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Take a stroll down the pet food aisle of your favorite store and your eyes will take in every imaginable color, a few cartoon characters and a lot of claims stating the food is “improved”, “natural” or even “organic”.  It’s truly a marketing bonanza!  More than 3,000 brands of pet food fill the aisles and pet owners will spend about $18 billion to feed their pets each and every year.

But, high profile recalls, sick pets and corporate mistrust has moved a small number of pet owners to consider making their pets’ food at home, instead of buying it in a bag.  An Internet search for “raw diets” brings up almost 3 million different results, many of which claim that this sort of food is nutritionally superior to the commercially prepared diets.

The raw food diet trend began in 1993 with the publication of “Give Your Dog A Bone” written by Australian veterinarian, Dr. Ian Billinghurst.  Building on the close evolutionary relationship between our dogs and their wolf cousins, Dr. Billinghurst claims that in domesticating the dog we “changed the wolf’s appearance and mind…but not the basic internal workings or physiology”.  Many pet owners agree with this theory and have flocked to a raw meat type of diet for their animals.

Proponents of raw diets claim the foods give their pets more energy, provide more nutrition and overall, their dogs and cats are healthier than animals fed a typical dry or commercial diet.  During the massive pet food recall of 2007, the number of people opting for homemade diets increased dramatically and many have continued to prepare their pet’s food at home.

Adding more fuel to the fire, advocates of homemade foods persist in claims that commercial diets, especially those with a high percentage of grain, are actually shortening the life span of our animals.

How many of these arguments are valid and which ones lack evidence?

First, it is important to understand that all of the reports of increased energy and healthier pets are simply observations by the owners.  Actual scientific and verifiable evidence supporting these claims is non-existent.  To be fair, there is no evidence to refute these statements either.

Many of Dr. Billinghurst’s basic arguments are answered by veterinarians, both in the clinic with clients and in the media.  For example, the claim that dogs must eat meat because they are related to wolves is discussed and usually dismissed.  As a well respected blog, Skeptvet.com, states dogs are omnivores and will often eat a wide variety, including some fruits and vegetables.  Not to mention that there has been more than 100,000 years of divergence between dogs and wolves as well as intense selective breeding, especially in the last 3,000 years.

Another claim that is used by raw food advocates is that dogs and cats can’t digest grains, especially the corn and wheat ingredients found in many commercial diets.  This contention is also refuted by scientific studies showing dogs use these cooked grains as effectively as other carbohydrate sources.

But, perhaps the biggest reason many pet owners opt for preparing their pets’ meals is a mistrust of the corporations formulating the dry foods.  Recalls due to contamination, excessive or deficient nutrients and bacterial contamination seem all too commonplace.  Although these recalls have happened occasionally and pets have become sick, the reality of the situation is that the vast majority of commercial diets are not only safe for our pets, they also provide an optimum level of nutrition, helping out pets live full and healthy lives.

So, is one type of diet actually better than another?

The answer to that question is complex and should always involve a discussion with your veterinarian.  Raw diets, for all their purported benefits, do come with significant risks.  Bacterial contamination is more prevalent with these diets and the potential for an imbalance of nutrients is very high.  If you do choose to use a homemade or raw diet, talk with your veterinarian and use an approved veterinary nutritional site, like BalanceIt.com to insure that your pet does benefit from your extra work.

Also, remember that many pet food companies have decades of experience, research and testing proving the effectiveness and safety of their diets.  It’s true that occasional recalls have happened, but these unfortunate events have also helped determine how to effectively handle this sort of crisis.  Lessons learned from past situations will help to prevent future issues.

Looking forward, science may give us an answer to this on-going and very passionate debate.  But, for now, your best source of advice is not an online forum or manufacturer’s website with products to sell, but rather you should put your trust in your veterinarian.
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Dr. Debra Garrison is a veterinarian at the Treaschwig Veterinary Clinic

• If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home. Fireworks can scare your pet and he may run off or may even bite someone.
• If you leave your pet at home, do not leave them outside. Dog’s hearing is 10 times more sensitive than ours and firework bangs coupled with the bursts of lights, may cause your dog to escape the back yard or injure himself.
• When keeping your dog inside, create a special area or a “den” where your dog can feel safe. Use a crate or an airline kennel, a laundry room or the bathroom. Keep him out of rooms with windows. I have had to stitch up many dogs that have bolted through the pane glass windows during fireworks and thunderstorms when left alone.
• You can also try leaving music on for your dog. Classical selections seem to soothe them better than rock.
• Consider hiring a sitter for your pet on nights when the fireworks are at their worst, or stay home with your pet.
• When home with your pet and they are acting scared, coddling them to try to soothe them actually has the opposite affect and re-enforces their fear, thus  making it worse. Try to ignore them or tell them to lay down or put them in their safe spot with the lights off and the doors closed. De-sensitizing them to the noise prior to the fireworks is the best way, but it does take  time and effort on your part to complete the de-sensitization.
• Melatonin is a natural sedative used by many to help them sleep at night and giving it to your dog may help with the anxiety.
• If none of these methods are helping, you can discuss more options with your veterinarian for sedation medications or a certified dog trainer, such as BarkBusters.com, for separation anxiety issues.
• Keep your pet’s id tag on them at all times. Consider implanting a microchip for permanent identification in the event you and your pet do get separated during festivities.
• For more tips on de-sensitization, visit the Pet Library for more articles. Enter fireworks for the search term.

We have in-stock at the clinic these American Flag Solar Garden Flags for decorating your yard or driveway for the holidays.

The solar panel charges during the day and illuminates the flag during the night. You can order them on line at our new garden store, FavoriteGardenFountains.com and choose store pick up for the shipping option.

The clinic will be open Saturday morning but will be closed on Monday, July 4th.

If you should have a pet emergency, please check our Emergency page for contact numbers and a map to the Animal ER.

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The tick’s life cycle is different than insects. The female engorges on blood from her host, mates with a male tick and then detaches, dropping off her host to fall to the ground and seek a place to lay her eggs. The female can deposit 1,000 to 18,000 eggs, depending on the species of the tick, and then dies shortly after laying her eggs. The eggs will hatch anywhere between 2 months to 2 years depending on the species and climate conditions. The eggs hatch as larvae and seek a host to get a blood meal. Larvae ticks are very small and are often overlooked while they are on the host. Once they have engorged on their blood meal, they will drop off the host where they will molt and become a nymph. Again the nymph seeks out a blood meal, feed and then drop to the ground where they once more will molt and become an adult tick.

   

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Species of Ticks

Canine

	Amblyomma americanum lone star tick
	Amblyomma maculatum Gulf Coast Tick
	Dermacentor variabilis American dog tick
	Dermacentor andersoni Rocky Mountain wood tick
	Ixodes pacificus western black-legged tick
	Ixodes scapularis black-legged tick
	Otobius megnini (spinose ear tick)
	Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown Dog Tick)

Photo Credits CAPCvet.org Alycia Yee http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artnov06macro/ay-macro.html Massachusetts General Hospital lyme disease information

Diseases transmitted by ticks

1. Anemia – The female tick can ingest more than 100 times her weight in blood. In severe infestations with thousands of ticks on a dog, it can cause severe blood loss resulting in anemia and may actually require blood transfusions to replenish the lost blood.
2. Skin irritation and itching – The attached tick secrets chemical through her mouth parts in order to anchor herself to the skin and anti-coagulants to make it easier to suck the blood. These chemicals can cause irritation and allergic reactions resulting in more itching, swelling redness around the bite area.
3. Tick Paralysis – Some species of ticks can produce a neurotoxin that can produce a sudden, progressive, flaccid (limp) paralysis of the muscles similar to that seen in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Once the offending tick is discovered and removed, the patient can quickly recover. Ticks discovered to produce the neurotoxin are D. andersoni, D. variabilis, A. americanum, A. maculatum, I. scapularis, and I. pacificus.
4. Ehrlichia chaffeensis (human monocytic ehrlichiosis)
5. Ehrlichia ewingii
6. Borrelia lonestari
7. Francella tularensis (tularemia)
8. Hepatozoon americanum (American canine hepatozoonosis)
9. Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
10. Cytauxzoon felis (cytauxzoonosis)
11. Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
12. Anaplasma phagocytophlium (human granulocytic ehrlichiosis)
13. Ehrlichia canis (canine monocytic ehrlichiosis)
14. Babesia canis (canine babesiosis)
15. Anaplasma platys
16. Babesia gibsoni

Tick control Products

• Amitraz – is available as a dip, (mitaban), a collar (Preventic). Amitraz helps prevent tick attachment and can make the tick detach within 24 hours. The collar can last for several months, but do not allow your dog to chew on it because it can cause toxicity.

• Fipronil - available in spray and spot on formulations (Merial Frontline).

• The only product approved for tick control on cats is fipronil (frontline).

• Permethrin – acts as a repellent and kills ticks within 24 hours. Products containing permethrin include Vectra 3D and K9 Advantix.

• Selamectin – the active ingredient in Revolution is only effective against Dermacentor ticks and has a slower kill rate and may not be the best choice in heavy tick infestations.

• Deltamethrin Scalibor- An impregnated dog band (collar) that kills fleas and ticks for 6 months

Infestations

Most ticks infest dogs with an ambush technique called questing. When the ticks hatch, they climb up on to the tips of weeds, grasses and other vegetation. The ticks have a special sensory apparatus known as Haller’s organ that is located on their forelegs. With their forelegs extended, they can sense animals approaching. When the host brushes up against the vegetation, the ticks release in mass and crawl onto their new host to feed. Hundreds of ticks can release onto your pet at one time. The ticks also have seasonal cycles depending on the climate and geographic region.

Removing the tick

In cases where there are just a few ticks, can be done with tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and then with slow, gentle pressure, remove the tick from the skin. You should not crush the tick with your bare fingers because disease transmission to humans can be possible. Sometime, the tick can cause a mild infection at the site, especially if removed improperly and the head remained attached to the skin. In the event there are hundreds of ticks attached, you may want to take your dog to the veterinarian where special dips can be applied to facilitate removal.

Controlling ticks

If you live in an area that tick infestation is prevalent, then year round tick control is advised. If you are going camping with your dog then there are products that you can use prior to camping that will repel, kill or prevent infestation or quick release, depending on the product you use. As always, if your dog is having a tick problem, avoid over the counter medications, they are not as effective and can cause toxicity, especially if a product containing permethrin is accidentally applied to a cat. Your veterinarian will help you choose a product that will help with your flea, tick, and intestinal parasite control as well as heartworm prevention. It may be accomplished with one product or the combination of a few products. Care must be taken when mixing products because potential toxicity may occur.

Treating the yard

The prescription tick control products when applied according to the label directions should control your tick population. In some cases, additional yard treatment may be necessary to control ticks.

• Clean up your yard to eliminate refuge areas for ticks and their wildlife hosts. This can be done by cutting back or burning tall grass, brush piles and weeds growing along fences, between runs and other structures. Sunlight penetration helps to dry out ticks and clearing the brush will reduce places for wildlife tick hosts to hide.
• If you have a brown dog tick infestation in kennels, you can spray acaricides into cracks and crevices, under and behind cages and along the ceiling boards because ticks like to climb up.
• Products that are effective against ticks in a kennel include cyfluthrin, premethrin, and s-fenvalarate.
• These same products also work outside. Broadcast application of acaracide products is rarely necessary for tick control in yards. Rather spot treatment along fences, kennels and shady areas is preferred.
• In the event of unusually heavy tick populations, you may find it necessary to restrict your pet’s access to the tick infested environments.

Effective yard flea and tick products

• Bayer Advanced Lawn™ Complete Insect Killer – Active ingredients include Imidacloprid 0.72% and Beta-cyfluthrin 0.36%
• Bayer Advanced Garden™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Ready-To-Spay Cyfluthrin 0.75%

Both products come in 32 oz ready to use bottles that can cover approximately 5,000 square feet

• Do not allow the spray to get into fish ponds, streams or lakes.
• Remove your pet’s food dishes before you spray
• Keep your pets and children away from the treated area until the spray has dried completely.
• Shake well before using to evenly distribute the product.
• In heavy infestations, you may need to repeat the spraying every 7 to 14 days.
• These products are ready to spray. Simply attach the bottle to your hose and be sure to follow the label directions precisely. The water from your hose will automatically mix with the concentrate to provide the correct mixture to your yard.
• Also available is Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Ready to spread Granules.

Other products that are available

• Conquer: Esfenvalerate 3.48%
• Tempo Ultra WP Cyfluthrin 10.00%

Resources on Ticks: Additional information on tick control can be found at http://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/dmp/personnel/faculty/dryden.htm Learn more about ticks from the CDC The Tick Handbook (click link to download pdf report)

   

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Cold weather is tough on pets. The following recommendations can provide your pet with a much better “quality of life” through the wintertime months:

1)    Update all vaccinations. Increased stress of cold weather lowers the resistance to disease. Your pet needs more than just a Rabies vaccination. Dogs should have DHLPP (Distemper, Adenovirus/infectious canine hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza), and Bordetella boosters each year. Cats should receive FVRCP and Feline Leukemia boosters every year.

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2)    Heartworm preventive should be given year-round. The medication kills certain immature stages of the heartworm throughout its journey through the body before it actually reaches the heart. The medication ought to be supplied all year long to make certain all immature heartworms are killed once they get to the stage of susceptibility to the medication.
3)    Internal Parasite Examinations insure your pet is “worm-free”. Internal parasites drain your pet’s blood, protein, and energy.
4)    Feed premium quality diet to fulfill the increased nutritional demands for the duration of cold weather. You get what you pay for in pet foods. “High Protein” labels don’t mean it is “digestible protein”. Pets kept outside should be fed more food to meet their requirements through the winter. Fresh water should always be obtainable. Be sure to provide UNFROZEN water at least twice daily during zero weather. Porcelain bowls will prevent tongues from sticking to it. Steer clear of metal bowls for this reason.There are also heated bowls available to keep the water thawed.
5)    Vitamin supplements, such as Nutrical®,may help increase your pet’s resistance to the effects of cold weather and provide required nutritional elements that often deteriorate once a bag of food has been opened.

6)    Brush your pet every day to maintain its hair coat. Heat in your house may dry the skin. Moisturizers , such as Dermal Soothe Anti-Itch Spray for Dogs & Cats, are available to maintain a healthy coat.
7)    Provide adequate shelter. Supplying adequate shelter from the elements is the key to a healthy outdoor pet. The pet that has a cozy refuge where he can seek shelter from the cold wind, driving rain, sleet, and snow will be much better able to tolerate the cold temperatures. Pet shelters should be tightly constructed and no larger than three times the size of the pet. The doorway should be just large sufficient for the pet to enter and positioned away from the prevailing wind direction. Building the shelter off the ground a couple of inches and adding insulation underneath will significantly add to the pet’s comfort. Be sure all insulation is sealed away from the pet. Position the shelter where it’ll get the most sunlight in the winter. Cedar shavings make the very best bedding. No pet should be out in zero or sub-zero weather for more than a few minutes without adequate shelter. Winter is no time to Begin keeping a pet outside. Acclimatization should begin in warm weather, permitting gradual improve in hair growth as temperatures turn out to be cooler.The best thing to do for your pet is to keep them indoors.
8)    Other Suggestions:
a.    Antifreeze can be deadly. It’s sweet tasting to your pet. Always clean up any spills in the garage or driveway. Contact your veterinarian right away if you suspect even a “few licks” by the pet.
b.    Cats like to sleep close to warm car engines. Know where your cat is and honk your horn before beginning the automobile to make sure no neighborhood cats are taking a snooze under the hood.
c.    Chocolate may be fatal. Keep those giant chocolate kisses and other sweets out of reach from your pet.
d.    Salt can hurt paws. Clean the foot pads instantly when coming back inside.There are dog booties available for your pooch.
e. Heated pet beds may help with your pet’s arthritis and keep the chill off.
f. Sweaters and coats can also help dogs maintain their body temperature better.
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Chronic infections of the teeth and gums can lead to problems elsewhere in the body too. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream from the infected teeth and gums causing infections in other organs like the liver, kidneys, heart and joints. Damage to these organs can substantially reduce your pet’s life with early development of kidney failure or heart disease. Good dental care can extend your pets live an average of 2 to 3 years by prevention of such problems.

   

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Miniature and toy breeds exhibit dental problems more frequently and much earlier in life than the larger breeds. Cats are especially prone to gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and cervical line lesions, a type of cavity or erosion of enamel that occurs on the tooth at the junction of the gums which eventually expose the nerves and destroys the tooth. As a result of the constant mouth pain, the cats stop eating and can loose weight .
You can help prevent dental problems in your pet by feeding a dry pet food or a pet food specifically for dental care. Daily brushing your dog or cat’s teeth with a pet toothpaste is the best way to prevent the formation of tartar. It is best to start teaching your pet to get used to the toothbrush when they are puppies or kittens. There are newer products available that can help you with your home dental care. Water additives, such Clenzadent, Enzadent, breathalyzer, Biotene and others have the ingredients to keep plaque from sticking to the teeth. The New CLENZ-a-dent PlaqueOff is a seaweed extract, which if ingested, is excreted through saliva and helps break down the biofilm on the teeth of the pet. I particularly recommend the use Clenz-a-Dent PlaqueOff with Clenz-a-dent water additive if daily brushing is impossible. (you can get these products in the clinic)
As with humans, your pet still needs regular dental exams, cleaning and extractions as needed. Under anesthesia teeth cleaned with an ultrasonic dental scaler is very similar to what your dentist uses, and then polished. Polishing smooths the surface of teeth to prevent future tartar formation. Your pet will also receive a fluoride treatment to strengthen teeth.

Other more advanced procedures such as root canal work, restorations and even braces are also available should your pet ever need them. We recommend you to be concerned about oral health of your pet, and keep in mind that there are effective treatments for dental problems in your dog or cat. Dentistry beyond your pet’s overall health care plan for a longer and happier life.
February is dental month, schedule your pet’s dentistry and receive 10% off.

	Clenz-a-dent is a complete line of dental care products for dogs and cats that is easy to use to increase pet owner compliance and offers enhanced efficacy driven by new molecules and delivery systems The active ingredients are RF2 (a member of the polygonaceae family of flowering plants) and PlaqueOff™ (purified seaweed extract, Ascophyllum sp.). Bacteria in the mouth produce a matrix called a bio-film in which they hide and multiply. The bio-film grows to form dental plaque which in turn gets mineralized into calculus. RF2 fights plaque and calculus where they originate by breaking down and destroying the bio-film. Clenz-a-dent PlaqueOff™ is a highly palatable food additive that is top dressed daily on the pet’s food. Reduces plaque and calculus.
	Clenz A Dent Mouth Rinse / Water Additive (250 ml) Clenz-a-dent RF2 Mouth Rinse or Water Additive comes in a bottle that has a special nozzle that allows it to be applied directly to the animal’s mouth as a rinse or added to drinking water daily. Provides immediate relief of bad mouth odor.
	Clenz A Dent Toothpaste w/ Finger Brush – Poultry (70 gm) Clenz A Dent RF2 Toothpaste is a palatable for the reduction of plaque and bad breath in dogs and cats. Clenz A Dent RF2 contains a unique patented ingredient. RF2 breaks down the biofilm made by bacteria present in the mouth. Biofilm is the first step to plaque and tartar build-up. Therefore Clenz A Dent RF2 disrupts the formation of biofilm and thus prevents plaque build-up and tartar. RF2 also restores the mouth’s natural bacterial balance. The combined actions of RF2 on tartar build-up and bacterial balance help fight bad breath
	Clenz A Dent Dental Chew Sticks Small (4 bags x 6 chews) CLENZ-A-DENT S RF2 DENTAL STICK Sogeval TASTY DENTAL STICK FOR ORAL HYGIENE – Plaque and Biofilm control – Tartar control – Prevents bad breath – Advanced design RF2 – dental biofilm control 0 – 10 KILOS Composition: Cereals – Polyols – RF2
	Clenz A Dent Dental Chew Sticks Small (6 chews) CLENZ-A-DENT S RF2 DENTAL STICK Sogeval TASTY DENTAL STICK FOR ORAL HYGIENE – Plaque and Biofilm control – Tartar control – Prevents bad breath – Advanced design RF2 – dental biofilm control 0 – 10 KILOS Composition: Cereals – Polyols – RF2.
	Clenz A Dent Dental Chew Sticks Medium (4 bags x 6 chews)
	Clenz A Dent Dental Chew Sticks Medium (6 chews)
	Clenz A Dent Dental Chew Sticks Large (4 bags x 6 chews)
	Clenz A Dent Dental Protection Wax (40 gm) Clenz-a-dent RF2 Wax can then start acting immediately and prevent biofilm and plaque from appearing. If your pet undergoes a professional dental cleaning procedure,your vet can apply a wax containing RF2 at the end of the procedure.
	Vet Solutions Enzadent Oral Care Chews for Cats Fish Flavor (24 count) Enzadent Oral Care Chews combines enzymes found naturally in your cat’s saliva with the natural abrading action of freeze-dried fish to help remove food debris before it becomes a problem. Remember: your cat depends on you and your veterinarian for all its health care. Ask your veterinarian about the many different home oral care options available to you.
	Enzadent Poultry Flavor Toothbrush Kit The Enzadent Toothbrush kit for Dogs & Cats by Vet Solutions contains: 90g (3.2 oz) tube Enzadent Toothpaste, one Enzadent Fingerbrush and one Enzadent Dual-Ended Toothbrush. This is a great starter kit for your dog or cat.
	Dentahex Oral Rinse by Vet Solutions (8 oz) Dentahex Oral Rinse by Vet Solutions (8 oz) with Chlorhexidine 0.12% and Zince, is an antimicrobial oral rinse for reducing plaque and freshening breath in dogs and cats. The unique formulation provides anti-plaque and anti-calculus properties thus aiding in the prevention of tooth and gum disease. Contains: Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, SD Alcohol 38B, Flavor, Chlorhexidine gluconate, Poloxamer 407, Zinc gluconate, FD&C yellow #5, FD&C blue #1. Directions: Shake well before each use. Rinse daily following each meal or as directed by your veterinarian. Gently lift the upper lip to expose the teeth and gums. Point and squeeze to apply a gentle stream along the gum line. Oral Rinse disperses rapidly and completely covers the entire oral cavity, even difficult to reach areas. Avoid touching the gums with the applicator tip to avoid any injury in case of movement of your pet.
	C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit for Cats The C.E.T Oral Hygiene Kit by Virbac for Cats includes toothpaste and a soft fingerbrush. Brushing your cats teeth is essential to help keep their teeth healthy and clean.
	C.E.T. AquaDent (16.9 fl.oz) C.E.T AquaDent is formulated by veterinary dental specialists to help freshen your pet’s breath and prevent plaque accumulation when used in conjunction with a regular home dental care program. simply add C.E.T. AquaDent to your pet’s drinking water to provide clinically tested dental care every time your pet drinks.

Caring for your pet can be costly. Here are some tips to keep them healthy for less.

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