Kelly's Corner
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Thoughts from Kelly at Crossroad's Front Desk
August 15, 2010 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Pet Food. Choosing a proper diet for your pet can sometimes be a daunting task. We are bombarded with advertising that conjures up images of plump juicy chickens and garden fresh vegetables. Sadly, that is not what goes into a lot of commercial pet foods. At the same time, many of us feel we need a science degree just to interpret the labels. In the next few Kelly’s Corner entries, I’m going to break down what this all means. Let’s start with the basics. Nutrients are substances obtained from food that an animal uses as a source of energy and as part of the metabolic system necessary for maintenance and growth. There are 6 essential nutrients that must be part of an animal’s diet. • Water is the most important nutrient. Essential to life, water accounts for between 60 to 70 percent of an adult pet’s body weight. While food may help meet some of your pet's water needs (dry food has up to 10 percent moisture, while canned food has up to 78 percent moisture), pets need to have fresh clean water available to them at all times. • Proteins are the basic building blocks for the body and are essential for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair. Cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies rely on proteins to survive. Proteins can be obtained from a number of sources. Animal-based proteins such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish and egg have complete amino acid profiles. (Please note: Do not give your pet raw eggs. Raw egg white contains avidin, an anti-vitamin that interferes with the metabolism of fats, glucose, amino acids and energy. If you give your pet eggs, please make sure they are cooked.) • Fats are the most concentrated form of food energy, providing your pet with more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates. Fats are essential in the building blocks of cells and are needed for the production of some hormones. They are required for absorption and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins. Fats provide the body insulation and protection for internal organs. Essential fatty acids must be provided in a pet’s diet because they cannot be produced by a dog in sufficient amounts. A deficiency of essential fatty acids may result in reduced growth or increased skin problems. • Carbohydrates provide energy for the body’s tissues, play a vital role in the health of the intestine, and are likely to be important for reproduction. While there is no minimum carbohydrate requirement, there is a minimum glucose requirement necessary to supply energy to critical organs (i.e. the brain). • Vitamins are stimulants for enzyme reactions. Tiny amounts of vitamins are essential to dogs for normal metabolic functioning. Most vitamins cannot be synthesized in the body, and therefore are essential in the diet. When feeding a complete and balanced diet, it is unnecessary to give a vitamin supplement unless a specific vitamin deficiency is diagnosed by a veterinarian. • Minerals are compounds that are not metabolized and yield no energy. These nutrients cannot be synthesized by animals and must be provided in the diet. In general, minerals are most important as structural constituents of bones and teeth, for maintaining fluid balance and for their involvement in many metabolic reactions. Next time, I will talk more in-depth about what to look for in a pet food and how to read those darn ingredient lists on the bag. Have a great week! Kelly |
Heat Stroke - Signs and Treatment
Our hot Minnesota summer has arrived! However, just like people, pets can become overheated and develop heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious condition that can lead to rapid death. Symptoms of heatstroke must be recognized and treatment must be initiated rapidly. Symptoms Early symptoms of heatstroke are labored breathing, warm dry skin, an anxious attitude, and profuse salivation. As the condition progresses, the animal develops a glazed look, and is somewhat unresponsive to external stimulation. Looking inside the mouth, the tongue and gums have a bright red appearance. The heartbeat of the animal increases and if left untreated, he (she) becomes weak and eventually collapses. Treatment Immediate emergency care is required for an animal suffering from heatstroke. The animal should be placed in a bathtub filled with lukewarm water. If a tub is not available, the animal should wrapped in lukewarm damp towels (If towels are not immediately available, the pet should be hosed down). The water used to cool down the animal should be lukewarm, not cold. If the pet is responsive, small amounts of cool water should be offered to drink. When the animal is cooled down, he (she) must be taken to a veterinary hospital. Intravenous fluid therapy is often required for animals with heatstroke. Why does my dog's breath smell so bad?
Most often, bad breath is caused by dental or periodontal disease. Some dogs do not adequately chew their food; thus they don't clean their teeth naturally by the chewing process. Also, some dogs and cats are just prone to dental plaque, tartar and disease. These pets may need more frequent dental cleanings and treatments. Internal diseases such as kidney disease can also cause bad breath. A physical exam is recommended in order to pinpoint the cause of your dog's bad breath and to ensure he is in good health. |