The Whole Dog Journal
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This remarkable publication is advertising-free, making it the only source of information about living a healthy life with your dog that is not influenced by corporate pressure from advertising dollars.
Read prior e-mail blasts on The Whole Journal Archive Page.
E-Mail Blasts
Monthly E-Mail Blast - May 2010
Recently, we’ve heard from a number of dog owners who are concerned about the use of ethoxyquin to preserve fish meal that is used in dog foods. We’ve had one e-mail forwarded to us several times expressing worry over links between undeclared ethoxyquin in pet foods and canine cancer. Are undeclared artificial preservatives in dog food a problem? Or is this a canine urban legend?
We have long advised owners to pass over dog food that contains artificial preservatives such as ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), and propyl gallate, in favor of products made with natural preservatives, such as tocopherols (vitamin E), citric acid (vitamin C), and rosemary extract.
Though synthetic preservatives were once – as recently as 20 years ago – the usual preservative found in all dry dog foods, today, they appear only on the labels of low-cost and lower-quality products. Pet food companies appreciate the fact that artificial preservatives are less expensive,
and they preserve food longer and more reliably than their natural counterparts. But owners who have their dogs’ life-long health foremost in their minds are willing to pay more for more natural products that don’t needlessly expose their dogs to potentially toxic chemicals.
After researching the matter, we've learned that it *is* possible for pet foods to contain ethoxyquin or other artificial preservatives -- even if those substances don’t appear on the list of ingredients. See "A Fishy Story" in the May issue for details, and for information about what you can do to identify foods that are free of artificial preservatives.
Also in the May issue
Last month, in “Is Your Dog Stoned?”, we described canine bladder stones known as struvite stones. Struvites contain magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. They almost always occur in the bladder in combination with a bacterial infection and are most frequently found in small-breed females. This month, in "Stoned Again?", we examine calcium oxalate or “CaOx” stones, which occur in both the bladder (lower urinary tract) and kidneys (upper urinary tract) of male and female dogs. Most calcium oxalate uroliths are nephroliths (found in the kidney), and most of the affected patients are small-breed males. CaOx uroliths are radiopaque and most are easily seen on radiographs (X-rays).
In addition to breed and sex, risk factors for CaOx stones include being overweight, under-exercised, neutered, and eating a dry food d
iet, which contributes to more concentrated urine. Small dogs are thought to be more susceptible because they drink less water relative to their size than large dogs do. "Stoned Again" discusses CaOx stones are diagnosed and can be treated -- or even better -- prevented.
In "Sleeping in Is Sweet," Training Editor Pat Miller discusses five things to do when your dog wakes you up too early – every day!
"The Last Goodbye" is the final installment in a series on caring for senior or dying dogs. In it, author Lisa Rodier shares sensitive and useful information on preparing for and coping with the death of a beloved canine companion.
This month's installment of "Good Sports," our series on canine sports, author/trainer Terry Long describes "water work," which are sports for aquatic service dogs! If your dog loves to swim and needs a job, paddle on over to this article, "Swimming for a Living."
Finally, we've published a long, but very informative article from Evelyn Orenbuch, DVM, the vice president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, written in response to our February article about "conservative management," an alternative to surgery for CCL injuries. Dr.
Read prior e-mail blasts on The Whole Journal Archive Page.
