The Usefulness of Fatty Acids

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Dr. Laura Durant-Elliott

Essential fatty acids seem to be an important buzzword these days. Everywhere you go, there are advertisements for supplements that now have fish oil and foods that are fortified with omega-3’s. This trend has even started to filter over to the animal market as more and more supplements and foods are available that promote their addition of fatty acids. But is it all just a gimmick?

The two big categories of fatty acids are the omega-3’s and the omega-6’s, both of which are metabolized in the body to different byproducts. With the omega-6 fatty acids, one of the byproducts they create does have some anti-inflammatory benefits. However, another byproduct, called arachidonic acid, contributes to and promotes inflammation. Omega-6 fatty acids are typically abundant in our diets and our pets’ diets – we do not need to worry about supplementing them!

The omega-3 fatty acids are the heroes of the fatty acid world. The byproducts of omega-3 breakdown help prevent and can help curb inflammation in the body. And, unlike their omega-6 counterparts, there are no negative byproducts produced when omega-3 fatty acids are broken down. Thus, it is the omega-6 fatty acids that we want to supplement in both our diets and our pets’ diets.

So what are the benefits of adding in omega-3 fatty acids?  Well, because they inhibit inflammation, omega-3’s can benefit any disease process that is either due to or results in inflammation. We can utilize omega-3’s for skin conditions, including atopy (or allergies). Arthritis, which is unfortunately very common in our older patients, is also the result of massive inflammation in the joints. The use of omega-3’s are also being investigated for use with kidney and heart disease.

However, will all the hype regarding omega-3 fatty acids, there are so many different products available. So which one to choose? Fish oil is very high in omega-3 fatty acids and is often what is utilized in supplements. But, there are different chemical forms in which fish oil can be packaged. With these different forms, the absorption varies and thus their effectiveness can vary as well. It is also important to make sure that the supplement contains the appropriate amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which is measured by EPA and DHA levels. So, as you can see, it can get pretty complicated with all the options available!

The bottom line is that omega-3 fatty acids provide wonderful healthy benefits both to you and your pet. If you are interested in starting your pet on an omega-3 supplement, talk with your veterinarian. We can point you towards the Free Form fatty acid supplement that we carry or towards other top quality supplements…and ultimately towards better health!

Posted in Canine, Feline, Pet Health, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Can Do Canines Echo in Final Training

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

Echo has completed her first phase of training with us.  She now enters her final training with Can Do Canines.  I couldn’t believe how hard it really was to walk out without her.   We could not have loved her more.  We did the best we could to prepare her for the next step in her life.

I tell people that the staff and other puppy raisers are great resources for learning how to train the puppies, but today I realize we are also a unique group of grief counselors.  I know that this hurt will last a while but I can’t wait to see what greatness Echo has to come.  Thank you all for letting me share Echo’s progress.

As for Echo- she will be staying at Can Do Canines in their kennels and has some of her brothers and sisters being called in for final training also!  When we dropped her off she was so excited to go play in the big play yard with everyone.   She will be busy for the next few weeks now with trainers evaluating her, matching her to a client, and then working with them as a group.

I am off working with a new puppy.  He is a yellow lab named Doug.  Doug knows very little and so the circle of life goes on.  Back to the beginning.  Guess my husband will have to get off the couch and get his own remote controller for a while!

Here is our last video as a recap of our love to Echo  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3niZhi2jLc

Thanks-
Dee

Posted in Can Do Canines, Canine, Service Dogs, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Early Puppy Socialization

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Dr. Cassie Engmann

It is very important that puppies be socialized early, preferably prior to reaching 12-16 weeks of age.  This means taking the puppy to socialization classes even before a full vaccination series has been completed.

Puppies begin learning at birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth.  It is ideal to make this early socialization and learning part of a total wellness plan for puppies during the first 16 weeks of his/her life.  This special sensitive period for learning is the best opportunity we have to influence behavior for our dogs.

One of the leading causes of behavior problems is lack of proper early socialization.  Poorly socialized puppies have the potential to turn into dogs whom are afraid of everything new.  Some dogs end up shy, others react with aggressive displays towards new people and dogs.

Proper socialization combined with positive reinforcement-based training help puppies grow into well-adjusted pets.  Classes provide critical socialization time with a variety of people and other puppies.

There have been concerns about allowing puppies to socialize prior to completing their vaccinations.  Although the risk of exposure to infectious agents must always be considered, the benefits of early socialization far outweigh the risks of exposure to disease.  The risk of being euthanized or surrendered is much greater in unsocialized, untrained dogs that the risk of dying from infectious diseases.

Safe socialization options (for outside of class):

-Drive to a busy mall or café and hang out with your pup at the entrance.  Have strangers feed your puppy treats and handle him/her.

-Host a puppy party: invite friends and family over and pass your puppy around.

-Take drives to different parts of town and country.  Visit different neighborhoods with people of various ethnicities, and go through the car wash and some drive-thrus.

For more information go to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior position on puppy socialization.

Posted in Canine, Dog, Kids and Pets, Pet Behavior, Pet Health, Pet Safety, Pet Training, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why does my dog’s urine burn the grass?

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Dr. Malia Ireland

It’s spring!  And the time of year when we start thinking about our lawns.  One of the common questions veterinarians hear is “What can I do to prevent my dog’s urine from burning the grass?”

The problem
Urine is produced in the kidneys by the filtration of blood. The kidneys do an amazing job of keeping the right amounts of the things we need (certain salts, glucose, etc) in our blood and getting rid of what we don’t need (excess water, waste products, etc.).  Many of the things excreted contain nitrogen, such as urea and ammonia.

Many urinary system veterinary specialists believe that it is these nitrogen-containing waste products that cause problems with our lawns.  Consider for a moment what happens when you spill too much fertilizer in one area of your lawn.  If the weather is dry, this area “burns.”  If it is raining like crazy you may actually get a circle of taller greener grass.  Nitrogen is one of the main components of lawn fertilizer.  It makes sense that we see the same reactions from our dog’s urine.  If the urine is concentrated, we may soon see burned areas.  If the dog urinates in the middle of a thunderstorm, we will see darker green circles over the next few days.  (I know I have both in my yard!)

The solution
As we learned in toxicology, dilution is the solution to pollution.  The best method of burn prevention is to pour water on the area where your dog just urinated.  It isn’t convenient, but it is much safer and more effective than encouraging a dog to drink more water.  It is simpler and safer to water the lawn than it is to water the dog!

A watering can, a good spray from the hose or even a milk jug will do the trick.  The hard part is getting out there to do it!

What doesn’t work
As with many things in life, we would like an easier solution than following our dogs around the yard.  There are numerous products (mostly oral supplements) on the market that claim to eliminate the urine burns.  For the most part, these supplements are mostly vitamins, and will have no effect on urine.  Some actually contain ingredients that could change the urine pH, but there isn’t any evidence that they work.  Additionally, changing a dog’s urine pH can unintentionally lead to health problems such as bladder stones.  We would not recommend using any of these products.

Happy watering!

Posted in Canine, Pet Health | Leave a comment

This Little Piggy Went to Market: What should I feed my guinea pig?

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Dr. Katie Ambrose

This Little Piggy Went to Market: What should I feed my guinea pig?

When I was in elementary school I owned several guinea pigs who were some of the best pets I’ve ever had. They are gentle, smart, and engaging little creatures who can bring you and your family much joy (and entertainment!) for many years. How can you use your guinea pig’s diet to maximize the quality and quantity of their life? Read on, fellow guinea pig enthusiasts!

Introduce your guinea pig to grass hay right away. Many guinea pigs have only been introduced to pellets as weanlings and this is not adequate for their long term health or mental enrichment. Grasses provide critical fiber that helps wear down their teeth, promote normal gastrointestinal motility, and allow normal metabolism in their cecum (where amino acids and vitamin B are obtained). Guinea pigs have teeth that never stop growing, so if they don’t chew sufficient tough fibrous materials like grass, their overgrown teeth can lead to serious malnutrition and even starvation. Keep good quality hay (such as timothy or orchard grass brome) available at all times. Beware, alfalfa hay is too high in calories, calcium, and protein, and should be used only sparingly or as a treat.

Guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C and rely on their diet to obtain this critical nutrient. Dark leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, spinach, mustard greens, parsley, and dandelion greens are high in vitamin C (1/4 cup packed of these greens provides the daily requirement). Total fresh food should be limited to 1/4 to 1/2 cup per day. Your guinea pig may enjoy a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables – try rotating treats such as sweet peppers, apples, oranges, pears, berries, broccoli, and cucumber.  Wait 3 days between trying new foods to avoid upsetting your guinea pig’s digestive system. Remove any uneaten fresh foods from the cage daily. I strongly recommend avoiding high-starch treats such as peas, beans, corn, nuts, cookies, cereal, pasta, and breads. These foods at best can cause your guinea pig to neglect their hay and fresh foods, and at worst can create severe gastrointestinal illness.

Many guinea pigs enjoy pellets and a small amount (1/4 cup) daily is fine. Check the production date on the bag and try to purchase pellets that are less than 3 months old. This is because vitamin C degrades over time and the benefit is lost in older pellets. Look for guinea pig pellet brands that are made from timothy hay (rather than alfalfa hay) and monitor your guinea pig’s weight. An overweight pig is often eating too many pellets and can suffer from various diseases as a result.

Finally, always have plenty of fresh clean water available for your pig to promote normal kidney and urinary health.

A balanced diet is key to the health and happiness of your guinea pig.  In summary:

1) Offer unlimited grass hay daily
2) Add in up to 1/2 cup of fresh fruits and veggies daily
3) Offer up to 1/4 cup pellets (if desired)
4) Always provide plenty of fresh clean water

Call your veterinarian with any questions or concerns about your guinea pig’s diet and health. Prevention and early detection of diseases related to nutrition is important for your pet’s well-being and longevity!

Posted in Guinea Pig, Pet Health, Uncategorized | Leave a comment