Ice in action!

Who is this handsome, impressive looking dog?

This is Ice! He is a dog that is ALL heart.

Unfortunately he has very bad hip dysplasia which was diagnosed at a young age (C grade hips).

Ice partakes in the dog sport Schutzhund. Schutzhund has 3 disciples namely tracking, obedience and protection work.

During the obedience routine it is required for the dog to jump over a 1 metre high hurdle and then climb a 1.8 metre A-frame. Ice would knock his back legs on the 1 metre jump every time. This of course would hurt him and he would then find it difficult to climb over the A-frame.

Peter (owner and handler of Ice) did not know what to do because Ice LOVES the sport. The oils and joint medications were having no effect on Ice.

I told him to give Sasha's a try. He did. 7 weeks later Ice entered the W. P. Schutzhund trial, then one month later, having qualified Ice entered the S.A. National Schutzhund Trial and the KUSA IPO trial. Ice CLEARED evey jump!

Peter was blown away by the results. He says Ice is a different dog at home and on the training field.

Well done Ice and Peter! (We are holding thumbs for them both as they prepare to enter the WP Schutzhund Trial this month)

Caution: NSAIDs

These are also known as Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs.
Here is what Dr Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to say about them...

NSAIDs carry a risk of side effects, or adverse reactions. Most adverse reactions are mild, but some may be serious, especially if the drugs are not used according to labeled directions. Some reactions result in permanent damage or even death.

"It's important for pet owners to be aware of the risks and benefits of all drugs, including NSAIDs, so that they can make informed decisions about their pets' health care," says Sundlof. "Owners who give their dog NSAIDs need to know the side effects to watch for that indicate their pet needs medical attention."

The most common side effects from NSAIDs include vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, and diarrhea. Serious side effects include gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, perforations, kidney damage, and liver problems.

Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of the Food
and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

A very popular NSAID is Rimadyl. It has resulted in all the above reported side-effects, including death. In fact it was first created as a human anti-inflammatory product, but due to the incidence of serious liver side effects in clinical trials, it was pulled from the human market. The drug company, Pfizer, then brought it back to life in the pet industry. It has caused a huge number of serious side effects in pets, including death.

Here is what Chris Adams of the Wall Street Journal had to say...

Since Rimadyl's 1997 launch, the FDA has received reports of about 1,000 dogs that died or were put to sleep and 7,000 more that had bad reactions after taking the drug, records and official estimates indicate. The FDA says such events are significantly underreported.

Chris Adams, Wall Street Journal

My conclusion: Please, please, if your dog must go onto a NSAID, use it with caution, monitor your dog and NEVER exceed the prescribed dosage that your vet has recommended. Also, ask your vet for any advise on how to protect your dogs GastroIntestinal Tract while on any anti-inflammatory.

6 Essential First Steps to Raising a Puppy

These are interesting, easy to follow and really help with the development of a happy puppy...

1. Never leave your puppy unsupervised. Always leave your pup in a crate or confined area where he cannot hurt himself. This will also prevent bad habits from developing.

2. Utilise critical stages. Week 6 to week 8 of your dog's life is a time when a small amount of exposure to other dogs will have a lasting effect on how he relates to other canines throughout his life. Week 8 to week 10 is a critical stage for socialization to humans - expose him to many various controlled human situations as possible such as light and dark skinned, fat and thin, big and small, loud and timid people.

3. Establish yourself as a pack leader. Your pup is a social pack animal. By establishing yourself as the 'Alpha-dog' or leader of the pack, your pup will grow up to respect you, respond to you, bond to you and want to please you. He will also become a much more happy and confident dog. Remember that there is a difference to your dog loving you and your dog respecting you.

4. Mix puppy food with warm water before serving. Mix your pup's dry kibble with water and stir it up until the water is absorbed. Allow it to sit for 5 - 10 minutes before feeding. Kibble can expand up to thirty percent, so let it expand in the bowl rather than in your pup's stomach, thus avoiding indigestion and possible behaviour problems.

5. Touch conditioning. Touch all areas of your puppy's body (especially feet, ears and mouth) so he will become conditioned to your touch and feel comfortable with your feel. This helps him feel more at ease should you (or your vet) need to inspect him for any injury etc. Make your touch a comfort zone for your puppy.

6. Keep up his health. Ensure that he is regularly checked by your vet, vaccinated and dewormed. This eliminates health risks as well as potential behavioural problems now and in the future.

To receive your very own e-book on Raising a Puppy, just fill in your e-mail details here

What is Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD?

Well, there is no cure!

Osteoarthritis (OA, also known as degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease [DJD]), is a clinical syndrome in which low-grade inflammation results in pain in the joints.

It is generally caused by abnormal wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints. Along with this there is degradation or decrease of the synovial fluid that lubricates those joints.

Some Osteoarthritis facts:

It affects:

• 20% of dogs over 12 months
• 40% dogs over 5 years
• 80% of dogs over 8 years (Senior Groups)
• 55% of Arthritis cases go untreated
• It is a progressive disease with the unseen onset of symptoms that come way before the visual manifestation of these symptoms.
• Large breeds, sport dogs and active pets are particularly susceptible.
• Obesity is one of the largest causes of arthritis worldwide.

OA is a progressive disease and is often well advanced before any visible signs are noticed.

Generally, it is still a while later before pet owners start to seek treatment for the disease. By this stage the dogs are in a lot of pain (as a survival mechanism, a dog does not easily show that he is in any pain as this would show weakness in the pack and would make him a easy target for preditors).

Of course the effects of a dog in pain can be very serious and often dangerous for pet owners as some dogs tend to lash out in self protection and may even bite their owners or people they may have known for some time.

This can create a very disturbing and sometimes sad state of affairs in the home as early euthanasia is so unnecessary when OA pain and degeneration can be prevented!

The incidence of hip dysplasia and joint problems are on the increase and may be due to a variety of reasons, some relating to breeding and (according to some big breeders worldwide) even to the feeding of a too high protein content puppy food.

Approximately 90% of dogs have arthritis when they die! This need not be so.

Arthritis is a chronic disorder i.e. it is ongoing and the most common chronic skeletal disease of dogs and horses today.

There is no conventional cure. Rather the standard veterinary practice is to treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation (usually with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID] like Rimadyl, Previcox and the like).

There are emerging side effects of common conventional drugs (many are extremely detrimental to the animal and sometimes even fatal), that is why there is an ideal role for Sasha's products in this field. No side effects!

I am not suggesting conventional treatments are bad - but rather a blending of the two together may be even more effective.

"I prefer Sashas Flexibites above all other products" says a leading veterinarian in Die Boord, Stellenbosch.

Sashas Blend is an ideal first option to promote healthy joint function and is effective in a wide range of joint conditions –

• Osteoarthritis
• Joint Pain
• Joint Stiffness
• Reduced Joint Mobility
• Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
• Degenerative Joint Disease
• Pre and Post Operative Joint Surgery
• Spondylosis (a degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis, of the spinal vertebra and related tissue. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent pain or paresthesia in the limbs).

Sashas Blend has been Scientifically PROVEN to be effective:

• Pain relief (it suppresses Nitric Oxide, Cyclo-oxygenase II and PGE2)
• Anti-inflammatory agent
• Increase Cell Viability
• Contains the full range on Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) essential for healthy cartilage and joints - not just Chondroitin and Glucosamine
• Very cost effective
• Safe for long term use

How can I make these claims?

Sashas Blend has Product Specific scientific evidence i.e. extensive research and development has been performed on Sashas formulation itself, proving these benefits (you are most welcome to email me for a copy of the published scientific papers of the research performed)

If you would like more information on Sashas Blend Products, please contact me directly:
Email: angela@dogsolutions.co.za

Remember: Hug your dog!

Allergy Myths and Facts

I have done some research about Food Allergies.

I found this very interestesing article I would like to share with you just to give you an idea about some of the MYTHS and FACTS surrounding dogs and the allergies they may suffer.

MYTH: "Food allergy ought to produce intestinal signs as it is the intestinal tract that is exposed to the allergen."

FACT: In pets, it is usually the skin that suffers with a food allergy. Food allergy is one of the itchiest conditions in veterinary dermatology. Making matters worse is the fact that food allergies tend to be resistant to cortisone therapies which makes itch control especially difficult.


MYTH: "Food allergy is a less likely cause of my pet's skin disease as we have been feeding the same food for years and the skin problem is a recent development."

FACT:It takes time to develop a food allergy, typically months to years. The immune system must be exposed and must develop enough antibodies to trigger an allergic reaction and this requires multiple exposures to the food in question. A reaction to a food that occurs on the first exposure to that food is not an allergic reaction. Such reactions are called "food intolerances" and involve toxins within the food but not an allergic reaction.


MYTH: "Soy and corn are common food allergens and it is best to seek pet foods without these ingredients to avoid problems."

FACT: The most common food allergens for dogs are: beef, dairy, and wheat. These three ingredients account for 68% of canine food allergies. The most common food allergens in cats are: beef, dairy, and fish. These three ingredients account for 80% of feline food allergies.


MYTH: "If it looks like my pet might have a food allergy, I should be able to manage the problem by switching to another diet."

FACT: Unfortunately for food allergic pets, most pet food diets contain some sort of mixture of beef, dairy, wheat, lamb, fish, and chicken. This means that simply changing foods is bound to lead to exposure to the same allergens. There are two ways to address food allergy: feeding a diet based on a truly novel protein source (this usually means an exotic diet like venison, duck, kangaroo, rabbit or even alligator) OR feeding a diet where the protein has been pre-digested into units too small to interest the immune system.


MYTH: "My pet got only partly better after the food trial so that means it didn't work."

FACT: Animals commonly have several allergies concurrently. A food allergy responding to a test diet at the same time an inhalant allergy is active will look like a partial response. On the other side of the coin, an inhalant allergy can become inactive should the weather change substantially during the diet trial. This would make a diet appear to be successful by coincidence. In order to determine if a response to a diet trial is real, at the end of the trial the patient is challenged with the original diet. If itching re-starts within feeding 2 weeks of the challenge, food allergy can be diagnosed.

Source: www.veterinarypartner.com