Australian Shepherd (Mini Aussie included) and American Staffordshire Terrier booklets are in print! Check out the respective breed-specific stores and see how you can help your own dog.

Every breed has genetic weaknesses that dispose them to certain diseases, and their temperaments are often why we choose one breed over another. It makes good sense to know the breed you may be thinking of buying or rescuing, and to better understand what you can do to prevent problems for your own dog if you already have a certain breed.

We can wait until a problem crops up, and address a disease at that point, or we can be proactive. I don’t see the advantage to waiting, but I certainly do see the benefit to preventive medicine and nutrition. This month, the focus on prevention is available as booklets that address the Australian Shepherd and the American Staffordshire Terrier. You’ll find them in our breed stores and in the writings section of my site. We’ll announce more breed booklets monthly.

Mike Cormier DVM, writes about the breed’s possible problems, which conditions a good vet will check for, what the symptoms and treatment may involve, and questions to ask a breeder.. Based on breed predispositions, I have written about the best food and supplement choices most likely to benefit a breed, and explain what lies behind my suggestions in order to take a proactive approach. This information is adaptable to all methods of feeding (kibble, cooked or raw).

If you are part of a Rescue group or breed club, we can help you raise funds by offering a deep discount when you purchase a minimum of 48 booklets. Let’s not wait until a dog needs help before applying sensible approaches to health. Join me in trying to help all dogs.

Seminar Reminder: Attention Texas!
Have you singed up yet? I want to meet you! Saturday, May 3rd in Austin, TX

Let’s get together on Saturday, May 3rd for a day of fun (from 9 am to 3pm, book signing 3:00 to 3:30 pm), coffee, and lunch while discussing canine nutrition. Thanks to the Travis County Kennel Club for sponsoring this event. I’m looking forward to answering your questions, and helping you fine-tune a diet that makes sense for your dog and your lifestyle. For more information, contact JoAnn Wolf hobnob@austin.rr.com or register at www.eventbrite.com/event/68273207

Fact of the Month
The Internet is a mix of facts and myths.

I receive a lot of private email from people who want an opinion on any number of things they’ve read. I’m often amazed at the amount of misinformation presented on some chat groups and on the Internet in general. No doubt, the Internet is a wonderful source of information, but let’s not kid ourselves. Some if it is nothing more than hype. Here are some examples:

Myth: Raw fed dogs don’t need to eat vegetables.
Fact: This is a misrepresentation of the facts. A healthy dog doesn’t need to eat vegetables regardless of the feeding method. The fact that vegetables can add beneficial nutrients is another subject altogether. If a raw fed dog becomes constipated due to too much bone being fed, s/he can benefit from the laxative effect that some vegetables offer, so in that sense, a “need” depends on the case. However, the fact that a diet is raw has nothing whatsoever to do with a need or lack thereof, to feed vegetables.

Myth: Bone meal can be replaced by bone dust.
Fact: Bone meal and bone dust (the shavings from bones that a butcher saws) may have something in common but they are certainly not the same thing. Bone meal is ground bone, without meat, that has been sterilized, so pathogens, yeasts, etc have been removed. Bone dust includes fat and bits of meat mixed together. The mineral content is unknown, and the bone dust itself has usually been at room temperature for many hours. This gives the natural bacteria found in these items time to multiply, and the fat in the bone dust to go rancid.

Myth: Dogs lack the enzymes needed to digest carbohydrates.
Fact: Observation alone says that this is incorrect, but physiology is the true measure. The pancreas produces amylase (the enzyme required for breakdown of carbohydrates) very efficiently. In fact, a dog with pancreatitis needs such a low fat diet that calories must come from carbohydrates. Logic says that if even an inflamed pancreas copes best when carbohydrates are fed, a healthy pancreas certainly has no trouble. Further, studies show that pups as young as 4 weeks of age are producing amylase. The fact that dogs do not digest cellulose well is not unique. People don’t digest it well either. The difference is that we chew our food well whereas dogs are gulpers by nature. It would be a waste of creation to have amylase in the saliva of a gulper, but the canine pancreas makes up for it by producing plenty of amylase as needed.

Myth: Vegetables are ok to feed but carbohydrates are not.
Fact: I won’t get into the war-zone regarding the feeding of grains because it truly is an individual decision that should be based on the dog’s reaction and health status. Rather, I will point out that vegetables do indeed provide carbohydrates. Let’s not confuse the word ‘carbohydrates’ with grains. I have to smile when someone says they don’t feed carbohydrates and follows this statement by mentioning that they feed vegetables, often including sweet potato which has more carbohydrates than any green veggie.

Myth: Diabetic dogs should not be fed any kind of carbohydrates. And the flip side: diabetic dogs should be fed complex carbohydrates.
Fact: The truth is that diabetic dogs can do well when consuming many types of diets. I’ve had success with raw diets that contained only meats, raw meaty bones and a little green vegetable. I’ve also had success when other diabetic dogs consume a diet that includes complex carbohydrates. Then there are dogs that thrive on diets that include beans and legumes as well as meat. The individual reaction to treatment and diet are most important. This varies from one dog to the next. You can have dogs of equal weight and give them the same activity level and food, but they may very well have different insulin requirements. The variables are almost endless which is why statements regarding a magical dietary formula, with or without carbohydrates, are not based on the reality of all dogs. Rather, it may be the reality of one dog owner’s experience. Acting on this kind of advice has the potential to take a diabetic dog over the edge and into a crisis.

Myth: Beef liver treats are healthy.
Fact: They may be, but be careful. Dehydrated beef liver is a popular treat. Dogs love it, and their owners find it handy. But beef liver is a powerhouse source of copper, and feeding enough of it can risk copper toxicity. Before you panic, remember that given that the intestinal system is set up with nerves, muscles, receptors, hormones, enzymes, a variety of buffering systems, and a host of feedback loops, it's really a flexible, adaptable world. You’re not likely to run into trouble if you feed a bit more copper than required when it’s coming from foods rather than supplements. But it can be overdone if you’re feeding dehydrated liver treats several times daily. I worked with a client who had been feeding these treats exclusively for years when training her working dog. The veterinarian suspects that the copper overload in this dog’s liver was caused by too much beef liver, and I have to wonder too. Better safe than sorry. Don’t over-feed these treats.

Monica

“A good dog makes a bad day better.’
-- modern American proverb