vegetarian cats?

Vegetarian Cats? By Jean Hofve, DVM There are several companies and websites that promote vegetarian (no meat or fish) or even vegan (no animal products at all) diets for cats. These products appeal to people who have chosen a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle for ethical reasons, and want to apply the same principles to their cats. As a feline veterinarian, I absolutelyl do not recommend trying to turn your cat into a vegetarian or vegan, but if you are determined to do so, here is my best guidance for you. Products The three most commonly used products are: Wysong Vegan, Vege-Cat, and Evolution. We will look at all three in turn. Wysong Vegan clearly states that it is a supplement to be used with meat (either fresh or canned). It is not complete by itself. The website and packaging clearly state this, but unfortunately a lot of people don't read the label very carefully. Please be aware that despite the name, this is not a vegan cat food! Vege-Cat comes in a supplement that you can add to other foods, and in a kibble mix that you make at home. Because of the increased risk of urinary tract disease in vegetarian and vegan cats, Vegecat products contain a urinary acidifier (methionine) to help prevent urinary tract problems; and they also produce a separate supplement that amplifies this effect. James Peden and HOANA (Harbingers of a New Age) were the original pioneers of vegan pet products. Their products are thoughtfully produced and time-tested. The book "Vegetarian Cats and Dogs" is an eye-opener. Evolution makes canned and dry vegan foods for dogs and cats. While they take pride in the fact that they don't use any slaughterhouse waste, they do use corn gluten meal and soybean meal. Many cats have difficulty digesting soy, which along with soy's naturally high phytoestrogen content, makes this protein source inherently problematic for cats. Corn gluten meal contains about 60% protein, but also a large proportion of carbohydrates. Corn has a high glycemic index and is a key factor in the development of feline diabetes. Evolution operates in an ethical gray area. Evolution's owner illegally reproduced and distributed copyrighted literature belonging to a non-profit animal rights organization. Numerous requests (and later, demands) from the non-profit organization to stop using its materials were ignored until legal action was imminent. Even today, their website makes outrageous claims about extending pets' lifespans that have no scientific basis in fact. Cats and Non-Meat Diets Cats, of course, were designed by nature to be exclusively carnivorous. The cat's body has many specific evolutionary adaptations to its expected diet of prey consisting mostly of protein, fat and moisture. While cats have managed, in general, to adapt to grain-based commercial foods, it is clear from many scientific studies that carbohydrate-based diets are in no way optimal for the feline. Cats have an absolute requirement for the nutrients taurine and arachadonic acid that are found naturally only in animal products, with one exception: a type of seaweed that contains arachadonate. Taurine can be chemically synthesized (although the process is so environmentally harsh that all synthetic taurine used in the U.S. is imported from China). These additives can be used to make a diet that is chemically complete. However, natural sources of taurine and arachadonic acid contain many other amino acids, enzymes, co-factors, and other complex nutrients that may also be important for the cat's overall health. Science has shown us that whole-food derived nutrients are, in almost all cases, far superior and healthy than synthetic versions. For instance, ascorbic acid is the active ingredient in Vitamin C. However, natural Vitamin C contains many other components, including rutin, bioflavonoids, and other co-factors. These diets all rely on chemical analysis to assess their nutritional adequacy. They follow the feline Nutrient Profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in 1990. However, these standards are out of date and will most likely be substantially revised based on the forthcoming National Research Council report on canine and feline nutritional requirements. Pet nutrition experts also agree that feeding tests are far superior to the Nutrient Profiles for assessing nutritional adequacy. Many pet foods that met these Profiles have proven to be dangerously inadequate when fed long term. Cats consuming meat have a naturally low urinary pH; vegetables and grains cause the urine pH to be alkaline. While the food producers skim over this problem, the website Vegan Cats is at least honest about the risk. They recommend frequent testing of the cat's urine pH to make sure it is remaining in the normal range (6.5 or less). High carbohydrate diets (which vegetarian and vegan foods are by definition) are also considered to be the primary risk factor for feline diabetes. The truth is that science just doesn't know enough about the cat's nutritional needs to ensure the long-term safety of vegetarian and vegan diets for cats. While there are many anecdotal tales of cats thriving on vegetarian and vegan foods, it is a path that requires great commitment and a willingness to be flexible on the part of the guardian. The ethical dilemma I was a vegetarian/vegan for nearly 20 years, and I worked as a full-time animal rights activist for two years. So I understand the ethical reasons that lead people to avoid consuming many or all animal products. There's no doubt that the intensive "factory" raising and slaughtering of cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and fish is truly a hideous industry that causes a great deal of animal suffering. If you are considering a vegetarian rather than vegan diet, a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet has more flexibility by allowing dairy products and eggs as protein sources. However, you should know that in terms of suffering, animals raised to be food themselves are actually much better off than dairy cattle and egg-laying chickens, who live far longer and surely crueler lives as production machines, and still face death at the slaughterhouse when they are too worn out to be worth keeping. The ethical dilemma comes home when we share our lives with pets who are by nature carnivorous, such as dogs, cats, ferrets, and reptiles. Of these, dogs are the most evolutionarily flexible. Dogs' nutritional requirements are quite similar to ours, so it is not at all difficult to include them in our animal-friendly lifestyle. There is also the moral question of whether we should slaughter one animal (chicken or cow) to feed another animal (cat or dog). As one veterinarian asked, "Can we justify using parts of many other severely deprived and prematurely killed nonhuman animals to maintain each individual cat's well-being?" Speaking strictly from a veterinary viewpoint, vegetarian and vegan diets for cats make me nervous. I have seen some very sick cats as a result of these diets. Personally, I believe that when we voluntarily adopt cats into our homes, that we are ethically obligated to honor the feline spirit and feed it according to its basic nature. But everyone needs to answer that question from their own heart.

A few photos of our golden retriever

His little footies were so awesome! He walked proudly like a horse in a show!

Each paw going up and down as high as he could, separately..hee hee

It was adorable and I know he can walk and lift his back legs now anyways..

Dakota loves the snow, no matter what the weather I cannot keep him out of it.

It's his first winter and he just walks back and forth from you to the door just staring

at you,waiting till you say oh fine lets go out again..

My neighbor out playing with him during the big snow fall we had.

He absolutely loves her..

She's telling him to respect boundaries:

He is the perfect height and loves to just put his nose right in between

the legs..

dogs are being let out to get ready for inauguration

Police officers with specially trained dogs could be seen at the Foggy Bottom Metro station Thursday morning, signaling the official start of the inauguration security season. more

01/15/2009 -

WASHINGTON—Amid roaring subway cars at the Foggy Bottom subway station this morning, Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Tabon outlined the security precautions the capital's transit system is taking in anticipation of Inauguration Day.more

Simple Yet Effective Remedies for Stinky Dogs

Simple Yet Effective Remedies for Stinky Dogs Author: scott williams How do we deal with stinky dogs? Here are simple remedies to cure our dog's foul odor. Why are there dogs that have a very foul odor? Even if you bathe them regularly, they still have that stinky smell in them. Sometimes dogs with bad odor lick themselves a lot, and actually pulling out their hair. They lick themselves often and their breath smells very bad after they do that. There are a lot of reasons why a dog stinks and there are also a lot of simple remedies to combat this. There are times when you even have to go to the vet just to cure and get rid of a dog’s bad odor. And of course you will spend more for this, like the vet’s fee and the medicated shampoos or soaps that will be prescribed. They say that a normal dog is odorless. When he starts to stink, it may be a malfunction of the sebaceous gland, caused by inadequate fat in the dog’s diet. Put your dog on a high fat content food and give him additional fat like chicken skin, bacon grease, butter or even a tablespoon full of vegetable oil; if you don’t have animal fat in hand. Liquid chlorophyll is a good remedy for stinky dogs. By putting a tablespoon or two of liquid chlorophyll mix with your dog’s water every day, you send the chlorophyll through their whole system. Chlorophyll has a slight mint flavor and most dogs love its taste in its water. Using liquid chlorophyll leaves the dog’s breath fresh all the time and it moves through the dog’s body and aids in digestion, cleanses the blood and helps neutralize odors that emanate from within your dog. And after it passes through your dog’s system it neutralizes the odor of your dog’s pee and poop. Another reason for the bad smell of a dog is the so called PH imbalance on the skin, in the digestive tract, the mouth or in the ears. A simple remedy for this skin imbalance is to have a vinegar rinse and ladies douches work to clear the odor. The acidity restores the PH balance. You can mix vinegar and water and bathe it to your dog and do it for few weeks. You can do the same thing with ladies douches, mix it with water and use the mixture in bathing your dog. Here’s another simple remedy for stinky dogs. In a large container, a sink or a tub; mix 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ baking soda, 1-2 tablespoons of dish soap. Now carefully sponge this over the offensive areas on the dog and be very cautious to not get any of the liquid to the dog’s eyes. Let it soak for 5 minutes or more and then rinse it off and now shampoo your dog with his regular mild shampoo and rinse again. Another good solution for the dog’s odor is to mix water with hand cream and Listerine. Mix it together in a spray bottle and spray it on your dog’s coat and rub it into their skin. The Listerine is anti bacterial and it takes away the smell, the hand cream works as a conditioner which makes the hair shiny and softens the skin. With the above mentioned remedies I am sure it will take away the foul odor of your dog. I am a dog lover for 20 years. I have been training a lot of dogs in any breed and Im starting to write down the methods that I use in the art of dog training. Article Source: http://www.article99.com/view-authors/track.php?bio=13983&author=scott-williams

Stop Dog Barking

Do you have a problem with your dog barking? If so, then you are not alone. This is a common problem that can be treated with a little bit of knowledge and persistence. Here are some tips and tricks for teaching your dog to stop barking.

Stop Dog Barking Author: Nick Krueger Do you have a problem with your dog barking? If so, then you are not alone. This is a common problem that can be treated with a little bit of knowledge and persistence. Here are some tips and tricks for teaching your dog to stop barking. If you have ever had the embarrassment of a neighbor calling you asking you to please stop your dog from barking, then you are not alone. If you have ever had a visit from the local police about your dog’s noisy behavior, then you know you had better react quickly. Barking is a way your dog communicates with the world. Therefore, when a dog barks, he is saying something. Therefore, you have to control and stop dog barking before it gets out of hand. Hitting, yelling at, or punishing your dog for his barking will not solve the problem and might cause your dog more confusion about the rules you are attempting to set. It might also make him aggressive towards you or worse yet, others. Now that you understand that punishment is not the way to stop your dog from barking, you might be wondering how to properly go about solving the issue. First, change your mindset. It is easier to attract flies with honey than with vinegar. In other words, attract your dog’s attention with incentives and rewards he’ll receive for not barking. If you reward him, he’ll want to keep up the good behavior in hopes of receiving more love and treats. Regardless of whether you have a puppy or a dog that barks, it isn´t that difficult to get him to stop barking. Before using any methods to stop his behavior, think about your dog´s needs. Yes, he does have needs. Is he tied up to a tree all day? Is he left alone without any attention for extended periods? Does he get to run everyday for at least thirty minutes to an hour? Is he hungry, thirsty, or sick? Remember, barking means something, even if it is a cry for attention. If your dog is getting lots of love, attention, devotion, and freedom, and the barking persists, you will have to take direct action. Sometimes obtaining professional materials online is a great way to learn about your options. You might also contact a veterinarian behaviorist who might be able to take a look at your dog – something that will help you ascertain whether your dog is in pain, sick, hurting, or perhaps just nervous. However, if all else fails, you might consider adapting your training methods. If the dog is outside or inside when he begins to bark, go to him and say in a firm voice without yelling, „No bark!„ or „Be quiet!„ Then, when you have the dog’s attention, give him a treat and praise the dog calmly saying, „Good boy. No bark. „ Your dog will quickly learn the commands in hopes of obtaining more rewards. While this method may work for some, other methods will have to be employed for other dogs, especially pedigree. Many products on the market will do wonders to stop dog barking. Some use sounds, sprays, or other methods help you have a quieter or even calmer dog. If you are interested in more information about how to stop dog barking, you might want to look into purchasing some professional dog obedience training material. Click here to see a comparison chart of some of the top dog obedience training products on the market today. Nick Krueger is a review specialist at www.Reviewica.com.1 For more information about dog training and dog training product reviews, please visit:1 www.Dog-Obedience-Training.Reviewica.com Article Source: http://www.article99.com/view-authors/track.php?bio=5559&author=Nick-Krueger

Canine informational rss feeds hip dysplasia and more

Below is a widget with 20 different rss feeds on it:

Many subjects all for dogs-hip dysplasia,dog care,surgeries and more, so make sure you take a gander at them all so you don't miss anything.

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hip dysplasia article on canine

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Article Directory | Causes and Affects of Dog Hip Dysplasia

Causes and Affects of Dog Hip Dysplasia

By: Beth Guide

Commonly found among the larger breeds of dogs, Hip Dysplasia is an ailment affecting the hip joints.  It is most prominent in pure breed dogs, such as Great Dane, Labrador, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.  There are other breeds that suffer with hip dysplasia not mentioned here of course.

Until recently, not much was known about Hip Dysplasia. The most important thing to look at is the hip joint.  In dogs, it is caused by the malformation of the hip.  This ailment usually occurs when the dog is at a young age, while they are still growing and bones are forming.  The hip, a ball and socket joint, ends up growing crooked, causing the back legs to be affected.  The ligaments, muscles and connective tissues of the hip become lax, thus causing the hip to grow unnaturally.

When a dog is born, they usually have normal hips, but over time develop this lax muscle.  Genetics plays a large role in this defect. As the bones grow apart, the capsule holding the bones together become strained and stretched, as opposed to growing towards each other as they should.  This adds more problems to the joint as the two bones, pelvis and femur, get separated from each other.  Therefore, the bones are no longer in alignment and put pressure on the nerves, which cause many of the symptoms of Hip Dysplasia.

Here are some of the signs of Hip Dysplasia.

Dogs feel pain after exercise and during a usual day's activity. They find it hard to stand on their hind feet in the early morning from stiffness.  They tend to stop walking and sit down often.  Very stiff hind legs.  You can tell as they run, how they try not to put pressure on their back legs. Over time, dogs find it hard to stand up without assistance.

Things that can help Hip Dysplasia.

Try to keep your dog at a slim weight.  An overweight dog will find it much more difficult to get around with added pounds. Most genetic cases can't be helped, but you can make it easier on your pet. There are some products on the market that are specifically for hip issues.  There are even wheelchairs for dogs with this ailment.  Another option is the "Helping Hands" from Mikki which enables the handler to take weight off of their dogs hind legs while still allowing the front legs to operate normally. This allows exercising and increased circulation.

Author Resource:->  Beth is the web master of Posh Pampered Pets. If you have any questions 

regarding Pets or

Pet 

health, please contact

www.poshpamperedpets.com at

info@poshpamperedpets.com or call us at 979-221-7251.

Article From Article Directory

I have links,videos,information on fho surgery both pre and postop on my golden retriever Dakota.
There's also links to other sites both informational and fun.

dr on video explaining who gets hip dysplasia,what is hip dysplasia,symptoms of hip dysplasia and the diagnosis of hip dysplasia

 

I'm not sure how your dog is doing right now, but I want to let you know that if he is clumsy,has a wobbly gait which means that he has a swish to his walk, walks with his head down alot (because he is walking on his front half)which my Dakota did. He had great muscle mass in the front half of him because of this,but very little in the back.
Won't even attempt to jump up on your furniture, which is good but at the same time can show you that he doesn't want to use them back limbs.Goes to move your hand with his nose if you are trying to rub those back limbs in the hip joint area (because he is sore,so he is protecting them).sometimes they will literally stumble going up stairs etc..
Now I am not saying that this is definately hip dysplasia in your animal because i am no doctor but those are the things that went on with him and he had severe hip dysplasia.Just ideas,things to watch for and ask your vet about if you are noticing any of this in your animal...
These are things that I noticed when we had Dakota. Now, it was a little different with him because he had just been neutered so we weren't sure if things were going on with that at first or something else was going on until a few weeks had passed by and he just wasn't healing like we thought he should be so we made him a vet appointment thank goodness.


This is a short clip of him at the dog park, you will notice that he is happy playing but does not yet run all over like the other dogs. He will at first arrival but tires out pretty quickly still.
Did you happen to notice how well his fur is growing back?The stages are so weird, first it looks like he has a diaper on when he is sitting as in the picture above. Then it feels like razor stubble when it starts to grow back. Now it feels like a thick short wool.
If you are here, I am assuming that the reason has to do with a possible surgery coming up and you want to learn more and make the right decision.
I am so glad that you are doing this!!
First of all make sure that you read on the choices of surgeries if you haven't talked to your vet on that yet.
I am still worried that maybe the complete hip surgery may have been the way to go for him instead of the fho surgery.
He is out of pain which was my goal of course and it will never come back so I am told. But, he has such a swish still when he walks and pretty clumsy still.
I know it is early yet and hopefullly these things will still take care of themselves with time and muscle growth.
Just something to think about if you have a larger dog like I do.
Research,Research,Research you have one chance.
Make sure that you make the right one for you and your loved pet.

my widget box-join the widget box network-pets

I have links,videos,information on fho surgery both pre and postop on my golden retriever Dakota.
There's also links to other sites both informational and fun.

dr on video explaining who gets hip dysplasia,what is hip dysplasia,symptoms of hip dysplasia and the diagnosis of hip dysplasia

 

I'm not sure how your dog is doing right now, but I want to let you know that if he is clumsy,has a wobbly gait which means that he has a swish to his walk, walks with his head down alot (because he is walking on his front half)which my Dakota did. He had great muscle mass in the front half of him because of this,but very little in the back.
Won't even attempt to jump up on your furniture, which is good but at the same time can show you that he doesn't want to use them back limbs.Goes to move your hand with his nose if you are trying to rub those back limbs in the hip joint area (because he is sore,so he is protecting them).sometimes they will literally stumble going up stairs etc..
Now I am not saying that this is definately hip dysplasia in your animal because i am no doctor but those are the things that went on with him and he had severe hip dysplasia.Just ideas,things to watch for and ask your vet about if you are noticing any of this in your animal...
These are things that I noticed when we had Dakota. Now, it was a little different with him because he had just been neutered so we weren't sure if things were going on with that at first or something else was going on until a few weeks had passed by and he just wasn't healing like we thought he should be so we made him a vet appointment thank goodness.


This is a short clip of him at the dog park, you will notice that he is happy playing but does not yet run all over like the other dogs. He will at first arrival but tires out pretty quickly still.
Did you happen to notice how well his fur is growing back?The stages are so weird, first it looks like he has a diaper on when he is sitting as in the picture above. Then it feels like razor stubble when it starts to grow back. Now it feels like a thick short wool.
If you are here, I am assuming that the reason has to do with a possible surgery coming up and you want to learn more and make the right decision.
I am so glad that you are doing this!!
First of all make sure that you read on the choices of surgeries if you haven't talked to your vet on that yet.
I am still worried that maybe the complete hip surgery may have been the way to go for him instead of the fho surgery.
He is out of pain which was my goal of course and it will never come back so I am told. But, he has such a swish still when he walks and pretty clumsy still.
I know it is early yet and hopefullly these things will still take care of themselves with time and muscle growth.
Just something to think about if you have a larger dog like I do.
Research,Research,Research you have one chance.
Make sure that you make the right one for you and your loved pet.