Due to the many pet food recalls over the past few years many pet owners are choosing to feed raw.  Here's some information about feeding raw you might want to consider if you are looking to change your pet's diet.  All kibble isn't bad, you just need to know who to ask.  I help pet parents take the guesswork out of pet nutrition. 

25 MAY 2021 DR-VOGELSANG PET ADVICE & IDEAS

References:

Read a veterinary nutritionist's perspective: https://weethnutrition.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/campylobacter-salmonella-e-coli-oh-my-why-i-dont-recommend-raw-meat-for-pets/

Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine primer on raw diets: https://vet.tufts.edu/wp-
content/uploads/raw_meat_diets_memo.pdf

Cavallo SJ, Daly ER, Seiferth J, et al. Human outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium associated with exposure to locally made chicken jerky pet treats, New Hampshire, 2013. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2015;12(5):441-446.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human salmonellosis associated with animal-derived pet treats— United States and Canada, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.

2006;55(25):702-705. Freeman LM, Chandler ML, Hamper BA, Weeth LP. Current knowledge about the risks and
benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2013;243(11):1549-1558.

Cats and Urinary Tract Infection

Did you know there are some cats that are more prone to urinary tract issues than others? These include the cat breeds such as Persians, Himalayas and the Russion Blue Siamese to name a few.  Of course  with any cat you are going to notice a problem more if you have an indoor cat.  Pet's living in stressful conditions, that are overweight, male cats, pets living a sedentary lifestyle, and cats under the age of twelve can be more prone to UTIs than other pets. 

When people get thirsty, their brain tells them to drink more water to quench this thirst, or they might find themselves craving salty foods such as pretzels, potato chips or other salty food that tend to make them thirsty.   This works the same for a dog as it does for a humans.  

However a cat does not think of thirst in the same way as a dog or a human does.  If we add something to get them to be thirsty, they would just concentrate their urine more, which means that the urine will have a stronger odor or deeper color, but it would not make them drink more.

Cats really rely on the moisture they get from food, but we want less concentrated urine and for them to urinate more to avoid these UTIs.  So for cats, the best way to do this is to feed them canned cat food and even add warm water to that.  Or choose a cat food in gravy. Your can even use dry food and moisten it with warm water to get more moisture in their diet.

I did not know that cats do not like still water. If your put water in a bowl, that's not something they love.  They like things that are running water.  If you leave the sink faucet on just a little they will often go to that more than they will a bowl of still water.  I got a water fountain for my cat and she drinks much more water than before. 

I've always been told that if I have a urinary tract infection to drink cranberry juice.  Well that's the same for our pets, both cats and dogs.  Cranberry helps to normalize the pH, so if there was an e.Coli infection, which is most common for bladder infections in pets, the e.Coli  would attach to the cranberry and be excreted out of their system with their urine.

Using D-Mannos  helps to get bacteria out of the body.  It fights infections by preventing the bacteria from adhering to the bladder lining, allowing it to be voided with their urine and flushed out of your pet's system naturally.   Other ingredients such a glucosamine  protect the inner lining of the bladder for ease of excretion so it's not painful for your pet to urinate.  There is also an herb called marshmellow root to smooth, lubricate and form a protective barrier between mucus membranes which contribute to irritation.  

As pet parent it is our goal to keep the bladder healthy and prevent these infections before they start.  

You're probably wondering which of these ingredients will be best improve your pet's bladder health; how much D-Mannos or marshmallow root do I need?  Decisions decisions.  Let me help make that easy for you. There is a multimodal supplement that is all natural and formulated for dogs and cats that includes all these ingredients, a combination that has a synergistic approach to maintaining pet health.

Get More Information Here

- taken from a talk by Brooke Sloate, Director of Product Development, pawTree, LLC.

Recognize The Symptoms of Bladder Infection

Is there a difference between urinary tract issues and bladder infections for dogs and cats?

Cats and dogs can get chronic inflammation of the bladder when their urine gets higher than their optimum pH level and becomes alkaline. When this happens minerals can settle out of the urine and form together to create crystals.  If crystal are left in the bladder long enough, those crystals can bond together and create stones and your pet can end up with a potential infection. This is where the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed and sometimes bleeds, which can be very painful for them. 

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can involve any area that’s in the urinary tract, which could include the kidneys, the ureters (tubes that carry the urine to the bladder for storage (the urinary bladder and the urethra that carries urine out of the body. When a UTI is referenced, it generally refers to a bladder infection in dogs.  However in cats UTI it is frequently used to refer to a common inflammatory condition of the feline bladder, not necessarily a bladder infection. UTIs are commonly see at veterinary clinics.  

So how do we as pet parents recognize some of the symptoms that we might see?

Some of the symptoms in your pet would first be excessive water consumption.  They will be unable to hold their urine for normal amount of time.  If you think about a dog, they could suddenly be urinating around the house. Or wanting to go outside more often or urinating frequently in multiple spots. 

 Your pet is constantly licking at his urinary openings. That may indicate a potentially serious issue with your pet’s urinary tract or bladder. There could be loss of bladder control, vomiting, appears lethargic or doesn’t want to eat.  There could also be something else going on such diabetes, Cushings Syndrome of hypothyroidism or kidney failure. These signs might tell you that there is a bladder infection and require a visit to the vet. 

Cats rely on the moisture they get from food, but we want them to urinate more, to avoid UTI.  With cats, the best way to do this is to feed them canned food and even add warm water to their food.  You can even use dry food and moisten it with warm water to get more moisture in their diet.  

Cats do not like still water.  They like water that is running. There are pet fountains you can buy (be sure NOT to get a plastic fountain) or leave a faucet running just a little bit.  They will go for that more than a bowl of still water.  

 

It’s time for a visit to the vet if you notice any of these symptoms.

When  your pet has a bladder infection there are natural

Once everything is resolved and your pet is back to normal there are bladder support supplements that help maintain normal bladder health.  These can aid in preventing bladder infections from recurring.  

1. Cranberry juice. We hear people tell  us to take cranberry juice for bladder health. Well it’s the same for our pets.Cranberries help normalize the pH.  So if there is an e.Coli infestation, which is the most common bladder infections for pets.  The e.Coli will attach to the cranberry and be excreted out of their system with their urine.

2. D-Mannose helps fight infections by preventing the bacteria from adhering to the bladder lining, allowing it to be voided with their urine and flushed out of your pet’s system naturally

3. Glucosamine is one of the building blocks of the protective lining of the bladder. It protects the inert lining of the bladder and allows for ease of excretion so it’s not painful for your pet to urinate.

4. Marshmallow Root (a herb) to provide a soothing, lubricating, protective barrier between mucus membranes and substances which contribute to irritation.  Marshmellow root basically helps to move things through the system and helps with inflammation and stones in the urinary tract.

Brooke Sloate,

Director of Product Development, pawTree

If your pet suffers from UTI or other bladder issues, try pawTree's Bladder Support Plus to help maintain normal bladder function for your cat and dog. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

 https://shop.pawtree.com/yourpetnana/products/958

How To Introduce Dogs To A New Baby

Dogs are keen observers and will pick up on any tension or anxiety you are feeling during the introduction. First off never leave them unsupervised, and go slow. Stay calm and pay attention to body language. How does your dog act when you get near his food bowl, chew toys and resting area? Pay attention to any sensitivity your dog shows when being approached by people, especially children. How does your dog act when he is handled in uncomfortable ways, including tail tugs and grabbing his feet, mouth and ears. If you have concerns get a professional trainer.

Recently a good friend was showing me a photo of his 22 yr. old son who was bit in the face by his 15 yr. old Lab, who he had grown up with; because he touched his food bowl. Dog bites can happen at anytime and can be extremely dangerous. Teach your dogs proper manners, like no jumping up to prevent the baby from being jostled or stepped on. While the baby is still at the hospital try bringing home a blanket for the pet. After everyone is acquainted allow direct contact. After a short period take a break and reward the dog. Avoid any food or prized possessions around the baby. Never allow an unsupervised interaction between your dog and a new baby. When getting acquainted assuming the body language, socialization and temperament, I recommend doing it off-leash when meeting another dog. The reason is that your dog is sensing your anxiety about the interaction and feels restrained.

Article from A Pet's Place of Clearwater, Inc. 2015 Veterinary Services, Clearwater, FL

RULES ABOUT PET FOOD INGREDIENTS

What is in a name?

When it comes to pet food, sometimes not a lot. The food name is the first part of the label noticed by a consumer and for that reason, fancy names are used to emphasize certain features of a food. AAFCO has established four rules about ingredients:

1. 95% rule: at least 95% of the food must be the named ingredient. For example, "Chicken for Dogs" or "Beef Cat Food" must be 95% chicken or beef, respectively. If the food is "Chicken and Rice Dog Food", the chicken is the component that must be 95%. If there is a combination of ingredients such as "Chicken and Liver for Cats", the two together must make up 95% of the total weight and the first ingredient must be the one in higher percent in the food.

2, 25% or "Dinner" rule: when the named product contains at least 25% but less than 95% of the total weight, the name must include a descriptive term such as "dinner". For example, "dinner", "entrée", "grill", "platter", "formula" are all terms that are used to describe this type of product. For example, "Chicken Dinner Dog Food" must contain at least 25% chicken. This food could contain beef and possibly even more beef than chicken. It is important to read the label and check what other meat sources the product contains.

3. 3% or "With" rule: this one is tricky. Many times the "with" label identifies extra or special ingredients, such as "Beef Dinner for Dogs with Cheese" is a food containing at least 25% beef and at least 3% cheese. But beware of this type of "with" label: "Dog Food with Chicken". This dog food need only contain 3% chicken! Don't confuse that with "Chicken Dog Food" which must contain 95% chicken. Confusing, right?

4. "Flavor" rule: in this situation, a specific percentage of meat is not required, but it must contain an amount of flavor sufficient to be detected. For example, "Chicken Flavor Dog Food" may contain a digest or enough chicken fat to flavor the food, but there will be no actual chicken meat added to the food.

AAFCO: Their labeling requirements and the “Rules”

Written by Beth Laubenthal, January 2014.

Learn More Here

CHICKEN OR CHICKEN FAT

Inquiring minds want to know. Many pet parents are confused about chicken fat and want to know if their dog allergic to chicken fat? Many pets owners whose pets have a chicken allergy are confused when reading pet food labels. Many recipes list chicken fat as an ingredients. A dog or cat with a true chicken allergy reacts to the protein in the chicken. As pure chicken fat contains no protein, it should not trigger the allergic reactions that chicken meat or chicken meal would in a pet who is allergic to chicken. Fats are a necessary part of a balanced diet for dogs and cats.

Safety Tips for Disinfecting Your Home

PET PARENTS: If you are disinfecting your home against COVID-19 and you have pets, avoid Lysol and Clorox.

Lysol gives off potentially harmful volatile organic compounds in its vapors. Additionally, if your dog or cat licks or ingests Lysol, it can cause serious chemical burns, usually on the tongue and upper esophagus.

Household bleach can be very harmful for cats, dogs, and other pets. While they generally won't ingest the substance intentionally due to the potent smell, cleaning with bleach can inadvertently expose your animals.

Phenols are widely used in household products and as intermediates for industrial synthesis. For example, phenol itself is used (in low concentrations) as a disinfectant in household cleaners. Phenol can cause liver damage to pets.

Use Hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant. Hydrogen peroxide is considered an environmentally safe alternative to chlorine-based bleaches as it breaks down into water and oxygen. Commercially available 3% hydrogen peroxide is considered a stable and effective disinfectant by the CDC when used on inanimate objects.

If  you know someone who sells essential oils ask about Thieves oil which is an excellent disinfectant.  Why is Thieves Oil so much better than bleach? It contains two antibacterial powerhouses: cinnamon and clove oil. A study confirmed that they were among the list of the top ten bacteria-inhibiting essential oils, eliminating 23 out of 25 types of bacteria.