On July 12th the FDA had announced that it is investigating a potential connection between certain diets and a heart condition named Canine Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). These diets contain peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients.

About DCM

This is a disease of a dogs heart muscle that leads to an enlarged heart which in turn may cause congestive heart failure. The causes of the disease are unknown but until now believed to be mainly genetic. If the disease is caught on time, heart functioning may be improved with drug therapy and diet modification. Large breeds (such as Boxers and Great Danes) tend to suffer from DCM.

Early warning signs for the condition are a decrease in energy, cought, difficulty breathing and occasions of falling down.

Possible connection to nutrition

Recently, the FDA received dozens of reports of dogs suffering from DCM among breeds that usually didn’t develop the disease. These were mainly Golden Retrievers, Wipets, Bulldogs, Miniature Schnauzers and mix breeds.

Investigators noticed that these dogs were fed diets containing peas, lentils, other legumes seeds or potatoes (even protein, starch or fibers) as a main ingredient in the food.

Reports showed that these dogs were fed these diets as their main nutritional source between a few months or years prior to the disease diagnosis. These ingredients are more common in dog foods which are labeled and marketed as “grain free”. There is no referral or  any consideration to one manufacturer or another, only to the ingredients list and their possible connection to the dogs health situation.

At this moment, there is still no definite connection between DCM and these ingredients.

A lack of Taurine?

The main suspicion of the FDA is that a lack of Taurine is the main cause for DCM among dogs. Taurine is a non essential amino acid (the dogs body can produce it by itself) for dogs and so there is no nutritional obligation to add it to commercial dog foods (unlike in cat food). But, there are some nutritional factors (source of protein, type of fibers and the kind of food processing) and specific dog characteristics (breed and energy needs) which effects the efficiency of Taurine production and utilization by the body. For example, the leading source for Taurine is chicken and there are certain studies which shows that certain fibers (the most common in commercial foods is Beet Pulp) have a negative effect on its absorption by the dogs body (to a level of nutritional deficiency).

The need to add Taurine to commercial foods for cats had been established in the past, but until now there isn’t an empirical connection between Taurine and canine DCM. Perhaps now the evidence are starting to build up supporting the affects of Taurine on the dogs health and the need for a complete and balanced diet.

Even in present cases examined by the FDA, as in previous cases, some dogs diagnosed with DCM were found to have normal levels of Taurine and other low levels. So, its still hard to say that the disease is due to Taurine insufficiency.

Grain free dog food

The trend today is for grain free dog foods, unique carbohydrates and short ingredients list (clean label). The manufacturers use these as a marketing tools to attract dog owners and less for actual nutritional reasons. By doing this they can sometimes reach extremes with their formulas and taking them of balance (especially with non mandatory nutrients).

Please keep in mind that legumes and potatoes aren’t bad ingredients. On the contrary, they are quality ingredients which contribute greatly in terms of protein, fiber and other micronutrients. But, they are not complete by themselves and so only need to be a supporting part of the diet and not a main part. For example, manufacturers use pea protein in order to increase protein levels instead of adding more animal protein, or legumes as the only source for carbohydrates.

The possible problem with dog foods rich in legumes

Legumes as I stated before are rich in protein and contain phytonutrients that have an abundance of advantages to your dogs general health. But, they also contain a massive amount of fermentable Oligosaccharides (a complex carbohydrate which contains fermentable fibers). In small amounts these are very healthy and contribute to the digestive tract. But, in large amounts, these can alter the balance of the intestines. Meaning, the content becomes more fluid and the result is loose stool, diarrhea and gas. Also, the fibers change the cycle of Taurine by the liver and the decrease utilization of minerals by the body.

Too much legumes may also contribute to imbalance and risk of lower levels of other amino acids such as Methionine and Cysteine.

The bottom line

The FDA investigation had just began so you cannot jump to any conclusion. It will take more time and research until they can determine a definite link between grain free foods and DCM.

They have published their investigation because they felt responsible to let pet owners know to look for warning signs and not to receive any false information from other sources. Also, this will encourage other reports if there to be any.

Don’t jump to conclusion and be patient. Take rational decisions and don’t prefer one food over the other just because its grain free.

My best recommendation for you is to combine different types of foods. Don’t rely just on one type which can be nutritionally insufficient. Don’t deter from foods which contain quality grains.

And most importantly, if you see any change in your dogs health condition, visit your vet.

Im here for any question.

 

Vegetables for pets? Really? Every day I explain to my daughters the importance of eating vegetables. That if they eat their multi colored veggies, they will grow to be strong and healthy. I also make sure to follow the same advice when it comes to our two dogs.

A balanced diet

In a raw or cooked diet, muscle meat is the foundation which provides your pets with the needed protein to build strong tissues and organs. On top of that we incorporate internal organs and bones. I find vegetables to be an integral part of the diet and most professionals agree that these need to account for 25% of the diet for dogs and 5-7% for cats.

A balanced diet means that all the parts of the diet are in the right ratio to ensure there wont be any nutritional deficiency. Each ingredient provides your pet with different nutrients – Meat provides amino acids, fat supplies energy and essential fatty acids and finally vegetables, fruits and grains provides vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants.

Vegetables for pets

The main reasons for feeding veggies are:

• Green vegetables contain Chlorophyll, a pigment which detoxify the liver and digestive system.
• All plant materiel provides Fiber which is beneficial for the health of the digestive system.
• Orange and Yellow vegetables contain important anti-oxidants such as Carotenoids, Lycopene and Lutein. These protect again cell aging, preventing and slowing cancer progression and protect the eyes, skin and heart.
• Vegetables provide Flavonoids which regulate cell signaling and are considered anti inflammatory and with anti cancer properties.

You probably think, “OK, this is great, but are there veggies which are more beneficial than others?” The answer is yes. Of course variety is great and provides a more balanced and complete diet, but there are some veggies which I recommend putting an emphasis on and feed them to your pet at least once or twice a week.

7 nourishing vegetables for pets

Brussels sprouts

These mini cabbages contain an abundance of vitamin C and are a good source for potassium. They also contain an organic compound called glucosinolate sinigrin, which is presumed to have cancer-fighting properties.

Sweet potatoes

Rich in Beta Carotene which the body converts to vitamin A; it fosters healthy skin and mucus membranes, fortifies the immune system and protects eye health.

Spinach

Spinach is loaded with vitamin C, provides potassium and magnesium and it’s an excellent source of folate, a B vitamin that helps maintain healthy DNA and may keep away cancer-promoting genes.

Kale

This is a nutrient all-star, packed with vitamins A, C, potassium, iron and folate, plus the phytochemical Lutein. It also provides calcium in a significant amount and in a form that your pets body can absorb well.

Peas

These provide a good source for 12 essential nutrients and powerful phytochemicals. They are especially rich in fiber and considered a plant base protein source.

Red bell peppers

Bright bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin A and C and a good source of folate, lycopene and other carotenoids.

Broccoli

Has a high nutritional value, especially regarding high content of vitamin C and A. Also contains proper amounts of Calcium to strengthen the bones and muscular system, has anti cancer properties and was found to be useful in strengthening the vascular system.

Preparation of vegetables for pets

Now that you are familiar with some of the more nutritious vegetable, let’s talk about how to prepare them.
In the wild, canines ate pre-digested plant materials (the stomach content of the prey), so when you are preparing your dog’s veggies, I recommend cooking or blanching them and blending them using a food processor or hand blender. This breaks down the cellulose that could be hard for the dog’s digestive system to do on its own.

Remember an important tip – if you see any part of the vegetable going out of the dog, means that it didn’t undergo any process in the middle.

Final words

Vegetables are great for pets! They are delicious and nutritious. But you must add them in the right quantity for your pet and not over do it. Too much of a good thing isn’t good. Variety is a must so make sure to use different vegetables.

 

Feel free to contact me for any question.

 

A growing number of people switch their dogs and cats every year to vegetarian or vegan pet food. Their choices are based on ethical, environmental or health reasons. But, are vegan pet foods right for pets? Or do pet owners cause harm by switching their dogs and cats to these types of food?

Vegan pet food

Let me open by saying that I’m a vegetarian, from compassion reasons. I don’t feed my two dogs a vegetarian diet from two reasons. The first, I believe that given the choice, they would choose a steak or chicken leg and not garbanzo beans. The second, I know that biologically they are built to digest animal-based proteins better than plant-based ingredients.

I receive a lot of questions from loving pet owners which have decided to switch or want to switch their pets to a vegetarian diet. My goal in this article is simply to provide you with information, whether or not this diet does fit your pet and how to make sure to make this change in the best way possible. In the end, the choice is yours. I’m here just to open your mind and allow you to make the right choice for you and your pet.

In many cases, the main reason for switching a pet to a plant-based diet in because of the owner ethical reasons. I hear many sentences like: “I want to feed my pet without exploiting other animals”, etc.

But, there are some cases when the pet had developed a sensitivity to animal-based protein and so it requires to digest only plant based. In these cases, the only way to ease the digestive tract is to eat a vegetarian diet.

Plant based food for dogs and cats

Around 33 thousand years ago, dogs have been domesticated, and became dependent on us humans as their food suppliers. As a result, they have become genetically adapted and developed the remarkable ability to digest carbohydrates. Hence, in a biological perspective, dogs are considered to be actually omnivores. Their digestive tract is built to digest and absorb nutrients from animal-based ingredients as do from plant based ones. Meaning, they can eat and function just fine on a vegetarian or vegan diets (as long as its properly balanced and complete).

Contrary to that, cats have been domesticated around 10 thousand years ago and yet almost without any biological change. Cats have been and stayed obligate carnivore. As such, their digestive tract is built to work almost exclusively on animal-based proteins. To keep it simple, cats are not built to eat vegetarian diets, especially grains.

If we look at the modern dog, eating commercial processed foods from bags or cans, they are really not their ancestors who used to run and hunt and survive for long period of times without food. So perhaps eating biologically appropriate food may seem less important. My meaning is, today the domesticated dog has food available to him at all times and the majority of foods are complete and balanced and provide all of nutrients needed to prevent any nutritional deficiency. The emphasis is on providing certain nutrients and not their origin from specific ingredients.

Theoretically, if we agree on that, there seems to be no reason why a diet based exclusively on vegetarian ingredients and added supplements, won’t meet the necessary nutritional requirements of dogs and cats.

A study conducted in 2015 checked to see if 24 vegetarian dry and canned pet foods meet the AAFCO standard as complete and balanced food. The study found that 6 pet foods didn’t meet the minimum requirements. Previous studies also found contradictions between the labels and the actual levels of nutrients.

Of course, that these studies don’t reflect on all foods or home feeding, but they show, that as in meat-based foods, there are things to notice also in vegetarian foods and you shouldn’t rely only on one type of food and you better vary between several brands or flavors in order to prevent deficiencies.

Is there a danger in veganism for dogs and cats?

First of all, since we are talking about a diet built exclusively on carbohydrates, I will focus my discussion mainly on sugar. The digestive system of dogs and cats converts carbohydrates to sugars (glucose). While glucose is a vital energy source for bodily cells, excessive amounts of it, those unnecessary for daily activity, will revert to fat stored in fat cells. all those excessive sugars may lead to obesity and diabetes.

In addition, in order to transport glucose from the blood to the cells, the pancreas needs to produce the enzyme Amylase. As glucose levels rise in the blood, thus grows the need to produce more of this enzyme. In a state where the majority of the diet is based on carbohydrates and sugars, there may be a burden on the pancreas; a thing that may damper its efficiency.
As opposed to dogs, cats have a permanently active process of creating glucose from amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and glycerol (the backbone of fats). This is why they need high levels of protein and fats and don’t require any carbohydrates in their diet. It is the presence of carbohydrates that will damage and put of balance their natural metabolic processes.

Second, carbohydrates contain nutritional fibers. These are plant-based compounds which doesn’t digest though contribute to the health of the digestive system. A small amount of fibers (around 5%) is recommended for dogs (even less of that for cats). But, large amounts may have undesirable consequences. For example, the presence of a large amount of fibers may lower the absorption of vital minerals (such as Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron and Iodine).

A third point I would like to refer to is that plant-based ingredients cause the urine to be more alkaline than acidic. This disturbs the PH balance and may lead to inflammation and crystals. This is why it is important to do routine urine acidity tests.

And finally, I think another concern of feeding a plant-based diet is a lack of vital amino acids which may lead to damage of muscles, especially of the heart. In cats there is also the fear of a shortage of Taurine, vitamin A and vitamin B12. Without a constant supply of these nutrients, cats may develop heart and liver problems.

Vegan pet food isn’t for every pet

As with every type of food or ingredient, each pet is different, and with all do respect to our desires as pet owners, not everything suits everybody. Just like a certain type of meat-based food won’t fit a certain dog, as do with the vegan / vegetarian food. Meaning, you may wish to feed your pet a vegetarian diet, but it wont suit their digestive system.

So, how would you know if the food fits them or not? As with any other type of food, you need to look at your pet, touch it and follow up regularly after her condition.

Here are several points that I recommend paying attention to:

1. Healthy stool – it needs to be firm, small volume, with out any unusual colors or textures and not many times each day. Because we are talking about plant-based food which has lower digestibility than meat-based food and contains more fibers, things may look different. Meaning – the volume will be quite large and several times daily. This will still be ok. Just don’t let it have textures or colors. Of course, not diarrhea or loose stool. These may indicate that the food just doesn’t fit your pet.
2. No gas – your pet starting to pass wind or burp a lot may indicate that there is too much gas activity in the digestive system. Due to the fiber content.
3. Healthy skin and coat – any shedding or dry reddish flaky skin can indicate a shortage of essential fatty acids (omega 3) or a high amount of omega 6 fatty acids. This is a common thing in foods which doesn’t contain fats from animal sources.
4. Proper weight – you need to monitor your pets weight and see that it doesn’t gain or loose pounds. On the one side, these foods contain a high amount of sugars which may lead to obesity; and on the other, they contain low levels of energy (due to low fat levels) which may mean that your pet won’t receive the calories it actually needs.
5. Inflammations – mainly in the ears or the urinary tract. Alkaline urine leads to bacteria formation which also feeds on the high sugar levels in the diet. Yeast which lead to ear infections also feed on these sugars.
6. Anything out of the ordinary – such as lack of energy, searching to graze on grass or things to chew on, difficulty walking or any sign of joint pain (meat protein and bones contain cartilage and glucosamine which protect the joints and are missing from veggie diets and also veggie diets are usually high in omega 6 which is pro inflammatory), excessive thirst, etc.

If you notice one or more of these signs, I recommend visiting your vet and of course changing the food.

How to feed a vegetarian diet in the right way?

First, because dogs and cats don’t produce Amylase (the enzyme responsible to break carbohydrates) in their saliva and they don’t chew the food (as we do), you must cook and grind the food in order for it to arrive ready to be digested by the stomach.

Second, as I mentioned before, I don’t recommend feeding just one type of food but to feed different things or different brand if feeding dry commercial food.

I don’t recommend feeding a complete vegan diet but to try to incorporate ingredients that will be easy for you; such as fish oil (dogs and cats cannot produce the necessary amounts of fatty acids from plant-based ingredients as they do from animal sources), sardines, hard boiled eggs and more.

And finally, I recommend adding nutritional supplements that will assist the digestive system (such as digestive enzymes) and super foods that will provide extra whole food nutrients.

Final words

I understand the desire to follow our ethical code when we take decisions about ourselves. But, in my opinion, we need to put our pet’s health and wellbeing first, above our egoistic desires. If we enter to our family a partner that is considered a carnivore, we shouldn’t turn it into an herbivore for reason of our convenience. Like anything in life, we must accept certain compromises. Or at least understand the meanings of our decisions.

 

Diabetes had become an epidemic for pets and the number of dogs and cats suffering from it is growing every year. There isn’t a week going by without me answering questions and consulting concerned pet owners on how nutrition is able to assist in managing this condition. This article will help you better understand diabetes and the role of diet for diabetic pets.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a complex (but manageable) disease caused by either a lack of insulin or an inadequate response to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.

After our pet eats, their digestive system breaks down the food ingredients into various components; one of which is sugar (Glucose). Glucose circulates through the bloodstream and carried into the cells as an energy source by insulin.

When our pets body does not produce insulin or cannot utilize it normally, blood sugar levels elevate. This results in hyperglycemia.

Types of diabetes:

Type 1 – in this case there is a lack of insulin production due to impaired secretion by the pancreas. This is the most common form in dogs and they receive insulin injections.

Type 2 – the pet may produce enough insulin but there is an inadequate response to the hormone by the body. Most common in cats.

Symptoms of diabetes:

The following symptoms may indicate that your pet has diabetes. If you recognize them, do contact your vet immediately in order for him to check and diagnose.

• Change in appetite
• Chronic skin infections
• Excessive thirst/increase in water consumption
• Weight loss
• Urinary tract infections
• Increased urination
• Unusually sweet-smelling or fruity breath
• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Cataract formation/blindness

Obesity and diabetes:

Obesity is the greatest predisposing factor for diabetes in dogs and cats. Like humans, pets become obese as a result of over-sized portions of an inappropriate diet (low in protein and high in carbohydrates) combined with inadequate levels of exercise.

Being overweight is a key factor in reducing the response of your pet’s body’s cells to insulin (called insulin sensitivity). Insulin sensitivity is a measure of the ability of insulin to move a set amount of glucose into the cells. If the sensitivity is reduced, your pet will need more insulin in order to move the same amount of glucose to the cells. The body’s reaction is by trying to produce more insulin and as a result puts more pressure on the pancreas and make the effects of diabetes worse.

Carbohydrates and diabetes:

A high carbohydrate diet may lead dogs and cats to obesity. Especially when cats, as true carnivores, don’t need any grains and high carbohydrates ingredients in their diet.
Carbohydrates transfer in your pet’s body to glucose and cause an extra need for insulin production. By lowering, or eliminating, the percentage of carbohydrates in the diet, we will help our pets not only to lose weight, but also lower stress on the pancreas.

Proper diet for diabetic pets?

low carbohydrates – lowers the need of the body to produce insulin and encourage the use of fat as an energy source.
High in protein – helps keep and maintain muscle mass.
High in fat – most pets become obese from access simple carbohydrates and not from fat. In fact, pets need fat to supply energy, protect neurons and nerve cells, helps absorb vitamins and is vital to the proper development of cells and tissues.

 

Feeding a proper diet that suits the needs for a diabetic pet can assist in lowering insulin dependency and improve overall wellbeing.
If you have a question or want to learn more about your dogs nutritional needs, feel free to contact me.

There hasn’t been much research conducted on raw feeding for pets; So, every new study is vital and contributes to the understanding and establishment of the field.

In 2017, two important studies have been published about raw feeding for pets. The first study found that raw feeding encourages a healthy digestive tract in dogs; While the second showed the risks of feeding raw food. Both are important and I want to summarize them for you.

Feeding a high meat content diet improves dog’s digestive tract

A New Zealand study published at February 2017 found that dog owners can improve their dog’s wellbeing by feeding a high meat content food.

The study examined the role of different bacteria operating in the dog’s digestive tract between those fed raw as opposed to those eating commercial dry foods. They wanted to get a clear picture of what is optimal feeding. Understanding the activity of the bacteria is vital; Due to its connection to digestion, disease such as obesity and even influence on mood and behavior.

The study, conducted by a research company and Massey university, found that a high meat content diet is easier to digest and so enables more nutrients to be available for the body to absorb. As a result, higher levels of positive bacteria are formed related to protein and fat digestion.

The findings are:

• Higher meat diets are more digestible for dogs.
• More nutrients are available for the body to absorb in higher meat diets.
• Dogs eating high meat diets have higher levels of positive bacteria.
• Dogs eating a high meat diets have smaller firmer stool.

We can learn from this study that dogs need to eat a diet rich in meat and low in carbohydrates, unlike that which is available in dry commercial foods (some containing over 50% carbohydrates).

This means, home prepared dog food which contains a high percentage of meat is the optimal for the dog’s digestive tract and overall health.

At the same year, a Dutch study published the dangers of feeding a raw food diet

The study examined 35 raw food products from 8 different brands and found that 86% of the samples contained dangerous pathogens. The researchers have found Salmonella, listeria, E Coli as well as antibiotic resistant bacteria and various types of parasites.

The researchers have stated that pets eating raw food can transfer these different pathogens to their human friends through direct contact with the food, licking, stroking their fur after the pets had licked it, household items the pet touched or cross contamination while preparing the food in the kitchen.

Finding the antibiotic resistant bacteria was especially worrying for the researchers which pointed out that it holds a significant health risk for the pets and humans alike. Not just that infections from it are hard to treat but also it increases its size in the general population.

This study doesn’t speak against feeding raw but its purpose is to raise awareness to the risks associated with this kind of feeding. Pet owners need to be educated about proper hygiene and how to handle raw food. The researchers also stated the importance of writing precautions and proper handling instructions on the food labels.

Research shows significant increase in life expectancy of dogs fed real food

I want to briefly point out a study published in 2003 by Belgian researchers named dr. Gerard Lippert and Bruno Sappi. The research took place over a period of 5 years and included 552 dogs. It examined key factors and their affect on the dog’s wellbeing and life expectancy. The characteristics examined were breed, size, neutering/castration, weight, nutrition, living condition and family environment.

The findings were that there are two intrinsic factors (breed and size) and two extrinsic factors (neutering/spaying) which dramatically affect life expectancy. According to the research, neutering/spaying raised the median age of the dogs by – 21 months. But, nutrition was found to be with the greatest and more extreme influence on life expectancy.

They found that dogs eating exclusively the same homemade meals as their owners, lived on average, 32 months longer compared to dogs eating commercial canned food. Dogs eating commercial canned food and table scraps, lived on average, 1 year longer than those eating exclusively canned food.

The conclusion of the researchers was that feeding homemade food to dogs will improve their wellbeing and life expectancy.

My recommendation – feed cooked homemade meat-based food

Both studies published at 2017 referred to raw cooked food. My recommendation is to feed real meat-based food cooked at low temperatures. This way we gain the health benefits found in the first study and avoid the health risks presented by the second. Plus, we can achieve the improvement in life expectancy demonstrated in the 2003 study.

I believe that beneficial whole grains provide necessary nutrients and I don’t promote a diet based exclusively on meat, bones and fat. There needs to be a proper balance between all the components of the diet in a way to best promote internal health. Cats of course are different and don’t need any grains.

In conclusion, we can see that homemade food benefits our pets and contribute to their health. But remember that because we are handling real food we need to know how to maintain proper hygiene just like with our food.