Be leary of "Slentrol" for dog weight control

The drug company Pfizer has just released the first FDA-approved weight loss drug for dogs called Slentrol. This drug blocks fat absorption in the dog's digestive tract and makes them feel full.

Unfortunately, if it's blocking fat absorption, it also blocks the vital fat-soluble nutrients, including COQ10 which is the major source of energy for your pet and important for healthy organ function of the heart, brain, and liver to name a few. According to Dr. Al Sears, it will also rob your dog of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K which are crucial to eyesight, strong bones, heart and coat health.

The drug has terrible side effects of vomiting, loose stool, diarrhea and sluggishness. The drug sounds very much like the human weight loss drug Alli which I personally would never take, and would not subject my dogs to either. Did you know the instructions for Alli say to wear dark pants and take a change of clothes to work?

I've written previously about commercial pet food containing grains and how it can cause weight gain, allergies and many other conditions in dogs and cats. If your dog is overweight and you're considering using Slentrol, please read my posts before doing so. There are other alternatives to drugs for your pet's weight control. Abby went from a very pudgy 32 pounds a year ago, back down to her ideal weight of 25 pounds just by changing her diet, which eliminated her allergies and thus eliminated her need for Prednisone pills (a steroid drug given for skin allergies known to cause weight gain and other side effects).

So check out what's really in your pet's food that doesn't need to be there, watch portion size, check what's in their treats, and increase their exercise. This drug Slentrol sounds like a bad deal to me.

Recommended Natural Pet Food list

I have compiled a list of my "Recommended Pet Foods" in my sidebar, but I need your help to make the list as complete as possible. If you use a pet food that fits the criteria below and you don't see it listed, please leave a comment with the product name so I can add it. Some companies make several products, some fit my criteria while others don't. So please be specific when listing your pet food.

Recommended Natural Pet Foods:
Barf World Raw patties
Blue Buffalo Co.
Evangers
From Family
Halo Purely for Pets
Holistic Blend
Merrick
Natura: Evo, Innova and Karma
Natura: California Natural canned only: Lamb/Chicken & Br.Rice/Herring & Sw.Potato
Nature's Variety - Instinct - canned
Newmans Own Organics Premium
Solid Gold: Hund-N-Flocken, Katz-N-Flocken, Millenia, Wolf King
The Honest Kitchen -dehydrated raw
Wellness by Old Mother Hubbard

Criteria for the list:

* First ingredient must be a specified meat such as "chicken" (not "chicken meal"-
it's fine if "chicken meal" (example) is the 2nd or 3rd ingredient.
* No by-products
* No corn as it's hard to digest and one of the prime causes of allergies in pets
* Fat should be specified, such as "chicken fat," not just "animal fat"
* Preservatives should be natural and not chemical, for instance Vitamin E

On the subject of "chicken meal," according to Wikipedia, the quality of the protein from "chicken meal" as an example depends on the type and amount of meat in the mixture, and although it's better than "chicken by-products," it's generally a lesser quality protein source than "chicken meat." Chicken meal is only the meat from the chicken, whereas chicken by-products can be all parts of the bird, including beaks, feathers, feet, intestines, etc.

On the subject of "fat," if the product doesn't specify the animal from which the fat was taken, and is labeled simply "animal fat," the contributing animal is not known, and the resulting oil is very low in linoleic acid which is essential for skin and coat health.

The pet foods that list meat as the first ingredient tend to be the most expensive, and I know that we can't all afford the top of the line pet foods. There are many other good pet foods out there where the first ingredient is for example "chicken meal," but my goal here was to list the very best pet foods. One trick I use is to mix a top brand with a less expensive yet all natural brand to help keep the cost down and make it go further, yet my pets still get the benefit of the high-end food. I also feed raw food for one meal a day to assure they are getting the best quality high protein diet I can give them. For premium content and convenience, nothing beats BARF World frozen raw food patties. For less expense but very convenient, try The Honest Kitchen's dehydrated raw mix and just add water. You might also consider making your own raw food mixture, which I posted about previously HERE. I know it takes a bit more time, but it can be done cheaply and raw food is the best food by far for your dog or cat.

Thank you everyone for any brands you contribute to the list.

Warning about Nutro's "Nature Choice" dog food

I received a warning about Nutro's "Nature Choice" dog food from the rescue organization where I adopted Rosie. I haven't heard anything about this on the news, but it is frightening.

Nutro's "Nature Choice" line of food is highly suspected in the deaths of six dogs in Florida in the past month. Two Rottweilers and a German Shepherd from one household, and three German Shepherds in another household all consumed this product and then died within 48 hours.

Apparently Nutro has refused to cooperate and ignored the owners of the dogs. I recommend that if you have Nutro products at home, stop using them until more is known about this situation. You might also want to return them to the store where you bought them and tell them why you are returning them. And please pass this along to all your dog owner friends.

Follow-up on Abby's allergies and otitis

I've written previously about Abby's skin and ear allergies, but new readers may not be aware of the tremendous improvement she has made since changing her diet. If your dog has allergies, I recommend you read my previous posts on the subject; you can find all the posts listed on the upper left of my blog under "Posts by Category", then click on "dog allergies."

Abby had her first visit to the vet this week since I changed her food, took her off Prednisone and the antibiotic drops for her ears in May of last year. I was very pleased that she has lost 4 pounds since her last vet visit a year ago (we've had a constant battle with her weight gain aftere she was put on Prednisone at age 3, going from a normal weight of 23 pounds up to 31 pounds, and no amount of cutting back on food and treats along with exercise seemed to help). She now weighs 27 pounds, and I'm hopeful we can keep it going in a downward direction. The biggest news this week was that our vet said she gets the "best cocker ears award." Her ears show no signs of otitis, and this is the same dog that a year ago was on constant antibiotic drops, and even that wasn't keeping the otitis at bay any longer. If you'd like to read my post on the very inexpensive home ear remedy I am using, CLICK HERE.

The bottom line: if your dog is suffering from allergies and ear problems, I recommend you change their diet, remove all grains and chemicals, and increase the protein content. A raw diet is very beneficial for strengthening the dog's immune system which in turn helps the skin allergies, as well as all-natural grain-free kibble formulas such as Canidae, Innova and Wellness Core.

Be aware of what's in your dog's treats

After posting this week on the Iams petfood scandal, one of my readers suggested I post about treats as well. So I did some research on some popular dog biscuits, and found they are mostly the same. I chose Eukanuba Healthy Extras for this post. Here are the ingredients:

Top 10 Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of vitamin E, and Citric Acid), Natural Chicken Flavor, Fish Meal (source of fish oil), Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Salt.

A quick internet search of the main protein source in these biscuits shows this description:
*chicken by-product meal - an inferior source of protein made from necks, feet, intestines, etc.
*Fish meal - Like with all other animal sources, if a type isn't specified, you never know what type or quality of fish is used.
According to US Coast Guard regulations, all fish meal not destined for human consumption must be conserved with Ethoxyquin (unless the manufacturer has a special permit). This preservative is banned from use in foods for human consumption except for the use of very small quantities as a color preservative for spices. So unless the manufacturer either presents a permit or states "human grade" fish or fish meal is used, you can be pretty sure Ethoxyquin is present in the food even if it is not listed.

*Wheat flour is also known to cause many allergies in dogs.

Also, here is a link to "The dog food project" which gives a list of ingredients that should be avoided.

I personally no longer give my dogs commercial biscuits. Instead of a treat, I give them a raw meat,organs,crushed bone,egg and vegetable mixture that when mixed together resembles canned dog food in consistency. They love it and are thriving on it. As a special treat, I feed them Charlee Bear chicken treats.

I'm sure there are other safe dog treats marketed, and if any of you are using products that contain real meat and limit the grains, I'd like to hear what you're using, because I'm always open to new ideas.

(My blog has been featured in The Dog Blog Carnival and Notes from a Country Groomer)

The Iams pet food scandal

I just received a newsletter from Healthy Happy dogs.com regarding Iams pet food, and the way they treat the dogs and cats they use for testing purposes. I did an internet search and found the following pertaining to Iam's answer to these charges which you can read here. Another article I found by Nuvo.net that gives an overview of the situation can be read here.One of my readers also informed me of an article on Peta, from the Poodle and dog blog which you can read here. But Peta is not the only organization speaking out against Iams. Another of my readers, Jan's funny farm, advised me of this article, entitled the Iam's Expose - to read it click here. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Here is the article from HealthHappyDogs.com:
"Iams Scandal

There are pet food manufacturers out there who profess to provide a superior product. They may even come highly recommended by your vet. And probably the product does contain superior ingredients to those cheap supermarket brands.

But at what price?

And by price here I'm not talking about the cash you outlay from you wallet for the product. No, I'm talking about societal cost, and specifically the cost incurred by animals just like your dog and mine.

Some of these animals pay with their lives.

Appalling and sickening, but unfortunately true.

PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) has uncovered a scandal involving Iams, one of the well-known, high-end pet food products which is sold in pet shops and vetinarians, and is often highly recommended by those professionals who we would think are in the know."

To read the entire article, click here

The truth about garlic for pets

I found a very good article on the use of garlic for your pets, written by PetsbyPenny. I've been confused on this subject because I've read that garlic can be poisonous to pets, yet garlic is an ingredient in many pet foods and recommended by some as a flea deterent. Penny has given me permission to reprint her article here. I hope you find it helpful.

You read lots of advice about adding garlic to pet's food. It's supposed to do everything from discouraging fleas and ticks to stimulating a weak immune system. Holistic veterinarians, as well as alternatives practices such as Chinese medicine, recommend it. However, this is not a case of "if a little is good, more is better". Even this simple herb can be overdone and used incorrectly.

Recently, the fact that garlic is part of the lily family--as are shallots and onions--caused additional concerns among those who knew that a compound found in onions can cause anemia and possibly death in large enough and/or frequent enough doses. The dose is the key. It has to be quite large to harm a normal animal, or the animal must be eating it in food regularly. (That doesn't mean you should let Rocky have onions once a week when you have roast beef. Anything that is harmful should be avoided.)

But, what about an animal that is elderly or one with an immune system disorder or anemia? Most vets will say not to give it to your animal if any of these conditions are suspected. This is where it becomes important to consult a qualified practitioner. Allergies, for example, are the result of an overactive immune system. So is rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other immune system disorders.

Stimulating the immune system in humans or animals that have this type of disease can cause a flare-up and create additional problems. In aging animals, it can be difficult to recognize these diseases, just as it can be when they are in the early stages. So err to the side of caution, especially if you are administering herbs without the guidance of your veterinarian.

Many holistic veterinarians recommend adding garlic to homemade pet foods and as a supplement. There are a number of benefits to using this herb correctly. It can aid digestion, stimulate immune functions, eliminate internal and external parasites, and lower cholesterol. I tend to stick to the lowest recommended doses which is only about 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder three to four times per week. Fresh garlic is less concentrated, but garlic cloves vary in size which means your dose varies too. So chop it up and measure it. I still wouldn't use over 1/8 teaspoon, as recommended above.

Personally, I don't ever give it to cats, but some holistic vets say it is safe in reduced doses. Cats have special problems with these types of herbs and tolerate very little. I wouldn't consider any more than half of the dog dose and give it only two or three days per week at most. If you try it and your cat rejects it, don't insist that your pet eat it. This advice applies to dogs too. Never force your pet to eat food or medicine that it rejects unless you consult your veterinarian and he or she instructs you to do so.

Brewer's yeast is often used in tandem with garlic, and it can also be very useful. However, I recommend adding one supplement at a time and using it for at least a week before adding another. One of my dogs is allergic to brewer's yeast, and it's in an amazing variety of foods and treats. You won't know what's causing a problem if you add multiple supplements or medications all at one time. The same applies to vaccinations.

It takes more time and costs a bit more to implement one thing at a time. Nevertheless, it's worth it because you won't have to try to guess which one caused a reaction if that ever happens. Any type of allergic reaction has the potential to become worse every time a person or animal is exposed to it. It is especially important to add or vaccinations one at a time as pets age. I can tell you from experience that even an animal that has never had a reaction may develop new sensitivities as their body changes.

Finally, take an occasional break from vitamins and supplements. Some experts recommend a week off every month. Others have various preferences. One vet I know recommends only giving our vitamin supplements on weekdays, which give more frequent breaks of shorter duration.

If you wish to read more on this subject, The Nature of Animal Healing, by Dr. Martin Goldstein, is one of the many good reference books available for pet guardians. Another good source of information is the Holistic Healthcare Library at the Only Natural Pet Store. If you have questions or want to find other sources of information, please don't hesitate to drop me an email or respond through the comment feature on this blog.

Now for the legal requirements: I'm not a veterinarian and nothing in this blog is meant to replace the advice of your veterinarian. It is also not to be construed as medical advice for people or animals. My purpose in sharing this information is to help you learn more about this subject. A knowledgeable pet guardian becomes a competent partner with their pet's health care providers.

Afraid of parasites with a raw food dog diet?

In the United States, some feel that feeding a raw meat diet to their pets could bring parasites, e.coli and salmonella. Actually Europeon countries have fed raw diets for decades, and the diet is routinely recommended by veterinarians. Dogs and cats are carnivores and are intended to eat freshly killed prey. Healthy Pet Journal reported that in over 10 years of feeding raw food, parasites, e.coli and salmonella have not been seen as a problem. Read their entire article at the right listed under "Resources." Parasites are more likely to come from eating a wild whole prey, feces, soil, and poorly handled meat. Healthy Vet.com reported that the presence of parasites and yeast indicate a weakened immune system, and is not the cause of the disease. I recommend you read their entire article as well.

If you are interested in feeding a raw diet, I recommend you feed naturally raised, organic, and hormone and antibiotic-free meat for your dog or cat. Please refer to my earlier posts listed on the right under "dog diet" for more information on how to feed a raw diet.

Homemade organic food for your pets

I came across a great site this week called Pitchu Pitchu where they make homemade organic pet food. At Pitchu Pitchu, it's obvious they love animals, as they believe our pets deserve the very best food. All orders are made-to-order with only fresh organic human grade ingredients, giving the highest quality food for dogs and cats. Plus for every order received, they donate $1 to places that also love pets, such as Stray from the Heart.

This is a great site that's worth checking out for your dog or cat's health.

Results of the dog food poll

Here are the results from my dog food poll. I was somewhat surprised at the amount of people already feeding all natural and raw food, but my readership may already lean that direction. So for the benefit of people not already feeding all natural, I've also included below an ingredient comparison between well-known Purina, Canidae all natural, and Wellness all-natural dry kibbles. Notice the first ingredients for Purina are corn and chicken meal, Canidae is chicken meal and brown rice, and Wellness is chicken and chicken meal. Also notice the more you're willing to pay,the better quality meat and less grains. I don't mean to pick on Purina; many commercial pet foods have similar ingredients, so please check your pet food labels, and pay particular attention if meat by-products, sodium nitrite, ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT are listed as this is where chemicals and cancer-causing items can be found.

Poll results:
13% feed commercial dog food
39% feed all-natural dog food
30% feed raw food
18% feed homecooked food

Purina Naturally Complete Dry Dog chow:
Ingredients:
Whole grain corn, chicken meal, beef, whole wheat, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soybean meal, brown rice, oat meal, pearled barley, calcium phosphate, animal digest, calcium carbonate, caramel color, salt, potassium chloride, brewers dried yeast, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, copper proteinate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, Vitamin D-3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

Guaranteed Analysis %:
Crude Protein (Min) 25
Crude Fat (Min) 12
Moisture (Max) 12
Crude Fiber (Max) 5
Calcium (Ca) (Min) 1.1
Phosphorus (P) (Min) 0.9
(Price at Petfood Direct for 15.5 # bag - $13.29)

Canidae Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food
Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flax Seed, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Chicken, Lecithin, Monocalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Linoleic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (source of B2), Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, D-Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Dried Papaya, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis %:
Crude Protein (min.) 26
Crude Fat (min.) 15.5
Moisture (min.) 10
Crude Fiber (max.) 4
Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) (min.) 3.7
Calcium (min.) 1.2
Phosphorus (min.) 0.9
Magnesium (min.) 0.14


Extra Information:
Benefits
Single Protein Source - Made with Chicken and Brown Rice
Excellent for Problem Skin & Allergies
10 Natural Skin & Coat Conditioners
Balanced Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids
Antioxidant Vitamins & Amino Acid Chelated Minerals
Holistic & Herbal Benefits
Formulated for All Life Stages - Puppies, Adults, Seniors & Overweight
Excellent Palatability - Dogs Love CANIDAE
(Price a Petfood Direct for 15 # bag - $16.49)

Wellness Chicken Super5 Mix
Ingredients:
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace, Rye Flour, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E), Tomatoes (natural source of Lycopene), Rice Bran (from brown rice), Whitefish, Natural Chicken Flavor, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Flaxseed, Ground Millet, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride

Minerals
Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate (a chelated source of zinc), Iron Proteinate (a chelated source of iron), Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate (a chelated source of copper), Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate (a chelated source of manganese), Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite

Vitamins
Beta Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Chicory Root Extract, Garlic, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Wellness® uses ethoxyquin-free protein sources.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein Not Less Than 22.0%
Crude Fat Not Less Than 12.0%
Crude Fiber Not More Than 3.0%
Moisture Not More Than 11.0%
Vitamin E Not Less Than 150 IU/kg
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* Not Less Than 2.70%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* Not Less Than 0.80%
Beta-Carotene* Not Less Than 5 mg/kg
Lycopene* Not Less Than 0.25 mg/kg
Taurine* Not Less Than 0.09%
(Price at Petfood Direct for 15 # bag - $22.49)

Neem oil and raw food dog diet helps with flea control

A raw meat diet and/or all natural dog food can help your dog deal wih common problems such as fleas, hot spots, mange, continuous shedding, poor dental and gum health, allergies, gastro-intestinal problems, immune disorders, and degenerative diseases. The healthier your dog, the better he or she can heal and ward off diseases.
Neem oil is a holistic remedy that kills blood sucking insects such as fleas, ticks, lice, gnats, flies, mosquitos and mites that cause mange. It is helpful for many skin infections because of it's antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties, and is excellent for instant relief from flea and other insect bites. It can be added to your regular dog shampoo, or you can purchase products containing it such as Art Natural Neem Protect Shampoo from Only Natural Pet Store. Botanical Dog offers the Botanical Dog's Organic Neem Oil, along with a variety of shampoos and skin therapy products for your dog or cat.

Homemade chicken treats for your dog

Here's an idea for a dried chicken strip treat I found on the dog forum.

Slice chicken breasts into thin strips, and place the strips on a non-stick or greased cookie sheet. If you don't have a dehydrator, bake in the oven at 180 degrees overnight or for several hours during the day. It will be like jerky when done. Let cool before placing in plastic bags. They can be frozen for use later if desired.

Beef, liver, and turkey can also be used instead of the chicken.

Many more homemade meal and treat recipes can be found at "Homemade Dog Food Recipes," and "Dog Food Secrets;" links for each are on the left.

Pumpkin helps dog's stomach upsets

Here's a tip I learned from Forum.Dog.Com. If your dog has an upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation, try feeding a teaspoon of pumpkin, either alone or add it to their food. It must be canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. I tried this with our new family member Rosie recently. We adopted her from a rescue organization, and she was very nervous about everything, new home, new food, meeting new people, etc. There were a few days when she refused her food, but I could hear her stomach churning and she obviously didn't feel well. I tried giving her a mixture of pumpkin and yogurt, and she ate it right up. I mixed in the yogurt because she will always eat that and I wasn't sure if she would eat the pumpkin alone). Very soon after, she went to her bowl and ate all her food and was ready for her walk.

For diarrhea, the fiber in pumpkin absorbs water and can help in just a few hours. For constipation, pumpkin is rich in fiber, and just takes 1 or 2 teaspoons to get things moving again.

If diarrhea or constipation lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, call your vet.