ANIMAL WELLNESS
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WELLNESS
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NUTRITION
HELP for
PICKY EATERS
ANTIOXIDANT-RICH
Love
IS JERKY
FOODS HE’LL
TOXIC?
DON’T GET
ZAPPED
FROZEN
RAW
Protect your dog from street ELECTROCUTION
BRETMICHAELS When it comes to helping animals, Poison’s lead singer WALKS HIS TALK
&
TRAINING COLLARS HARNESSES The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY
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Tuna! TALKING ABOUT
Abandoned as a pup, this famous Chiweenie with the FUNNY FACE is on a mission – to teach people that true beauty is on the inside.
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 Display until December 1, 2014
Is there
MERCURY IN HER FISH?
Know what you can safely feed her – and what to avoid
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Acupressure for ALLERGIES
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Soapy’s
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 5
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
got her name
BONUS INSIDE!
Contents October/November 2014
FEATURES 18 ANTIOXIDANTS FROM WHOLE FOODS These vital nutrients are found in a range of healthy foods, from blueberries to coconut to honey.
22 FEEDING HIS
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NERVOUS SYSTEM
Many things can affect your dog’s nervous system. Good nutrition helps ensure it continues doing its job properly.
26 STREET ELECTROCUTION
Are you aware that your dog can get shocked by walking around the block? Learn how to protect him by learning about this hidden hazard.
30 IS SHE
A FUSSY EATER?
Few things are more frustrating than a dog or cat that only likes one type of food. Here’s how to coax him to accept more variety.
34 FIBER – THE
FORGOTTEN NUTRIENT
You know it’s important to include fiber in your own diet, but did you know it’s also essential for dogs and cats?
38 TRAINING
TOOLS – PART 1
Successful training and safety hinge on using the right tools. Here’s a look at collars and harnesses -- the good, the bad and the ugly.
44 RAW FOOD TO GO
You have so many choices when it comes to feeding your companion a natural, healthy diet. Frozen raw diets are among the growing options.
48 URATE STONES IN DOGS
Some breeds are more susceptible to this problem than others. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your best friend healthy.
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animal wellness
51 ALLERGIES AND
67 INNOVATIONS
JOINT PROBLEMS
FOR YOUR KITTY
52 COVER STORY TUNA – THE UNDERDOG WITH AN OVERBITE
68 BRET MICHAELS
Natural help for two common health issues.
How this famous Chiweenie is helping to change society’s definition of beauty.
58 FELINE COVER STORY – EVERYONE LOVES LIL BUB!
Despite a grim start to life, and a multitude of health issues, this unique little kitty has millions of devoted fans.
60 ACUPRESSURE FOR HER ALLERGIES
Your cat can react to many different substances in his environment or food. This simple session can help strengthen his immune system.
How one man’s background in engineering led to problem-solving products for cats. For Poison’s lead singer, hanging out with his animal companions is truly “Nothin’ But a Good Time”.
72 TRAVELING WITH A DIABETIC DOG
It’s doable if you know how. Here are 4 things to keep in mind – or your suitcase – to ensure he stays well.
84 THE LOWDOWN ON JERKY
Why are dogs getting sick, and is anything being done about it? Know how you can keep your dog safe.
90 HOW TO PICK A VACUUM THAT REALLY CLEANS UP
What to look for when choosing a vacuum cleaner that will suck up animal hair, dander, dirt and fleas.
62 MERCURY IN FISH
Is your cat at risk? Find out which fish you can safely feed her, and which species to avoid.
64 SOAPY’S SECRETS
When I adopted my cat, I didn’t know much about her, including how she got her name. The answer was a real surprise!
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COLUMNS 12 Yakkity yak 21 Beyond the label 78 Passages 80 To the rescue 82 Warm & fuzzy 92 Book reviews 98 Tail End
58 44 SOCIAL MEDIA Tips, contests and more! Like us /AnimalWellnessMagazine Updates, news, events! @ AnimalWellnessMagazine Product reviews and tutorials! AnimalWellnessTV
DEPARTMENTS 8 Editorial 55 Animal Wellness resource guide
70 The scoop 76 Product picks 88 Social media 94 Marketplace 96 Events calendar 97 ClassiďŹ eds animal wellness
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ANTIOXIDANTS m D gs Cats
o r f whole
FOODS THESE
VITAL NUTRIENTS ARE FOUND IN
A RANGE OF HEALTHY FOODS THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOUR DOG OR CAT.
By Audi Donamor
upon a time, I visited the Organic Islands Festival and Sustainability Expo on Vancouver Island in Canada. The motto was “Live Green and Buy Local”. I walked up to a vendor who was selling a whole foods diet for dogs and cats. Along with island grown meats, island canned fish, and farm fresh eggs, there were two baskets sitting on a table. In one basket was a plethora of supplements. In the other was an overflowing cornucopia of fresh antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, in all shapes and sizes. It was an interesting way to show that whole foods have powerful health benefits, including cancer-fighting potential. The research bears this out, and it’s not surprising, since whole foods are fully functional. If we had the space, we could cover much of the alphabet, discussing the “A, B, C’s, and Z’s” of antioxidants, which, quite simply, are the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help protect our cells – and our animals’ – from the effects of all kinds of free radicals often caused by environmental factors, like second hand smoke, radiation and pesticides. Free radicals are nasty. They cause cell damage and play a role in cancer, heart disease, and other ailments. Back in 2005, USDA scientists analyzed the antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods. Each food’s antioxidant concentration and
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capacity was measured according to serving size. Blueberries, cranberries and blackberries came out at the top of the fruit list, while beans, artichokes and Russet potatoes topped the vegetable list. Let’s take a look at a few of the antioxidant-packed foods that can easily form a part of your dog or cat’s daily diet, based simply on the easy-to-follow recipes included with this article.
1
WHOLE GRAINS Whole grains are unsung heroes. I bet you’ll be a little surprised to learn that back in 2002, at a cancer conference, research conducted at Cornell University demonstrated that whole grains contain as much or more of the polyphenol antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. When choosing whole grains, make sure they are just that. Whole grains include the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. Whole brown rice is one of the world’s healthiest foods. It even contains one of the most powerful antioxidants, inositol hexaphosphate, also known as IP6, a natural substance that activates the natural killer cell function that
can inhibit cancer. Research has shown that IP6 might be effective in slowing down tumor growth, and even preventing tumors from forming. Research conducted by the Medical College of Georgia reports that whole brown rice helps reduce nerve and blood vessel damage from diabetes. According to the American Cancer Society, it is not known whether taking a supplement provides the same effects as getting IP6 from whole food sources, so include high fiber foods like whole brown rice, in your family’s diet – human and animal. Oats are a strength-giving cereal. Oats contain 20 unique polyphenols called avenanthramides, which have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-itching properties. Scandinavian researchers found that adding oats to a gluten-free diet may enhance the nutritional values of the diet’s vitamins and minerals, as well as its antioxidant levels, including bilirubin, which helps in the elimination of free radicals and protects the brain from oxidative damage. Oats support the gastrointestinal system by helping to remove toxins from the body. Studies reported by the American Institute for Cancer Research showed that whole grains, like oats, contain many phytonutrients whose healing and preventive properties have gone unrecognized, simply because research methods have overlooked them. Incidentally, oats are also a very good source of selenium, which is a co-factor to the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase.
2
FRUITS Blueberries and cranberries contain significant levels of resveratrol, a natural compound found to have anti-cancer properties and reduce the risk of heart disease. These berries are packed with antioxidants, some of which come from anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries their deep blue color. Red raspberries are a rich source of ellagitannins, which have been found to stop cells from mutating; if cells can’t mutate, they can’t turn into cancer.
3
SPICES When it comes to spices, no cupboard is complete without cinnamon and carob, both known throughout the ages for their healing properties. Cinnamon is a very good source of flavonoid phenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, zeaxanthin, lutein and cryptoxanthin. Carob contains all the principal vitamins and minerals. It is interesting to note that although most carob pods are discarded, animal wellness
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