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healing
paws
holistic &
conventional
veterinar y care
NEWS Spring 2011
102-101 Klahanie Drive, Port Moody, BC, V3H 0C3, Canada
Tel 604 461-PAWS | www.healingpawsvet.ca | [email protected]
NUTRITION
NATURE RULES - WHY WE LOVE ACANA FOODS!
Biologically Appropriate foods mirror the balance and variety of
foods that dogs and cats would naturally find hunting in the wild
(yes, even your Pekingnese has a inner wild dog just waiting to get
out!!). The concept of healty feeding is simple: including fresh,
whole meats that nature evolved dogs and cats to eat and
instinctively crave, and exclude ingredients - like high-glycemic grains
and inappropriate vegetable proteins that don't belong in the natural
diet.
THE PRINCIPALS BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF ALL ACANA FOODS:
A rich variety of fresh meats
Acana features a wide variety of fresh local meats including free-run chicken and duck, fresh whole eggs, local lamb and a
superb selection of wild-caught freshwater and saltwater fish.
Meat concentrated & protein rich
Dogs and cats are evolved for a diet rich in animal protein. Made with a minimum of 60% poultry, meat and fish
ingredients, Acana features substantially higher inclusions of meat and protein than conventional foods.
Low in carbs
The natural diet of dogs and cats contains very few carbohydrates. That's why Acana foods contain about half of the
carbs of 'super premium' or 'holistic' pet foods.
Fruits & vegetables
Instead of inappropriate high-glycemic grains (like rice and corn) that spike blood sugar levels, Acana features local oats,
fruits and veggies that provide limited carbohydrates while supplying healthful vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in
their natural form.
Botanicals
Botanicals enhance metabolism, strengthen organs, and serve as cleansers to rid the body of toxins. Botanicals provide
the element of a dog or cat's natural diet that they crave when they instinctively forage for grasses and weeds.
Made in canada!!
Acana diets are made with ingredients raised or fished within our Western Canadian region, including free-run chicken and
eggs from local prairie farms, wild-caught freshwater and saltwater fish from Northern Alberta lakes and the Pacific Ocean,
and lamb, raised free-range on local grassland farms.
PROMOTION!
Healing Paws is proud to stand behind and offer this Whole Dog Journal Approved Diet and would like to announce the
start of our on-going Acana Diet Clinic Promotion: Your special Furr Kid will get 25% off the 6th bag of food purchased
and 6 more bags will get them one for FREE!!
Please bring your Furry Friend by for a cookie visit and a Free Trial Size bag to try!
TOXIC PLANTS and FERTILIZERS
Spring is on the way! It’s time to get outside and enjoy the plants,
flowers and outdoors. However, did you know that many of the
flowers we love are a danger to our beloved animal friends?
Plants such as Rhododendron, Hydrangeas, the bulbs of Tulips &
Daffodils, Buttercups, Daisies, Wisteria, Lily of the Valley and all
types of Lilies, just to name a few... A more extensive list can be
found at the Animal Poison Control Center website:
www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control
It is also the time to fertilize plants, flowers and our lawns.
Fertilizers can be toxic for our four legged friends, through the
contact irritation and/or ingestion route. Talk to your neighbors
and/or Strata Management Company, if they are planning to use
the fertilizers this season. If possible suggest Animal-friendly
products.
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ALLERGIES
Our patients visit us for many reasons, but allergies are one of the most common reasons.
Sadly, most of the conventional treatments available are simply ways to suppress and turn
off parts of the immune system and nervous system.
Many of our clients desire better solutions for their pets with allergies, but sadly there is
no one way to best address allergies. In most cases this is a very individual condition and
it requires an individual approach to navigate our way towards better health.
People frequently come to our office stating, "His itching is making him miserable. The
sucking and licking sounds keep me awake at night. I need my sleep and you have to do
something now!"
It's understandable that we want to make our pets more comfortable and get some rest.
These are good things for sure. And for many dogs and cats we can sensibly use drug
therapies to reduce itching for short periods of time to accomplish this goal. Reducing
itching also helps reduce secondary ear and skin infections with bacteria and yeast and
keeping the itching controlled actually helps us to reduce the amount of other antifungal
and antibiotic drugs which makes it medically important, too.
But it is important to do more than just stop the itching - drugs like steroids that simply block immune responses or important biological
regulation systems often have strong and undesirable side effects. Medications that simply stop itching never help a patient recover or
improve their innate immune response, which means they are stuck with their allergies. While stopping the itching is a good thing and allows
pets to rest and feel better, in the long haul no suppressive therapy ever results in a resolution of allergies. Drugs that stop itching and
reduce inflammation do let the skin heal and reduce infections of the skin and ears, and they also allow a pet's owner to get some sleep at
night.
Allergies result when a particular form of antibody called IgE binds to special "allergy" cells known as mast cells. Mast cells are basically big
bags of chemicals that cause redness, swelling and itching when they release their contents. Once an allergen binds to the IgE antibody
which is bound to the mast cell, it triggers the mast cell to automatically explode and release its itchy-skin allergy warhead and signs of
allergies develop. These IgE molecules bind permanently once the body decides to use the allergic response, so this makes it very hard to
"cure" allergies. One of the main chemicals in these mast cells is "histamine," a powerful chemical that is also toxic to the body. Histamine
causes red, swollen, itchy skin.
Individual pets can have varying responses to treatments, so what works well for one pet may not work at all for another. Also, pets can
get overly sedated, groggy, or have altered personalities on many of the conventional medications available, so more than one may be tried
before the best medication is located.
Thankfully, we have a number of natural therapies available to assist in management of veterinary allergies.
Regular bathing with plain shampoo or with products like oatmeal colloid can help in reducing itching by removing contact allergens and
potential toxins from the skin. Other topical products can create a barrier to allergenic materials and protect a patient from as much
exposure.
Simply wiping your pet's feet off after a walk outdoors can greatly reduce allergen exposure and itching in some dogs.
Changing the diet to a limited antigen diet. Many pets have concurrent allergies to several things such as specific meats (beef or chicken are
common ones), grains (wheat, corn and soy are common problems), and other food ingredients. Some pets are not truly allergic, but they
have adverse reactions to food from other complex and unpredictable reactions to chemicals in foods. Your veterinarian can assist with the
selection of the best diet to help eliminate food allergy signs, but please do not add anything to those diets and that can invalidate the
entire food trial. Pets must eat a new diet for up to 60 days before we can tell if it is helping or not. Pets that are prone to food allergy are
more prone to worsening after routine vaccinations so minimize vaccinations in these pets (9). Feeding wild, organic, locally farmed honey
assists some allergy patients by calming their allergic reactions at the level of the intestines.
Nutraceuticals are nutritional supplements that are used instead of drugs. The most effective of these is the use of fish oil, which acts as a
natural anti-itch remedy and helps to avoid or reduce the amount of allergy drug required to control their symptoms. High dose vitamin C is
an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant. Long term, high dose vitamin C therapy can aggravate or cause kidney
stones in some pets. Vitamin A is useful in treating skin issues, and skin problems may respond to additional Zinc and Selenium in the diet.
Coenzyme Q-10 supports cell metabolism and helps allergy patients in a general sense. The bioflavinoid Quercitin has antihistaminic effects
and may help some pets. B vitamins may help some pets but not all. Pycnogenol has been used by many holistic veterinarians and was
recently shown to be of use in treating humans with birch pollen allergy.
Digestive enzymes and probiotics help digestion and in some cases reduce the degree of itchy feelings and are often tried in allergic pets.
Incompletely digested food allows for proteins to over stimulate the pet's immune system. Many allergic pets have troubled digestive
organs and the key to their allergic skin and ear problems may reside in handling their guts properly. Don't underestimate the importance of
this in addressing itchy pets. Probiotics are also very useful in treating secondary yeast skin and ear infections.
Western and Chinese herbs can be used to reduce toxicity and support the skin (12). Burdock is a commonly selected herb for this
purpose. Aloe protects the gut and is useful for soothing the skin. Dandelion supports liver function as does other green foods such as
kale, greens, and chlorophyll. Supporting the liver is important because allergic pets have stressed livers. The liver is working overtime to
handle all the histamine and other toxic materials created by the allergic response. I've seen pets markedly improve when their sole allergic
treatment involved liver support.
Detoxification therapies combine a wide variety of differing methods, but since the liver is often overwhelmed in allergic patients and since
varying degrees of environmental and innate toxicity are present and may even play a part in the causation of allergic responses, working
with a professional to do detoxification often reduces allergic signs.
There is no single way to eliminate allergies, but when good people come together and commit to cooperative efforts, many allergy
patients can be helped. It takes time and hard work, but using a balanced approach of supportive and symptom controlling treatments
helps get us all down the road more comfortably.
SPRING PROMOTION
March 1st to May 31st 2011, natural products, such as shampoos, salves and creams, nutritional supplements, selected herbs that may help
your furry friend to relieve allergy symptoms, are discounted by 10%. For the full list of qualified products, please contact Healing Paws.
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FLEAS
Fleas are parasitic insects that feed off warm blooded creatures
like our unsuspecting furry friends. With our mild temperatures
humid climate, fleas can be pests year-round. They can be picked
up from all of their favorite (and not so favorite) places such as
daycares, groomers, boarding kennels, the dog park, communal
bathroom and play areas, etc. If one pet has fleas, assume they all
do. While they are annoying, fleas are easy to prevent. A simple
test will be a good tool in catching the problem before it gets too
big: Take a fine toothed comb and comb closely to the skin at the
tail base of your pet. Put the acquired debris from the comb onto
a white paper towel and add water. Should this turn red (digested blood from flea feces) you have…fleas! But don’t
panic just yet…there is treatment available. At Healing Paws most commonly recommend Revolution as it not only helps to
prevent fleas, but also ticks, lice, mites and intestinal parasites.
FACTS ABOUT FLEAS
Fleas can survive outside of the host (dog, cat or other animals) for six or more months, feeding only on debris and dander. These critters
have been found in carpets of homes that have stayed vacant for many, many months.
Cats are the preferred meal for an average flea, followed by dogs and humans.
Pets eating diets that are rich in carbs and fillers, such as wheat, corn and glutens, are likely to become a preferred host for flea infestation.
Fleas have a “sweet tooth”!
Not every pet requires a year round flea protection. This entirely depends on your pet's life style, age and any concurrent medical
condition. An easy and safe alternative to flea preventative medications are flea combs and natural flea dips and baths infused with some
essential oils. For pets that are social bugs and like to play with others, we recommend flea medication, such as Revolution, at least during
flea peak activity periods early spring and fall months.
For more info on all products, please visit us at Healing Paws.
MEET JUDY
Judy is our protege, a 16 year old poodle, looking for a loving parent(s)
and permanent home. Her owner was a long term client of ours, who has
passed away suddenly, leaving Judy without permanent home and an
established routine that this granny poodle needs. She has been fostered
by our Tech Kari who has given her all the love she has, however this is a
temporary solution for Judy…
For more info, please contact Kari at [email protected], or come and
meet Judy in person at Healing Paws.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, April 2nd
Port Moody Wellness Fare at Port Moody Rec Center on Ioco Rd. Please check out our boot for useful information and cool door prizes.
Tuesday, April 19th
Between 4 and 6pm, bring your pooch to Healing Paws for our first Easter Cookie Hunt. There is a lot of delicious, healthy treats to be
sniffed out from the hidden spots at our place. The best sniffer wins it all!
Saturday, May 7th (the date to be confirmed)
Our First in-Clinic Seminar, featuring anything you need to know about Allergies in Pets and how to manage it natural way.
Please hurry to register, since seating is limited and they are some great prizes to be won!
healing
paws
holistic &
conventional
veterinar y care
HOLISTIC
Herbal medicine
Nutritional supplements
Natural diets
Titer testing
Chiropractor referrals
Physiotherapy
CONVENTIONAL
Full service hospital
Surgical procedures
Specialist referrals
Lab testing & X-Rays
Core vaccines
Dentistry
Boarding
Bring this coupon to receive
50% off
of the consulting fees,
on your 1st booked appointment!