Skin Problems on Dogs

Yesterday, we went to Boston for the day to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather for New Year's Day. While walking through the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, we saw MANY folks out walking their dogs. It was a breath of fresh air for me, as I recently lost my buddy to lymphoma. We saw Boston Terriers (of course), an Irish Setter, a Cavalier, many many mixed breeds, a few Puggles and my favorite: two old dogs walking with their guardians. The boy was a solid black mixed breed with a grey muzzle (my personal favorite), and a beautiful senior Collie female. The Collie looked as if she's been through a bad situation, and did not fare so well. She had been recently shaved, and her hair was growing back crookedly, she had horrible dandruff, and she smelled just awful.

As this happens often to me in public, Luis simply pushed the stroller with the kids over to the side and let me start my thing. After giving the old gal lots of loving, I asked the couple if they had her shaved to help with the skin condition. They said yes, of course...and began to tell me a story I hear often: "we had to the vet numerous times. Each time we get antibiotics, more steroids, and a special veterinary shampoo." Of course, none of these things are working. Not to mention shame on the doctor who is sending a senior dog out the door with steroids. (read more about the damage of steroids here: http://philosophyofdog.com/blog/canine-health/steroids-and-your-dog/).

I began my conversation by asking the couple what they were feeding her. They told me how they have always fed Iams. I told them they may want to look at a food with whole foods and no grain by-products. I gave them the name of a few, but followed up by letting them know that the brand is not the issue...just as I tell my customers in the store: Ignore the front label and words; turn the bag around and see the ingredients before purchasing. Here is a quickie cheat sheet to use for reading labels: http://www.vetinfo.com/best-natural-dog-food.html

I continued on with my favorite cheap start to help a dog with a fungal or yeast infection. I told them all about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for the lovely Collie. For a dog her size, I told them to try a tablespoon on each meal. I also told them to get her a daily vitamin (antioxidant), a pro-biotic, and some Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids (fish oil, flax seed oil, hemp oil, etc).

As we spoke, I of course also told the family to not feel bad. I just suggested they try a few of the changes I put on the table and see if they get any results. In the least, by changing the food and adding some additional supplements, the old lady doggie will be healthier for it!

Exchanges like this happen to me very often. Mostly because I see the dog first, and I cannot stand to see a dog suffering when I think there could be a simple fix to make him/her feel better!

I always walk away wishing I gave them a card to at least email me with updates. Oh well, let's just hope they follow my regime and are able to stop with the drugs!

Wapiti Labs MOBILITY for Dog & Cat Joint Pain

Wapiti Labs’ all natural, pure elk velvet antler supplements have become the supplement of choice for many across the country and across the world. Using natural, human grade ingredients, including elk velvet antler and premium Chinese herbs, Wapiti Labs provides products for both humans and for pets. With no known side effects, Mobility Formula has become the product of choice to increase joint mobility and reduce joint pain and inflammation, allowing cats and dogs to live a better life. Other pet products include: Renal, Strength, Chest, Post Trauma and GI Tract Formulas. VelveTan has proven to be a great product for people suffering from joint pains. Hundreds of testimonials explain joint relief, a natural energy boost, reduced recovery time after activity and an overall feeling of better health. Visit www.wapitilabsinc.com for more information.

POINSETTIAS NO LONGER IN THE DOGHOUSE!

The dogged belief that poinsettias and pets cannot exist in the holiday home because they're poisonous and potentially fatal to four-footed family members is nothing but a well-entrenched myth, so says the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. A recent article on their website reports that this myth has been "doggedly" per-PET-uated since the death of a U.S. Army officer's child was erroneously attributed to ingestion of a poinsettia leaf in the early part of the 20th century.

According to the ASPCA, "poinsettia ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea." Therefore, keeping a poinsettia out of paw's reach to avoid potential stomach upset is a good idea. However, pet owners no longer need to fear adorning the home with these staples of the holiday season for fear of fatal exposure to Fido or Fluffy.

With fact now separated from fiction, remember to tie a big red bow around Fido's neck too! Tis' the season! .. for all creatures big and small. Family gatherings, poinsettias, pets all coexisting safely and hopefully peacefully .. what could be more purr-fect?

From Marva Bliss Lanier, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension

Supplement Review: Animal Essential's Plant Enzymes & Probiotics

One of Pets in the City's TOP SELLING Supplements!

Animal Essentials’ Plant Enzymes & Probiotics assists in the digestion and absorption of nutrients which are necessary to maintain your pet’s good health.
A small, very economical sprinkling each day will relieve extra burden placed on the digestive system by breaking down fats, carbohydrates, cellulose and protein.

Digestive enzymes are special types of protein molecules that catalyze the breakdown of food into components that can be utilized by the body. These proteins are not stored in the body but are released into the digestive system based on the anticipation aroma or the actual presence of food. Because they are not stored they must be taken with each meal.

Animal Essentials’ enzymes contain a blend of plant and microbial produced enzymes, none of which come from animal sources. Animal derived enzymes will work in only one area of the digestive system (stomach and intestines), while plant and microbial enzymes work throughout the whole system, from the mouth through the stomach into the intestines. Since our enzymes work over a broader pH range they are active longer in the entire digestive process, reducing the food into usable components.

As your dog or cat’s body ages less enzymes are produced and supplementation is necessary for optimum health. Digestive efficiency can also be reduced by excitement, anxiety or stress of any sort (travel, separation, working stress, etc.). To insure optimum digestion and health we recommend the addition of this supplement to each meal. The supplement should be moistened and added to the food shortly before feeding to be optimally effective.

Each enzyme works on a specific type of food and these are listed below along
with the other key ingredients probiotic and calcium.

Enzymes Present in the Formula:

ALPHA AMYLASE: helps in the digestion of carbohydrates by helping to hydrolyze the alpha 1-4 glycosidic linkages of polysaccharides to dextrin, D-glucose, maltose and oligosaccharides.
BETA AMYLASE: works on the end of the starch molecules instead of in the center, as does alpha-amylase and results in the production of sugars from the starch molecules.
PROTEASES: work on proteins to reduce them to individual amino acids (what they are composed of); some of these are acid stable proteases that start their work in the stomach. Proteins take the longest and are the most difficult food component to digest. With acid stable protease the decomposition starts earlier in the digestive tract, thus providing more complete digestion.
LIPASE: helps to metabolize fats (triglycerides). The fats are broken down into mono glycerides, diglycerides and glycerol. If given in larger quantities the Lipases can enter the bloodstream and help remove excess triglycerides from the arteries and the veins improving circulation.
CELLULASE: as the name implies, breaks down cellulose (fiber) by helping to break down cell walls, resulting in both necessary solubleand insoluble fiber.
HEMICELLULASE: hemi cellulose and an amorphous (sticky) type of cellulose that form long strings as cellulose, is crystalline. This enzyme helps break this polymer down into its individual sugars---primarily xylose.
BROMELAIN: is extracted from pineapple (Ananas comosus) and is a protolytic (protein) digesting enzyme, that helps break the proteins into oligio peptides and amino acids.
PROBIOTIC: is a lactic acid producing bacteria, which bears spores. These organisms exhibit the characteristics of both the genera Lactobacillus and Bacillus. Because they are encapsulated in spores these organisms are protected from the environment and heat. They are activated in the gut by the hydrochloric acid, producing lactic acid bacteria. Treatment with antibiotics results in the killing of these bacteria, which guard against yeast colonies (candida yeast species). These desirable bacteria inhibit the growth of putrid bacterial in the intestine, thereby maintaining the balance of intestinal flora.
CALCIUM SULFATE: the primary carrier or excipient for this product is food grade and adds a minimum amount of calcium to the diet, about 200 mg per gm of product.

Boo on Missouri Puppy Mills!!

The bad news: Missouri is the Puppy Mill capital of the US; 30% of federally licensed dog breeders are based here. The good news: we have a chance to change that in November!

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/08/missouri_puppy_mill_initiative.php

Take care of your Senior kitty!

Since I moved away from St Louis and left my friend Kramer behind (since he's a St Louis instituion at Pets in the City), I spend a fair amount of time worrying about him. My man is now 12 years old and considered a Senior. At Pets in the City, we already know what advice to give people that are living with Senior Pets, but it's always good to see it in writing! This is a great article.

//www.our-happy-cat.com/senior-cat.html

I really want to emphasize where they talk about feeding a canned diet. Hard food is really hard on your old guy/gal's kidneys. Switch them over to a raw or a canned regimen! Also, think about distilled water, as opposed to the chemicals that are in tap water.

Information on fish and fishmeal from the Gulf

http://www.petfood-connection.com/forum/topics/information-on-fish-and

This is a great article to address recent questions we've had at Pets in the City about the safety of fish from the Gulf used for Pet Food.

Dog's itch is not scratched!

As many of you know, I recently left St Louis to move to Southern Massachusetts. Being the owner of Pets in the City had me spoiled...I had non-stop access to the best pet products around! I tried to foresee what items I would need out here and brought them with me. However, one thing that I forgot was a good shampoo. I had been so used to sneaking my trio into the store after we were closed to give them all baths with my favorite staple: Eqyss Microtek Shampoo. We're having a hard time finding it out here, and my dogs are all itchy and scratchy from the sand fleas at the beach. Help me Eqyss!!! Where are you in Massachusetts?!?! //www.eqyss.com/pet_microtek_shampoo.asp In case people do not already realize this...the Pets in the City pet wash keeps Eqyss on hand for everyone to use freely while giving a self-wash to their pet!

City Chickens?

In the Spring of 2004, Madison, WI passed a law allowing single-family homes the right to raise poultry in the back yard. Previous to this law, poultry was allowed inside the home, but not outside. Coops were not permitted, nor was raising poultry inside the garage. Today it is legal to have 4 hens (no roosters) in a coop, no closer than 25' from the nearest neighbors living quarters....read more

Look into a RAW DIET for your pet!

We spend a lot of time at Pets in the City teaching people the benefits of a Raw Diet for their dogs and cats. For issues such as: skin problems, diabetes, hyper and hypo thyroid, cancer, etc...

And here's what raw-feeding pet owners around the world see in their raw-fed pets:

• Shinier, healthier skin and coats
• Cleaner teeth and fresh breath
• Better weight control
• Improved digestion
• Reduction of allergy symptoms
• Harder, smaller, less smelly stools
• More energy and stamina
• Decrease in abnormal hyperactivity
• Increased mobility in older animals
• Reduced or eliminated need for veterinary dental work

Switching an animal with an existing health problem to a raw diet can often produce an improvement in their conditions. Among healthy animals, a raw diet is likely to help them avoid some of the illnesses that are now becoming common in our companion animals. Regardless of the starting point for your pet, a high quality raw diet will help promote a long and healthy life.

Please give us a vote!

2010 Best of the FOX 2 HOT LIST

It's on! More than 1,200 businesses are currently competing for the title of St. Louis' Best. Voting ends Friday, March 19th. Pets in the City is found under the Pets Category (Pet Supplies). We would greatly appreciate your vote to help up win!!

Eligible businesses are nominated by readers/watchers of KTVI Fox 2 and their website...and Winners are determined by popular vote meaning that YOU choose the Best of 2010.

Vote for Pets in the City HERE

FDA warning about online pet medication pharmacies. Do your homework before you buy:

Online Pet Pharmacies

Protect Yourself and Your Pet:

Be Online Pet Pharmacy

A.W.A.R.E.

“Affordable pet prescriptions!”
“Pet meds at discount prices!”
“No prescription required!”
“Your best source for pet meds!”

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