Raw diets for dogs – natural or harmful?

There is a growing trend to feed raw diets to dogs and many of my clients do indeed follow these regimens and feel that their dogs are healthier as a result.  I do not wish to condemn such choices but do want to offer some words of caution as there is another side to the story.

The usual argument put forward for the feeding of raw diets is that their wild counterparts would eat raw food.  However, we must consider that the domestic dog has evolved away from the wild wolf over several thousand years meaning that they do not necessarily have the same resilience as they once may have done or that of a modern day wild dog such as a wolf, hyena or dingo.  Darwinian evolution selects for hardy individuals that are well adapted to survive the demands of the wild environment.  This equates to animals whose gastrointestinal systems are tolerant of whatever the animal may ingest.  One curious feature of such evolution is that dogs are able to trigger their vomiting reflex much more readily than humans so that they can void their stomachs if they have consumed something noxious which they cannot deal with, or if they wish to reproduce the food they have eaten so that their young may be nourished.

People often ask me what a wild dog would do if it developed diabetes, cardiac disease or any number of other examples.  The answer is simple – it would not survive.  Therefore, the genes coding for these illnesses would not be passed on and gradually, over many years, the population would become less susceptible to the disease in question.  The pressures of the environment naturally select for those most likely to survive it.

However, take the dog out of the environment and start to domesticate it and the reverse will start to happen.  Certainly in modern veterinary medicine, there is the means to support many diseases that would have hitherto been fatal to the wild ancestor.  Such genes may be passed on and the population devolve from the wild relations.

Further genetic diversity is introduced by man, who selectively breeds for certain desirable traits, such as ability to guard the cave or, in the modern world, have a certain conformation.  When one breeds to perpetuate good (or sometimes what most people would consider not so good) traits, characteristics and appearances, it is inevitable that unwanted genes will also come through.  There are many diseases which are seen in particular breeds of dog as a result of this.

So can modern domestic dogs cope with raw food?  Undoubtedly many will, but we do see a number of patients where they cannot and develop diarrhoea as a result.  They may simply be unable to digest the food in its raw state or they may actually acquire the organisms Salmonella and Campylobacter.  Either way, the inflammation that develops within the bowel can become persistent even after the initial trigger has gone and this is a condition we see frequently called inflammatory bowel disease.  However, it should be acknowledged that anything causing inflammation of the intestines and diarrhoea may lead to this, so the problem is not confined to raw diets.

A further, perhaps more significant, concern is these organisms colonizing the dog’s intestine without signs of diarrhoea as this poses a risk to the owner of contracting them from their dog and becoming ill themselves.  Children, elderly and immunosuppressed people would be most at risk from this.

Everyone must make their own decisions as to what is right for their pet, but these words should offer a note of caution that with every perceived advantage of raw food there will be potential pitfalls.

Running Your Own Business Means Being Well Organised

Being well organised is a key business skill. If you’re an organised person and you like animals then The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company have an opportunity for you.

As a way of working, running your own business is something many people reject because they’re not sure they have the business skills needed or because they believe it is more risky than working for someone else. However, if you’re organised and you’re prepared to listen to people who have experience of setting up their own successful businesses, then you can run your own business – and it could be happening faster than you might think!

The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company offer a unique license opportunity. We will show you how to set up and run your own pet sitting, home sitting and garden sitting business – all three options or just one, it’s your choice. That’s a key part of our philosophy, your choice. We know this market is a healthy one (even during recession) and we know it’s possible to run this business part time or full time and you can even choose who to work with and when.

Business skills don’t have to be complicated and you may be surprised how many skills you already have!

We have a three step process or you can call now on 01403 268282

Grass seeds get everywhere……! by Mark Maltman of Maltman Cosham Veterinary Clinic, Horsham

A genuinely perennial health problem for our pets are the effects of grass seeds, which we find invading all manner of locations. So far this season, I have found them in three separate dogs in the skin of the paw, in an ear and creating an abscess in a lung lobe.

Grass awns are small seeds which have one pointed end, whilst the other end is feathered. The picture shows the general size in comparison to a penny. Sometimes, the feathering and barbs can be much more florid and dramatic than on the one seen here.

Grass seeds are abundant at this time of year and so dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats are prone to collecting them in their fur when moving through long grass. Many will stay within the fur and then fall off again – indeed this is a dispersal mechanism for the seed – or they may be groomed out by the owner.

However, sometimes they will penetrate into the body using the tapered end to puncture the skin. Once inside, the barbs and feathers prevent backward passage and so the seed is trapped. The most common way we see these in the clinic is with a small hole in the skin, such as the one shown in the picture of the skin between the toes of a Labradoodle. The wound will be painful and dogs will lick persistently at it. An inflammatory response will occur as the body sees the seed as foreign material – the surrounding skin is reddened and watery, bloody fluid will run from the wound. In some cases, we can put a pair of forceps into the wound and retrieve the seed, but in others the pointed seed will have continued to penetrate away from the site of entry and these can be very tricky to find.

Seeds are most likely to penetrate the skin in areas which come into contact with them under pressure such as the feet or the bottom when the animal sits down. They can also get into ears and up noses causing great distress, with pain and pawing at the ear or nose. These cases usually require removal under sedation or general anaesthesia as the affected area is so painful.

The most serious problem occurs when an animal inhales a grass seed. This is most likely to occur when the dog or cat is running through long grass and breathing strenuously. Once the seed enters the air flowing in with inhalation, it is quickly gasped down into the lungs before it lodges. This causes a localised pneumonia in the area and sometimes an abscess may form. The seed can remain lodged or it can start to migrate further, once again with its pointed end forming a burrowing device. Affected animals will be coughing and often markedly off colour with a temperature. X-rays can show an affected area of lung and this can resolve with antibiotics if the seed is small and disintegrates into pus, but often they need removing with a bronchoscope (a thin endoscope which can be put into the airways under general anaesthesia – it usually finds a tell tail trail of pus which can be followed right to the site of the seed!) and occasionally, in very severe cases, thoracic surgery is required to remove the whole lung lobe.

For such a small and inconsequential object, a grass seed can cause a myriad of problems and it is quite remarkable how many different places they can turn up!!

Mark Maltman

Maltman Cosham Veterinary Clinic

Lyons Farm Estate

Lyons Road

Slinfold

W Sussex, RH13 0QP

01403 791011

Start a Pet Sitting Business in Three Steps

Do you want to start a pet sitting business? Do you want to be sure your business will work?

Here’s how in three steps:

1. Contact The Pets Homes and Gardens Company and ask for more information

2. Compare our unique licence opportunity with other methods of starting a pet and home sitting business and decide The Pets Homes and Gardens Company is for you.

3. Call to arrange your new business start up

It really is that easy.

A Pet Sitting Business Model that Works

We know our pet sitting business model works. It’s worked for us, we run a successful pet and home sitting business – and it’s worked for our licensees (you can ask them), they’re running successful businesses. That’s why we’re confident it will work for you too.

Our opportunity is unique because the fee structure is clear. No targets to meet, no ongoing large commitment – the way you run your business is up to you, part time, full time, pet sitting, home sitting, garden sitting – it’s your choice.

Friendly Advice from Pet Sitting Business Owners

When you call us (01403 268282) you’ll speak to Peter or Julie Maxted who can help you decide whether The Pets Homes and Gardens Company unique license opportunity is for you. Peter and Julie will also be there to support you in your growing business

Start a Pet Sitting Business?

Have you considered running your own pet business? Ever sat at home wondering what you could do – or walked your dog thinking of business ideas?

If so, you could start a pet sitting business very quickly.We’ve been running a successful home and pet sitting business for over ten years and last year we decided to offer our expertise to people like you. People who want to run a pet sitting business.

Our unique licence opportunity means no long tie-in, no ongoing fees and no targets to hit. You run your own business and we help by showing you how our successful pet sitting business works.

We’re available to answer any questions you may have, before you start your business or whilst you’re up and running. We’ll support you to grow the business you want.

A Pet Sitting Business

A pet sitting business is ideal whether you want to work full time or part –time, whether you’re about to work for the first time, returning to work after a career break or have now retired.

This business is flexible – you look after pets when you want to – and the beauty of this business is that many pets return time and again.

If you love animals then pet sitting is great fun and can be a rewarding and lucrative business.

Why Run a Pet Sitting business?

We wrote about some reasons to run a pet sitting business and our licensees agree. If you’re still not sure, read some more about running your own business.

Unique Licence Opportunity

We believe the opportunity we offer is unique and suited to you. Within weeks you could be running your own profitable pet sitting and home care business. Send off for more information today and within a few days you can decide whether this pet sitting opportunity is the one you’ve been looking for.

Adder Bites by Mark Maltman of Maltman Cosham Veterinary Clinic

Snake bites are not a common problem seen in veterinary practice, but they are always a concerning one. The summer months are when adders are most active and dogs foraging in undergrowth are most likely to disturb one. They are generally reclusive snakes and will quietly make their escape if they can, but they can bite if startled by a dog or human.

The adder’s objective will be to briefly bite and then escape. They are not aiming to kill the victim of the bite in the way they would their prey. Therefore, in general, they do not release significant amounts of venom in the short bite. This is compared to the situation where they kill prey, in which they bite and hold on, releasing venom into the subject for some seconds or even minutes.

This does not mean that a snake bite is not serious, but it thankfully means that they are not likely to result in death due to venom. However, they will still stimulate massive local inflammation and pain, sometimes with more generalised anaphylactic reaction in the body. So a suspected snake bite remains a matter of emergency as this allergic reaction can be life threatening in itself even without the venom.

Most owners whose dogs are bitten report that the dog was in undergrowth at the time and so they very rarely have seen the snake itself. They may hear the dog cry out. Wherever the bite has occurred, the soft tissue will immediately swell which can lead to lameness if on a limb or facial swelling if on the face. If swelling occurs around the throat region, then breathing difficulties may be observed. A generalised anaphylactic reaction will result in increased respiratory rate, progressing to shortness of breath; there may be vomiting and eventually the animal will collapse.

The Vet will treat the animal will intravenous fluids to support the circulation, pain killers, steroids and anti-histamines. The steroids and anti-histamines help to reduce the allergic response. Antibiotic cover is usually necessary. Good nursing care then will allow most dogs to recover. If there is a suspicious of significant evenomation by the adder then anti-venom can be ordered and couriered from London.

Snake bites are very rare, but are an emergency if they occur. If your animal is affected, you will probably never see the snake but you should be suspicious of a snake bite in situations where your pet cries out and rushes out of undergrowth when exploring, or if sudden onset massive swelling is observed in a localised area of the body. If you do suspect this, then call your vet immediately.

Mark Maltman

Maltman Cosham Veterinary Clinic

Lyons Farm EstateAdder yons Road

Slinfold

W Sussex, RH13 0QP

01403 791011

www.maltmancosham.co.uk

Summer Holiday Business Opportunity

It’s almost summer and a great time to take advantage of The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company unique franchise opportunity.

When people go on holiday, they really appreciate knowing their pets, home and gardens are being cared for – and that’s the business opportunity! Looking after peoples pets, homes and gardens whilst they’re away.

We’ve been running our own successful business for over twelve years now and we put together the unique franchise opportunity to help other people run their own business too. Call Peter or Julie on 01403 268282 and find out how you could be running your own business too.