ANIMAL WELLNESS
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS
NATURAL ARTHRITIS REMEDIES
A-Z
DOGFRIENDLY HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS Oops!
STEM CELL SECRETS
12
COMMON PET PARENTING MISTAKES
&
ENSURE YOU’RE DOING THE BEST FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND!
VITAMINS MINERALS
FOR YOUR DOG
HOLISTIC MEDICINE FOR “HOPELESS” CASES
SHOW YOUR
SOFT SIDE
TOP
HOW MUCH
EXERCISE
IS RIGHT FOR YOUR DOG?
HOW A CELEBRITY-SUPPORTED PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN AIMS TO END ANIMAL ABUSE. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 Display until September 10, 2018
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 20 ISSUE 4
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
BONUS INSIDE!
Contents August/September 2018
Features
18 STEM CELL SECRETS AND YOUR PET
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We’re learning more all the time about stem cells and their mechanisms of activation, healing and regeneration, both in ourselves and our dogs and cats.
22 LIGHT THERAPY FOR DOGS AND CATS
Light therapy is becoming a popular alternative for many pet ailments, from arthritis to muscle injury to wound healing. Here’s how it works and why it’s worth considering.
26 HOW MUCH EXERCISE DOES YOUR DOG NEED?
Breed, size, age and health status all play a role in how much physical activity your dog requires to stay fit, happy and healthy.
30 AN A–Z OF NATURAL
SOLUTIONS FOR CANINE ARTHRITIS
Searching for a natural therapy for your dog’s arthritis? Take a look at this comprehensive list!
A breakdown of toxic ingredients to avoid when shopping for household cleaning products – along with safe alternatives you can use instead!
34 COPAIBA ESSENTIAL OIL FOR CANINE JOINT DISCOMFORT
56 BALANCE YOUR DOG’S SEASONAL ENERGY WITH ACUPRESSURE
When used in conjunction with other therapies, essential oils such as Copaiba are very beneficial for dogs with arthritis and other joint problems.
38 12 COMMON DOG PARENTING MISTAKES
We do the best for our dogs, but may inadvertently overlook some aspect of canine care. Check this list of common errors people make with their dogs, and how to correct them.
42 DOES YOUR DOG OR CAT HAVE PANCREATITIS?
Chinese herbal medicines and low-fat meat and vegetable diets can prevent pancreatitis in dogs and cats, and resolve acute and chronic stages of the disease.
48 CONDITIONING FOR
CANINE ATHLETES
A conditioning program tailored to your individual dog, and the sport he’s involved in, will help prevent injury to his muscles and joints.
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52 HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS THAT ARE SAFE FOR PETS
Animal Wellness
Your dog’s energy shifts as the seasons change. These acupressure sessions will help him keep his Yang and Yin chi balanced as we move from summer into fall.
62 VITAMINS AND MINERALS
YOUR DOG NEEDS
Your dog’s health depends on a variety of micronutrients in the right amounts and in the right balance. Here are 17 of the most important.
66 SHOW YOUR SOFT SIDE
This non-profit public service campaign has paired with hundreds of celebs, athletes and public figures to end animal abuse and support animal rescue.
72 HOW ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP OLDER DOGS
Senior dogs are prone to health problems, from joint issues to appetite loss. Acupuncture can help treat many of these conditions and enhance your canine companion’s well-being.
83 HOLISTIC MEDICINE FOR “HOPELESS” CASES
Conventional medicine has its place, but sometimes there’s only so much it can do for a sick pet. Often, turning to a holistic approach provides the key to healing these “hopeless” cases.
94 TIPS FOR A CATFRIENDLY SUMMER
From fleas to heatwaves, the summer months can be uncomfortable and even dangerous for your cat. Here’s how to keep her cool and contented.
96 FELINE OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis is more common in older cats than we used to think, but because the signs are subtle, it often goes undiagnosed.
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52
78
Columns
26
12 Yakkity yak 41 Business profile –
Big Bear Pet Company
46 Warm & fuzzy 60 Passages 69 Business profile – Doc Ackerman’s
76 To the rescue 78 Rewind 86 Book reviews 91 Tail end 93 Cat chat
Departments 8
Editorial
54
Product picks
70
The scoop
81
Animal Wellness resource guide
News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine
88
Marketplace
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
89
Classifieds
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
90
Events
98 FW book reviews
Social media Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
Animal Wellness
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STEM CELL S E C R ETS AN D YO U R P ET By Deva Khalsa, VMD
D gs Cats
We’re learning more all the time about stem cells and their mechanisms of activation, healing and regeneration, both in ourselves and our dogs and cats. 18
Animal Wellness
Stem cells are a really trendy subject nowadays, and there are many good reasons why. They’re the most important key to health, youth, regeneration and anti-aging in humans and animals. In this article, we’ll look at what stem cells are, and what triggers them to heal and repair tissues in our bodies, as well as those of our dogs and cats.
DEFINING STEM CELLS Stem cells are how we all started out. They’re the cells that develop into the different organs in our bodies when we and our pets are tiny growing embryos. In mammals, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues in the gut and bone marrow. In other organs, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under certain conditions. Without stem cells, wounds would not heal. Blood would not be able to regenerate. In fact, there would be no way to survive. Stem cells, and the work they do, can vary from species to species. Salamanders can use their stem cells to regrow their tails, yet we humans certainly can’t regrow our fingers! Horses and cows have stem cells in their teeth, which replenish throughout their lives. As we and our animals age, however, the function of our stem cells declines.
Even after very long periods of inactivity, stem cells are capable of renewing themselves through cell division. Once they become active again, they can renew or replicate themselves for very long periods if they do not become specialized. Unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells, as they can be induced to change into specific tissues or organs.
TRIGGERING STEM CELLS – THE ROLE OF KINASES The stem cells in our bodies, and those of our pets, work to regenerate and heal us, but the trick is knowing how to effectively trigger them. Scientists are now beginning to understand the signals that trigger stem cells to get going and start their repair work. These very important signals are carried by special messenger compounds called kinases. Kinases comprise the repair and regeneration mechanism of the body. They have enormous diversity and play a critical role in cellular communication and signaling. A loss of function in kinases has been proven to cause cancer and other disease in humans. Kinases have the effect of making cells renew and reconstruct themselves. Importantly, they also stimulate and activate stem cells. Drugs such as Apoquel and Cytopoint work to decrease allergic reactions by obliterating specific kinases. Apoquel detrimentally affects several different kinases. Cytopoint advertises that it destroys only one kinase, but as each kinase communicates with literally hundreds of others, obliterating even one has a cascade effect.
STEM CELL ACTIVATORS – BUYER BEWARE We don’t preserve umbilical tissue from our dogs and cats, although this may evolve into an industry in the future. Our animals’ fat cells can be cultured to make stem cells, which are limited to forming connective tissue only. And as we and our pets age, the stem cells in our bodies become less vigorous. Nevertheless, many products are being touted as stem cell activators. Whether all these products actually work is debatable. Cosmetic companies offer topical solutions to make your skin young again. Specific oral supplements claim the ability to activate stem cells. In fact, “stem cells” has become a buzz phrase to increase interest and sales. It’s being overused and generalized, and there are so many “stem cell-activating” products out there that researching every single one for efficacy would prove a daunting task. Continued on page 20. Animal Wellness
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