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Newsletter - June 2011

The News At Home

Tori has decided that neighbors are highly overrated. In fact, she doesn’t think they have a right to enter their own backyards. Her head perks up, ears move forward and she races toward the fence to bark in protest. No amount of cajoling from neighbors changes her attitude. Mind you, if they come close to the fence, she will run away (brave dog, huh?), but the fact that they dared to do this in the first place shows that they are not to be trusted.

Yes, she’s always been a strange dog, but maybe there’s an explanation for her aversion to neighbors. The people living on one side of our house are always bringing or removing things that are new and strange to Tori. Bed sheets swinging and flapping on the clothes line, noisy equipment and a door on the garden shed that flaps open and shut from time to time must be puzzling. The neighbor on the other side rarely comes out, and when she does, it’s to kneel down and crawl toward the fence line where her vegetables grow. Clawing in the ground right next to Tori’s turf would seem threatening, I suppose.

Note to self: invite the neighbors for a barbecue this year and don’t let them know that it’s for Tori’s benefit more so than entertainment purposes. A mom’s got to do what a mom’s got to do.

What’s New at monicasegal.com

New Booklet: Help For Your Arthritic Dog

Follow the guidelines in this booklet and join the ranks of clients who saw success by using my protocol. Certain foods and supplements can have a big impact on inflammation and bring relief from stiffness and pain. Understand that what you are feeding these dogs can be a powerhouse of help or cause more problems, so choose wisely!

This is not about nightshade vegetables and other beliefs. Rather, help comes from understanding the anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory response to certain foods and supplements and lifestyle changes.

Testimonials:

“Thank you for bringing our Hailey back to us. She was barely able to walk two months ago. Today she play bowed and demanded a game of fetch. It’s unbelievable that a diet change and a couple of simple supplements were all that held her back from living better.” - June Montgomery (CA, USA)

“Benny and I would like to thank you for all your hard work on our behalf. Benny’s arthritis is still there, but his quality of life would never let you know it. He goes up and down the stairs more easily and likes longer walks again. I get misty watching him enjoy his days instead of groaning every time he tried to get up from bed.” - Mrs. L. Harris (FL, USA)

Fact of The Month

Intestinal gas can have many causes

We may not notice that a dog has gas unless it gets to the point where it can clear a room. A burp or the odd moment of flatulence is often laughed about, but chronic occurrences should be thought through because a visit to the veterinarian may be in order. Certainly, gas combined with diarrhea or loss of appetite or a distended belly are a heads up to get the dog to the vet sooner rather than later. But even those dogs that have nothing more than frequent bouts of gas can be letting us know that something’s up.

Some dogs swallow large amounts of air when eating and this alone can cause gas. Gulping food, especially in large amounts is typical of some breeds and some individuals regardless of breed. You can slow down the action by feeding smaller amounts of food more frequently and using a feeding bowl that has a raised center. This prevents food from being distributed across the bowl. The dog is forced to slow down on the gulping action.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can be another reason for dogs having gas, and can be the cause of malabsorption. Dogs with SIBO have large amounts of gas-producing bacteria in the small intestine. The cause of SIBO is not always known. It seems to be fairly common in cases of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis and other gastrointestinal diseases, but malabasorption can be due to these diseases in the first place. A chicken and egg scenario, if you will. SIBO must be identified and treated by a veterinarian, but acidophilus can be helpful as an adjunct.

Rapid transit time and the foods being fed can be another cause of gas. Sugars and carbohydrates can take more time to be digested and more of them reach the colon when this does not happen. A change of diet combines with digestive enzymes (full spectrum activity) and acidophilus can help.

Food intolerance can also cause gas. Too much fiber, cheese, or any food that the body doesn’t digest well can be culprits. This is an easy fix. Try an elimination diet to see which foods are tolerated and stick to them.

Tip: Be careful to buy a dairy-free acidophilus. Dogs that have lactose intolerance will react by producing even more gas if fed a product that contains dairy.

Monica

“The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That's the essence of inhumanity.” - George Bernard Shaw