Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month Dr. Townshend answers your questions about a Siamese cat’s chronic vomiting and reducing gas for a Red Heeler.

Q: I have two Siamese cats. The female mother cat throws up her food, daily. My vet tells me there is nothing I can do for her. What (if anything) can I do? I have tried many different brands and types of food, including foods with higher meat/protein content and fewer grains. Do you have any suggestions?

A: There are many reasons a cat might throw up his food. Although sometimes this can be a reaction to food, there are many other possible causes. It is certainly not normal for a cat to throw up daily, and I would recommend working closely with your veterinarian to make every effort to resolve the issue.

When trying to pinpoint the reason for your cat’s chronic vomiting, consider the following possible causes:

1. Eating too fast can increase the potential for vomiting regularly. Hairballs building up in the stomach can also cause the problem. Adding a small amount of oil to the diet may help. Try olive oil or canola oil, about a teaspoon full daily. Make sure you feed the cats separately as eating together may cause stress and cause the mother to eat too quickly.

2. A change in the normal bacterial flora of the GI tract may be a problem. Supplementing with Probiotics such as Holistic Solution®, for a few days may help.

3. Foreign body in the stomach could also be a cause. Be sure your veterinarian has ruled that out with a series of X-Rays if needed.

4. Pathogenic organisms in the upper parts of the digestive tract have been known to cause vomiting. Many times they can be eliminated with antibiotics.

Q: My 1 year old Red Heeler has a lot of gas. What can I do to help him with this issue?

A: Excess gas can be a frustrating problem.  Eating too quickly and gulping in excess air can cause the problem.  Feed frequent smaller meals in a quiet location where there is no stress or competition for the food.

Changing the bacteria in the digestive tract may help. Supplement with a “Probiotic” such as that contained in Holistic Solution® for a week to ten days may resolve the problem.

Changing the protein and/or the carbohydrates in the diet may help. If you are feeding a chicken based diet, try lamb or fish such as in the Holistic Select single protein recipes (Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon or Lamb).

Exercise is also important in reducing gas. Keep in mind that some gas is normal so don’t expect it to go away completely.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month Dr. Townshend answers your questions about vitamin supplements for dogs and increasing water intake for summer.

Q: I feed Holistic Select to all my dogs, who range from five months to ten years of age. They eat different varieties, one eats Holistic Select Puppy Health, one eats Holistic Select Lamb Meal and one eats Holistic Select Weight Management dry dog food recipe. Is there any reason to give any of them vitamins as a supplement?

A:  It’s great that you have adjusted each pet’s diet in order to provide for their life stage or special needs. Meeting a pet’s specific nutritional requirements will certainly promote a long, happy and healthy life for your pets. All of the Holistic Select diets are not only complete and balanced, but they also go beyond basic nutrition to provide optimum levels of nutrients including vitamins and minerals. There would be no benefit in supplementing with a general vitamin and mineral supplement, and doing so could even alter the nutritional balance by providing excessive levels of those vitamins and minerals.

Q: I’m feeding my dog Holistic Select Dry Dog Food and I’m wondering what I can do to provide more sources of hydration for my dog this summer. Should I sometimes add water to his food? Should I offer canned dog food occasionally?

A: Dogs that are on exclusively dry diets will generally drink enough water to maintain adequate hydration. Increasing activity will usually encourage more water consumption. Holistic Select Canned dog food recipes include flavorful broths that provide almost 80% liquid per can, but they also contain additional calories so you must be careful to reduce the amount of dry food being fed when you add canned food to the daily diet. Check the feeding guidelines on your dry dog food bag to determine combination feeding amounts. I would not recommend adding water to the dry dog food because it can soften the food and encourage dental plaque. Hot water will kill the probiotics on the food and should never be used. Also, if you add water and your pet does not eat it all right away, the food can spoil and cause gastrointestinal issues.

If you want to encourage more water intake, you might flavor the water in the water bowel. Add just a small amount of canned food to the water in order to make it more appealing. Keep in mind that the water will need to be changed regularly as it too could spoil.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr. Al answers reader questions about shedding, dental health and food allergies.

Q: My 5 year old Golden Retriever has been on Holistic Select Lamb Meal Recipe for about 1 year now.  She has for the past 2 months had very itchy paws and ears.  Our vet says she is allergic to her food.  I want to try another Holistic Select product.  Which one do you recommend?  (Our vet suggests a single protein which is why I have her on this product).  Her daughter, 2 years old is doing fine on this product.

A: Sorry to hear that your Golden is having skin issues. Many times the symptoms of allergies are expressed in the skin as you described. Keep in mind that this could be an environmental allergy and not related to food. If that is the case, work with your vet to control the symptoms. Most environmental allergies are to seasonal irritants and will pass.

We are seeing more food allergies to lamb. Many vets feel that dogs have been exposed to lamb in pet foods for so long it has allowed allergies to develop to this protein source. Thankfully there are three other unique single protein recipes in the Holistic Select^® line of dog foods, Holistic Select Duck Meal and Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon Meal dry dog food recipes, as well as the NEW Adult & Puppy Health Salmon and Anchovy & Sardine Meal dog food recipe which is so new it isn’t in most stores yet, but should be available withing the next few weeks. I have had good luck with the fish recipe and Golden Retrievers in the past. Keep in mind that any time you change diet and suspect an allergy you should transition slowly to the new recipe and give it at least two months (provided there is no worsening of the condition initially) as it can take that long for the allergens to get out of the system. In the meanwhile, do not give any treats with other protein sources or table food, or it will not be clear what is causing the allergy.

There is no definite way to tell for sure if it is a food allergy or an environmental allergy other than treating for both for now. Certainly work closely with your veterinarian and do all you can to relieve the symptoms and, if you choose, change the diet. If things improve, you may try to go back to the lamb recipe in a few months. If the symptoms reoccur you will know it was in fact a food allergy. If they do not reoccur be aware that the symptoms may come back this time next year.

Q: My sister seems to think that dry dog food is the best for her dog instead of wet canned food. She said dry is better because it helps clean their teeth, is this so?

A: That’s a great question. Many pet parents like to top the dry food with canned food or even meat supplements that are as soft as canned foods. It can provide additional nutrition, if weight is an issue.

I think the best way to answer your question is to first put the question in a human perspective. We humans brush our teeth daily and even twice daily, yet we still need to have our teeth cleaned annually or even more frequently.

The point is, that no matter whether we feed all dry for or we feed some softer food, we are still going to have to have our pet’s teeth cleaned at some point. Feeding just dry food may slow the process but not by much.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

Q: I have read that Taurine is important in cat food. It’s in all your dry cat food. Why is this?

A: Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that cats need but cannot make. So, a purified form of the amino acid is added as an essential feline dietary component to help avoid Taurine deficiency, which can lead to feline reproductive failure, central retinal degeneration or dilated cardiomyopathy. Dietary Taurine requirements in cats are highly dependent on ingredient sources and processing. That is why all three Holistic Select® Dry Cat Food recipes include added Taurine at guaranteed levels

Q: My black lab is going to be 10 years old in July – are they any special ingredients he should be getting in his diet?

A: Some senior dogs may require more lean protein in their diet, as they may not be able to metabolize proteins as efficiently as they once could. Taurine is also a beneficial ingredient, as this amino acid helps to maintain your senior dog’s eye & heart health. The Holistic Select Vitalize Senior Health Recipe is customized based on those special needs of senior dogs, and even guarantees Glucosamine at double the levels of the adult health recipe, to help maintain hip & joint health in your aging dog.

Of course, all dogs are unique, so I also recommend having his medical condition and body weight assessed during an annual veterinary senior pet exam. A physical examination, blood work and a urinalysis can help you rule out some chronic problems. Don’t forget to measure his body weight on a scale, and get your vet to help you score your pet’s body condition.  A fecal egg check will help rule out internal parasites. Understanding your senior dog’s health will help you to proactively support his vitality.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Compared to other grains, oatmeal is higher in protein and fiber and lower in carbohydrate calories.

Holistic Select dog and cat food recipes are formulated with our Unique Digestive Health Support System of Prebiotics, Probiotics, Natural Fiber and Digestive Enzymes because we believe total body health begins with digestive health.

Fiber is a key component of Holistic Select’s Unique Digestive Health Support System, promoting digestive regularity by helping to move food waste from the digestive tract through the colon at an optimal speed, ensuring adequate stool volume.  Examples of quality, natural fibers include oatmeal and quinoa.

1. The Nutritional Benefits of Oatmeal

Oatmeal may be relatively new to the pet food industry as a whole, but it has been included in Holistic Select® recipes for years because of its effectiveness as a nutritious and effective natural and holistic ingredient for both dogs and cats. Natural, whole grains have always been known to be healthy and nutritious for our pets, if prepared properly and used in the correct amounts; oatmeal is no exception. In fact, Oatmeal is probably one of the best grains used in some pet foods today.   Technically, oatmeal is ground oat groats. Groats are the hulled grain; in this case, hulled whole oats. Compared to other grains, oatmeal is higher in protein and fiber and lower in carbohydrate calories.

It is a great natural source of iron, manganese, zinc and B vitamins as well as essential fatty acids and antioxidants. The protein in oatmeal is an ideal complement to the meat proteins found in all of our foods. It contains almost a complete list of the essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) vital to a complete and balanced diet. Many vets feel that the protein in oatmeal is very hypoallergenic (less likely to cause an allergic reaction) and therefore an ideal nutrient to be included in a diet formulated for pets suspected of having a food sensitivity or allergy. Due to its fiber content, pound for pound, oatmeal contains less carbohydrate calories than other grains. This makes it an ideal ingredient to support weight management as well as optimum bowl function. The soothing properties of oatmeal can help a pet with some digestive issues.

Natural antioxidants in oatmeal help to protect the pet from the toxins in our environment thought to be responsible for many of the diseases and conditions seen in pets. Oatmeal has a very low glycemic index, and is lower in glutens than most grains. Both are important in controlling blood sugar levels and reducing digestive issues for pets.

All Holistic Select dry cat food and dry dog food recipes include oatmeal as a healthy grain source.

2. The Nutritional Benefits of Quinoa

Organic Quinoa, chosen as an ingredient in Holistic Select Dry Recipes for its hypoallergenic properties and high digestibility, is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron and B vitamins, and is an excellent energy source. Quinoa’s high protein content is considered as good as that in milk.

Interestingly, technically Quinoa is not a grain, but a seed related to spinach, swiss chard and beets. It has been cultivated in South America for over 5000 years. The Incas called it the “Mother Grain”.

Since the 80’s consumers in North America have seen Quinoa on the shelves in grocery stores. Those shoppers interested in a more natural diet with holistic benefits have embraced the value of this unusual ancient nutrient. The nutrient value exceeds all of the grains commonly used in pet foods.

Although we do not use Quinoa as a significant protein source, it does contain more protein than any grain. In addition, the amino acid profile is ideal, which is essential for tissue growth and repair.

Quinoa is a great source of complex carbohydrates with a very low glycemic index, making it an ideal carbohydrate for diabetics. It is also gluten free which is ideal for animals with digestive issues and food allergies or intolerances.

It is lower in calories than grains and is an excellent source of fiber, manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, folate and B vitamins.

In addition, Quinoa contains what are known as prebiotics that feed the “good bacteria” or probiotics essential to the health of the digestive tract.

Many call Quinoa a super food, and we are proud to be one of the first pet foods to include this nutrient dense ingredient in some of our foods for Dogs and Cats.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr. Al answers your questions about protein levels for a large breed puppy and helping a 2 1/2 year old lab Labrador Retriever lose weight.

Q: I have a Great Dane and she is currently on Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Food. She is about 9 months old and she is very healthy and playful. Our pet food store recommended we try a puppy food that is 40% protein. What is your opinion? Are we right by keeping her on the puppy food she is on, it’s only 23% protein?

A: I would be very careful about considering a higher protein diet for a growing giant breed puppy for several reasons.

Most high protein diets, also called grain free, are not recommended for use in growing puppies. They are designed for adult dogs and a 9 month old Great Dane would be considered by most to still be growing (therefore still a puppy). Giant breed puppies are the most vulnerable to what are known as developmental bone problems, which commonly occur when the growth rate is not controlled so as to maintain a slightly lean body mass.

Diets with higher protein invariably have higher fat levels too. High fat and high protein usually means higher calorie levels per cup, which can make it harder to maintain that slightly lean body mass while still allowing for growth. That’s why diets designed specifically for large and giant breed puppies are traditionally lower in protein and fat; to provide fewer calories and help the pet parent achieve and maintain that slightly lean body mass.

Q: We have a 2 1/2 yr old yellow lab who weighs just over 80 lb. She is not super active & the vet keeps saying she weighs too much. She was on the Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Dry Food but we are transitioning to the Holistic Select Weight Management Recipe. We just don’t know how much to feed her to make sure she’s not hungry. Any suggestions?

A: It’s great that you are addressing the issue as long term excessive weight can lead to more serious issues that can affect your pet’s quality of life as well as longevity. Problems like arthritis, heart disease, pancreatitis, diabetes and many more concerns are known to occur in overweight pets more frequently.

Switching to a lower calorie food such as the Holistic Select Weight Management Dry Dog Food is a great start. I would begin by looking at the feeding guide for weight reduction on the back of the bag. You mentioned that your dog is 80 pounds. Let’s say that your veterinarian would like your dog to weigh 60 pounds. Always use the guide recommendations for the ideal weight and never for the actual weight. So start by feeding the recommendation for a 60 pound dog. Also keep in mind that feeding guides are just that, a guide. No two dogs are exactly alike in their nutritional needs and so the amount may need to be adjusted based on regular weigh-ins. Weigh frequently (weekly) and be sure you are feeding just enough to slowly get the weight down.

As important as what you feed – and how much you feed – is exercise. In addition to changing the diet, you must initiate a regular exercise program. Set time aside to walk your dog daily and throw the ball if your Labrador Retriever is a typical retriever. That not only helps with the weight loss but it is a time you and your dog can bond and have fun together. Exercise should not be strenuous. Never over stress your pet with too much exercise. You will find that as the weight comes off the ability to withstand more activity will increase.

Best of luck, and I applaud you for your commitment to a healthy long and happy life for your pet!

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet