Genetically Modified Organisms in your pet food... and yours!

In May 2013, two million people in over 50 countries expressed outrage over Monsanto's desire to own the food supply through genetically-altered (and patented) seeds that threaten all life on this planet. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are when a plant or animal has been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. Whether you like it or not, you are eating genetically manipulated food without your consent... and giving it to your pets as well. Have you ever wondered the reasons for the ever increasing incidence of cancer, autoimmune and degenerative diseases? In a sense, it is true that you become what you eat.

This article will send chills down your spine...  Monsanto's Profitable Connections with the US Government.

Beautiful Sunny Day in SE Alaska!

Nope, this is not a post about veterinary medicine. It is about BEAUTY! The beauty of this amazing, great state of Alaska. Literally, after a month of pouring rain... a sunny day!!Southeast Alaska receives tons of water. Water is what sustains our remarkable biodiversity. Yet, as more arctic cold fronts begin to advance over the Tongass Rain Forest (Alaska Inside Passage), days will be much colder and beautiful like this in the pictures.. It was 32F (0C) on the beach. As you can easily see, snow is already falling heavily on the peaks around us. We won't have to wait much longer until the valleys are covered as well. I can't describe how breath-taking these views are... Thank you Lord, for the privilege of living amidst such beauty!

 Eagle Beach is my place of refuge. It is mystical, to say the least. It is almost like heaven on earth. The backdrop shows the peaks of the mountains surrounding Herbert Glacier. I love taking long walks in this place. Makes you forget all the craziness of the world around you. The reverent silence brings your soul close to God.

Majestic peaks are all around you.This part of Alaska is the northern terminus of the Inside Passage, a protected waterway of convoluted passages between islands and fjords. This was an important travel corridor for the Tlingit and Haida Native peoples, as well as gold-rush era steamships.

This is my Irish Setter, Roni, walking on the beach. Alaska is paradise on earth for dogs! You find dog lovers everywhere. And dogs are invariably off-leash. No one gives you the look that you often get on the east coast: "what the heck are you doing with your dog off leash???" Instead, only smiles...

Here is my beloved wife and 6yo daughter enjoying a nice afternoon walk on the beach. It was 32F (0C).

3:50pm. The sun is almost going to sleep behind the Chilkat Mt. Range. Can you believe that 250 years ago, during the mini Ice-Age, this beach was 5-6 feet under water? The weight of glacier ice literally pushed the ground under sea level!!! When the glacier began to reced, the shore emerged again. This cycle has been going on for thousands of years. If you really want to know the truth about "global warming" get acquainted with Dr. Don Easterbrook's research work. He is an Emeritus Professor of Geology at Western Washington University. Here is a link to one of his articles -global-cooling-is-here

The Chilkat Mountain Range NW of Juneau. They have already received tons of snow. Again, the beauty cannot be fully described through the camera... you have to see it with your own eyes.

Bear Attack (graphic photos)

I love Alaska. Life here is incredibly beautiful, as unscathed natural beauty surround us everywhere we go. Even with the challenges brought by the weather and isolation, Alaska is worth it, particularly if you are totally averse to certain things you typically find in major metropolitan areas: stress, rudeness, arrogance and the sense of entitlement so predominant in major US cities.

Living in a place so strongly dominated by natural forces calls us to be aware of our own vulnerability and weakness as human beings. We are guests here... we are tiny islands of "civilization" surrounded by thousands, thousands and thousands of acres of untouched wilderness. So, it is not uncommon for humans and their pets to get into trouble from time to time when mother nature has its way. One thing all of us need to be aware of here is bears. They are all over. We live in their natural habitats.

A couple of months ago a family brought me their Miniature Pinscher after the dog had been attacked by a bear. It just so happened that a momma bear with two cubs were looking for food in this family's backyard when this courageous [tiny] dog attempted to chase the bears away. It failed miserably. Instead, the momma bear snatched the dog off the ground with her mouth and shook it violently, breaking the dog's spine. The dog ended up paralyzed and had to be put to sleep.

A couple of days ago, a similar situation happened, this time involving a sweet chocolate lab. The dog is from Haines - a little town of approximately 2,000 people located northwest of Juneau. According to the owners, the dog went out in the morning and subsequently wandered away. He was found later that day after having been seriously injured by a bear. No one knows how it happened. Most likely, the dog either (naively) entered the bear's territory, crossed paths with a protective momma bear or was found eating the bear's food.

Regardless of the reasons for the attack, this dog is very lucky to be alive!

This patient had several bite wounds in the neck in addition to these deep lacerations. Bear paws have powerful, long & sharp claws that can easily slice the flesh off like a salami. This dog is overweight and the subcutaneous (excess) fat worked as a cushion against the bear's sharp claws. If this pet were leaner, the bear could easily have cut through the skin into the chest or abdominal cavity. Because of the lapse between the accident/trauma and veterinary care (6-12hrs) this wound is considered contaminated.

Wound management for transport: Before transportation, particularly if it might take several hours before you reach veterinary care, all wounds should be thoroughly cleansed with soap and water, then bandaged. In the situation above, the client was very wise. He improvised an occlusive dressing with gauze and linen firmly held in place with duct tape (not shown). Bandaging prevents further contamination and helps to stop all but the most severe hemorrhage.

Upon arrival at our office, this dog was examined, vitals recorded and an IV catheter placed in his leg. He received IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medication. Then, he was placed under general anesthesia and prepared for surgery. This preparation consisted of clipping the hair, examining the wounds and thoroughly scrubbing the lacerations with chlorhexidine scrub  - chlorhexidine belongs to a group of medicines called antiseptic antibacterial agents. It is used to clean the skin after an injury, before surgery, or before an injection.

After trimming/cutting dead tissue away (including the subcutaneous fat) this is what the repaired lacerations look like (2.5hrs of hard work). There were several large subcutaneous pockets formed by the trauma. These pockets can trap contaminated fluid, bacteria and dead cells/debris. To enhance drainage and reduce the likelihood of infection, several penrose drains were anchored in place. In addition to these severe lacerations, the dog's right femur was fractured during the attack. He underwent fracture repair the next day. It is really a miracle "Buddy" is alive!

If you live in Alaska or just moved here recently, be aware that bears are found all over. Most people who see a bear in the wild consider it the highlight of their trip. The presence of these majestic creatures is a reminder of how privileged we are to share some of the country's dwindling wilderness. Yet, it is important to know as much as you can about bears in order to protect yourself and your beloved pets. Here is a link with useful information about bears in the State of Alaska: The Essentials of Traveling in Bear Country. 

If your dog experiences a laceration, here are a few things you can do before taking your pet to the veterinarian:

1. Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water; then, dry it.
2. Apply clean gauze or a clean linen [with pressure] to reduce bleeding (wound dressing)
3. If you can, secure the gauze/linen in place with elastikon bandage (elastikon bandage) or duct tape, if you don't have anything else.
4. If the laceration is large and located on the belly, chest or back and you don't have anything to protect it with, put a snug, clean T-shirt on the dog.
5. Seek veterinary assistance ASAP. The longer you wait for a wound to be properly treated, the more likely it will become infected.

Life... Alaska Style!

Bear activity has been increasing all around as thousands of salmon are returning from the Pacific Ocean to enter fresh waters (rapids/creeks and rivers) in order to spawn (lay eggs). So, the bears are trying to eat as much as possible to accumulate enough fat in preparation for the tough Alaskan winter... hibernation is around the corner. To be surrounded by so much beauty is truly a privilege!

Cat Onwers Neglecting Their Feline Friends!

OK - it's time to write about cats, because I do care for them. In addition, the current statistics about cats are troubling. Despite becoming the most popular family pet in the United States - outnumbering dogs by roughly 5 million - cats are substantially more neglected and underserved by their owners. In 2012, while dogs averaged about 2.6 veterinary visits per household/year, cats averaged only 1.6. Furthermore, dog owners clearly invested 3 times more on their pets' health when compared to cat owners (see table below).

 

Statistically speaking, a large number of cats are seen by a vet only once every 3 to 5 years! I can certainly attest to that reality since I often find myself in a tough spot when a sick cat comes in and I have ask my client why their last wellness visit took place years ago. Unfortunately, this is a concerning issue, and I would like to address some of the reasons underlying it.

To begin with, cat owners often express a misconception that cats don't need medical care, because they don't get sick as often as dogs do. In addition, most cat owners perceive their cats as independent and self-sufficient making them less prone to diseases, and as such, requiring fewer veterinary visits. Unfortunately, these beliefs are unfounded! Not only cats do get sick just as often as dogs, but cats are masters of disguise, so they rarely show signs of an illness until it is well-advanced.  As such, waiting for your cat to exhibit signs that he/she is sick is an unwise approach, as you'll most likely end up with higher veterinary bills and fewer treatment options (if not a dead cat) in order to address a health issue that could have been cheaper and more successfully treated if diagnosed earlier...

Another common  concern voiced by feline owners is that veterinary visits can cause a lot of stress to the cat and the client.
It is true, but such stress isn't restricted to cats. Dogs may also get stressed; nonetheless, dog owners seem to understand perhaps a bit better that the hazards of not bringing the dog for a regular veterinary check-up far outweigh the amount of potential stress caused by that appointment. If a cat owner has concerns about a visit to the vet, I always encourage the client to call in advance to request that arrangements be made for a more cat-friendly visit i.e. away from barks, noise and other meows.


My role as a veterinarian is to establish & promote a partnership with pet owners that will create a framework for a

lifelong health care plan. That is why one of my blogs entries talks about the importance of wellness. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have created an evidence-based life stage wellness program to help veterinarians in delivering the best comprehensive veterinary care for cats, which includes: (1) health care recommendations for cats in different life stages; and (2) tools to facilitate efficient and enhanced client-veterinarian communication during visits. The need to work within a life stages framework is obvious: like humans, cats go through different life stages with different needs and susceptibility to different health problems. All are influenced by many factors such as lifestyle (indoors/outdoors), genetics (breed), geographical location, alimentary habits, etc. The AAFP/AAHA guidelines follow a very easy age classification whose goal is to help clients and veterinarians focus attention on the cat's needs during a specific stage of life.

I always enjoy educating my clients in regards to aging. After age 7, cats are considered "mature adults". After the age of 10 or 11 they become "seniors". It is not uncommon for these cats to develop insidious chronic diseases that easily go unnoticed for a couple of years by the owner. When the poor cat begins to show actual signs that something isn't quite right, it is because the level of health compromise has reached a point that makes it impossible for organs like the heart, kidney, pancreas, intestines and the immune system to function properly. Moreover, if the disease is in an early stage, the physical exam performed by the veterinarian will most likely not be enough to detect any changes. At this point, it is of paramount importance that the client be willing to allow the vet to perform a full health screen (blood work, thyroid check, urine check, etc.) -- even if the cat seems healthy. Trust me - in the end you will save money and most likely extend your pet's life. Another advantage of a full laboratory work-up is that it allows your vet to establish what is "normal" for that individual patient. That way, it will be easy to tell when things begin to change with age or illness. I'd like to emphasize that it is very important for cat owners to understand that cats are masterful at hiding illnesses -- even from folks who have owned cats for many years. Cats are not pack animals so they lack the protection afforded by living in groups. It has become part of their survival instinct to "pretend" they are OK when in reality they are not.

According to the recommendations of the AAFP and AAHA here is what a responsible cat owner should do for his/her feline pal:

1. A minimum of one annual wellness exam is highly justifiable for all cats. For the young cat such visits allow the vet to make recommendations in regards to vaccinations and de-worming programs, address health risks related to a cat's lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoors), discuss diet recommendations, behavior, environmental enrichment, socialization, transportation, etc.
2. More frequent examinations for senior or geriatric cats or cats with or without known medical and behavioral conditions are highly advisable.
3.  Semi-annual wellness exams are recommended for all feline life stages. The reasons for semi-annual exams include: (1) changes in health status may occur in a short period of time; (2) ill cats often show no signs of disease which unfortunately allows them to progress to critical stages; (3) earlier detection of body weight changes (losing or gaining weight fast), dental disease, heart murmur, food and water intake and irregular visits to the bathroom often indicate that something is wrong. Early detection allows for earlier, more effective treatments.

Let me know if you have any questions and enjoy your cat!

Quill Season in SE Alaska!

Alaska: the true land of the free, home of the brave! The "Last Frontier", where people love the wilderness, the open spaces, nature! Alaska has turned out to be one of the most pet-friendly states in the US. Anywhere you go for a hike you'll find people with their beloved dogs - even in the rain! Some trails may have the sign: "pets on the leash", but invariably, almost no one follows this silly rule. After all, you're in Alaska! Who wants to deny his/her beloved dog a leash-free walk in one of the most spectacular places in the world? 

Yet, mother nature can play some very inconvenient tricks on you and your pet. Dogs are naturally curious and their predatory instinct can lead them to chase anything that moves and looks [usually] smaller than them -- even a grumpy, unwelcoming creature called a porcupine (a large rodent). They are like daisies in a meadow in Southeast Alaska: everywhere! Believe me... you don't want to mess around with this critter! Unfortunately, some dogs lack discernment and will try to catch these prickly creatures at all costs, including the cost of veterinary care. For us -- doctors -- removing quills is an ordeal! For dog owners, the experience oftentimes turns out quite expensive and frustrating. 
 

Porcupine quills (or spines) can take several forms, depending on the species. Yet, they are nothing more than modified hair coated with thick plates of keratin embedded in the porcupine skin. In America, porcupine quills are single in nature (not clustered), mixed with bristles and underfur. God is amazing and designed quills with a barbed end (see scanning electron microscopy picture on the right).

They are easily released when a predator comes in contact with them.  The barbed end ensures that they get buried in your dog's body with the slightest contact...and they don't come out easily. The end result is a pitiful pet in big trouble, like the one below.

Unfortunately, it seems that there is an old wives' tale circulating in SE Alaska that says that quills are pressurized, and if you cut them, the air will come out, making it easier for the quills to be removed. Unfortunately, this belief is totally FALSE! Quills have no air inside. If you cut them, you have nowhere to grab to pull them out of your dog. Worst of all... once stuck to the skin, they have the nasty tendency to easily migrate deeper and deeper into the tissues -- and the tiny [cut] quill stubs will be buried in your dog's skin and quite difficult to be found. It is a veterinarian's worst nightmare! 

So, the question then is what to do if your dog is the victim of a quill injury? The best thing for you to do is this: DON'T CUT THE QUILLS! Bring your dog to the closest veterinary facility ASAP! The longer quills remain in a dog, the more time they will have to migrate deeper into tissues, making them more difficult to find  -- particularly the ones cut short by the owner. In addition, quills become less rigid and more friable the longer they remain in tissues, making them more susceptible to breakage during removal.

Once in a veterinary hospital facility, your pet will be examined, vitals recorded and he/she will be sedated. A properly sedated pet as well as adequate lighting and surgical instruments are crucial for successful removal of quills. Furthermore, only a sedated/immobilized pet will allow proper examination of the mouth and throat. Quills of different sizes get deeply attached to your pet's tissues. It is painful to remove them without sedation so, please don't attempt this at home. As you can see from the pictures I have posted here, the most common sites for quill injury are the head, neck, mouth and limbs. If quills migrate, it becomes extremely difficult for a vet to remove them. Then, from simply plucking them out, your vet will have to move on to surgical exploration of the injury site in an attempt to retrieve the little bugger(s) from deep within the tissues. Oftentimes we are unsuccessful... and complications may arise. 

In 2006, the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Medicine published a scientific paper on quill injury. According to their statistical data, the most common complications from quill injury are: (1) skin/subcutanous abscess/cellulitis; (2) migration of quills into joints causing arthritis and lameness; (3) intraocular migration causing serious eye complications that sometimes require eyeball removal (enucleation). At our practice, we have seen quills migrating very close to the heart; I personally have treated a dog whose quill migrated into the lungs, causing a lung puncture and infection. The poor dog required an open chest surgery for removal of the affected lung lobe. As one can see, a responsible dog owner won't take this type of injury lightly. In order to have a pleasant, satisfying outdoor activity with your dog, keep in mind these factors:

1. Although porcupines are active year round, most quill injuries occur from Spring to Fall and during dusk and dawn hours when porcupine activity peaks. This also coincides with the peak of outdoor activities for owners and their dogs. 

2.  Most commonly affected breeds include: German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Rottweiler, Labrador and large breed crosses. This may reflect their higher drive for predatory/hunting behavior and the fact that the owners of large breed dogs often prefer to exercise them off leash.

3. Proper quill removal always requires adequate pet sedation and immobilization. Inability to retrieve the quills may be due to depth of quill penetration, complete or partial removal of quills by owner prior to presentation to the veterinarian, quill breakage, thick hair coat, pet obesity and other factors.

4. The longer quills remain in a pet, the more likely they will migrate, making them more difficult to find. These quills will invariably cause complications that will require a 2nd or 3rd visit to the veterinarian. Quills become more friable the longer they remain in a pet's tissues and more difficult to remove as they break more easily during plucking.

5. Dogs that have been injured by quills won't stop their predatory behavior. Oftentimes, dog owners bring their beloved dogs repeatedly for "de-quilling" as their pets don't learn that chasing a porcupine is not a smart idea. In such cases, a dog might be better off if kept constantly on leash during outdoor activities.

I hope you find this information helpful! Enjoy the beautiful Alaskan outdoors and keep your dog safe!

Live longer and healthier by owning a pet!

Most pet owners are aware of the joys that come with sharing their lives with cats and dogs. Yet, many remain unaware of the physical and mental health benefits that come with all the pleasures associated with playing with, hugging and caring for a furry friend. In the last few years more and more interesting research data has been produced scientifically proving the benefits of the human-animal bond. In particular, these studies have shown that:
1. Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression, hypertension and high blood cholesterol/lipid levels than individuals without a pet.
2. Pet owners have lower risk for cardiovascular diseases.
3. Patients with heart disease survive longer if they have pets.
4. People without pets tend to visit their doctors 30% more than pet owners! 
5. Pets fulfill a much necessary human need to touch. In addition, pets can be a great "social lubricant" for their owners by enhancing people-to-people interaction. Have you noticed how pet onwers (in particular dog owners) tend to stop, chat, smile and sometimes even play or walk together?
6. Pets can add structure and routine to your day. By doing so, they help with your vitality. No matter if it is sunny or rainy... if you're tired or not. Pets require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood --- depressed, anxious, stressed or tired -- you will have to get out of bed or home to feed, play, and interact with your pet. They encourage playfulness, laughter, exercise and by doing so, they help boost your immune system, increase your energy and slow down aging!

The American Heart Association has recently published in one of their HIGHLY respectable journals (Circulation) the benefits of pet ownership - in particular dogs. I encourage you to read it because it is really worth it! The link is found here: Pet Ownership and Cardiovascular Risk : A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Life goes on... much better!!

For all of those faithful blog followers, my wholehearted apologies. No, I have not stopped this blog and have no plans to do so! The reason for putting my posts on hold is because I've been quite busy in the last couple of months. I worked for a practice that was bought by a big corporation. Once a new medical director was placed in charge, things started getting sour in many ways, but in short, I could no longer remain associated with a practice where leadership fails to inspire and motivate me. As someone said:  "if a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself".

So, I quit my job in Western Pennsylvania and relocated to a much better (family-owned) practice and a much more beautiful area - ALASKA! Making such a big move can be a bit overwhelming and time-consuming. Yet, everything went pretty smoothly and my family and I are adjusting quite well to our new and AMAZING location, new life, friends and new job.

I am quite excited to share the first few pictures of this amazing adventure! Stay tuned for much more.After all, it is "The Last Frontier" and that is why it is unique!

Blessings,

Claudio Lagoa, DVM, MS

The view from a few blocks from home!

The view from the our deck at sundown! What a blessing!

 

 Eagle Beach...beautiful!

"To vaccinate or not to vaccinate... that is the question"

After graduating from vet school I spent a few years in equine and small animal practice. As a young practitioner, I had many questions about our understanding of the disease processes and their treatment. In regards to emergency and critical illness, my quest for answers led me on a long detour into the world of human medical research at top notch medical schools abroad and in the US, culminating with my becoming a faculty at one of the most respectable medical schools in the United States.

However, as time elapsed I got really bored and disappointed with all the politics and financial interests in the shadows of the research world. Much of the drive/energy to discovery was ultimately to come up with a new drug - a "magic bullet" so to speak, which would be patented and hopefully generate billions of dollars to the investigators and pharmaceutical industry producing it. Don't get me wrong! I am a Libertarian and have deep faith in Free Market Capitalism; there is absolutely nothing wrong with being successful and making money. But something in research didn't feel quite right i.e. the Pharmaceutical Industry's (aka Big Pharma) interests and strong influence on the medical establishment/research arena.

Big Pharma, as a whole, uses a systematic progression in its quest for securing an ever-increasing number of customers for its products - both in human and veterinary medicine. Three types of customers are Big Pharma's target: (1) Sick people/pets who have minor health issues preventable through food habits and lifestyle modification; (2) healthy people/pets who must be convinced through heavy propaganda that they have some disease that can only be addressed through medical/drug intervention; (3) healthy people and pets who are propagandized into believing that every potential ailment or disease is a possible or likely event that is preventable through aggressive drug treatment or vaccination. This latter group is an easy target, because these people place a heavy reliance on their doctors/veterinarians as a whole to understand exactly what the issues and risks are. They also tend to follow orders accordingly. In this regard, preventative drugs like vaccines, can be and have been mandated via coercive political policy that all but guarantees profits, subsidies, and the continuance of similar policies in the future. As such, Big Pharma places a lot of emphasis on this customer base, securing continued streams of revenues, which alleviate potential economic uncertainty. Do you doubt it? Have you never noticed the increasing number of commercials on TV advertising drugs? If you haven't noticed it, please read this article on the Wall Street Journal: Americans on Prescription Drugs.

 

Just to give you a quick illustration, in regards to vaccines, in 1983 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended only 10 vaccines for the immunization of infants and children. As of 2013, the number of shots recommended by the CDC has increased to nearly 40. That's right - 40!

Members of The American Animal Hospital Association Vaccination Task Force published in 2006, 2007 and recently 2011, the AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines whose goal is to help veterinarians and pet owners to make decisions in regards to pet vaccination protocols. This will be our next topic, if you stay tuned to this blog!

[to be continued]

Annual Wellness & Cancer

Cancer is a major cause of pet animal death. I say this based on a study that looked into more than 2000 necropsy cases. This study found that 45% of dogs that lived 10 years or older died of cancer (1). Of the more than 70 million household dogs and  90 million cats in the United States, at least 4 million dogs and about 4 million of cats develop cancer each year.

Why should you (a pet owner) and your veterinarian be concerned about cancer? The prevalence of cancer continues to rise in the US pet population. It continually rises due to several factors, but mainly because our pets are living increasingly longer lives. And they are living longer thanks to the advances in veterinary medicine for better nutrition (read my articles on Pet Foods), vaccinations against deadly viral and bacterial diseases, better preventive medicine (heartworm, tick-borne diseases, parasites) and possibly due to the increased bond between pets and their owners (human-animal bond).

I contend that ethical veterinarians will educate their clients about the need for at least one wellness appointment every year to make sure your pet is doing OK. Remember, they age a lot faster than humans, and a small decline in health could translate into a significantly shorter life-span. During a wellness visit your vet will check for signs of anemia, feel the lymph nodes, check for lumps, and palpate the abdomen in an attempt to feel the liver, loops of the intestines, spleen and kidneys to ascertain their size, texture and if there are possibly masses present in the abdomen.

During a wellness visit, I feel it is important to educate my clients as to the benefit of doing blood work. This is  particularly true for pets 7 years of age and older. I believe that the cost of missing a significant yet insidiously developing disease is too great to justify NOT testing just to save a couple hundred dollars. Blood work will also allow your vet to record baseline values for your pet. The best reference range for a particular pet are the laboratory values for that pet when he/she is healthy! Furthermore, once your vet obtains baseline values for your pet's current health status, serial data collection and evaluation provides the best objective way to assess how a disease is progressing.

And to those who believe that vets who consistently educate their clients about the supreme importance of yearly wellness exams and screening tests do so to increase their income, I strongly object! My own pets are placed on yearly screening tests (especially my senior pets); I believe it is poor medicine not to alert my clients to the fact that the older a pet grows, the more likely he/she will start brewing potentially serious health issues. This is true for obesity, metabolic/inflammatory disorders, organ failure (kidney, liver) and, sadly enough, the number one pet killer in the US: cancer.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word prevention as "to anticipate", "to see it coming and ward off".  A $50 wellness appointment together with $200 for a complete health screening may help prevent a potentially painful & expensive situation for you and your pet. Isn't your pet worth much more than $250 per year? Think about it!

1. Bronson RT. Variation in age at death of dogs of different sexes and breeds. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 43:2057-2059, 1982

Commercial Foods (Final Part)

Nutritional Adequacy Statement: the National Research Council (NRC) recommendations were once used to provide guidelines as to the nutritional adequacy of pet foods. The last NRC update occurred in the 80's  and they are no longer consider valid for this purpose. Since the NRC guidelines are no longer used, the AAFCO established its own standards by using its "feeding trial protocols". This means that a certain pet food has been fed to dogs and cats and has met established standards of proper nutrition, i.e. that it contains the proper amount of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, etc. in order to meet the pet's basic nutritional needs. Approved products must bear the following statement in their packages: "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [name of product] provides complete and balanced nutrition". Clearly, all of the above does not tell much about the quality of the food, except that it contains the minimal amounts of nutrients that AAFCO deems adequate to keep your dog alive on that food. It is quite disappointing that AAFCO replaced the opinion of reputable, qualified scientists from the NRC with its own. What pet owners need to be aware of is that AAFCO feeding test standards are not scientifically sound, like one would expect in human research. AAFCO's feeding trial standards are very basic and only require the following:

1. Only a minimum of 8 dogs is required as a valid "test group"  There are no restrictions regarding breed or sex. Of these 8 animals, only 6 are actually required to complete the 26-week trial. The reasons for which an animal might drop out are losing too much weight or other negative side effects.  
2. During the trial, the only food available to the test animals is the food being tested. Water is freely available at all times.  
3. At the beginning and end of the trial the test dogs must pass a physical examination by a veterinarian. The veterinarians evaluate general health, body and hair coat condition.  
4. At the end (but not at the beginning) of the trial, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum alkaline phosphatase, and serum albumin are measured and recorded.  
5. The diet being tested fails if any animal shows clinical or pathological signs of nutritional deficiency or excess. The maximum permissible weight loss during the trial is 15% of the starting body weight. 
6. Specific minimum values for the blood tests are given, and applied to the average result of all participating animals that finished the trial. 

As you can see, these standards are not scientifically rigorous. What is even more concerning is that if a particular product meets the AAFCO standards, ALL products of that same line are given the same status of "balanced nutrition" - even if they have greater amounts of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, etc. In animals with specific nutritional requirements and in breeds with specific health issues this can result in serious problems, like developmental orthopedic (bone) disease in large breeds, metabolic deficiencies in Terriers, Malamutes/Huskies and diabetes in toy breeds, to name a few. AAFCO standards do not take these issues into consideration.

Feeding Directions: owners need to understand that pet food manufacturers provide an average, basic estimate of food intake for the size, breed and level of activity of a pet. Here good sense is important. I suggest clients to start feeding the amount recommended in the label and then "tweak" the amount given based on whether your goal is weight maintenance, weight gain or loss. It is also important to take into consideration your pet's age and level of activity AND any underlying health issues  such as metabolic diseases (diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing's) or liver, heart or kidney diseases. Your veterinarian is the most qualified person to assist you with this information. We are well trained to assess your pet's body condition score (BCS) to inform you whether you're feeding your pet properly or not.

Calorie Statement: if a caloric statement is made on the label, the manufacturer must express it in kilocalories per kilogram basis. It can also be expressed "per cup" or "per can". This information is very helpful for clients to make meaningful comparison between products to chose the most suitable for their pets. Since the caloric statement is made on an "as fed" basis, one must also correct for moisture content to make meaningful comparisons. Caloric content and guaranteed analysis should be always taken into consideration together. The more calories offered by a food per unit of weight, likely more digestible the food is. Keep also in mind that fats provide more than twice as much calories (energy) as carbohydrates. Don't forget that when you compare a cup of two different foods in terms of volume (i.e. cup) they most likely won't have the same weight. Dry foods in particular have different densities, so one cup of food A may have 90 grams of food while one cup of food B may have 115 grams. 

If available, use the metabolized energy (ME) to compare different products. Example:
Food A provides 1680 Kcal of metabolized energy per pound of product
Food B provides 1400 Kcal of metabolized energy per pound of product
Product A is of better quality and digestibility for it offers more calories per pound (in terms of ME).

Other Label Claims: don't be fooled by terms such as "premium", "gourmet", "natural", "organic", "ultra-especial", etc. As explained previously, the pet food industry is not regulated by the USDA and these names have no official meaning in regards to the real quality of the food or the way it was processed or manufactured. Additionally, pet food manufacturers are not required to describe substances like preservatives, ingredients, coloring chemicals, pesticides and additives that they did not add to their products themselves, but their suppliers did.  

Summary: the pet food industry is not under the regulation of the USDA. Rather, they are under the auspices of the AAFCO, whose standards for manufacturing pet foods are questionable. Pet owners and veterinarians have the right to know what they are recommending or feeding to their pets. This information is available on the food labels. However, despite offering a lot of information, such labels can be very deceiving and distracting to the naive person. Educate yourself and don't be swayed by marketing strategies! If you have any questions contact your veterinarian. In most instances, he/she should be able to help you. In addition, you can always call the manufacturer or regulatory agency and ask for further information.


Here is a list of foods that I highly recommend. I hope you find these articles very helpful. Should you still have any concerns don't hesitate to drop me an email!

CANNED FOODS
Artemis Pet Food Co, Inc.
Blue Buffalo Co.
Breeder's Choice Pet Foods
Canidae Corp.
Castor & Pollux Pet Works
Diamond Pet Products
Dogswell LLC.
Drs. Forster & Smith
Fromm Family Foods
Lotus Natural Food
Natural Balance
Natura Pet Products
Nature's Variety
Solid Gold Health Products of Pets, Inc.
Vet's Choice
Wellpet

DRY FOODS
Addiction Foods
Annamaet Petfoods
Artemis Pet Foods
Blue Buffalo Co.
Breeder's Choide Pet Foods
Canidae Corp
Castor & Pollux Pet Works
Diamond Pet Products
Dogswell, LLC.
Dr. Gary's Best Breed
Drs. Foster & Smith
Firstmate Pet Foods
Fromm Family Foods
Horizon Pet Nutrition
Lotus Natural Food
Natura Pet Products
Nature's Variety
PetGuard
Smartpak Canine
Solid Gold Health Products of Pets, Inc.
Vet's Choice
Wellpet     
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Wellness for a healthy pet!

Wellness Exams
Aging is a progressive degenerative process tightly integrated with inflammation. Cause and effect are not clear. A number of theories have been developed that attempt to define the role of chronic inflammation in aging: redox stress, mitochondrial damage, ageing of the immune and endocrine systems, epigenetic modifications, and age-related diseases. However, no single theory explains all aspects of aging; instead, it is likely that multiple processes contribute and that all are intertwined with inflammatory responses.

In a study by the University Of Georgia College Of Veterinary Medicine, veterinarians examined data from the Veterinary Medical Database to determine the cause of death for nearly 75,000 dogs over the 20-year period of 1984 through 2004. They classified the deaths by organ system and disease process and further analyzed the data by breed, age and average body mass. Eighty-two breeds are represented in their study, from the Afghan hound to the Yorkshire terrier. The study, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine -- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.0695.x/abstract , can be used to create breed-specific health maintenance programs and is a starting point for future studies that will explore the genetic underpinnings of disease in dogs.

While some of the findings corroborate smaller, breed-specific studies, the UGA researchers also found plenty of surprises. Toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Maltese, are known to have high rates of cardiovascular disease (19 and 21 percent of deaths within the breeds, respectively), for example, but the researchers found that Fox Terriers also have high rates of cardiovascular disease (16 percent of deaths). Golden retrievers and boxers are known to have high rates of cancer (50 and 44 percent of deaths, respectively).

The study is very important because anticipates how things can go wrong for dogs, thus guiding veterinarians to formulate wellness programs to help keep dogs as healthy as possible. Yet, that cannot be done unless clients understand the importance of regular veterinary check-ups. A wellness program is particularly important for “middle-aged” pets, (pets 6 or 7 years of age or older), when health begins to decline more rapidly. Since every year for a dog or cat is equivalent to five to seven human years, many aspects of your pet’s health can change in a short amount of time. Regular wellness exams allow your veterinarian to evaluate your pet’s general health and become aware of any health problems before they become serious illnesses. Your veterinarian may also wish to perform routine blood testing, urinalysis (urine testing) and other tests are recommended for all pets in their “senior years.”

Make sure your pet does not miss his annual exams, particularly if your pet is “senior”. The AAHA recommends that healthy dogs and cats visit the veterinarian once a year for a complete exam and laboratory testing, if possible. Senior dogs and cats should receive a wellness exam and lab testing more consistently (often twice a year) in order to effectively prevent and treat illnesses that come with age such as cancer, kidney, heart, liver diseases, inflammatory or metabolic diseases, etc.

"He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician." [Thomas Fuller] ... think about it!