Optimum Choices will be an exhibitor at the
Natural Pet Fair
in New York City on September 18th, promoting the
BioPreparationTM
algae supplement for pets. This is the largest natural pet fair on
the east coast so we encourage our east coast readers to attend.
Dr. Martin Goldstein, well-known holistic vet, will be
speaking at the fair. Russell Louie of Optimum Choices will be speaking
on how BioPreparationTM
activates your pet's natural ability to heal.
A recent study showed at least 63% of Golden Retrievers will die of cancer (Kali’s
Wish Cancer Foundation, Animal Wellness Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 6). In a study
by the Morris Animal Foundation, one in four dogs died of cancer (Whole Dog
Journal, November 2003). One way to reduce these appalling statistics is through
the use of whole food supplements that provide optimal nutrition. These
supplements are considered safer and more complete than isolated supplements or
synthetic compounds. A complete whole food provides all the ingredients needed
for optimum health such as enzymes, amino acids and trace minerals. Isolated
supplements may be missing complementary substances Nature put in whole foods
that are needed to make it work optimally. For instance, Vitamin C in whole
oranges works better with its naturally occurring rutin and bioflavonoids than
Vitamin C from pure ascorbic acid. A recent study found a possible link between
the use of multivitamins and the risk of asthma and food allergies in infants
(Reuters, Chicago, July 6, 2004). We believe Nature is a better formulator than
a scientist.
Live enzymes are needed to break down food and help with the absorption of
nutrients. Enzymes are essential for digestion as well as many other vital body
functions such as producing energy, reducing inflammation and speeding healing.
This is important because all cooked food (canned and dry kibble) is lacking
enzymes since heat kills live enzymes. Feeding your pet processed food every day
will eventually deplete it of live enzymes. Without enzymes pets age faster and
they get the degenerative diseases so prevalent in humans today such as
arthritis, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and cancer.
A perfect whole food supplement with live enzymes is algae (such as spirulina).
Animals in the wild instinctually get algae whenever they drink from a natural
water source such as a pond or stream. Our domesticated animals, fed processed
foods and tap water, do not get algae and therefore are always deficient in
enzymes, essential fatty acids, vitamins, trace minerals, and amino acids.
Feeding algae to our animal companions provides them all the nutrients they need
in the natural form and exact dosage that nature intended.
If animals don’t get enzymes from their food, they must rely on their
storehouse of enzymes produced in their pancreas. Eating cooked food (without
enzymes) for 10 years is like making a withdrawal from your savings account
every day for ten years and never making a deposit. Eventually the savings
account gets depleted. When an animal’s savings account of enzymes is depleted,
aging accelerates and degenerative diseases start.
Algae are miniature factories producing over 4,000 enzymes, vitamins,
essential fatty acids, minerals, amino acids and protein. Algae can help animals
to:
Accelerate healing
Improve digestion
Detoxify their body
Produce silkier, shinier coat
Relieve arthritis, gain flexibility
Balance hormonal disorders
Stimulate their immune system
Enhance growth and tissue repair
Help prevent degenerative diseases
Reduce illness and veterinarian bills
Achieve optimum health and longer life
Optimum Choices offers a holistic whole food algae supplement called
BioPreparationTM, developed through
years of animal research to promote optimal health and reduce cancer. For more
information, click here.
While it's tempting to feed table
scraps and snacks to our canine and feline friends, first make sure that it's
not a food that is toxic to them. Feeding organic meats, fruits and vegetables
to our pets is fine if it is a small part of their overall diet and the foods
are safe for them (if you eat junk food, please don't feed it to your pet too).
Many people are surprised to find out that several commonly eaten human foods are
toxic for dogs and/or cats.
One of the latest foods discovered to be
toxic to dogs is Xylitol, a sweetener commonly used in gums and candies. You can
also buy it as "birch sugar" at health food stores, for use in baking. The ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center reports:
Dogs ingesting significant
amounts of gum or candies solely or largely sweetened with xylitol may
develop a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression,
loss of coordination and seizures. "These signs can develop quite
rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product.
Therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment
immediately."
Grapes
and raisins are another food recently found to be toxic to some dogs. Many vets
don't know about this yet and you can still find raisin training treats for dogs
sold in some pet stores. Grapes can cause fatal kidney failure in some dogs,
even at small amounts. A
recent
Overboard comic strip featured the pirate captain unwittingly
offering grapes to a dog and the dog accusing the captain of trying to murder
him. You can read
more information from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center here:
Update on toxicity of grapes and
Toxicology Publications: The Wrath of Grapes. It's unknown how grapes affect
cats but believed that they may also be susceptible.
Chocolate has been known for some
time to be very toxic to both dogs and cats. Also, beware of using cocoa bean
mulch in your garden where a dog might munch on it. Caffeine and coffee have the
same toxic effect as chocolate.
Onions cause hemolytic anemia
(destroy red blood cells) in both dogs and cats. Japanese breeds are
particularly susceptible. Many human foods, such as ketchup, tomato sauce, snack
foods, processed meats, etc. have added onion so read your labels before feeding
the food to your pet! Garlic contains a smaller amount of the toxic chemical and
is generally considered safe for dogs in small amounts. Cats seem to be more
sensitive to garlic than dogs so we do not recommend feeding garlic to cats at
all, even though some pet food manufacturers claim it is safe for them.
Tomatoes are toxic to cats but
probably OK for dogs (as long as they don't eat the leaves). The
Feline Future web site describes the case of a cat who nearly died from
ingesting cherry tomatoes. Also, green raw potatoes, which are in the same
nightshade family as tomatoes, are toxic for both dogs and cats. Only feed
cooked, warm potatoes to dogs.
Macadamia nuts and black walnuts are
both toxic for dogs so avoid feeding them. Licorice can cause muscle damage and
lead to weakness, collapse and even death in dogs.
While we know of the occasional dog or cat who has eaten the above toxic
foods with no ill effects, we don't recommend experimenting on your pet to see
if these foods are toxic or not for them. If you want your pet to be around for
a while, it's best to avoid these foods and only feed foods proven to be safe.
For
more information on the best nutrition for our pets, attend our
Natural Pet Care class on October 16th.
"Hi, my name is Baby Bear but if you don't like that name, you can adopt me
and call me anything you want. See how cute I am? That's me on the right!" Baby
Bear is the current Misha May Foundation dog looking for a forever home. The Misha May Foundation
in Denver offers training and rehabilitation for mixed-breed shelter dogs. For more information about
adopting Baby Bear, call Lorraine May at 303-239-0382. Lorraine is executive
director of the Foundation and a holistic dog trainer.
Last month we featured a short booklet by noted animal behaviorist/dog
trainer Patricia McConnell. This month we feature her full-length book on the
human/canine relationship, which is a real eye-opener on understanding how dogs
perceive us and why we so often miscommunicate with them. It is described as
follows by Amazon.com:
"The Other End of the Leash shares a revolutionary, new perspective on our
relationship with dogs, focusing on our behavior in comparison with that of
dogs. An applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years
experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell looks at humans as just another interesting
species, and muses about why we behave the way we do around our dogs, how dogs
might interpret our behavior, and how to interact with our dogs in ways that
bring out the best in our four-legged friends.
After all, although humans and dogs share a remarkable relationship that is
unique in the animal world, we are still two entirely different species, each
shaped by our individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are
primates and dogs are canids (like wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each
speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation.
The Other End of the Leash demonstrates how even the slightest changes in your
voice and the way you stand can help your dog understand what you want. Once you
start to think about your own behavior from the perspective of your dog, you’ll
understand why much of what appears to be doggy-disobedience is simply a case of
miscommunication. Inside you will learn:
How to use your voice so that your dog is more likely to do what you
ask.
Why “getting dominance” over your dog is a bad idea.
Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble–and how to play
with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of trouble.
How dogs and humans share personality types–and why most dogs want to
live with benevolent leaders rather than “alphawannabees!"
In her own insightful, compelling style, Patricia McConnell combines
wonderful true stories about people and dogs with a new, accessible scientific
perspective on how they should behave around each other. This is a book that
strives to help you make the most of life with your dog, and to prevent problems
that might arise in that most rewarding of relationships."
Nothing on this website has been evaluated by the FDA. This information
is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please
see a qualified healthcare practitioner for any disease or illness.
