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A Holistic Approach to Anesthesia for Pets by Shawn Messonnier, DVM

My friend and colleague, Dr. Shawn Messonnier, was very kind to pen this article on anesthesia for pets – particularly in regards to dental cleanings. Dr. Messonnier, a 1987 graduate of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, opened Paws & Claws Animal Hospital in Plano, Texas, in 1991. He has written several articles for many of the top pet publications in the nation. - Jean Dodds, DVM

Most pets have periodontal disease that must be addressed. This involves cleaning the teeth, and a proper dental cleaning must be done under sedation/anesthesia in order to thoroughly treat the periodontal pockets below the gum line that accompany dental disease.

A holistic approach to anesthesia is a safe alternative to traditional anesthetics. The holistic approach allows minimal amounts of sedation/anesthesia to be used, minimizing risk to the patient, even in older dogs and cats, and ensuring a quick and complete recovery. We typically do dental cleanings and tumor removals using this approach on small and medium-sized dogs and cats 15 years of age and older without any harm to the pet! For larger and giant sized breeds, the age to be cautious with anesthesia can be 10-12years.

At my clinic in Plano, Texas, we’ve had great success using this holistic anesthetic approach, so much so that we get patients from around the area (and even from out of state) in order to minimize the risk of sedation and anesthesia. By using this approach we’ve been able to help even high risk patients have necessary surgery for cleaning the teeth and removing tumors.

The approach involves a proper pre-sedation evaluation, and choosing the right anesthetic based upon this evaluation. Tiny doses of sedatives/anesthetics are used, just enough to allow the pet to lightly sleep while the teeth are properly and thoroughly cleaned. With this approach, the pet is barely asleep, minimizing the risks so often seen with more traditional anesthesia (depressed heart and lung function, lowered body temperature, etc.) Once the procedure is finished the pet can go home fully awake (without the hangover effect so commonly seen with traditional anesthesia) and acting totally normal.

There is no reason your pet, even an older pet, shouldn’t have proper medical care just because of a fear of anesthesia. Please look into a more gentle, safe, and natural approach to anesthesia and surgery and your pet will not only survive but even thrive and awake healthier!

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The Six Processed Forms of Dog and Cat Food

The numerous pet food options available today often present a quagmire to most pet owners – as it can be difficult to process all of it! Essentially, dog and cat foods are processed six different ways to become the end product – kibble, canned, dehydrated, freeze dried, raw, or home cooking – that your pet eats.

The easiest way to understand pet food categories is to think about them in terms of a grocery store layout and human foods. (Caveat: of course, we recommend serving human grade or the appropriate human foods to our pets!)

When you enter a grocery store, you are presented with fresh foods, canned foods, cereals, and frozen foods. The “forms” you find in grocery stores are very similar to what you find in pet stores. 

Think about a steak. If you like a well-done steak, you have removed most of the vitamins and, by overcooking, have increased the likelihood of forming carcinogens called heterocyclic amines (HCA), while at the same time, increasing the iron content. Conversely, a rare steak increases the risk of E. coli contamination but retains the natural vitamins.

Kibble: The Cereal Aisle

Similar to human cereal foods, kibbles are cooked via a process called “extrusion”. Kibble extrusion involves the use of an extruder machine, which mixes all of the ingredients together into dough and cooks it at temperatures ranging from 176-392° Fahrenheit. The extruder then forms and cuts the dough into the desired shape and size, resulting in the dry nuggets you pour into your dog’s bowl.

The extrusion process adversely affects the quality of the food in several ways. Remember the steak analogy? The high temperatures necessary for extrusion decrease the natural vitamins and minerals. So, pet food companies must restore them to the food to meet AAFCO standards.

Extrusion also kills valuable enzymes and probiotics. In addition, kibble contains only 6-10% moisture and dogs need approximately 70% moisture in their diets. Some kibbles are also sprayed with chemical flavor enhancers, colors and preservatives.

Canned: The Canned Foods Aisle

Canned pet food is – on average – one of the more expensive options. The consumer price rises for several reasons but mostly due to the weight of transporting cans or plastic containers that have high moisture contents (75-80% water).

The meat ingredients are usually all ground down or served in small chunks, combined with the other ingredients and vitamins and minerals. The ingredients are placed in a mixer and the temperature is increased. The food needs to gelatinize during this stage. Some canned food companies may add thickeners and gels to enhance this process. Next, the mixture is divided amongst the individual cans. Once the cans are sealed, they are heated to 250° Fahrenheit for a minimum of three minutes. This ensures that Clostridium botulinum is destroyed.

On a final note, please make sure the cans are certified as BPA (bisphenol A)-free. BPA is a synthetic estrogen that is an ingredient of the epoxy coating that lines the insides of most food cans made in the United States. BPA has been linked to endocrine disruption, so it may block or stimulate the body’s hormone systems, such that exposure to even miniscule amounts of these chemicals can have large effects on the developing brain, nervous system and reproductive systems of people, laboratory and other animals and wildlife. The fight continues whether or not BPA leaches from the cans to the food ingredients. I urge caution regarding this topic until more studies have been conducted.

Dehydrated: The Dried Foods

In your local supermarket, dehydrated pet foods would be similar to the dried soup mixes you can purchase. They are finely chopped up ingredients that are dehydrated and then mixed together.  

Dehydration uses warm air to slowly evaporate a food’s water content. The levels of temperatures used by dehydrated pet food companies varies. In general, fruits and vegetables are dehydrated at 104° Fahrenheit. Meat and fish are steamed prior to dehydration at a temperature of 140-165° Fahrenheit. Potatoes and grains are flash heated to break down the cellulose and then dried.

A benefit of dehydration is that it diminishes the growth of pathogens such as bacteria, yeasts and molds without adding chemicals, since pathogens need water to grow. Typically only about 90-95% of the water is removed during the dehydration process, so growth of bacteria is not completely avoided.

Freeze Dried: The Astronaut Aisle

Freeze Dried is another option though it may be a bit pricier because of the cost in processing it. Freeze-drying removes a food’s water content without using heat. Freeze-dried foods are first flash-frozen, then placed in a special pressurized chamber. Drastically decreasing the pressure and increasing the temperature inside the chamber, while still keeping it below the freezing point, changes the ice in the frozen product directly from a solid to a gas, bypassing the liquid stage. This occurs over a period of several hours or days, until the product is virtually completely dried, with just a tiny amount of water remaining.

Finicky pets generally prefer freeze-dried foods. It is also good to add as a topper to increase palatability of the main meal.

Commercial Raw Food: The Frozen Food Aisle

Raw food would be the equivalent of the rare steak. Generally, a raw commercial diet consists of animal meat, organ meats (such as the liver, kidney and heart), some bone, and vegetables given in their raw, uncooked state. So, the majority of nutrients — such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes — have not been altered or destroyed and are derived from more natural sources. Some raw manufacturers do add more vitamins and minerals to make up for any deficiencies in the food.

Major commercial raw manufacturers incorporate kill steps to destroy pathogens while creating the least impact on the food’s enzymes, proteins and other nutrients. One such method involves high pressure processing (HPP), which works by using intense pressure rather than heat to kill the pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria spp. HPP also kills yeasts and molds.

Of course, times do exist when the steak might be too rare for your pet. Pets with bowel problems or liver conditions are usually better off with home cooked meals.

Home Prepared Meals: The Fresh Foods Aisle

I am a big advocate of home-prepared meals for pets as they are the freshest and minimally processed, and you control the ingredients. One major caveat exists: do not start home-preparing meals without researching them thoroughly to ensure they are balanced and have enough vitamins and minerals. Several books are on the market that can guide you through home-prepared meals. A foundation is my book coauthored with Diana Laverdure, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health. Then, layer on either Karen Becker’s book or Monica Segal’s for some great recipes.

• The latest edition of Karen Becker’s book, Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats: Simple Homemade Food

• Monica Segal’s Optimal Nutrition Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level 

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

References Dodds, Jean, DVM, and Diana Laverdure, MS. Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health. Wenatchee: Dogwise, 2015. Print.

“FDA Clears BPA In Cans, Again.” EWG. Environmental Working Group, 08 Jan. 2015. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/01/fda-clears-bpa-cans-again>.

“How Dry, Semi-moist, and Canned Pet Foods Are Manufactured.” Pet Education, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2%2B1659&aid=2653>.

“Principles of Food Canning.” FAO, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai407e/ai407e22.htm>. 

“What Goes Into Making Wet Pet Food?” PetMD, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_multi_wet_pet_food>.

“What Is Dehydrated Pet Food?” The Honest Kitchen, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/how-we-make-our-food>.

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Great info on healthy feeding for your pets!

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More on Vaccinations & Small Dog Vaccine Pilot Study

Our recent article and Press Release on the small adult dog pilot study using a half-dose bivalent vaccine booster has generated lots of comments. We thought it would be useful, therefore, to give readers more specific details regarding the background science and rationale behind the completed pilot study.

Background Summary

There is little doubt that application of modern vaccine technology has permitted us to effectively protect companion animals (and people) against serious infectious diseases. While this benefit is widely recognized, there is a small but real risk of adverse events following vaccinations of any species.

Several factors are known to contribute to the risk of adverse vaccine reactions:

Genetic predisposition (family history and breed type)

Influence of sex hormonal change (estrus – menstrual cycle)

Type of vaccine and adjuvant used (rabies and thimerosol, which is a form of mercury).  

Certain breeds or families of dogs appear to be more susceptible to adverse vaccine reactions, particularly post-vaccinal seizures, high fevers, and painful episodes of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD).Therefore, we should advise companion animal breeders and caregivers of the potential for genetically susceptible littermates and relatives to be at increased risk for similar adverse vaccine reactions. In popular (or rare) inbred and line bred animals, the breed in general can be at increased risk, because of the inherited tendency to respond with a bad reaction to viruses or bacteria of a disease they have been vaccinated against.  

In these special situations, appropriate alternatives to current canine vaccine practices include: measuring serum antibody titers; avoiding unnecessary vaccines and not vaccinating too often; deferring vaccinations of sick or febrile individuals; tailoring specific minimal vaccination protocol for dogs of breeds or families known to be at increased risk for adverse reactions; starting vaccination series later, such as at 9-10 weeks of age when the immune system is more able to handle challenges; paying particular attention to the puppy’s behavior and overall health after each booster; and avoiding revaccination of individuals already experiencing significant side effects. Littermates and close relatives of affected puppies should be closely monitored after receiving additional vaccines in a puppy series, as they may be at higher risk.

Duration of Immunity

Vaccination typically provides an immune response that is similar in duration to that following a natural infection.

Sterile Immunity First, you need to know what acquired (aka adaptive) immunity is. In acquired immunity, pathogen-specific receptors are “acquired” during the lifetime of the organism and the system adapts to handle future challenges. The opposite of that is innate immunity, which means that pathogen-specific receptors are already encoded in the immune system’s germline. The acquired response is called “adaptive” because it prepares the body’s immune system for future challenges. It can be a good thing. When I speak about autoimmunity that is when it is a bad thing as it is then maladaptive.

In general, adaptive immunity to viruses develops earliest and is highly effective. Such anti-viral immune responses often result in the development of sterile immunity. Basically, sterile or sterilizing immunity occurs when an individual is fully protected from becoming re-infected by a particular infectious agent, typically a virus.

Whether this immune response occurs because of natural exposure, with infection followed by recovery, or, whether it is from vaccination, this individual can no longer become infected with this disease agent, but can still shed the agent into the environment for up to 14 days. This immunity often lasts for the rest of their life. Old dogs and cats rarely die from vaccine-preventable infectious disease, especially when they have been vaccinated and immunized as young adults (i.e. between 16 weeks and 1 year of age).

Vaccines that do produce sterile immunity include: distemper virus, adenovirus, and parvovirus in the dog, and panleukopenia virus in the cat.  

However, young animals do die, often because vaccines were either not given or not given at an appropriate age (e.g. too early in life in the presence of maternally derived antibody). A recently published study examined how long the immunity lasted for the core viral vaccines in dogs that had not been revaccinated for as long as 9 years. These animals had antibodies against canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus type-2 and canine adenovirus type-2 at levels considered protective and when challenged with these viruses, the dogs did not show infection and/or disease. Thus, even a single dose of modified live virus canine or feline core (against feline parvovirus, feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus) vaccines, when administered at 16 weeks or older, should provide long-term immunity in a very high percentage of animals, while also increasing the population or “herd” immunity. (Herd immunity happens when the group or “herd” is protected against the disease, even though a few are not vaccinated or protected.)

Non-Sterile Immunity But, not all vaccines produce sterilizing immunity (where the disease germs they are protected against do not cause disease). This other type of immunity is non-sterile immunity, where some disease germs can still infect them, and they may show signs of disease, but they usually do not show all symptoms of the full-blown disease. Since they can still become re-infected, they are not protected as well as if they had sterile immunity. Examples of vaccines that produce non-sterile immunity would be leptospirosis, bordetella, rabies virus, herpesvirus and calicivirus – the latter two being upper respiratory viruses of cats. While non-sterile immunity may not protect the animal from infection, it should keep the infection from progressing to severe clinical disease.

Interpreting Titer Results Interpreting titers correctly depends upon the disease in question.

With agents that produce sterile immunity, the presence of any measurable antibody shows protection. The positive titer test result is fairly straightforward – it is positive and for sterile immunity that is all we need to know. A negative titer test result is more difficult to interpret, because a negative titer is not the same thing as a zero titer and it doesn’t necessarily mean that animal is unprotected. A negative result usually means the titer has failed to reach the threshold of providing sterile immunity. This is an important distinction, because for the clinically important distemper and parvovirus diseases of dogs, and panleukopenia of cats, a negative or zero antibody titer indicates that the animal is not protected against canine parvovirus and may not be protected against canine distemper virus or feline panleukopenia virus.

Protection from viral disease as indicated by a positive titer result is not likely to suddenly drop off unless an animal develops a medical problem such as cancer or receives high or prolonged doses of immunosuppressive drugs.

With other agents such as rabies, their titers must reach a certain level to indicate immunity.

So, vaccines based on viruses (e.g. distemper) prompt an immune response that lasts much longer than the immunity from other kinds of vaccines (e.g. rabies). Lumping the 2 kinds of responses together may be why practitioners think titers can suddenly disappear.

Finally, what does more than a decade of experience with vaccine titer testing reveal?  Published studies in refereed journals show that 90-98% of dogs and cats that have been properly vaccinated develop good measurable antibody titers to the infectious agent measured. So, in contrast to the concerns of some practitioners, using vaccine titer testing as a means to assess vaccine-induced protection will likely result in the animal avoiding needless and unwise booster vaccinations.

When an adequate immune memory has already been established, there is little reason to introduce unnecessary antigen, adjuvant, and preservatives by administering booster vaccines.  By measuring serum antibody titers regularly (many veterinarians recommend annually, although my own recommendation is triennially or more often, if needed), one can assess whether a given animal’s humoral immune response has fallen below levels of adequate immune memory. In that event, an appropriate vaccine booster can be administered.

Other Issues with Over-Vaccination

Other issues arise from over-vaccination, as the increased cost in time and dollars spent needs to be considered, despite the well-intentioned solicitation of clients to encourage annual booster vaccinations so that pets also can receive a wellness examination. Giving annual boosters when they are not necessary is likely to be of little benefit to the pet’s existing level of protection against these infectious diseases. It also increases the risk of adverse reactions from the repeated exposure to foreign substances. However, an annual wellness examination is in the best interest of the pet, so pet owners should not avoid the examination itself.

Compliance or Resistance to Current Vaccine Guidelines

For almost two decades, the issues discussed above on over-vaccination and vaccine safety for companion and livestock animals have been raised by immunologists and veterinary clinicians.  But, how has this still controversial knowledge impacted the veterinary profession and animal owner today? Have veterinarians really embraced the national policies on vaccination guidelines? Does the public trust veterinarians to be up-to-date on these issues or are they unsure? Do they believe veterinarians have a conflict of interest if they seek the income from annual booster vaccinations? Given media information regarding human autism and measles vaccination, the public is more aware and worried about vaccine safety.

Claims that there is no scientific evidence linking vaccinations with adverse effects and serious illness is misinformation that ignores research and that can be confusing. On the other hand, anti-vaccine zealots also give out misinformation which ignores research. Neither of these polarized views is helpful.

Treatment of Vaccinosis

As the diagnosis of vaccinosis is an exclusionary one – i.e. typically, nothing will be found upon other testing to explain the symptoms, therapy is based upon alleviating any symptoms. Oral homeopathics can be used such as Thuja (for all vaccines other than rabies), and Lyssin to help detoxify the rabies molecular energy (“miasm”). If there are no holistic veterinarians in the area, these homeopathics may be available from human alternative or homeopathic pharmacies.

Conventional therapy typically uses steroids in tapering doses over 4-6 weeks to stop the inflammatory process and clinical symptoms. Therapy  begins with an injection of dexamethasone phosphate first, and if the animal improves right away, is continued with prednisone at 0.5 mg per pound twice daily for 5-7 days, then tapered gradually over the next month to every other day. The use of steroids will cause an increase in water intake and urination, but the animal should be able to handle the drug at these tapering doses for a few weeks. If a holistic veterinarian wants to try an alternative therapy to steroids, with homeopathic remedies and nutraceuticals, this approach can also work.

Conclusion

Much still needs to be standardized and individualized, where appropriate, to ensure the safety and efficacy of veterinary vaccines. There remains controversy, failure to comply with current national vaccine policies and guidelines, resistance to change, and denial of adverse events within the general veterinary community as well as within society as a whole.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SMALL ADULT DOG VACCINE PILOT STUDY

Some readers have wondered why we didn’t perform this study in unvaccinated puppies or unvaccinated adults. We considered it to be unethical to select unvaccinated dogs because we couldn’t be sure they would be protected – even though we believed they would be, based upon prior clinical experience. If our hypothesis was wrong, they would be at risk for contracting canine parvovirus or distemper diseases.

Another expressed concern was whether measuring serum antibody titers against these two viral diseases would accurately predict protection and, if so, for what duration? Actually, the published scientific literature documents that for the viruses that produce sterile immunity in immunized animals, namely, canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus-2 and feline panleukopenia virus, protection is predicted by the presence of adequate serum antibody titers. This protection should prevent them from being subsequently infected by these viruses and should essentially be lifelong.  

Finally, a pilot study is a small scale initial study conducted to assess outcomes and improve upon the study design, if needed, prior to performance of a full-scale research project. It is unlikely that anyone would undertake a much larger similar study, as the vaccine industry wouldn’t want it and recruiting and expecting participants to continue for 6 months is often difficult. One would need to enroll 50% more cases than needed to expect a completed case cohort of enough dogs at the end. Even with the convincing results of the current pilot study, changes in current vaccine guidelines would likely take years to implement.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

REFERENCES

Cruz-Tapias P, Agmon-Levin N, Israeli E et al. 2013. Autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) – animal models as a proof of concept. Curr Med Chem 20:4030-36.

Dodds WJ. 1983. Immune-mediated diseases of the blood. Adv Vet Sci Comp Med 27: 63-196.

Dodds WJ. 1997. Vaccine-related issues. In Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine, eds. A M Schoen, SG Wynn, Ch. 40, pp.701-12, Mosby.

Dodds WJ. 1999. More bumps on the vaccine road. Adv Vet Med 41:715-32.

Dodds WJ. 2001. Vaccination protocols for dogs predisposed to vaccine reactions. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 38:1-4.

Dodds WJ. 2012. Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine: the immune system. Clin Tech Sm An Pract 17(1):58-63.

Dodds WJ. 2015a. Guest Editor Overview, Autoimmunity. J Am Hol Vet Med Assoc 38:14-18, Winter issue.

Dodds WJ. 2015b. Efficacy of a half-dose canine parvovirus and distemper vaccine in small adult dogs: a pilot study. J Am Hol Vet Med Assoc 41: 12-21, Winter issue.

Hogenesch H, Azcona-Olivera J, Scott-Moncreiff C, et al. 1999. Vaccine induced autoimmunity in the dog. Adv Vet Med 41:733-44.

Hustead DR, Carpenter T, Sawyer DC, et al. 1999. Vaccination issues of concern to practitioners. J Am Vet Med Assoc  214: 1000-02.

Lappin MR, Andrews J, Simpson D, et al. 2002. Use of serologic tests to predict resistance to feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, and feline parvovirus infection in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 220: 38-42.

Moore  GE, Glickman LT. 2004.  A perspective on vaccine guidelines and titer tests for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 200-03.

Moore GE, Guptill LF, Ward MP, et al. 2005. Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs.  J Am Vet Med Assoc 227:1102–08.

Moore GE, DeSantis-Kerr AC, Guptill LF, et al. 2007. Adverse events after vaccine administration in cats: 2,560 cases (2002–2005). J Am Vet Med Assoc 231:94-100.

Mouzin DE, Lorenzen MJ, Haworth JD, et al. 2004a. Duration of serologic response to five viral antigens in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 55-60.

Mouzin DE, Lorenzen M J, Haworth JD, et al. 2004b. Duration of serologic response to three viral antigens in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 224: 61-6.

Scott-Moncrieff JC, Azcona-Olivera J, Glickman NW, et al. 2002. Evaluation of antithyroglobulin antibodies after routine vaccination in pet and research dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 221:515-21.

Schultz RD.  1998. Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs.  Vet Med 93:233-54.

Schultz RD, Ford RB, Olsen J, et al.  2002. Titer testing and vaccination: a new look at traditional practices. Vet Med 97: 1-13, (insert).

Scott FW, Geissinger CM. 1999. Long-term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine. Am J Vet Res 60: 652-58.

Sinha AA, Lopez MI, McDevitt HO. 1990. Autoimmune diseases: the failure of self-tolerance. Science 248:1380-87.

Smith CA.  1995. Are we vaccinating too much?  J Am Vet Med Assoc  207:421-25.

Stejskal V. 2013. Mercury-induced inflammation: yet another example of ASIA syndrome. Israel Med Assoc J 15:714-15.

Tizard I. 1990. Risks associated with use of live vaccines. J Am Vet Med Assoc 196:1851-58.

Tizard I, Ni Y.  1998. Use of serologic testing to assess immune status of companion animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 213: 54-60.

Twark L, Dodds WJ.  2000. Clinical application of serum parvovirus and distemper virus antibody titers for determining revaccination strategies in healthy dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 217:1021-24.

Wellborn LV (chair), et al. 2011. Report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2011 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 47(5):1-42.   www.aahanet.org

Wilcock BP, Yager JA. 1986.  Focal cutaneous vasculitis and alopecia at sites of rabies vaccination in dogs.  J Am Vet Med Assoc 188:1174–77.

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Quote: My dog has a chicken "allergy", which means he is also “allergic” to turkey, duck, pheasant, quail, ostrich and all poultry.

For many of you who follow my Blog, you are probably shocked I used such a statement as the entry topic for a post. But, I often hear it and wanted to address it.

In my previous post, “Food Sensitivity vs. Food Allergy: Is it not really just the same thing?”, I detailed the immunological differences between food sensitivities and food allergies, which are actually hypersensitivities. As I have stated in the past, food sensitivities are at least 10 – 15 times more common than food allergies. I recognize it is woven into our vernacular to assign the term “allergy” to any sensitivity. However, this is incorrect as it is not indicative of the physiological and immunological reactions that take place. So, it is best to say “sensitive” whether it be a true – but rare – food allergy, or the more common sensitivity.

Secondly, you could be denying your companion animal a vital protein source with the bold assertion that if your pet is sensitive to chicken he must be sensitive to ALL poultry. This is not the case. Since the Hemolife Diagnostic team and I officially introduced duck as one of the foods tested with NutriScan in September 2013, the data in Table 1 clearly demonstrate that dogs and cats who react to chicken are NOT always sensitive to other feathered creatures and vice versa.

Why? The primary difference between each of the bird species is a simple answer: evolution. Yes; current research is showing that genomes between avian species have less copy number variants than mammalians. So, the logical assumption that your pet is sensitive to one bird protein and will be to another, is not necessarily true. Avians have different chromosome sequences that have adapted over millions of years. For example, due to the flying and swimming activities of ducks and geese, their muscles receive more oxygen via red blood cells than land fowls. Myoglobins hold the oxygen in the muscles, which give goose and duck meats darker colors compared to chicken, quail, pheasant and turkey meats.

Other factors – such as farming practices, sourcing and feeds given to the animal – also impact your pet’s reactions to certain foods. I will delve further into those topics in subsequent Blog posts. In the meantime, please do not presume these statistics automatically apply to your companion animal as NutriScan is based on nutrigenomics, which is the science that studies the molecular relations between nutrition and the response of genes. Nutrigenomics affects every individual differently based on that individual’s genetic makeup. The takeaway is that I ask you to please be open to other protein sources. This will give your companion animal the right nutritional balance for a long and healthy life.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

Table 1

References Dalloul, Rami A; Long Julie A; Zimin, Aleksey V; et al. “Multi-Platform Next-Generation Sequencing of the Domestic Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): Genome Assembly and Analysis,” PLOS Biology: 2010, September 7. Retrieved on January 2, 2014: http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1000475.

Kayang, BB; Fillon, V; Inoue-Murayama, M; et al. “Integrated maps in quail (Coturnix japonica) confirm the high degree of synteny conservation with chicken (Gallus gallus) despite 35 million years of divergence”, BMC Genomics: 2006, May 2. Retrieved on January 2, 2014: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16669996.

Skinner, BM; Robertson, LB; Tempest, HG; et al.“Comparative genomics in chicken and Pekin duck using FISH mapping and microarray analysis,” BMC Genomics: 2009, August 5. Retrieved on January 2, 2014: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19656363.

Völker, M; Backström, N; Skinner, BM; et al.“Copy number variation, chromosome rearrangement, and their association with recombination during avian evolution,” Genome Res: 2010, April. Retrieved on January 2, 2014: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20357050.

UCSC Genome Bioinformatics, http://genome.ucsc.edu.

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Exposed brick

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This 320 sq. ft. home has stunning beach views and an open airy feel to it: http://tinyhousetalk.com/320-sq-ft-tiny-beach-cottage-cliff-top-views/

[dorian-a]

Still love it!!

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A Hush-Hush Topic: Mislabeled, undeclared, unidentified or missing ingredients in pet foods

Facts from Recent Studies

80% of selected pet food diets were contaminated with unidentified ingredients. – Ricci et al.

3 out of 4 diets claiming “no soy” were positive for soy. – Willis-Mahn et al.

14 out of 17 diets had significant levels of animal protein that were not listed on the label. – Maine et al.

20 out of 52 samples were deemed mislabeled since they contained an unidentified meat species and/or did not contain meat species that were listed on the product label. – Okuma et al.

8 out of 21 foods tested positive for an animal protein not listed. 2 listing venison tested negative for deer. 5 out of 12 foods labeled as gluten-free contained glutens. – Allred

4 venison diets were tested for beef and soy. 3 out of 4 were positive for soy but did not list soy on the product label. One tested positive for beef even though beef was not listed on the ingredient list. – Raditic et al.

It is alarming that the mislabeling or unidentified ingredients trend is not limited to over-the-counter pet foods but also includes limited ingredient diets, prescription and hydrolyzed diets. – Dodds

 Why these pet food studies should be of concern to pet owners.

Besides feeling outrage and deceived by pet food manufacturers, pet owners should be more concerned by the potential implications on their pet’s well-being. Dogs and cats that have pruritus or gastrointestinal discomfort due to food sensitivities are particularly at risk as they do not have a chance at optimal health. Secondly, pet caregivers who make an effort to avoid certain foods or rotate proteins may inadvertently be doing what they did not intended.

Why is the mislabeling of pet foods occurring?

The scariest part is no one really knows why mislabeling or unidentified ingredients are appearing in pet foods. Conversely, no one knows why ingredients listed are not appearing. The problem could be one or a combination of several viable but speculative explanations for one or all of the tested foods:

Cross-contamination can occur via transport and storage containers and/or manufacturing equipment because they were not thoroughly cleaned.

Mixing hoppers that use forced air can contaminate nearby products with airborne particles.

Co-manufacturers or co-packers produce pet food products for small and large companies and can possibly mix up the ingredients.

Suppliers are not disclosing ingredients accurately either purposefully or unintentionally. For instance, ethoxyquin may be present in fish meal but this is not disclosed to the pet food manufacturer by the fish meal supplier.  

Soy, corn, and gluten products that were ingested by the animal can be expressed through the end meat protein to cause a reactivity.

The only three viable explanations are:

The large and complex supply chain is shaky.

No governmental oversight.

Lack of quality control or testing of end products by the pet food manufacturers.

It can be assumed that pet food manufacturers are overwhelmed by the whole process and do not know where to start. At the end of the day, they are simply not testing the final product or even randomly testing for quality and label adherence before the food leaves the facility. On top of that, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require testing for ingredients.

Why pet food mislabeling doesn’t lead to recalls.

In the United States, the Congress simply has not instructed or funded the FDA to lead a misidentified pet food initiative. The FDA is charged to ensure that human foods do not contain top allergens such as soy, wheat, milk or nuts, for which it barely has the funding to stay on top of that. The agency also needs to make sure bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes are not present in any foods. In fact, the reason why pet foods are recalled for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes is not to protect the dog or cat, but to protect the human potentially handling the pet food.  

  What can pet parents do to avoid the misidentification dilemma?

The pet food industry generates billions of dollars every year and its vast network probably uses more products sourced globally than locally than human foods do. The good news is The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is concerned. Unfortunately, I do not see change happening any time soon. Overall, my only recommendation is to home cook human ingredients for your pet to guarantee the outcome. If home cooking is not a viable option for your lifestyle, I have written some quick tips to help you navigate this vast network.

Production facilities should produce human foods, too, or are not co-manufacturers or co-packers for pet foods.

Supply chain is known and accounted for.

The source country of all ingredients should be fully disclosed. Preferably, all products meet local governmental standards for human consumption. For instance, the meat should be USDA grade.

Make sure ingredients are grass-fed or organic.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

 References Allred, Laura K., PhD. “Are Your Petfood Labels Accurate?” Pet Food Industry, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/3156-are-your-petfood-labels-accurate>.

Maine, Isabella R., Robert Atterbury, and Kin-Chow Chang. “Investigation into the Animal Species Contents of Popular Wet Pet Foods." Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 57.7 (2015): n. pag. Web.

Okuma, Tara A., and Rosalee S. Hellberg. "Identification of Meat Species in Pet Foods Using a Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Assay.” Food Control 50 (2014): 9-17. Print.

Raditic, D. M., Remillard, R. L. and Tater, K. C. (2011), ELISA testing for common food antigens in four dry dog foods used in dietary elimination trials. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 95: 90–97. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01016.x

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm>.

Ricci, R., Granato, A., Vascellari, M., Boscarato, M., Palagiano, C., Andrighetto, I., Diez, M. and Mutinelli, F. (2013), Identification of undeclared sources of animal origin in canine dry foods used in dietary elimination trials. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 97: 32–38. doi: 10.1111/jpn.12045

Willis-Mahn, Christine, Rebecca Remillard, and Kathy Tater. “ELISA Testing for Soy Antigens in Dry Dog Foods Used in Dietary Elimination Trials.”Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 50.6 (2014): 383-89. Web.

A special thank you to Susan Thixton of Truth About Pet Food for helping us identify potential causes of food contamination. 

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I would change most everything in my tiny house kitchen, the smallest space of all, and not according to plan. The cook top takes up most of the counter and sits partially under the micro cabinet. No room for prep or laying things out.

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Just lying here looking at my ceiling and all the areas that have started to sag or show seams. Disappointing finishing.

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The Swoop by Paul Keates

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Thriving Micro-Living Model

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Should companion animals who have chronic kidney disease eat lower protein diets?

Animals with kidney disease or kidney dysfunction should not eat lower protein diets; as this commonly held belief is misleading. As long as the protein source in their diet is of high quality such as white fish and eggs and easily digestible, it helps kidney function and overall body nutrition.  It is the lower quality, poorly digestible protein diets (soy, wheat gluten) that tax the kidneys, making them work harder in filtering and clearing metabolic waste products, water, and certain chemicals and drugs from the body.

It has also been shown that feeding a lower phosphorus diet slows the progression of kidney disease.  Anywhere from 7 - 18 mg per pound of a dog’s weight is considered a low phosphorus diet.  As some foods that are relatively high in phosphorus also provide high quality protein, they can still be fed in moderation, because they are important components of a healthy diet.

Daily phosphorous intake recommended for dogs with chronic renal failure (in early stages):

10 pound dog: 68 - 182 mg (up to 272 mg)

25 pound dog: 170 - 455 mg (up to 682 mg)

50 pound dog: 340 - 900 mg (up to 1364 mg)

75 pound dog: 511 - 1364 mg (up to 2045 mg)

100 pound dog: 680 - 1818 mg (up to 2727 mg)

Please click here for my kidney cleansing diet.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

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Changes Sought to Rabies Vaccination Laws Based on Scientific Research

The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) became the first national veterinary organization to support efforts by Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) to improve rabies testing with a modified screening test to determine if veterinary patients need to receive rabies booster vaccinations to maintain protective immunity. The AHVMA and its members have long expressed concern over animal vaccination practices. While vaccinations provide important protection against a wide number of serious diseases, they can also cause adverse effects ranging from minor discomfort, autoimmune disorders and even death on rare occasions.

Veterinarians can offer serum antibody titers, a form of blood testing which is helpful in predicting the need for revaccination. This practice is helpful to reduce the potential dangers to pets from receiving unneeded vaccinations. Currently, laws regulating rabies vaccination are set locally and statewide and may not allow for the use of blood antibody testing to avoid mandatory rabies revaccination. To comply with the law, veterinarians and pet owners vaccinate at prescribed intervals regardless of existing immunity. This practice was developed to protect public health in a time when vaccine titers were not offered by veterinarians, but it increases the risk of vaccine adverse-events for our dog and cat patients.

Recent research at the Rabies Challenge Fund suggests immunity from rabies vaccination lasts much longer than the usual one to three year interval required by current laws. This study added significant evidence that we may be over vaccinating for rabies in our pet population. Public health officials have expressed concern that reducing vaccination for rabies could increase the incidence of this deadly disease. To date legislatures and public health agencies have resisted changing rabies vaccination laws to reflect current knowledge about rabies vaccine duration of protection.

Rabies vaccinations can be associated with a number of significant, well-documented adverse effects. These include localized swelling and pain, fever, chronic hair loss, ulcerative dermatitis, encephalitis, vasculitis, seizures, vaccine-related cancer and anaphylactic shock. Pet guardians whose animals have suffered such illness are very concerned about revaccination.  If they fail to keep the vaccination current based upon current legal requirements, they may be penalized in several ways depending upon existing legal statutes.

KSVDL recently announced the modification of the established rabies antibody test (Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test) to rapidly screen immunity to rabies virus. Once properly vaccinated, such testing can be used to identify if the individual has an antibody level indicative of protection from rabies. If an animal undergoes testing and is found to have adequate protection, the AHVMA supports reform of public health laws that require automatic revaccination. Such booster vaccinations may not be medically necessary. This new testing procedure allows screening for continued rabies vaccine response. This allows veterinarians and pet guardians to effectively decide upon a path that reduces risks of an adverse effect for individual animals while protecting any public health concerns.

In 2015, AHVMA participated as the KSVDL Rabies Lab conducted a survey to gather data from members about their policies regarding dog and cat vaccinations, including rabies vaccination. AHVMA respondents reported: 92% gave rabies vaccinations. • 76% routinely offered titers for core vaccines after completion of the initial vaccine series. • 34% offered titers for rabies after completion of the initial 2-dose series. • 75% would measure rabies titers if the Compendium changes its stance to equate out-of-date rabies vaccine status the same way as they do animals current on rabies vaccines.

Until legal changes occur, animal guardians and veterinarians must comply with existing legal statutes. Rabies serum antibody titering can be performed for information, documentation, and to satisfy export and import requirements, but this does not replace the legal requirement for rabies booster vaccinations.

It is the hope of both organizations that through cooperation and advancements in science we can illustrate our dedication to better health and safety for people and animals. As science advances we must update public policy to reflect our new understandings. This new testing is a great example of such cooperative efforts.

Other Facts About Rabies and Rabies Titers

If a person or animal is bitten by a dog, cat or ferret, the animal causing the bite should be observed for 10 days. If the animal remains healthy, then one can be assured that there was no rabies virus in the saliva at the time of the bite. Whether that observation occurs at home or at a clinic should not be determined by vaccine status. Remember also that even in areas where terrestrial rabies is not active, that rabies in bats is seen nationwide.

A review of rabies challenge-studies indicates that there is a positive correlation between rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers and the level of protection after virus challenge. Pre-exposure vaccination coupled with a RVNA titer at or above 0.5 IU/mL indicates greater assurance of protection than does the animal’s current vaccination status alone.

Because we may not know if an animal has been exposed to rabies virus, the KSU Rabies Lab recommends that rabies titers be done routinely for dogs and cats. A yearly rabies titer would provide information on the pet’s rabies immunity status to guide booster decisions that would provide the best protection from unknown exposures. The circulating rabies neutralizing antibody level does not last the lifetime of the pet. In vaccine trials, as the titer falls below 0.5 IU/ml the risk of contracting rabies after challenge goes up. Thus, when rabies titers drop below 0.5 IU/ml, giving a rabies booster is the prudent, safe decision.

Significant post-rabies adverse reactions are an issue not only for dogs and cats, but also are of serious concern for horses, as they must be given rabies boosters annually. Many horses have incredibly high rabies blood antibody titers, and yet still must be revaccinated annually by law, and then can suffer a chronic disease state post-rabies vaccination. Neutralizing antibody is neutralizing antibody, no matter the species; the goal is to confirm success of the 0.5 IU/ml level in horses as well.

AVMA Health Smart Brief (Lab Modifies Rabies Titer Test; August 14, 2015) KSVDL scientists are exploring the protection offered by rabies vaccination, and they have modified the rabies titer test for animals. If an animal’s rabies titer is 0.5 international units per milliliter or more, the animal may be considered protected from rabies and might need a booster only if exposed to disease. “We are certainly not against vaccinations; we are against rabies,” said researcher Rolan Davis. “We are looking for the best ways to prevent rabies in animals and humans.”

Rabies Challenge Fund Research Trial Studies The Rabies Challenge Fund research trials are approaching the 7th year. Co-Founders, Kris Christine and Dr. Jean Dodds, have raised private funding for these trials, which are being conducted by Drs. Ron Schultz and Laurie Larson, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

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The Six Processed Forms of Dog and Cat Food

The numerous pet food options available today often present a quagmire to most pet owners – as it can be difficult to process all of it! Essentially, dog and cat foods are processed six different ways to become the end product – kibble, canned, dehydrated, freeze dried, raw, or home cooking – that your pet eats.

The easiest way to understand pet food categories is to think about them in terms of a grocery store layout and human foods. (Caveat: of course, we recommend serving human grade or the appropriate human foods to our pets!)

When you enter a grocery store, you are presented with fresh foods, canned foods, cereals, and frozen foods. The “forms” you find in grocery stores are very similar to what you find in pet stores. 

Think about a steak. If you like a well-done steak, you have removed most of the vitamins and, by overcooking, have increased the likelihood of forming carcinogens called heterocyclic amines (HCA), while at the same time, increasing the iron content. Conversely, a rare steak increases the risk of E. coli contamination but retains the natural vitamins.

Kibble: The Cereal Aisle

Similar to human cereal foods, kibbles are cooked via a process called “extrusion.” Kibble extrusion involves the use of an extruder machine, which mixes all of the ingredients together into dough and cooks it at temperatures ranging from 176-392° Fahrenheit. The extruder then forms and cuts the dough into the desired shape and size, resulting in the dry nuggets you pour into your dog’s bowl.

The extrusion process adversely affects the quality of the food in several ways. Remember the steak analogy? The high temperatures necessary for extrusion decrease the natural vitamins and minerals. So, pet food companies must restore them to the food to meet AAFCO standards.

Extrusion also kills valuable enzymes and probiotics. In addition, kibble contains only 6-10% moisture and dogs need approximately 70% moisture in their diets. Some kibbles are also sprayed with chemical flavor enhancers, colors and preservatives.

Canned: The Canned Foods Aisle

Canned pet food is – on average – one of the more expensive options. The consumer price rises for several reasons but mostly due to the weight of transporting cans or plastic containers that have high moisture contents (75-80% water).

The meat ingredients are usually all ground down or served in small chunks, combined with the other ingredients and vitamins and minerals. The ingredients are placed in a mixer and the temperature is increased. The food needs to gelatinize during this stage. Some canned food companies may add thickeners and gels to enhance this process. Next, the mixture is divided amongst the individual cans. Once the cans are sealed, they are heated to 250° Fahrenheit for a minimum of three minutes. This ensures that Clostridium botulinum is destroyed.

On a final note, please make sure the cans are certified as BPA (bisphenol A)-free. BPA is a synthetic estrogen that is an ingredient of the epoxy coating that lines the insides of most food cans made in the United States. BPA has been linked to endocrine disruption, so it may block or stimulate the body’s hormone systems, such that exposure to even miniscule amounts of these chemicals can have large effects on the developing brain, nervous system and reproductive systems of people, laboratory and other animals and wildlife. The fight continues whether or not BPA leaches from the cans to the food ingredients. I urge caution regarding this topic until more studies have been conducted.

Dehydrated: The Dried Foods

In your local supermarket, dehydrated pet foods would be similar to the dried soup mixes you can purchase. They are finely chopped up ingredients that are dehydrated and then mixed together.  

Dehydration uses warm air to slowly evaporate a food’s water content. The levels of temperatures used by dehydrated pet food companies varies. In general, fruits and vegetables are dehydrated at 104° Fahrenheit. Meat and fish are steamed prior to dehydration at a temperature of 140-165° Fahrenheit. Potatoes and grains are flash heated to break down the cellulose and then dried.

A benefit of dehydration is that it diminishes the growth of pathogens such as bacteria, yeasts and molds without adding chemicals, since pathogens need water to grow. Typically only about 90-95% of the water is removed during the dehydration process, so growth of bacteria is not completely avoided.

Freeze Dried: The Astronaut Aisle

Freeze Dried is another option though it may be a bit pricier, because of the cost in processing it. Freeze-drying removes a food’s water content without using heat. Freeze-dried foods are first flash-frozen, then placed in a special pressurized chamber. Drastically decreasing the pressure and increasing the temperature inside the chamber, while still keeping it below the freezing point, changes the ice in the frozen product directly from a solid to a gas, bypassing the liquid stage. This occurs over a period of several hours or days, until the product is virtually completely dried, with just a tiny amount of water remaining.

Finicky pets generally prefer freeze-dried foods. It is also good to add as a topper to increase palatability of the main meal.

Commercial Raw Food: The Frozen Food Aisle

Raw food would be the equivalent of the rare steak. Generally, a raw commercial diet consists of animal meat, organ meats (such as the liver, kidney and heart), some bone, and vegetables given in their raw, uncooked state. So, the majority of nutrients — such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes — have not been altered or destroyed and are derived from more natural sources. Some raw manufacturers do add more vitamins and minerals to make up for any deficiencies in the food.

Major commercial raw manufacturers incorporate kill steps to destroy pathogens while creating the least impact on the food’s enzymes, proteins and other nutrients. One such method involves high pressure processing (HPP), which works by using intense pressure rather than heat to kill the pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria spp. HPP also kills yeasts and molds.

Of course, times do exist when the steak might be too rare for your pet. Pets with bowel problems or liver conditions are usually better off with home cooked meals.

Home Prepared Meals: The Fresh Foods Aisle

I am a big advocate of home-prepared meals for pets as they are the freshest, minimally processed and you control the ingredients. One major caveat exists: do not start home-preparing meals without researching them thoroughly to ensure they are balanced and have enough vitamins and minerals. Several books are on the market that can guide you through home-prepared meals. A foundation is my book coauthored with Diana Laverdure, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health. Then, layer on either Karen Becker’s book or Monica Segal’s for some great recipes. • The latest edition of Karen Becker’s book, Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats: Simple Homemade Food  • Monica Segal’s Optimal Nutrition Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level 

W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

References Dodds, Jean, DVM, and Diana Laverdure, MS. Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health. Wenatchee: Dogwise, 2015. Print.

“FDA Clears BPA In Cans, Again.” EWG. Environmental Working Group, 08 Jan. 2015. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/01/fda-clears-bpa-cans-again>.

“How Dry, Semi-moist, and Canned Pet Foods Are Manufactured.” Pet Education, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2%2B1659&aid=2653>.

“Principles of Food Canning.” FAO, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai407e/ai407e22.htm>. 

“What Goes Into Making Wet Pet Food?” PetMD, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_multi_wet_pet_food>.

“What Is Dehydrated Pet Food?” The Honest Kitchen, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/how-we-make-our-food>.

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Concise description of how our pets' food are processed by a well respected vet

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