Just like humans, dogs have a natural hair growth cycle. During a dog’s shedding cycle, each of their hairs goes through phases. The first phase is the anagen phase which is representative of a pet hair growth. The next phase is catagen phase which occurs when the dog’s hair stops growing. After the catagen phase, the hair goes through its final phase: telogen phase. This is when the dead hair falls out and is replaced by new hair follicles.
Although it’s often thought that fur isn’t specifically designed for shedding, a significant amount of the shed fur consists of the protective undercoat.
Is seasonal shedding a common occurrence?
When dogs were known to spend the vast majority of their time outdoors, shedding seasons were limited to spring and fall. Now, most dogs are indoor pets and tend to shed all year round. Depending on your pet’s breed and coat type (i.e. double coats), however, shedding seasons may vary. For breeds with double coats such as german shepherds, Siberian huskies, golden retrievers, or Pomeranians, their shedding season generally occurs in spring and fall seasons. Aside from specific shedding seasons, increased instances of shedding could be caused by diet, allergies, stress, or skin problems. Normal shedding is common and indicates good coat health and healthy skin, but if your pet is expressing unusual shedding patterns, skin irritation, or hair loss in patches, it may be a sign of underlying medical conditions.
How can I prevent excessive shedding?
Although you can not stop your pet from shedding completely, as it is part of their bodies natural process, you can help prevent excessive shedding which may be resultant from their lifestyle. Here are three useful and easily implementable tips!
Brush Their Coat Everyday – Regular brushing and regular grooming not only gets rid of loose hair in a confined and manageable way, but also stimulates the glands that produce oils, allowing the hair to become softer and sleeker. This healthier hair is more likely to prevent hair loss and helps maintain a healthy coat! Do research into the best types of brushes for your breed of dog as they depend on the type of pet hair and can greatly impact comfort and effectiveness.
Ensure a Healthy Diet – Feed your dog a diet with adequate fatty acids and protein. Dogs that are undernutrition can be highly prone to diet-related shedding. Furthermore, make sure that your pet always has access to enough clean drinking water, as dehydration can lead to increased shedding!
Clean Your Pet Regularly – Thoroughly and frequently washing your dog is important to keep germs, dirt, and other unwanted pests off of their coat. Not only will this keep them safe from illness, but also reduce the itchiness that they feel. Consequently, less scratching leads to less shedding!
Herbs are nothing more than plants. They usually contain ingredients with active therapeutic properties, and are commercially sold in various forms in anything from supplements to teas and juices. Herbal medicine has been used on humans for thousands of years, and are more common in Asian countries and cultures.
Is herbal medicine used on animals as well?
At least in modern western culture, herbal medicine does not have a very deep presence in the veterinary industry. Most scientific studies conducted in labs and research institutions deal with pharmaceuticals and their effects on animals rather than something like an herbal supplement. However, as the idea of using herbal medicine to treat ailment increases amongst pet owners, there will certainly be more research in the future.
So then what conditions can be treated with herbal medicines?
Most current research tends to show that herbal medicines can support the normal function of the liver, kidneys, heart, and immune system, reduced inflammation and improve blood flow through damaged tissues, normalize smooth muscle contraction, and eliminate general pain.
How safe is herbal therapy?
When given the incorrect herb or dosage, your pet’s health condition may exacerbate. Many of the plants absorb contaminants and are not required to undergo a quality check, so most experienced veterinary herbalists will use organic products and check for expiration dates on the labels. However, if your pet is being treated by a knowledgeable veterinary herbalist, adverse effects are unlikely to occur, unless your pet is extremely ill or going through pregnancy.
What is the cost of herbal treatment?
While herbal remedies is generally inexpensive, the price depends on a variety of factors. Natural remedies require multiple visits which can increase the total cost of treatment. The disease being treated and the medicinal plants required to treat the patient may also change the price. Depending on the practitioner’s skill and expertise, you may also have to pay an extra fee.
Can herbal therapy be combined with contemporary medicine?
Some of the herbs used for herbal therapy are extremely potent and may react with prescription drugs, acupuncture, or other remedies. Combining multiple therapies at once may heighten or nullify the effects of treatment. However, experienced veterinary herbalists understand the interactions between different medicines, so using both herbal remedies and conventional medicine shouldn’t be an issue.
Acupuncture is based on the ancient Chinese belief that pain and discomfort in the body is often caused by vital imbalances in blood circulation and nutrients in the body. To ameliorate this, extremely fine needles are placed in certain parts of the body to increase blood flow, thereby easing chronic pain and sometimes even joint disease. Some scientific research has demonstrated a relationship between the insertion of these needles and the stimulation of certain nerve endings and blood vessels in the body which may lead to beneficial effects. Similarly, acupressure involves applying pressure to these points rather than inserting a needle, and claims to yield many of the same benefits to one’s quality of life.
What can acupuncture and acupressure actually treat?
Both of these methods are most often used to treat pets with arthritis and joint inflammation since they help with a wide range of health effects such as increasing blood flow and the circulation of nutrients and oxygen to different parts of the body. However, it is important to keep in mind that traditional western medicines are the best option for serious or more life-threatening conditions such as cancers, infections, and organ diseases. Always consult with a veterinarian before pursuing any type of treatment option!
What is an acupuncture or acupressure treatment like?
Before performing the treatment, the veterinary acupuncturist will review the pet’s medical records and current condition. Then, they will perform a physical examination and explain the details of the treatment. After the pre-assessments, the vet will insert acupuncture needles or start applying pressure, which will cause your pet to relax. The session may take anywhere around 20-30 minutes. The acupuncturist may recommend coming in for a few sessions each week for several weeks. As the dog’s condition improves, the frequency of acupuncture sessions will taper off. Different conditions require varying amounts of treatment sessions, but the goal is usually to limit the visits since acupuncture can result in some negative side effects. Although the side effects aren’t usually serious, pets may experience soreness, stiffness, or fatigue after each treatment, which can last for up to 48 hours.
How do I find a veterinarian that performs acupuncture and acupressure?
Your pet’s primary veterinarian may refer your pet to alternative therapies, or another veterinarian that specializes in acupressure or acupuncture treatment. The contact between the two veterinarians ensure that the veterinary acupuncturist is updated on your pet’s medical condition and current health. However, you can also contact an acupuncturist yourself since there are over 150,000 certified pet acupuncturists in the U.S.: there is a high chance that a veterinary acupuncture clinic is located near you!
The pet food industry pulled in more than $32 billion last year. With so many options and countless vocal “experts” claiming to know the best foods and balance of nutrients, here is a list of basic facts about pet nutrition to serve as the building blocks for when you are picking the right pet food!
Basic Cat Nutrition:
Throughout their evolutionary history, cats have always been true carnivores, meaning they need food that has 40-45% protein content, is high in animal fat, and contains few carbs throughout all their life stages. Although you can feed them grains, they naturally lack the digestive enzymes necessary to break them down so they serve no real nutritional benefit and are not an effective source of energy.
Make sure that when purchasing cat food, the ingredients list contains taurine, an essential amino acid that prevents the development of dilative cardiomyopathy, a condition where their heart grows abnormally large. It is found naturally in meat and fish, but can be lost during the cooking process so most pet foods will add it in during post-processing. Thus, if you’re preparing and cooking your cat food at home, you’ll need to add it as a supplement to make sure you reach their nutritional requirements!
Basic Dog Nutrition:
Dogs have similar gastrointestinal tracts compared to that of humans. It’s a commonly held belief that dogs are carnivores, but they require a balanced diet. Similar to humans, they require other essential nutrients, such as grains and vegetables, to live a healthy life. When planning a pet’s diet, the pet owner is responsible for reading the pet food labels in detail and also doing research into the pet food manufacturer. Dog food should meet the nutritional requirements of at least 18% protein and sufficient amounts of fatty acids, which may vary depending on dog breed and lifestyle. If you decide to put your dog on a vegetarian diet, finding foods with enough protein and other essential nutrients becomes even more important.
Vegetarian diets are okay for dogs, but what about grain-free diets?
According to a 2018 FDA warning, some dogs on grain-free diets were diagnosed with heart disease. However, this concern doesn’t apply to all dogs. If your pet has been eating on a grain-free diet for years without experiencing health problems, continuing the meal plan shouldn’t be an issue. No research has shown that grain-free diets are beneficial for dog health, but there is no reason to stop the diet if it’s yielding harmless outcomes. It is still important to look out for changes in your dog’s mood, or symptoms of heart disease, because it may be a sign to change the diet or consult your veterinarian to see what’s best for your pet. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/choosing-right-food-your-dog-or-cat
With the recent allegations on social media groups towards Purina, one of the largest pet food manufacturers, it is more important than ever to do proper research when choosing the right food to feed your furry friend!
Common Mistakes When Choosing:
Many pet owners select diets for their pets based purely on marketing as opposed to factual information. Just because the pet food claims to contain or actually contains ancient grains or superfoods doesn’t make them the best options for your pet. So rather than selecting based on persuasive labels, check the ingredients list and do research into the manufacturer/pet food makers!
Try avoiding blindly following recommendations from the pet store, as employees may be promoting the food that has the highest profit margin, the store’s own private label brand, or the ones with the best marketing. Again, do your own research beforehand but be cautious of which review sites you visit as well!
Good Guiding Principles:
Ensuring the health and safety of your pet is of utmost significance, so here are some suggestions that may help you make good decisions on your pet’s meal plan.
Consult your veterinarian – If you’re receiving advice from anyone, your best option is a veterinary nutritionist, or even a general veterinarian. Aside from giving check ups and prescribing medication for pets, they are also the most optimal choice when it comes to meeting your pet’s nutritional requirements. Whether it’s going into the office or receiving a virtual consultation, veterinarians can provide recommendations on a variety of meal plans based on your pet’s preferences, food allergies, and medical conditions. Remember- your vet knows your pet best!
“Don’t trust everything online” – The same saying applies to making decisions for your pet’s health. From social media to random websites online, you should always be weary of nutritional advice from the internet. While there are a lot of helpful resources on the web, it may be difficult to differentiate between reliable and false information. Instead of immediately implementing the suggestions on the website, make sure you check the credibility of the author and look for other research that has been done on the topic. To be safe, it may also be a good idea to ask your veterinarian about the validity of the information.
Question the safety and health of pet food (both dry foods and fresh food)- Pet food companies are required to provide information on the food’s nutrition content and calorific value, so it’s important to look at the pet food labels and ingredient lists on packages for a basic understanding of the food. However, that shouldn’t be the only thing you’re looking for. For example, information pertaining to the qualified nutritionists involved or the quality control practices implemented during food development may not be included on the label. Instead of disregarding the importance of those factors, you can reach out to the manufacturers to confirm the safety and health of the product.
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