This month, Dr. Al answers your questions about weight management and keeping a healthy skin and coat.

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

Q: My dog needs to lose weight. Can you suggest a daily regimen to help him get on track to a healthier weight?

There is no mystery concerning weight loss and maintaining a slightly lean body condition. That said, we all may know how to do it but doing it is another matter. We have to commit ourselves to doing the very best for our pets in order to give them the best chance for a long, happy and healthy life.

A: Regular exercise and an appropriate diet for the specific needs and the particular life stage your pet is in. Exercise should be on a regular basis and not stress the dog beyond it’s ability. Walking, chasing a ball, swimming and many other activities that you can share with your pet will encourage weight loss and at the same time, strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Generally speaking, you should be feeding less than you are now in order to lose weight. Keep in mind that we never feed amounts needed to satisfy the dog’s appetite as they will surely over-eat. Start with the feeding guide on the bag, understanding that it is merely a guide and not exact for every pet. Breed, sex, activity level, age time of the year and many other criteria make it impossible to develop a guide that works for all pets.

Weigh the dog regularly and if you need to lower the amount of food in order to get into a weight loss program you must reduce the amount of calories until your pet is slowly loosing weight. There are diets that help you achieve weight loss. Diets that satisfy the dog’s appetite while helping you to limit calories. Holistic Select^® Weight Management Recipe is such a diet. It has all of the high quality nutrition and Select Actives™ you have come to expect in the Holistic Select recipes and, at the same time, is designed to encourage weight loss. This special recipe has 30% less fat than our Chicken Meal and Rice Recipe and contains contains pea fiber to help your pet feel full longer.

Q:  My long haired Dachshund has very dry hair. What may be done to bring back the sheen?

A: Feeding a diet designed with all of the essential fats necessary for a healthy skin and hair coat is the first step in a lustrous hair coat. There are certain conditions that may be affecting the diet’s ability to produce that healthy skin and hair coat.

- The humidity is generally lower in the winter and tends to encourage dryer skin and hair.
- End of summer when nature tells the body it’s time to prepare for winter and shedding as well as some scaling of the skin can occur.
- Unexpected stress such as an illness of injury can draw nutrition from the body.

In those cases and others, try a food with such as Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal Recipe. This recipe, like all Holistic Select dry recipes contains our special Omega Health® Fatty Acid Blend to aid in a healthy glossy coat. As a mixer you  may want to add Holistic Select Tuna, Salmon & Shrimp Canned Recipe. This delicious canned recipe contains Flaxseed for additional Omega 3 fatty acids. If you choose to supplement this diet temporarily with additional essential fats, Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids are found in many supplements in pet stores and veterinary hospitals. Check with your veterinarian so that he might help you decide on the best supplement for your pet. Keep in mind that any change to the skin and hair coat is slow and can take as long as several months before you begin to see a difference.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr. Al answers your questions about an English Bulldog’s eye problems and feeding wet food on a daily basis.

Q: We have an English bulldog and he is in good shape. However, his eyes are always seeping and red. We are constantly cleaning his face because of it. Is there anything to help with this? We are currently feeding him Holistic Select Duck Meal recipe. This seems to help with the hot spots he gets.

A: English Bulldogs, like many of the “flat nose breeds” can have a problem with excess tearing of the eyes. Diet rarely plays a role in causing the problem. On an English Bulldog, the nasal folds can be so large that the hair on them actually touch the eye and irritate it causing an increased in tearing. In addition, the eye lids may have problems that encourage excess tearing. Once the tearing starts it can stain the hair and be an ideal location for infection to start. Work closely with your veterinarian to determine the cause of the problem.

Q: I have 2 small dogs (a Maltipoo and a terrier mix) both under 20 pounds. I have heard that I should not feed them wet food everyday, but I feed them 1/2 can of wet food and I leave the dry out for them to eat on throughout the day and I also give them some snacks throughout the day. Is this okay? Should I change my feeding schedule at all?

A: There is no problem feeding any dog a combination of canned and dry food as you have described. I would be careful to only feed enough each day to maintain a slightly lean body condition (that goes for small dogs and larger dogs as well).

Canned foods are nutritious and a great complement to dry diets. They can add variety to the diet and encourage proper nutrition in dogs that are picky eaters or having trouble maintaining adequate weight. They do contain significant calories and that should be considered when making up the daily diet.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr. Al answers your questions about portion control and feeding the correct amount for your pet’s specific needs.

Q: I have a pair of two year old Greyhounds. Their weight is between 55 and 60 lbs. I feed them 1 1/2 cups of Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food morning and evening, which is a little more than you recommend. In addition to their Holistic Select dry food, they get several treats during the day, and yet they are still starving! When I let them outside I have to watch them closely so that they don’t consume their stools. They do scavenge around the yard eating sticks, acorns and droppings from the trees. What should I do?

A: In my experience, the behavior you have described is typical of a rescued greyhound. Much has developed as a result of boredom and periods of very little stimulation. Exercise is essential for these dogs. They need regular activities that stimulate their interest, both in the home and outside.

With regard to feeding, never feed to satisfy appetite, rather always feed just enough to maintain a slightly lean body mass.  The Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon dry dog food is a relatively low calorie recipe (354 kcals./cup). I would suggest trying the Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Recipe dry dog food as it contains more calories (almost 400 kcals./cup)and uses three different animal protein sources which is an excellent source of calories for a dog such as a Greyhound.

Remember to transition slowly to any new diet over a week’s time.

Q: My Westie puppy is approx 6.5 lbs. I have been feeding her 1 cup of Holistic Select Nourish Puppy Health Recipe Dry Dog Food each day (1/2 morning, 1/2 evening) lately I have been adding 1/4 cup midday but she still seems ravenous at times and goes crazy while I’m getting her food ready and gobbles it up so fast. Should I feed her more? Add more feedings?

A: Feeding three times a day would seem appropriate for a young growing Westie. Always feed to maintain a lean body mass and allow for growth; never feed just to satisfy the pup’s appetite.

I would consider a Westie to be a small breed and think that the Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Nourish Puppy Health Recipe dry dog food may better suite your pup’s nutritional needs. It does have approximately 40 more calories per cup than the food you are currently feeding. If you need to feed more in order to maintain an ideal body mass and allow for growth, you can feed more than the feeding guide recommends.

Feeding guides are just that, a guide. It would be impossible to make a chart that would satisfy the needs of all small puppies. Like humans, they tend to all require a slightly different amount of the appropriate food. The guide is just a starting point. Many need less and some will need more.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr. Al answers your questions about adding fiber to a dog’s diet and switching to a lower protein diet for a senior cat.

Q: I have a 5 year old active Rat Terrier that weighs 10 pounds who sometimes has problems with his anal gland. It has been recommended that I increase her fiber intake (to help firm up her stools). Which food would you recommend for my dog?

A: Chronic loose stools can alter the anal gland’s normal secretions and make it more difficult for the glands to empty naturally, resulting in what is known as impaction. As the glands fill up, they can cause discomfort, scooting and increased licking in the area. Working closely with your veterinarian to relieve the buildup of secretions and make sure there is no infection or other complication is essential.

In many cases, re-occurring impaction does respond to increased fiber content in the diet. Holistic Select® Weight Management Recipe Dry Dog Food contains increased fiber and may help the problem.

If you decide to try the Weight Management recipe, remember to transition to the new diet slowly, over a 5-7 day period in order to allow the body to easily adjust to the change.

Q: Recently at a check-up, and our vet suggested we switch our 15 year old cat over to a low-protein diet. Does Holistic Select carry a low-protein product for cats? What do you recommend?

A: There has long been a controversy over protein levels for healthy older cats. Many vets agree that as cats get older, their digestive tract becomes less efficient at digesting nutrients which is an important consideration. In addition, one of the most common conditions that ultimately takes our beloved pets is renal (kidney) failure. Protein can play a significant role in the progression of kidney disease.

It is essential that you work closely with your veterinarian to determine the over-all health of your older cat, especially, the health of the kidneys.

As long as the kidneys are functioning normally, it is essential to provide adequate protein in order to maintain sufficient lean body mass, protein synthesis and immune function. Reducing the level of protein in a healthy cat’s diet may not be the best. However, if the kidney function tests and urinalysis indicate that the kidneys are not functioning adequately reducing the protein may be appropriate. Again, working closely with your veterinarian is essential.

Just as important as the amount of protein, is the quality of the protein. It must be easily digestible by the older animal. All of the Holistic Select Feline Recipes contain highly digestible protein sources.

Adequate water consumption must also be maintained in order for proper kidney function to occur and that is critical in older cats.

Feeding canned foods, or a combination of canned and dry foods, can provide additional moisture as well as quality protein levels for the older cat.

Both the adult feline Holistic Select Recipe Dry Cat Foods and the Canned Feline Diets are ideal for a healthy senior cat.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr. Al answers your questions about when to switch a kitten to adult food and rotating favors of canned cat food.

Q: I have a five month old kitten who has been exclusively on Holistic Select kitten dry food since we got him. When should we switch him to adult food?

A: It is generally recommended that you feed a diet designed for growth until the majority of growth has occurred. Most agree that one year of age is a appropriate time to switch to an adult diet. However, a convenient benefit of the Holistic Select® Radiant Adult & Kitten Health Chicken Meal Recipe that you have been feeding to your kitten is that it is specifically formulated to meet the nutritional requirements for all life-stages, so you need not make a switch when your kitten becomes an adult cat.

I would also suggest that you consider adding a canned recipe to your feeding regimen, such as Holistic Select® Chicken & Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food. The most common medical problems requiring pet parents take their cats to the veterinarian  are urinary issues. Water consumption is essential to helping prevent the issues. An exclusive dry diet can significantly reduce the total daily water intake and encourage urinary issues. Adding, or feeding exclusively canned cat food will increase water consumption considerably and help prevent the most common urinary issues for cats.

Q: Must cats always eat the same canned food or is it okay to occasionally rotate the flavor given? If alternating, how do you transition wet food, or can you just switch over to a new one with no transition as long as you keep the dry food the same?

A: Many pet parents rotate the flavors of canned food and their cats love the variety. In my experience, if you rotate canned the flavors within the same brand, the risk of problems is minimal.

Keep in mind that there are cats that have food allergies and/or intolerances. They are not common, but they do occur. That would not be a problem with rotating recipes, but rather a particular sensitivity your cat has with one or more ingredients in a diet. If you find your cat does well on fish based diets, you could try rotating between Holistic Select® Ocean Fish & Tuna Recipe and Holistic Select® Salmon & Shrimp Recipe to keep protein sources similar in your cats diet while maintaining enough variety for her to enjoy.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

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

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.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month, Dr Al answers questions about skin problems for a Bichon Shitzu and food recommendations for an 8 year old Chihuahua.

Q: My 4 year old Bichon Shitzu, occasionally gets small hard bumps that eventually dry up, and I try to pick them off. My pet food store told me, Bichons are known to get ’skin allergies’ from certain dog foods. Which ‘type’ of dry food, should I feed him?

A: My guess is that this is not a food allergy. You have described it as an occasional situation and as long as the dog is eating the same food the problem would exist. In addition, food allergies usually cause increased itching and scratching especially at the feet, which you did not describe.

Those little black spots could be coming from the sebaceous glands down the back.  At times they can produce excess secretions that dry up on the back.  I would speak to your veterinarian about a specific shampoo that helps to reduce the secretions and keep the skin clean. As far as a diet goes, I would consider a recipe designed for small breeds such as the Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Radiant Adult Health Recipe dog food.

Q: I have a chihuahua-beagle mix that is 7 and will be 8 years old soon, is that age considered a senior? What would be best to feed him?

A: Although smaller dogs are known to live longer than the larger canine breeds, that does not necessarily mean that their senior years come significantly later. While 7-8 years of age may be considered senior for a Great Dane, 10 years as a reasonable age to begin considering your Chihuahua a senior.

Of course, a lot depends on the individual pet. If your dog is beginning to slow down, gain weight, or have any symptoms of arthritis, heart disease or kidney problems, you could certainly consider it a senior and treat appropriately, including feeding Holistic Select Vitalize Senior Health Recipe Dry Dog Food. At 7-8 years of age, annual visits to your veterinarian become more important as early detection of any of these problems mentioned is essential in resolving or slowing the process in order to maintain a healthy, high quality long life for your dog.

If weight is not a problem and  there are no symptoms of other problems, Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Radiant Adult Health Recipe dog food is designed specifically for smaller breeds and contains ideal nutrients as well as additional supplement such as probiotics ( to aid in digestion and enhance the immune system), Glucosamine Hydrochloride (for joint health) and Omega fats (Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and hair coat, heart health and immune support).

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 two other unique single protein recipes in the Holistic Select line of foods. Duck and Anchovy, Sardine and Salmon (fish). 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.

Q: Both our dogs and cats eat Holistic select but lately they seem to be shedding a lot, any suggestions to help this, besides brushing, which I do daily?

A: Since they are all shedding at the same time, it would seem that it may be normal, seasonal shedding. Dogs and especially cats that spend most of their time inside can shed at what may seem abnormal times. Grooming helps to speed the process.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet