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.

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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.”

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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.”
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Garner health officials issued a rabies notice Wednesday for residents and visitors in Wake County.

A case of rabies was confirmed Wednesday in a raccoon, and a dog was exposed to the virus, officials said. The dog had been vaccinated against rabies. Had the dog not been current with its vaccination, it would have been required to be quarantined for six months or perhaps euthanized, officials said.

“We don’t want to alarm residents in Garner, but they should be aware of this case and of the potential for exposure to themselves, family members and their pets,” said Gibbie Harris, Wake County community health director.
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Potential new cancer vaccine may help pets and people too!

Cancer is a scary word for everyone. Pet owners can be confronted with this frightening diagnosis in their pets as well. New research, though, may be providing a way to achieve victory over one deadly disease.

Melanomas are common skin cancers of people and are a type of cancer that we share with our dogs. Melanomas are considered to be an extremely dangerous type of cancer. Our canine companions can also develop the skin version of melanoma, but more often, develop a serious oral cancer known as Canine Malignant Melanoma, or CMM. This cancer is the most common oral cancer in dogs and accounts for about 5% of all canine cancers.

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Severe Health Threat to Dogs

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has recently been made aware of several complaints from pet owners and veterinarians that multiple brands of jerky treats manufactured in China have been making pets sick. Symptoms of illness have included vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. To their knowledge, no deaths have been reported.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently testing these treats to see if a contaminant can be found. So far they have ruled out melamine, one of the chemicals that led to the massive pet food recall this spring, but have yet to identify anything that might be making pets sick.

While a list of brand/product names of affected treats is not yet available, the AVMA has learned that all complaints have involved jerky treats from China. They recommend that pet owners use their best judgment in this matter and continue to consult their veterinarian updates.

Diplomats in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), who specialize in kidney and urinary tract disorders, had become aware of an unusual number of dogs with very similar presenting complaints and test results associated with dogs eating jerky treats from a variety of brands. No cats have been reported to date.

They report that these are typically small dogs that present with a history of vomiting, lethargy and a lack of appetite. They have all eaten jerky treats (mostly chicken jerky) within a few weeks prior to becoming ill. Physical examination has been relatively unremarkable. Blood chemistry tests in many of the cases has revealed low potassium and mildly increased liver enzymes. Blood gas analysis indicated acidosis. Urine tests have consistently shown sugar in the urine and granular casts. These findings suggested an acquired Fanconi syndrome. Fanconi tests on urine, when submitted, have been positive. The Metabolic Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania can run urine screens for generalized amino aciduria and lactic aciduria tests of Fanconi Syndrome and other causes of PRTA. The most common severe abnormalities appear to be acidosis and low potassium, which is called hypokalemia. Liberal potassium supplementation appears to be warranted during hospitalization and often needs to be continued once pets return home. Most of the dogs did not require long term bicarbonate supplementation, although this should be considered based on repeated blood gas analyses. Kidney failure does not appear to be a consistent finding and therefore cases may be missed in the absence of a urinalysis.

The vast majority of dogs have recovered from their acute disease. All clinical signs of disease including sugar in the urine, which is called glycosuria, have resolved in many of the patients within a few weeks.

The cause of this kidney and gastro-intestinal toxicity remains under investigation. Veterinarians should seek a thorough dietary history including treats when presented with a dog presenting with a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhea or dogs with signs of increased drinking and/or urination. Diagnostics should include a general blood screen and urinalysis. Treatment consisting of supportive care, Electrolyte and blood gas monitoring should be used if this acquired Fanconi syndrome is identified.

For further recommendations and assistance on a case by case basis, veterinarians and owners may wish to consult a small animal internist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in their community.

Personally, I’ll remember this year as the year pet food got turned upside down..

First, the massive pet food scare and then lead-contaminated children’s toys really shed a poor light on Chinese imports.

Now according to both Consumer Reports and the American Veterinary Medical Association, there may be even more to worry about. In September of this year, a Consumer Reports article revealed the presence of lead and other toxic chemicals in cat and dog toys manufactured in China and distributed in the United States by Wal-Mart stores.

Then in late November, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released a press statement confirming that lead had indeed been identified in pet toys for sale in other unnamed U.S. stores.

According to the AVMA, testing was conducted by two independent laboratories: Trace Laboratories Inc. in Illinois and ExperTox Analytical Laboratories in Texas. The AVMA report indicated lead was identified in multiple toys, and that toy had an astronomical level of 30,000 parts per million (ppm). In children’s toys, the maximum amount of lead permissible is 600 ppm. No standard yet exists for pet toys.

Two other dangerous chemicals, chromium and cadmium, were also detected in the tests conducted by ExperTox. According to the laboratory’s spokesman and director, Dr. Ernest Lykissa, Ph.D., chromium is a known carcinogen and cadmium can adversely affect kidney and lung function. Though no recalls are pending, the AVMA is recommending manufacturers voluntarily test pet toys and inform consumers of their findings.

As a veterinarian, I see that the danger isn’t just the elevated lead levels. There are still other common sources of lead in our environment. To me, the real danger rests in the fact these toys are being licked, chewed and often ingested. All this serves to increase exposure greatly.

Lead poisoning, though not particularly common, is still a dangerous medical condition. Lead is a heavy metal that remains in body tissues and accumulates as time passes with repeated exposure. It’s this staying power that makes lead so dangerous.

Once lead reaches dangerous levels in the body, it can cause serious neurological symptoms including tremors, seizures and death in both humans and animals.

Milder exposure is known to cause learning disabilities in children. Although no study has been done, it’s logical to assume that it can affect cognitive function in pets as well.

Many years ago, chipped lead paint ingestion was the major culprit for child and pet exposure. Thankfully most modern homes are free of lead paint and testing is readily available for the owners of older homes.

Since pet toys are primarily designed to go into the mouth, exposure is a major concern of pet owners. Not only are pets playing with these toys, but so are their child companions. It has been reported that in cases of lead poisoning in pets, owners can also be found to have increased blood lead levels.

Since no government agency exists to regulate lead in pet toys what’s a pet owner to do?

Some manufacturers of pet toys, like the wildly popular Kong Chew Toys, voluntarily test their products for lead levels. Since all the implicated toys so far have come from China, another piece of advice is to simply avoid buying pet toys imported from China until a resolution has been achieved.

I know I will be very careful about what types of pet food I carry and recommend to my clients this year.
Visit http://www.DrCarol.com or call veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne toll free at 1-866-372-2765for more information.

What are omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fats, one of four basic types of fats that animals and humans derive from food. (Cholesterol, saturated fat, and monounsaturated fat are the others.) All polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3s, are increasingly recognized as being important to good health. Some doctors and scientists believe that consuming too many foods rich in saturated fats attributes to the development of degenerative diseases, including heart disease and even cancer. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, however, are healthy for animals and humans. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found primarily in cold-water fish, fall into this category, along with omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in grains, most plant-based oils, poultry and eggs.

Why are omega-3 fatty acids important?
Omega-3s (and one omega-6) are considered important fatty acids because they are critical for good health. They are essential building blocks your dog and cat needs for a healthy heart and strong immune system. Grizzly Salmon Oil supplies a variety of different omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA, making it the best source of these nutrients.

There are different types of omega-3 fatty acids.
Key Omega-3 fatty acids include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both found primarily in oily cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. Aside from fresh seaweed, plant foods rarely contain EPA or DHA. A third omega-3, called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), is found primarily in dark green leafy vegetables, flaxseed oil and certain vegetable oils. ALA is not readily accessible to animals, which must use several enzymatic steps in their metabolism to convert it into a useful configuration like EPA. Thus, scientists estimate that only a small fraction of ALA benefits dogs; and cats totally lack one of the metabolic enzymes to utilize ALA. Some dogs, too are extremely poor in utilizing ALA, especially if high amounts of metabolically “competitive” Omega -6 fatty acids are present. These poor dogs constantly suffer with skin problems unless their food is supplemented with EPA from e.g. salmon oil.

Heart disease and omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve heart health in dogs, cats and humans. They play a part in keeping cholesterol levels low, stabilizing irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and reducing blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids are also natural blood thinners, reducing the “stickiness” of blood cells (called platelet aggregation), which can lead to such complications as blood clots and stroke.

Specifically, two papers reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with investigators from the University of California at San Francisco have shown levels of omega-3 fatty acids to be inversely correlated with the risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke.

Salmon Oil, when used as directed, is naturally balanced to deliver a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help your dog or cat avoid arthritis and stiff joints
As dogs and cats’ age, their movement may become labored, their joints may stiffen and they may suffer from arthritis. These signs of inflammation can make them less comfortable and can greatly limit the amount of exercise they get. Scientific studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness and overall fatigue. Numerous studies report that participants with inflammatory diseases who ingest omega-3s are more successful in combating arthritis.

Help your dog or cat stay happy with omega-3 fatty acids
“Fatty acids contained in fish such as salmon may prove to function as nature’s own anti-depressants,” says a study of 30 patients conducted by a research team headed by Andrew Stoll, M.D., director of the pharmacology research laboratory at Harvard University. The university’s McLean Hospital found that some of the patients’ symptoms of manic depression responded favorably to treatment with fish oil supplements.

Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University in Toyama, Japan, showed one omega-3 acid, DHA, to prevent an increase in extra aggression during periods of stress.

Omega-3 fatty acids, both DHA and EPA, are found in fatty fish, including salmon and cod. They may work by increasing serotonin levels, thus boosting neurotransmitter activity, as do anti-depressants such as Prozac. They may also help by restocking the outer brain cells, which receive chemical signals.

Additional benefits of omega fatty acids:  

Medical research shows omega fatty acids have health benefits.
Scientists made one of the first associations between omega-3 fatty acids and good health while studying the Inuit (Eskimo) people of Greenland in the 1970s. As a group, the Inuit suffered far less from certain diseases (coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis) than their European counterparts. Yet their diet is very high in fat from eating whale, seal, salmon and other fish.Eventually researchers realized that these foods were all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provided real disease-countering benefits.

Omega 3’s help prevent discomforts related to inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Raynaud’s disease and other autoimmune diseases greatly decrease quality of life. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oils) have been shown to increase survival in people with autoimmune diseases. This is probably because the omega-3s help the arteries - as well as many other parts of the body - stay inflammation free. EPA and DHA are successful at this because they can be converted into natural anti-inflammatory substances called prostaglandins and leukotrienes, compounds that help decrease inflammation and pain. In 1998, an exciting review of well-designed, randomized clinical trials reported that omega-3 fatty acids were more successful than a placebo (”dummy drug”) in improving the condition of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The research also showed that getting more omega-3 fatty acids enabled some participants to reduce their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it pulled two Chinese-made dog treats from its shelves nearly a month ago, and tests now show they had traces of melamine, a chemical found in pet food that was blamed for the deaths of pets and led to a massive recall earlier this year.

The two types of dog treats — Chicken Jerky Strips manufactured by Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky manufactured by Shanghai Bestro Trading — were removed from its stores on July 26, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said in a statement. One dog has already died and Salmonella contamination is now thought to be the culprit.

After 17 sets of tests, “the latest advice from our testing laboratory shows trace levels of melamine,” Galberth said.

The products will not be sold anymore, and a computerized block has been placed on the product at cash registers as an added precaution, Galberth said.

The Associated Press reported earlier that Wal-Mart had removed those two types of dog treats last month after customers complained that the products had made their pets sick.

Earlier this year, thousands of people flooded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with complaints of animals becoming ill or dying after consuming certain pet foods.

The result was a recall of hundreds of brands of China-made pet food containing wheat gluten found to be tainted with melamine. That was followed by several others ranging from tires and toothpaste to toys and medicines.

The latest in the line of Chinese product safety scares is disposable chopsticks — a Beijing factory sold up to 100,000 pairs a day without any form of disinfecting, the Beijing News reported.