Pet “OCD”
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Behavior Clinics at the Tufts University veterinary school, recently spoke about compulsive behaviors in animals at the conference of the The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. “Like people with compulsive behaviors, such as famously washing their hands until their skin is raw,” said Dodman, “animals can have similar behaviors.” He said that pet OCD is thought to affect about 5% of pets.
Compulsive behaviors in animals include cribbing and windsucking in horses; wool-sucking and fur-pulling in cats; and in dogs, fly-snapping and compulsive chasing of lights or shadows. In all cases, underlying nutritional and medical problems, including seizures, must be ruled out before the behavior can be diagnosed as compulsive.
Treatment includes resolving the stress that’s causing the behavior, such as territorial stress; as well as drugs such as Prozac. Indoor cats are more prone to developing OCD, and environmental enrichment is an important component of treatment. This may include:
- Play and treat balls (SlimCat, Deli Dome)
- Cat grass
- Play Therapy
- Other exercise (prey facsimiles, rotate toys, walks)
- Clicker training
- Cat furniture
- Climbing frames (KatWallks)
- Bird feeders, fish tanks, cat videos
- Window perches
- Outdoor enclosures (Habicats, Catios)
Flower essences can be an essential part of the solution. They are all-natural and totally safe; with no drug side-effects. Spirit Essences offers several remedies for both general and specific OCD behavior, such as Separation Anxiety, Stress Stopper, Hyper Helper, Night Owl, Obsession Remedy, Skin Soother, and Storm Soother.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is another simple tool that can help break your pet’s OCD habit. EFT is a Meridian Therapy that works by tapping on certain acupuncture points to break the emotional attachment to a particular behavior or situation. It can be applied to pets by surrogate tapping (see our article on EFT for Animals).
Nora has some competition!
If you haven’t seen Nora the Piano-Playing Cat, you owe it to yourself to check out her videos on YouTube.
But now, Nora has some serious competition! Although not a cat, her video challenger definitely has the chops!
Wellness Canned Cat Food Recall
Wellness has announced a recall of its canned cat food:
Wellness Canned Cat (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;
Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with 10NOV13 or 17NOV13 best buy dates.
The manufacturer, WellPet, deserves credit for going out of its way to personally contact bloggers (including myself and Susan Thixton of the awesome blog, TruthAboutPetFood.com) to help get the word out to consumers as quickly as possible.
Only one case of illness in a cat is known to have been reported, and WellPet’s rapid and complete response is impressive.
The following letter is from WellPet’s CEO:
Dear Pet Parents,
My name is Tim Callahan, and I’m the CEO of WellPet, makers of Wellness® natural pet food. Over the years, we at WellPet have worked hard to earn the reputation of being a company that does everything possible for the pets that depend on us.
WellPet is committed to delivering the very best in pet food nutrition, as nothing is more important than the well-being of our dogs and cats. So when we found through product quality testing that specific product runs of our Wellness canned cat food might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1), we decided to voluntarily recall them.
Please know, the vast majority of products tested had the appropriate levels of thiamine; however, with the number of recipes we offer, we did not want to make this more confusing. Therefore to avoid confusion and in an abundance of caution, we have decided to recall all canned cat products with the specific date codes noted below. Cats fed only product with inadequate levels of thiamine for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
Though the chance of developing this deficiency is remote, withdrawing these products is the right thing to do and we are removing it from retailers’ shelves.
The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:
Wellness Canned Cat (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;
Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with best by date of 10NOV13 and 17NOV13.
If you have cat food from these lots, you should stop feeding it to your cats. You may call WellPet at 1-877-227-9587 to arrange for return of the product and reimbursement. For further information, please visit our website at http://www.wellnesspetfood.com.
No other Wellness products that your pets currently enjoy are impacted, so you can continue to feed your pets Wellness with full confidence. This is an isolated situation, as we have had only one reported issue. We are taking all the necessary steps to ensure it does not happen again.
Speaking on behalf of our entire Company, I apologize for any concerns this may have caused you. As a parent of a yellow lab named Hope, I understand the sense of responsibility we all share for our dogs and cats. Rest assured, product quality and safety will always be our top priority.
Sincerely,
Tim Callahan
Seizures, Epilepsy, and Feline Hyperesthesia
There are few things more frightening than witnessing your pet having a full-blown seizure—falling down, paddling with its paws, maybe even yowling. Seizures are the result of an abnormal burst of electrical signals from the brain. Possible causes include toxic substances, electrolyte imbalances or abnormalities, head trauma, or metabolic conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disease. The uncoordinated firing of neurons in the brain creates seizures (convulsions). These range from a few moments of mental “absence” where the animal seems not to be aware of its surroundings, to severe “grand mal” with unconsciousness, stiffened limbs or flailing movements, and uncontrolled urination and/or defecation.
Stages of Seizures
The typical seizure has four stages; not all of these may be noticeable in any particular animal:
1. The prodromal phase may precede the seizure by hours or days. It is characterized by changes in mood or behavior.
2. The aura is the start of a seizure. Signals include whining, trembling, salivation, clingy behavior, restlessness, hiding.
3. The “ictus” or actual seizure. Mild seizures may involve “fly-biting” (where the dog will snap its teeth in the air) or lack of awareness. At its worst, the animal will lose consciousness and fall, going into a periods of intense physical activity lasting a few minutes. Multiple separate seizures in a row are called “cluster” seizures. More than 3 seizures in a 24-hour period, or any seizure lasting more than 10 minutes (called “status epilepticus”), are life-threatening conditions; seek emergency veterinary care.
4. The post-ictal period follows the seizure. The animal will regain consciousness, and return to normal over a few minutes or hours; meantime they may appear disoriented, blind, and/and deaf, and eat or drink excessively.
Causes of Seizures
In younger animals, seizures are sometimes caused by abnormal blood supply to the liver (shunt). Infectious causes are also seen more commonly in young animals. Blood tests including titers for tick-borne diseases (for pets who go outside in tick-endemic areas) as well as other infectious causes are advised. Several infectious organisms can be carried in raw meat, so seizures in a young animal on a raw diet should be fully investigated for such diseases.
In cats, infectious causes include Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Cryptococcus (a common environmental fungus that is especially associated with pigeons), Toxoplasma (a protozoal parasite), feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV or feline AIDS), meningitis or encephalitis).
In dogs, infectious causes include fungus (Cryptococcus, Asperigillus), parasitic (Toxoplasma, Neospora, Cuterebra), viral (canine distemper, rabies), and bacteria (Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and other tick-borne diseases). Most often, no cause is found, and the diagnosis is “idiopathic epilepsy,” meaning “epilepsy due to unknown cause.”
In older animals (dogs over 5 years old; over age 10 for cats), tumors become a more common cause, but strokes also occur. A CT scan or MRI may be able to locate the mass; there may be a surgical solution, or radiation may be helpful.
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
This condition in cats may be a form of seizure disorder; many cats respond to anti-convulsive medications. It may also fall somewhere on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. The treatment for this condition is the same as for other seizures.
Medical Treatment
In both dogs and cats, the most common treatment for seizures is phenobarbital tablets (given by mouth). It takes about 2 weeks to reach a blood level that will control seizures. At that point, the blood level of the drug should be checked. Phenobarbital can be harmful to the liver. Liver function and drug levels should be rechecked at least every 6 months. Cats are more resistant than dogs to the drug’s side effects, which include sedation and increased hunger and thirst. There are other medications that can be used in dogs; but few of them work well in cats.
Natural Treatments
Natural therapies for seizures in both dogs and cats include:
1. High-protein, very low-carb diet. Homemade meat-based foods, low-carb/grainless canned foods, and frozen raw diets are all good options for seizure patients. In humans, this type of diet is called “ketogenic” and it is quite successful, especially in children. Dogs and cats are built to eat just this type of diet. Carbohydrates, including treats, should be avoided. Note that some parasites of raw meat can cause neurologic problems; it may be best to cook all meat products before feeding.
2. Taurine. This amino acid is crucial for nerve and brain function. It is very safe and cannot be overdosed. Give approximately 125 mg per day per 50 pounds. Products containing a sufficient amount of taurine include:
3. B-vitamins. Vitamins B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine) seem to be the most important ones, but a general B-complex could be used. A balanced 50 mg B-complex (often called “B-50”) made for humans will contain enough of both for pets. Because B-vitamins are water soluble, they are generally safe.
4. Omega-3 fatty acids. Anti-inflammatory Omega-3s are also vital to brain and nervous system function.
5. Homeopathic Belladonna. Belladonna is a highly toxic plant, but when made into a homeopathic remedy it is perfectly safe. Belladonna 30C can be found at many health food stores or online. It comes in pellets or tablets, but it’s easier to use it in liquid. Put 3-5 pellets in a 1-ounce amber glass dropper bottle filled with spring or filtered water, and succuss (shake against the heel of your hand) 100 times. The pellets may not disappear, but the remedy has been distributed throughout the water. Shake each time before using. To start, give 3 doses (1 squirt of the dropper) by mouth, 12 hours apart. Then, when possible, give a little squirt each time you see the behavior start, or as soon as you can during or after the episode. Over time the frequency of seizures usually will decrease.
6. Boswellia. This herb, usually used for joint pain, has provided good results in studies on some human brain tumors. Give 100-150 mg per day per 10 pounds of body weight.
Kibble-Cancer Link Explained
A panel at the recent 2010 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo criticized pet kibble and suggested that manufacturers consider the health implications of their products. Panelist and renowned pet oncologist, Dr. Demian Dressler (known as “the dog cancer vet”), recommended limiting foods that contain ingredients rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, such as corn products, canola oil, soybeans, vegetable oil and grain-fed meats. Hey, wait a minute–that reads just like the ingredient list on the vast majority of commercial dry pet foods! Those ingredients are all high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which, Dr. Dressler explained, “tend to increase inflammation, blood clotting and cell proliferation, while Omega-3 fatty acids have the opposite effect. He pointed out, “The problem is that the typical American diet–for people as well as their pets–tends to be overloaded with omega-6s and deficient in omega-3s.” Hello! That’s what we’ve been saying for years — it’s nice to see science finally catching up!
The panel also recommended reducing calories, particularly those from sugar, which has the additional danger of not only causing obesity, but also feeding cancer cells and encouraging their growth. Starchy carbohydrates like corn, wheat, and potatoes are rapidly metabolized into sugar in the body…they are a source of concentrated calories, and a main contributor to pet obesity.
Dry food is bad enough for dogs, but it’s even worse for cats, because it causes dehydration, and, consequently, stress on the urinary system. Bladder and kidney disease are the result.
Don’t vaccinate your adult cat for distemper
Seriously? Yes! Evidence is mounting that the common FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and paneleukopenia) vaccine may cause long-term damage to cats’ kidneys that increases with every booster. Here’s the report from Colorado State University:
The Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University has shown that cats vaccinated with FVRCP vaccines grown on Crandell-Rees Feline Kidney (CRFK) cell lines can develop antibodies to renal proteins, and that cats hypersensitized to CRFK cell lysates can develop interstitial nephritis…Cats administered FVRCP vaccines parenterally (by injection) have higher levels of circulating antibodies to these antigens than do cats who were administered a FVRCP vaccine for intranasal administration.
Similar antibodies have been implicated in the development of renal disease in humans, and there is every reason to suspect that they do the same in cats. Chronic renal failure (CRF), also called chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats is known to be caused by chronic interstitial nephritis, or inflammation of kidney tissue–the very thing that these vaccines cause.
Don’t miss this new blog!
I’m so excited to announce that my dear friend Dr. Richard Palmquist, one of the foremost holistic 
veterinarians in the country (if not the world) has just started a blog on Exploring Integrative Veterinary Practice, at Huffington Post! This is a dynamite alliance between one of the country’s best news sources, and the best of holistic medicine for animals!
Please visit Dr. Palmquist’s blog and sign up to receive alerts for new posts. You won’t want to miss this!
Done deal – Natura is now Procter & Gamble
The Procter & Gamble purchase of Natura Pet Products is final. And so is Natura’s reputation, may it rest in peace (though it probably won’t).
Now P&G will be able to sink its hooks into millions of unsuspecting pet guardians who have read, and talked, and learned about pet nutrition and natural pet foods, and have gone to the trouble and expense of buying what was one of the best foods on the market. Unless they are still on the hunt for information, these well-meaning people will not know about this acquisition, and will continue to trust what are now Procter & Gamble products.
The reassurances from the new bosses are meaningless. They claim they will stay true to their “approach” and their “philosophy.” It *sounds* good, but if you look for a solid promise that everything about the food will stay the same, you’ll be disappointed.
As mentioned in a previous blog, there are several ways P&G can cut ingredient quality yet not have to change the label: it can buy lower quality ingredients of the same name, or even import cheap ingredients from China. Such changes will not be detectable by the consumer, though they may ultimately show up as health problems in pets eating the food.
I’ve seen comments that P&G wouldn’t dare change the food, or at least not right away, or at least not too much…I’ve seen enough of the way P&G operates to not trust them for one second. I have no doubt that container ships full of substandard ingredients from China are unloading at the Port of Oakland right now.
So, say goodbye to Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature and Karma. It’s a sad day for pet food.
Nutro cat food should be recalled
What in the heck is going on with pet food lately? It seems like the bad news just keeps piling up.
Nutro has been under fire for several years; there have been hundreds of reports of animals becoming sick and even dying while being fed Nutro pet foods. There is rarely a straight line between cause and effect, and the association of illness with diet is not always accurate. However, FDA acknowledges it is “investigating,” although so far nothing has come of it.
Today we learned that a sample of Nutro cat food was tested and found to have vitamin D levels more than 1,000 times higher than the recommended maximum limit. This was reported on May 4 by Susan Thixten of TruthAboutPetFood.com. Unfortunately, this news was overshadowed by the next day’s announcement about the sale of Natura Pet Products to Procter & Gamble, and the ensuing kerfuffle. Here is what Ms. Thixton reported:
Don Earl of Pet Food Products Safety Alliance notified me this evening regarding some lab test results his (tremendous) organization received today (May 4, 2010). The lab results found toxic levels of Vitamin D; over 1,000 times recommended by the National Research Council.
“Test results are back on a sample of what is believed to be Nutro Chicken Meal and Rice cat food Lot # 09 01 10 11:03. This is from the same batch of food we tested below on the March 22, 2010 results. The pet owner’s cat nearly died after eating the food for 5 days and the symptoms appeared to be consistent with toxic levels of Vitamin D.”
Nutro was sold to the Mars conglomerate in 2006, and was subsequently involved in the 2007 melamine pet food debacle as well as two subsequent recalls. If you or anyone you know is still feeding Nutro products, it’s time to make a change. Click here to learn more about choosing a safe, healthy, and appropriate food for your cat!
