Burns Pet Health News

 Dogs Shedding Hair

 Dog shedding occurs in nearly all dogs and is a natural process of eliminating (shedding) dead hair. There are a few natural reasons for this – It is a bit like a human sweating,  to allow a new coat to come in and for seasonal changes in temperature. There is no such thing as a non-shedding dog,  excepting of course the hairless varieties. That said,  shedding varies greatly between the breeds because of dogs differences in genetics, environment and of course , the dog food it is being fed.

As a point of interest the difference between dog breeds and how dogs shed hair  rests with  the growth rate of the dogs hair (3 cycles: anagen, catagen and telogen),

Dog shedding is influenced by these three dog coat characteristics:

• Different types of dog coats: hairless, presence of undercoat.
• Different degrees of curl & wave in dog coats: wavy, wirehaired, and straight.
• Different dog coat lengths: short, medium, and long.

 Dog shedding can be problem  for two major reasons for dog owners: allergies and the time it takes to clean up hair that has shed.

 “Very light shedders” are  breeds which  usually need to be clipped, stripped and/or cut with scissor’s.  Of course as mentioned earlier diet has also a major influence and those fed a very healthy natural dog food tend to shed very lightly except in the spring when dogs naturally shed all their hair so a new coat can grow. The phenomenon of seasonal shedding for some breeds occurs because the  dogs shed their winter coats in the spring and if you are the owner of one such breed, you will have to be prepared for large-scale shedding at these times of the year.

In addition to dog coat characteristics, many other factors influence dog shedding:

• Sunlight and temperature: The length of day may influence growth  of a new coat on the dog  and shedding of the old coat. Outdoor dogs usually shed their thick undercoat in the spring to prepare for warmer weather. Many indoor living dogs experience increased continuous dog shedding and decreased annual dog shedding.
• Health: deworm your dog regularly and treat skin infections properly to maintain healthy skin and coat and decrease shedding.
• Allergies: allergic dogs ( flea and tick infestation) shed more although a compromised immune system goes hand in hand with dogs allergies.
• Dog Nutrition: a high quality natural dog food should provide the conditions for  healthy skin and coat on your dog.
• Cleanliness; brush your dog regularly and use adapted shampoo (not for humans !).
• Hormones affect skin and coat health:  A healthy thyroid, adrenal glands etc are essential to a healthy dog coat
• Pregnancy and lactation: deplete calcium, minerals and energy stores so that many dogs shed heavily after the pups are born and are being nursed.

Excessive dog  shedding, should trigger questions about : skin diseases (Staphylococcus infection, ringworm, dog allergies (flea, tick and lice)), pyoderma), Cushing’s disease and autoimmune diseases as pemphigus complex, pemphigus vegetans, pemphigus foliaceous, pemphigus erythematosis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome and of course the dogs diet - is it a premium dog food or a natural premium dog food.

What can you do to reduce shedding?

Grooming helps! Brushing your dog once a day will greatly reduce the unwanted hair all over your clothes, carpet and furniture, especially during shedding season. Feed a high quality dog food diet which should not require the use of supplements as a natural dog food will contain all essential nutrients for optimal skin and coat health (vitamins, minerals, amino acids and omega 6/3 fatty acids).

Summary

Skin and coat health can be helped with natural premium dog food  of a complete formulation containing all essential vitamins, minerals, amino-acids and fatty acids.

Non or Low Shedding Dog Breeds – Hypoallergenic Dogs

Affenpinsher
Airedale Terrier
American Hairless Terrier
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Bergamasco
Bichon Frise
Black Russian Terrier
Bolognese
Border Terrier
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Brussels Griffon
Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier
Chacy Ranior
Chi-Poo
Chinese Crested
Cockapoo
Coton De Tulear
Dachshund
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Greyhound
Hairless Khala
Havanese
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lakeland Terrier
Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Maltese
Malti-Poo
Manchester Terrier
Mi-Ki
Miniature Schnauzer
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Poodle (all types)
Poos
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shih Tzu
Silky Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Spanish Water Dog
Standard Schnauzer
Tibetan Terrier
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Wire Haired Fox Terrier
Wire Haired Pointing Griffon
Xoloitzcuintli
Yorkshire Terrier

Heavy Shedding Dog Breeds

Alaskan Malamute
Akita
Australian Shepherd
Belgian Sheepdog
Collie
English Toy Spaniel
German Shepherd
Great Pyrenees
Keeshond
Newfoundlander
Pomeranian
Saint Bernard
Samoyed
Siberian Husky
Shetland Sheepdog

Burns Pet health Inc want to make it perfectly clear that Burns holistic and natural dog food products are in no way affected by the recent outbreak of Salmonella which resulted in a massive recall of a number of well known well brands.

The tainted food originated from a  South Carolina plant that made headlines years ago when it produced food contaminated by toxic mold that killed dozens of dogs, federal officials said Friday.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least five people were hospitalized because of the dog food, which was made by Diamond Pet Foods at its plant in Gaston, S.C.,

People  were infected in Missouri and North Carolina, Ohio, Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the CDC said.

People can get salmonella by handling infected dog food, then not washing their hands before eating or handling their own food, health officials said.

The South Carolina plant temporarily was shut down April 8.

Diamond Pet Foods has issued four rounds of recalls for food made at the plant, located outside of Columbia, S.C., between Dec. 9 and April 7. The latest recalls were announced Friday.

In 2005, a toxic mold called aflatoxin ended up in food made at the same Diamond Pet Foods plant in South Carolina and dozens of dogs died. The company offered a $3.1 million settlement. The Food and Drug Administration determined the deadly fungus likely got into the plant when it failed to test 12 shipments of corn.

Please note that Burns Natural Dog Food does not contain any corn!

Agriculture officials in Michigan found the strain of salmonella during routine testing of dog food at the beginning of  April 2012 and health investigators identified a possible link to the food made by Diamond Pet Foods. An ill person still had some of the food, and authorities were able to link the cases to the food, the CDC said.

The recall covers a number of pet food brands made at the Gaston plant, including Canidae, Natural Balance, Apex, Kirkland, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, Country Value, Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Premium Edge, Professional, 4Health and Taste of the Wild.

Once we understand why this problem arises we can take the necessary steps to rectify the it by creating the body conditions which will minimize the potential for it to occur.

Many dog owners are confused when a spayed bitch or neutered male puts on weight after the procedure.

The reason this arises is because this procedure removes the hormone activity and in doing so, the energy requirement is greatly reduced. The dog simply needs less food!

The incontinence arises mainly when owners fail to recognize the need for less food and continue to feed the same amount of food required by an adult not subjected to the procedure.

Conventional veterinary medicine tends to see the problem as one where the bladder sphincter muscle is underperforming but does not look at the causes other than a lack of appropriate hormones.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine approach the problem is looked at mainly from 3 angles.

1. An issue of Excesses

2. An issue of Yin Deficiency

3. An issue with the Kidneys

1. Excesses fall in the category of too much food combined with vitamins and minerals.

Approach for Excesses

The approach here is to feed Burns Holistic Brown Rice and Chicken or Ocean Fish but only 1/2 the suggested quantity and supplement the other 1/2 with home cooked white rice ( white rice has had up to 83% of the nutrients removed in the processing)

2. Yin deficiency

Consider a peach - its flesh is soft and delicate (Yin ) and the stone or seed at the centre is hard (Yang). With Yin deficient it means that the body interior is hard and concentrated and therefore forcing out body fluids.

Approach for Yin Deficiencies

Here the approach is to provide foods which will address the Yin deficiency imbalance - one of the best foods for this approach is Fermented Soybeans ( The Chinese name it ‘dan dou chi’).

What are fermented soybeans (dan dou chi)? What are they used for?

Tasteless black soybeans are used in herbal medicine.

They are processed by being press-steamed, then fermented.

Once the fermentation process is complete, the beans are dried in the sun and used raw.

The soybeans must be fermented to be useful as an herbal medicine.

The main functions of fermented soybean are to release exterior hot and exterior cold caused by yin deficiency. They are often used to treat conditions such as restlessness and irritability, and help improve sleep patterns.

This last issue is often associated with urinary incontinence.  You may have to look at your local health foods shop of Asian food suppliers or online http://www.tcmtreatment.com/herbs/00-dandouchi.htm. https://www.asianaturalproducts.net/. http://www.momemineral.com/Dan-Dou-
Chi-Min-Tong/dp/B006JG6X7I)

If the above are not available then Orange juice ( 1/2 cup per day) can help although not as
effective.

3. An issue with the Kidneys

In Traditional Chinese approaches to health the kidneys store the bodies energy levels or Qi.

Thus declining body energy (Qi) leads to poor bladder sphincter control and consequently urinary incontinence.

Approaches to support and strengthen the kidneys.

Kidney Support - A herbal formula to support the well being of the kidneys. Japanese studies using
this formula demonstrate benefits for elderly animals and also improved kidney function;

INGREDIENTS: Prepared rehmannia root, cornus fruit, dioscorea root, poria sclerotium (hoelen), moutan bark, alisma rhizome, aconite, cinnamon, Siberian ginseng root, fo-ti root, fennel seed, buchu leaf, prepared rehmannia root.

DOSAGE: Small cats & dogs: 1/2-1 small scoop mixed in with food.
Medium dogs: 1-2 small scoops mixed in with food.
Large dogs: 2-3 small scoops mixed in with food.

Available from : Burns Pet Health

I read an article recently which suggested that “an emerging trend in human healthcare is the focus on the link between diet and disease.”

The author of course missed the fact that Hippocrates (c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC) raised the issue. “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food”.

Here we are in the 21st century and only wakening up to this simple fact, that diet not only influences health but can cause disease.

Another very interesting little snippet is that out of the 30,000 or so edible plants thought to exist on the planet, eleven of them account for 93% of human consumption - corn, rice, wheat, potatoes, millet, sorghum, beans, barley, rye, oats and cassava.

As far as human beings are concerned very little has changed since man first started to cultivate food. Also, the animals raised for food today are the same ones that were domesticated for that reason in Stone Age times.

What has this got to do with epilepsy in dogs you might ask, but the history of human and dogs diets are almost one and the same thing since dogs were domesticated.

Dogs are scavengers and when left to their own devices will find food in whatever available form.  This is how I believe they came to be domesticated in the first place. Looking for food, man recognized a need and a use - the bond was created and satisfied the needs of both - man and dog.

Dogs diet then started to mirror that of the provider - man.

Subsequently, dogs experienced similar health issues that man experienced simply because the diets of both were locked.

The real problem is that man and dog have stuck with the same or similar food products and as choice has increased it is only at the expense of quality.

The industrial revolutions brought highly refined foods to all but at a price.  Diligence is required to avoid certain foods and in particular, highly processed foods contain a variety of the basic food making them harder to detect and eliminate.

Nutritional Deficiencies and Seizures

It has been recognized that there  are a number of specific nutritional deficiencies in both humans and canines that are known to cause or aggravate seizures.

Until recently some proponents of the raw diet blamed the cooking of food and its ‘apparent’ destruction of the nutrients as being the problem.

Modern approaches are leading us to a better understanding and the cause appears to rests with the damage done to the digestive system by certain foods. Particularly the duodenum and jejunum- the first parts of small intestine after the stomach.

The villi are the tiny, finger-like projections that absorb nutrients and some foods destroy these rendering humans and dogs alike, unable to absorb vital nutrients which in turn  provokes the seizures.

Causes of Damage to the Villi

Four foods known to cause villi damage are corn/maize, soy, casien and gluten.

The gluten comes from the gluten grains- wheat, barley, and rye.

Casein comes from cow’s milk/ dairy  products.

Adhesives are made from these four foods. Powerful, industrial-strength glues are made from soy, casein, and gluten whereas corn is used for paper/cardboard products. The glycoproteins which make up these foods  adhere to tissues and damage it.

Glycoproteins that we derive from foods are now called ‘lectins’. There are good and bad lectins in food with the most damaging coming from the same four foods listed above.

We now know that these lectins are central to autoimmune disease like thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type-1 diabetes, lupus, and more.

Brain Stimulator

Glutamate is one of the principle neurotransmitters in our brain. Too much and we or our dogs get too excited.

Thus excessive glutamate can lead to over-stimulation of neurons and result in seizures, reduced pain threshold, sleep disorders, emotional disturbances and so on.

Glutamic acid is the parent protein in MSG (mono sodium glutamate).

MSG is used as a neuro-stimulator, acting to sensitize the open-ended nerves in our taste buds so that food will taste better. MSG is a known trigger of seizures, as is its sister amino acid, aspartic acid, the parent protein in the artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet). Both amino acids are neurostimulators  stimulating our sense of taste.

Wheat gluten is 25% glutamic acid by weight. Casein protein in dairy products  is 20%  while soy protein has much more glutamate than either of these two. Corn contains the least amount but it can do more harm to the intestinal villi in susceptible individuals, leading to malaborption of essential nutrients and worsening food allergies.

The toxic effect of corn is now a hot topic with people interested in autism.

Conclusions - Diet and Supplements.

The first foods to eliminate are the gluten (wheat, barley, rye), casein ( dairy products), soy, and corn. This stops further damage to the intestinal villi. It may be advantageous to also cut out chicken since they are often fed on corn.

Eliminate the other sources  of glutamate like peanuts, soy’s closest cousin,  all beans  (except green beans) such as  garbanzo, lima, black, kidney, and navy. Lentils are another source of glutamate.

Consider supplementing with calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, vitamin C, and trace minerals but only once you have followed the above - the body should now be able to  properly absorb them.

Taurine  is an essential amino acid made by dogs but requires the essential amino acids of Cysteine  and Methionine in order to produce it.  It appears to be released by the hippocamous during seizure activity. It is not known exactly why this happens and some suggest as  protective measure by the body while others suggest that it just part of the process. As such taurine supplementation may be worthwhile for some dogs.

Magnesium - supplementation has been successful in some dogs but should not be used if renal failure is evident.

by George Burns of Burns Pet Health

You’ll be glad to know that in these fast-moving times here at Burns Pet Health we have now set up our Twitter page at twitter.com/Burnspethealth.

In general we aim to keep the main website (burnspethealth.com), the Facebook page (facebook.com/burnspetheath) and the Twitter page up to date with useful information and news about pet health and our foods and supplements.

So from now on, whatever your preferred social network, you can keep in touch with Burns at any time.

We’ve just heard that Burns Pet Foods are the top, number 1 dog food on the Whole Dog Journal’s list of Top Dry Dog Foods.

This is good news for us and also for you and your pet. Because you know you’re feeding your pet the best food you can buy.

Did you visit our online store recently? It is completely renovated. Let us know what you think.

Here at Burns Pet Health we are pleased to announce our new online pet food store is open! We’ve moved to a more up to date system where you can create an account and buy Burns Pet Foods and diet supplements securely with confidence.

In the bargain basement you can now purchase taster packs of all our foods so your pet can try them and see what they prefer.

Of course our customer service standard stays the same and you can call us or email whenever you need to without obligation.

Please remember that our pet health questionnaire is the place to tell us about your pet and any health issues. We can then suggest diet and supplements to relieve symptoms and improve overall health and well-being.

Burns Pet Health sister company Land of Holistic Pets is launching a new distributing programme in Japan. The new initiative aims to bring Burns and Robbie’s products to the market of caring Japanese pet owners.

http://ideas4petretail.co.uk/news/land-holistic-pets-moves-japanese-market

Luath was the chosen and beloved one, a collie dog of dubious breeding but very loyal and clever.

He loved to laugh, run and discuss the ways of the world. His years of experience and learning had given him an insight, respected by all who knew him.

Luath climbed upon the wall overlooking the city and the pack of dogs and shouted - “Rejoice that we are not men but dogs”. And loud cheers went up from the Pack!

Luath started to speak and said “Say not, I have found the truth, rather I have found A truth”.

There was murmurings from the pack but Luath raised his voice “ many of you have suffered many small irritating health problems and others more serious ones. The time is upon us my friends to take control and educate our owners”

A boxer dog in the pack shouted “Speak to us of teaching.”

And Luath said:

“No man can reveal that which already lies asleep in the dawning of his own knowledge.”

The vet may speak to you of his understanding of health but he cannot give you his understanding. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind. – This is why we have the Burns Pet Health!

A Collie bitch said, “Speak to us of Self Knowledge”.

And Luath said:

“Your heart knows in silence the secrets of the days and nights.

You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.

Your body tells you that which is good and that which is bad – let your body tell you right from wrong.”

A Young Labrador spoke, saying; “Tell us about pain.”

And Luath said:

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Much of your pain has been chosen by your diet.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.”

Then an old dog, bred not for looks but work, said, “Speak to us of Eating & Drinking.”

And Luath said:

“Since we have to kill to eat, wither it be plant or animal, let it be an act of worship.

When you kill - say to it in your heart; By the same power that slays you, I too am slain: and I too shall be consumed.

For that which delivered you unto my hand shall also deliver me into a mightier hand.”

Make sure that what you deliver into a mightier hand is nourished well and able to nourish the soil - Eat Burns Pet Health Foods.

Let me start with a few facts about dogs  -

It defies the laws of nature for a dog to starve itself to death.

If left to their own devices dogs would scavenge to satisfy not only their appetite but their nutritional requirements. 

Dog training is remarkably easy and if your dog is a fussy eater you have probably inadvertently trained it that way.

Just think about this situation - we sit a 4 year old child down at the table with a choice between a plate of vegetable broth or ice cream and jelly and let the child make its own decision.  

 You know the answer and you also know which one  is the healthy option.  As responsible parents we do not allow the 4 year old child to make that kind of decision -  we naturally insist on the healthy choice first.

The Pink Floyd Album  - Another Brick in Wall - “If you can’t eat your meat, you cannot have any pudding” - it has been drummed into us down through the generations - responsible eating or no treats!  

So why do so many dog owners ignore these basic rules of parenting with their dogs?

Why do dog owners constantly try one food after another looking for something the dog will like?

All the while, what owners do NOT realize is that they are encouraging,  training their dog  turn up their nose at food.  

The dog learns that this behavior results in some other form of food, hopefully tastier than the last.

Often as not, and I  hear about them every other day - the dog  finishes up getting  fed nothing but chicken or turkey or mince.  

One of the questions I ask in the pet health questionnaire is “Does your dog eat all its food at one go?” or ” Leave some for later?”

The ‘later’ answer comes through time and time again and it is the first big indication that the dog is getting too much food and someday will probably stop eating for a number of days and the owner starts to worry!

The dog is not eating! An owner gets comfort from seeing the family pet eating and if it’s not eating, it’s a worry.

So how do we deal with the fussy dog? How do we retrain the dog to eat naturally and to eat the healthy option and make both the owners life and the dog, much healthier and happy.

Let us take a lesson from normal parenting  - What do we do with children?  - We exercise discipline!

Firstly, to prevent the problem developing we should be feeding enough that the dog eats all that is presented and is going round the bowl looking for more.

So if your dog walks away leaving food then that needs to stop.

Measure out the amount of food presented and if any is left measure that and deduct from the next meal plus a little more.

Use this approach at every meal, until all that is presented is eaten. At every meal!

With the fussy eater - put food down - if it does not eat- remove all food after 5 minutes - and do not give any food until the next meal. 

At the next and subsequent meals follow the same procedure until the dog eats the food.

Do not worry if it takes 1, 2 or even 8 days - the dog is simply not hungry enough.

By taking this approach you are exercising discipline and at the same time training your dog that there are no alternatives! It takes discipline as an owner but we should do it out of love for our dear pets.