ANIMAL
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS Winter
HOW DOES YOUR DOG’S
MIND WORK?
PAW CARE TIPS
GENETIC TESTING
— WHAT IT CAN TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR ANIMAL
OPTIMIZE DENTAL HEALTH WITH NUTRITION
COLLARS VS. HARNESSES — which should you use, and when?
NATURAL WAYS TO
REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 Display until March 9, 2020
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
CONTENTS February/March 2020
Columns
18 SPOTLIGHT
What genetic testing can tell you about your dog or cat
Is your pet prone to developing certain health problems? Genetic testing can help you find out.
22 CANINE
COGNITION
How does your dog’s mind work?
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Ongoing research reveals that the cognitive and emotional lives of our dogs are much richer and more complex than we think.
26 CAT NUTRITION
Features 14 dental health
F eeding your dog or cat for optimal Good nutrition, along with the right forms of food, can go a long way to keeping your pet’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.
34 D ental extractions in dogs and cats A comprehensive look at when and why your animal might need to have one or more teeth removed.
48 W inter paw care for your dog
From the best protective products to proper cleaning tips, here’s everything you need to know about winter paw care for your canine companion!
74 dog wear?
C ollar or harness — which should your A comprehensive discussion of collars and harnesses and how and when to use them.
Why cats have to eat meat
If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, and have wondered if your cat could be too — the answer is no. Cats must have meat in their diets in order to stay healthy. This article explains why.
30 IN FOCUS
Hypothyroidism and your dog
This common disease can be treated or even prevented by improving and supporting the health of your dog’s thyroid.
38 AT HOME
Finding the perfect pet sitter
Ask these 10 questions to ensure you’re hiring the right pet sitter for your needs — and the needs of your dog or cat.
41 NEWSWORTHY Purebred dogs have hidden genes
Is your purebred "different" from others of his kind? A recent discovery made by scientists might explain why.
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42 CANINE BEHAVIOR
Help for the “shutdown” dog
Dogs that freeze, flatten to the ground, or act like they’re “just not there” have essentially shut down. Here’s how to recognize the signs, why they happen, and what to do to help.
46 FELINE HEALTH Keep on top of kitty’s dental health
Taking care of your cat’s teeth and gums is an important part of his health regime. These products and tips can help make the job easier.
52 DIAGNOSTICS
Testing for kidney disease in your dog or cat
A large number of older animals develop kidney disease or failure. With correct diagnostic testing, the problem can be caught early enough for more successful treatment.
56 YOUR RESCUE DOG
Is it okay to change your dog’s name?
You’ve just adopted a rescue pup! Everything about her is perfect… except her name. Will she get confused or stop listening to you if you change it? Here’s what you need to know.
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18 to ours? Here’s what happens when you drop your dog off for a dental.
78 EMOTIONAL
60 AGING WELL
End-of-life care for your pet — how essential oils can help
WELL-BEING
INSIDE & OUT
Supporting your pet’s gut health Find out why the state of your dog or cat’s microbiome is so important to his overall health, and how proper nutrition can help bring it back into balance.
68 AT THE VET’S
Your dog’s dental exam
Our four-legged friends need oral care just like us, but do veterinary dental exams bear any similarities
90 EATING WELL
Reduce your dog’s stress, naturally
Preparing to say goodbye to a beloved dog or cat is never going to be easy, but essential oils are an effective way to alleviate the physical and emotional challenges of this difficult time.
64 HEALING
symptomatic relief of periodontal disease while you work with your vet to restore your animal’s dental health.
From loud noises to trips to the vet, a variety of situations can cause stress in dogs. Fortunately, there are lots of safe and effective ways to help anxious pooches feel calmer.
82 KITTY
LIFESTYLE
Feral to friendly — transitioning a cat to life with humans
Can feral cats be socialized and transformed into household companions? It can be done in many cases, but it requires patience and commitment.
Feeding your dog the TCM way
Exploring the Yin and Yang of different foods to enhance the health and well-being of your canine companion.
98 NEWSWORTHY It’s a fact — cats are getting fatter
A new study reveals that cats are heavier now than they were 20 years ago, and it’s negatively affecting their health and well-being.
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84 HERBS FOR HEALING
Top 4 herbs for your pet’s dental health These herbs (along with kelp!) can provide
Departments 8 From the Editor 12 In the news 21 From the NASC 37 Product picks 51 Cure those
72 Wellness
resource guide
81 Let's get social 88 To the rescue
95 Marketplace 96 Must reads 97 Classifieds
94 Events
winter blues!
Social Media
Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
Animal Wellness
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FEEDING YOUR DOG OR CAT FOR
D gs Cats
OPTIMAL DENTAL HEALTH
By Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT
GOOD NUTRITION, ALONG WITH THE RIGHT FORMS OF FOOD, CAN GO A LONG WAY TO KEEPING YOUR PET’S TEETH AND GUMS CLEAN AND HEALTHY. Dental health is a very important part of your dog or cat’s overall health. Periodontal disease not only causes a lot of pain and discomfort, but it’s linked to systemic diseases of the kidneys, liver and heart. Your animal should receive a thorough dental examination at least once a year, while home dental care can help maintain good oral hygiene in between vet visits. One of the most important ways to improve dental health is to feed your dog or cat the correct diet.
DIET CAN MINIMIZE PLAQUE AND CALCULUS The most important factor influencing the development of gingivitis and periodontal disease is the presence and persistence of plaque on tooth surfaces. These deposits put pressure on the gums, causing inflammation, swelling and
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Animal Wellness
receding gums. Pockets form between the gums and teeth where more debris collects, worsening the problem. A serious complication is the development of a painful abscess, which destroys the root of the tooth. Bleeding gums, foul breath, excessive salivation, painful chewing, dropping food while eating, turning the head to one side while eating, and possibly loss of appetite or weight are all symptoms of severe dental disease. Diet can play an important role in minimizing plaque and calculus formation, and aid in the removal of plaque that has already formed. The type of diet fed, along with the frequency of tooth brushing and access to chew toys, dental chews and hard chews, will factor into either the persistence or removal of plaque. Once plaque has formed on the surface of the tooth, it is most efficiently removed by mechanical abrasion. This can be accomplished through diet, tooth brushing, or chewing on supplemental toys or foods.
THE FORM OF THE FOOD IS KEY Historically, the form of food given to dogs and cats has been implicated as a potential risk factor for the development of dental disease. Studies concluded that dogs and cats fed exclusively soft diets such as canned or home-cooked foods had more dental calculus and periodontal
disease than dogs and cats fed primarily dry kibble or a mixture of soft food with kibble. However, even the kibblefed dogs and cats had significant dental disease, including plaque accumulation, gingivitis and periodontal disease. One reason for this is the high carbohydrate concentration found in most commercial kibbles, which provide sugars that feed bacteria in the mouth.
A FOOD-BASED
“TOOTHPASTE” Daily brushing can be accomplished naturally using ground eggshell mixed with coconut oil on a small soft toothbrush designed for use in animals. Wash the eggs first, and make sure the shells are very finely ground — use a food processor or coffee grinder. The ground eggshell provides abrasive action, while the coconut oil
Also, contrary to popular has antibacterial properties against belief, the consumption of dry pathogenic bacteria. Most animals food does not provide enough will tolerate this well because mechanical abrasion to prevent the development of plaque and dental they like the taste. disease. Studies showed no significant association between feeding a diet made up exclusively of dry pet food and the reduction of calculus, gingivitis or tooth attachment loss.
WHAT ABOUT RAW FOOD? Raw-fed dogs and cats may have less gingivitis and periodontal disease, but this depends on breed as well as diet. Some dogs are not suited to eat raw meat and vegetables or to chew on bones because they lack the tooth structure, jaws and strength to do so. Eating raw bones and raw meat is better suited to breeds that have strong jaws and long muzzles, including working and hunting dogs. Small dogs that were bred as house companions have evolved eating cooked meats, grains and vegetables. These dogs developed smaller teeth because they ate more starches and vegetables by living with people who farmed instead of hunted. Specifically, the jaws of brachycephalic (short-muzzled) breeds are not mechanically designed to be able to chew bones effectively. Continued on page 16. Animal Wellness
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