#OrganicPet Food Survey Says...

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

This infographic is sponsored by Castor and Pollux, the makers of ORGANIX. I have not been compensated to participate in this project.

What is Organic Pet Food?

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com 
What Exactly Does USDA Organic Mean to You?

Most of you know that I've been feeding my dogs ORGANIX organic dog food for, well, years. I've lost count. Today I'm participating in an #OrganicPet survey to collect some data on what your perception of organic is. This is going to be fun, since understanding what you believe about organic is very important to understanding what I can do to continue to educate you and myself about this important topic. You can help by giving me just a few minutes to take the organic pet food survey.

Just in case you're passing up this chance to offer your

insight, I timed my own taking of this 6-question survey. It took me a whopping 21 seconds. Can you spare 21 seconds to help us create more accurate information to use in our sharing. Thanks!


Along with a group of us in this mini research project, we'll be tabulating the data and creating an infographic to share our findings. Are you curious? I can't wait to see it. I've read so much about this original method of food production and farming that I often forget what I thought about it before I started on this journey. Watch for the infographic to come as we approach Halloween. No spooky info, I promise. Just your answers. Join us!

Happy tails,

This survey, infographic and the follow up post that will share some of my insights on shopping for your pets' food, is sponsored by Castor and Pollux, the makers of ORGANIX. I have not been compensated to participate in this project, but Castor and Pollux is my site's primary advertiser, so I'm eager to learn what our readers know about organic pet food. More soon!

Ask the Veterinarian About Skin Rashes

by Dr. Julie Buzby

Buffer

courtesy Moyen_Brenn via Flickr.com

My dog, Maddy,  is 3 years old and has a grain allergy. She is on a grain-free diet. However, when I got her at 3 months I was not aware of her allergies. It was at 8 months we discovered it.
Our Vet initially diagnosed it as yeast from grain allergy--gave us steriods pills, inflamation drops, and ear wash to use--and it worked great. However, several months ago my husband bought some chews he thought were grain free. She developed a rash on her belly and ears and I discovered the chews were made with wheat. 
I took her in to the Vet clinic had her checked out with a new vet; he gave her some antibiotics. It seems to have somewhat gotten rid of the rash but it has since then reappeared and she has eaten no grains. 
I have done some research on this and just like to humans--antibiotics kill the natural flora in our intestines. I think she is having over active yeast growth in her ears and flaky red bumps on her belly and genital area. I have treated her ears with apple cider vinegar and water (50/50) and it healed quickly. However, the few bumps on the back hind legs that I can't seem to treat because of all the fur. I spoke to the vet and he wants to give her antibiotics again! 
What do you recommend? A second opinion? Can I give her plain organic yogurt w/ live cultures or dog probiotics? I'm confused and annoyed because several vets I have spoken to just refer the rash to an allergy? An allergy to what? She doesn't eat any grains! They never seem to mention yeast growth. At this point any advice is welcomed. I hate to see her cry when she licks her belly. Thank you!
 
Best Regards. 
Michell B. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Michell,

According to statistics, the top three reasons dogs visited veterinarians in 2012 were skin allergies, ear infections, and skin infections.  Poor Maddy appears to have all three, which is not uncommon.  The ears are just an extension of skin, and both are prone to infection secondary to allergies.

Pruritis (itchy skin) can have multiple causes and take months to sort out.  My goal is to equip you to better communicate with your vet about Maddy’s condition.

We have two issues to address:

1.  Maddy’s ear and skin infection.

2.  The underlying cause, which is most likely allergies.  We must manage her allergies to prevent recurring infections. 

I do think Maddy has food allergies, which are typically incurable in dogs, and can develop at any age.  However, she may also be affected by things in the environment.  Dogs with allergies seem to have an “allergic threshold”, meaning they have multiple allergies, but there is a point where “the straw breaks the camel’s back” and symptoms manifest.  The predominant sign of food allergy is that symptoms are year round, not seasonal.  Further, recurrent external ear infections are present in more than half of dogs with food allergies. 

The most common food allergens for dogs (in order) are: beef, dairy, wheat, chicken, egg, lamb, and soy.  About half of all dogs are allergic to more than one ingredient.  It’s important to understand that “grain free” is not synonymous with “hypoallergenic”.  Consider the ingredients in diets on which she thrives, versus the ingredients found in foods or treats that cause her to flare up.  I’m guessing there’s more to the story than just grains.  How can we determine what Maddy is allergic to? 

Blood tests for food allergies are not reliable and are a waste of your money.  A “dietary trial” is the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies.  Talk with your veterinarian about conducting a food trial.  Maddy’s doctor may recommend a prescription diet, or even home cooking a balanced recipe.  Over-the-counter diets should not be used for food trials, but can be fed once the offending ingredients have been identified.

As for her skin, the rash you describe sounds classic for a skin infection. While this is not the same thing as skin allergies, the two often go hand in hand.  This type of infection is caused by bacteria and/or yeast, and each is treated differently.

Bacterial skin infection, called pyoderma, is best treated topically and with oral antibiotics.  Through simple tests, your veterinarian can tell what types of organisms are causing her skin and ear infections and determine proper treatment.  If she requires another course of antibiotics, I would recommend administering high quality human probiotics, or a doggie product like FortiFlora, during the course of her treatment.

Ultimately, I completely understand your concerns.  Allergies are frustrating for clients and veterinarians alike, not to mention the dogs!  While, Maddy will likely always be prone to skin flare ups, I feel confident that you and your veterinarian can transition her out of a skin “crisis” to long-term successful management of her skin and allergies.

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.

Here are a few of her articles that may be of interest:

• 10 Tips for Fido's Longest Life
• Leaner Pets Live Longer
• Finicky Eaters
• Our Vet's Best Advice on Nutrition

Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.

Our Vet's Best Advice on Nutrition

by Dr. Julie Buzby

courtesy Llima via Flickr.com

When I wrote my All Things Dog Blog debut article, 10 Tips for Fido’s Longest Life, I purposely avoided ranking the recommendations according to merit.  But I promise you that vying for first place on the list is nutrition.

In humans, many chronic medical conditions are related to diet.  It’s common knowledge that nutrition correlates to both quality and quantity of life.  “Eat your vegetables,” is a mom’s mantra.  In contrast, no one encourages their kids to eat more processed foods.

Yet unknowingly, many people feed their dogs junk food, day in and day out.  For example, here’s the ingredient list for one of the most popular, readily available diets on the market: 

Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, water, meat and bone meal, propylene glycol, sugar, tricalcium phosphate, phosphoric acid, salt, animal digest, potassium chloride, sorbic acid (a preservative), dried peas, dried carrots, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, Red 40, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Vitamin A supplement, Blue 2, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, brewers dried yeast, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite. 

Please note that the front of the bag has pictures of veggies seductively swirling with chunks of meat, but inside the bag, carrots and peas are less plentiful than sugar and salt.  Legally, ingredients must be listed in order of abundance, with the largest quantity listed first.  By virtue of their place on the list, vegetables are practically nonexistent in this diet.

I’ll leave you and your veterinarian to determine the best diet for your dog, because ultimately there is no one-size-fits-all superior choice, but here are some basic rules of thumb:

1.   Don’t get fooled by the packaging, marketing, and advertising.  Become a label reader!  Even though almost all commercially available diets are “nutritionally balanced”, that doesn’t mean they are optimally healthful for your dog.

2.   Dogs are omnivores (eating both meat and vegetation), but I want to see meat as the first ingredient on a dog food label, not corn. 

3.   Generally, you get what you pay for.  There’s a reason you can buy 40 pounds of dog food for $18 at the big box stores.  High quality ingredients are costly.  But pay now or pay later!  By feeding a high quality diet, you will likely save on vet bills in the short and long term (commonly for skin and gastrointestinal problems).  Feed the best diet you can afford.

4.  Don’t be afraid of variety!

5. Home-prepared and raw diets aren’t for everyone, but my patients that are on balanced home cooked or raw diets often thrive.  They typically have clean teeth, trim waistlines, and enjoy long healthy lives.  I prefer formulated home cooked diets over raw diets, because of the inherent risks associated with handling/feeding raw meat.  Please understand there is room for serious error in home cooking/raw feeding.  Vitamin/mineral supplementation is required and must be done correctly to avoid creating dangerous nutritional deficiencies/imbalances. Consult your veterinarian for advice, and keep in mind that board certified veterinary nutritionists can create custom, balanced recipes for your dog.  

Here’s a link to a 2004 article about a dog that lived to be 26 years old.  Note to what his owner attributes his longevity. 

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.

You may also enjoy reading her recent articles:

• 10 Tips for Fido's Longest Life
• Insight on Friendship Changes
• Leaner Pets Live Longer
• Finicky Eaters
• Tweaking Your Dog's Vaccinations

Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.