ANIMAL
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS
WHAT TO DO ABOUT HIS
COPING WITH
COVID
SEPARATION ANXIETY
BACKYARD
LEARN TO
CLICKER TRAIN
ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR DOGS
YOUR CAT!
HOW YOUR DOG’S DIET AFFECTS HER
behavior
OZONE THERAPY
CAN
HELP YOUR PET?
JASPER
— THIS ADVENTURE PUP IS INSPIRING THOUSANDS OF PET PARENTS TO
#CONNECTWITHNATURE!
JUNE/JULY 2020 Display until July 6 2020 $6.95USA/Canada USA/Canada $6.95
VOLUME 22 22 ISSUE 3 3 VOLUME ISSUE
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
CONTENTS June/July 2020
Columns
19 CANINE
BEHAVIOR
Does your dog have separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is common in canines, but don’t despair. Follow these four important steps to a calmer, more relaxed dog.
22 MODALITY
42 Features
ow your dog’s gut microbiome 14 Haffects his behavior
Canine behavioral problems like anxiety and aggression can have many causes, and an out-ofbalance microbiome may be one of them.
OVER STORY 42 CJasper
This adventure pup is inspiring thousands of dog parents to #getoutside!
46
W hy crate training your dog is important
Find out why you it’s a good idea to crate train your dog, and how to do it so she’ll be safe, happy and comfortable.
hat telemedicine can do for your 60 Wdog or cat
Telemedicine has its drawbacks and legal limitations, but it also offers some advantages, especially to animal parents who don’t have holistic vet clinics nearby.
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Animal Wellness
HIGHLIGHT
How ozone therapy helps dogs and cats
Innovative, effective and safe, ozone therapy is being used in veterinary medicine for everything from ear infections to cancer.
24 EMOTIONAL
32 NEWSWORTHY
Study reveals that dogs’ noses can detect heat Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell. But scientists have discovered their noses also have the ability to detect weak thermal radiation.
34 HEALTH ALERT
8 ways to care for your dog or cat during the pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has turned all our lives upside down. Here are some tips to help ensure your dog or cat stays safe and healthy during this challenging time.
WELL-BEING
36 EATING WELL
If you have two or more dogs, chances are they’ve made friends with each other…but what if they haven’t? Find out why they aren’t getting along, and how to resolve the conflict.
For a powerhouse of healing nutrition, mushrooms can’t be beat. Find out which varieties are good for your dog, and try the recipes!
When your dogs don’t get along
28 HERBS FOR HEALING
Top 6 herbs to relieve anxiety in cats
Thanks to their sensitive natures, cats are more prone to stress and anxiety than many other animals. From California poppy to valerian, these herbs help calm anxious kitties.
7 mushrooms you can share with your dog
50 FUN & GAMES Backyard play for dogs
Looking for at-home ways to keep your dog fit, active and happy? These backyard play ideas will get him going!
28
14 54 Q&A
65 FELINE HEALTH
73 CLEVER CATS
Seizures in dogs are scary, and there are many possible causes. CBD is showing promise as a way to help.
Has your cat just had surgery? This guide to caring for her will help ensure she makes a successful recovery.
Contrary to what many people think, clicker training isn’t just for dogs. Read on to learn how you can use this effective training tool with your cat.
Can CBD alleviate seizures in dogs?
58 THE GREAT
Caring for your cat after surgery
72 NEWSWORTHY
OUTDOORS
Dog people believe they’re happier than cat people
Choosing the right lifejacket for your dog
There are dozens of different doggie lifejackets available. Here’s how to choose the option that’s best for your canine companion!
Can I clicker train my cat?
76 FOCUS ON
Are you a cat person or dog person? According to this study, those who fall into the latter group are statistically happier!
FITNESS
4 simple stretches for dogs
Help keep your dog limber with these gentle stretches.
22 Departments 8 From the Editor 12 In the news 18 From the NASC 41 Business profile
— Nature’s Logic
45 Product picks
Social Media
49 Training tips 79 Marketplace 63 Summer specialties 80 Must reads 68 Wellness resource 81 Classifieds guide 70 Let's get social 71 Product profile —
82 To the rescue
StripHair Gentle Groomer
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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How your dog’s gut microbiome affects his behavior By Katie Kangas, DVM, CVA, CVCP
CANINE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS LIKE ANXIETY AND AGGRESSION CAN HAVE MANY CAUSES, AND AN OUT-OF-BALANCE MICROBIOME MAY BE ONE OF THEM. LEARN HOW YOUR DOG’S GUT HEALTH CAN INFLUENCE HIS BEHAVIOR. If you’ve been learning about your dog’s (or your own) microbiome, you may be familiar with the term “gutbrain axis”. Several years ago, medical scientists suggested the gut was the “second brain” because so many of the neurotransmitters used by the brain and nervous system are created in the gut. However, the latest research suggests the enteric system (gut) may actually be viewed as the first or primary brain. That’s because gut health and microbes influence mental condition and behaviors such as aggression and anxiety (as well as immune function and overall health) in both humans and animals. Let’s take a look at how your dog’s gut health can impact his behavior.
BACTERIA IN THE GUT COMMUNICATE WITH THE BRAIN Gut bacteria make chemicals that communicate with the brain through the nerves and hormones — this connection is called the gut-brain axis. In fact, it is now known that many key chemicals and hormones used by the brain and nervous system, such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA, are produced in the gut.
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Animal Wellness
Serotonin impacts mood and anxiety, and has actually been termed the “happy chemical” because it contributes to emotional well-being, while low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression. It is estimated that 70% of serotonin is made in the gut. Dopamine is involved in motor function, mood, decisionmaking, and the control of other hormones. Reports estimate that about 50% of dopamine is produced in the gastrointestinal tract by enteric neurons and intestinal cells. GABA regulates stress, anxiety and sleep patterns, and is known to be modulated by bacteria in the gut microbiome. To be clear, “microbiome” is the term used to describe the vast ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and viral organisms that live within the bodies of all other living organisms, including you and your dog. Our microbe populations actually far exceed the number of our cells. In fact, the number of microbial organisms living in just the intestinal environment is ten times greater than the number of cells in the host’s body!
Everybody’s microbiome is essentially like a fingerprint, unique to the individual, but animals within the same species will have many similarities. The more diverse the microbiome is, the healthier the person or animal will be!
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES ARE PART OF THE SCENARIO A recent blog from Animal Biome states: “clinical studies are finding that gut bacteria send important chemical messages to the brain, and these chemical messages can have a big impact on one’s mood”. These effects depend on which bacteria are in the gut, because different species make different chemicals. Certain bacteria make chemicals that have a calming effect, while others may promote depression and anxiety. Animal Biome offers fecal testing to analyze the microbiome status of dogs (and cats). I frequently recommend this type of testing for my patients, and the results often show a moderate to significant gut bacteria imbalance. Known as a dysbiosis, this imbalance is an underlying factor in many gastrointestinal diseases such as IBD, as well as systemic body problems like allergies. If a dysbiosis is identified, a fecal transplant treatment offers excellent therapeutic potential for repopulating the animal’s gut with good microbes, ultimately bringing his gut function and immune system into better balance. This type of testing and treatment is gaining more attention in the veterinary field, but its focus so far has been on disease issues related to the gut or immune system. However, new research may have us looking at fecal testing and transplant treatment for behavioral disorders as well. Continued on page 16.
MODERN FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES DAMAGE THE MICROBIOME
The microbiome’s diversity and balance determine much of the body’s gut function, immune system status, brain function, and even patterns of inflammation. A healthy microbiome depends on many factors — the type of diet and daily nutrients ingested, antibiotic exposure, leaky gut versus healthy gut, etc.
Antibiotic exposure is of huge concern. The use of antibiotics in the production of food animals greatly exceeds the known overuse of antibiotics in the medical industry (prescription medications). Added to that, we have the
use of Monsanto’s Round-Up, which is technically an antibiotic as well as a weedkiller. These modern day practices are depleting and/or causing an imbalance in the microbiomes of both people and their dogs.
We now understand that heavily processed foods (i.e. those treated with extreme or high heat) along with the
toxins in many foods, are causing gut inflammation and leaky gut syndrome, and altering the gut microbiome. New research points to the significance of high carbohydrate diets (which break down into sugars in the body), and how they are affecting the microbiome, when compared with evolutionary-appropriate meat-based diets.
In short, highly processed pet foods — i.e. heavily-heated foods with more carbohydrates than dogs were
designed to eat, along with antibiotics and toxins in the ingredients — are negatively affecting microbiome status and overall health.
Animal Wellness
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