Food By Franz

People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets This is an excerpt from an ASPCA article.

Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but they’re actually quite dangerous for our animal companions. Our nutrition experts have put together a handy list of the top toxic people foods to avoid feeding your pet. As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten any of the following foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine
These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado
The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins
Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.

Yeast Dough
Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.

Xylitol
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives
These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but we recommend that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.

Milk
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Salt
Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!

Here’s an example of a unique, pet healthy treat

Been worried about West Nile Virus in your Pet?

According to the CDC there is good news for dog and cat owners!! West Nile virus does not appear to cause extensive illness in dogs or cats. Results of 2007 show of 507 reported cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) disease among nonhuman mammals, 471 (93%) occurred in equines, and 36 (7%) occurred in other species (squirrels [27], canines [five], and unspecified species [four]). Equine cases were reported from 320 counties in 35 states and Puerto Rico; Texas reported 20% of all equine cases. The number of reported WNV-infected equines peaked in mid-August.

In addition, there is no documented evidence of person-to-person or animal-to-person transmission of WNV virus. Because WNV virus is transmitted by infectious mosquitoes, dogs or cats could be exposed to the virus in the same way humans become infected. Veterinarians should take normal infection control precautions when caring for an animal suspected to have this or any viral infection. It is possible that dogs and cats could become infected by eating dead infected animals such as birds, but this is undocumented.

I recently spoke with my vet, Dr Katherine Borrett and she recommended bringing in your pets at dusk & dawn when mosquitoes are the most active. She also stated that a light spray of fly/insect repellent is ok for pets – “you don’t want to saturate them, but if its marked safe for people then its safe for pets.” Ms Borrett said that the season usually peaks in August/September for cases of WVN, although there has been one confirmed equine case in Davis Co. so far this year.

West Nile Virus and Dogs and Cats – FAQ’s

Q. Can West Nile virus (WNV) cause illness in dogs or cats?
A. Experimentally infected dogs* showed no symptoms after infection with WNV. Some infected cats exhibited mild, nonspecific symptoms during the first week after infection–for the most part only showing a slight fever and slight lethargy. It is unlikely that most pet owners would notice any unusual symptoms or behavior in cats or dogs that become infected with WNV.

Q. How can my veterinarian treat my cat or dog if they are/may be infected with WNV?
A. There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. Full recovery from the infection is likely. Treatment would be supportive (managing symptoms, if present) and consistent with standard veterinary practices for animals infected with a viral agent.

Q. Does my dog/cat becoming infected pose a risk to the health of my family or other animals?
A. There is no documented evidence of dog or cat-to-person transmission of West Nile virus. The evidence suggests that dogs do not develop enough virus in their bloodstream to infect more mosquitoes. Cats develop slightly higher levels of virus in their bloodstream, but it is unclear if this would be enough to infect mosquitoes. It is very unlikely that cats would be important in furthering the spread of the virus. *
If your animal becomes infected with WNV, this suggests that there are infected mosquitoes in your area. You should take measures to prevent mosquitoes from biting you (use repellent and wear protective clothing.)
Veterinarians should take normal infection control precautions when caring for any animal (Including birds) suspected to have this or any viral infection.

Q. How do cats and dogs become infected with West Nile virus?
A. Dogs and cats become infected when bitten by an infected mosquito. There is also evidence that cats can become infected with the virus after eating experimentally infected mice. *

Q. Can I become infected with WNV if a dog with the virus bites me?
A. Preliminary studies have not been able to detect virus in the saliva of infected dogs. This suggests that dog bites pose a low risk, if any, of transmission of WNV from dogs to other animals or people.

Q. Is there a vaccine for cats or dogs?
A. No.

Q. Should a dog or cat infected with West Nile virus be destroyed?
A. No. There is no reason to destroy an animal just because it has been infected with West Nile virus. Full recovery from the infection is likely. Treatment would be supportive and consistent with standard veterinary practices for animals infected with a viral agent.

Q. Can I use insect repellent on my pets?
A. DEET-based repellents, which are recommended for humans, are not approved for veterinary use (largely because animals tend to ingest them by licking.) Talk with your veterinarian for advice about the appropriate product for use on your pet.

Since there are an estimated 68 million companion dogs and 73 million pet cats in the United States alone, evaluating their response to WNV infection, assessing their potential to serve as amplifying hosts for this virus, and obtaining some estimate of the clinical consequences of infection are important concerns. There are some natural alternatives, see
Natural Cat Lover?s Gift Basket

They have conducted experiments with domestic animals – to see the results of one CDC sanctioned study:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol10no1/02-0616.htm

Birds

West Nile virus has been detected in dead birds of at least 326 species. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, infected with WN virus can die or become ill, most infected birds do survive. There is no evidence that a person can get WN virus from handling live or dead infected birds, but it is recommended that persons should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any dead animals. Use gloves or double plastic bags to place the bird carcass in a garbage bag or contact their local health department for guidance.

Horses
West Nile virus (WNV) has impacted thousands of horses since 1999, with some regions reporting over 30% of the horse cases dying or euthanized due to poor prognosis. There are currently two vaccines approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in horses. A summary of West Nile cases in horses can be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/wnv/2008_equine_west_nile_virus_final.pdf Fortunately Utah had no confirmed cases last year.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Genetic Mutation in Cats

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in the cat. In many breeds it is an inherited disease. Our laboratory has identified two mutations responsible for the gene in some cats. One genetic mutation is found predominantly in Maine Coon cats and the second genetic mutation is found predominantly in Ragdoll cats.

It should be noted that in human beings with the same disease, there are many different genetic mutations which can cause this disease. It is likely the same in the cat but additional mutations have not yet been defined.

Very importantly, the absence of the mutation in a cat DOES NOT mean that it will never develop the disease. It means that it does not have the only known mutation that can cause the disease in the cat at this time. In the future, additional mutations may be identified that may be tested for as well.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

DCM is a disease of the heart muscle that results in weakened contractions and poor pumping ability. As the disease progresses the heart chambers become enlarged, one or more valves may leak, and signs of congestive heart failure develop. The cause of DCM is unclear in most cases, but certain breeds appear to have an inherited predisposition. Large breeds of dogs are most often affected, although DCM also occurs in some smaller breeds such as cocker spaniels. Occasionally, DCM-like heart muscle dysfunction develops secondary to an identifiable cause such as a toxin or an infection. In contrast to people, heart muscle dysfunction in dogs and cats is almost never the result of chronic coronary artery disease (”heart attacks”).
Dogs with heart failure caused by DCM often show signs of left-sided congestive failure. These include reduced exercise ability and tiring quickly, increased breathing rate or effort for the level of their activity excess panting, and cough (especially with activity). Sometimes the cough seems soft, like the dog is clearing its throat. Poor heart pumping ability and arrhythmias can cause episodes of sudden weakness, fainting, or sudden death as noted above. Some dogs with DCM experience abdominal enlargement or heavy breathing because of fluid accumulation in the abdomen or chest, respectively. Presence of any of these signs should prompt a visit to your veterinarian to determine if heart failure (or another disease) has developed.

More advanced signs of heart failure could include labored breathing, reluctance to lie down, inability to rest comfortably, worsened cough, reduced activity, loss of appetite, and collapse. A veterinarian should be consulted right away if these signs occur. Signs of severe heart failure may seem to develop quickly with DCM, but the development of underlying heart muscle abnormalities and progression to overt heart failure probably takes months to years.

A cardiac exam by a veterinarian can detect abnormal heart sounds (when present) and many signs of heart failure. Usually chest radiographs (x-rays), an electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiogram are performed to confirm a suspected diagnosis and to assess severity. Echocardiography also can be used to screen for early DCM in breeds with a higher incidence of the disease. Resting and 24-hour (Holter) ECGs are sometimes used as screening tests for the frequent arrhythmias that usually accompany DCM in some breeds, especially boxers and Doberman pinchers.

What can be done if my pet has this disease?

Asymptomatic (subclinical) cases of DCM may be treated with enalapril® or another ACE inhibitor to slow progression of the changes leading to heart failure. Other medications and strategies are also used as signs of heart failure develop and/or if rhythm abnormalities are present. Therapy is always tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Since this disease is not reversible and heart failure tends to be progressive, the intensity of therapy (for example, the number of medicines and the dosages used) usually must be increase over time.

Recently a Boxer dog with a heart rhythm disturbance due to cardiomyopathy had a defibrillator surgically placed to control his heart rate.

This Pet Health Topic was written by O. L. Nelson, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology & Internal Medicine) Washington State University.

Pet Health Archive – May 2009

Recently, The Early Show’s resident veterinarian, Dr. Debbye Turner, was asked about “home cooking” for your pets. “I cannot recommend that you cook for your pet,” she told co-anchor Hannah Storm. “They have very specific nutritional needs. If you’re going to cook for your pet, you need to formulate a diet that has all the right nutrients, plus supplements, and all in the right proportions.” Ultimately, she did sanction these two recipe’s -

The recipe for dogs:

Rice (white, long-grain, regular, cooked) 3-7/8cup
Oil (vegetable, corn) 4-1/4 tsp
Chicken (breast, cooked) 5-1/8 oz

PLUS: must add these human supplements:
1-1/8 tablets of One a Day Maximum Multivitamin/mineral supplement
3-7/8 of Posture caplet (600 mg elemental calcium)
1-3/8 tablets of generic choline tablet (600 mg tablet w/250 mg choline)
1 tsp of Morton Lite Salt Mixture
1/8 tsp of Morton Salt Substitute
3/4 tablet of generic zinc gluconate tablet (250 mg tablet w/30 mg elemental zinc)

Bake the chicken in the oven and cook the white rice without adding salt. Cut the chicken into small pieces. Place the white rice in a bowl and add the oil and the supplements. Mix well. Place cut chicken on the rice and serve.

Why is it, Turner was asked, that cats are far more affected in this recall than dogs?

It’s important to point out that we still don’t know exactly what has caused illness and death in pets, Turner responded, but we know that far more cats have gotten sick and died than dogs. It could be because they are smaller and can’t tolerate the “load” of the toxin in the food. Or their metabolism is faster than dogs, so it could be that hastens the affect of the poison. We’re just not sure yet.

Turner also demonstrated the preparation of a recipe for cats, which she said is a good example of what a cat would eat. It’s from the same Web site as the one for dogs, and includes sweet potato, salmon, and vegetable oil. But again, the food alone doesn’t contain all the necessary nutrition for the cat. So you would need to add these supplements to make it nutritionally complete: a multivitamin, calcium, taurine, choline, salt, zinc, and caltrate.

The cat recipe:

Sweet potato (cooked, baked in skin, without salt) 5/8 cup
Fish, salmon (Atlantic, wild, cooked) 2.9 ounces
Oil (vegetable or corn) 3/4 tsp

PLUS: must add these human supplements:
1/4 tablet of One A Day Maximum Multivitamin/multimineral Supplement per day
3/8 caplet of Posture caplet (600 mg elemental calcium) per day
1/4 tablet of Generic taurine tablet (1 gram tablet with 500 mg taurine) per day
3/8 tablet of Generic choline tablet (600 mg tablet with 250 mg choline) per day
1/8 tsp of Morton Lite Salt Mixture per day
1/8 tablet of Generic zinc gluconate tablet (250 mg tablet with 30 mg elemental zinc) per day
1/4 capsule of Caltrate 600 per day

Bake the salmon and sweet potato in the oven without any added salt. Once cooked, measure out the salmon and sweet potato in the amounts above and cut into small pieces. Place the sweet potato in a serving bowl and add the oil and the necessary supplement. Mix well. Place the cut salmon onto the sweet potato and serve.

For more on pets and nutrition, Turner recommends these sites:
PetDiets.com and the site of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Springtime brings the arrival of plants, flowers, and, among other things, insects and ticks. Although our particular area does not have a flea problem, when the weather warms it is a good idea to protect pets from ticks, especially if they visit grassy, bushy, or timbered areas. “We base the start of tick season on the mildness of the weather,” said Dr. Matt Mickas of WSU’s Community Practice Service. “A good rule of thumb is that if the grass is growing, ticks are out and pets will need tick prevention. There is a pretty large population of people that hike and do a lot of recreational activities with their pets. These pets especially need preventative treatment,as well as cats and dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors.

Allergies: Springtime is the start of allergy season for both humans and pets. Clinical signs of allergies in pets include chewing, licking, head shaking, and scratching. Learn more about the Native Remedies range of homeopathic, herbal remedies.
The Pets tab on this linked page has lots of info!

Holiday plants and food: Easter bunnies may look attractive to dogs and cats, including chocolate ones. Before allowing a pet to indulge, remember that chocolate can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, a caffeine derivative, which can, in large doses, cause seizures and potentially kill a dog or cat. More importantly, pets don’t need the extra calories found in chocolate and the risk of diarrhea. Be sure to store chocolate safely away from pets. Certain springtime flowers and plants, including Easter lilies, can be toxic to pets as well.

Health checkups: If you have not taken your pet to the veterinarian within the past year, spring is a great time to schedule your annual visit. Pets are often outside more during the spring and summer months and are more likely to encounter animals that spread disease. Vaccinations help, too.

Dental care: Oral care is an important part of keeping pets healthy. Annual physical examinations and regular dental cleanings by a vet are important to identify and prevent dental diseases. Pet owners can also learn how to examine their pet’s mouths for signs of dental problems.

Spaying and neutering: Spring is breeding time for many animals, and it might be a good time to consider spaying or neutering pets if it has not been done. Check for Utah Clinics.

Excepts from the Community Practice Service Newsletter (published four times a year by Washington State University)

Posted on 02/04/2009 12:20 pm by manx | Edit

Helpful herbs for our Pet Friends

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and anti-catarrhal, is an excellent remedy (used for centuries as an eyewash) to ease discomfort and help prevent excessive tearing. It can also be taken internally as a tonic for the eyes, and it is rich in vitamins C and A, excellent antioxidants to help prevent damage to the eyes. If the eye is infected, eyebright should be combined with antimicrobial herbs such as echinacea (Echinacea spp.), taken internally, and Oregon grape root (Mahonia aquifolium) and/or goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), which can be taken internally and/or used externally as eye drops.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) provides important nutrients that nourish the eye and enhance general visual function. Bilberry contains bioactive chemicals (anthocyanidins) that help prevent damage to the structure of the eyes. It has been used to protect against age- and diabetes-related changes including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) contains bioflavonoids that are helpful for organs—such as the eyes—that are rich in connective tissue. Ginkgo’s antioxidant properties protect cells and their membranes, and it enhances cellular metabolism and blood circulation. Ginkgo and bilberry are taken internally—all herbs are best offered as a fresh or dried herb, sprinkled atop your pet’s food. If capsules or tablets are used, adjust the dosage given on the product label for the weight of the animal. (Assume that, for the sake of the product label, a “normal” human weighs 150 pounds.)

This was copied from the Herb Companion website at: http://www.herbcompanion.com/pets/Pet-corner-Herbs-for-pets-eyes-35.aspx?page=2