ANIMAL WELLNESS
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS
TOP 10 “human” foods
NATURAL WAYS TO GET RID OF
enjoy
your pooch can
FLEAS & TICKS
THE DANGERS OF
SPOT-ONS SAFE, NON-TOXIC
+
Tips to reduce his
ALTERNATIVES
“carbon pawprint”
How ACUPUNCTURE relieves PAIN IN DOGS
essential oil s 6 for your dog
Eco-friendly
HEMP PRODUCTS
Cookie NYC’s hippest pooch!
THIS ADORABLE RED POODLE WITH THE TEDDY BEAR FEATURES STARTED LIFE AS A PUPPY MILL RESCUE – NOW HE’S FAMOUS FOR HIS COOL SENSE OF STYLE AND HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE.
APRIL/MAY 2017 Display until May 24, 2017
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 19 ISSUE 2
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
BONUS INSIDE!
Contents April/May 2017
Features
18 SPOT-ON FLEA AND TICK PREVENTIVES
Spot-on flea and tick products are hazardous to your pet’s health. Here’s what to know about them -- and about the non-toxic alternatives you can use instead.
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22 8 HUMAN FOODS THAT MAKE GOOD DOG TREATS
Many of the fruits, vegetables and meats we enjoy are also good for dogs, and make excellent treats.
24 TRAIN YOUR DOG NOT TO CHASE WILDLIFE
Wild animals are common in most communities. Protecting your dog from confrontations with local wildlife means overriding his natural chase instinct.
28 CAN ACUPUNCTURE
RELIEVE MY DOG’S PAIN?
Arthritis, disc disease, CCL tears and other problems can cause pain in your dog. Acupuncture can alleviate the discomfort.
32 NATURAL SOLUTIONS
FOR PET PESTS
Fleas, ticks, heartworms, mosquitoes – warmer weather is returning, and these pests will be looking for a piece of your dog or cat. Take steps to protect him, naturally.
34 COOKIE – NYC’S
COOLEST CANINE
Whether he’s posing for a style photo or drinking all-natural smoothies, this famous red miniature poodle is one quirky – and lucky – dog!
38 DOG PARK DANGERS
AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Dog parks are great for exercise and socializing, but there are also some risks you need to be aware of and protect against.
42 VETERICYN
All dogs and cats get the occasional scratch, cut, itch or hot spot. These nontoxic wound and skincare products offer gentle, effective healing.
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Animal Wellness
46 4 TOP BEHAVIORS EVERY DOG SHOULD KNOW – PART 2
The second part of this article looks at why “leave it”, “heel” – and “walk without pulling” are so important.
54 NONI – GOOD FOR
DOGS AND CATS
Noni is a tropical fruit with great potential for the treatment and possible prevention of many diseases in pets.
58 REDUCE YOUR PET’S
78 MINT – AN HERB TO SHARE WITH YOUR DOG
It doesn’t just flavor food or freshen breath – mint offers nutritional and health benefits that can boost your dog’s wellness.
89 THE LATEST IN CAT LITTER
Think outside the box with our look at today’s cat litter options.
92 BOLT AND KEEL – ADVENTURE CATS
CARBON FOOTPRINT
Exploring the great outdoors comes naturally to these intrepid kitties, whose wilderness trips with their humans have made them two of social media’s most popular felines.
62 ESSENTIAL OILS FOR YOUR DOG
How medical marijuana may improve your kitty’s health.
69 CANINE LIGHT THERAPY
Bringing home a new kitten or two? Follow these tips for introducing them to your older cat.
Dogs and cats have a significant impact on the environment. Let’s look at how we can make our furry friends more earth-friendly.
Essential oils can be very beneficial to dogs. Here’s a look at a selection of oils and their benefits, along with advice on how to choose and use them.
After seeing how light therapy can heal animals, this couple launched a company making light therapy pads for dogs and horses.
72 HIP HEMP PRODUCTS
FOR DOGS
Hemp is a durable, eco-friendly fiber that has woven its way into a range of natural and sustainable products for dogs.
94 CANNABIS FOR CATS
96 ADOPTING A KITTEN INTO A SENIOR CAT HOUSEHOLD
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Columns
12 43 66 76 82 86 91
Yakkity yak
58
Rewind
Passages To the rescue Book reviews Tail end Cat chat
89
Departments 8
Editorial
37
Product picks
52
The scoop
70
Animal Wellness resource guide
75
Social media
84
Events calendar
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
84
ClassiďŹ eds
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
85
Marketplace
Social media Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine
April/May 2017
5
Spot-on D gs Cats
flea and tick preventives
By Deva Khalsa, VMD
Spot-on flea and tick products are hazardous to your dog or cat’s health. Here’s what you need to know about them – and about the more natural, non-toxic alternatives you can turn to instead.
Many people regularly apply spot-on flea and tick preventives to their dogs and cats. Even those whose animals have little to no chance of getting fleas or ticks dutifully administer toxic spot-on products, every single month of the year. We love our pets, so we want what’s best for them – and certainly, no one wants their dog or cat to get infested with fleas or contract a nasty tick-borne disease. But harsh chemical flea and tick prevention is not the answer, and spot-on products can do more harm than good. There are safer, less toxic ways to protect your pet from these bloodsucking pests.
A close-up look at spot-on chemicals The chemicals used in spot-on flea and tick products go right through your pet’s skin and into his internal systems, increasing his risk of cancer and other diseases. The toxins in these products circulate through your dog or cat from one to over three months (depending on the product), at levels high enough to kill a flea or tick just as it bites and reaches blood. It’s similar to soaking a sponge with insecticide and leaving it in the middle of the kitchen, knowing that cockroaches will die as soon as they walk over it; after a spot-on treatment, your dog or cat’s body holds insecticide residue and essentially becomes a poison bomb. In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency began reviewing the safety of spot-on flea and tick products. What they found about three common substances used in these products was not pretty.
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Animal Wellness
• One company’s website states that fipronil is absorbed into the sebaceous glands of the skin. This gives the impression fipronil does not migrate into your pet’s body, which is simply not true. Dr. Virginia Dobozy of the EPA’s Pesticide Division did a study that traced radioactive fibronil in exposed dogs, and found it in their fat, organs, urine and feces. Research shows that, even at low doses, fipronil has the potential for nervous system and thyroid toxicity, thyroid cancer, altered thyroid hormone levels, liver toxicity, kidney damage, cancer, convulsions, hair loss at or beyond the point of application, moist inflammation, and chemical burn and itching. • Another commonly used spot-on ingredient, imidacloprid, is a systemic insecticide belonging to a class of chemicals called neonicotinoids. Imidacloprid has been found to cause thyroid lesions, liver toxicity and increased cholesterol levels, and has the potential for damaging the kidneys, liver, thyroid, heart, lungs, spleen, adrenals, brain and gonads. As a neurotoxin, imidacloprid has also caused unco-ordination, labored breathing and muscle weakness. Continued on page 20.
EVALUATE HIS FLEA AND TICK
exposure risk Pest prevention should not be given a “one size fits all” approach. Every family pet has a particular lifestyle, and his exposure to fleas and ticks depends on where and how he lives. Look at the incidence of fleas and ticks in your region, and at the likelihood of your dog or cat being exposed to them. For instance, say you have three small dogs who play in a securelyfenced, well-maintained yard and who rarely meet other dogs. The chances of them getting fleas and ticks are low. You can simply routinely check their skin and coats, and avoid using any toxic prevention. If the same three dogs live in Florida, fleas are going to be a yearround problem while ticks are not very likely. Now place those three dogs in upstate New York and add long uncut grass and close proximity to deer. In this situation, ticks will be a significant problem. The same reasoning applies to cats. Indoor felines that never or rarely go out, or come into contact with other animals, are much less likely to get fleas and ticks than those that roam freely. The time of year also plays a role. Many people continue giving their dogs and cats flea and tick preventives during cold snowy winters, just for good measure, when nary a flea or tick is even around.
April/May 2017
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8 DOG TREATS HUMAN FOODS
GOOD
THAT MAKE
By Jennifer Hinders
We all love to treat our dogs, but it’s important
to make sure we’re giving them something that’s
healthy and low-cal as well as delicious. Many of the fruits, vegetables and meats we enjoy are also good for dogs, and make excellent treats.
Pet stores are filled with dog treats of all kinds. But many are bad choices because they’re made from unhealthy ingredients and contain a lot of additives like artificial colors and flavors. When buying dog treats, make sure you choose high quality products made from all-natural ingredients. Alternatively, you can treat your dog using healthy foods from your own kitchen. Here are just eight human foods that make nutritious and palatable dog treats.
Fruits Apples Small pieces of apple without the core are great treats for your dog. Organic apples are best, but if you can’t find any, be sure to wash the skin thoroughly first. It’s also wise to remove the seeds, since they contain a compound that can convert into cyanide in the intestines.
Blueberries People and dogs alike love blueberries. These tasty little fruits are full of good nutrition like vitamins C and K, as well as manganese, and are also an excellent source of antioxidants.
Pears As with apples, pears must be cored and the seeds removed. Again, wash the skin before cutting up the fruit. Pears are a great source of vitamin C for your pooch.
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Animal Wellness
Vegetables Carrots Carrots are a naturally sweet veggie rich in antioxidants and beta-carotene, which converts into eye-healthy vitamin A. Your dog will love crunching on raw carrot – remember to wash and peel it before cutting it up. Alternatively, you can lightly steam carrots – remember to let them cool before giving them to your dog.
Sweet potatoes Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamins A, C, E and B6, and are also rich in dietary fiber. You can buy premium dog treats made from dried sweet potatoes, or you can make your own (see sidebar on opposite page).
FOODS TO
AVOID It’s important to remember that not all human foods are good for dogs. Among those that should always be avoided are:
Chocolate Cooked bones Grapes Onions Raisins Raw salmon
Green beans
the bone regularly; if the edges get too thin or sharp, it’s time to
They’re rich in vitamins A, C and K, and also contain fiber and
throw it away.
some B vitamins. Lightly steamed green beans are best. One of the great things about green beans is that they’re easy to grow
There are many other human foods you can use as treats, but
in a garden or container – plant the seeds in May and you’ll be
these favorites are enjoyed by most dogs, and also provide our
harvesting beans in July. Canned beans aren’t recommended as
best friends with added nutrition.
they usually contain a lot of salt.
Meats Chicken Bits of cooked breast meat minus the bones and skin make good dog treats and are a healthy source of protein and vitamin
Dried sweet potato treats q Preheat oven to 250°F. w Wash sweet potatoes
B6. Try to buy organic chicken if you can. Don’t use rotisserie
thoroughly, and pat dry.
chickens, as they’re usually prepared with a lot of salt. Your
e Line a baking sheet with
dog can also be treated with bits of raw chicken, or raw (never cooked) chicken backs and necks. Just keep an eye on your dog when he’s eating bones.
Raw beef bones For a long-lasting high-value treat, connect with your dog's wild side by giving her a raw beef bone – a knucklebone or femur is best. Gnawing on a raw bone is good for your dog’s teeth and
parchment paper.
r Thinly slice sweet potatoes. t Place on the prepared baking sheet.
y Bake for 1½ hours, turn the treats over, then bake for another hour.
gums, and it’ll keep him occupied for hours. Be sure to inspect
April/May 2017
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