the windpipe) and glucosamine is made from processed crabs or shellfish. Processing breaks down the trachea and shell material so it forms small, absorbable molecules. When fed to pets, glucosamine and chondroitin helps build healthy, smooth joints. Unfortunately, not all processed glucosamine and chondroitin has been broken down into molecules small enough to be absorbed. If unabsorbed, the glucosamine and chondroitin pass through the intestines and out of the body providing no benefit to our pets—and wasting our money.

Fortunately, some joint products are excellent. Ask your veterinarian about the size of the molecules in the products carried at the clinic. Among the best joint products are Dasuquin and Cosequin. Dasuquin contains MSM, but Cosequin does not. MSM is added to control pain while the cartilage and joint fluids are being nourished by glucosamine and chondroitin.

Injectable Joint Supplements
The prescription joint medication Adequan avoids the issue of absorption because it is injected directly into the muscle. From the muscle, Adequan is picked up by the blood and carried throughout the body and into the joints. Many pets often experience a more rapid, marked relief from stiffness and discomfort when given an injectable medication. Adequan injections are followed by oral medication, such as Dasuquin or Cosequin.

Not all joint products are effective, and your veterinarian can help you select the joint medications that work.

Pets with Heart Disease

The world’s tallest dog, a Great Dane named Gibson, is 42 inches at the shoulder. Looking at such an enormous, happy, healthy dog, most of us don’t think of illness, but being big and strong doesn’t prevent any breed from becoming ill from infectious, degenerative, or genetic disease, including heart disease. In fact, one Great Dane in ten suffers from heart disease. Numbers are similar for many other large breeds, including the Newfoundland, Scottish Deerhound, Irish Wolfhound, Saint Bernard, German Shepherd, Dalmatian, Pointer, and Afghan Hound. Smaller dogs are also effected with heart disease: Poodles, English Bull Dogs, English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Chow Chows, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Cats can also have a breed disposition to cardiac disease, and Maine Coon Cats and Persians seem to be most frequently affected.

What can we do to help our dogs and cats—whether they’re big and strong, or little—to have healthy hearts? The latest research suggests Omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for the heart. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been shown beneficial for brain and behavior, skin and coat, immune system, allergies, inflammation, and the joints. The best way to give fatty acids depend upon your pet. If your pet likes fish, use the purest fish oil possible. If your pet doesn’t like fish, use a flax seed product. Choose a product you know your pet will enjoy to help it experience full health.

Terriers

The ASPCA reports that terriers, the dogs that win at Westminster more than any other breed, are one of the top five groups most frequently abandoned. Why would any group of dogs so cute that thousands of spectators stamp their feet and applaud for them wind up abandoned and on the street? Among the reasons are
· barking,
· stubbornness,
· running off, and
· difficulty to train.

With these potential challenges, why would anyone choose a terrier? Terriers are personality plus. Common Terriers include the Jack Russell, now called the Parson Russell, Scottish Terrier, and West Highland White Terrier. Looking at that group, it’s easy to understand there’s no milk toast Terrier. Nope. These are lively, spunky dogs. Unfortunately, because Terriers are as stubborn as they are lively, some folks think their dogs don’t understand, and begin yelling. Yelling and hitting are techniques that do not work with dogs bred to kill rats, and engage in vicious activities. In response to this failure, many yell louder and hit harder, and this causes Terriers to bark and run in circles. When the family has had enough, out the door the Terriers go. What a waste of a truly sensitive group of dogs.

What goes wrong that causes Terrier abandonment is that Terriers are not honored for what they excel at—feisty action. If these dogs are given jobs and lots of physical activity, the odds are they’ll be physically ready to listen to their families. To make them emotionally ready, it helps if the family stops yelling and starts to whisper. Another technique with Terriers is to stop yourself from charging after them. Instead, keep all their food in your control and talk very softly to them when you hand feed them. They’ll respond by learning to focus on what you want. Then, when giving a command, start by making it something they are willing to do. For example, don’t ask a Terrier to shush and disregard anything that looks like it’s pure excitement. Instead, offer an even better activity, such as a great treat for coming to sit near you. If tempted to scream, scold or hit, stop yourself. Rather than becoming excited, slump down and act emotionally hurt. A Terrier understand hurt feelings and is more likely to listen to your soft expression of frustration than to freight-train screaming.

Terriers with the tendency to be independent when outside should be walked with a harness. Terriers that don’t appear to learn readily should receive brain-nourishing Omega 3 fatty acids. Feed a natural diet that is high in protein and contain whole grains and vegetables. Either make your own dog food, or use a food from a company you can trust, such as Azmira. Provide a comforting pheromone that will help your terrier feel peaceful. (We can’t smell it.)

Families that do best with Terriers provide proper food, supplements and physical activity. Those with fenced yards often have an easier time of exercising pets, but Terriers do fine in apartments, if they’re exercised and trained not to bark. When Terriers are raised with what they need to be healthy and happy, their families will tell you that words cannot describe the degree of love and affection they feel for their pet.

Border Collie

How are Border Collies, one of the smartest of breeds, also one of the most frequently abandoned to shelters? That’s easy. Border Collies, like all thinking dogs, need lots of work to do. In addition, Border Collies are active dogs, so they need work that is physically demanding in order to be fulfilled. Without stimulating, physical work, Borders become neurotic, barky, or snappy. No family wants a neurotic snappy dog, so the unexercised, unstimulated Border Collie is soon abandoned.

How could this scenario of Border Collie abandonment be different? Perhaps all Border Collies should come with a sign around their neck that says, “I take as much energy and time as a child.” This shouldn’t frighten potential pet owners, just help them be realistic before they bring a Border Collie home.

It’s not necessary to be a farmer and have sheep to make a Border Collie happy. Folks living in town can be equally successful if they develop serious exercise regimes. Some jog with their Border Collies to work. Others go home at lunch and run around the yard with the dog. On the weekends, many Border Collie families include agility training, fly ball, dog park running, or swimming to keep their pet active.

Just as providing activity is essential for Border Collies, it’s essential to feed them properly. Think of what happens to kids that go to the mall and eat lots of sugary things—they run around without control. Dog foods with simple carbohydrates (flour, corn meal, dextrose, propylene glycol) affect dogs in just the same way. Excitable, active Border Collies on these foods do not behave properly. Feed Border Collies, and any dog that is not behaving in an ideal fashion a natural diet. Natural diets are high in protein and contain whole grains and vegetables. Either make your own, or use a food from a well respected company, such as Azmira. Add Omega 3 fatty acids to further strengthen the brain.

Families that are successful with Border Collies will tell you it is all worth the effort; Border Collies are the most rewarding of all breeds to work with.

Labrador Retriever

How did the Labrador Retriever become one of the top 5 most frequently abandoned pets? Easily. Most people think Labs are gentle, loving pets that naturally know how to behave. Nope. Labradors are sporting dogs that love exercise and become the best dogs when they have the best training.

When pet owners relinquish their dogs at the shelters, one of the reasons they give is that their dog acts like a puppy and chews everything. Unfortunately, chewing long past puppyhood is a normal activity when intelligent, active dogs are left with nothing to do. To keep busy, they’ll chew anything with interesting textures and smells, including shoes, unlaundered undies, sofa pillows, and chair legs.

Another reason given for relinquishing Labrador Retrievers is that they require too much exercise. Labs are happiest if they are exercised hard and left with an appropriate chew object,. While they want to be an integral part of the family, they also want to spend time outdoors stimulated by wind, birds, grass, gravel, and animal activity. For some families, providing sufficient exercise and backyard space for a large, healthy dog becomes an overwhelming burden.

The best families for Labrador Retrievers have lots of energy and lots of room. They have an active lifestyle that makes the pet thrive so there’s no need for a string of negative commands, “No!”, “Get out of there!” and “Put that down!” They have children or friends who engage the dog so it isn’t abandoned all day while the caregiver is working. Families that are successful with Labs provide fun chew toys, healthy food and supplements high in Omega 3 fatty acids. With this input, Labs excel at being the best of family pets, shining examples of why every family needs a dog.

Pit Bulls

According to the ASPCA, among the top 5 most frequently abandoned dogs are Pit Bulls. Pit Bull is a generic term that many use to include the Bull Mastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Bull Terrier. In addition, many people call any mean dog, regardless of breed, a Pit Bull.

Because Pits have had so much bad press, just seeing them causes anxiety and hostility in most humans. Because dogs sense what people are feeling, the Pits react with to human anxiety and hostility with hostility of their own. How unfortunate that bad will occurs all around when Pit Bulls can be among the most loving and rewarding of all dog breeds.

Pit Bulls were originally bred to attack bulls and to fight with other dogs. The dogs that survived had a fierce determination, low pain threshold, and no inhibition against biting. Still, they were domesticated dogs, which means they evolved to live peacefully with humans. So, our modern Pit Bulls have inherited both the capacity to be ferocious and the capacity to be loving with their families. Which of these characteristics predominates is determined by how the dogs are bred, treated, and fed.

Some people may think they can’t influence breeding, but that is exactly what we do when we insist on meeting the parent dogs before purchasing a puppy. If the bitch and stud dog are not well socialized and docile, it’s not likely their puppies will be. We influence breeding by refusing to purchase these puppies.

A dog may have started out life with good genetics, but even a well-bred dog can become aggressive if it is disciplined harshly or inconsistently. Harsh and inconsistent discipline teaches dogs to be stubborn and aggressive. Thus, many pets are abandoned because they have not been taught with soft, consistent, firmness how to behave.

Dogs are also abandoned because they receive poor nutrition. Without proper nutrition the dog’s brain isn’t nourished. A brain that doesn’t work makes it difficult for a dog to learn and understand what is being asked of them. Another major behavior influence of nutrition is the effect of flour, corn meal, dextrose, sucrose, propylene glycol, and other simple carbohydrates included in inexpensive food and treats. Pit Bulls eating too many simple carbohydrates become hyper, just as children do when they have too much sugar. For Pit Bulls to learn and behave appropriately, they need foods high in flax, fish and Omega 3 fatty acids to nourish the brain and set the dog up to be able to think and act reasonably.

Who should have a Pit Bull?
Families that do best with Pit Bulls have experience disciplining strong, fierce dogs using a kind, consistent approach. Because it’s difficult for most pet owners to develop these training skills, it may be wise to limit ownership of Pit Bulls to those qualified to care for them. If we screened adopting families and selected those with skills to nourish a Pit, it would become obvious to everyone that Pits are truly wonderful dogs.

Rottweilers

Nearly 8 million dogs and cats wind up at animal shelters every year. About half of these pets are euthanized—many for unwanted behaviors. Statistics kept by the shelters and the ASPCA show that Rotties are one of the most commonly abandoned of all dog breeds. Why is that?

Rotties were originally bred to be cattle dogs, which is the equivalent to being an enforcer. Rotties were selected to be large and fierce, with the courage to control cattle weighing thousands of pounds. Although they were tough, Rotties also need to be reserved so they don’t attack or eat any of the herd, including weak, straggling calves. Still, a dog’s work required biting, they would bite. Having the genetic code that programs a dog to be able to bite does not mean these dogs were bred to be vicious; it means they need guidance.

While the modern Rottweiler is not used as a cattle dog, it still has genetics that give it the courage and independence of a working dog. These genetic traits make Rotties good at police and guard work. Unfortunately, the very traits that make Rotties useful can predispose them to developing a headstrong stubbornness. Pet guardians unable to understand and appreciate the Rotties’ nature can become frustrated and aggressive when their dogs are stubborn. Frustrated humans become both angry and anxious. They tend to yell and to use methods that control their Rotties with physical force—from choke chains to hitting. Treating a dog violently always increases the likelihood it will bite. In addition to biting in response to being threatened, some Rotties will also bite because they’re body defensive, which means they don’t like to be touched, especially by someone who bends over them.

As though biting and stubbornness weren’t enough to relegate Rotties to the position of one of the top abandoned breeds, Rotties are also abandoned because they need exercise and stimulation. How does this happen? As working dogs, Rotties are bred to be active. Some families meet their pet’s need for exercise by opening the door and letting the dog wander—hoping the dog will exercise itself. A wandering dog, especially one with the size and reputation of a Rottie, frightens people. Frightened folks yell, run, and sometimes strike out at the dog. Almost any dog will bite in these circumstances, and Rotties are no different. Now, the police are called in. The Rottie’s family is notified of the incident and at this point many families decide their dog is too much to handle. If the family does not relinquish the dog at this point, they may do so later when they learn their insurance premiums will go up for having a dangerous dog. Thus, some really good natured Rotties are abandoned because of the cost of premiums or their need for controlled exercise.

It’s not easy for a Rottie to be adopted and find a “forever” home if it winds up in the shelter. Because of their size, Rotties are prone to hip, knee, and elbow problems that lead to arthritis. Large dogs with arthritis are often painful and cranky. These dogs snap if petted because they don’t like being touched. A snapping, unaffectionate dog doesn’t make react in a friendly manner when approached by strangers or children in an animal shelter. Many Rotties languish in the shelter until finally they are euthanized to make room for other, more adoptable, dogs.

What does it take for a Rottie to have a “forever” home?
Families most likely to bring out the truly wonderful Rottweiler and want to keep it as a permanent family member will:
· have work for the animal,
· have a large area in which it can exercise,
· provide joint medication, such as Adequan, if it develops arthritis, and
· socialize and discipline it to maximize it’s ability to feel calm and to and trust humans.
Families able to provide for their Rotties believe that nothing can ever fill the place of a truly devoted Rottweiler. To find a devoted Rottie, check out the rescue organizations such as the Southern States Rottweiler Rescue: http://www.ssrr.org.

Abandoned dogs: Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Labradors, Border Collies & Terriers

The ASPCA rescues every type of dog and they find five breeds are most likely to be abandoned:
· Rottweilers
· Pit Bulls
· Labradors
· Border Collies, and
· Terriers.
Over the next few days, let’s examine why these dogs are welcomed into the home then abandoned. In addition to training them properly, we’ll discuss feeding tips that help with behavior. What nourishes the body strongly influences behavior, and while natural foods help, many “Cool” products are predominately sugar and sugars increase the likelihood dogs will bark, and act without control. We all know cookies and biscuits contain sugars, but so do many other dog treats and dog hydration products. For example, a “cool” new dog water contains dangerous dyes and sugar in the form of dextrose, fructose, and sucralose (Splenda). This is NOT what your dog needs.

Aging Pets

When pets age they may become confused and demented. Will giving senior pets vitamins help prevent aging and dementia?

There have been human studies that investigated whether supplementing with B vitamins and folate improved cognition and cardiac health, but they did not. Scientists expected that because folate and the B vitamins lower homocysteine levels, they would improve seniors’ health. Homocysteine stiffens arteries and promotes clogging so that those with higher homocysteine levels are more likely to experience dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart attacks. Thus, it would appear that lowering homocysteine levels would help prevent dementia and heart attacks. Unfortunately daily pills containing 1,000 micrograms of folate, 500 micrograms of B-12 and 10 milligrams of B-6 did not improve the seniors’ health.

These results are not too surprising. Health does not come from a pill. It sounds so scientific to formulate vitamins with precise levels of different components, 500 micrograms of this, 10 milligrams of that, but our bodies, and those of our pets, did not evolve taking pills. Whole foods are more likely to help pets of any age.

Pet Insurance

Nine companies market pet insurance, and they point out that it is less complex than human medical insurance. First of all, those with pet insurance can go to any veterinary clinic they choose, while those with human insurance may have a limited choice of providers. Secondly, it’s easier to pay for pet insurance than for human medical insurance. Pet insurance ranges from $10-50 monthly per pet while human insurance ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars monthly. While costs are much higher for human insurance, payouts are also much higher and human medical insurance limits may be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pet insurance usually has limits that are well below $10,000.

If it’s difficult for you to put aside money to pay for your pet’s health care, consider purchasing a pet insurance plan. For many it’s easier to pay a bill than to put money in savings.