Summertime and the Livin’ is… HOT!

Public education is vital in improving the lives of companion animals in every community.  Every summer we still see the same trends — pets dying in parking lots across the country, dogs running away on the 4th of July.  Clearly, we’ve learned that what pet parents don’t know CAN hurt them and their pets.   The importance of publicizing these dangers and empowering pet parents to make better decisions to regarding their pets cannot be overstated.  Help inform your community of the dangers of leaving a pet in a hot car, bringing pets along for fireworks on Independence Day, and more.

Happy Tails! – NERO

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It’s official!!  Nero was adopted today.  After six months on meds, medicated baths and special food.  Now, he is well and we are so happy to receive Nero into our family.
He is the sweetest animal, brings us joy, and is the perfect companion to little Ollie (aka Marty- adopted June 2012.)  We’ve renamed him Skippy as he skips and jumps as he runs and plays.

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Thank you K-9 Angels for all your good work and facilitating Nero’s journey to our home.

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If you would like to send us an update on your adopted
K-9 Angels Rescue dog, please send a short write-up and photo(s) to
happytails@k-9angelsrescue.org.   We LOVE to get updates!
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Do you want to send us updates & photos

but still need to choose the Love of your Life?

Surely you can find THE ONE right here!

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Very Important: Never Let Your Dog Get at Any Product Containing This

By Dr. Becker

Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol extracted from certain fruits and vegetables.  Because of its sweet taste and plaque fighting benefits in humans, xylitol is a common sugar substitute found in a diverse assortment of products.  These include sugar-free gum, mints and other candy, baked goods, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, certain prescription drugs, and dental hygiene products.  Nontoxic amounts are even included in some pet dental products.

Because xylitol has a low glycemic index, it’s also sold in bulk as a sugar substitute for baking and in-home use — which is why the Pet Poison Helpline has fielded calls from owners of dogs that became very sick after eating homemade bread, muffins and cupcakes made with xylitol.

Where Else Is Xylitol Found?

According to the Pet Poison Helpline (PPH), xylitol – which, as many pet owners know, is quite toxic for dogs, causing hypoglycemia and hepatic necrosis – is showing up in an ever-increasing number of surprising places.  New products on the market, including some nasal sprays, over-the-counter sleep aids, multivitamins, prescription sedatives, antacids, stool softeners, and smoking-cessation gums, contain “unexpectedly large amounts” of xylitol, according to Dr. Anna Brutlag of PPH.

Dogs who sample these products get a double dose of toxicity, first from the active ingredient in the product, and secondarily from the xylitol.  This potentially deadly combination can greatly complicate the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for these animals.

According to Dr. Brutlag, the following “atypical” products contain xylitol.  Some may surprise you…

Over-the-counter medications:

• Axia3 ProDigestive Antacid (flavored chewable tablets, propriety amount)
• Children’s Allegra Oral Suspension
• Fleet Pedia-Lax Liquid Stool Softener
• Umcka Cold and Flu chewable tablets (homeopathic product)

Dietary supplements, vitamins:

• KAL Colostrum Chewable, Vanilla Cream (chewable tablets)
• KAL Dinosaurs Children’s Vitamins and Minerals (chewable tablets)
• Kidz Digest Chewable Berry from Transformation Enzyme
• L’il Critters Fiber Gummy Bears
• Mega D3 Dots with 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per “dot” (dissolvable tablet)
• Stress Relax’s Suntheanine L-Theanine chewable tablets
• Vitamin Code Kids by Garden of Life (chewable multivitamins)
• Super Sleep Soft Melts by Webber Natural (dissolvable tablets)

Nasal products:

• Xlear Sinus Care Spray
• Xylear Nasal Spray (for adults and children)
• Xyliseptic Nasal Spray

Prescription drugs:

• Abilify Discmelt Orally Disinteg­rating Tablets (aripiprazole)
• Clonazepam Orally Disintegrating Tablets, benzodiazepine
• Emtriva oral solution (emtricitabine), HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor
• Mobic Oral Suspension (meloxicam), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
• Neurontin (gabapentin) Oral Solution
• Riomet (metformin) Oral Solution, antidiabetic agent
• Varibar barium sulfate products, liquids and puddings for swallowing studies
• Zegerid Powder for Oral Suspension (omeprazole), proton pump inhibitor

Foods with xylitol as the primary sweetener (excluding gums and mints):

• Clemmy’s Rich and Creamy ice cream products
• Dr. John’s products (hard and soft candies, chocolates, drink mixes and so on)
• Jell-O sugar-free pudding snacks
• Nature’s Hollow jams, syrup, ketchup, honey and so on
• SparX Candy
• Zipfizz energy drink-mix powders

Toxicity of Xylitol Is Species- and Dose-Dependent

While xylitol is safe for human consumption, the same can’t be said for pets.  In 2011, the FDA released a consumer alert on the dangers of xylitol ingestion in certain animals.  The sweetener’s effect varies by species.  In people, rhesus monkeys, rats, and horses, intravenous (IV) xylitol causes little to no insulin release.  However, it has the opposite effect on baboons, cows, goats, rabbits, dogs, and ferrets. Its effect on cats is unknown.

Humans absorb xylitol slowly, and the sweetener when ingested orally is absorbed at from about 50 to 95 percent.  However, in dogs, xylitol is rapidly and completely absorbed within about 30 minutes.  Just a small amount of xylitol can cause a dangerous insulin surge and a rapid drop in blood sugar.

The toxicity of xylitol in dogs is dose-dependent.  The dose required to trigger hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) is approximately 0.1 grams/kg, while the amount needed to cause hepatic necrosis (liver failure) is approximately 0.5 grams/kg.  As a point of reference, most chewing gums and breath mints typically contain .22 to 1.0 gram of xylitol per piece of gum or per mint.  This means just a single piece of gum or one mint may cause hypoglycemia in a 10-pound dog.

Determining the Amount of Xylitol in a Product

Product manufacturers aren’t required to list the quantity of xylitol on package labels, and while some companies will reveal the amount in their products, many are reluctant to do so.  Incredibly, some have even asked veterinarians to sign a confidentiality agreement before divulging how much of the sweetener is in a particular product.

Fortunately, the Pet Poison Helpline has been working to get this information from manufacturers, and has been relatively successful.  So if you need to know the amount of xylitol contained in a specific product, the Helpline suggests you call them first at 1-800-213-6680.

In some cases, you might be able to use the placement of xylitol on an ingredient list to estimate how much is in the product.  In the U.S., ingredient lists for foods must be organized in descending order based on weight.  The ingredient that weighs the most is at the top of the list.  According to Dr. Brutlag, in most chewing gum ingredient lists, xylitol appears in fourth or fifth place, making it clinically insignificant.  She says if it appears as one of the first three ingredients, however, extreme caution should be taken.

I’ll go a step further and recommend that dog guardians avoid or very carefully secure any product that contains any amount of xylitol, no matter how small.

When it comes to medications and dietary supplements, U.S. regulations do not require manufacturers to list xylitol by name on package labels.  This is because the sweetener is often categorized as an “inactive” or “other” ingredient, and such ingredients don’t have to be listed in order by the amount contained in the product.  To confuse matters further, when xylitol is named in these products, it is often part of an alphabetized list, which could lead pet owners to assume – perhaps in error – that there is a very small amount in the product.

So I’ll repeat my recommendation to dog owners to either avoid or very carefully store any product that contains xylitol in any amount.

Symptoms of Xylitol Poisoning and Required Treatment

Symptoms of xylitol intoxication in dogs include vomiting, weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures, and collapse.

Hypoglycemia is usually evident within an hour or two after a dog ingests xylitol, but symptoms are occasionally delayed for several hours.  Treatment depends on how quickly it is given.  Vomiting is induced in cases where the xylitol has just been ingested.  Once a dog develops hypoglycemia, IV dextrose must be administered until the animal can self-regulate his blood glucose concentrations, which typically takes from 12 to 48 hours.

In dogs who ingest enough xylitol to cause liver toxicity, liver enzymes must be closely monitored, as evidence of hepatic necrosis can show up one to two days after ingestion.  Should the liver begin to fail, the dog will require IV fluids, dextrose, hepatoprotectants (substances to help support and repair the liver), and regular monitoring of blood clotting activity.

When xylitol exposure is caught early in a dog and treated effectively, the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent.  The prognosis for dogs that develop hepatic failure is less optimistic.

——- Source

Happy Tails! – LUCY and REGGIE (pka Rio)

Just wanted to send over a quick note and say how great an addition Reggie (formerly Rio – brown and tan) has been to our family.   We adopted him in February to keep Lucy (the smaller, white dog – adopted from K-9 Angels in January 2013) company and they have become the best of friends.  They love to wrestle around with each other (Reggie often rolls around on his belly so that Lucy can get the upper hand) and I often find them curled up together on the couch sleeping.

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Thank you for giving these dogs a second chance and we are so grateful to have them in our lives!

Marci and David

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If you would like to send us an update on your adopted
K-9 Angels Rescue dog, please send a short write-up and photo(s) to
happytails@k-9angelsrescue.org.   We LOVE to get updates!
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Do you want to send us updates & photos

but still need to choose the Love of your Life?

Surely you can find THE ONE right here!

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Happy Tails! – RUBEN

Ruben loves to roll in the grass and play
with his squeaky toys.
But his favorite activity is being lazy
on a fluffy bed or couch after a long walk!

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If you would like to send us an update on your adopted
K-9 Angels Rescue dog, please send a short write-up and photo(s) to
happytails@k-9angelsrescue.org.   We LOVE to get updates!
* * * * * * *

Do you want to send us updates & photos

but still need to choose the Love of your Life?

Surely you can find THE ONE right here!

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Happy Tails! – PUGI

When I first started volunteering at K-9 Angels, I decided that I wanted to also foster.  I don’t know what it was about Pugi at the time that drew me to him.  He was all banged up, covered with fleas, had a bad infected eye, and a giant wound on his neck.  Later on, he developed a tumor that was luckily benign and removed with surgery.  I suppose I felt very sorry for the little guy.

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Even though he wasn’t in the best of shape, his was always excited to go outside for a walk, chase squirrels, or play tug-o-war with me.  The only time he wasn’t so happy-go-lucky was when I gave him a bath.  I soon realized that this would be the ultimate case of foster fail, for I was too attached to ever let him go.

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I feel very fortunate that K-9 Angels rescued him and gave him a second chance at life.  He has completely stolen my heart, and brings me so much joy and happiness everyday.  Through this whole process, I realized just how compassionate and hardworking everyone is at K-9 Angels. They’ve inspired me to become an advocate for animal rescue.  I can never thank K-9 Angels enough for their dedication in helping dogs find forever homes, and especially for helping Pugi and I find each other.

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If you would like to send us an update on your adopted
K-9 Angels Rescue dog, please send a short write-up and photo(s) to
happytails@k-9angelsrescue.org.   We LOVE to get updates!
* * * * * * *

Do you want to send us updates & photos

but still need to choose the Love of your Life?

Surely you can find THE ONE right here!

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Happy Tails! – ANGUS and SISSY

We just wanted to send you a quick update on Angus and Sissy.  They’ve been with us for around 3 months now and we couldn’t be happier with them!   They bring us so much happiness and make us laugh everyday!   They have settled in well and are now the best of friends.

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Angus was so happy in his first few weeks that he wagged his tail too hard and injured it which is why its shaved in some of the attached pictures!   He was in a cone for 4 weeks and never once complained.   In fact his tail continued to wag throughout which caused a number of bandages to come flying off!   They love their walks and are happiest when we take them on new adventures every weekend – they love chasing squirrels and Sissy even chased a duck into the pond at Herman Park over the weekend.   They are starting to get to used to the car and get so excited when we get their seat belts out.  They are both really smart and graduated a week early from their puppy class –  even if we’re not sure how much they learned as the vet has said that ‘based on their behavior’ they are only 1 year old!   They have grown so much in the last few months we will need to bring them past at some point to say hello!

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Thank you so much for rescuing them and allowing us to make them part of our family.   We cannot believe that someone gave them up but we are so grateful to you all for rescuing them in their moment of need!

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If you would like to send us an update on your adopted
K-9 Angels Rescue dog, please send a short write-up and photo(s) to
happytails@k-9angelsrescue.org.   We LOVE to get updates!
* * * * * * *

Do you want to send us updates & photos

but still need to choose the Love of your Life?

Surely you can find THE ONE right here!

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Understanding the Canine’s Dietary Needs

 

By Dr. Becker

Recently I ran across an interesting white paper I wanted to share with everyone here at Mercola Healthy Pets.  It was produced by Champion Pet Foods of Canada, makers of Orijen and Acana brands of dog and cat food.  White papers such as this one, for those of you who may not be familiar, are typically informational marketing pieces and shouldn’t be confused with scientific research studies.  Wikipedia defines a white paper as “an authoritative report or guide helping readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision.”

The report is titled The Biologically Appropriate Food Concept and the Dietary Needs of Dogs and Cats, and while it is essentially an info-marketing piece, it contains a great deal of factual information I think pet owners will find useful. For example, the authors point out that despite thousands of years of domestication and our inclination to “humanize” them, dogs continue to share 99 percent of their DNA with wolves.  And in fact, the Smithsonian reclassified the domesticated dog from its previous separate species of “Canis familiaris” to “Canis lupus familiaris” to more closely associate canine companions with their wolf cousins.

The paper’s authors also do a good job of reiterating and reinforcing the fact that dogs and cats are carnivores best served by a diet that matches their anatomies.

How Nature Designs Carnivores

The anatomical and physiological differences between herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores can be summarized as follows:

Carnivores (Meat Eaters) (wolves, dogs, cats)	Herbivores (Plant Eaters) (cows, sheep)	Omnivores (Both Meat and Plant Eaters) (pigs, bears, humans)
Sharp, elongated teeth designed for tearing and killing prey, not grinding plants, plus jaws that move vertically and open widely, providing a smooth cutting motion, and the ability to swallow large chunks of meat.	Square and flat molars that provide an ideal surface to crush and grind plants (but not meats), plus a lower jaw with a distinct sideways motion that facilitates the grinding needed to chew plants.	Flat molars and sharp teeth developed for both grinding and tearing, plus the ability of the jaw to move sideways to grind food.
Short, simple and acidic digestive tracts that quickly and easily digest protein and fat from animal sources, plus kill bacteria found in decaying meat.	Long digestive tracts up to 10 times their body length to break down plant foods.	Medium length digestive tracts that provide the flexibility to digest both vegetation and animal proteins.
No amylase in saliva.	Saliva contains the carbohydrate-digesting enzyme amylase needed to digest starch. Herbivores methodically chew their food to ensure the thorough mixing with amylase.	Saliva contains the carbohydrate-digesting enzyme amylase needed to digest starch.

 

This table illustrates the key anatomical features that separate carnivorous dogs and cats from omnivores and herbivores, resulting in a natural adaptation for an almost exclusively meat based diet.

‘Modern dogs of all breeds are not only capable of eating the food of their wild ancestors, but actually require it for maximum health.’

The white paper discusses the dietary needs of dogs and cats, starting with the difference between types of protein and the fact that protein quality varies enormously depending on its source.

Animal proteins are considered complete proteins for dogs and cats, while plant proteins are considered incomplete proteins.  This is because animal proteins contain all the amino acids pets require, in the quantities needed for growth, maintenance, and overall health.

Plant proteins, on the other hand (for example, corn gluten, soybean meal and plant protein isolates), do not contain all the amino acids in the right proportions a dog or cat needs, including arginine, taurine, methionine, lysine and tryptophan.

Animal source fats are also essential in the diets of dogs and cats, as they provide essential fatty acids (omega-3, for example) and a concentrated source of energy.  However, while both fats and carbohydrates provide energy, dietary fats are essential for dogs and cats whereas carbs are not.  Carbs provide energy more rapidly than fats, but in dogs, carbohydrate loading generates an excessive amount of lactic acid in the muscles that can lead to hypoglycemia.

As for omega-3 fatty acids, there are three kinds:  ALA, which comes from plants (soy, canola oil and flax, for example), and DHA and EPA, which come from fish.  Dogs and cats require DHA and EPA, but not ALA.

Dogs and Cats Have No Nutritional Requirement for Carbohydrates

According to PetfoodIndustry.com, AAFCO’s 2010 Pet Food Nutrient Profiles and the National Research Council’s 2006 Committee on Animal Nutrition conclude that dogs and cats do not require carbohydrates in their diets.  And it’s common knowledge that the natural diets of canines and felines contain almost no carbohydrates, with the primary source being predigested grains, fruits and veggies found in the stomachs of prey animals.

The white paper authors state that, “Today’s high carbohydrate pet foods lead to blood sugar fluctuations, insulin resistance, and are widely considered as a leading cause of obesity, diabetes and a host of other health problems in cats and dogs.”  Conventional dry dog foods are heavy on carbs, with most exceeding 40 to 50 percent in total carbohydrate content.  This means that around half of typical dry dog food is composed of non-essential simple sugars – a fact that pet owners often aren’t aware of because pet food manufacturers aren’t required to list carbohydrate content on product labels.

Carb intake above the daily needs of dogs (which is essentially zero) triggers internal enzyme factors to store the excess as body fat.  The livers of adult dogs are able to easily synthesize glucose from protein and fats, so there is no need to supply carbohydrates in the diet.

Despite Scientific Evidence That Dogs and Cats Are Carnivores, Dry Pet Food Manufacturers Persist in Adding Inappropriate Grains and Carbohydrates to Their Products

The authors of the white paper concluded that the basic physiology of the dog and cat has changed very little over thousands of years of domestication, and though they differ in appearance from their wild cousins, their internal anatomy remains unchanged.  Dogs are carnivores, not omnivores, and while they are very adaptable, just because they can survive on an omnivorous diet doesn’t mean it’s the best diet for them.

The authors state, “With short digestive tracts and gastrointestinal systems, dogs and cats are adapted to metabolize animal flesh and fat, not grains and carbohydrates.  Today’s modern dogs (of any breed) are not only capable of eating the food of their wild ancestors, but actually require it for maximum health.”

These findings are well established within the scientific community.  But it seems manufacturers of dry pet food are intent on feeding dogs and cats as if their digestive systems are similar to a human’s, with a heavy emphasis on inappropriate grains and carbohydrates.

While some like to claim that dogs and cats have “evolved” to eat kibble, this argument doesn’t make sense in light of the fact that their digestive systems have not changed.  And were such physiological changes to occur, they would require much longer than the time that dogs have been living with humans.

I’m very much in agreement with the information contained in the Orijen white paper and am encouraged to see a commercial pet food manufacturer produce a comprehensive report containing factual information useful to pet owners.  You can download the full report here.

(Please note: This article is not an endorsement or recommendation of Champion Pet Food, as I don’t endorse or recommend any particular brand of commercial pet food.)

Take Action On The Philippines’ Dog Meat Trade

Close to 500,000 dogs, many of them stolen pets, are rounded up and slaughtered every year in the Philippines for the illegal dog meat trade.  Conditions within the dog meat industry are barbaric, with thousands of dogs dying during transport to slaughter and the survivors having their throats cut in make shift slaughterhouses.  Despite new legislation, the industry continues to flourish because the Filipino police are not tasked strongly enough with enforcing laws that combat the dog meat trade.

The international tourism market is very important to the Philippines.
Please write to the President and tell him that you will think twice before travelling to the Philippines until the dog meat trade laws are enforced and this cruel trade eradicated for good.

Click THIS LINK to view,
and electronically submit,
your letter to President Aquino.

Write To The President Of The Philippines.

 

Have a Positive Experience at the Dog Park

Dog parks:  they are great for socialization, exercise, and mental stimulation for many dogs.  But certain dogs may feel threatened or anxious.  Whether you and your dog have a good dog park experience or a bad one depends largely on your understanding of your dog, advanced preparation, proper training, and good etiquette.

Know Your Dog’s Temperament

Is your dog usually playful and sociable?  Does she get along well with other dogs, or can she be aggressive?  Is your dog nervous or shy around other dogs?  Animal welfare groups say to let your dog’s temperament guide you on visiting a dog park¹—or whether you should opt for other activities instead.

Preparation and Training

National veterinary associations urge dog owners to ensure dogs are trained well enough to come when called at a dog park, even in spite of all of the other enticing distractions at the park.²  Ask your veterinarian about a good dog training class in your area and make sure your dog learns how to focus exclusively on you when you issue a command, especially when other dogs are present.  This is crucial if you need to call your dog away from an escalating situation.

Good Etiquette

Being pounced, sideswiped without warning, or having a bunch of high-energy dogs come at you like a speeding train can scare certain dogs, as well as people.  Train your dog to greet other dogs and people politely.  Also, be present while your dog is playing so that you can interrupt if your dog becomes aggressive, involved in ganging up on another dog, or if your dog becomes the target of an attack.³

Not all dogs enjoy the dog park, and that is all right.  Toy breeds should avoid dog parks altogether because their size can make them an attack target for larger dogs.  Sometimes a walk around the neighborhood, a game of Frisbee in the backyard, or a smaller play group with dogs your dog already feels comfortable with is a better option.

Human Etiquette Tips for the Dog Park

Before visiting a dog park, call your veterinarian to ensure your dog is current on all core immunizations and a Bordetella vaccination. Your dog should be current on his flea and tick preventatives.Always pick up any feces your dog may produce.Turn off your cell phone or any other distractions and focus on your dog’s play. Do not bring very small breed dogs, dogs under 4 months of age, intact males, nor females in heat. If your dog is not having fun, go for a walk outside of the dog park.

Sources:

1. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, staff: Pet Care: “Dog Parks”
2. Yin, Sophia, DVM, MS, The Art and Science of Animal Behavior, “Dog Park Etiquette Poster”
3. Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Dog Park Information: “Dog Park Tips”
and  Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Dog Park Information: “Dog Park Etiquette”