ANIMAL WELLNESS
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cancer 10 WAYS
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Is he prone to
CANCER?
TO MAKE MORE TIME FOR YOUR
Breed, genetics and environment all play a part
CANINE
FLU
OUTBREAK
Integrative prevention and treatment tips
Titer testing
FAQs
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He’s a bit shy, but this affectionate beauty with the odd-colored eyes has loads of devoted fans.
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Contents August/September 2015
42
Features
18 ARE SOME DOGS PREDISPOSED TO CANCER?
Certain breeds seem more susceptible, and both genetics and environment play a role.
24 HYPERTHERMIC THERAPY
It’s the new kid on the block when it comes to treating cancer, but it’s showing promise for some tumor types.
26 HOW TO MAKE TRAINING FUN
Tricks and games can teach him what he needs to know, and make training sessions more enjoyable for both of you.
30 “PREPARING FOR A
DISASTER” CHECKLIST
Cover these 4 important points and you’ll help him stay as safe and stressfree as possible.
33 “BUY ONE, GIVE ONE” How this food and treat company is making a difference in the lives of shelter dogs.
34 HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND WITH YOUR DOG?
52 FASHION FOR FIFI
The latest creations for dogs range from hoodies and tees to beach wear, tuxedos and even dresses.
58 TREATING CANCER –
WHY MULTIPLE THERAPIES ARE NECESSARY
Cancer affects the body in numerous ways, so treating it successfully means drawing on a variety of therapies.
62 CANINE FLU
Have a busy lifestyle? Here are 10 ways to ensure your best friend gets the quality time he needs and deserves.
The recent H3N2 outbreak has caused a lot of alarm, but an integrative approach can help with treatment and prevention.
39 TOP 5 CANCER
66 THE AGING PROCESS The rate at which dogs and cats age varies,
PREVENTION TIPS
This dreaded disease is common, but here’s how to significantly reduce your canine’s risk of becoming another statistic.
depending on several factors besides how old they are.
42 COVER STORY
We talk with Linda Tellington-Jones about her effective approach for animal healing, training and communication.
DOUG THE PUG
This comical little guy with “personality plus” brings love and laughter to people around the globe.
4
46 TITER TESTING FAQS
Answering the most common questions about this alternative to annual vaccines.
animal wellness
70 TELLINGTON TTOUCH
76 SHARING THE HARVEST
Make the most of fresh produce with these tasty and nutritious recipes both you and your dog can enjoy.
80 DOG BEDS THAT LAST
When you buy a quality memory foam bed from this company, another is donated to a rescue organization.
90 COVER STORY RICHARD KITTY
Children are especially attracted to this sweet social media sensation with the “odd eyes”.
92 PICKY EATER?
Along with a check-up and the right diet, this easy acupressure session can help resolve appetite issues.
94 SAFE OUTDOOR EXPLORATION FOR CATS
From harnesses to strollers to enclosures, there are several hazard-free ways for your cat to enjoy the great outdoors.
96 NOT ANOTHER HAIRBALL!
They’re more than just a mess for you to clean up. Excessive hairballs can signal a health problem or an inappropriate diet.
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34
Columns
12 Yakkity yak 50 Passages 56 To the rescue 74 Warm & fuzzy 85 Book reviews 88 Tail end 98 Feline book
review/Cat chat
92
Departments 8
Editorial
37
Product picks
68
Animal Wellness resource guide
73
The scoop
81
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Tips, contests and more! Like us /AnimalWellnessMagazine
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Updates, news, events! @ AnimalWellnessMagazine
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Events calendar
Product reviews and tutorials! AnimalWellnessTV
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5
Are some dogs
predisposed to cancer?
Certain breeds seem more susceptible, and both genetics and environment play a role.
h
By Erin Mayo, DVM ave you ever heard it said that mutts are healthier than purebreds? Well, that may not be true, but when it comes to cancer, mixed breeds might have the advantage. In recent years, researchers have been trying to answer the question: “Are certain breeds more prone to cancer? If so, why?�
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS
Cancer in dogs isn’t new, but it seems as if its prevalence is increasing. Overall, approximately one in four dogs is diagnosed with some type of cancer during his/her lifetime. A 2010 study found that 27% of purebreds develop cancer, while an older study from 2000 found that 45% of dogs over ten years of age get cancer. While cancer rates may appear to be growing, there are additional factors to consider. Animals are living longer, and since cancer is more predominant in seniors, it makes sense that we are seeing more of it. Veterinary care is also improving by leaps and bounds, and offers less invasive and more sensitive methods for diagnosing the disease. People are also more aware of their
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animal wellness
dogs’ health than they were in the past, and are more vigilant about finding out what’s wrong with their companions, and about treating the problem.
increase the risk of selecting genes with mutations (alterations to the genetic code that alters its function), thereby predisposing dogs to disease.
“Twenty years ago, we weren’t diagnosing cancer, because people weren’t willing to treat it,” says veterinary oncology specialist Dr. Jennifer Kim. “Dogs died of ‘old age’, but in reality, they died of something. I don’t think we are seeing more cancer; I think the increased number of cases is the result of clients wanting to know if their dogs have cancer, and of the veterinarians’ ability to diagnose it.”
Most commonly, cancer risk increases when mutations occur in tumor-suppressor genes whose natural function is to fight cancer formation. A mutation in any gene has the potential to increase the risk of disease.
It may be impossible to pinpoint the exact causes of cancer, although there are some well-documented risk factors in humans. The combination of genetics, which predisposes an individual to the disease, along with environmental exposures to carcinogens, such as cigarette smoke, is a common recipe for cancer formation. Dogs exist closely with humans, so are exposed to the same environments with their potentially harmful substances. But they also have known genetic predispositions to certain types of cancer. The genetic differences between the individuals of any specific breed are small compared with the canine population overall. Selective breeding for exaggerated physical traits may
Animals are living longer, and since cancer is more predominant in seniors, it makes sense that we are seeing more of it. It is difficult to determine the true risk of cancer in some breeds. For example, if a breed isn’t “popular”, there may be insufficient data on its cancer risk. In addition, breeds with shorter lifespans (due to other conditions unrelated to cancer) are more challenging to study with regards to their cancer risk. Since cancer is generally a disease of older dogs, these breeds don’t tend to have much cancer. The bulldog is an example; this breed is regarded as having a low cancer risk, but at the same time, isn’t as long-lived as many other breeds. Continued on page 20.
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