ANIMAL RADIO® | December 3rd 2005 Newsletter
Programming with a Purpose
In this issue:
ANIMAL RADIO® | December 3rd 2005 Newsletter
Programming with a Purpose
In
this issue:
DORIS DAY
- DC-3 Airplane chartered to rescue more of Katrina's animals.
SPOILED PET
TOP 10 - Our yearly countdown of unique gifts for your furrball.
CAT SURVIVES
JUMP FROM BRIDGE
PRODUCT REVIEW Thermal-Aid Pet
FINDING THE
RIGHT DIET for your Dog - Darlene Arden
Coming Up This Weekend:
Doris Day talks about her foundation and it's yearly Spay/Day event. Hear this emotionally moving interview as it unfolds on Animal Radio live this weekend.
ASTMH member Stephen Higgs, Ph.D. conducted a study to determine whether the quantity of West Nile Virus secreted in the saliva of infected mosquitoes is high enough to infect other mosquitoes that are feeding at the same time on a bird, horse or other mammal. Until now, scientists believed the transmission process occurred over several days, circulating between birds and mosquitoes.
| SAN DIEGO PET EXPO - DEC. 11, 2005 |
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Every year about this time, you'll get some great gift ideas for the SPOILED Pet that has everything. All year long we search the globe for the unique, zany, fun products for your furry companion. Here's the second to last Holiday Countdown. If you have a great product that America's biggest animal audience should know about, e-mail information to Hal@AnimalRadio.com. Our last countdown of the season airs nationwide December 17th on Animal Radio. 10. FELINE FUNHOUSE - A "Breath of Fresh Air" for
Indoor Cats Have you ever wanted a portable outdoor enclosure for your cat? Wild Whiskers has created the perfect outdoor cat enclosure. It is great for camping, RV'ing, or just hanging out in the backyard together. The Funhouse is extremely durable, lightweight, portable and easy to store. It is also weather resistant and is tough enough to hold up to claws. Your feline will thank you for making enjoying the outdoors with you so much easier! Check out their indoor version as well!
The Risotto Collar Collection is different from other dog collars! How? We offer the best eye catching colors, they are environmental friendly and they are simply beautiful. Risotto Collection where being the dog is far more important than being a dog! You can find the Risotto collection at Paws of Bella, FL 561-799-3652; The Tailored Dog, NJ 201-337-0500; Mama's & Papa's, NJ 201-969-1500; and the Hampton Dog, NY 917-833-6509. Listen to hear how you can win a K-9 Transporter from Risotto.
Latka's snowman pails and organza bags make perfect treat-filled gifts for your favorite holiday hounds. Latka's wholesome, homestyle dog biscuits are baked with love and care, from all natural high quality human grade ingredients and are available in three delicious flavors: peanut butter, liver and cheese! They contain no sugar, salt, coloring, preservatives or additives. Latka's Treats are perfect for daily doggie snacks, and they make delightful gifts for birthdays, holidays or any occasion!
This machine washable cushion actually reflects your cat's body heat back to her. Great for kittens, aging cats, arthritic cats, or any cat in fact.
5. DOG UMBRELLA from Gifts.com
Pet Gifts in a Pail with hand-chosen goodies, which are then doggie and kitty tested, sometimes even without our knowledge. The pails come wrapped in paw-print cellophane and include a gold-embossed gift card and label.
A jeweled crown diner and
canopy bed for the Royal Pet in your house. 2. KONGTIME - Doggy
Day Care In A Box  KongTime, has introduced DOGGIE DAYCARE IN A BOX! All day entertainment for the home-alone dog™. Put dog food or a biscuit inside a Kong toy and what do you have? Magic. Your dog will happily chew at the Kong toy, trying to get out every last morsel. It's fun! Sometimes you have to leave your dog home alone. Wouldn't it be great if you could feel good about it? KongTime, has introduced DOGGIE DAYCARE IN A BOX! All day entertainment for the home-alone dog™. Put dog food or a biscuit inside a Kong toy and what do you have? Magic. Your dog will happily chew at the Kong toy, trying to get out every last morsel. It's fun! Kongtime automatically dispenses food-filled Kong Toys while you are away. KongTime entertains your dog and gives your dog something to look forward to. Don't be surprised if your dog starts handing you your briefcase in the morning!
 Your pet can send or receive the Edible Greeting Cards, which are veterinary approved. You can even get the FooDoodler, which are food coloring markers so you can write a special message on the cards! Don't forget to tune in for
our last yearly countdown - including the cream of the crop gifts
for your pet. Listen
December 17th.
Cat Survives Jump Off Bridge
Animal Minute is made possible
by:
Lyme Disease Hear
the Veterinary Minute on Animal Radio's Full-time animal channel.
REFUGE Far to the north in a land that sleeps long months under blankets of snow and ice, the residents spend their evenings watching shimmering curtains of silken color light up the night sky. For thousands of generations, the inhabitants of the Arctic wilderness have enjoyed a timeless rhythm; a rhythm undisturbed by the wheels and machines of modern life. The residents here are many and varied. There is Polar Bear. On the coastal plain of this ice-land the bears make their dens and have their cubs. Polar Bear taught the people how to make their igloo homes, the reason the birthing dens of Polar Bear are similar in shape and form to the igloos of the people. Strongest and fiercest of all Arctic creatures, Polar Bear has but one enemy: humankind. There is Arctic Fox. The art of camouflage is the essence of Fox; her fur changes to reflect the season white in the ice and snow of winter gray to red to brown in the short months of the midnight sun. There is Grizzly Bear. The most desired guardian spirit by shamans of the north, it is Bear, not the shaman, who selects who is worthy of his protection and guidance. There is Caribou. Her name is French-Canadian for reindeer. Tens of thousands of years have witnessed her ancestors' migrations to the coastal plain to have their young; thousands and thousands of caribou in a timeless dance of shared legacy. There is Wolf. Strong and loyal to his family and pack, he mates for life; the very soul of the wilderness. There is Musk Oxen. Shaggy relic of an age of ice long past, almost extinct at the turn of the century, she was re-introduced to her native home not long ago. Once again, this wooly horned creature enjoys the habitat in which she was born to dwell. There is Whale. The Inuit consider the Bowhead Whale of these northern waters Great Spirit's most magnificent creation. The largest mammal in the world has but one enemy: humankind. There are people. For a thousand generations, the native people have lived their traditional ways in this Arctic Coastal Plain. These are the residents who inhabit this land year round. But others do not. When the land awakens into spring and summer, over 180 different species of birds will return to the Arctic to nest in the wetlands. They will travel from six continents, and every single one of the lower 48 states many having spent the winter with YOU, in YOUR backyard. You know them. Robin. Rufus hummingbird. Black- capped chickadee. Meadowlark. Red-winged blackbird. Dark-eyed Junco. Say's Phoebe. Golden Eagle. This land, home to so many, is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; the most fragile and sensitive ecosystem in the world, and the only refuge that contains all of the Arctic eco-dynamics as they have been for all those thousands of generations of human and animal alike. Ages ago, another animal lived here as well. The dinosaur. Long extinct now, 65 million years, yet his absence still demands our attention, for it is his presence, in the form of his fossilized remains turned to oil, that fuels the desire to dramatically alter the life and livelihood of all who live in this land of ice and snow and curtains of light. A finite amount of dinosaur's remains, enough for only ten months of the desired fuel, that threatens a finite amount of animals that have lived for tens of thousands of years in this, their last and only refuge. The word refuge comes from the Latin, to flee. It means shelter and protection from danger or trouble. It is not just a word from the dictionary, but our word to keep. [Hear Voice of the Animal on Animal Radio
every week on Animal Radio. Check Schedule for Airtimes Copyright
2005 Rae Ann Kumelos
Animals provide meaningful and often startling and endearing information. All animals are self-aware, thoughtful and knowledgeable. You can also have a fun chat like you would with any human friends. Joy is available to speak to your pet, for free on Animal Radio. Call 1-866-405-8405 to set up a time. Talk with your Animals is made
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DORIS DAY GUESTS ON ANIMAL RADIO The following transcript is from today's interview with legendary actress and animal advocate, Doris Day. You can hear the entire interview on Animal Radio this weekend. Doris Day has founded two non-profit organizations. The Doris Day Animal Foundation (DDAF) established in 1998 and the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) established in 1987. She explains the differences: Doris: The league is based in Washington, DC, and that's where we work with the senators and it's all about trying to get bills passed and things like that; whereas the Foundation is an on-hands thing. I work with people who can't afford to pay their vet bills and I rescue and find homes for animals and things like that, it's an on-hands thing. SPAY DAY USA is the Doris Day Animal Foundation's national campaign to save the lives of homeless animals through the spay or neuter of our pets and feral cats. The 12th annual SPAY DAY USA will be February 28, 2006. Doris: The biggest problem in the country, in the world, is that the animals in many countries, where they don't even know about spaying, the animals run loose and they keep having babies, doggies and kittens, and they're all starving. It's just a horrifying situation. So we felt that spaying and neutering is the most important thing, because everything is cause and effect. I work from cause and effect all the time. The cause is that the animals aren't spayed or neutered, and the effect is what you see at the SPCA's. They're all sitting there and waiting for someone to come in and say I love you and I'm going to take you home. But they sit there not very long, I must tell you that. They don't sit there very long because the SPCA's fill up constantly so they don't have room. They have to give them up and they euthanize. It's as simple as that and just horrible. So SPAY DAY is the most important thing that the animal foundation does. Doris was contacted by Lisa Carter of the Santa Cruz SPCA, who needed funds to help fly over 100 Animal Survivors of Katrina to California. Doris: They needed $20,00 and I did not faint That's what the money is for, and I want everybody who is listening in who has donated to my organizations, I really get touched about this, I just want them to know that when they send money to me and to my organizations, it's being used, I'm not buying fancy clothes and it's not going to sit in the banks, we are going to use it to save as many animals as we can and to help people who need that help when they have pets and to rescue, and I just want them to know that the Katrina operation wasn't about me. I wouldn't care if my name had been mentioned or not, it's about the people who were so wonderful that they trusted me and had been sending donations, and that's why we could do it. A $20,000 check went right to them and those animals are all in Santa Cruz Most of them came in an airplane that was incredible, and I couldn't go that night. It was a very cold, funny night and there was such a thick fog that the plane couldn't land where it was supposed to land. We wanted them to land in Watsonville, because the Monterey airport is very busy. Any my secretary went for me because they didn't come in till so late at night. She didn't get home until 1:30 in the morning. She told me about the plane, and it was a plane that our troops fly in, and there were no seats. And that plane was filled from the floor to the ceiling with dogs and there was a momma cat and she had 12 kittens and they were all together in a huge crate. And then I wanted to tell you that there were many doggies and cats that were too ill to fly. And people that were in Louisiana, they came forward in SUV's and whatever they had that could take 3 or 4 or 5 animals in their cars, and they came in tandem from Louisiana to Santa Cruz. Doris had one last thing to say: Doris: So many people that I know and have bumped into in my lifetime, when they lose their pet that they loved so much, many of them have said to me "I cannot take another dog, Doris, I can't replace my little Buster." And I've heard it so often, I am making a plea to all you wonderful people out there who feel that way, I just want you to know that I did once before too. I felt that way about one of my babies (Ozzie) and I said I can't replace her. God changed my mind. I rely on God and I said "I don't know what to do. There is a precious little maltese that needs a home and I said I found myself thinking what I didn't want to think that I would be replacing Ozzie. And it just came to me instantly, and I know that it was God saying to me "You take that baby, because Ozzie would want you to." People who feel that way
don't feel that way! Go to your local SPCA, or wherever, and
give another beautiful little doggie or cat a loving home. If
you love animals, and when you feel so strongly about the one
that you lost, I know that it has to be a great home and a loving
person. And you're the ones who should have the animals! So please
think about it again.
The following advice will help
keep your dog, cat or bird happy, healthy and safe during the
hectic Holiday season. Christmas trees are beautiful, but require extra attention when you have a pet. when decorating the tree, hang breakable and small ornaments or tinsel out of your dog or cat's reach. Do not place a food gift under the tree or popcorn garland on the tree, because your curious pet may claim it. Do not allow your parrot near the tree. They have been known to bite into tree light cords and electrocute themselves! If you have indoor pets, do not put chemicals in the tree water -- they can be harmful. By covering your tree stand tightly with skirting, your pet cannot drink the tree water, which may contain dirt or loose bark. Be sure your dog or cat has access to plenty of fresh, clean water in its normal water bowl. Plants, such as poinsettias,
holly, amaryllis and mistletoe may make your home beautiful,
but are poisonous to pets. If ingested, these plants may cause
vomiting, diarrhea or more serious health problems. Keep all
plants out of reach and, if a plant is consumed and your pet
appears ill, consult your veterinarian immediately. When lighting the menorah, Advent wreaths or decorative candles, keep your pet in another room to avoid intrigue with the flame or place the candles out of reach. Never leave a lit candle unattended and NEVER use scented candles in the same room as your parrot. The fumes can kill them! Gift wrappings are a traditional part of the Holidays, but can be harmful to pets. Do not give your pet the opportunity to play with or eat small objects, ribbons or wrapping paper, which can cause choking, upset stomach or even more serious problems. Table manners for pet owners:
In the season of giving, pet owners may be tempted to "treat"
their pet with extra food or inappropriate "people food".
Do not give your dog or cat chicken, turkey or fish bones, which
can lead to digestive damage. Do not give any animal or bird
chocolate (contains a substance called theobromine, which is
toxic, and in large amounts, can cause seizures and death). And
please...no alcohol or carbonated beverages (birds cannot "burp"
and therefore, cannot unlodge bubbles, which can cause death). However, if you want to reward
your pet with food, offer a nutritious treat that complements
your pet's diet (most parrots will tell you that a good treat
is a French fry, but don't necessarily believe it).
Regular grooming for dogs can
help you take of their coat as well as help prevent: Shedding is a major concern
for dog and cat owners Solutions such as the VMX Pet Vantage Hair Grabber and the Pet & Clean Tacky Mitts can help you quickly pick up pet hair and dander from your pet as well as your upholstery, clothing, furniture! The Tacky Mitts: Even with limited time on their hands, pet owners want to help pets look and feel their Westminster best not just after a visit to the groomer, but all year round. It is important to regularly remove dead hair from a pet's coat. If dead hair is left of the coat this hair becomes irritating to the pet and can cause itching and scratching. VMX Pet Vantage offers convenient grooming tools that are a great way to keep your pets coat clean and healthy at home. Solutions such as the VMX Pet Vantage Speedy Groom and VMX Pre-Moistened Bath Mitts can help busy owners remove dead hair from the pets as well as clean the coat in between baths as well as leave the coat smelling fresh. The Speedy Groom: "A Bath
in a Brush" It is also important to remove pet hair from the home environment. By removing pet hair from couches and carpets, owners may be able to reduce allergens, which are often the cause of pet allergies in owners. Keeping your pet clean is
also essential to their overall well being What better way to pamper your pet than with VMX PetVantage Botanicals Shampoos and Conditioner This line of specially formulated shampoos include encapsulated beads that preserve the delicate botanical nutrients until the moment they are released through shampooing. The shampoos are available in different varieties based on coat type and need. For example: -VMX PetVantage Botanicals
Beautifying Shampoo contains
with Vitamin C beads and Green Tea extract to condition and moisturize
both skin and coat. You can find additional information
on grooming and sign up for information E-Newsletter at www.hartz.com
Declawed cats bite, they growl and piss. Adopt clawed cats is what I say Don't mess with cats that aren't God made. Clawed cats are smart and easy to train Compared to vets, cats got way more brain. Say "Hey there, cat doctor! Annie Bruce said, "Stop declawing! Or I'll look elsewhere instead." A guy or gal who thinks more of cats. They'll want first class homes. Not 'last resort' threats. And please tell us why these cats get so moody? Oh well, they're "just cats." AVMA kiss my booty. Cats need their claws and they need OUR strength. To end this abuse takes more than me To end it now takes us all you see? Last resorts aren't the way to go If you want it to end, we all must say "NO!" So if you want a cat that's gonna be good And safe around your friends and 'hood. Black clawed males are the very best How declaws act, is any fools guess. Besides all that, if something happens to you, Wouldn't you want your cat to pull through? Feed, exercise and just talk to him right. Neuter 'n spay. He won't pee. She won't bite. Cats are smart. Cats are good Cats kill mice in the neighborhood Cats need claws to exercise Cats needs vets humane and wise. In memory of Moses and all
declawed cats who have suffered. Someday declawing will end.
http://www.GoodCatsWearBlack.com  Have you heard ANIMAL RADIO®
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With so many choices --- commercial foods, homemade meals and raw diets --- available to owners today, many fanciers are having a tough time figuring out what to feed. Darlene Arden helps you select the appropriate diet for your dog. Dog owners are in the middle of a muddle. They want to do what's nutritionally right for their dogs, but the more choices, the more difficult the decision. We have been taught to feed a complete and balanced diet, from a reputable company, meeting the American Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) requirements. A great deal of money and many years have been spent discovering which nutrients are needed for various stages of life, which formulas work best, and what is palatable. Now, along comes a group of people telling owners that they should be cooking for their dogs, and yet another advocating feeding a raw food diet. How can you decide what's right? Commercial Dog Foods Individuals who rely on homemade diets for their dogs spend a lot of time and love in the process, but have no way to ensure that the ingredients they use are the same from week to week or meal to meal. Also homemade diets cannot guarantee that the nutritional balance of vitamins, mineral, and other nutrients will be present on a consistent basis. "With the manufactured diets, you fairly well know what the ingredients are," says Raymond Russo, DVM, MS, AAVN, president of Kingston Animal Hospital in Kingston, Mass. "On the other hand, what is included in the 'byproduct' designation can be open to question --- too many indigestible and undesirable components are permissible under that category." Vitamins, minerals and amino acids may be lost in the manufacturer's cooking process, which can occur if cooking temperatures are kept too high and for too long, resulting in a product of lesser value, and loss of vitamin, mineral and amino acid values. "It can also occur when there is concern about bacterial or endotoxin presence," says Russo. It behooves every dog owner to learn to read and understand the labels. Is a corn product mentioned twice? Add those percentages and compare the total to the percentage of chicken or beef to ascertain if you are really buying more corn than meat. Perhaps you will want to seek out one of the companies using human-food grade ingredients. And learn what levels of protein and fat are correct for your dog; too much of either can cause problems. What about preservatives? Without preservatives the food will become rancid. If you prefer an all-natural preservative, check the expiration date. Some companies have been adding nutraceuticals (products that appear to have beneficial physiological effects beyond their basic nutritional function), as a marketing strategy. This past November, the Fifth Workshop in Pet Food Labeling and Regulations, in St. Louis, found those in the industry addressing the concern of making labels more easily understood. "In general, I feel that the pet food producers are doing a reasonably good job of improving their product," says Russo. "The competition is so intense between the best-known producers that they are constantly scrutinizing and imitating their products, so that there is very little prospect of one leaping substantially ahead of the others. So much so that one of the drawbacks of the manufactured 'premium' brands is that they may have become too high-powered --- too proteinized, too caloric, too fatty, too stimulating." Whether you choose commercial or homemade depends on the manufacturer and your degree of commitment, says canine behaviorist Jill Connor, Ph.D., president of Canine Behavior Consultants in Huntington, NY, and host of the weekly radio program Bite Back. Poor-quality dry dog food, she says, is "totally unacceptable." "Poorly manufactured food
containing additives and filler often does produce behavior problems,"
says Connor. "Allergy to the additives and endotoxins, which
low-quality manufactured dog food is not tested for, is the most
common cause. These problems can manifest as excessive scratching,
self-mutilation, high anxiety, lack of attention, seizures, housebreaking
failures and aggression. to name a few. Whenever a dog suddenly
presents unusual behavioral issues, I suggest changing the food
along with a thorough veterinary checkup." Russo believes the need to
satisfy the public becomes a critical issue; owners are most
concerned with palatability and acceptance, convenience and speed
of usage to be always aware of the uppermost need to provide
a complete and balanced diet. If the dog enjoys the product.
and appears to do relatively well on it, it is assumed to be
a good product. Homemade and Raw Diets Russo thinks homemade diets are promising but it is too early to tell. "We're beginning to see and hear of good results using these methodologies, but there haven't been enough long-term, in-depth studies that are very verifiable, to permit early, blanket judgments to be made." Both Russo and Hofve agree the homemade diet will have to be balanced consistently. It is dangerous if not balanced: "If you're going to commit to make a homemade diet, commit to do it right, because I have had animals come in that were very sick from unbalanced diets," says Hofve. Raw diets are generally uncooked except for things like rice or pasta, and utilize raw vegetables, raw meat or chicken, preferably organically raised from animals raised on organic food that are free of hormones and chemicals. They have a limited shelf life. Some raw-diet disciples use the BARF (Bone And Raw Food) diet. "Raw diets are potentially hazardous to the dog and the human feeding it; e coli is deadly to humans," says Connor. "Dogs are omnivores, and do not do well on raw meat alone. Even if the dog's owner were to struggle to maintain proper nutrition by adding vitamin powder, fresh vegetables, et cetera --- a full time job! --- this diet cannot possibly match a high premium dry dog food in terms of meeting the nutritional needs of the dog. Behavior problems will most likely result from the lack of nutrition and subsequent breakdown of the immune system, rather than allergy." Hofve feeds her own pets raw meat and cooked vegetables but states there are many cases where you would not want to do that. Since a healthy, or at least competent immune system is required, neither chemotherapy nor cancer patients, nor transplant recipients, should handle raw meat. Nor should it be given to animals with severe gastrointestinal disease or auto-immune disease --- "disease where the immune system is clearly not functioning properly," Hofve emphasizes. Animals that are past the point of no return, as well as very young animals, probably should not be fed raw diets. "Depending on the functionality of the immune system, you want to be really careful." Hofve advocates organic meats because the bacteria loads in ground beef are often higher than the average dog is designed to be exposed to. She advises against ground meat because after mixing, the contaminated outside portion is in the middle, spreading the contamination. She recommends chunk meat that can be rinsed off, blanched quickly, or dunked in some type of cleansing solution. "Some adherents even insist on meat products being frozen for 48 hours to help reduce bacterial presence" says Russo. He adds that raw foods are as safe as the preparer "Such food preparation is highly subjective and personal. If the food is prepared cleanly and with care, the results can be very gratifying." He cautions that people be especially careful about prevention of bacterial infection being introduced. Russo has not yet had any difficulties with this approach. "Being relatively new, most clients do not know of' this narrow approach to feeding, and it becomes doubly important to be constantly aware of content and sanitation. "With the raw or all-natural diets, there may be great variation in ingredient content if the diets are homemade, from one preparer to another," Russo points out. "How wholesome and of what quality will the ingredients be'? One would suspect that someone going to all that trouble would be desirous of preparing a high-quality mixture, but then there might be the possibility of throwing in everything but the kitchen sink rather than being balanced and complete." Hofve and Russo agree that both homemade and raw diets "absolutely" need supplementation. "Ian Billinghurst's raw meaty bones diet has vegetables and other things in there," says Hofve. "You can't isolate one food group and just eat that. Raw meaty bones are great. they do wonders for their teeth, they do wonders for their coat, but it's not a complete meal. The trace elements can't be duplicated just by eating meaty bones. People get into this and they get carried away," says Hofve. "Most holistic vets will tell you that raw bones of an appropriate size to the dog will not hurt them," says Hofve. "I have heard of cases where dogs have split the bone and had sharp pieces go down and perforate the intestines." She also tells of one person who said her dog cracked a bone, swallowed it, and passed the knife-like sharp piece of bone with no problem. "I think the mistake people make is twofold: one is they give a bone that's too big for the dog, and they let them sit out too long; it will get really dried out and hard and then it will splinter, and it will crack teeth and it'll punch holes in tummies. You have to be careful." Some raw diet proponents point to the wolf as a comparison. Others disagree. "The domestic dog and the wolf are separated by several millennia, and cannot truly be compared. The wolf is actually an omnivore, feeding on vegetation and berries, not only meat," says Connor. "I do know of one case where the owner insisted on a raw diet and her two Maltese died as a result." "I feed my animals raw
food; I recommend it with reservations because I don't want to
be responsible for other people taking my word for it and having
a bad outcome, says Hofve. "People need to be responsible
for themselves and take appropriate precautionary steps and use
common sense." Although Hofve feeds homemade and raw, she
doesn't do that as a sole diet, "It's like diving off the
high board to switch your animal to 100 percent homemade." "The term 'you are what
you eat' is quickly being proven true, 'says Connor. "Improper
diet and sedentary lifestyle have proven to be catalysts in a
majority of serious illnesses in the human population. Dogs are
no different. In fact, because owners often don't do enough research,
dogs are more likely to be fed inadequate diets than are humans
in the same home. For every dollar you spend on high-quality
dry food, you save $100 in veterinary bills as the dog ages. "For most people with time constraints, I suggest that they use a respected 'name brand that is accepted by the dog, stay with it for two months and evaluate," says Russo. "If the dog remains healthy, retains weight and has a lustrous coat, remain with your selection. It is well to avoid switching brands since variety is not needed. I often will recommend using both dry and canned food to satisfy tastes and balance. I avoid generic [no brand] foods because this is one instance where you indeed get what you pay for." Hofve says that her own animals do better on certain types of commercial foods than on others. "You see it first in the coat, you see a dry, or a greasy-looking coat and dandruff. Any diet is going to be dangerous if it's not balanced properly," says Hofve. "With a raw diet you have the balance problem plus the bacterial contamination problem. With a cooked homemade diet you have a balance problem. In a commercial diet you may also have a balance problem because they are designed to be not optimal but adequate for the majority of dogs." She thinks more dogs are falling outside that majority. "We're finding that they need special supplementation. "They all have their good points, they all have their bad points," says Hofve candidly. "Find out what works for you and what works with your dogs. If your dog is doing well on his current brand of food, leave him on it. The thing to remember is: Find out what works for your animal." Both Connor and Hofve are equally enthusiastic about the condition of their dogs. Connor is feeding a high-quality commercial product. Hofve is feeding raw some days, commercial the other, and claims to see great improvement since she began to add raw foods to the diet. There are also those who add fresh vegetables and/or meat to their dog's commercial food. And there are those who say that this unbalances the balanced diet you're paying for. "At present, there is frustration and confusion in the ranks, even among the 'experts,' "says Russo. "There is no acknowledged 'best' dog food --- what seems best for one dog or one owner may not be best for another. There is no universal answer; certainly, there is no 'one size fits all. There are generalizations we can live with --- recognized premium foods are clearly superior to the generic brands --- economics dictates that. Also, there are new concepts that offer real promise." (Editors Note: We want to congratulate our very own Darlene Arden for winning another International Writing Award. Darlene is the recipient of the international Cat Writers' Association (CWA) Muse Medallion™ Award for Humor. You can hear Darlene Arden every week on Animal Radio. Visit her website at http://www.DarleneArden.com) |
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* If you're a RADIO PROGRAMMER and would like to air ANIMAL RADIO - call 435-644-5992 to get all the information you need to begin broadcasting America's number one animal talk show geared to listeners that like to have FUN! Animal Radio programming is FREE for your station - and delivered via Satellite (Jones and ABC/NY Starguide) or Compact Disc or MP3 every week.
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COME
JOIN US AS WE BROADCAST LIVE FROM SAN DIEGO'S BIGGEST ADOPTION
EVENT
Comfort Zone presents ANIMAL RADIO,
LIVE from the San Diego Pet Expo at Del Mar Fairgrounds, December
10th, from 10am to 12noon PST. The event runs both Saturday and
Sunday. The San Diego Pet Expo is San Diego's premier pet event
helping to promote responsible pet ownership and care. The San
Diego Pet Expo's goal is to bring pet-related companies and consumers
together for an entertaining and educational experience for adults
and children of all ages. A wide variety of pet-related exhibitors
such as manufacturers, distributors, retailers, clubs, and animal
care professionals showcase new products and services to a target
market attendance. Attendees of all ages will experience world
class entertainment, pet adoption opportunities, product giveaways
and view spectacular exhibits from the most established and most
exciting new pet-related companies. You can learn more about
the expo at: 
COMFORT
ZONE with D.A.P.--provides an effective way to control and
manage unwanted canine behavior associated with fear and/or stress,
such as barking, house soiling, whining, and chewing. 
A portable Outdoor cat enclosure.
Great for your deck or lawn. It is also great for camping and
RVing with pets!
Animal
Radio sponsored by: Dogswell
Dog Treats. True jerky treats with nutritional benefits available
in chicken breast and beef liver. Treats include Happy Hips,
Mellow Mut, Vitality, Breathies and Happy Heart. All treats are
made with all natural meat and contain NO antibiotics, NO hormones,
NO flour, NO wheat, NO soy, NO corn and NO fillers. Dogswell...because
dogs are family too. Also look for new Catswell true jerky treats
for our feline friends.
A
cat leaped from a pickup truck, scampered through bridge traffic,
fell 70 feet into the chilly Columbia River and swam 600 feet
to shore before being rescued, Wenatchee Valley Humane Society
officials said. The gray, longhair calico cat, which wore no
collar or identification, "ate ravenously" at an animal
shelter after the ordeal, Humane Society officer Jody White said.
If you've ever seen a tick
- especially if it is on you or your pet friend - you'll never
forget it. Ticks can cause people and pets endless hours of suffering
and potentially life-threatening disease. The tick is a little
disease carrying expert and there are many different kinds of
ticks. Some are so small they are hard to see, others are visible
from across the room. They emerge in the spring, remain pretty
active during the summer months and then go through a burst of
activity in the fall. While ticks are responsible for transmitting
many diseases, there is one disease in particular that we veterinarians
are most concerned with - Lyme disease.
Animal Radio made possible by: STEPS FOR PETS - The highest quality and lowest prices furniture
for your cats and dogs. FREE shipping on all Cat Condos. Animal
Radio's Pet Friendly Pick of the Week: The Ultimate in cat condos
this unit comes with all the bells and whistles. Two large condos
20"x14"x12" and 14"x14"x14". Perches
are 14" by 14" and the levels seem unlimited when your
cat starts exploring their new home - ONLY $169.95 - 
Thermal-Aid-Pet by Int'l Ally, LLC
Animal
Radio sponsored by: Bissell 
Animal
Radio® is available
on Yahoo! If you have a Yahoo! account (they are free):
Pet lovers want the best for their
dogs and cats, especially when it comes to helping their coats
stay groomed. A shinny coat is indicative of a happy, healthy
pet. Even with limited time on their hands, pet owners want to
help pets look and feel their Westminster best. And grooming
allows owners to spend quality time with their pet while providing
an opportunity to check their skin and coat for any problems
that may be developing.
Click
here to launch the Animal Radio player
Great Gift Idea!!!