Animal wellness
april/MAy 2011
Animalwellness For a long, healthy life!
Special issue
Living pawsitive!
cancer PREVENTION & TREATMENTS
top4
Lives saving
SUPERFOODS
Bringing down puppy mills
animal Wellness Magazine
Fly!
ON THE
DOG BITES
Does your dog have flyball potential?
What if he bites someone?
Mobile services
Animal care pros who come to you
Victorygardening Home grown goodness for you and Fido
FELINE WELLNESS
GetOutside!
feline WELLNESS Hip, cool and healthy!
SPECIAL DENTAL ISSUE
THERAPY CATS
Biking or jogging with your dog
CLAWS OUT! The latest on declawing legislation
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FOR KITTIES animal wellness
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Contents April/May 2011
features 18 Spring into fitness
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Biking or jogging with your dog can be excellent exercise and lots of fun, but remember to keep his comfort and safety in mind.
22 Bug bites
Some dogs are hypersensitive to insect stings and bites. Learning to recognize the signs of anaphylactic shock can be a life-saver.
26 Top 4 superfoods
Want to help prevent cancer in your canine? Look no further than your fridge. Adding these phytochemical-rich foods to his diet will help reduce his risk.
29 Armed with antioxidants
They’re crucial to good health, but some vets feel they interfere with conventional cancer treatments. Find out why, and how an integrative approach with antioxidants can actually extend life expectancy.
34 On the fly
Flyball is an exciting canine sport that’s growing in popularity. Could your dog compete?
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39 Healing connection
The fields of animal behavior and energy work come together in this practitioner’s approach to helping dogs and cats.
40 Get growing
Healthier eating and greener lifestyles, coupled with a soft economy and soaring food prices, are prompting a renewed interest in vegetable and fruit gardening. Follow these 10 steps to a nutritious Victory garden for you and your dog.
44 Bone up!
Bone cancers are common in dogs. Holistic therapies, when used with conventional treatments, give these pooches a better chance at beating the disease.
46 Saving lives
Check out an organization that aims to bring down the puppy mill industry, one rescue at a time.
50 “I’m here to see Sparky”
From veterinarians to groomers to massage therapists, animal care professionals offer mobile services to cater to the needs of their four-footed clients and their families.
56 Get outside
Regular outdoor time for fresh air, exercise and mental stimulation is vital to your dog’s happiness and well being.
68 He bit me!
You may think your dog is too wellbehaved to bite someone, but there’s no guarantee it won’t ever happen. Here’s how to protect yourself, and your dog.
88 A passion for helping
Helping people and animals is all in a day’s work for this supplement company.
Flyball Photo: © Kyle Lehrmann
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Columns 14 Yakkity yak
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54 Warm & fuzzy 60 Talking with
ORDER! YOUR FIRST
Dr. Marcia Martin
70 Case study
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89 Communication 94 Passages
Departments
96 Book reviews 105 Tail end
8 Editorial
22
12 Mail bag 49 Product picks
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64 Animal Wellness resource guide
92 The scoop 98 Ad spots 102 Classifieds 104 Events calendar
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Biking or jogging with your dog can be excellent exercise and lots of fun, but remember to keep his comfort and safety in mind.
by Marisa Bojiuc
Spring’s here, and it’s time for you and your dog to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Long walks are a favorite form of human/canine exercise, but for those looking for something a little more aerobic, biking and jogging are often the activities of choice.
Big wheels Many dog guardians believe biking with their canines is a great way to release energy, especially for a dog that has been stuck in the house all day. Dr. Annie Harvilicz, founder and chief medical officer of the Animal Wellness Centers in Southern California, agrees that it’s an excellent way
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to exercise your dog, but that you need to pay close attention to make sure he doesn’t get too tired. You’ve probably seen people whizzing along on their bikes with dogs running relentlessly by their sides, tongues hanging out and looking beat. “Imagine having to run alongside a friend riding a bike,” Dr. Harvilicz says. “It can be exhausting.” Before starting to bike with your dog, Dr. Harvilicz highly recommends a thorough veterinary examination, including blood work. “We need to make sure the internal organs are functioning properly so we don’t overstress the system,” she says. “The heart and lungs are especially important when doing any high-energy activity such as running.” Physically pre-training a dog for bike riding is mandatory at all ages, but starting him at a younger age is best. However, keep in mind that over-exertion can impede the proper growth of bones, ligaments, tendons and joints in puppies, causing problems in adulthood. “Dogs of different sizes have growth plates that close at different times,” says J. David Sessum, veterinary technician at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. “You should consult with your veterinarian for the best time to start strenuous activity with young dogs.” “Much as children should not lift weights I feel growing puppies should not be given high-impact exercise,” adds Dr. Harvilicz. “In other words, don’t take puppies on long, fast bike rides on rough surfaces like roads and sidewalks.” The best recommendation is to start training your puppy by having him walk short distances alongside the bike. To avoid accidents and injury to either yourself or your dog, he should be trained to heel, to walk beside the bike without any tension in the lead, and not react to sudden noises or distractions such as cars passing by, other bikes and dogs. “Start with short distances and gradually work up to the distance you desire,” says, Dr. Harvilicz. “Make sure your dog is fully trained before attempting to take him on long rides, and be patient with him. You should use a harness instead of collar to avoid damage to the neck or trachea (windpipe).” Small breeds should never walk or run alongside a bike, especially those that have really short faces, such as pugs and bulldogs. These brachycephalic breeds have more of a tendency to overheat and get exhausted. “Their little legs have a hard time keeping up,” adds Dr. Harvilicz.
Put on your jogging shoes While biking may be easier for people, jogging is actually easier for dogs. “After all, they have been doing it for thousands of years,” says Dr. Harvilicz. “Dogs need exercise just like people and jogging is a good way to do this,” adds David. Again, although jogging may not be as physically strenuous as running alongside a bike, David recommends having your dog checked over by a vet before starting such an exercise regime. “Older dogs need to have a physical exam to make sure they are healthy enough for strenuous activity and don’t have any underlying conditions such as heart disease.” He also animal wellness
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