ANIMAL WELLNESS
For a long, healthy life!
Special Issue
EMOTIONS & BEHAVIOR
CAN HE GET
EBOLA? Separating fact from fiction
Why having an
ANIMAL
What’s
COMPANION can make you
STRESSING
her out?
HEALTHIER
Dealing with
OBEDIENCE training made
easy
HEALTH ISSUES IN
GIANT BREEDS
Diabetes
in dogs
Ian Somerhalder Turning passion into action through his Foundation
Keeping your big guy well and happy FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 Display until March 16, 2015
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 1
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
BONUS INSIDE!
Contents February/March 2015
Features
42
18 WHAT’S STRESSING HER OUT?
Helping your anxious dog starts with determining what’s upsetting him in the first place.
22 TRAINING YOUR DOG
It’s about more than obedience – it’s teaching him the skills he’ll need to live successfully.
26 HAVING AN ANIMAL KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
Our dogs and cats not only give us unconditional love and friendship – they also make us healthier.
30 HEALTH ISSUES IN
GIANT BREEDS
Here’s how to help keep your big guy or gal well and happy.
34 COULD HE BE A BLOOD DONOR?
There’s always a need for canine blood. By finding out if your pooch is a donor candidate, you can help save the lives of other dogs.
How an “ah-ha” moment during a hike inspired a company that specializes in natural treats for dogs and cats.
60 FELINE COVER STORY BLACK CAT RESCUE
Dark-coated kitties have a harder time getting adopted than their more colorful cousins, but this organization is changing that.
62 TOP 5 HEALTH CONCERNS IN CATS
38 MARK YOUR CALENDAR
From obesity to kidney disease, these common conditions are preventable with good nutrition and regular veterinary care.
42 COVER STORY IAN SOMERHALDER
Many lost or relocated cats are able to find their way home again, even over vast distances. How do they do it?
46 CANINE DIABETES
Why are these behavioral issues so common in dogs and cats, and how can they be resolved?
52 IS YOUR DOG DEPRESSED? He can get the blues just like humans do,
Once regarded with skepticism, animal communication is now often seen as an effective way to reach the root of many problems.
Check out this rundown of dog and catrelated “holidays” for 2015.
How the actor and his foundation are turning passion into action. Getting a handle on this common condition – its causes, treatment options and prevention.
and for similar reasons. Acupressure is one way to revitalize him.
4
58 FOLLOWING THE TRAIL TO HEALTHY TREATS
animal wellness
79 FAMILY AFFAIR
Like father, like son…this company’s dedication to safe, quality pet food spans more than 50 years.
82 CAN HE GET EBOLA?
The risks are minimal on this side of the Atlantic, but here’s what you should know.
88 RVTS AND UNREGISTERED ASSISTANTS – WHAT ARE THEIR ROLES?
Get to know your veterinarian’s support staff and how they help care for your dog or cat.
64 HOMING INSTINCTS
70 ANXIETY AND AGGRESSION 76 TALKING TO THE ANIMALS
30
88 Columns
12 Yakkity yak 66 Cat chat 67 Feline book reviews 74 Passages 80 To the rescue 84 Warm & fuzzy
52
92 Book reviews 98 Tail end
62
Departments 8
Editorial
50
Product picks
56
Animal Wellness resource guide
68
The scoop
86
Social media
Tips, contests and more! Like us /AnimalWellnessMagazine
94
Marketplace
Updates, news, events! @ AnimalWellnessMagazine
96
Events calendar
Product reviews and tutorials! AnimalWellnessTV
97
Classifieds
Social media
animal wellness
5
What’s
stressing her out? By Claudia Bensimoun
Helping your anxious dog starts with determining what’s upsetting her in the first place.
Dogs get stressed just like we do. The difference is, we can usually pinpoint what it is that makes us tense and anxious, be it family problems, work deadlines, money or health worries. With our dogs however, it’s more difficult. They can’t verbalize their concerns, so we may not even be aware of, much less understand, what it is that’s making them skittish and fearful. And that can make it harder to alleviate their stress.
WHAT CAUSES STRESS IN DOGS?
SYMPTOMS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE OBVIOUS
• Going to the veterinarian • Being left alone at home • Loss of a canine companion • Separation from the family • Introduction of a new animal • Moving house • Children returning to school on Monday or after holidays
The first step is to recognize when your dog is stressed out. Obvious symptoms include fearfulness, aggression or destructiveness, but other signs may not be as clear. You need to be tuned in to your dog’s personality and behavior so you’ll notice if he starts acting differently. Restlessness, hiding, excessive sleeping and other uncharacteristic behaviors can sometimes go unnoticed, especially if you lead a busy life and/or are out a lot. Any unexplained change in the way your dog acts, even if it’s subtle, is a red flag. Start by taking him to the vet for a physical checkup to ensure he isn’t ill or in pain. If he gets a clean bill of health, then something in his environment may be stressing him out.
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Numerous things can make your dog feel anxious and fearful, and not all may be factors you would consider stressful yourself. So again, you need to be observant and pay attention to how your dog reacts at certain times or in particular situations. “Dogs have an increase in stress hormones when life is uncertain,” says Dr. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, MRCVS, adding that the following situations are among the most stressful for dogs:
There are many additional causes of stress, and how your dog reacts to them can vary depending on his temperament. For example, the noise and upheaval of a home renovation project might not affect a laidback animal at all, while a more sensitive one might start displaying stress-related behaviors such as hiding, whining or pacing.
DOGS HAVE AN INCREASE IN STRESS HORMONES WHEN LIFE IS uncertain.
Once you have determined that your dog is experiencing stress, and what the causes are, it’s time to do something to help alleviate his fear and anxiety.
LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE While some sources of stress can be eliminated or minimized, others cannot. Veterinary visits and bereavements are just two stressful situations that usually can’t be avoided. However, there are ways to help your dog react to these events in a healthier manner. “If we want to support ‘good’ stress response in our dogs, I believe the best method is a holistic approach that considers all the factors – major and minor – that enable a ‘good’ versus a ‘bad’ response,” says dog behaviorist Karen Rosenfeld. “To understand how we can best support ‘good’ stress response, we need to consider factors that contribute to stress reactivity. These include inherited and acquired traits, environmental influences (animate, inanimate), previously conditioned behavior, communication, diet, physical and mental health, psychology, emotional intelligence and physical capacity.” By addressing as many of these factors as possible, you can help your dog learn to cope with stressful situations in a less fearful way.
COMBATING STRESS WITH DIET Ensuring your dog stays in good overall health is one important way to help him deal with stress. A proper diet is key. “If his food does not support good gastrointestinal, glandular and brain function, the ability to cope with stress is adversely affected,” says Karen. “Real food (not highly processed), combined with herbs and nutraceuticals, form the basis of a diet that supports good physical, physiological and mental health. Add some real meat and bone broth to your dog’s food, especially if you are feeding him a dry diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are also important. Continued on page 20.
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