Benefits of giving your pets fish oil

I have a black cat and periodically, I have black foster cats. I notice that they look like they have dandruff sometimes. It is common in cats of all colors but it is more noticeable in black kitties. I have "cured" this dandruff by using a supplement containing fish oil, flaxseed oil and borage oil. (You can also use a supplement of only fish oil) According to the bottle, this pill contains Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA, ALA), omega 6 fatty acids (CLA, GLA, ALA), and omega 9 fatty acids (OA). Surprisingly, fish oil has many benefits for our pets.

Most commercially available fish oils are derived from coldwater fish, primarily menhaden, but also salmon and trout. Fish, in turn, obtain EPA and DHA from algae, making super green foods such as marine micro-algae an alternate source of EPA and DHA. Algae may become the dominant source of omega-3 fatty acids as fish populations continue to decline in the world’s oceans.

Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. These oils are rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Fish oil does not appear to raise blood sugar levels in pets with diabetes despite earlier concerns about this.

Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA,) an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. In fact, flax seed oil contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) than fish oil. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids. Unlike the case for fish oil, there is little evidence that flaxseed oil is effective for any specific therapeutic purpose with the following exceptions. Flax seed oil can improve the coat and skin of pets. Also, the lignans contained in flax seed oil may have anti-cancer benefits.

In pets with some types of cancer, fish oil appears to slow down the growth of the cancer. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, the general recommendation is to add fish oil to the diets of all pets with cancer.

Higher-end pet food brands may state on their label that their food has omega 3 fatty acids in it, often in the form of fish meal. Even if the proper fish were used to make fish meal, EPA and DHA are too fragile to survive the shelf life of commercial pet food. The only reliable source of EPA and DHA is salmon oil in capsules.

I use capsules sold for humans.  They are of the same quality (maybe better) than the pet capsules and they are much cheaper. I put one capsule in about 3 oz. of wet food (you can also put it over dry food). I give it 2 or 3 times a week. It is cheaper for me to give it only a few days a week and I still get the same result as I did when I gave it everyday. To release the oil, I poke the capsule with a safety pin or thumb tack. Be sure to rinse off the thumb tack or whatever you use. The fish oil tends to stay on it and will pool underneath it and become a sticky mess after awhile. Don't use a pen! It won't work after you use it.

Sources:

http://www.petcarenaturally.com/handouts/fish-oil.pdf

http://www.spca.com/petcare/item/124

http://www.blakkatz.com/fat.pdf

Jonathon's blood sugar wasn't just a spike!

Jonathon's blood sugar has now been in the 200's for three days.  For the last month, it was between 73-131.  I called the vet Tuesday and she said that we might have to put him back on insulin.  We haven't done it yet, but I see it in our future.  Yesterday morning his blood sugar was 299, last night it was 306!  I feel bad for him because I have to test him frequently and his little ears are sore.

The vet said she is concerned but not overly concerned about his blood sugar because it fluctuates.  I don't understand how it can be so high after it was between 73 and 131 for the last month.  I looked online at a chart showing the blood glucose curves for humans.  It shows definite spikes in blood sugar after meals-but it goes back down.  It is not high for days.  He has been eating some of the other cat's food, which is high protein, low in carbs but the vet said he should not be reacting to it with high blood sugar.  He eats Science Diet, which is high in carbs.  (At night and when we are not home, Jonathon stays in his room, away from the other cats and their food.  When he comes out with the other cats, he sometimes eats their food.)  Hopefully, this is just a phase and it will stop.  I don't know if that is possible but it would be nice.

If he were on insulin still, these blood sugar levels would be good.  We would aim for them but because he is not on insulin, it is a little concerning.  

Catcraft: Cat Tree Product Review

I bought this for $40 at Walmart for Artie and some foster kittens to get some energy out on. I already have other cat trees but for $40, I thought I'd try it.

It was easy to set up. It took me about 20 minutes. I decided to put the cat tree right next to a wall to offer some extra support because I was nervous about it falling over. It does move when Artie (12 pounds) runs up and down but it has not fallen or even appeared like it was going to fall. It is pretty sturdy with that tension spring which holds it to the ceiling. The platforms are pretty small but they are sturdy and support about 20 pounds kitties (two fat kitties!) with no problems.

The carpet is attached to a cardboard post with glue and a few staples. The carpet was showing wear so I ripped it off and replaced it with sisal rope. It was a pretty painless process but it took me about an hour to get the rope on. You have to hold it very tightly and keep pushing it down to keep it together. (I want to repeat that...keep pushing the rope down to keep it together, otherwise you will have rope with spaces between it that won't be good for scratching on.) I used 1/4 inch sisal rope and used a staple gun to put it in place. I put about 5 staples on the bottom (and top) to hold the first few "rings" of rope in place then every 3 inches or so I put another staple. I only put the rope on the bottom post because it is used much more often than the other ones.

I also drilled a hole in the bottom platform and put a hanging toy there for some playtime.

Jonathon's blood sugar spiked last night

I took Jonathon to the vet because he has a fairly large sore on his side.  For about a month, his blood sugar was between 70 and 131.  The vet told me that she considered him to be transient, meaning his diabetes had gone away.  This can only happen in cats and vets don't totally understand why or how it happens.  

So, for about a month, he was not receiving insulin.  When we were at the vet, the vet told me to stop testing him everyday.  I could now test him 3 times a week.  Last night, I tested him and his blood sugar was 235.  Two minutes later, I tested him again to make sure the machine wasn't malfunctioning and his blood sugar was 266!  I was concerned because it was so much higher than usual and because it went up so much in 2 minutes. 

I called the emergency vet and asked them what to do after the first two times I tested him.  They told me not to give him insulin because it could mess him up since he has been regulated for so long.   I tested him an hour later and it was 257 and I wasn't so worried anymore because it went down.  

He wasn't acting strange so I didn't think that the higher blood sugar was causing him too much trouble.  It was definitely a shock to me though, I have become so used to him having a low blood sugar.  I am going to call the vet today and see what they want me to do.    

Obama permanently bans slaughter of sick, diseased cows (so you don't eat them!)

The government on Saturday permanently banned the slaughter of cows too sick or weak to stand on their own, seeking to further minimize the chance that mad cow disease could enter the food supply.

The Agriculture Department proposed the ban last year after the biggest beef recall in U.S. history. The recall involved a Chino, Calif., slaughterhouse and "downer" cows. The Obama administration finalized the ban on Saturday.

"As part of our commitment to public health, our Agriculture Department is closing a loophole in the system to ensure that diseased cows don't find their way into the food supply," President Barack Obama said in his weekly radio and video address.

Obama called the country's food inspection system "a hazard to public health," citing outbreaks of deadlyfood poisoning in peanuts this year, peppers and possibly tomatoes last year and spinach in 2006.

There have been three confirmed cases of BSE in the United states, in a Canadian-born cow in 2003 in Washington state, in 2005 in Texas and in 2006 in Alabama. The Bush administration in 2006 dramatically scaled back testing for mad cow disease.


I am so glad to see this! I haven't eaten chicken since 2003 and I haven't eaten any other meat since I was 12! I tend to look down on people who still eat meat. It has to be known by now that these animals are abused until they die horrific deaths. If you can know that information and think that because you aren't actually killing the animal that you are not causing their deaths, you are in denial. I am so happy that some animal is finally getting the protection that they *all* deserve! This is an awesome first step!

Dog saves owner attacked while on a trail

In Pima County, Arizona, authorities are searching for a man they say tried to abduct a woman near the Rillito River path.  The victim says she was walking her dog when a man on a bike grabbed her arms.  He tried to drag her away.  



Pima County Sheriff's Sgt Terry Parish says, "She was able to call her dog, he came she said it was something like you see on TV the dog leaped into the air hit the man in the chest and knocked him down, and she took off running."


Sgt. Parish also says he believes the dog bit the suspect because the dog had blood around his mouth.


Sgt. Parish says the woman did everything right.  "She did exactly what I would want a member of my family to do.  She made noise, she was resisting and on top of that she had a dog with her."


Source:
http://www.kvoa.com/global/story.asp?s=9999584