Today is Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Just as humans are urged to be prepared for natural disasters at all times, it is equally important that we remember to prepare for our four legged family members who cannot fend for themselves in a time of crisis. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Department of Homeland Security want pet owners to be aware of how to properly plan for emergencies for all of your family members.

A few weeks ago, I shared with you tips for ensuring your pet’s safety during a tornado. FEMA and US DHS offer tips for not only dealing with tornadic emergencies, but also hurricanes, pandemics, and other natural disasters. The number one tip is to never evacuate your home and leave your pets behind. Because many shelters do not allow pets during a disaster, it’s important to learn the rules before a crisis arrives. Pet owners must always have a “back up plan” in case the rules change!

Additional tips include what to include in a pet emergency supply kit, tips for identification, and other useful information. To see the public service announcement about Animal Disaster Preparedness, look here. For additional information on how to plan for your pets in case of natural disasters, check out the Ready website.

Holistic veterinarian and pet health researcher,  Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., is available for pet health questions and pet health consultations for dogs and/ or cats.
Contact Dr. Carol’s veterinary office toll free at 1-866-372-2765 to make an appointment for your dog and/or cat today.

Missouri based Diamond Pet Foods has issued a voluntary recall of one run of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food. After one bag of the dog food tested positive for salmonella, the company announced a recall of four production codes as a preventative measure. A health alert was issued, but at this time there are no reports of sickness in dogs.

Diamond Pet Foods is no stranger to recalls, as this is the second dog food recall within a month. Earlier this month the company announced a recall of certain batches of their Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice product, also due to salmonella contamination. Production at the processing plant in Gaston, South Carolina was suspended two days after the first recall – the same processing plant where mold contamination in dog food was responsible for the deaths of many dogs nationwide in 2005.

A company official reports that the current dog food being recalled was shipped to ten states: Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Pets in other states may also be affected, as it is believed that the dog food may have been distributed after shipping by the company.

Recalled production codes:

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula – 35 lb bag:
CLF0102B31XCW –  Best By Date: Jan 27, 2013
CLF0102B31XCW –  Best By Date: Jan 28, 2013
CLF0102B32XWR  - Best By Date: Jan 28, 2013

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula – 6 lb bag:
CLF0102B3XALW –  Best By Date: Jan 28, 2013

Diamond Pet Foods recommends that if you have this product in your home, you should discard it immediately. You can contact their offices with any questions at 800-442-0402.

Salmonella is a zoonotic illness, meaning that it can be spread between animals and humans. Pet owners are advised to avoid touching the possibly contaminated food or any food containers that could be contaminated, and hands should be washed thoroughly after properly disposing of any of the recalled dog food.

Holistic veterinarian and pet health researcher,  Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., is available for pet health questions and pet health consultations for dogs and/ or cats.
Contact Dr. Carol’s veterinary office toll free at 1-866-372-2765 to make an appointment for your dog and/or cat today.

Just a short note today, folks.. just want to pass along a couple of things that seemed overlooked in an article I read today. The premise of that article was to identify ways to cut costs and save on the care of your pet. (You can read the article here.) Though the writer does offer some ideas, other basic ways to save were omitted.

Most noticeably absent and a huge way to save on pet costs involves diet. Just as it is important for humans to eat a healthy diet in order to maintain a healthy body, the same holds true for your pet. Do you really purchase only enough food for your immediate human family each week, or do you often have left over foods that are wasted? Why not transform that left-over food into meals for your pet? Consider the package of meat typically purchased from the grocery store. Rarely do you find a pre-packaged selection of meat where each portion is measured to be at (or even near) the recommended serving size. Oftentimes, chicken breasts can be sliced into two portions per breast in some areas. If we eat the whole breast, we’re harming ourselves and depriving our pet of a healthy alternative to packaged food. Though this idea may not seem to save you much money at first, the next time you clean out the refrigerator, think about how much food is actually wasted, and compare the approximate price to that of the packaged food you currently feed your pet.

Consider preventative care for more than just preventing emergencies. Of course it makes sense to keep poisons locked away and to be careful when opening medications and such, but non-emergency visits can place a strain on the budget as well. Invest in items that will help prevent even seasonal issues such as allergies. For example, socks for your pet’s feet if he/she suffers from outdoor allergies is one cheap preventative measure, while keeping an eye on pollen counts and limiting your pet’s outdoor time on windy, high-pollen days is free. Constantly be wary of fleas and ticks in your surroundings so that you can take measures to prevent your pet from becoming infested and requiring treatment.

These are just a few ways to save on pet costs. Share your tips for saving money on pets with us via comment, Facebook, or Twitter!

Holistic veterinarian and pet health researcher,  Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., is available for pet health questions and pet health consultations for dogs and/ or cats.
Contact Dr. Carol’s veterinary office toll free at 1-866-372-2765 to make an appointment for your dog and/or cat today.

What is responsible for the recent surge of pet cancer rates in dogs and cats? What major factors in diet and environment have changed over the last several years that may be the culprits? What can pet owners do to protect their dogs and cats from the ravages of cancer?

Certainly the increase in pollution and pesticides play an important role in increasing pet cancer rates, although other significant factors responsible for the recent surge in pet cancer rates must be also explored. According to a recently published study, spaying female dogs prior to 4 years of age reduces healthy pet life spans by 30 percent. Therefore, female dogs spayed prior to age 4 will have their lives shortened by nearly one-third!

In addition, as opposed to what most veterinarians, including myself, were taught in Veterinary Medical School, spaying and neutering dogs and cats at young ages does not promote pet health. Instead, sterilization at a young age actually reduces the quality and length of pets lives and INCREASES the incidence of several types of cancer in dogs and cats. Published data cites multiple types of cancer, including bone cancer, or osteosarcoma, and reproductive-related cancers, whose incidence increases in pets as a result of being spayed or neutered at young ages.

Another factor involved in the increased pet cancer incidence according to this veterinarian’s research is diet and pet nutrition – or what you place in the food bowl for your dog and/or cat each day. Unfortunately, today’s the food chain for people and pets not only lacks proper safety regulations but is also subject to “modification”.  GMO’s are GeneticallyModified Organisms used by companies like Monsanto to promote the growth of “super seeds” including soy, corn, and alfalfa. (It is noteworthy that Monsanto owns 30% of the world’s supply of the later three crops.) Monsanto was also responsible for the chemical called “Agent Orange” which affected hundreds of thousands of people and resulted in birth defects, auto-immune disorders, cancer, and death. Monsanto’s current popular agricultural pesticide product called “Roundup” contains the active ingredient “Glyphosate” which,once again, is highly toxic. When Roundup is sprayed on the GMO seeds and crops not only are the crops contaminated but the soil, land, pastures and fields are also damaged on a long-term basis.

What is the result? The result is permanent DNA damage and genetic mutations in the individuals ultimately consuming these food products. The resultant genetic damage and its relationship to our increased cancer incidence are topics of great concern for this veterinarian. In fact, not only do over a million cattle die annually from grazing these genetically modified “toxic” plants, one published study reveals development of various auto-immune disorders including “Lupus-Like” syndromes in animals consuming raw GMO alfalfa seeds. One has to wonder as to the true health benefits that health conscious individuals blending alfalfa drinks, for example, actually experience on a long-term basis.
What future health consequences will the animals being fed fresh alfalfa experience? One must ponder this question with knowledge of the fact that the FDA is currently attempting to ban labels from revealing whether or not a particular food product contains GMO’s.
What’s worse is that one of the board members of Monsanto was recently appointed to a prominent position in the EPA! The recent refusal by the Haitian peasants of Monsanto’s “gift” of tons of GMO seeds is a true eye-opener as it reveals the fact that even these poor people suffering from environmental devastation would rather starve to death than be subject to the health consequences of GMO’s.
Our water supply is also an important link to cancer. Currently the FDA has guidelines for “allowable levels” of highly toxic, cancer causing chemicals in our drinking water including: mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic to name a few. Providing pets with distilled drinking water is one way to help circumvent this issue.
In conclusion, health conscious pet owners attempting to offer their dogs and cats the very best and avoid cancer might consider these Top 10 Pet Cancer Prevention Guidelines:

• Feed pets home-made meals and avoid commercial pet food and commercial pet treats. If home cooking is not an option, buy organic pet food that has not been recalled by the FDA.
• Provide pets with distilled drinking water and avoid bottled, spring, and tap water.
• Keep pet vaccinations to a minimum. Vaccinate puppies and kittens with 2 initial boosters for the major viral diseases and rabies. Repeat vaccines once every three years. Check antibody titers to validate vaccine adequacy.
• Spay and neuter pets after age 4.
• Provide an all-natural, USA made, comprehensive vitamin, mineral and antioxidant supplement daily to balance home-made pet meals.
• Maintain pets with a lean body weight and avoid obesity.
• Pet exercise is a must! Exercise at least 20 minutes daily with dogs and provide indoor cats with at least four, 10 minute play sessions each day.
• Visit your veterinarian at least once a year. Senior pets (age seven and older) should have veterinary checks twice a year or at 6 month intervals.
• Partner up with your vet and work together as a team. Institute “pro-active” preventative pet health care measures for your dogs and cats.
• Relax, use common sense, have fun and enjoy your cherished 4-legged companions every day.

Holistic veterinarian and pet health researcher,  Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., is available for pet health questions and pet health consultations for dogs and/ or cats.

Contact Dr. Carol’s veterinary office toll free at 1-866-372-2765 to make an appointment for your dog and/or cat today.

Useful Veterinary Medicine Alternative Health Care Web Sites

Holistic Veterinarian and Author: Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM:
http://www.DrCarol.com

Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy

American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture

American Veterinary Chiropractic Association:

http://www.avcadoctors.com/

http://www.animalchiropractic.org

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society

The Veterinary Acupuncture Page

Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association

General veterinary Alternative Health Care Web Sites

Acupuncture.com

Alternative Health News Online

HerbMed.com

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Rosenthal Center at Columbia University

Other Pet Alternative Health Online Resources

Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
James Schacht, DVM, Corr. Secy.
6400 E. Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28212
704-535-6688

American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
P. O. Box 419
Hygiene, CO 80433-0419
Phone/fax: +303-772-6726

AAVAoffice@aol.com
www.aava.org
continuing education courses and newsletter for certified acupuncturists

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
2218 Old Emmorton Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 569-0795
FAX: (410) 569-2346

AHVMA@compuserve.com
Quarterly journal, annual conference

American Veterinarians and Chiropractors Association
623 Main Street
Hillsdale, IL 61257
phone: 309-658-2920
FAX: 309-658-2622

www.animalchiropractic.org
5 module course leading to eligibility for certification in veterinary chiropractic

Chi Institute
9791 NW 160th Street
Reddick, FL 32686
Tel: (352)-591-3165
Fax: (352)-591-0988
www.chi-institute.com
Acupuncture training leading to eligibility for certification
6 module course (186 hours) in traditional Chinese herbalism

Healing Oasis Wellness Center
2555 Wisconsin Street
Sturtevant, WI 53177
262-884-9549
262-886-6460

www.thehealingoasis.com
Training Program in Veterinary Massage and Physical Therapy: Multiple module course in veterinary massage and physical therapy, primarily for veterinary technicians
Veterinary Chinese Herbology (4 modules)
Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy: 5 modules

International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy
General Secretary: Dr. Andreas Schmidt
Sonnhaldenstr. 18
CH-8370 Sirnach
Switzerland
phone: 41 (73) 26 14 24, FAX: 41(73) 26 58 14
Quarterly journal

U.S. Representative, International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy
Dr. Jackie Obando
2707 76th Ave SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
voice 206-232-7667
fax 206-232-1169

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
P.O. Box 271395
Fort Collins, CO 80527
phone: +970-266-0666
fax: + 970-266-0777

Ivasoffice@aol.com
www.ivas.org
4 module, 120 hour course leading to eligibility for certification in veterinary acupuncture;
also a 6 module, 3 year course in traditional Chinese herbalist offered to certified acupuncturists.

New Mexico Chinese Herbal Veterinary Medicine Course
1925 Juan Tabo NE Ste E
Albuquerque, NM 87112
505-450-4325
Fax 505-332-4775
Basic course 3 modules; Advanced courses also offered
U.S. State and Local Organizations

Florida Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
751 Northeast 168th Street
North Miami Beach, FL 33162-2427
phone: 305-652-5372
FAX: 305-653-7244

Georgia Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
334 Knollwood Lane
Woodstock, GA 30188
770-517-1401
s.wynn@mindspring.com

Great Lakes Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (mostly IL, WI)
9824 Durand Ave.
Sturtevant, WI 53177
phone 414-886-1100
fax 414-886-6460

Greater Washington Area Holistic Veterinary Association
6136 Brandon Avenue
Springfield, VA 22150
phone: 703-503-8690

Washington State Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
2707 76th Ave SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
phone 206-232-7667