First class passengers would have participated in an informal dog show on RMS Titanic on 12th April 1915 if the ship had not gone down. Quite a number...
Vitamins Minerals Foods that Support Oral Health in Dogs
A dogs genetics help to determine the strength of their teeth and bones. Some dogs have naturally strong teeth, while others have chalky, softer teeth. While all dogs require sufficient oral health-supporting vitamins and minerals in their daily diet - some dogs may require more than the average quantity to ensure good oral health is maintained.
Although commercial dog kibble does have added vitamins and minerals, the amount provided kibble product varies by manufacturer, brand and type. Kibble alone may not provide enough of the right vitamins and minerals /to meet your dog’s daily quota for achieving good oral health. You can augment your dog’s daily intake of critical vitamins and minerals by providing them with:
- A supplement designed specifically for canines, and/or;
- Supplement your dog’s daily diet with fresh, whole foods (including some dairy, fruit and vegetables) that are good for your dog and are rich in oral health and immune system supporting vitamins and minerals.
An added bonus - whole, fresh crunchy food such as whole carrots, parsnips and sliced pieces of apple help scrub your dog’s teeth clean!
Calcium (mineral)
A dog’s teeth and jaws are comprised primarily of calcium. When there is not enough calcium in a dog’s diet the risk of developing periodontitis increases. Calcium is best when combined with phosphorus and Vitamin D (see Phosphorus and Vitamin D rich foods below).
- Cheese - Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, Provolone;
- Dark green leafy vegetables, collard greens, spinach, 6broccoli;
- Kelp (also has many other health benefits);
- Yogurt (plain, unsweetened).
Iron (mineral)
Not enough iron can cause inflammation of the tongue and the formation of sores in the mouth. Tip - vitamin C helps the body better absorb iron.
Dark green leafy vegetables, collard greens, spinach, broccoli (broccoli should not exceed more than 1/10th of the dog’s daily food intake);
- 3Eggs;
- 4Liver;
- Red Meat;
- Turkey or Chicken giblets;
Phosphorus
Calcium requires phosphorus to maximize calcium’s’ bone strengthening benefits. The following foods are high in phosphorus. Combine some high calcium and high phosphorus as a little meal on its own or mixed in with your dog’s kibble.
- Cheese - Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, Provolone;
- Chicken
- 1Garlic
- Flax Seeds (ground not whole)
- Meat
Turkey - 2Salmon, halibut, herring
- Wheat Germ
Vitamin B Complex
(B1 thiamine + B2 riboflavin + B3 niacin + B5 pantothenic acid +B6 pyridoxine + biotin + folic acid + B12 cobalamins)
B complex vitamins are essential for oral health. A deficiency of these vitamins can cause a variety of oral health problems, including bleeding gums and inflammation. The following foods are high in B complex vitamins:
- Cheese;
- Chicken;
- Dark leafy greens (kale, spinach);
- 3Eggs;
- 2Fish;
- 4Liver;
- Peanuts, peanut butter (use only human grade, as non-human grade can have aflitoxins which are carcinogenic)
- Yogurt
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is required for the development of collagen - a substance that gives cell tissue strength and elasticity - both attributes are very important for healthy gums. The following foods are high in vitamin C:
- 5Bell Pepper - all colours
- 6Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Clementines
- Dark leafy greens (kale, mustard greens, garden cress)
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Parsley
- Strawberries
- Tangerines
Vitamin D
Vitamin D regulates the body’s balance of calcium and phosphorus; helps with the absorption of calcium; helps protect against inflammation; protects and lubricates bones and teeth. The following foods are high in vitamin D:
- Beef;
- 3Eggs;
- 2Herring;
- 4Liver;
- 2Mackerel;
- 2Salmon;
- 2Sardines;
- 2Tuna (don’t use albacore tuna - as it is high in mercury);
- Swiss Cheese.
Five to seven million companion animals arrive at animal shelters in the US each year, and about half of these are animals being surrendered by their owners. Why do people surrender their pets? To find out, a new study by Jennifer Kwan and Melissa Bain compared dogs being relinquished at three Sacramento animal shelters to those dogs that were there simply to receive their vaccinations.
The experimenter spent time at the shelters during the hours when relinquishments could take place, and when vaccination clinics were available. She approached people to ask them to complete the questionnaires, which were available in English or Spanish. A total of 129 people took part; 80 relinquishing owners, and 49 continuing owners.
Some people were not approached to take part because their dogs seemed to be aggressive, and the experimenter would have had to hold them while the owner completed the questionnaire. In addition, if relinquishing owners seemed particularly upset or arrived requesting euthanasia of the dog, they were not asked to take part, so as not to exacerbate their distress. It is possible this had an effect on the results.
The questionnaire asked about demographic information, attachment to the pet, behavioural problems, and, in the case of relinquished dogs, the reasons why. Participants could rate potential reasons for relinquishment as ‘not a reason’, ‘somewhat of a reason’ and ‘strong reason’, so it was possible for multiple reasons to be given. The results from the three shelters were combined for analysis.
Relinquished dogs and ‘continuing’ dogs were equally likely to have attended training classes. The relinquished dogs were significantly more likely to live as outside dogs all of the time, and were significantly older; amongst the male dogs, they were significantly more likely to be intact.
Relinquishing and continuing owners were equally likely to have used punishment-based techniques in training their dogs. There was a correlation between the use of prong and choke collars and problems in loose-leash walking. However, it is not possible to know if these were only employed because of difficulties training loose-leash walking, or if they contributed to the problems, for example by misuse or by owners assuming they didn’t need to train if using them.
Dogs in the relinquished group were significantly more likely to have problem behaviours than those that were being kept. Sixty-five per cent of relinquishing owners said that a behavioural problem was a contributing factor, and about half said it was a relatively strong influence. Aggression was the most common behavioural problem given as a strong reason for relinquishment.
Attachment to pets is a construct that includes knowledge about the pet’s needs, feelings of closeness to the pet, and time spent with them. Attachment scores were significantly lower for relinquishing owners compared to continuing owners. Although not surprising, this is the first time it has been shown using a standard measure of attachment. It would be interesting to know how attachment changes and develops over the duration of an owner’s relationship with their pet.
About a third of owners said they were ‘very satisfied’ with their dog’s behaviour. Those who were not so satisfied also had significantly lower scores for attachment, suggesting a link between behaviour and attachment to dogs.
Although moving house was a common reason for animal relinquishment, many people had other pets that weren’t being relinquished. This doesn’t mean they gave incorrect information; many rental properties have rules about the number, height or breed of pets. This is also a potential reason for the numbers of pit bulls in the relinquished group, because they are often listed as one of the restricted breeds. While it is surprising to learn that people might relinquish some pets and choose to keep others, it is useful to know as future studies can make a point of learning about kept animals as well as relinquished ones.
The most interesting finding of this study is the frequency of behavioural problems as a reason for relinquishment. This is not surprising, but it underlines the need to help owners find better ways of preventing problems in the first place and managing them if they arise. Surprisingly little is known about peoples information-seeking regarding behaviour and training issues, and unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation.
What are your favourite books or other resources for dog owners? (N.B. Please avoid posting active links because urls usually end up in the spam folder. Thank you!)
Reference
Kwan, J., & Bain, M. (2013). Owner Attachment and Problem Behaviors Related to Relinquishment and Training Techniques of Dogs Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16 (2), 168-183 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2013.768923
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Aloe Vera Juice Herbs for Dogs and Cats
 |
| Safe to use as a short-term or long-term daily dietary supplement, alternative medicine for most dogs and cats. |
In this article - Aloe Vera Juice
1. Health Benefits
2. Dosage
3. Cautions
4. Side Effects
5. Drug Interactions
6. Daily Dietary Dosage
1. Benefits – a partial list…
- Digestive Health
- Aloe Vera contains nutrient compounds that help in the healing and soothing of:
- The digestive tract...
- Helps enable healing and repair of ulcers in both the stomach and the intestines;
- Decreases inflammation resulting from:
- Asthma;
- Arthritis;
- Colitis;
- Diabetes;
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and;
- Other inflammatory GI tract conditions;
- Treating side effects of some radiation treatments.
- Immune System Health
- Aloe vera has properties that are:
- Antibacterial;
- Antifungal;
- Antiviral.
- Detoxer
- Aloe vera is a natural detox aid that helps the body to eliminate toxins and foreign pathogens.
- Heart Benefits
- Improves blood circulation throughout the body;
- Can help to reduce fat in cases of bad high levels of bad cholesterol – reducing fatty deposits and blood clots, found to have the most efficacy in cases with diabetes;
2. Dosage…
For daily use as a supplement with food:
- Add to food once a day;
- Small size dogs and cats - 1 tbs;
- Medium size dogs - 1/8 cup
- Large size dogs - 1/4 cup
- X-Large dogs - 1/3 to 1/2 cup
3. Cautions...
- Use only 100% pure food grade Aloe Vera Juice intended for internal consumption by humans;
- Do not give to pregnant or lactating dog or cats;
- Do not give to puppies 6 months of age or younger;
- Do not use aloe latex as an ingested treatment for dogs or cats.
4. Side effects…
- In rare cases a dog or cat may heightened sensitivity to aloe, in which case aloe vera juice can cause diarrhea – stop use if your dog or cat gets diarrhea from ingesting aloe vera juice.
- Remove aloe vera juice from the diet two weeks prior to a scheduled surgery as its presence could interfere with blood sugar control during surgery.
5. Drug Interactions…
- May increase blood sugar lowering effects of some diabetes medications – extra monitoring of blood sugar levels should be undertaken and adjustment of medications may be required;
- May cause potassium loss if taken with diuretics for heart conditions;
- Aloe interacts with:
- Anti-diabetic drugs;
- Blood thinners;
- Diuretics;
- Some stimulant laxatives (i.e. digoxin).
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- Unbiased Diet, Nutrition, Product Advice - information and payment here >>.
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