Obvious I know, but what a minefield!

Please don’t accept what breeders or other people recommend at face value and certainly don’t fall for the marketing techniques of the pet food industry. Do research dog food as much as you can and make an informed choice. It’s ok to try a few, see what your dog likes, and ask for samples. There is a confusing array of foods out there and many are full of cheap fillers, little real meat, and pumped with salt and sugar and have vitamins and coat conditioners added rather than them be naturally occurring within the food. Be very aware that ones that look appetising to you, may be ill-advised for your dog. Foods that look like meat and two veg, may well be just that, or they may be soya, flavoured with cheaply and coloured to look appetising.

Not so long ago there was the choice of mass produced commercial food or making your own at home but there are now some foods that attempt to bridge the gap and some established manufacturers are improving their ingredients. These foods offer convenience with assurances of all natural ingredients, no colours or additives, hypo allergenic, some are organic and so forth. Some are very expensive because they do have good meat as the main source, but some are pricey because they are just marketed to make you think you’re getting a perfect diet. Less well known brands may have good ingredients but cost less because they aren’t known well. As with human food, it is a good idea to learn to read food labels so that you can make the right choice for your dog’s health and your own pocket.

A Very Brief Guide To Dog Food Labelling

Ingredients have to be labelled with the greatest ingredient first and the least last. Look for foods where the first two ingredients are specifically named. These will probably be a meat and a cereal, so make sure they are named i.e. ‘chicken’, ‘rice’ and so forth. Avoid maize based products.

Avoid products which contain ‘derivatives’ of meat, just ‘meat’ or ‘animal fat’ or any general terms like this. ‘Meat meal’ is fine as long as it is named i.e. ‘Duck meat meal’ this just means dried, ground duck.

Don’t worry too much about protein content as labels can be very misleading. Many people say that high protein levels cause over activity or behaviour problems and neither is scientifically proven, in fact low protein levels have been proven to cause behaviour problems in some cases. Labels are very misleading because they give the total protein content including the cereal and vegetable proteins that your dog cannot use as well as meat protein. Look instead for equal or higher meat content, checking for all the cereals not just the first one in the list – they often split them so they don’t look as much.

If you buy small bags, check the ingredients on the corresponding large bag in the shop – small bag labels don’t have to be as detailed by law.

Avoid foods that contain EC permitted additives, or have the additives listed by name or ‘E’ number. Most details should be in the ingredient list but they may be elsewhere on the packet as well.

Avoid BHT and BHA (preservatives), these are banned in human food in most countries as they have been found to be carcinogenic in animals (cancer causing).

Be aware that many popular brands contain very high levels of sugar which cause higher activity levels, tooth decay and also make it more difficult for the dog to accept a healthier food.

There is no definitive answer to whether dry food or moist food is better, see what your dog likes and just make sure it’s healthy.

If you want your dog to enjoy dry food more, try using some of the pet mince you can buy locally. Don’t teach your dog that by refusing food he will get tastier’ and tastier things added, just see what makes it more palatable for him.

Try feeding food in food dispensing toys – much more fun for your dog and make help him enjoy it more too.

Don’t buy dry foods in too big packets for your dog’s consumption. As soon as food is opened, the vitamin content starts to deteriorate so use airtight containers and don’t buy too much.

Biologically Appropriate Raw Food

Many people ask me about raw feeding and the best advice I can give is to point you in the direction of a couple of really good books.

‘Real Food for Dogs and Cats’ by Kymythy Shultz 

‘The Barf Diet’ by Dr Ian Billinghurst

 

More and more people are switching their dogs to raw foods and seeing remarkable benefits but it is important to read up on it and find a feeding plan that suits you and your dog.

 

General Rules

Dogs should be fed a diet that is high in bone content and contains about 50% liquidised fruits and vegetables (half meat half fruit & veg). Fruit and veg should ideally be over-ripe and definitely liquidised and mixed with mince.

Bone content can be provided by buying meat from suppliers who mince the bone too, or by feeding lots of raw meaty bones. The meat should be varied and of the best quality you can afford.

Provide fresh organ meat once a week, e.g. liver, heart etc. Liver can be too high in vitamin A for dogs so feed sparingly, heart is a good option.

Dogs do not need cereals or rice or pasta and these are common allergens and even when dogs are not actually allergic they do not suit their systems well. Things like buckwheat, millet and Quinoa can be added as fillers if you want to.

You can choose how ‘convenient’ you want your dog’s raw diet to be. Companies like Natural Instinct mince the meat with vegetables and brewers yeast and kelp, so you can just defrost and serve. Other companies provide meat chunks and minces that you have to add your own fruit and vegetables.

It is easy to DIY through a local butcher but you will probably pay more. A number of companies make BARF feeding really easy.

Kerry Bee holds a degree in Canine Behaviour and Training from the University of Hull. This particular qualification included a very strong element of practical dog training, teaching and counselling people and canine behavioural work as well as a high level of study in all things canine. She is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (no.0999). She runs training classes and one-to-one consultations in West Pembrokeshire. Visit her website. http://www.windrushdogsforlife.co.uk
 

Editor's comment - Whilst we realise that there are as many good dog foods on the market as bad ones, at Xtra Dog we recommend three brands that have been thoroughly tried and tasted by Mischief and Arapahoe. These are not the only good ones, but the ones that our dogs like.

Fish 4 Dogs. Wonderful fish based dog foods, all natural and sourced from sustainable fisheries visit http://www.fish4dogs.com They offer a range of dry and wet dog foods

Vets Kitchen. Natural range of dog foods and supplements formulated by TV vet Joe Inglis visit http://www.vetskitchen.co.uk/

Green Dog. Range of natural dog foods with the addition of a parasite repellent, formuated by Keith Alisson from Reading University http://greendogfood.co.uk/

 

 

 

I’ve just come across a really interesting piece of work by a French researcher called Montagnier¹. He and his co-workers found that some some bacterial DNA sequences are able to induce electromagnetic waves at high aqueous dilutions. At ‘dilutions’ as high as 18x (10-18), they found that there were recognizable signals detectable. Agitation of the preparations (sucussion in homeopathic language) was found to be essential to the dilution process. The signals were obliterated by heating and freezing the solutions. Although ‘homeopathy’ is not mentioned in the article, I thought this was pretty interesting research. Luc Montagnier is no backwater crackpot. He co-discovered a virus you may have heard of – HIV. And got a Nobel Prize for it in 2008.

This turned my mind to the incredible skepticism there is towards Homeopathy. I often say to people that, in a way, I wish I’d never found it; my life would be so much simpler and I’d probably be a whole lot (monetarily) richer. But I did and am incredibly grateful that I did. But I still have to deal, daily, with articles in the press, reports on the BBC, and jibes from conventional colleagues at conferences. So the Montagnier paper, among others published recently², may be the first chink of light in the orthodox armor. A way to silence the skeptics to allow professional communications between conventional and homeopathic veterinary colleagues for the benefit of our patients. I hope so.

But why be skeptical? Veterinary homeopathy is alive and well and producing incredible results. They may be individual cases, not large double blind placebo controlled trials, they may be ‘miraculous’ cures, but without before and after data, but they are happening every single day throughout the world. I began to reflect on some of the amazing cases I’ve seen over the years.

Pip, a 14 year old New Forest Pony, was an early homeopathic miracle for me. He presented with what they call ‘Sweet Itch’, an allergy to midges. He’d had it all his life and would itch for 10 months of the year. His grey, thickened, cracked skin by June would make him look like a rhino. No orthodox medicines seemed to work. Come to that, my first prescription of Arsenicum album and Culicoides (the midge in a nosode) didn’t touch him, either! I was gutted, as was the owner, Susan, who had put so much faith in the remedies.

I persuaded Susan to let me have another look. This time, on repertorisation, I concluded Sulphur. The change, when dosed daily with the Culicoides nosode, was almost instant. It was April, so he was itchy, without massive thickening yet. Within two weeks he as no longer itchy. Susan couldn’t believe it. To be honest, as a vet homeopath in training, nor could I. We continued dosing and managed to reduce to twice weekly dosing, but any less frequency would see break through scratching. Susan forgot to re-order his remedies when his first prescription ran out. He started itching immediately, but when, after a week, the new remedies came through, he stopped again, right in the midst of the midge season. He’s been fine ever since.

Another lovely example of homeopathy saving the day was with Anja, a nervous 18 month old Vizsla bitch. She’d hadn’t had her first season, unlike her four other sisters and her mum who’d all come in aged 10 months or so. Since this sororal pheromone storm she’d been ‘not quite herself’, jumpy, hysterical and suspicious. Her vet had diagnosed ‘low progesterone’. He’d spoken to a specialist at Bristol University who predicted she’d never come into season, therefore. Her owner was not to be so lightly discouraged and gave me a ring. Having had a few years prescribing by this time I knew that homeopathy is fantastic for any hormonal condition. Cushing’s disease, hormonal alopecia and old age incontinence I’d seen all clear up beautifully, so I was keen to work on Anja.

We prescribed Nat mur as a constitutional for her in a 1M potency. I also used Folliculinum and Progesterone at a 30c potency for a more local, or pathological, prescription. I’ll often do this – treat the whole animal and support a particular organ or system at the same time. It seems to work for hormones, but also for liver, kidney or skin problems, to give just a few examples. Within two weeks, she became a little puffy around the vulva, a sure sign that something was happening. We thought this was it, but she calmed again.

What told me that we were definitely going in the right direction was that she was happier in her own skin; less jumpy with people entering the house and not sleeping in a tiny ball – content to lounge like a normal sleeping dog. She became clingier and began to worsen after her weekly Nat mur dose, so we switched to Pulsatilla. Within a month she had her first season, normalised her behaviour and melded with the pack again. That was in February 07. She’s been fine since without any remedies.

A final example I have to tell you about is Zephyr. He’s a four year old Occicat – looks a bit like fawn tabby Burmese, if you like. He was being bullied by his brother – the other cat in the house. His response, being a rather passive and malleable sort of chap, was to internalise his frustration and resentment and lick his back for comfort. This is quite common in some nervous cats when they can’t express themselves. He eventually started licking dappled bald patches all over his rump, poor boy. When I saw him, it soon became apparent what was happening. Cats are really vicious to their own kind. They make children in a playground look like angels!

Staphysagria is the king of resentment remedies. I prescribed Staphysagria 200c twice daily for 5 days and asked to be rung in a month. Disaster! He was licking more! His symptoms and his behaviour were, though, exactly as before. I decided to be a little more aggressive with my dosing and we went for twice daily dosing for two weeks. This did the trick. A two week check showed his coat to be slightly less bristly (with all the licking) and his behaviour had mellowed. He was actually retaliating toward his brother for the first time in his life, too!

I increased the potency of the Staphys to 1M and advised dosing just when he needed a boost. He continued to improve, showing a normal coat within a few months. He needed dosing every few weeks, once with the 1M. Six months later, his owner rang me to say the remedy seemed no longer to be working. I sent her Staphys 50M and said dose as before. All was well after this. Now he just needs a dose once in a blue moon.

What is really interesting about this case, and his owner only told me this after we’d been consulting for a few months, is that she had been putting a drop of the liquid remedy on her finger to dose him every time and her sense of smell had returned. She’d lost it about 15 years previously when she was working in a very stressful office environment that she hated, or ‘resented’ you could say...

There we go – another three cases to add to the mountain range of anecdotes of homeopathic miracles. No doubt the sceptics will sneer at these as well. Homeopathy is placebo, after all, isn’t it?

References:

1.    Montagnier L, Aissa J, Ferris S, Montagnier J-L, Lavallee C (2009). Electromagnetic Signals Are Produced by Aqueous Nanostructures Derived from Bacterial DNA Sequences. Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences, 1: 81-90.

2.    Various:
a.    Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Baur R, Willich SN (2009) Homeopathic treatment of patients with chronic low back pain: A prospective observational study with 2 years' follow-up. Clinical Journal of Pain, 25:334-339.
b.    Witt CM, Ludtke R, Willich SN (2009). Homeopathic treatment of patients with chronic sinusitis: A prospective observational study with 8 years follow-up. BMC Ear Nose Throat Disorders, 9(1):7.
c.    Demangeat J-L (2009) NMR water proton relaxation in unheated and heated ultrahigh aqueous dilutions of histamine: Evidence for an air-dependent supramolecular organization of water. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 144:32-39
d.    Piltan D, Rist L, Simões-Wüst P, Saller R (2009).Test of a homeopathic dilution of Aconitum napellus. A clinical, randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover study in healthy volunteers. Forschende Komplementärmedizin, 16:168-73.


Nick Thompson BSc.(Hons) Path. Sci., BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS is based in Bath. His office number is 01225 48 7778. His website is http://www.holisticvet.co.uk- He offers referrals in Veterinary homeopathy, acupuncture, natural nutrition and herbal medicine. To find a homeopathic vet near you, go to www.bahvs.com.

Larry Copeland, USA TODAY reports

Nearly 60% of dog owners have driven while distracted by their pets as passengers, according to a new survey by auto club AAA. Only 17% — about one in six — ever use animal restraints, which can prevent pets from being a distraction and protect them and other occupants in a crash, the survey finds.

In crashes, unrestrained dogs pose an unintended threat to the driver and other passengers, says Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, manager of traffic safety programs at AAA (US equivalent of the AA).

She says an unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert 500 pounds of force on whatever it strikes; an 80-pound dog in a crash at just 30 mph will exert about 2,400 pounds, she says. Unrestrained dogs also can prove distracting by climbing onto the driver's lap, interfering with the ability to steer or crawling onto the foot pedals.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends that people use restraints on dogs and cats to prevent harm to the animals, the driver and other passengers, says Louise Murray, a veterinarian and vice president of the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York.

Pets not only shouldn't ride in the driver's lap, they also shouldn't ride in the front passenger seat because of the risk of injury from a deploying airbag, Murray says. "The best way for people to think about this is to compare the dog to having a child in the car," she says.

Pet restraints include harnesses, hard- or soft-sided travel crates and vehicle seats.

People are taking their dogs along for leisure rides, on local errands and on other trips, according to the online survey by AAA and Kurgo of 1,000 dog owners who have driven with their dogs in the past 12 months. Other risks of riding with unrestrained dogs: After a crash, the animal might run away or prevent rescue personnel from reaching injured motorists.

The cost of the survey by an independent research firm was split by Kurgo and AAA. Kurgo sells harnesses and other products to protect dogs, drivers and passengers on the road.

Almost four in 10 (39%) households in the USA have a dog, the American Pet Products Association says.

"Our dogs are traveling with us so much more this day and age," Huebner-Davidson says. "They really have become part of our family. We want to make sure we're buckling up our dogs but also keeping our focus on the road."

Xtra Dog stocks Bergan Car Harnesses that are crash tested to human safety standards, click here for more details.

Xtra Dog is thrilled to have launched The Original Raised Pet bed on our website. These beds are fantastic, not only are they extremely comfortable for dogs, but with their mesh hammock style bed they are easy to keep clean and to help in flea prevention. Talk a moment to read this very inforative peice about the probles caused by dog fleas and the best cause of prevention.

The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is a species of flea (Siphonaptera) that dwells primarily on the blood of dogs. The dog flea is troublesome because it can spread Dipylidium caninum. They are commonly found in Europe.

Although they feed on the blood of dogs and cats, they sometimes bite humans. They can live without food for several months, but females must have a blood meal before they can produce eggs. They can deliver about 4000 eggs on the host's fur.The eggs go through four lifecycle stages: embryo, larva, pupa, and imago (adult).This whole life cycle from egg to adult takes from two to three weeks, although this depends on the temperature. It may take longer in cool conditions.

Marie Miller, author, behaviourist, TTouch practitioner and a founder member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (UK) looks at the natural approaches to feeding dogs and what owners need to consider when choosing what to feed.