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The following articles were recently published in the Loveland Connection. Pet Allergies | What's for Dinner | Bathing Your Dog | ||||||||
Pet Allergies By Sandy Fifer Does your dog or cat have allergies? Unfortunately, it is very common especially in dogs but cats also have this problem. An allergy is an "inappropriate" reaction of the immune system to some foreign protein, such as pollen, insects, molds, grasses and foods. Fleas can cause allergic reactions but, luckily it is rarely seen in Colorado dogs. Allergies can be hereditary or acquired. Allergic reactions cause an inflammatory response and are more severe in an unhealthy or weakened immune system. The symptoms manifest mostly in the skin with rashes, hot spots, lumps and hair loss. Other problems include scratching, chewing, biting, and face rubbing. Red ears, runny eyes and even respiratory problems can be symptoms of allergies. Isolating the allergen is not so easy. It can be a combination of irritants or from a particular source. An allergy skin test can be done, however the results are very inaccurate in most dogs. Food allergies are easier to treat just by avoiding the food that triggers the symptoms. The most common food allergies (just like in some people) are wheat, corn, soy, yeast, chicken, beef or lamb. Choose a pet food with an unusual protein like duck, venison or fish. A grainless commercial pet food or one with barley, oatmeal or millet for example would be a good choice. An important thing to remember is to rotate the dry food periodically and avoid feeding the same protein for more than 2 years. Rotating within the same brand decreases the likelihood of diarrhea. You may want to mix the old food with the new food over a 7 day period. A digestive enzyme (my favorite is OptaGest by In Clover) will also help with transitions of dog or cat food and help utilize the best nutrients in the food source. Canned food is a great food because it has few or no preservatives due to the processing. Try adding it to the dry food with a little water for increased hydration. Raw or homemade diets are a great option. The treats given to your pets must also avoid the same "trigger" foods. Supporting a strong immune system will help combat environmental and food allergies. Of course, a high quality diet is essential. Kelp powder is a good boost to the immune system. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils also give a good boost and may help decrease the itching. A medicated or oatmeal shampoo works externally and may offer temporary relief along with aloe sprays. Martin Goldstein, DVM recommends Calendula (marigold) in a spray called Eco-VM, made by Imhotep. Acupuncture and homeopathic remedies focus on the liver to rid the body of toxins. Find a holistic veterinarian to determine which approach might be best for your pet. A combination of therapies that treat the whole body according to your pet's medical history is a good holistic approach. There is hope and success in treating allergies. Given the right opportunity and resources, the body can heal itself. To find a Dermatologist Veterinarian go to www.ACVD.org.
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What's for Dinner By Sandy Fifer An animal's diet can affect many things such as behavior, disease and symptoms of allergies. Allergy symptoms may include loss of hair, dull flaky coat, chewing and biting of their feet and chronic ear infections. A symptom-free pet is not necessarily a healthy pet. Years later a pet can develop cancer, diabetes or kidney disease, but why wait when a good healthy diet may prevent an unfortunate occurrence. There are many other influences for a health crisis such as environmental toxins, poor breeding, over-vaccination and stress. Diet may be the easiest to change. Animals who are fed a healthy diet can better cope with stress, disease and environmental toxins. Dogs are omnivores descended primarily from wolves. Their diet consisted of a variety of prey and included meat, bone, organs and intestines. If preparing a homemade or raw diet does not sound appealing, at least find and identify commercial pet foods with the highest quality ingredients. Human-grade or range-free meats are best. Avoid "by-products", preservatives (BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin), artificial colors or flavors. For dogs, some grains in their diet are acceptable, but when listed as the first ingredient that is their main diet. Canned foods have more protein and moisture than dry food. Raw food is the best option, however. Domestic cats are carnivores descended from the African wildcat, a desert dwelling feline. Their diet depends primarily on meat. Grains are best left out of their diet. Moisture should be derived from their food, canned or raw. If kibble is their only diet, at the very least it should be grain-free. Adding canned foods are a plus and raw is optimal. The pet food recall was a wake-up call on how important it is to focus on quality ingredient choices. Perhaps the industry will respond to the public outcry for improving the nutritional standards of our pets. In the meantime, the best we can do is to become educated, responsible consumers.
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Bathing Your Dog By Sandy Fifer All dogs require a basic grooming routine that will improve their health and cleanliness not only for them, but for you and your home. If you start early in their life it will be easier later on. Brushing and bathing allows toxins to work their way out of the skin. Massaging as you bathe improves lymphatic health and general circulation. It also stimulates sebaceous glands along the hair follicle to promote a healthy shiny coat. Bathing your dog is a good time for bonding with your pooch. It is also a good opportunity to check their skin and coat for fleas, ticks, scratches, hot spots or lumps. The frequency of baths depends on your dog and his activities. Generally, once a month is good and once a week in the summer. There is more dirt, pollen and lake swimming as the weather warms up. Here are some suggestions to make the process easier and more effective. Brush your dog first to get rid of hair that is about to shed. Then go over your dog with a comb to eliminate mats and tangles because when you wet down the coat the tangles will tighten up. Use warm water. Dogs cannot tolerate the hotter temperatures that humans can. Also, do not use cold water! That is not fun for dogs or humans. Cold water does not rinse out the shampoo very well. This can result in a very itchy dog. Wet your dog slowly starting at the back end to allow them to get used to the water. Apply pet shampoo, being careful to avoid the eyes and inside of the ears. You may want to use cotton balls inside the ears. Never use human shampoo as they do not contain the pH balance appropriate for your dog's skin. Look for natural botanicals and avoid harsh chemicals, such as artificial coloring or scents and detergents. All skin types benefit from an herbal shampoo. A bluing shampoo is for white or light color coats. Oatmeal is soothing for dry or irritated skin. There are many other remedy shampoos to choose from. Massage the shampoo into the coat and skin. Almost all dogs enjoy being massaged as you bathe them. Rinse starting at the head and working your way down the body towards the tail. Be sure to rinse all the shampoo out to avoid an itchy dog. Towel dry first and then blow dry. Be careful not use hot air and keep the dryer moving. If your dog is still damp keep them inside and warm so they don't get chilled or roll in the dirt. To clean the ears, use cotton balls (never use cotton swabs) and an ear cleaner with natural ingredients. Try 10 drops of warm olive oil from an eyedropper. Gently massage the ear canal and let them shake out the wax and oil. Brush their teeth with a soft toothbrush and use a natural toothpaste designed for dogs. They will swallow all that toothpaste. If you do not have an access to warm water try a self-serve pet wash or a professional groomer. Whether you decide to do it yourself or use a professional groomer avoid stressful situations by socializing your dog first. Your result will be a happy clean dog. | ||||||||
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