People and pets are both suffering from expanding waistlines. It’s a fact that nearly half of America is overweight, and today that statistic holds true for pets as well.
Of the 41 million pet dogs in this country, about 50 percent are either overweight or obese.
That fat cat or chubby Chihuahua may seem cute and cuddly. But overweight and obese pets, just like their human counterparts, are at risk for a host of diseases and could be en route to an early grave.
Dr. Carol Osborne offers pet lovers worldwide up to date, accurate and factual information regarding the pet food recall. She realizes that during this time of confusion pet owners are likely seeking out whatever information that they can find in attempt to do what is best for their pet. It is in this light that she presents the following update for pet owners. Her constant recommendation however is to call your local family veterinarian. They are the best suited to help guide you through this confusing period.
Timeline:
Friday, March 16th: Menu Foods announces recall of “cuts and gravy type” of diets due to reports of kidney failure and deaths in a small number of cats and one dog. More than 60 million cans representing more than 90 brands of food are affected by the recall. Premium diets like Iams and Hill’s as well as brands as diverse as Ol’ Roy and other mass market brands were all included. According to Menu Foods, affected products were manufactured between the dates of December 3rd, 2006 and March 6th, 2007. Initial reports pinpointed wheat gluten from a new supplier as the potential cause of the recall.
A complete list of the affected foods can be found at www.menufoods.com/recall. Also check www.fda.gov.
For at least the last 15-20 years, the word antioxidant has become part of the vernacular. Today, their importance has by no means diminished; rather antioxidants are recognized as one of the most important weapons in the fight against disease.
All of the physiological processes in pets and people require oxygen, and it is this that gives us energy. However, by-products of burning oxygen form in the body, similar to the sparks given off by a fire. These little sparks are commonly known as free radicals. Antioxidants have the ability to counteract the damaging effects of these everyday physiological processes. They are the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that play a vital role in preventing the onset of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (Alzheimer’s disease), arthritis, allergies and cataracts.
Your pet’s bodies undergo oxidative stress when the capability of these antioxidants is eclipsed by the number of free radicals being produced. Free radicals are the major cause of aging and degenerative disease in people and pets. They are continually formed in the body as part of normal biological processes, however, other factors contribute to an overload of free radicals, such as pesticides, cigarette smoke, pollution, alcohol and foods that are fried at high temperatures, or burnt.
The results of a new study conducted by researchers in France suggest that selenium levels decrease with age, which may contribute to a loss of neurological abilities in elderly pets and people.
Because “oxidative stress” is one cause of brain impairment, “selenium, which is an antioxidant, may protect against cognitive decline, says Ohio based veterinarian Dr. Carol Osborne, a Board Certified Anti-Aging Diplomat for pets.
Cognitive function refers to how the brain processes information, and includes functions such as comprehension, recognition, memory and learning, abilities that may be lost in dementia.
Her research recruited 150 canine subjects between 1998 and 2001 for a 5-year study with 6 follow-up periods. At study entry, the dogs ranged in age from 7 to 11 years and provided information on environmental factors, breed and demographic factors and underwent tests to assess cognitive function. Overall, 120 dogs completed the study.
At study entry, the average selenium levels in the blood were 0.05 micromoles per liter — and the average levels decreased by the end of the study. However, declines were not seen in all dogs.
The report indicates that cognitive decline was associated with decreases of selenium over time, after accounting for other risk factors. Dogs with the highest levels of selenium loss had a higher probability of cognitive decline.
For dogs with increases in selenium levels, those with the smallest increases had a higher rates of cognitive decline compared with those with the largest selenium increases. No association was found between short-term selenium changes and cognitive changes.
These findings, along with information on the relationship between brain functions and selenoproteins, proteins containing selenium, support a relationship between selenium levels and cognitive function in elderly dogs, Osborne’s team concludes.
The ability of selenium supplements to protect against the loss of cognitive function in elderly dogs needs to be evaluated in a large clinical trial, the researcher suggests. “This dynamic approach could shed new light on the potential benefits of proper vitamin supplementation.”
Mice resistant to cancer have been created in a breakthrough that could lead to a treatment free of side-effects for people and pets. A protein produced by the mice may hold the key to a future therapy. It attacks tumor cells, but does not harm healthy tissue in the body. Scientists hope it can one day be adapted for use in humans, and pets saving them the pain, and suffering usually associated with cancer treatments.
The breakthrough hinges on a mouse gene called Par-4, which produces the protein. U.S. researchers genetically engineered a group of mice to have higher levels of the protein than normal. These creatures were found to be immune to many forms of the disease, such as cancer of the liver and prostate, the journal Cancer Research reports.
Tests suggest the protein could also beat off breast, pancreatic and head and neck cancers. Crucially, the animals did not suffer any visible side-effects, the U.S. scientists said. In Britain, more than 280,000 of us are diagnosed with cancer each year - and 150,000 die.
There have recently been reports in the media linking exposure to flame retardants and Thyroid Disease in cats. Specifically, they have been associated with Hyperthyroidism, a disease in which the thyroid gland overproduces thyroid hormone, affecting many of the cat’s body systems, such as digestion and immune function. Hyperthyroidism occurs in older cats with benign tumors or nodules on their thyroid glands. These cats have voracious appetites yet, lose weight to the point of becoming emaciated. They also develop scruffy, poor hair coats, and often suffer with vomiting and/or diarrhea. There has been an increase in the number of cases of feline hyperthyroidism diagnosed over the last thirty years. Veterinary experts have been unable to pinpoint the reason for this increase but cats that live indoors and eat canned cat food are at higher risk for developing hyperthyroidism.
Since cancer cells grow on carbohydrates, we reduce the carbohydrates as much as possible, to retard the growth of the cancer and we replace the carbohydrates with fat to supply appropriate energy needs for the dog.
4 oz Pork Back Fat (boiled, baked or fried in olive oil)
4 oz Tofu (firm soybean curd)
2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Whole Carrots (boiled and then cut up)
1 cup Spinach (cooked)
4 Tbs Green Bell Pepper (chopped and steamed)
4 Broccoli Spears (boiled and then cut up)
2 Sardines (in olive oil, drained)
2 cloves raw Garlic (crushed and added before serving)
1 tsp dry, ground Ginger (added before serving)
½ tsp dry, yellow Mustard (added before serving)
A mouse resistant to cancer, even highly-aggressive types, has been created by researchers at the University of Kentucky. The breakthrough stems from a discovery by UK College of Medicine professor of radiation medicine Vivek Rangnekar and a team of researchers who found a tumor-suppressor gene called "Par-4" in the prostate.
The researchers discovered that the Par-4 gene kills cancer cells, but not normal cells. There are very few molecules that specifically fight against cancer cells, giving it a potentially therapeutic application.
Rangnekar’s study is unique in that mice born with this gene are not developing tumors. The mice grow normally and have no defects. In fact, the mice possessing Par-4 actually live a few months longer than the control animals, indicating that they have no toxic side effects.
Recalled foods found to contain deadly combination
Veterinary Toxicologists at UC Davis have discovered the toxicity of the chemicals behind the deaths of approximately 16 pets in the United States this year. The pilot study conducted in April and May of 2007 found that a combination of melamine and cyanuric acid caused cats in their study to experience acute kidney failure.
The two chemicals, found in nearly 60 million packages of recalled pet food in March of 2007, have been added as a source of protein in some brands of pet food, but until recently had not been tested for their toxicity.
“There were no published reports of toxicity studies examining the combined effects of melamine and cyanuric acid in any animal species,” said director of the study and associate professor of Veterinary Toxicology Birgit Puschner. “We needed to determine with certainty whether or not melamine or cyanuric acid alone or in combination, could cause renal disease.”
As with humans, beloved household pets can also develop cancer in the breast tissue — known in animals as mammary cancer. In fact, cancer is the No. 1 natural cause of death in older pets.
But with a little know-how, animal owners can help catch tumors before they become deadly.
“It’s a fairly common cancer, especially in unspayed female dogs and cats,” said Gerald Post, a veterinary oncologist at the Veterinary Oncology and Hematology Center in Norwalk, Conn. “It’s important for owners to spay female animals before the animal first goes into heat, because each following heat cycle increases the risk of developing the cancer.”
Read the rest of this entry »
PAAWS™ is a revolutionary vitamin system for your dog. Developed by skilled veterinarian Dr Carol Osborne, PAAWS combines all-natural ingredients with the proven benefits of essential Vitamins and Minerals.
Pet Click Here for My Free Six-Page Supplement Product Comparison Guide (PDF). This detailed special report includes a three-page ingredient comparison!
Order Dr. Carol's Naturally Healthy Dogs. The book that tells you of how to keep your dog in tip-top condition by treating common problems in dogs.
Includes an in-depth review of your pet's medical history, records, blood tests, x-rays and other test results. Dr. Carol personally reviews your pet’s records and will consult with you by telephone at a mutually agreeable time.
Recent Comments