Holistic Select Staff Vet - Dr. Al

This month Dr. Townshend recommends a diet for a Teacup Miniature Pinscher puppy and a seven year old Yellow Lab.

Q:  I have a 5 month old, 1 lb 6oz teacup Miniature Pinscher. I purchased her this past weekend and would like to start her on your products. Since she’s under two pounds, I’m not sure how much to feed her, which recipe, and how often?

A: Holistic Select Small and Mini Breed Nourish Puppy Health Recipe dry dog food would be a great diet for your Min-Pin. I would suggest starting with ¼ cup per day divided into three feedings. By feeding this higher fiber recipe over multiple meals, you may help to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be common in smaller breed puppies. Keep in mind that this is a starting point and that feeding guidelines are meant to be just that – a guideline, which can be adjusted for different variables such as activity level, sex, time of the year, metabolic rate and more.  I recommend adjusting the amount fed so as to maintain a slightly lean body mass while allowing for your puppy to grow at a healthy pace.

Be sure to transition her diet from her current food to Holistic Select slowly, over 7 to 10 days to assure no digestive problems occur during the switch.

Holistic Select Small and Mini Breed Nourish Puppy Health Recipe dry dog food is formulated to contain more protein and fat than regular puppy foods to meet the needs of highly active smaller breed puppies.  This special puppy food also has an ideal amount of DHA, an Omega 3 fatty acid known to improve brain development and five different probiotics for digestive health and enhanced immune system function.

Frequent feeding a specific recipe for a mini breed that contains adequate levels of fiber also helps to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) common in smaller breed puppies.

Q: I have a 7 year old yellow lab who weights 106 lbs and I feed him Holistic Select Weight Management Recipe dry dog food. This food seems to work well for him to keep his weight down, but I am wondering if this is the best choice for an aging large dog? What would you recommend?

A: Holistic Select Weight Management Recipe is a complete and balanced recipe that can be fed long term. It contains double the glucosamine of many of the other Holistic Select recipes as numerous overweight larger dogs tend to have joint issues. It also contains all of the digestive health ingredients Holistic Select is famous for (probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes and ideal levels of  fiber).  It would work well for an older pet struggling to maintain an ideal body condition.

This recipe would also feed well for older dogs, especially large breed older dogs as they are more prone to problems with arthritis, heart issues and other concerns commonly associated with senior pets.

There are two feeding guides on the bag, one for weight reduction and one for weight management. This range in feeding instructions is designed to help the pet parent maintain a slightly lean body condition for their pet, ensuring for long term optimum health.

Keep in mind that in addition to diet, exercise is essential for long term weight management and general good health. It doesn’t have to be hard exercise.  Daily moderate exercise is ideal, depending on your pet’s ability.

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 Nourish Puppy Health, one eats Holistic Select Lamb and Rice 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 special needs or life stage 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 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 it could alter the nutritional balance by providing too much.

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 are almost 80% water 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. 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. If the pet does not eat it all right away it can spoil and cause problems.

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. Townshend answers your questions about a dog with a history of tumors and a cat with seasonal skin allergies.

Q:  My 10-year-old pit bull terrier mix has had to have three skin cancer tumors removed from various parts of his body – first his leg, then his ear, and most recently his chest. Is there a food I can give him to hopefully minimize the recurrence of this? Perhaps something to boost his immune system?

A: There are several types of tumors that can occur in the skin. Surgery and in some cases chemo-therapy are the best approach. Diet is important in order to optimize the immune system and keep the pet in the best possible condition in order to do all that is possible to slow the progression. Generally speaking, providing a complete and balanced diet that contains natural antioxidants and Omega 3 fats would be essential. Holistic Select Vitalize Senior Health is designed with the older dog in mind.

Omega 3 fatty acids in a good ratio with Omega 6 fats, L-Carnitine, Vitamins A, D, E and C, Beta Carotene, as well as Pre and Probiotics are all included in the diet and would be ideal for your dog’s needs.

Work closely with your veterinarian to develop an ideal protocol for detecting new growths as soon as possible and removing them. Regular exercise and a great diet will also help to enhance your pet’s quality of life and hopefully help to extend its life as long as possible.

Q: Our cat appears to have allergies during the spring/summer transition. She is licking her feet and legs nonstop and we don’t know what to do. We are thinking of switching her food to help with the issue. Any suggestions?

A: Seasonal allergies are usually not associated with food as the food is fed all year long and one would expect the symptoms to also be all year long.

Feeding a diet with good levels of Omega 3 fatty acids would help to reduce some of the inflammation that may be causing the licking. All of the Holistic Select feline dry recipes contain optimum levels of fatty acids. Supplementing with additional amounts (fish oils such as salmon oil are a good source) during the most difficult times may help. Keep in mind that for the general health of cats, we also recommend feeding a canned diet in order to encourage water consumption as that is also critical for the health of our feline friends.

Work closely with your veterinarian to possibly determine the offending allergens in the environment and eliminate them from exposure.

Tags: Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet

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

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