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What Are Allergies?

It seems allergies are a huge concern for pet owners these days, but what exactly is a pet allergy? According to the Merck Manual “allergic reactions (hypersensitivity reactions) are inappropriate responses of the immune system to a normally harmless substance.” For pets, the culprit is often food, pollen, flea saliva, or mites. The reaction from flea saliva and mites is quite obvious but when it comes to a pollen allergy, finding the specific source is more of a challenge, and removing it completely from the pet’s environment is usually impossible. As for food, the common triggers are beef, dairy & chicken, corn, wheat, and soy. Many pets actually don’t suffer from allergies, but instead have an over abundance of yeast in their system or are suffering from leaky gut syndrome. If your pet is affected by reoccurring ear infections and has a smell that is often described as corn chips, and scratches constantly, yeast might be the problem. If your pet seems to improve on a novel protein but as time goes on, the “allergy” symptoms return, then perhaps he is suffering from leaky gut syndrome. How Do I Know If My Pet Has An Allergy? Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include: - itching/scratching excessively - hives - running nose & eyes - asthma-like symptoms - chronic bronchitis - gastro issues - frequent ear infections - and in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. Keep in mind, not all of these symptoms may be present. The symptoms will occur depending on what the allergy is, e.g. pollen may be seasonal whilst food could be all the time. If symptoms start all of a sudden look back at any changes you have made to their diet or daily life that may be the culprit. For example, have you changed their regular food or treats or have pollen levels risen? Many allergies can be identified by tests by your vet (although not food allergies as blood tests are unreliable for these). Come and talk to us and we can help you work out what the problem is! How Do I Tackle Allergies? Food allergies These are often solved by the elimination diet, i.e. placing your pet on a diet of something they've never had before, then slowly introducing one new food item at a time until the culprit is found. Some foods are known to be more likely to cause allergies (beef, chicken, dairy, corn, what, soy) so these should be removed first. Blood tests are unreliable in identifying food allergies. Environmental Allergies This one is more difficult as we have little control over the environment but there are ways to help reduce issues such as regular vacuuming, washing beds and blankets, fitting filters to air intakes, and washing your pet more often can help. Flea Bite Allergies These can result in severe irritation at the bite site often made worse by the pet scratching at them. The obvious solution is to avoid fleas in the first place with natural flea protection. Contact Allergies Although quite rare some pets are sensitive to contact allergies brought on by contact with detergents, soaps, shampoos, carpets, synthetic fibres, wool, leather, paint, rubber, plastic and insecticide. These often result in sever skin irritation on or around whatever area the irritant touches your pet. We stock a Stress Test that can help narrow down what the allergy might be and you can consult your vet for further allergy testing. What Can I Do About Yeast & Leaky Gut? Yeast exists naturally both internally and externally on our pets and usually there isn’t a problem, but on occasion there can be an overabundance and problems erupt. Often the cause is poor diet, over-vaccination, antibiotics, stress, and chemical overload. The result is a very itchy pet and typically a smelly pet. Ear infections are common since yeast thrives in moisture. Other problem areas are paws, armpits and any folds in the skin, and what you see on the outside will indicate what is going on in the inside. Leaky gut: In layman’s terms, the gut is a semi-permeable surface and its job is to allow tiny digested nutrients to pass through and enter the bloodstream to nourish the body. It also keeps out toxins, pathogens, and undigested food matter. But on occasion the surface lining can be damaged and small tears allow larger food particles, toxins, and pathogens to pass into the bloodstream. The immune system is then set off to fight these invaders which in turn causes inflammation and the immune system gets overwhelmed. Once this happens, the body starts to see food as an allergen and reacts. Trying a novel protein can often trick the system, but over time even the novel proteins get attacked. Yeast Infections: The first and most important step is to stop feeding the yeast and that means low-carb and low-starch since both turn to sugar and feed the growth of yeast. A naturalunprocessed species appropriate diet will help along with a few things from home like coconut oil and apple cider vinegar which are both antifungal. Leaky Gut: It is thought that the causes of Leaky Gut are primarily from poor diet, drugs such as steroids, antibiotics, flea & tick medications, and over-vaccination. The gut is responsible for 70% of the immune system so correcting Leaky Gut is vital to overall health and longevity. There are helpful products available that help support the healing of your pet’s gut, this along with a cleaner, fresher diet may be all that is needed to get the job done.

Skin & Coat

Recognizing Problems Skin issues are among the most common reasons cats and dogs visit the vet’s office. More than being a nuisance, it can be a sign of an underlying medical issue. Healthy pets have a shiny coat, not greasy or flakey, with minimal shedding (besides Spring and Fall). And although our dog may not smell bad to us, ask a friend to do the sniff test to be sure there isn’t a bad body odour. Early signs of skin disease include a dull coat, flaky skin with dandruff, excessive shedding, and a musty odour. Some examples of underlying issues manifesting in the skin are hormonal imbalances, metabolic problems, digestive disturbances, chronic diarrhea (leading to mineral deficiencies), parasites, and even cancer. Many conditions will effect both the shininess and appearance. If the suggestions below don’t seem to resolve the problem, seek the guidance of your vet. If your dog or cat is also extremely itchy and scratching (and doesn’t have fleas) click here for information regarding allergies. Or if your dog has a powerful corn chip smell and possibly suffers from constant ear infections, then yeast maybe the problem. Help from the outside Brushing/combing regularly will help keep the coat healthier by removing loose hair and dead skin cells and distributing natural oils to the hair shafts. Long-haired pets may require daily brushing in order to avoid mats which can become painful and pull the skin. A shedding rake will be beneficial for dogs that have an undercoat such as huskies and golden retrievers. Regardless of your pet’s fur type, regular grooming allows you to examine the skin and observe changes or discover lesions, lumps, or pesky bugs like fleas and ticks early on. Bathing frequency is a personal choice but you should always use a dog (or cat) specific shampoo since their pH balance is very different than ours and even baby shampoo can be too harsh. Regular grooming can help. Help from the Inside Often cats and dogs with poor skin & coat simply need a change in diet. Try a more natural one without preservatives, additives, colouring, synthetic vitamins & minerals added. Switch to a whole food, unprocessed diet and avoid starches and carbs. Consider detoxifying the liver and kidneys. When these important filtering organs are overburdened, we often see signs that show up through the skin. Build up their immune system by strengthening the gut, which is the building block of overall health. Probiotics along with probiotics can help balance the bacteria in the gut and medicinal mushrooms blends are great at boosting the immune system. A great first step to healthy skin and coat is to add Omega-3’s found in fish oils or even better, phytoplankton. Even if your pet’s food has omega’s added, the processing and exposure to oxygen depletes them rapidly, especially omega-3’s which leads to an imbalance of the 6’s to 3’s causing inflammation in the body. Hemp oil and coconut oil are also beneficial for skin health (however they do not balance the 6’s to 3’s in kibble fed pets). Hopefully you have discovered a few ideas to help improve your pet’s skin & coat here by working with the outside and inside. Excessive shedding, flaky skin, dandruff, and body odour shouldn’t be considered the norm for our pets. A healthy diet, regular grooming and perhaps a few supplements will make a difference, but if it doesn’t, consider visiting the vet to rule out any underlying illnesses.

Eyes, Ears & Mouth

Recognizing Problems Our pets rely heavily on their taste, smell and hearing to live life to the full as well as keeping them safe from predators, poisons and diseases. Prevention If you make checking and cleaning ears, eyes and mouths a regular part of their grooming regime then you will be in a great position to stopping issues before they develop. Some pets need more care than others such as dogs with large, floppy ears who are prone to more bacteria and yeast build-up, but all pets should be regularly checked. Giving your pets regular immunity boosters are a great way to help them to fight off any infections. Oral Care Teeth should be free of plaque build-up as this can then turn to tartar and eventually up into the gums causing bacteria build up, disease and tooth loss. Cleaning your dog’s teeth ideally starts as a puppy but you can start in older dogs by rubbing their teeth with tasty pet toothpaste and your finger (NOT human toothpaste as this is poisonous to them). Move on to a finger brush or soft cloth, and then onto a doggie toothbrush. Chewing toys designed to help teeth is a great way for them to have fun and keep healthy as well as giving them appropriate treats and bones. Ear Care There are a number of reasons dogs and cats have ear issues but the most popular ones are an excess of moisture in their ear canal which can result in a buildup of bacteria and yeast, ear mites, and allergies. It is important to know how to clean your pets ears correctly as pushing cleaning materials in too far can cause further problems. Ask your vet to show you how to clean their ears. Signs of ear issues includes head shaking, rubbing ears against furniture or floors, scratching excessively, tilting the head, redness or swelling, and a waxy or black build-up in the ear canal. As with teeth care, checking their ears regularly is the best way to identify problems in the early stages before they develop into a position where your pet is genuinely distressed. Eye Care Eye care is usually the easiest of issues to manage. Clear the ‘sleep’ out of your dogs eyes every day with a soft cloth and check their eyes. Long haired dogs may need to have their hair trimmed or tied back to keep hairs out of eyes and and inward curled eyelashes should be removed to prevent scratching of the core. Tear stains are sometimes visible, especially on light coloured dogs, and these can be washed away with a special solution (we stock some in store), but this should be monitored for any other discharge from the eyes. If you see this or your dog shows you other symptoms like eye rubbing, squinting or redness take them to your vet to check what’s going on. In our Healthcare section in store we stock a wide range of ear, eye, oral and immunity boosting products. Ask us for advice and we will be more than happy to help.

Digestion

The Basics Digestion takes the large pieces of food that are eaten and breaks them down with enzymes so that the nutrients can be absorbed through the gut wall and transported throughout the body. The end product is feces, which contains the undigested matter. It goes without saying then, the more nutrient-dense the intake is, the less volume of stool should be expelled, and knowing what is normal for your pet can help you determine when there is an issue with their digestive tract. Understanding the basics of digestion helps What Are The Signs Of Digestive Issues? Broadly speaking, We can break these down into 3 scenarios: 1. Digestive disturbance that could be a medical emergency 2. Possibility of an underlying illness or parasites 3. Occasional disturbances For scenarios 1 & 2 it is best to visit your vet. A medical emergency would include an obstruction or swallowing of a poisonous substance. An underlying illness may be pancreatitis, disorders of the liver or gallbladder. And parasites such as hook worm and giardia can cause digestive issues like diarrhea, vomiting, gas and diminished appetite. If you aren’t sure whether your pet’s condition warrants an emergency vet visit, typically the following list can be followed as a guideline: - both vomiting and diarrhea - blood in either the vomit or the feces - if the upset lasts more than a couple of days - animal is lethargic or listless - multiple bouts of diarrhea or vomiting in a short period of time - abdomen is tender to the touch, distended, or bloated When should I visit my vet for help? How Can I Prevent or Treat Issues? For occasional disturbances, often withdrawing food for a meal or two (always provide water) and then slowly reintroducing bland food such as rice and a low fat protein along with pumpkin in small meals will usually work. You may consider adding probiotics for an extra boost. If your pet’s digestive upsets are chronic or frequent and your vet has ruled out any underlying illness and parasites, then consider the following: - their current diet: perhaps your dog doesn’t do well on grains, or the carrageenan thickening agent in your cat’s canned food doesn’t agree with her. Many times simply switching the animal’s food will solve all of their digestive troubles. - their stress level: like us, stress is often the enemy of our body and this can lead to digestive issues - eating inappropriate things: does your dog like to eat poop or mushrooms growing in your yard - pest control products/vaccinations: is their a correlation between administering a flea preventative and your pet’s bout of diarrhea? Has your pet been on antibiotics or other medications? A little TLC is sometimes all that is needed Next Steps A healthy digestive tract is paramount to a healthy being and PennyPetz has multiple products that can help. Remember, like us, our pets will have days when they don’t feel great and usually with a little home care, they will be back to normal quickly. If their digestive issues have changed or are occurring on a regular basis, check with your vet to rule out any underlying illness. Keeping a journal is a helpful tool for both you and your vet in order to find out what’s going on. If your pet is cleared by the vet, please feel free to talk to us about these issues and we'll try our best to help you work out what the problem is.

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Parasites & Fungal Issues

How Do I Know What It Is? Nowadays, our pets are treated like family members and we all want them to be happy, healthy, and free of parasites. Not only are they a nuisance, but they can cause serious health issues for your pets and the non-furry members of the household. It is not uncommon for your cat or dog, at some point in time, to have either an internal or external parasite, so let’s further explore some of the common ones. Internal Parasites Some of the more common parasites are hookworm, round worm, whip worm, tapeworm, and Heartworm. Most internal pests effect the intestines and digestive tract, however, others like Heartworm obviously, as the name suggests, affect the heart. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stools, weight loss, lack of stamina, shallow breath, reduced appetite, and vomiting. Often worms or remnants of worms can be seen in your pet’s stools. Transmission is through feces of infected animals including the surrounding area or puddles of water. Tapeworm larvae can be found in intermediate hosts such as fleas, and Heartworm is spread through mosquitos. Preventing your pet from eating animals feces or drinking from stagnant pools of water is helpful in preventing transmission. External Parasites The more common external parasites that inflict discomfort on our pets are fleas, ticks, ear mites, and mange. Typically a healthy pet with a strong immune system would be less likely to be a target for these pests. Natural deterrents include certain blends of essential oils, inspections and regular grooming. Fleas develop in shady protected areas outdoors and can be transmitted from other animals. Ticks on the other hand enjoy tall grass and wooded areas and are also passed on from host animals. Ear mites are transmitted through social interaction with other infected pets. Most pets have a small population of mites living on them and there isn’t an issue unless the population grows. This growth usually occurs in pets with a weak immune system. Be on the lookout for extreme itching/scratching, chewing at specific parts of the body, hair loss, black specks (dried bits of blood or feces), and often you can see the bugs themselves. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is true when it comes to parasites. Keep your yard clean of feces, wild animals (if possible), keep the grass short, discourage your pet from eating feces and provide fresh drinking water when out and about. There is ample anecdotal evidence that certain essential oils help deter pests (exercise extreme caution when using essential oils, always dilute them, and beware, many are not safe to use on cats). Plus parasites prefer feeble hosts so keeping your pet healthy with a strong immune system, will make him an undesirable candidate for parasites.

Diseases

Common Diseases As with us there are many diseases our pets can get and you should always seek the advice of your vet if you think your pet is ill. Here we will cover some of the most common diseases for dogs and cats. Cancer Cancer is a disease that can be caused by one or many things. Hereditary and environmental factors can also contribute to its development as well as breed type. Prevention is obviously the most proactive thing you can do. Learn about the breed you are looking to adopt or have - some breeds are more prone to certain types of cancer so do your homework and be prepared. Having your pet neutered can help reduce their chances of cancers related to reproduction such as breast and testicular cancers. Feeding your dog good quality food that is free from carcinogenics and harmful additives, and supplementing their food with immunity boosters is also something to consider. There are many signs of cancer due to its nature, ranging from lumps, swelling and sores to black stools, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing. Your vet is the only person qualified to advise you and carry out tests such as biopsies and x-rays. Don’t wait….if you are concerned get your pet to the vet. Chances are it could be something easy to treat but delaying a diagnosis won’t help you or your pet. Diabetes Like us humans our pets can develop diabetes; a lack of the production of insulin in the body and like us they can suffer from Type I (lack of insulin production) and Type II (an impaired insulin production along with an inadequate response to the hormone). If your pet develops diabetes they will require medication to manage it. Some signs of diabetes include weight loss, excessive thirst, unusually sweet-smelling breath, UTIs, lethargy or vomiting. Although some forms of diabetes are inherited proper diet and regular exercise can go a long way to stave of the disease. If you suspect your dog has diabetes seek vet advice as untreated it can cause cataracts, severe urine infections and ultimately, death. Heartworm As the name suggests, Heartworm is a parasite that eventually settles in the heart (and lungs) after travelling in the bloodstream for a few months. Dogs get Heartworm from infected mosquitoes who then bite the dog and as you know we live in a place with many mosquitoes. Heartworm can be diagnosed by a vet via blood tests, x-rays/ultrasounds and an examination. Your dog must be screened before you administer any Heartworm medication. Now, some people are against Heartworm medication due to various side-effects and the fact that Heartworm is not VERY easy to contract. There are alternatives to chemical medication to help prevent Heartworm such as DNA testing to check to see if they are susceptible, but we would highly recommend that a natural approach to improving your dog’s immunity by feeding a healthy diet and avoiding toxins in the environment (pesticides, household cleaners, fertilizers), some low grade foods and some vaccines. Without starting a vaccine debate we suggest you check information online, speak to your vet and other pet specialists before you make some decisions. You can also help by using a natural bug repellant to keep those mosquitoes away in the first place. Check out our own Petzacide for a great smelling and natural repellant. Kennel Cough Kennel cough is a form of bronchitis and similar to a chest cold in humans. It is also highly contagious to other dogs. A dry and persistent cough is the main symptom but you may also notice gagging, coughing up foamy phlegm and a fever. It’s called kennel cough as it breeds in more confined spaces and can be passed from dog to dog by proximity (airborne), sharing a contaminated item (e.g. food bowl), or simply meeting another dog. Vaccinations are available for prevention and some kennels won’t accept dogs without proof of a vaccination, and of course not going near an infected dog. In most cases kennel cough will clear up within 3-6 weeks. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough isolate them from other dogs and see your vet as untreated it can lead to pneumonia. Parvovirus This highly contagious viral disease can be life-threatening. It is not just contagious amongst pets but humans can also contract it. It is more likely to affect younger dogs with immature immunity systems and this is why vets will suggest they get their vaccination for this at a young age. Again, there are conflicting reports about a) the effectiveness of Parvo vaccinations and b) the need for them. What is undisputed is that improving your pups immunity system is good for him in fighting off Parvo as well as many other diseases. Build their immunity through careful socialization and a healthy diet and speak with animal specialists and your vet about the risk -v- reward with the vaccine. Rabies Rabies is a viral disease that can effect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals. It is usually caused by a bite from an infected animal and often this is a wild animal such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes. So…the vaccine question rears its head again. In some places it’s the law for your dog to have a vaccine (this includes travelling to somewhere with this law). If you want to travel or move to most parts of Ontario your pet must be vaccinated by law. You may also find that some kennels also require up to date vaccines. People take rabies seriously, mainly because humans can contract it, so think carefully about opting in or out of these vaccinations as the consequences are far more wide-reaching than just the illness. Read, read, read and ask, ask, ask. We at PennyPetz are not going to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do but what we can tell you is that boosting your pet’s health through a great diet and boosting their immunity will help them live a healthier life and may even help them fight diseases. Who wouldn’t want that?

Detox & Immunity

Why Do We Need to Detox? Like humans your pet ingests toxins every day and it is the job of their liver, kidneys and lungs to get rid of toxins. We must remember that pets are smaller than us and don’t live as long so their organs have to do a lot of work to remove toxins. Toxins are essentially poisons so your pets ability to eliminate them is important for their overall health and longevity. Many toxins are recent in terms of evolution so our pets (and ourselves) have not become efficient enough to do this without a little help. How Can I Help My Pet? Toxins are found everywhere; in the air, water they drink, food they eat, household cleaners and fresheners, pesticides and medication. It’s impossible to avoid all toxins but there are a few steps you can take to reduce them. Feed high quality food and treats The lower quality food you are feeding the higher levels of additives, preservatives, artificial colourings/flavourings, and fillers they contain. Feed a balanced, species-appropriate diet. Consider raw feeding (see our article on Raw Feeding) Give them filtered water Pets are just as susceptible to heavy metals, fluoride and other contaminants as we are and they drink lots of water (they are generally better at keeping hydrated than we are). Switch to non-toxic cleaning products This is a pretty simple one and they can usually be found in supermarkets. Just think about your dog walking ‘barefoot’ across your floors all day and licking their feet after. Avoid outdoor pesticides/fertilizers Walk your dog in places you are sure there are not high doses of these toxins. Wash their feet when they get home. Bathe your pet Simply washing allergens away can help prevent them getting into skin and organs. Exercise your pet Exercise is good for many reasons, not least helping to eliminate toxins. Exercise stimulates blood circulation which helps to move toxins to the liver and kidneys for processing. Rethink vaccinations & medications ask your vet about the side effects of vaccinations as well as how often they should take them. Also, do your own research….vets opinions can hugely differ on the pros and cons of vaccines but it remains the truth that vaccines contain a certain amount of harmful chemicals so at the very least a detox programme after vaccines should be considered. Detoxify with supplements There are many natural detoxifiers you can give your pet to help them process toxins. Ask us in store to show you our range. Immunity Boosting In many of our articles on our website we reference immunity boosting because it is simply good for all round health and the body’s ability to fight off illnesses. In terms of fighting toxins having a strong immunity will help their body process toxins as well as giving them the tools to fight any issues that arise from toxin overload. How To Boost Immunity Exercise - good for weight management, physical and mental health, and boosting immunity. Good Food - again, a high quality food avoiding grains and including fresh meat and vegetables is best. Supplements - adding probiotics (ones designed for pets), Omega 3s (such as fish oil), Curcumin (anti inflammatory) and other pet-appropriate immunity boosters to their daily routine can be a great and easy way to boost their immunity. Please do not hesitate to ask us about how to help your pet stay healthy. We pride ourselves on our Healthcare section in our store and we have spent time researching the best health options for your pet.

Struggling With Obesity

What do vets say? According to veterinarians, overfeeding is the most common mistake pet owners make in feeding their dogs or cats. Weight management is cited most often by veterinarians as one of the most important things pet owners can do to increase the length of their pet’s life, yet fewer than 2 in 10 pet owners feed their pet(s) the amount recommended on the pet food package and they are more likely to choose what their pet likes to eat over what they should eat for their health. How do I know if my pet is overweight? The best way is to stand above pets and look down on them. You should be able to feel their ribs but not see them. If you can see them, they are too skinny. If you can’t see their ribs, and place your hands on the side of their chest and still can’t, they’re overweight. Both dogs and cats should also have a nice taper at their waist (between the abdomen and where the hips go into the socket). If there is very little or none at all, they are too heavy and they’ll be oval shaped. You can also find advice online by looking at your pet’s Body Condition Score (BCS) where you can look at pictures of your type of pet and what they should look like. Best of all is ask your vet what your pet’s healthy weight is and weigh them regularly. Most vets are quite happy for you to bring your larger pet to their clinic to be weighed on their special scale at no cost. This is also a good way to get your pet used to visiting the vets. How is obesity bad for my pet? According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association pet obesity can cause: - A shorter life span - Difficulty diagnosing other health disorders due to obesity - Greater risk during surgery due to reduced lung function and/or decreased liver and kidney function. Obese pets also require more anaesthesia than pets who are a healthy weight. - Greater potential for high blood pressure, which can include the risk of heart, kidney and blood vessel diseases. - Increased chances of arthritis and spinal problems, as well as reduced mobility. - Less endurance and more fatigue. - Obese pets may be less able to fight off infections. - Difficulty enduring hot weather and cooling down. - Higher prevalence of skin problems. - An increased risk of diabetes. - Reduced reproductive success. - Gastro-intestinal problems. What Can I do to prevent obesity or help with weight loss? Start with their food. Make sure you are feeding the correct portion size of a high quality food and incorporate treats into their daily allowance. Don’t leave food out - once they have eaten remove their bowl. Cat’s especially will eat out of boredom. Make them work for their food - use toys that you fill with treats so they eat more slowly and enjoy the ‘hunt’ for their food. Add more pet-safe fruit and vegetables to their meals or use these as their treats. Exercise is, of course, essential to their physique. Indoor cats can easily suffer from weight problems as it’s harder for them to naturally get the exercise that outdoor cats get so you should spend time playing with them to ensure they are moving about enough. Dogs need regular exercise so arrange for a dog walker if you are leaving them for extended periods of time. Play time is also a great opportunity to exercise your dog (see Toys & Games For Boredom).