Pet Columns: May 2008 Archives

From Steve Dale's "Pet World":

Q: I know Chow Chows can be willful, and our dog is trying to dominate us.

The first hint was the Max would jump on the sofa when we weren’t home. He knows he’s not supposed to be up there, yet we find his hair on the sofa when we arrive home. The other day, I even caught him on the sofa.

I have to repeat over and over what I want him to do. I tried the Cesar (Millan) method, with mixed success.

How can I show my dog who’s boss?

From Steve Dale's "Pet World":

Q: My 3-year-old cat has a problem with constipation. I’ve had him to the vet three times since January to be ’unblocked.’

The first two times, I didn’t realize what was happening; he was vomiting and acting lethargic. The problem was so bad they had to put him under (anesthesia) at the clinic to remove the stool.

We now have the cat on a high-fiber prescription food and enulose twice daily. I’m hoping we can avoid this from happening again — or will it always be a problem?

From Carrie Trimmer, the owner of Who Let the Dogs Out:

We all want our pets to be healthy and happy, but in going about our daily routines we can easily forget to give things like nutrition, exercise and potential hazards active thought. By nature, we are creatures of habit and I encourage you to rethink your usual pet routines and see where you could improve and make life better for your devoted, furry family members.

Nutrition is probably the single most important thing we can supply for the long-term health of our pets. Poor nutrition can lead to many health problems, such as allergies, organ failure, cancer and even behavioral abnormalities.

Take a look at the list of ingredients in your pet’s food. Because pet food manufacturers are required to list the ingredients in their product according to dry weight, in descending order, the first 10 ingredients are most important. Here's what to look for:

Quality animal protein sources such as chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, salmon - not "meat" or "meal"

Healthy fat sources such as fish, flaxseed, sesame or sunflower oils

Quality whole grains such as brown rice, barley or whole oats

Natural preservatives such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E or Rosemary

Here's what you want to avoid:

Peanut hulls, wheat/wheat gluten, soybeans have very little nutritional value and can produce chronic constipation.

Beet pulp sugar and other sweeteners can create hyperactive and depressive behavior and could also lead to diabetes.

Artificial colors and preservatives

By educating ourselves on proper nutrition, we can help ensure a long, happy, healthy life for the pets who give so much to us.

Please consult with your veterinarian about proper nutrition for your pet. The guidelines above do not take into consideration any special dietary needs of pets with known health problems. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a diet based on your pet and its particular needs.

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Who Let the Dogs Out? provides professional in-home petsitting and daily dog walks to pets residing in the York area. To learn more about the company, visit www.letdogsout.com.