The News at Home
Zoey may look like a Cavalier but she thinks that she’s the world’s most fierce guard dog. Cars parked in front of our house, strangers walking by and heaven forbid, a dog walking along, are met with barking and growls through bared teeth. Cassie couldn’t care less about any of these events if left to her own devices but joins Zoey in barking when called to duty by her older half-sister. Zoey has caught on to how powerful she can be if she plays the game correctly.

Over the last few weeks, Zoey has taken to leaping on the couch and barking at, well, nothing! Not to be outdone, Cassie races over to see what the trouble might be and while there’s nothing to see, she starts to bark as well. At that point, Zoey bounces down off the couch and takes whatever toy Cassie had or the spot that Cassie was lying on. I swear that I can see a devilishly pleased grin on Zoey’s face. It’s only a matter of time before Cassie’s had enough and my girls won’t be speaking to each other again. Until then, I have to admit that it’s a great break from my day just to be able to watch the antics.

What's New in K9Kitchen
Our free discussion group, K9Kitchen, is growing by the day! Join us by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Kitchen/.

We’ve recently added a diet that may be of some help to you and your dog. The diet below, while dealing with liver disease, is a GARD diet (Glutamate and Aspartate Restricted Diet) that has helped many dogs suffering with seizures.

Jean Dodds, DVM, provides one of the most successful diets for liver disease that I've come across. Unfortunately, some dogs cannot tolerate Missing Link or a multi vitamin and mineral complex (which is what the original diet calls for) that would round out the diet and there is a lack of calcium as well.

As a result, some dogs display new problems such as dry skin, irregular calcium levels showing up on blood test results and a myriad of other mysterious problems. The following diet is based on the original one by Dr. Dodds and I'm pleased that Dr. Dodds has approved it for long-term use. Please note that the amounts of food have changed from the original diet and supplementation differs greatly.

Glutamate and Aspartate are non-essential amino acids - meaning that the body can manufacture them as long as essential amino acids (those from food) are in good supply. Dogs on a GARD diet seem to enjoy fewer seizures and in some cases, seizure activity stops altogether. Let's be very clear: I am not advocating that you stop any medication your dog may be taking. You should speak to your veterinarian before attempting to reduce medication much less stop it altogether!

Food to Avoid
Oats, wheat and barley
Beans and lentils
Any seeds and nuts (sunflower, pumpkin, almonds etc)
Cheese of any kind

Corn and rice provide much less glutamate and aspartate than the grains listed above. However, they are higher in these amino acids than potatoes.

All meats contain both of these amino acids but probably not in amounts that are significant enough to be a problem. By reducing or eliminating the food items listed above, many dogs display fewer symtpoms.

Owner compliance is key to the success of any diet. We can't expect to see positive results unless the diet is followed as written below. One of the best things about this diet is that you can purchase supplements that are well suited to your dog rather than a blend of things that may upset the gastrointestinal tract.

For instance, if zinc citrate is not well tolerated, zinc gluconate can be used. If one manufacturer's B-Complex isn't suitable, there are many others available.

G.A.R.D. Diet for 25 Pound Dog
This is G.A.R.D. (glutamate-aspartate-restricted diet) and should support the weight of a moderately active 25 pound dog.

Per Day:
5 oz potato, boiled in skin, flesh only
6 oz sweet potato, baked, flesh only
3 oz zucchini, raw
6 oz geen beans, steamed
6 oz cod, baked
100 IU vitamin E
12.5 mg B-Complex (50 mg tablet cut into quarters)
250 mg Ester-C
1/4 tsp eggshell powder
1500 mg primrose oil
7.5 mg zinc citrate or gluconate (1/2 of a 15 mg tablet)
Copyright Oct. 2004, Monica Segal

Myth of the Month: Mucus in the Stool is ‘Just Detox’
Actually, this can be a fact but according to what I’ve been reading in email lately, it needs some clarification.

The body tries to remove toxins from the body and mucus can be a part of the picture. For instance, the common cold usually translates to a stuffy nose that eventually starts to excrete mucus. Coughing up phlegm is another way that the body manages to rid itself of harmful substances. Mucus is a slippery secretion of mucous membranes and glands, containing white blood cells, water, inorganic salts, exfoliated cells and mucin (a polysaccharide that is the main ingredient in mucus).

Inflammation is one of the first responses that the body gives when it’s unwell. Think of the last time you cut your finger and you’ll probably recall that the area turned a bit red as it healed. There’s good reason for this response because by creating a swollen ‘pocket’, the body tries to keep debris and infectious materials at bay through isolation of the area.

Mucus can be a part of this inflammatory process. When we see mucus in the stool, we’re seeing an inflammatory response. This inflammation may not be serious and in a sense it is ‘detox’ because the body is voiding something that upset it to begin with. However, a food that disagrees with the dog or a change of diet that was made too quickly can be the cause of the upset. When we see mucus infrequently and it lasts for only a day or so, there’s usually not much to worry about.

When mucus becomes a regular event or lasts for several days, there’s reason to consider that the body is fighting to manage things. Certainly, the body can often manage to calm down and react normally soon after responding by secreting mucus but the cause of the secretion isn’t likely to be resolved by suggesting that it’s always ‘just detox’.

Allergy Tip of the Month
Does your dog have environmental allergies? Ragweed is one of the top offenders and interestingly, there are links between ragweed allergies and some common foods.

Chamomile, bananas, cantaloupe, zucchini, watermelon and honeydew melons sometimes cause an allergic reaction in dogs (and people) that are highly allergic to ragweed. It’s been labeled as the ‘oral allergy syndrome’. The bottom line is that some allergy stimulating proteins in the pollens that are released from plants are similar or identical to some vegetables and fruits.

Best Bet: Omit the foods listed above from your dog’s diet if environmental allergies are suspected.

Until Later…

Monica

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
--Mark Twain.