Holistic Veterinary Care = treating the whole patient

Holistic Veterinary Medicine considers all aspects of the patient’s current state of health including their current physical state as well as activity level, behaviour, nutrition, environment and genetics.   People often view Holistic Veterinary Care as providing treatments that are less invasive and that take greater consideration of the patient’s wellbeing and lifestyle.   In contrast Allopathic medicine is a term used to describe that aspect of conventional medicine that uses drugs or surgery to treat or suppress symptoms or a disease process.   These two views may at time appear at odds with each other,  however at Guelph Animal Hospital we believe that all medicine whether considered “conventional” or “alternative” should be approached from a holistic perspective.

Let’s take for example an overweight dog that is being examined for chronic arthritis in the hips and back.  A straight forward allopathic approach would be to prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug to suppress the pain associated with inflammation.  A less invasive approach may involve the use of acupuncture applied to specific points along the back and hips to help increase blood flow and reduce inflammation and pain in the associated area.  Neither of these approaches would be considered “holistic” in and off themselves.   A more holistic approach would take into consideration that this pet is overweight, eats a dry commercial dog food, and gets little exercise, is stiff and sore when first getting up and then gradually improves with exercise.  A holistic treatment plan may involve a diet that contains an increased amount of omega 3 fatty acids including additional nutrients for the joints (such as glucosamine, chondroitin and possibly green lipped muscle), plus the addition of some whole foods rich in naturally occurring antioxidants.  A weight reduction plan designed to achieve an ideal lean body weight can recommended while a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is used initially to provide comfort while regular daily walks are implemented.  Then acupuncture, chiropractic and or laser therapy can be implemented to help improve blood circulation, decrease inflammation and improve mobility.  Further therapies may also include the addition of narcotic and other pharmaceutical drugs or homeopathic and herbal medicines used in combination to decrease the overall risk of side effects.      Visit http://guelphvet.ca/2012/09/11/integrative-therapy-for-arthritic-pets/  for more information on integrative pain management.

Integrative Veterinary Care makes the best use of all modalities, whether considered conventional or alternative, that best apply to each individual patient and situation.  At Guelph Animal Hospital we believe that by staying well educated in current veterinary therapies, diagnostics, and surgical techniques while also having solid training in several alternative modalities (such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal, nutritional and homeopathic therapies) we are better able to choose those therapies that appeal best to our client’s and patient’s individualized needs.   For more information on Integrative and Alternative Therapies visit http://guelphvet.ca/guelph-veterinary-services/alternative-integrative-therapies/ .

As the owner of 3 cats, I am well aware of the extent of damage that frisky felines can cause!  Although we consider scratching to be a destructive, this innate behaviour is part of healthy cats’ normal daily routine and play.  The good news is that there are ways to help shape this behaviour so that you and your cat(s) can continue to have a happy relationship without having to replace all of your furniture!

Despite popular belief, your cat does not choose to scratch your sofa or expensive dining room table to destroy your home.  Scratching is one of the ways that cats can mark their territory, as it allows deposition of scent from special glands on the paw.  You can no more ‘stop’ this behaviour that you can stop a cat from grooming.  However, you can direct the scratching behaviour so that it does not cause destruction to the items in your home.

The easiest and most effective way to deter your pet from scratching unwanted household furniture is to provide your cat with something that they WANT to scratch.  Watch your kitty carefully – does she prefer to scratch wood, carpet, or some other surface?  Does she scratch up high or on the floor?  When does she scratch – in the morning upon waking, or late at night? Is it after eating or after play?  By noting these things you can then be able to provide her with an appropriate surface to scratch.

There are an array of scratching posts and pillars that are available commercially.  They are often covered with carpet or rope, or a combination of both.  One common pitfall of a scratching post is that it is often too small or too short for your cat.  Many cats prefer scratching a vertical surface (eg your table leg or side of your couch) and like to extend their paws far over their head (think of yourself stretching when after waking – it would not be as fulfilling if you could not lift your arms up over your head!)  If this is the case, you may have to investigate a post that can be mounted or hung on the wall.   It is important that it be sturdy – if it falls of or sways the cat can’t get a good ‘scratch’ in and will then investigate other surfaces.

It is easy and affordable to make your own scratching post with supplies you may either have at home or can be purchased from a local hardware store.  You can wrap a piece of cardboard or wood with rope (cats tend to like sisal rope) and mount it to the wall.  It doesn’t have to be fancy!  If your cat prefers carpet you can also staple carpet to a post.  A google search can quickly provide you with some ideas.

You can use cat nip spray on your post to entice your cat to sniff and use it.  It is important to place or mount the post in an area that your cat prefers to be – hiding it away in the basement may mean your feline friend will continue to use your furniture!!  You can start by placing it near where they prefer to scratch, and then gradually moving it to a location where you prefer to place it. Reward your cat with treats and praise when the post is used!!

You may have to make some effort to make the areas where your cat prefers to scratch less ‘desirable’.  You can place a tower of plastic cups on the couch arm for example, or place double sided sticky tape on a chair leg.  We also have a product called Sssscat that emits a spray when the cat comes near the area where you wish to protect.

Because scratching has a scent-marking component, cats are more likely to re-scratch areas that already have their scent. To help break this cycle, try using an odor neutralizer to deodorize areas where your cat has previously scratched.

In addition, keeping your cat’s nails trimmed short can help prevent damage.  We will happily teach you how to trim your pets’ nails, and if you prefer we can do so for you.  Cat nail trims are also complimentary at Guelph Animal Hospital when you are signed up on our Healthy Cat Program – please contact us for more information. We recommend trimming monthly.

If you still find that your pet is scratching your furniture, you can minimize the damage by placing plastic tips on your cats’ nails – an example of this product is called “Soft Paws”.  While wearing these tips, your pet is able to go through the normal movements of scratching but the soft plastic will protect your furniture.  We can also help teach you how to apply these or do them for you if you wish.

A note worth mentioning – punishment does not typically help prevent the scratching behaviour.  In addition, your cat also learns that they are only punished when you are present, so they often learn to scratch when you are not there.

Despite our best efforts, there are some cats that will still scratch and the destruction they create often causes friction between family members.  For this reason, Laser Surgical Declawing is a surgical option for these patients.  Here at Guelph Animal Hospital we use state of the art LASER surgical technique and proper pain control  to ensure that this procedure is both safe and pain-free for your feline friend.   Look for our upcoming blogs for more information on laser declaw surgery.

Dr. Renee Fleming

It is true that cats, especially indoor cats, can put up quite the fuss when trying to get them into the clinic for their check-up.  Although many owners are just resigned that the day will be a struggle, there are some great and simple ways to make the trip more comfortable for them and therefore, for you!

Indoor cats often only see their carrier once a year.  It is then taken from its storage spot where it probably still smells of last year’s trip, and kitty is stuffed (sometimes literally) into the box for the voyage.  Some older carriers and most newer carriers now have the fabulous feature where the top can come completely off.  There are a few advantages of this type of carrier.  The first is that instead of trying to push or lower or coerce kitty into the carrier, you can simply take of the lid, put your cat in and then close it up over them.  The second is that when they get here to the clinic, we can also take the lid off and avoid having to pull or shake kitty out of the back of the carrier where he is hiding!  What I recommend with these carriers is to leave the base out at home with a nice comfy blanket or bed in it.  This way, hopefully this will become a comfort spot for your cat to rest in.  The carrier will smell like your cat and his surroundings.  If your cat really likes it, then consider putting the top back on but leaving the door off, but again, being sure it is in a location that is frequented by your cat.  You will find that if the carrier is part of your cat’s everyday life and not something that comes out once yearly that only has fearful associations with it, you will have a much easier time.  You will also find that in the car and while here at the clinic, your cat is much more comfortable and less stressed while surrounded with the comforts of home.

There are also other tricks that can help ease the stress of the visit.  Feliway is a synthetic feline pheromone that is calming to most cats.  This can be sprayed or wiped onto the carrier prior to the trip for added comfort.  In addition, many cats like to feel hidden so it can help to cover the carrier with a blanket to keep it dark and warm.  It is always best to make car trips on an empty stomach as motion sickness is common for cats as well.  We at Guelph Animal Hospital encourage you to bring in your cat’s favorite treats or toy so that he can be distracted if vaccinations or nail trims are needed.

Here is a great video on making the carrier a happy place for your cat: http://www.catalystcouncil.org/resources/health_welfare/cat_carrier_video/index.aspx

Cats are an incredible species and continue to amaze me ten years into my career.  One of the most amazing features of cats seems to be their ability to mask discomfort and illness.  When a dog comes in uncomfortable, they are often limping or will give a cry when the sensitive area is touched.  Cats are not so helpful in the exam room.  Cats tend to do one of two things, they either lie down and just wait, unmoving for their exam to be completed, or they let us know through claws and teeth that they are displeased with being brought out of the comfort of their home!  Neither leads to clues of how they are feeling in their everyday normal life.

Studies have shown that up to 20% of cats of any age have radiographic signs of arthritis.  When only looking at cats over the age of 12, that number soars to 90%. That’s a lot of painful cats!  I’ve mentioned why it is difficult to recognize signs of pain when cats are here in the clinic, but it will be more obvious at home right?  Unfortunately, not.  Dogs and people typically get arthritis in one hip or one elbow leading to a limp or holding up a limb.  Cats mostly get bilateral disease (the same on both sides) so they don’t limp or tend to favour one side over the other.  Also, we don’t always engage in the same physical activities with cats as we do with dogs.  We tend to walk our dogs, which is a prime time to notice any changes in their physical ability.  Cats seem to sleep most of the day and don’t always get active when we are around or awake.  It is however, a mistake to think that sleeping more is always normal and comes hand in hand with aging.  This can often be their sign to you that something is not quite right.

How, then, will we ever know that a cat is uncomfortable?  Well, first off, if the cat is over 12 years old, odds are not in their favour.  Subtle changes in behaviour can be seen at home, especially if you are on the look-out for them; lack of jumping, or even a hesitation before making a leap up or down, inappropriate urination or defecation, constipation, change in appetite, sudden aggression, a decrease in grooming, OVER grooming (especially when concentrated right over joints), vocalization, avoidance of stairs, weight loss, changes in postures and avoidance of touch and petting.  So if your cat used to leap up to the counter in a single bound (much to your chagrin) and now needs to jump to a chair first, they are likely having some trouble with pain and mobility.  Cats may also show changes in their facial expression.  Their eye position can change to form a V and their eyes can be squinty.  Their ears may be pulled forward or back.  Here is a picture of a comfortable cat facial expression versus a painful kitty:

Happy Cat                                                    Painful cat

Once pain is recognized, there are many things that we can work together to do to make them more comfortable.  At home; change in placement of the litter, relocation of the water or food dishes, helping out with the grooming, and maintaining a healthy weight and level of play/exercise are all things that will prove very rewarding.  During a consultation, we can discuss the use of nutritional supplements, special diets, medications, acupuncture, chiropractic and laser therapy which can be used alone or in combination to fit the individual needs of the patient.   At Guelph Animal Hospital we have seen the best results when we employ an integrative approach to pain management in cats.  To learn more about our integrative approach to arthritic pets click hear:  http://guelphvet.ca/2012/09/11/integrative-therapy-for-arthritic-pets/ .

The most important message?  Pay attention to your cat’s normal behaviour and report any changes to your veterinarian.  Your observations are crucial in the proper recognition and treatment of pain in your feline friend.  Let’s work together and keep more cats comfortable into their old age!

Ilana Smolkin DVM, Certified Animal Chiropractor

1. Safety – is the product free of hazardous             pathogens and contaminants

2. Nutritionally Balanced – has the product been properly balanced for optimal nutrition

3. Superior, fresh, wholesome ingredients, palatability and digestibility

Buddy’s Kitchen™ located in Aurora Ontario, maintains the highest quality control and chooses ingredients from local suppliers having created a process that allows pet owners to safely and conveniently feed fresh cooked food without the mess of having to prepare it at home and with the confidence that the food is scientifically complete and balanced.   These diets have been formulated by board certified animal nutritionist, Dr. Gary Pusillo.

Buddy’s Fresh Food™ is 70% meat , however it is not a raw diet.  All meats are hand-butchered and then gently cooked to the minimum temperature recommended by Health Canada for human consumption.  Independent lab testing on each batch must indicate ‘negative’ for E-Coli and Salmonella before being released for sale.  As a result, handling Buddy’s Fresh Food is safe and convenient for the whole family and storage is mess free.

Buddy’s Fresh Food™ is sold frozen and when ready to be fed, can be thawed in a refrigerator or quickly microwaved. Patties are individually wrapped in 4.5oz / 128 gram patties for easy and convenient storage, handling and measuring. You can actually see, smell and touch the fresh ingredients.  In the center of the patty is a proprietary core in the form of Buddy’s ‘heart’. The ‘heart’ adds additional pre and probiotics and other science based nutrition to support immunity & gut health.  Low glycemic ingredients support healthy weight maintenance and with no grains, no corn, no soy, no wheat and no meat meals.

Buddy’s Fresh Food can be fed everyday as a complete diet OR fed occasionally as a topper (instead of canned food) mixed into your dog’s regular food .  Four options are currently available –( Beef, Chicken, Salmon or Lamb & Pork) with each diet combined with other whole food ingredients such as Peas, Fava Beans, Pinto Beans, Pumpkin ad Apple Pomace.  Also included is a propriety blend of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics that were formulated specifically for optimal health and longevity.  This mixture is added only after the meat has been cooked and cooled.  As a result, none of the fragile nutrition is processed-out of the food as can occur with conventional pet foods.

Stay tuned for more “whole food” options soon to be offered at Guelph Animal Hospital for both dogs and cats.

To see Buddy’s Fresh Food™ in the making click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZvwVka7e3Bk

Knowing the ins and outs of puppy behaviour, how to motivate your puppy correctly so he wants to work with you, all involve learning on your part. What you leaned with your previous puppy many years ago, is now outdated.  Even some of the newer training trends, like the use of puppy pee pads, are strongly discouraged by experienced trainers.

Every puppy is different, even puppies within the same litter are different from each other, and respond differently depending upon their experiences.  Meaning they will each require different handling.  An experienced and qualified instructor has much to offer you and your new puppy. This is an opportunity that you don’t want to miss. Your puppy goes through critical developmental stages. The intial one is when you first get your puppy. If the socialization requirements during these stages are not met, the impact on your puppy will last a lifetime.

Puppy kindergarten is an opportunity to learn proper handling and other behaviour techniques with pups less than 16 weeks of age that will prevent most potential problems from turning into serious issues as your puppy matures. Our goal for our clients is to provide them with the best start for their new puppies.  We want you to enjoy your puppy, and help you raise them to be a happy and well-adjusted adult dog that is a joy to live with, and not a threat to others.

We offer a fantastic puppy kindergarten class to clients with puppies under 16 weeks. This class provides your puppy with an opportunity to interact with other young pups and humans.  Families learn puppy management techniques that work. Your puppy is handled by new people, and learn some choice games to get you started on the right foot.

Additional sessions may be booked with Leslie Marshall, one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians, who is also known as ‘The Puppy Tutor’.

There are a number of different types of lasers, and they are classified according to the wavelength of the laser and the energy/power output produced.  There are four classes:  I, II, IIIa,/b, and IV.   Most everyone has a type of laser in your home – such as a CD player or laser printer.  These would be considered Class I lasers.  Class II lasers have a wavelength visible to the human eye – such as bar code scanners.  Although safe, you should not look directly at the light for any period of time.  Class III lasers are of medium power and you must be cautious of these as they can cause tissue damage if used inappropriately (especially to the sensitive tissue of the eye).  An example of this type of laser is a laser pointer.  Class 3 Lasers, also known as “cold lasers” were the first to be used for therapy in veterinary medicine, however the time of treatment can be lengthier and more sessions may be required to see a response compared to newer Class IV Lasers.  Class IV lasers are the highest powered lasers currently used in veterinary medicine, and here at Guelph Animal Hospital we have two of them.  Our Class IV Surgical Laser  is used  instead of a scalpel when performing surgery.  In addition we have a Class IV Therapeutic Laser and rather than cutting tissues this laser is used to accelerate tissue healing while helping to reduce pain and inflammation.

Our Veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians have taken specialized training in order to safely use the Therapeutic Laser and to provide the most effective treatments.  We have been very pleased with the results we have seen over the past 2-years since introducing this service for our patients.

The laser system sends photons or packets of light energy deep into tissue without causing damage.  The photons are absorbed and induce a process called photo-bio-modulation.  This causes production of ATP within the tissue; ATP is like the fuel or energy that cells need to have for repair and rejuvenation.  Increased ATP production then leads to healthier cells, tissue, and therefore healthier animals!  There are multiple clinical studies in both human and veterinary medical literature that proves that laser therapy alleviates pain and inflammation, reduces swelling, and stimulates both nerve regeneration and cells involved in tissue repair.  These treatments are very well tolerated by our canine and feline friends.  There are no known side effects (although we use in caution in patients with cancer) and these treatments often reduce the need for certain medications or even surgery.  We don’t have to shave or prepare the area, and most treatments can be done under 10 minutes – it can take longer if we are doing multiple sites.

Here at Guelph Animal Hospital, we routinely use our therapeutic laser for the following conditions:

• Osteoarthritis
• Back pain/injury
• Hip dysplasia
• Hot spots
• Otitis (ear infection/inflammation)
• Post-operative wound healing
• Trauma or injury (eg. sprains/strains, cruciate ligament tears)

Although we have many, many patients that have experienced an improvement after laser treatment, one of our most dramatic cases is that of a little rescue Dachshund named “Rosie”.   Rosie was a rescue from the southern US, and she had experienced a leg fracture.  Her limb had been splinted but she had a lot of damaged skin that was red and in danger of becoming very infected.  One of our clients was fostering Rosie and brought her to us for our opinion.  We were very concerned that one of her toes needed to be amputated, and if we couldn’t get the skin to heal there was risk of her losing her leg entirely.  We decided to use our laser to help with the healing and Rosie diligently came in twice weekly for laser and bandage changes.  Within one week we decided her toe could be saved, and by 4 weeks of treatments her leg was completely healed!  Rosie has found a forever home and we get to see her often.  You would never know that she had any previous injury!

If you would like to schedule a laser therapy appointment or would like to learn more about this exciting treatment – please call and one of our Client Care Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Renee Fleming DVM

I was part of a team of 12 volunteers from the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT).  This charitable organization was founded in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, as a way to help displaced animals that were affected during that time, 82 volunteers from Canada assisted people and pets in New Orleans during this traumatic time.  Over the past years they have helped pets in countries including Canada (northern BC and Nunavut), Belize, Mexico and Botswana.  You can read more about them at www.caat-canada.org

Baker Lake is a small community about 300 km inland of Hudson Bay, and is known for being close to the geographical centre of Canada as well as being Nunavut’s only inland Arctic community.  It is home to approximately 1800 individuals, the majority (90%) are Inuit.  The people of this small hamlet do have pets– mostly dogs, there are cats and even a few pocket pets too!  There are no veterinary services nearby, so CAAT first organized a team of volunteers to travel to this community four years ago.  Otherwise if you need veterinary care, the closest clinic is in Winnipeg Manitoba, 1632 kilometers away.

The majority of the dogs in this community are working dogs – they are used as part of a sled team that will travel for hunting purposes.  A few teams have competed in races, but the majority of the dog teams are used for personal travel purposes.  There is a significant need for veterinary services in this region which is why the community applied to CAAT to have a mobile clinic visit on a yearly basis.  I was fortunate to be chosen as one of the two veterinarians travelling to Baker Lake this year. Our team consisted of 2 Veterinarians, 6 technicians, and 4 animal care attendants.  We have three main goals when volunteering here, population control by way of spays and neuters, vaccines and deworming and public education.  In Ontario, it is very common to have your pet spayed/neutered at a young age both for population control and health benefits.  Many individuals in Baker Lake have never had access to this service, or were not raised to understand why this procedure is beneficial.

Last summer, a wolf that was infected with Rabies came right into the community.  Because of the work that CAAT has done, many of the dogs had already received a rabies vaccination.  Without the help of CAAT, almost the entire community of dogs would have had to be destroyed.

To assist with public education, CAAT has done presentations to the community, as well as yearly visits to both the public school and high school.  I assisted with the public school assembly and it was so much fun to see all the children talking about their pets, and learning about things such as bite prevention, proper ways to handle and treat pets, in addition to the benefits of vaccination and neuter surgery.

After our 10 day clinic, we saw close to 250 animals – they received a physical examination, appropriate vaccinations and deworming, and if owners wished they were spayed or neutered.  On our first day, I spent just over 8 hours in surgery!

This was an amazing experience – I met lots of grateful members of the Baker Lake community and hundreds of happy dogs and cats, even a guinea pig, and made some great friends.  I really feel like we have made a positive impact on this community and I look forward to joining CAAT on other projects!

Let me give you an example.  Recently I saw a client whose dog likely has a severe protein losing intestinal disease called “lymphangectasia”.   Dogs with this disease cannot handle even normal levels of fat in their diet.  She came to me seeking an integrative approach for treating her dog.  After reviewing the excellent work-up performed at another veterinary clinic, including medications and prescribed veterinary diet, I performed my own physical exam as well as a more detailed history to better understand the relationship between this dog’s individual constitution, environment and current medical condition.  I then developed an integrative treatment plan including a combination of appropriate pharmaceutical medication, Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and dietary recommendations.

This particular dog will require a significantly fat-restricted diet for the rest of its life.  Having contacted her breeder the owner had already started to feed some home cooked tilapia combined with sweet potato.  “So far,so good”, I told her, explaining that this is a good choice for two low fat ingredients.  The initial veterinarian had prescribed a specific canned veterinary diet – Royal Canin Gastro-intestinal Low Fat.

The veterinary diet prescribed is uniquely designed for dogs with chronic pancreatitis or lymphangectasia that will require a fat-restricted diet long term. The main ingredients read as follows: Pork By-Products, Corn Grits, Rice Flour etc. and the Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min 6%, Crude Fat min 1%, Moisture max 77%.

However, my client had been advised by a (no doubt well meaning) “pet nutritional advisor” that she needed to avoid by-products and grains amongst other things in this dog’s diet.  So taking this advice to heart she proceeded to buy a good quality canned diet from the pet store – Natural Balance Limited Ingredient – Fish and Sweet Potato.

The main ingredients include: Fish Broth, Ocean White Fish, Sweet Potatoes, Salmon, Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil, Salmon Oil etc. and the Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min 7.0% , Crude Fat min 4.0% minimum, Moisture max 78%.

So let’s do an important comparison between these two diets, with a particular focus on the fat content that is key to managing this dog’s medical condition. Since we know the canned foods contain 77% and 78% water respectively we can approximate the amount of fat in each on a dry matter basis by dividing the % fat by the % dry matter and then multiplying by 100.   Starting with the veterinary diet we have 1% Fat (as fed) divided by 23% dry matter thus giving us approx 4% Fat on a dry matter basis while the Natural Balanced canned diet provides 4% Fat (as fed) divided by 23% dry matter equals at least 18% Fat on a dry matter basis.

The above example provides a reasonable approximation of the actual fat content on a dry matter basis.  While veterinary pet food manufacturers provide precise calculations on both a dry matter and metabolizable energy basis of all their key nutrients this information is just not available for most retail foods.  According to information provided by Royal Canin, the veterinary canned diet we are referring to actually contains 7% Fat on a dry matter basis.   Regardless it is plain to see that the canned food chosen by this owner has close to 3 times or more the amount of Fat in it than the canned diet recommended by the veterinarian.   In fact it is not likely possible to find a comparable fat-restricted diet through any retail source other than a veterinarian.  While the intentions of the pet owner were excellent, the pet store diet would be detrimental for her dog, probably resulting in additional medical care and costs.  This left me and my client with just one of two options for this dog.  She either needs to feed the recommended canned veterinary diet or a properly balanced home-made, fat-restricted diet to her dog for the rest of his life.

What about the by-products and corn grits contained in the veterinary diet – aren’t those “undesirable” ingredients?

Advising pet owner’s to reject any by-products shows a lack of understanding of the nutritional merits of various parts of animal food products.  By-product is no more than a word used to describe any part of an animal other than the muscle meat.  Pet food manufacturers who follow AAFCO guidelines (particularly if they sell products into the United States) are required to list any animal based food ingredient that is not muscle meat as by-product.   No carnivore in the wild eats just muscle meat!  Skin along with visceral organs and their contents provide wild carnivores with a rich variety of nutrients not found in muscle meat alone.  So I called Royal Canin and asked them specifically what part of the pig is included in their “pork by-products”.  By definition pork by-product consists of meats from healthy, veterinary inspected pigs and can contain organ meats as well as bone and joint tissue but does not include any inedible material such as hair or hooves.   Pork by-products are an excellent source of nutrients including protein (essential amino acids including taurine), fat (energy), minerals (such as iron) vitamins (such as B12 and Vitamin A), and functional nutrients such as glucosamine, chondroitin and L-carnitine.

I also explained to this client that there is no scientific or empirical evidence to support that it is ill-advised (in general) to feed grains to pets.  Almost all grain free diets contain some form of carbohydrate, such as potato.  The argument that wild carnivores do not eat grains just does not hold when compared to the unlikely image of a wild wolf digging up potatos!  In fact a published study of the foraging and feeding habits of the Gray Wolf demonstrated in the summer months, when it is hard to catch prey, that 75% of the scat contained plant material.  In addition, modern wolves that prey on farm animals are likely to ingest the stomach and intestinal contents of these animals that are often raised on grains.  Refined grains have been shown to be significantly more digestible for dogs and cats than whole grains and particular fractions of grain such as the wheat gluten provide a highly digestible and well balanced source of protein, not just a “cheap filler”!

So what is all the fuss about grains?  It is true that some dogs and cats develop food allergies or intolerance to certain grains.  Chicken, beef, corn and wheat appear to be among the most common food allergens.  This may have some relation to being among the most common ingredients found in many commercial pet foods.  Does that mean we should stop feeding Chicken and Beef to our pets?  For animals with suspected allergies or intolerance to certain grains or meats we need to feed a diet that is devoid of that particular ingredient.

It is also true that feeding diets too high in refined carbohydrates can play a role in promoting obesity, diabetes, chronic inflammation and other metabolic conditions.  Highly refined carbohydrates (whether from potato starch or corn starch) can result in spikes in blood glucose levels that potentiate inflammation.  Pets with chronic inflammatory disorders, diabetes and certain other metabolic conditions will likely do better on diets that exclude or at least are lower in the more refined carbohydrates.  So understanding the ratio of Protein, Fat, Carbohydrate and Moisture can be essential to choosing an appropriate diet for these pets.  From our discussion at the beginning of this blog you can see just how difficult this can be by comparing labels alone.  It is also important to know what part of the plant is being used and how it has been processed.  Corn gluten and wheat gluten for example are highly digestible proteins not carbohydrates.  Gluten sensitivity (similar to Celiac disease in humans) is a very rare condition in animals that only seems to affect certain predisposed breeds such as some Irish Setters.  However, wheat gluten can be allergenic in some select pets.

In the end my client decided to feed the canned fat-restricted veterinary diet in combination with a properly balanced home-made diet that can include tilapia and sweet potato.  More on how to ensure a home-made diet is properly balanced in a future blog.

Rob Butler DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVFT

Any dog can be gentle and well-mannered if you are willing to make the effort to understand the importance of properly training and socializing your puppy! And also, the realization that bringing a new pup into your home is not just about having something cute and cuddly to keep you company. It’s a full-time commitment that requires a lot of time and effort on your part. It’s also a financial responsibility that you can expect to fulfill for at least the next 10-15 years of your life. It is NOT a decision to be taken lightly or to be made in haste.

Which brings me back to Reese. We were not her first owners. In fact, another couple took her home a few weeks before we did only to return her to the shelter 2 days later. The reason? They did not expect a puppy to be so much work. And while I’m sure their decision to send her back was a difficult one, it was the responsible thing for them to do. And now we get to enjoy her and can offer her the time and attention that she needs and otherwise may not have received.

Don’t get me wrong, things with Reese are not always sunshine and roses. The first day we brought her home, she spent the first few hours tearing around our living room at full speed. She was everywhere and into EVERYTHING. My husband and I both wondered – what have we gotten ourselves into!? You would think having been a technician for the last 8 years would make raising a puppy a cinch, right? Wrong! It never ceases to amaze me what a learning experience this is. I can talk to you until I’m blue in the face about nutrition, crate training and how to trim your puppy’s nails, but it’s the little things that sometimes leave me at a loss. She can really be quite the handful sometimes! For example, she used to steal dish-towels all of the time. And by the time I would retrieve the towel, put it back in its rightful position on the stove and get back to what I was originally doing, she would have the thing in her mouth all over again! It was extremely frustrating. How did I overcome this problem? By filling a can with coins. I’d place it on the dish-towel rack, so that when she tried to grab her prize, the can would fall. It caused a horrible racket, but deterred her from the behaviour. Until finally she stopped doing it altogether.

She also used to bark a lot in her kennel when I would bring her to work with me. She would see a new face or pet in the treatment area and the excitement would start! ‘Pay attention to me!,’ she’d bark. Only, when the barking is happening ALL THE TIME, it’s hardly endearing. Solution? I covered her kennel with a blanket when she was barking. When she was quiet, the blanket came off,  and she was given a reward. I did this over and over again until she learned that she was only uncovered an able to see others when she was quiet and well behaved. Best of all, it didn’t take her long to learn.

The fun thing about having a puppy of my own is that it allows me to learn from my own experiences and pass my newfound knowledge onto our clients. It’s so much easier to discuss things with you guys when I can directly relate. And when I think back to that first day she was a part of our lives, it doesn’t seem so bad. And I really wouldn’t change any part of it for the world.

Diana Hunsberger, RVT