Managing the Flatulent Dog

Although viewed mostly as an annoyance and diet or breed related, flatulence may also be an indication of a medical condition. Diseases that affect intestinal motility, intestinal digestion and malabsorption, and food hypersensitivity can increase flatulence. Understanding intestinal gas production, intestinal motility, and intestinal bacterial populations offer more opportunities for interventions to reduce gas production and flatulence for the benefit of both the dog and owner.


Causes of Flatulence in Dogs

Gas in the intestine is a result of ingestion or production within the gut. Although swallowing air, or aerophagia, does occur in animals that “inhale” their meals or have respiratory conditions, most intestinal gas is produced in the intestine. When the acidic "chyme" (stomach contents) is introduced to the alkaline environment of the small intestine, water and carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced. Although most of this CO2 diffuses into the vascular system, some is left within the intestines. The remainder of intestinal gas production is from lower intestinal and colonic bacterial production.

Gas that is not eliminated immediately causes intestinal retention that results in "growling sounds," or borborygmus. Non-eliminated gas accumulation can cause intestinal discomfort and discomfort that may be hard for veterinarians to identify.

The malodor associated with flatulence is caused by certain classes of intestinal bacteria that reduce sulfur in amino acids, certain vegetables and nuts, and sulfated complex sugars used for gelling.

Fiber tends to slow gas movement in the intestine and increase gas production, especially the highly purified fermentable fibers like psyllium and pectin. Less digestible fiber like cellulose and corn bran are less flatulogenic. Changes in fiber content and type require 2-5 days of dietary adaptation.

Research in humans and other animals suggests that foods high in fat decrease intestinal transit of gas, and increase borborygmus and flatulence.

Management of Flatulence in Dogs

Although the relative terms "high" and "low" are difficult to define, diets that contain highly digestible protein and carbohydrates with low quantities of fat are preferred for the avoidance of flatulence. Reducing the fermentable fiber sources like gums, carrageenan, and pectins also may decrease flatulence. This is often difficult with commercial diets. Diets containing broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables should be avoided when feeding the flatulent pet.

Homemade diets of a 50:50 mixture of 1% cottage cheese and white rice by weight has proved useful to reduce flatulence and allow dietary experimentation to identify the cause of the problem. A 25:100 mixture of broiled or boiled chicken breast and white rice is a possible alternative. My experience favors the cottage cheese and rice diet. Keep in mind that these diets are nutritionally inadequate and are to be used only on a short term basis to confirm that food is the source of the flatulence rather than a more involved medical condition.

Some veterinarians prefer the hydrolyzed, or "short protein chain" foods to homemade alternatives. Theoretically, these should be effective, but I have found them to be inferior with little relief of symptoms prompting their use.

Research in humans and dogs suggest that exercise reduces flatulence. The timing of exercise to feeding has not been studied, so recommendations along these lines is lacking. Increasing the amount of exercise is the present suggestion.

Frequent, smaller meals have been advocated, but the research suggests that this is subject to significant individual variability. Pets that fail to respond to these management strategies should be evaluated for more significant intestinal dysfunctional conditions.

My clients that have use Beano and other human products at my suggestion report a significant decrease in flatulence but this evidence is anecdotal and not substantiated by peer reviewed research.


Dr. Ken Tudor

OThere’s no magic pill, no secret serums, no expensive tricks – just 5 simple ways to give back to your four-legged friend by keeping him healthy, happy, and safe.

Just taking the time to read an article like this demonstrates your willingness to do what it takes to make your furbaby as happy and healthy as you can! That’s why we’ve compiled this list of five healthy habits that can add years to your dog’s life.

5 Healthy Habits for Dog Owners

1. Feed Fido a healthy diet. A lot of people tend to not only over-feed their pets, but also to give them unhealthy (even harmful!) foods to eat. Buying dog foods from grocery stores are, more often than not, unwise. The products stocked at most grocery stores are usually junk food that don’t provide your dog with sufficient nutrition.

Start feeding your dog a more appropriate, healthier diet by first learning the right portion serving for his size, and next, by studying the dog food analysis to help you decide what exact dog food ingredients to look for. You can also try to prepare home-made dog meals and treats to meet Fido’s dietary needs. A simple internet search for “dog food recommendations” will return many results and advice for choosing the right dog food. Unless your dog is on a special diet or has specific allergies, look for a dog food that contains real meat as the top ingredient. Avoid corn and corn meal as this typically indicates an unhealthy food. Corn is proven to be difficult for dog’s to digest, and is most commonly used as an inexpensive filler in dog food, with little nutritional value.

2. Provide him with adequate physical and mental stimulation. Regardless of their size, all dogs require physical and mental stimulation. To keep your pooch healthy, you need to exercise him every day. You can try walking him out to the park or taking him for a 10 or 20 minute walk around your neighborhood. If walking isn’t your thing, toss a tennis ball or Frisbee around in the backyard. Or, build a backyard agility course and teach your dog to run the course. Either way, the more exercise you give your dog, the better.

Mental stimulation is important for your dog’s health, too. In addition to earning attention from you, training your dog to perform tasks or tricks gives him a great sense of accomplishment. There are also puzzles and games made especially for dogs that will stimulate his brain and his body!

3. Brush your pooch’s teeth regularly. Dental disease is not only painful for your dog, it also leaves him prone to developing other serious infections. Many veterinarians suggest brushing your dog’s teeth every single day for adequate dental hygiene, while others insist on brushing, at the very least, every month.

Often times, a dog displaying abnormal behavior such as not eating or chewing everything in sight, is simply in need of dental care. Start teeth brushing when your dog is young, and (just like nail clipping and grooming) it will be a breeze for you both!

4. Offer him lots of care and attention. It has been found that unhappy and neglected dogs tend to have a shorter lifespan as compared to those that are contented and given a lot of attention. When you get home from work or being away for any length of time, greet your dog with lots of love and attention instead of ignoring him. Take time to show your dog that you care so much about him by praising him and playing with him.

Remember, no matter how tired you might be, or how rough your day was, your dog has been looking forward to seeing you again. You are his whole world.

5. Keep an eye on Fido. Keep in mind that it’s usually the most unexpected times that danger often lurks. Cars may suddenly come out of nowhere and put your dog in danger. Small or fragile breeds can easily become hurt by swinging doors. A running dog can twist a knee or tear a ligament by stepping wrong into a hole in the ground. A dog can easily become overheated in the midst of having fun. Just as you wouldn’t leave a small child unattended outdoors, keep an eye on your dog to keep him safe and out of trouble.

By remembering these 5 easy habits for a healthy, happy dog, you’re sure to add years to his life – and years that he’ll spend in yours.

Brave dog jumps through flames to save sleeping owner from house fire
http://www.dogheirs.com/tamara/posts/2239-brave-dog-jumps-through-flames-to-save-sleeping-owner-from-house-fire

Stanley Davis has his dog to thank for being alive. He was sleeping on the living room 
couch last week when a fire broke out around him, catching a nearby recliner and table on fire. With the flames just inches from his face, his dog Cleo braved the fire to jump onto the couch to wake him up. 

Stanley, who is on oxygen for his health, usually sleeps on the couch or on a recliner. He had taken a sleeping pill and was out cold, so he did not hear the smoke detectors when they went off.

That's when 3-year-old Cleo sprung into action. The mixed breed dog knew Stanley was in trouble and began to lick his face. "She started licking my face and it woke me up," Stanley told the News Sentinel. "The flames were only 7 or 8 inches away from my face."

Woken by Cleo's licking, Stanley got up and began to extinguish the flames around him. "If she hadn't gotten me up, they [the flames] would have caught this couch on fire," said Stanley.

At the same time, his wife Judy was awoken by the alarm sounding and made her way downstairs. When firefighters arrived, Judy was helping him outdoors.

Cleo was rescued by Stanley three years ago when he found her abandoned and wandering around the streets as a puppy. On this evening, Stanley is thankful for having Cleo in his life. Not only does he credit her with saving his life, but she also prevented the fire from seriously damaging his home.

Canine Joint Health: 5 Simple Ways to Ease Pain
Written on 11/09/2012 by Brandy Arnold in Bones & Joints, Staying Healthy
1

Does your pooch suffer from joint pain? Perhaps, arthritis has set in? If you have visited your vet and confirmed that your dog is actually suffering from such a medical condition, then maybe it’s about time for you to jump in and help your dog out. Or, if you have a breed of pup that’s susceptible, these 5 easy ways to ease his joint pain can also help to prevent it!

Alleviating your Dog’s Joint Problem

Most vets advise dogs with joint pain to let their dogs take a rest combined with adequate diet and possible medications. However, if their pooch’s joint pain still persists even after a long period of time, owners need to start taking necessary actions. Below are some of the great things you can do to give Fido that much needed comfort. Spare your pooch from any more pain as you give him adequate joint lubrication and flexibility.

· Feeding your dog right. Providing your pooch with a diet rich in glucosamine is important to keep his joint health in good condition. Lots of specialty dog foods in many pet stores have glucosamine in them; usually seen with a “joint health formula” label. Although this can be quite pricy, it nonetheless can save you from a cumbersome vet bill along the way.

· Providing Fido exercise. However counter-intuitive it may sound, working a sore joint can actually make your dog’s condition better since regular physical activities can keep his affected joints lubricated. Of course, we are not talking about a rigorous exercise here. A nice walk in a dog park or an easy jog around your neighborhood will suffice. Besides, exercise will also keep his body weight down.

· Giving occasional massage. You can also relieve lots of tension pain in Fido’s joints by applying light pressure on the muscles around his joints. Remember to massage him around, never on, the aching joint itself. Doing this twice a day for one or two minutes will surely make a big difference on your pooch’s condition.

· Trying some acupressure. Squeezing Fido’s achilles heel, the tendon right above your dog’s paw, by the ankle, with the use of your thumb and middle finger will also help in easing the pain your dog is suffering from. Try doing this for half or one hour and your pooch will certainly bliss out.

· Embracing natural remedies. If you can, avoid administering potentially harmful medication. Instead, use various natural supplements by looking for a homeopathic solution that will alleviate Fido’s joint pain as you lubricate his affected junctions, promote flexibility, and enhance your pooch’s own restorative process.

Canine Joint Health: 5 Simple Ways to Ease Pain
Written on 11/09/2012 by Brandy Arnold in Bones & Joints, Staying Healthy
1

Does your pooch suffer from joint pain? Perhaps, arthritis has set in? If you have visited your vet and confirmed that your dog is actually suffering from such a medical condition, then maybe it’s about time for you to jump in and help your dog out. Or, if you have a breed of pup that’s susceptible, these 5 easy ways to ease his joint pain can also help to prevent it!

Alleviating your Dog’s Joint Problem

Most vets advise dogs with joint pain to let their dogs take a rest combined with adequate diet and possible medications. However, if their pooch’s joint pain still persists even after a long period of time, owners need to start taking necessary actions. Below are some of the great things you can do to give Fido that much needed comfort. Spare your pooch from any more pain as you give him adequate joint lubrication and flexibility.

· Feeding your dog right. Providing your pooch with a diet rich in glucosamine is important to keep his joint health in good condition. Lots of specialty dog foods in many pet stores have glucosamine in them; usually seen with a “joint health formula” label. Although this can be quite pricy, it nonetheless can save you from a cumbersome vet bill along the way.

· Providing Fido exercise. However counter-intuitive it may sound, working a sore joint can actually make your dog’s condition better since regular physical activities can keep his affected joints lubricated. Of course, we are not talking about a rigorous exercise here. A nice walk in a dog park or an easy jog around your neighborhood will suffice. Besides, exercise will also keep his body weight down.

· Giving occasional massage. You can also relieve lots of tension pain in Fido’s joints by applying light pressure on the muscles around his joints. Remember to massage him around, never on, the aching joint itself. Doing this twice a day for one or two minutes will surely make a big difference on your pooch’s condition.

· Trying some acupressure. Squeezing Fido’s achilles heel, the tendon right above your dog’s paw, by the ankle, with the use of your thumb and middle finger will also help in easing the pain your dog is suffering from. Try doing this for half or one hour and your pooch will certainly bliss out.

· Embracing natural remedies. If you can, avoid administering potentially harmful medication. Instead, use various natural supplements by looking for a homeopathic solution that will alleviate Fido’s joint pain as you lubricate his affected junctions, promote flexibility, and enhance your pooch’s own restorative process.

Cold Weather Tips
Brrrr—it's cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife. 
   
   
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape. 
   
   
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags. 
   
   
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice. 
   
   
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear. 
   
   
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. 
   
   
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself. 
   
   
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape. 
   
   
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information. 
   
   
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.