CONTENTS Winter 2021
34 Features 14
ow epigenetics can improve H your dog or cat’s health Epigenetics is a new science that demonstrates a link between the lifestyle choices you make for your dog or cat (and yourself!), and how her genes express themselves.
34 Festive recipes for dogs
Including your dog in your seasonal festivities? These healthy and delicious recipes will fill him with comfort and joy any time of the year!
Teach your dog to enjoy 50 car rides!
While many dogs love “going for drives”, others may find it stressful. Here’s how to teach your dog to enjoy car rides, whatever his age.
68 Pet services galore!
From mobile groomers to animal photographers, there are all kind of pet service providers and professionals out there. Let’s take a look!
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Animal Wellness
Columns 10 EMOTIONAL
23 IN THE STARS
WELL-BEING
How do sounds affect your dog or cat? Your dog or cat’s sense of hearing is very sensitive, so he can be stressed by sounds you may not even be aware of. How to create a soothing soundscape for him in your home.
18 HYGIENE HINTS
Could your dog’s bowl make him sick?
Your dog’s food and water bowls may harbor bacteria that can make him sick. Along with daily washing, choosing the right type of bowl helps minimize the risk.
20 ANIMAL
ACUPRESSURE
Does your dog have separation anxiety? Acupressure can help!
Separation anxiety is common in dogs, and is even more of an issue as people head out into the world again. Find out how acupressure can help ease your dog’s fear of being left alone.
What’s your dog or cat’s astrological sign? Finding out may help you understand him better!
24 FELINE HEALTH
Brachycephalic cats: what you need to know Brachycephalic cats, such as Persians and Himalayans, have flat faces that predispose to them to certain health issues.
28 NATURAL
SUPPLEMENTS
Top basic supplements for dogs and cats
The market is awash in pet supplements, so it can be hard to know what your dog or cat really needs. Here’s an overview of the top basic supplements he should have.
32 KNOW YOUR CAT Why does your cat stare at you?
Does your feline friend constantly challenge you to staring contests? Here’s why!
14 40 SELF CARE
Top 5 ways your dog or cat can help you de-stress We’re living in stressful times. But the good news is that our dogs and cats can help significantly lower our stress levels — check out the top five ways they do it!
42 Q&A
BEHAVIOR
Should your cat sleep on your bed? Few things are more cuddly than a slumbering cat. Let’s look at the pros and cons of allowing your kitty to sleep on your bed at night.
TCVM food therapy for dogs and cats We know the right foods improve and maintain health in dogs and cats, but Chinese medicine goes several steps further. Understanding food therapy from a TCVM perspective.
46 FELINE
ON CBD
CBD for pet anxiety and behavior Find out why CBD is the Swiss army knife of herbal supplements for anxiety and behavior issues in dogs and cats.
54 YOUR
RESCUE DOG
Adopting a special needs animal
If you’re adopting a dog or cat with special needs, there are a few things to consider first. Here’s how to help ensure the best possible outcome for you and your new best friend.
56 SAFETY FIRST
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63 FOCUS
Do dogs and toddlers mix?
The short answer is yes, but when dogs and toddlers spend time together, it’s vitally important to make safety a top priority.
64 ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
How Reiki helps heal shelter animals
Dogs and cats often arrive at shelters in a rough state, due to neglect or abuse. Reiki can help ease their fears and anxieties and even support veterinary care.
74 HEALTH WATCH
Using essential oils with cats Many people believe essential oils and cats do not mix, But top quality oils, used properly, can be profoundly healing for our feline friends.
78 AT HOME
Moving house?
5 steps to make the move easier on your dog or cat.
Departments 7 Editorial 33 From the NASC
53 Recall roundup
79 Winter spotlights
60 Newsworthy
80 Classifieds
38 Holiday gift
61 Business profile —
48 AW Academy
62 Let’s get social!
81 Events
66 Product picks
82 Newsworthy
guide
product reviews
Social Media
Champion Petfoods
81 Marketplace
Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
Nutrition videos, recipes and more! Animal Wellness Magazine
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
Animal Wellness
5
NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
Top
basic supplements for dogs and cats
D gs Cats
The market is awash in pet supplements, so if you’re having a hard time figuring out what your dog or cat really needs, it’s not surprising. Here’s an overview of the top basic supplements every dog or cat should have.
By Shawn Messonnier, DVM
The foundation of any health care program for dogs and cats, regardless of age and breed, is a healthy diet, wellchosen and appropriate supplements, minimal vaccines and medications, and veterinary check-ups. Regular testing can help diagnose disease in its early stages, and allow for any tweaking of diet and supplements. This article features my basic supplement approach to the healthy dog or cat. Basic supplements include a vitaminmineral product that also provides immune and antioxidant support, a fatty acid, and an enzyme and probiotic combination. For older animals, a choline supplement should be added, as it may delay the onset of cognitive disorder.
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Animal Wellness
1. VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND JOINT SUPPORT The first basic supplement contains vitamins and minerals, as well as small amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support. We use a product in my own line called Advanced Revitalizing Formula. It provides extra vitamins and minerals in addition to those found in the diet, while also supporting digestion, skin and coat health, and overall wellness.
2. ENZYMES AND PROBIOTICS Another favored nutraceutical at my practice is an enzyme-probiotic combination:
• Traditionally, enzymes are used in supplemental form to improve or increase digestion and nutrient absorption. Enzymes used to aid in digestion and absorption include proteases to break down proteins; carbohydrases (such as amylase), which break down carbohydrates; and lipases for breaking down fats. Digestive enzymes are very specific as to the types of food they break down, as well as the conditions under which they work. D igestive enzymes can be derived from pancreatic, plant, or microbial sources (e.g. bacteria or fungi). While pancreatic enzymes exert their actions mainly in the small intestines, plant
and microbial enzymes begin digesting foods immediately after ingestion (and even likely before ingestion if the food-enzyme combination has incubated for several minutes prior to being consumed). Supplemental enzymes of animal origin (pancreatic) are only active in the alkaline pH of the intestine, and may be permanently inactivated or denatured in the lower pH of the stomach, whereas microbial and plant enzymes survive the acid environment of the stomach and are also active at a low pH. Supplemental enzymes aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, especially when the body’s digestive processes become exhausted or inefficient, such as during periods of stress or disease (especially diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including acute gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, liver disease, and inflammatory bowel disease).
u know?
Did yo
Enzymes may also be helpful for cancer, allergies, and arthritis.
• Probiotics are living, non-harmful (and actually healthy) bacteria and yeasts, many of which are a part of the dog or cat’s GI microbiome. Probiotics can
CBD…
the newer kid on the block
I’m often asked about CBD oil as an added supplement to my basic regimen. While the science of CBD supplementation is beyond the scope of this article, I love using CBD oil for a variety of health issues, such as seizures, pain relief, and cancer. I also believe it may offer health benefits to older patients as a daily supplement (further research may help verify this). Remember that not all CBD products are created equal. There are a lot of low quality products out there, which is unfortunately not surprising amid the rush to make money from the current popularity of CBD. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about the possible use of CBD for your own dog or cat.
assist with healing in a variety of ways, including the production of healthy fatty acids, decreased attachment of harmful bacteria and yeasts to the intestinal walls, increased antibody production, immune support, the restoration of healthy GI flora, and inflammation reduction. As a result, probiotics are useful for treating dogs and cats with a variety of medical problems, including leaky gut syndrome, acute non-specific gastroenteritis, antibiotic or other medication-induced diarrhea (from NSAIDs, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, etc.), allergies, stress, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, high cholesterol levels, inflammatory and irritable bowel disorders, GI infections and parasite infestations. Probiotics may also be helpful for middle-aged and older dogs and cats, since GI microbial diversity diminishes with aging.
3. FATTY ACIDS A good fatty acid (fish oil) supplement is also important. There are many brands on the market; I prefer those that offer the flexibility of providing the supplement either as a liquid (pump) or gel capsule. Fish oil is a popular source of Omega-3 fatty acids; the active ingredients in fish oil are