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!

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

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.

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!

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!

Feline behaviors can be perplexing at times, but the more we know what “normal” behavior is, the more understandable they become. When observing a particular behavior it is important to think about how it may be related to the evolution and the survival of cats in nature.

Why does my cat want to climb up to the ledge above the kitchen cabinets? Why does my cat hide when people come over? Why does my cat scratch the furniture? Why does my cat turn into Kujo Kitty when she sees another cat outside? These are all great questions. In a series of blogs I will answer these and other questions about our fabulous felines.

So what’s up with cats climbing to the highest spot in the room? Cats live in a 3 dimensional space. They not only move right and left through their world, they move up and down. In other words, it is as natural for them to climb to the top of the shelves in a room as it is for them to walk through it on floor level. By comparison, humans and dogs are usually satisfied with staying close to the floor.

One of the key concepts in understanding cat behavior is to always keep in mind that cats are both a predator and a prey species. Cats prey on rodents for survival but at the same time they are a prey species for larger carnivores such as coyotes, some domestic dogs, wolves , people, etc. They are the most vulnerable to being attacked when they are on the ground hunting.  Climbing to high perches such as trees provides a safe location for them to rest and observe their territory between hunting expeditions.

When your kitty is perched on the refrigerator or on the top of the entertainment center she is surveying her territory from a safe place. My cat usually has a smug look on her face as though to say, “You may share my territory as long as you remember who is really in charge.” Any cat will tell you that you are a guest in their home and they are actually the rulers of the universe. Occupying the highest spot in a given space has always conferred superiority. It wasn’t enough for the kings to sit on thrones, the thrones were placed on elevated platforms. The positioning served as a constant reminder of the monarch’s power. But I digress.

Cats have a natural and innate desire to be UP. It is an important resource for their happiness and security. Providing places to fill this need is a part of enriching their indoor environment. (Read more about environmental enrichment for cats on the Ohio State University website under The Indoor Pet Initiative at http://indoorpet.osu.edu).  If you don’t mind your cat using the high places she has already found, why not make them a little more comfortable by putting some soft bedding sprinkled with a bit of catnip in that location. If you would prefer she move elsewhere you can block that spot and put the bedding in the place of your choice. The spot needs to be several feet off the floor, warm, quiet, preferably have soft bedding, be out of reach of the kids and dogs, and have a great view. Putting a very tempting treat for her to find there from time to time will reinforce her desire to return. The idea is to make the new location more appealing so she can decide to use it instead. Cat trees are another excellent option if you have the space. Most include a scratching post which fills another need I will address in an upcoming blog.

Take a look around your home and try to see it from your cat’s point of view. Are there ways you can make high spots more accessible to your cat?  Does your cat have arthritis and need a series of steps to comfortably get to a high location? Could you add a kitty shelve to the window ledge? There are some great options in pet stores and on the web. When evaluating the different products always keep your cat’s preferences in mind. Cat lovers know that ultimately no matter how good it looks to us, the cat must always decide. And they know they are right!

You may find the following websites helpful for ratings and reviews.  Plans do change however, and some may now be offering additional coverage for things like prescription food, supplements, acupuncture, cold laser therapy or possibly behavioral training, which may not be referenced in some of the older reviews.  To help in your research visit:

www.petinsurancereview.com
www.consumerreports.org
www.aahanet.org (The American Animal Hospital Association)
www.aevs.com (Affiliated Emergency Veterinary Service of Minnesota)

A few of the pet health insurance companies our clients are using and have been happy with (in alphabetical order):

Embrace – Preventative care and illness and injury plans.   www.embracepetinsurance.com

Healthy Paws – Preventative care and illness and injury plans.  Part of the premium you pay also goes to support several of their rescue foundations.  www.gohealthypaws.com

Pets Best – Preventative care and illness and injury plans.  www.petsbest.com

Purina Care – Preventative care and illness and injury plans.  www.purinacare.com

Trupanion – Illness and injury policy only, but usually lower monthly premiums and higher percentage of coverage with no payout limits.  www.trupanion.com

The mosquitoes have hatched and the ticks are emerging. Your pet needs protection from these disease carrying parasites right away. The most comprehensive protection you can provide them is to give year round heartworm and parasite preventatives. For those of you who are already doing so, keep up the good work, you are already ahead of the problem. Those owners who have not been using their preventatives through the winter need to start now. Do not wait until May!

Not certain what medications your pet needs to stay healthy this year? Please call us at 763/ 420-7958 and we would be happy to help you find the right protection for your pet.

Participants in the October 29, 2011 Take-Back Day turned in more than 377,086 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states.

Search for the nearest drop off location

The good news about feline diabetes is there are signs you can learn to recognize, if you know what to look for.  Take your cat to the veterinarian if you see any of these signs:

1. Increased thirst and drinking more water than usual.
2. Urinating more than usual.  If you use clumping litter, you may notice more clumps or larger clumps than you normally see in the litter box.
3. Increased appetite and eating more food than usual.
4. Weight loss, even with increased food intake.
5. Weakness in the back legs.  You may notice your cat’s stance is different.

There’s help – and hope – for cats with diabetes.  Finding out your cat has diabetes may seem overwhelming, but you’re not alone.  To help you learn to manage the special care your cat will need, your veterinarian may:

1. Prescribe an insulin such as ProZinc (protamine zinc recombinant human insulin).
2. Show you how to inject insulin (you can also visit ProZinc.us for helpful demonstration videos).
3. Provide a Diabetes Care Kit with tools to help you use the insulin properly.
4. Recommend exercise or a special cat food.
5. Help you plan a home care routine.
6. Schedule regular checkups for your cat.

To learn more about feline diabetes, talk with your veterinarian about any necessary diagnostic tests.  With the right care, a diabetic cat can live a long and happy life!