In general, it’s not a good idea to feed food potentially tainted with salmonella or listeria to anyone, let alone your favorite pets.
That’s why Radagast Pet Food, makers of the Rad Cat line of raw cat foods, is recalling four lots of frozen Rad Cat Raw Diet products.
Radagast announced Thursday that it would recall certain lots of beef, chicken, and turkey Rad Cat Raw Diet pet food because they may be contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes.
According to a notice posted with the Food & Drug Administration, the recall was initiated after lab tests confirmed salmonella and/or listeria in samples of the cat food.
An FDA-contracted third-party lab found two lots of Grass-Fed Beef tested positive for listeria, one lot of Free-range Chicken tested positive for listeria, and one lot of Free-range Turkey tested positive for salmonella and listeria.
The recall covers products, which were sold at retailer in 48 states except for Hawaii and Mississippi, in a variety of sizes and package styles of the Rad Cat Raw Diet pet foods, including free 1-ounce sample cups as well as 8-, 16- and 24-ounce tubs.
Affected products can be identified by the lot codes 62384, 62361, 62416, and 62372 and Best By dates are located on the lid of all products packaged in tubs and on the bottom of the sample cups.
The following products are included in the recall:
Radagast Pet Food warns that the bacteria found in the food can pose a risk to both pets and humans, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Salmonella symptoms in humans include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.
Pets with salmonella or listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain, according to the recall notice.
Consumers who purchased recalled products should not return them to a retailer but dispose of them securely.
Radagast will provide customers with refunds. This can be done by filling out all sections of the company’s Consumer Claims Form which can be found on their website www.RadFood.com and returned to the retailer where they purchased the product for a refund.
Bast! Egyptian Cat Goddess of Music, Joy and Dancing
Did you know that just 60 years ago, few cats lived entirely indoors at all? In fact, for more than 10,000 years, cats have lived outdoor lives, sharing the environment with birds and wildlife.
Understanding cats’ place in history and human evolution reveals how very recently domestic cats came indoors and how millions of this species—feral cats—continue to live healthy lives outdoors today, as all domestic cats are biologically adapted to do.
All domestic cats descended from a Middle Eastern wildcat, Felis sylvestris, which literally means “cat of the woods.”
Cats were first domesticated in the Near East, and some of the study authors speculate that the process began up to 12,000 years ago.
History of Cats – From Egypt to China
Ancient Egypt
The Egyptians considered cats to be extremely important in their society. Many of their gods were based off the cat, and therefore, they were idolized, mummified, and often depicted in art.
Towards the end of the Egyptian empire cats were sold to the Greeks and Persians. In 500 BC a domesticated cat was given to the Emperor of China and cats were the most popular pet of the rich during the Song Dynasty.
The cats were bred with the wildcats of Asia and became a common asset of the first emperors, then the nobility, priests and eventually the peasants.
Cats in China were breed with many local breeds which had helped produce some of the breeds we know today such as the Siamese and Birmese. The domesticated cat spread to all the surrounding countries of China Including India and Japan.
History of Cats – From Rome to Beyond
Egyptian traders brought cats to Europe and they were introduced to the Greeks and then the Romans.
The Romans used cats to control the pest population and as their empire increased so did the population of cats.
Cats become common and valuable assets to all those who harvest crops who had problems with rats and disease.
They were introduced to Britain around 100 AD and were protected by Law by the King of Wales, Hywel Dda as sacred and valuable animals. Killing a cat could again be punishable by death.
From Europe to America
Cats were used upon Ships on voyages of discovery during the 15th/16th Century to control rodent population and disease. A ship crashed off the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom and the cats on board the ship swam to the shore.
This created one of the first known pedigree breeds, the Manx. When Christopher Columbus discovered America, cats from the Ship were left in the country and flourished.
The breed today known as the American Shorthair is thought to have originated from the British Shorthair which was believed to be used on those ships.
The Twentieth Century
Cats flourished in the Twentieth Century when they were introduced once again as household pets by Queen Victoria of England and have become a key part of modern society.
Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers have all owned pet cats during the twentieth century. New breeds were created such as the Sphynx, the Bengal and the Himalayan.
During the 1990s cats overtook the dog as the world’s favourite and most common pet and today there is thought to be close to 500,000,000 domestic cats in the world.
Films both Animation and Sci-Fi have been made about cats and they are a huge part of family life and culture among modern society.
Origins of the Domestic Cat
Cats began their unique relationship with humans 10,000 to 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, the geographic region where some of the earliest developments in human civilization occurred (encompassing modern day parts of West Asia).
One such development was agriculture. As people abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and settled permanently to farm the land, stored grain attracted rodents.
Taking advantage of this new, abundant food source, Middle Eastern wildcats, or felix silvestris lybica, preyed on the rodents and decided to stick around these early towns, scavenging the garbage that all human societies inevitably produce—just as feral cats do today.
Over thousands of years, a new species of cat eventually evolved that naturally made its home around people: felis catus. Today, pet, stray, and feral cats belong to this species that we call the domestic cat.
Throughout all this time, cats were allowed to come and go freely from human households—even President Calvin Coolidge’s cat had free rein to wander to and from the White House during the 1920s.
President Calvin Coolidge’s cat Tige
As Sam Stall, author of 100 Cats Who Changed Civilization and The Cat Owner’s Manual, writes, “Back in Coolidge’s day no one thought of confining cats indoors—not even one belonging to the president of the United States.”
Catering to Cats: Inventing the Indoor Cat
Keeping cats indoors all the time was not possible—nor was it even a goal—until several important 20th century innovations: refrigeration, kitty litter, and the prevalence of spaying and neutering.
Even though these changes to our modern lifestyle make keeping cats inside possible, biologically, cats are the same as they were thousands of years ago.
Their role in our society has evolved and broadened over the last hundred years, but their basic behaviors and needs haven’t changed.
Cat Food
Unlike dogs, who have undergone many physical changes since domestication and evolved to survive on an omnivorous diet, cats haven’t changed much, and still require a high-protein diet.
Before the development of refrigeration and canned cat food in the 20th century, feeding indoor cats who could not supplement their diets by hunting would have been impossible for most Americans, who could not afford extra fresh meat or fish.
Kitty Litter
Up until the 1950s, cats roamed American neighborhoods freely, using the great outdoors as their litter area.
Pans filled with dirt or newspaper were used indoors by a few cat owners, but it wasn’t until the first clay litter was accidentally discovered in 1947 and the subsequent marketing of the Tidy Cats® brand in the 1960s that litter boxes really caught on.
With the invention of cat litter, cats rocketed to popularity as indoor pets, but their outdoor survival skills remain.9 Spaying and Neutering
Until spaying and neutering pets became available and accessible around the 1930s, keeping intact cats indoors was messy business during mating season.
Techniques had been developed for sterilizing livestock, but American households would have had a hard time finding a veterinarian trained to safely neuter pets before this time.
Just as cats found their own food and litter areas outdoors, 20th century cats bred and gave birth outdoors as they have done since their origins in the Fertile Crescent 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.
While some of those cats’ offspring have since been brought indoors through neutering and other modern developments, many cats stayed outside, living the same outdoor lives they always have, with or without human contact.
Although adult feral cats—cats that are not socialized to people—cannot become indoor pets, neutering and returning them to their outdoor home improves their lives.
Cats are Part of Our Environment
In the thousands of years that cats have lived alongside people, indoor-only cats have only become common in the last 50 or 60 years—a negligible amount of time on an evolutionary scale.
Throughout human history, cats have always lived and thrived outside. It is only recently that we have begun to introduce reproduction control like spaying and neutering to bring them indoors.
And also, bring the outdoors to them: using canned food and litter boxes to satisfy biological needs developed over thousands of years of living outdoors.
Although human civilization and domestic cats co-evolved side by side, the feral cat population was not created by humans.
Cats have lived outdoors for a long time—they are not new to the environment and they didn’t simply originate from lost pets or negligent pet owners.
Instead, they have a place in the natural landscape.
From the cats of Egypt 4000 years ago to the modern day cats of today they are still a very sacred animal to many people around the world. You might enjoy more articles concerning cats…click»Directory of Cat Articles
We all want to keep our cats as healthy as we can for as long as possible and the best way is to start by giving your cat the best food possible.
While you’ll see fancy labels on many brands that claim to be organic, holistic, or superior in some other way, the truth about any cat food’s quality is revealed in its ingredients list.
Cat food conversations are littered with passionate opinions concerning whether or not cats should eat like they do in the wild or if they should avoid carbs, if they should consume dry food for better dental health or if they should eat wet food for better hydration, and the like.
For the average cat owner, the ongoing debates make it challenging to figure out what a healthy diet looks like for a domestic cat.
To find the best food for your cat, it’s essential to figure out which opinions are rooted in science, which are long-standing myth, and which are somewhere in between.
Reviews.com analyzed 1,759 cat food formulas and found only 163 that were produced by a trustworthy brand with high-quality, risk-free ingredients.
We analyzed 1,759 cat food formulas and found only 163 that were produced by a trustworthy brand with high-quality, risk-free ingredients.
While quality ingredients remain a vital component of the best pet food, we soon realized that we’d have to scrap many of the assumptions we made based on our dog food research, and start with a clean slate for cat food.
With this fresh perspective, we were able to identify the information essential to keeping your cat healthy and happy.
How We Found the Best Cat Food
In order to find the best cat food, we knew we needed to analyze the ingredients of every single formula.
We created a comprehensive list of cat food from reputable online directories, then spent several days researching each product and each brand.
With pages of notes from our research, input from industry experts, and a massive spreadsheet with hundreds of cat food formulas, we were prepared to start identifying and removing sub-par products.
We spent 300 hours researching the cat food industry and digging deep into the science of what cats need for their optimal diet.
We surveyed 97 veterinary professionals and 437 cat owners; we read dozens of articles and studies; and we analyzed the ingredients of more than 1,700 cat food formulas — all to discover what matters most in picking out the best cat food.
We concluded that quality ingredients — that is, whole proteins that are free of harmful or controversial substances — are the one most important characteristic of the best cat food formulas.
Based on our extensive research, we designed a method for reviewing cat food and finding products made with quality ingredients and produced by reliable brands.
We examined more than 100 brands. Only 38 of them produced at least one approved formula.
When It Comes to the Best Type of Cat Food, There’s No Clear Winner
When we made our picks for best cat foods, we examined all varieties: dry, wet, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and homemade. The perfect feeding regimen for domesticated cats is probably not known yet, and with any condition where there is not a cut-and-dry treatment or cure, there are a lot of opinions by the researching scientists, veterinarians, and pet owners. Type of food cat owners most often feed their cat, according to a recent Reviews.com survey:
Dry
Dry cat food is often touted as being better for dental health than wet food, but as mentioned, there’s very little conclusive evidence to support this.
Cats don’t chew their food particularly thoroughly, which means that it’s actually unlikely that a dry food has the opportunity to scrape plaque from their teeth.
Dry food is generally less expensive and it’s more convenient because you can buy it in a big bag and leave it out without it spoiling.
Some veterinarians recommend a diet that’s primarily dry food, but others caution that its ingredients can be relatively suspect.
Dry cat food tends to be more processed, and its low water content may lead to dehydration.
Wet (canned)
Conversely, wet food may offer some additional health benefits. Cats typically get crucial hydration from the food they eat, and wet cat food’s high water content plays a key role in that. It’s also often less processed and contains a more optimal balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The expense and inconvenience of canned food, though, are considerations for some cat owners.
Raw
For many cat owners, the appeal of raw is that it closely approximates a cat’s native diet. Cats in the wild eat their prey whole and have teeth that are naturally able to tear through meat.
Fresh, unprocessed foods are at the heart of a raw diet, enabling cats to get the vitamins and nutrients they need, while avoiding potentially harmful preservatives like BHA and BHT.
Meat from your local grocery store is not meant to be consumed raw and may contain harmful or dangerous bacteria, and owners must be careful when handling raw ingredients.
Raw food can also be harder for cats to break down and digest relative to food that’s been cooked. In addition, it can be expensive and harder to obtain.
Dehydrated food is made by removing moisture from the ingredients. Because it’s not cooked, it remains nutrient-rich and maintains its natural color and flavor.
Dehydrated food has many of the benefits of raw, but without some of the risks that come with handling and preparing raw foods.
However, if you do choose to put your cat on a diet based primarily on dehydrated food, hydration can become a concern.
Make sure cats who eat mostly dehydrated food are drinking enough water to stave off kidney problems.
Homemade
Some cat owners choose to prepare fully homemade meals for their cat from human-grade foods.
This can be incredibly time-consuming, but it does give owners complete confidence in knowing the exact ingredients of their cat’s food.
Homemade foods may not be ideal, though, if the owner does not take special precautions about food safety.
The American Animal Hospital Association warns against homemade raw diets, because the meats may be contaminated with pathogens, as we are now beginning to see by the recent recalls.
Cat owners who choose a fully homemade diet should be sure to consult their veterinarian about necessary nutrients and how to achieve the right balance of fats and proteins to ensure their cat’s diet is truly complete.
Regardless of the type of food your cat prefers, quality ingredients and digestibility are essential.
15 of Our Least Favorite Cat Foods
A total of 78 brands had at least one formula removed due to ingredients. The following 15 brands had all of their formulas removed due to ingredients:
Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs, cats and humans. Which is why there is good reason that the word “rabies” evokes fear in people.
Rabies is categorized as a zoonotic disease, meaning that it is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, or from humans to animals.
In fact, according to the World Health Organization, 55,000 people die of rabies every year. And when left un-vaccinated, our pets can suffer, too.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
How Would My Dog Get Rabies?
Since animals who have rabies secrete large amounts of virus in their saliva, the disease is primarily passed to dogs through a bite from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted through a scratch or when infected saliva makes contact with mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound. The risk runs highest if your dog-or any pet-is exposed to wild animals.
What Are the General Symptoms of Rabies?
Initially, a dog who’s become infected may show extreme behavioral changes such as restlessness or apprehension, both of which may be compounded by aggression. Friendly dogs may become irritable, while normally excitable animals may become more docile.
A dog may bite or snap at any form of stimulus, attacking other animals, humans and even inanimate objects. They may constantly lick, bite and chew at the site where they were bitten. A fever may also be present at this stage.
As the virus progresses, an infected dog may become hypersensitive to touch, light and sound. They may eat unusual things and hide in dark places. Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles may follow, resulting in the well-known symptom of foaming at the mouth.
Disorientation, in-coordination and staggering may occur, caused by paralysis of the hind legs. Other classic signs of rabies include loss of appetite, weakness, seizures and sudden death.
The Following Is A List Of SYMPTOMS:
How Long After Infection Do Signs of Rabies Show?
The virus usually incubates from two to eight weeks before signs are noticed. However, transmission of the virus through saliva can happen as early as ten days before symptoms appear.
How Is Rabies Treated?
There is no treatment or cure for rabies once symptoms appear. Since rabies presents a serious public health threat, dogs who are suspected of having the virus are most often euthanized.
Here’s a question Vets often get: Why do pets have to be vaccinated every year for rabies? Is there really a medical reason for this, or is this regulatory overreaching at the expense of our pets?
After all, humans are often vaccinated only once for certain “bugs” and remain immune to the particular disease they cause for life. Why is it not the same for animals?
The main reason people ask this is because they’ve heard or read of negative reactions to rabies vaccines in some pets. They assume this product is less safe than they’re led to believe by veterinarians and regulatory agencies, and they’re worried for their pets––particularly those who might suffer from chronic conditions or at very low risk of actually coming across a rabies infected animal.
Any Differences Between The One Year And Three Year Rabies Shot?
It’s done that way purely to satisfy state laws. Some of the bureaucrats just haven’t caught on that research has shown one single Rabies vaccination can provide protection for a number of years. Current research is being done to verify a dog’s protection from Rabies over periods as long as 5 to 7 years.
As of March 2009 Alabama is the one last remaining state requiring an annual Rabies shot. However, there is a proposed rewrite of their law in process now to remove the 1-year requirement there as well. All other states require the 3-year Rabies vaccination instead.
Truth be told, rabies vaccines are considered very safe. Nonetheless, the reality is uncomfortable.
More pets actually die of the consequences of being vaccinated than come down with the virus.
Having said that, you might wonder how it’s possible for any veterinarian, to defend the use of this vaccine. But if you think about it, this scary-sounding reality is likely the case with all successful vaccines. After all, the goal of a vaccine is to render a disease so rare that very few animals are ever even exposed to it.
The side-effects of polio vaccination in humans are far more common than the disease itself. And yet we’d never advocate the elimination of the vaccine from our medical repertoire. That’s because the vaccine has managed to keep polio out of our population so successfully. Vaccination is therefore considered an “acceptable risk” to the individual, given the population’s overall protection.
Similarly, it remains the consensus of the human and veterinary medical communities alike that the benefits rabies vaccine confers to both human and animal populations outweigh the individual risk of vaccination.
On the plus side, yearly vaccination is no longer considered a medical necessity. Every three years is now considered sufficient. And this less stringent recommendation may well relax even more in years to come.
Consider, also, that while our government may require rabies vaccines every three years for the protection of public health, individual veterinarians may exempt some pets––temporarily, at least––on the basis of their compromised health.
It’s also the case that testing for the presence of rabies antibodies with a simple blood test called a “rabies titer” is one approach to achieving exemption from additional, potentially unnecessary doses of vaccines in other countries. The U.S. does not yet recognize this test when it comes to replacing the requirement for vaccination.
That’s because the duration of immunity of rabies vaccination has not been completely and irrefutably established by the veterinary community.
It’s also because measuring antibody levels through blood testing does not necessarily mean the animal is 100 percent immune to rabies. (Something called “cell immunity” is arguably as or more important than the number of antibodies the immune system brings to bear.)
Yes, it’s true that if your pet has already received a round or two of rabies vaccines, he or she is likely to be protected by antibodies against rabies for his or her entire lifetime.
Make sure your pet is healthy when vaccinated and only receives his or her rabies shot when administered by a trusted veterinarian whose selection, storage, and handling of the vaccine is likely to adhere to the highest standards of vaccine quality and safety.
I’m posting this article in memory of my beloved cat Trinka, who at three years old died from a rabies vaccination. If your dog or cat is an “indoor” only pet, then in my opinion, foregoing rabies shots after their first and second baby shot, is sufficient.
Many dog guardians don’t give their pet’s eyes much thought, but there are actually several very common canine eye disorders to be aware of. A variety of eye diseases are common among dogs, and many lead to discomfort and vision impairment or loss.
Symptoms vary and may include eye redness, swelling, change in color, discharge changing from yellow to green or white, and a change in consistency of eye discharge.
Eyes may appear painful with light sensitivity and reluctance to open.
The eyelids may have crust and discharge, and in severe cases be stuck together. Protrusion of the third eyelid from the corner of the eye may also occur.
Changes in pupil size from constriction to dilation may occur in many inner eye diseases. Cloudiness may also accompany many cornea and inner eye diseases.
If any of these eye symptoms develop in your dog, it is important to have a thorough ophthalmologic exam as soon as possible, because undiagnosed and untreated eye diseases can lead to vision impairment or blindness.
The following list was compiled by PetBreeds. What’s interesting about the list is the number of conditions (9 of 26!) that involve a dog’s eyes. These include:
Entropion
A condition in which the lower eyelid folds inward, resulting in pain, irritation and excessive tearing.
Cataracts
Cataracts give the eyes a cloudy appearance and can cause blurred vision.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
An inherited condition that can cause impaired night vision, diminished peripheral vision, and/or complete blindness.
Distichiasis
A condition in which extra eyelashes grow from the eyelid, which may or may not be problematic for the dog.
Ectropion
A condition in which the lower eyelid droops or rolls out from the surface of the eye, causing red, watery, and irritated eyes.
Lens Luxation
An inherited condition in which the lens dislocates and can damage the optic nerve, causing blindness.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)
KCS (dry eye) describes faulty tear glands that cause dry, irritated eyes and can permanently impair vision and result in blindness.
Glaucoma
A condition in which fluid accumulates inside the eyeball, which can eventually damage the optic nerve.
Trichiasis
A condition in which eyelashes grow in the wrong direction, causing pain, irritation and potentially, injury to the eye.
Most people don’t give much thought to the health of their dog’s eyes, but as you can see from the list, there are a number of things that can go wrong with your pet’s peepers.
Keep an Eye Out for These 9 Canine Eye Conditions
1 . Entropion. A dog with entropion will typically squint and have an excessive amount of discharge from the affected eye. Sometimes there can be sensitivity to light and pawing at the eyes, especially when the dog is outside.
Other signs of entropion include inner eye inflammation (which is called keratitis), an eye tic, a sagging of the skin around the eye socket, or in worst-case scenarios, a rupture of the cornea.
Some cases of entropion are never more than a minor annoyance, while more severe cases can cause significant pain, eye ulceration, scarring, and ultimately, loss of vision.
2. Cataracts. Cataracts form a blue cloud of varying degrees inside the capsule that houses the lens of the eye. Cataracts can progress very slowly over many years or they can come on very quickly, leading to blindness within a few days or weeks.
Cataracts in dogs are often inherited. They can also be caused by diabetes, toxicity from drugs and pest preventives, another underlying eye disease, trauma to the eye, nutritional deficiencies in puppies, and as part of the aging process.
If your dog is diagnosed with cataracts, less troublesome ones will be rechecked periodically to see if they’re progressing. Sometimes anti-inflammatory eye drops are prescribed.
But if your pet’s vision is affected, her quality of life is compromised, or the cataracts are progressing rapidly, surgery is sometimes recommended to restore vision. 3. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA is an inherited disease that causes dogs to lose their eyesight over a period of months to years. PRA is most often seen in Cocker Spaniels, Border Collies, Irish Setters, Norwegian Elkhounds, Schnauzers, and Poodles.
The retina, which is in the back of the eye, is composed of rods that perceive light and cones that perceive color.
Normally the rods and cones mature by the time an animal reaches about 12 weeks of age, but in some pets with PRA, they never completely mature and may begin to degenerate at an early age.
4. Distichiasis. Excessive eyelash hairs growing from the dog’s eyelids rub against the cornea, irritating it. The affected eye becomes red, inflamed, and may develop a discharge.
Dogs with the condition typically squint or blink a lot and tend to rub their eyes against objects such as furniture or carpet. In severe cases, the cornea can ulcerate and appear bluish in color. 5. Ectropion. The most common sign of ectropion is a distinctly droopy lower eyelid. Affected dogs also tend to have watery eyes, swollen or red conjunctiva, tear staining, inflammation and/or eye infections.
Signs of ectropion often seem to improve, then recur at a later date. In severe cases, symptoms typically do not wax and wane and will not improve without treatment. 6. Lens Luxation. In some dogs, the supportive ligaments of the lens weaken or tear, which causes the lens to dislocate from its normal position. It can fall backward into the eye (posterior luxation), which is typically painless.
Alternatively, the lens can fall forward into the eye (anterior luxation), where it blocks drainage of fluid and can result in glaucoma or increased intra-ocular pressure (IOP), which is extremely painful and can cause permanent blindness.
Weakness of the lens ligaments is known to be hereditary in terriers, the Chinese Shar Pei, and the Border Collie. 7. Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS). Dry eye is a condition in which the tear mixture, which consists of oil, mucus and mostly water, is absent. Only oil and mucus are being secreted, which is why pets with KCS have thick, yellow discharge from their eyes. The eyes get red and the cornea, in time, turns brown. If the condition isn’t treated, blindness can result. 8. Glaucoma. In dogs, glaucoma is either primary or secondary. Primary glaucoma is inherited and occurs in many breeds, including the Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Chow, Jack Russell, Shih Tzu, and the Siberian Husky.
Primary glaucoma typically starts in one eye and eventually involves both eyes. Secondary glaucoma occurs when other eye diseases are present that inhibit drainage of the aqueous humor inside the eye.
These diseases include inflammation of the eye (uveitis), advanced cataracts, cancer of the eye, lens displacement, and chronic retinal detachment. The increasing pressure inside the eye from glaucoma causes pain.
The pressure can get much higher in dogs than it does in humans, so we can assume the condition is more painful for dogs than it is for you or me.
The pain of glaucoma is most likely felt as a severe headache. You may notice your pet doesn’t want to play, is irritable, or perhaps his appetite is off. You might also notice he’s rubbing or pawing at his eye or face. Sometimes dogs will rub their faces against furniture or another object in the home.
Some will have fluttering of the eyelid, squinting, or will hold their eyes closed. Another sign is a dilated pupil in the affected eye.
Loss of vision is another symptom and often that is what brings pet owners to the vet. Unfortunately, permanent blindness can occur within a matter of hours, in cases of rapidly developing glaucoma where the pressure inside the eye becomes very high, very quickly.
9.Trichiasis. Trichiasis is common in brachycephalic breeds with flat noses and prominent eyes, such as the Pekingese, Pug, and Bulldog, as well as breeds with long hair around their eyes, such as the Cocker Spaniel. Trichiasis can cause squinting or blinking of the eyes, excessive tearing, eyelid twitching, swelling, blood vessel invasion of the cornea, and pigmentation of the iris (the colored portion of the eye).
Any noticeable changes in your dog’s eyes or her ability to see should prompt a phone call to your veterinarian. I recommend you have your canine companion’s eyes examined as soon as possible to determine exactly what’s going on, and whether treatment is needed.
Many of the most common pet problems can be solved with natural home remedies. Pet medications have toxic ingredients that can affect pets immunity and we want to treat them… naturally.
This year, Americans are expected to spend almost $53 billion dollars on their pets – with over $26 billion of that going to over-the-counter medicine, treatments, and vet care.
That’s $26 billion dollars on things that require packaging, shipping, and are often made with synthetic, if not toxic, ingredients.
But just because we are neurotically obsessed (in the best way, of course) with our pets, it doesn’t mean we have to spend boatloads of money on things that can be easily approximated, often in better form, from our medicine cabinets and kitchen cupboards which are safer than products bought online or in stores.
The following remedies are a start for taking pet treatments into your own hands with natural ingredients and much less cost to incur – all the while, keeping your carbon paw print in check.
1. Gross Out Fleas With Citrus
Ed from Ohio/CC BY 2.Fleas don’t like citrus, make your pet’s fur unsavory by rubbing it with a small amount of fresh lemon or orange juice. Bonus points for putting mostly-juiced citrus rinds to use.
2. Repel Biters With Brewer’s Yeast
A dose of brewer’s yeast mixed with a small amount of garlic in dry food daily will help to repel fleas for dogs. For cats, add brewer’s yeast to food, but don’t use garlic with cats(it can lead to anemia for felines).
3. Drown Fleas With…Wait for It…Water!
Fleas aren’t so grabby when deluged with the miracle solution known as water. Dip your pet in a tub of water and rinse as well as you can. A gentle shampoo (or natural liquid dish detergent) can help as well.
4. Clean the House to Make Fleas Sad
fortinbras/CC BY 2.0Tidy housekeeping can do a lot to keep the flea community down. Frequently vacuum your pet’s favorite hang-out spot, launder pet blankets, towels and beds, and keep the floor clean with a natural disinfectant.
5. Feed Flea Babies to the WormsBeneficial nematode worms, available at garden shops and pet stores, like to eat flea larva. Keeping them in the garden can help keep outdoor flea populations controlled.
Rose geranium essential oil is successful for repelling ticks from dogs, apply a few dabs to your dog’s collar. (Not recommended for cats.) 7. Dress Your Pup in Pants to Deter Ticks liesvanrompaey/CC BY 2.0
When romping in the woods or fields of tall grass, fashion some trousers for your pooch out of old socks, a child’s sweater, a shirt…whatever will impede the ticks from latching on. DIY doggy leg warmers won’t completely eliminate the chance for ticks to hitch a ride, but it can help.
Dog paws and ice/snow/salt are an ouchy mix for dogs. Invest in a double pair of dog booties to protect tender feet from the winter elements or for hiking in rugged terrain. Proud dogs may feel shame, but their paws will thank them.
If your dog’s dogs seem sore from rough terrain, hot or cold pavement, or any other reason, check the paws and toes. Remove anything that doesn’t belong there, wash gently, and apply a gentle moisturizer. If bleeding, apply antibiotic ointment and gently bandage them.
Scratch scratch scratch. Scratch scratch scratch. All day, all night – it’s enough to drive a pet-owner absolutely bonky. Use baby oatmeal (or fine-grind your own), add a little water, and rub the paste onto itchy areas. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. Seriously good trick.
Flavorless electrolyte drinks, like sports waters and pediatric drinks, can help a sick dog recoup necessary fluids after a bout of diarrhea or vomiting. (Check with you vet about how much to give.)
Just like people, pets on antibiotics may have stomach problems as the medication wipes out beneficial bacteria as well as the sinister ones. A little yogurt (with live active cultures) with dinner will help the stomach.
While I’d love the air in my home to be more healthy and of a higher quality, I definitely wouldn’t want to inadvertently poison a furry friend. We’ll cover the Top 10 detoxifying plants that are safe for cats and dogs.
10 SAFE Plants for Pets That DE-TOXIFY The Air
1. Areca Palm
Benefits: Helps to remove toluene and xylene from the air and can help to increase overall air purification.
Great for those who may have asthma or require effective air purification.
2. Money Plant
Benefits: Helps to reduce the toxins benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene from the air. It can also help to increase overall air quality and purification.
Great for asthmatics, those with lung conditions, and people who are exposed to high city smog living conditions.
3. Spider Plant
Benefits: Promotes high air purification. It’s suitable for helping to decrease exposure to formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
Great for placing in homes that have been freshly painted. Also suitable for apartments or homes that are exposed to big city chemical air pollutants.
4. Bamboo Palm
Benefits: Helps to remove formaldehyde and is suitable for acting as a natural humidifier for most indoor areas. It can also help to remove xylene and toluene.
Great for those who live in high air pollution areas and areas where car fume exposure exists. Suitable for placing in homes or shops which may be exposed to gasoline.
5. Variegated Wax Plant
Benefits: Helps to improve overall air quality by removing benzene and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can also increase overall air purification.
Can help people who suffer from lung conditions such as emphysema or asthma. It’s also beneficial for those who are exposed to car fumes, petrol, paint fumes, industrial or city smog, or heavy cleaning products.
6. Boston Fern
Benefits: Helps to remove formaldehyde from the air and is said to act as a natural type of air humidifier. This plant can also remove xylene and toluene. It is said to be one of the best houseplants for air purification.
Great for those living or working in areas where exposure to gasoline exists. They’re ideal for homes exposed to city smog, and are suitable for those who may have asthma or breathing conditions.
7. Moth Orchids
Benefits: Ideal for helping to increase purification of the air within homes. They are suitable for removing xylene and toluene and can increase air quality.
Great for homes that are exposed to factory or city smog, smoke, or fumes. They are also suitable for homes which are freshly painted or where paint fumes exist.
8. Barberton Daisy
Benefits: Great plant for removing benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from your home. It is ideal for increasing the overall oxygen levels within the home and can help purify the air.
Best for homes and people who are exposed to fuel fumes, car fumes, factory or large city smog, and smoke. It can also help those who are exposed to heavy cleaning solvents.
9. Dwarf Date Palm
Benefits:
Helps to reduce common toxins xylene, toluene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can also help to promote increase oxygen levels, and is able to improve air quality in highly exposed areas.
Great for placing in homes that may be exposed to paint fumes, factory smog, car fumes, or heavy cleaning solvents. It can help improve air quality for asthmatics and those with different lung conditions.
10. Lilyturf
Benefits: Helps to remove ammonia, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air. This plant is capable of increasing oxygen levels and can help to improve air quality. Great for people who are exposed to cleaning products, paint fumes, city or factory smog, or vehicle fumes. This plant can help clean the air for those with common lung conditions including emphysema and asthma.
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Most dog guardians wonder from time to time what illnesses might befall our pet in the future, or how many years we’ll have with our furry companion. Most of us don’t dwell on these unsettling questions, but they do cross our minds once in awhile.
Recently in the U.K., the Kennel Club (which is the British version of the AKC — the American Kennel Club) released a report called the Pedigree Breed Health Survey, which provides a bit of insight for curious owners of purebred dogs.
The 2014 Pedigree Breed Health Survey is the largest of its kind to date, sent to 385,000 owners of 215 different breeds. Responses were received from owners of 191 breeds, representing over 43,000 living dogs and over 5,600 deceased dogs.
Survey Reveals Shocking Decline in Lifespan of Many Breeds
According to the 2014 survey results:
Over 65 percent of dogs were disease-free (I think the reality is that at the time of the survey, the owners were unaware of any illnesses in their pet, as it’s highly unlikely two-thirds of the dogs represented in the survey had zero health issues)
The most common disorders were lipomas (benign fatty tumors), skin cysts, allergic skin disorders, arthritis, and ear infections
The most common causes of death were “old age,” unspecified types of cancer, unknown conditions, heart failure, and kidney failure
The 2014 survey also found that tragically, the average lifespan of a pedigree dog in the U.K. is just 10 years. In a 2004 Kennel Club report, the average was 11 years, 3 months.
This means the median longevity of Britain’s purebred dogs has dropped by 11 percent in just a decade.
The breeds with the most shocking lifespan decreases:
According to Dr. Pete Wedderburn, writing for the Telegraph:
“It seems strange that in this era of improved nutrition and better medical care, dogs are living shorter lives.”
I have to disagree with Wedderburn if his definition of “improved nutrition” is processed pet food. If you couple a lifetime of eating biologically inappropriate food with …
“Closed gene pools… obsession with purity… popular sires… dogs being judged on looks not health… and the erroneous belief that breeders can health-test their way out of trouble.”
As described by Jemima Harrison, writing for Pedigree Dogs Exposed, it’s really not strange at all.
Especially when you add common environmental stressors and toxins to the mix. (Harrison is also the producer of the BBC’s Pedigree Dogs Exposed.)
According to the Kennel Club survey results, the main cause of death in the U.K.’s pedigree dogs is “old age.” In 2004, 17.8 percent of dogs died of old age, but in 2014, the number had dropped to 13.8 percent.
Harrison says based on these statistics, an appropriate survey results headline should read:
“More than 85 percent of KC registered dogs today do not make it to old age — and almost all die, or are put to sleep, because of disease.” Per Harrison, the new revelations from the survey shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“Despite frequent claims by many that dogs are living longer today than ever before,” she says, “it has been pretty obvious that an increasing number of breeds are tottering on the brink of viability. It does not, however, make the findings any less heartbreaking for everyone who loves dogs.”
Are Mutts Healthier Than Purebred Dogs?
Many people feel mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds. One of the reasons for this notion is that when two or more breeds are blended together, there’s less risk a dog will inherit breed-specific diseases.
The idea that mutts are healthier makes a certain amount of sense when you consider the poor breeding practices of puppy mill operators and many AKC-associated breeders as well.
There’s excessive focus on breeding animals for certain physical characteristics, and entirely too little attention paid to selecting dogs for health and longevity.
The belief that breed-blending creates healthier dogs is part of the reason “designer dogs” like Goldendoodles, Morkies and Puggles have become so popular.
It’s also why breeders are able to ask inflated prices for dogs that aren’t purebred.
But are mixed and designer breeds really healthier?
Not according to what many veterinarians see in their practices, and not according to a five-year study of veterinary cases at the University of California (UC), Davis.
This research indicates that mixed breeds don’t automatically have an advantage when it comes to genetic disorders.
Genetic Disorders Also Occur in Mixed Breeds
The UC Davis researchers looked at the records of over 90,000 purebred and mixed breed dogs that had been patients at the university’s veterinary medical teaching hospital between 1995 and 2010.
Designer dogs were included in the study, since crossbreeding is presumed to reduce or eliminate genetic disorders like hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and cancer.
Of the 90,000 records reviewed, 27,254 involved dogs with at least one of 24 genetic disorders, including:
various types of cancers
heart disease
endocrine system dysfunction
orthopedic conditions
allergies
bloat
cataracts
eye lens problems
epilepsy
liver disease
According to the study, the prevalence of 13 of the 24 genetic disorders was about the same for purebreds as mixed breeds.
Some of those disorders were:
hip dysplasia
hyper and hypoadrenocorticism
cancers
lens luxation
patellar luxation.
Ten conditions were found more frequently among purebred dogs, including dilated cardiomyopathy, elbow dysplasia, cataracts, and hypothyroidism.
One disorder was actually more common in mixed-breeds — cranial cruciate ligament ruptures.
The researchers concluded that overall, the prevalence of genetic disorders among purebred and mixed-breed dogs depends on the specific condition.
The UC Davis study data also suggests breeds that share a similar lineage are more prone to certain inherited disorders.
Four of the five breeds most commonly affected with elbow dysplasia were the:
Bernese Mountain Dog
Newfoundland
Mastiff
Rottweiler, which are all from mastiff-like lineage.
This suggests these breeds share gene mutations for elbow dysplasia as the result of having a common ancestor.
The flip side of the coin is that disorders that occur in both mixed breeds and purebreds seem to originate from well-established gene mutations that have spread throughout the dog population.
These disorders include:
hip dysplasia
tumor-causing cancers
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Is a Purebred Dog in Your Future?
If you’re thinking about purchasing a purebred puppy, I’ve developed a method to help you determine how healthy your new pet may be.
Investigating the lifestyle of your prospective puppy’s parents through questions posed to the breeder can give you excellent insight into the health of your pup and his littermates.
Is a Purebred Dog in Your Future?
If you’re thinking about purchasing a purebred puppy, I’ve developed a method to help you determine how healthy your new pet may be. Investigating the lifestyle of your prospective puppy’s parents through questions posed to the breeder can give you excellent insight into the health of your pup and his littermates.
You can find the questionnaire here. These questions are intended to determine how committed the breeder is to the well-being of his or her dogs and their litters. If a breeder can’t or won’t answer these questions about the parents of the puppy you’re considering, I recommend you find another breeder.
Article by Dr. Becker Image submitted by PNM(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
If you sometimes feel like your pet is a human covered in fur, you may not be imagining things.
A team of researchers, studying 3,000 cat personality tests, has discovered a surprising range of human-like behaviors among kitties.
Do you think of your cat as a member of your family? If so, you’re in good company. Many people who share their lives with a feline companion feel their pet is more like a furry little human than a member of another species.
And there may be more to this notion than we thought. A team of researchers in Australia has come up with a list of five feline personality traits that are intriguingly similar to those of humans.
According to University of South Australia (UniSA) Discovery Circle research leader Dr. Philip Roetman, the results of 3,000 cat personality tests show that kitties display a range of human-like behaviors, including extroversion and sociability.
Which of these five personality types does your cat fit best?
The ‘Feline Five’ Personality Traits
The kitty personality tests were part of the Cat Tracker project, which was launched few years ago to monitor the movement and behavior of cats. Cat Tracker describes its mission on its website:
“Cats are mysterious, dangerous and far more unpredictable than one might expect from an animal that is, theoretically, domesticated. Some of the mysteries of cats relate to where they go and what they do; this is especially true of cats that go outdoors.
We open our doors. They leave. Just where they go, we can’t be sure. Or rather we couldn’t be sure, until now. With your help, we’re investigating the movement of domesticated cats across the landscape.
We want to know: Where do they go? What are they eating? What do they bring home, microbially speaking?”
The Discovery Circle researchers modified an existing questionnaire that has been used with both captive wildcats and domestic shelter cats. However, this would be the first time the questionnaire was used with such a large population of domestic kitties.
The scientists completed a complex statistical evaluation of survey responses and arrived at the “Feline Five” factors of cat personality:
Skittishness
Outgoingness
Dominance
Spontaneity
Friendliness
This Score May Indicate Mr. Whiskers Is a Bit of a Bully
These five factors have some overlap with what are known as the “Big Five” human personality traits. “Skittishness is similar to neuroticism in people,” explained Roetman.”Outgoingness is similar to extroversion and friendliness is akin to agreeableness.”
Two significant differences between the Feline Five and the Big Five are in the areas of dominance and spontaneity. Roetman feels this knowledge could be useful for cat guardians looking to improve their relationships with their pets.
For example, cats with high dominance scores tend to be bullies who are aggressive with other kitties, whereas a low dominance score indicates a submissive, friendly cat.
According to Roetman, if you have a cat at home who scores high on dominance, you may want to think twice about adding another kitty to the household.
If, however, your cat scores low on dominance, he may do quite well sharing space with one or more feline housemates.
Another intriguing finding was what the researchers learned when comparing indoor to outdoor cats.
It seems the indoor cats were slightly friendlier than their outdoor counterparts. Roetman thinks this could be welcome news for guardians of indoor cats:
“People are often concerned about keeping cats indoors too much because it might have a negative impact on them, but this suggests there isn’t a negative impact on cat personality by keeping them indoors.
If people want to keep their cats indoors, they can feel a bit more confident about it.”
Cats Acting Like Humans
If Fluffy Is Highly Spontaneous, It Means This
Cats who scored high on spontaneity tended to be impulsive and erratic. A low spontaneity score suggests a kitty who is predictable and reserved. The researchers suggest a high-scoring cat could be reacting to a stressful environment. The same kinds of stressors that affect you can affect your cat, including:
Noisy environments
Aggression among members of the household, including pets
Poor-quality diet
Competing with other pets at mealtime
Social isolation
If your cat behaves impulsively and you suspect stress is at the root of it, there are several things you can do to create an environment that is more conducive to helping kitty enjoy a comfortable, more serene lifestyle.
Cats with low spontaneity scores are probably well-adjusted to an environment that features minimal stress and maximum day-to-day consistency.
What to Do If a Friendly Cat Turns Suddenly Not-So-Friendly
When it comes to the trait of outgoingness, the Discovery Circle researchers describe high-scoring cats as curious and active, whereas kitties with low scores are “aimless” and “quitting” (resigned).
The latter group is relatively small, and consists of cats who may be showing signs of aging or health-related issues, according to researchers.
Outgoing cats can benefit from interactive toys, plenty of playtime with their humans, and other efforts to enrich their environment.
The cats considered high-scoring in friendliness are those who are approachable and affectionate with people. They adjust well to other members of the household, both the two- and four-legged variety.
Two significant differences between the Feline Five and the Big Five are in the areas of dominance and spontaneity. Roetman feels this knowledge could be useful for cat guardians looking to improve their relationships with their pets.
For example, cats with high dominance scores tend to be bullies who are aggressive with other kitties, whereas a low dominance score indicates a submissive, friendly cat. According to Roetman, if you have a cat at home who scores high on dominance, you may want to think twice about adding another kitty to the household.
If, however, your cat scores low on dominance, he may do quite well sharing space with one or more feline housemates.
Another intriguing finding was what the researchers learned when comparing indoor to outdoor cats. It seems the indoor cats were slightly friendlier than their outdoor counterparts.
Roetman thinks this could be welcome news for guardians of indoor cats:
“People are often concerned about keeping cats indoors too much because it might have a negative impact on them, but this suggests there isn’t a negative impact on cat personality by keeping them indoors.
If people want to keep their cats indoors, they can feel a bit more confident about it.”
When it comes to the trait of outgoingness, the Discovery Circle researchers describe high-scoring cats as curious and active, whereas kitties with low scores are “aimless” and “quitting” (resigned). The latter group is relatively small, and consists of cats who may be showing signs of aging or health-related issues, according to researchers.
Outgoing cats can benefit from interactive toys, plenty of playtime with their humans, and other efforts to enrich their environment. The cats considered high-scoring in friendliness are those who are approachable and affectionate with people. They adjust well to other members of the household, both the two- and four-legged variety.
Kitties with low scores in this trait may be loners or poorly socialized, say the researchers. However, if a friendly cat suddenly turns aloof or hostile, a trip to the veterinarian is in order to rule out an underlying illness or painful condition.
If Scooter Is Skittish, He May Need More of These …
The fifth trait of the Feline Five is skittishness. Kitties who score high in this trait tend to be anxious and fearful of other cats as well as people. Low-scoring kitties are described as calm and trusting.
The scientists suggest that skittish cats need plenty of hiding spots around the home. They may also need stressors in their environment eliminated or at least minimized.
As of this writing, the Discovery Circle Cat Tracker project is still underway and still accepting completed surveys from cat guardians living in South Australia. You can find the online survey here.
The researchers are hoping to sign up 500 South Aussie felines for the Cat Tracker project. If you’re in the U.S., you can take the cat personality survey from the Cat Tracker home page.
Article by Dr. Becker Images and video submitted by PNM
Why do some dogs get cancer more than others? About half of all dogs over age 10 are diagnosed with cancer and accounts for 10 to 60 percent of dog deaths, depending on breed.
Why do some breeds have a 60 percent loss rate while others have less than 10? Five things you can do, starting today, to reduce your pup’s risk of cancer.
About half of humans over the age of 70 and dogs over age 10 are diagnosed with cancer. In terms of mortality, cancer accounts for about 23 percent of human deaths, and from 10 to 60 percent of dog deaths, depending on breed.
The smaller the dog, the lower the risk of cancer. In fact, the rate of cancer in small dogs like the Chihuahua and Maltese is less than 10 percent. Scientists believe a hormone that influences bone and tissue growth (IGF-1), which exists at lower levels in small breeds, may be a factor.
One of the breeds at highest risk for developing cancer is the hugely popular Golden Retriever.
Cancer in Golden’s Began to Spike in the 1990’s
About 60 percent of all Golden Retrievers will die from cancer – 57 percent of females and 66 percent of males. The two most common types of cancer in this breed are hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma.
Surprisingly, the high rate of cancer in Goldens is a fairly recent development. In a 1988 University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine study, Goldens weren’t mentioned as having a higher rate of cancer than other breeds.
However, just 11 years later in 1999, over 60 percent of these wonderful dogs living in the U.S. were being lost to cancer.
European Golden Retrievers Get Cancer Less Often Than U.S. Goldens
When researchers compare the DNA of Golden Retrievers with hemangiosarcoma and other breeds with the disease, the genetic abnormalities are different. Interestingly, European-bred Golden Retrievers develop cancer at a much lower rate (under 40 percent) than U.S. Goldens.
Their genes are significantly different, which suggests the risk of cancer in American Goldens is the result, in part, of a fairly recent gene mutation. Researchers studying cancer in the breed have identified genetic alterations common to Goldens with hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma.
These gene mutations “modify the regulation of the immune system’s surveillance for tumor cells,” says board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Ann Hohenhaus. According to canine authority Jane Brackman, PhD, writing for The Bark:
“Goldens in Europe and the U.S. may look similar, but there are enough DNA differences to separate the dogs into two distinct populations corresponding to their geographic regions. Gene pools on both continents are large, so breeding between the two populations is rare.
“When studied in the lab, genomic differences suggest that risk for some types of cancer is related to recent genetic mutations in North American Golden Retrievers.
“And this could be good news: genetic differences between European and North American Golden Retrievers may be key to understanding the etiology of canine cancer overall.”
How Cancer Genes Occur in Generation After Generation of Dogs
The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other kennel clubs require that registered dogs be the product of other registered dogs. This standard is in place to insure no new genes are introduced into a breed, however, it also insures that every registered dog is a relative of other dogs of that breed.
This creates an isolated, closed population of dogs within each breed, which keeps the gene pool small. In addition, there is something called the “popular sire” effect, wherein certain dogs are bred over and over again.
Their descendants carry the same specific gene mutations, for better or worse, and those mutations ultimately become permanent. The result is that in some breeds, the genes that increase the risk of cancer are reproduced in generation after generation of dogs.
Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is Underway
In 2012, the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) launched the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, describing it as “the largest observational study undertaken in veterinary medicine in the United States.”
An observational study monitors participants and collects information on them. The study isn’t intended to directly affect how owners take care of their dogs, but instead to provide valuable information on how to better prevent, detect and treat cancer and other diseases.
Between the study’s launch in 2012 and 2015, MAF signed up 3,000 privately owned Golden Retrievers who were from 6 months to 2 years old and healthy at the time of enrollment. Why Golden Retrievers?
Goldens were chosen for the study because while they don’t have the highest risk for cancer among all dog breeds, there are more of them. Large sample sizes result in more accurate data.
In addition, Goldens are highly adaptable to a variety of lifestyles. They are family pets, show dogs, hunting dogs, canine athletes, competitors in a wide range of canine events, assistance and therapy dogs, and search-and rescue dogs. As a result, the breed is exposed to an extensive range of environments.
Researchers Hope to Identify Modifiable Risk Factors for Cancer
The study will run for 10 to 14 years, and will track the dogs throughout their lives with input from owners and veterinarians who have agreed to keep records of the dogs’ health, nutritional, and environmental information. According to Brackman:
“Based on observations summarized in questionnaires, researchers hope to identify potentially modifiable risk factors that may account for the high incidence of cancer and other diseases in Golden Retrievers and, eventually, in all dogs.”
MAF researchers are looking specifically for information about cancers that can’t be treated surgically, including inoperable mast cell tumors, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma. These four diseases account for the vast majority of cancer deaths in Goldens.
Over 2,000 Veterinarians Have Committed to the Project
Over 2,000 veterinarians are involved in the project and have agreed to perform annual physical exams on their patients (enrolled Goldens), during which they collect blood, urine, feces, hair and toenail samples and send them off for analysis.
They also report on any visits outside the annual exams, collect tumor tissue samples when necessary, and provide guidance to the dogs’ owners about necropsy (an animal autopsy) when a dog dies. According to a participating veterinarian interviewed by Brackman:
“The information we’ll gather looks at areas of potential exposure by air, contact and feeding. Owners are expected to provide information as detailed as chemicals used in the home, yard and on the dog, and drinking water sources, to name just a few.
“When all this information is put together and analyzed, we’ll have an opportunity to find commonalities that may be related to cancer and other diseases. The more data available, the more opportunity to find a connection. On the flip side, we’ll also find commonalities in dogs who live to be 15 and over.”
The questionnaires are evaluated quarterly, and validated trends are published as they emerge. This provides real-time information to dog owners and veterinarians that may help influence the care of the dogs.
Building a Canine Health Database for the Future
From the lifetime study website:
“As the years progress, we are gathering millions of data points that will lead us to a better understanding of how genetics, lifestyle and environment impact our study dogs’ health and well-being. “We look forward to sharing the results from this study as our database grows and we are able to draw insight from what we are learning.”
It’s difficult to grasp the enormous complexity and potential of the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, but given the number of lifestyle and genetic factors under investigation, I’m very hopeful the results will help us understand how to better care for not only Goldens, but all dogs.
5 Ways to Reduce Your Dog’s Cancer Risk
1. Don’t allow your dog to become overweight. Studies show that restricting the amount of calories an animal eats prevents and/or delays the progression of tumor development across species, including canines.
Fewer calories cause the cells of the body to block tumor growth, whereas too many calories can lead to obesity, and obesity is closely linked to increased cancer risk in humans. There is a connection between too much glucose, increased insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and oxidative stress – all factors in obesity – and cancer.
It’s important to remember that fat doesn’t just sit on your pet’s body harmlessly. It produces inflammation that can promote tumor development. 2. Feed an anti-inflammatory diet. Anything that creates or promotes inflammation in the body increases the risk for cancer. Current research suggests cancer is actually a chronic inflammatory disease, fueled by carbohydrates. The inflammatory process creates an environment in which abnormal cells proliferate.
Cancer cells require the glucose in carbohydrates to grow and multiply, so you want to eliminate that cancer energy source.
Carbs to remove from your pet’s diet include processed grains, fruits with fructose, and starchy vegetables like potatoes. Keep in mind that all dry pet food contains some form of starch. It may be grain-free, but it can’t be starch-free because it’s not possible to manufacture kibble without using some type of starch.
Cancer cells generally can’t use dietary fats for energy, so high amounts of good quality fats are nutritionally beneficial for dogs fighting cancer, along with a reduced amount of protein and no carbs. I recently learned that dogs fighting cancer can do a better job addressing this sugar-crazed disease if their protein intake is limited for 120 days, more on that later!
Another major contributor to inflammatory conditions is a diet too high in omega-6 fatty acids and too low in omega-3s. Omega-6s increase inflammation while the omega-3s do the reverse. Processed pet food is typically loaded with omega-6 fatty acids and deficient in omega-3s.
A healthy diet for your pet – one that is anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer – consists of real, whole foods, preferably raw. It should include high-quality protein, including muscle meat, organs and bone. It should also include high amounts of animal fat, high levels of EPA and DHA (omega-3 fatty acids), and a few fresh cut, low glycemic veggies..
This species-appropriate diet is high in moisture content and contains no grains or starches. I also recommend making sure the diet is balanced following the ancestral diet recommendations, which have much more rigorous standards (higher amounts of minerals and vitamins) than our current dietary recommendations for pets (AAFCO).
A few beneficial supplements like probiotics, medicinal mushrooms, digestive enzymes, and super green foods can also be very beneficial to enhance immune function. 3. Reduce or eliminate your dog’s exposure to toxins. These include chemical pesticides like flea and tick preventives, lawn chemicals (weed killers, herbicides, etc.), tobacco smoke, flame retardants, and household cleaners (detergents, soaps, cleansers, dryer sheets, room deodorizers).
Because we live in a toxic world and avoiding all chemical exposure is nearly impossible, I also suggest offering a periodic detoxification protocol to your pet.
4. Allow your dog to remain intact (not neutered or spayed), at least until the age of 18 months to two years. Studies have linked spaying and neutering to increasing cancer rates in dogs. Even better, investigate alternative ways to sterilize your pet without upsetting his or her important hormone balance.
5. Refuse unnecessary vaccinations. Vaccine protocols should be tailored to minimize risk and maximize protection, taking into account the breed, background, nutritional status and overall vitality of the dog.
The protocol I follow with healthy puppies is to provide a single parvo and distemper vaccine at or before 12 weeks, and a second set after 14 weeks. I then titer (ask your vet to run titers at a lab that uses the IFA method) two weeks after the last set and if the dog has been successfully immunized, he is protected for life.
I DO NOT use or recommend combination vaccines (five to seven viruses in one injection), which is the standard yearly booster at many veterinary practices. In my experience, this practice is completely unnecessary and immunologically risky.
While I’d love the air in my home to be more healthy and of a higher quality, I definitely wouldn’t want to inadvertently poison a furry friend. We’ll cover the Top 10 detoxifying plants that are safe for cats and dogs.
Pets N More 
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