Canine Health Information - For Older Dogs

by Rebecca Prescott

Old age health care in dogs is a relatively new concept. Improvements in canine medical care, as well as an increase in our knowledge about how to take care of our pets, has lengthened the average canine lifespan. With a dog’s average lifespan now twelve years, owners can reasonably expect their pets to be around for up to fifteen years. To ensure your dog has a long and happy life, there are a number of things you should know about caring for an older animal.

If you have a large dog, they may be considered old at around six to eight years. If your dog is a smaller breed they will not reach old age until around twelve years. Either way, there are a number of diseases that older dogs are more susceptible to. These include diabetes, cancerous tumors, kidney, heart or liver disease, cataracts and tooth and gum conditions.

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Dog and cat food recall information

A few days ago pet food recall announced ,if you need more information about this go to Pet Connection Blog, where they’re investigating the problem and keeping readers updated.

Universal Press’s Pet Connection Blog

Menu Foods recall information
1-866-895-2708

Other companies that are recalling foods:

Iams recall information
1-800-882-1591

Hills Science Diet recall information
1-800-445-5777

Eukanuba recall information
1-800-882-1591

via petsinusa

Vet Check - Well-Bird Check Up

I know there are differing opinions on the subject of well-bird check ups. Some people believe in having your apparently healthy parrot checked out once a year by a qualified avian vet, while others claim that taking a health bird into a vet office exposes them to “germies” they might not otherwise be exposed to. I am not going to lecture you on either. That is your choice. I am lucky enough to have a mobile avian vet that visits my house and I do have my parrots checked out once a year. But, you do what you think is right.

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Your Pet’s Need for Calcium

If you are one of the growing number of pet owners who are feeding their pets a raw meat or homemade diet, it is vitally important that your pet gets the proper amount of calcium.

Calcium is a very important mineral for your pet’s overall strength and good health. Of all the minerals, calcium is required in the greatest amount. It is essential in the body for many functions including bone formation, blood coagulation, muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission.

If you are feeding a quality dog food then calcium is probably not a concern. Most good, natural foods contain more than enough calcium even for large breeds. Which animals need calcium supplementation? Animals on a muscle and organ meat based diet; animals on a home cooking diet, especially when the animal is a finicky eater that refuses to eat the entire diet; animals on food trials for allergies; animals on limited antigen or hypoallergenic home cooked diet; birds; reptiles; lactating mammals.

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Healthy Veggies for Your Parrot

Veggies, veggies, veggies - feed your bird lots of veggies!!! You probably keep hearing that everywhere these days! Now that people are becoming more enlightened about diet and nutritional needs, there is a growing awareness of the need to provide adequate veggies daily for our companion birds. Unfortunately, too often people aren’t told what veggies to feed, or how to feed them. Although all are good, some are much more nutrient dense than others.

The diet I advocate is 50% whole grains, legumes, veggies and fruit - and at least half of that should be the veggies. Stay away from lettuce - it’s mostly water and low in vitamins and minerals. The one exception is Romaine - occasionally feeding dark green Romaine leaves is fine. When evaluating veggies, look for deep color - the darker the green or deeper the orange of the flesh, the more Beta Carotene available. And, of course, Beta Carotene is what the body converts into Vitamin A, which is one of the main nutrients lacking in the average bird’s diet. Not only parrots can benefit from daily veggies, but softbills as well. Finches and canaries fed daily greens and other veggies show a remarkable increase in overall health and longevity. The only veggie proven toxic to birds is avocado which should never be fed. Although there’s some controversy about onions, due to the N-propyl disulfide they contain, small amounts of raw or cooked onions are fine for birds.

Veggies can be fed raw or lightly steamed, depending basically on your bird’s preference. Water soluble vitamins, such as B and C, are reduced by cooking, however. On the other hand, pumpkin, winter squash and sweet potatoes are better served baked, as cooking makes more Vitamin A available. Carrots also benefit from light cooking. Greens are best served raw, while broccoli can be fed raw or lightly steamed.

Here’s a partial list of healthy veggies you can include in your bird’s daily diet: carrots, broccoli, snow peas, green beans, kale, Swiss chard, cucumbers, asparagus, corn, pumpkin, acorn squash, zucchini, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, beets, garlic, potatoes, lima beans, spinach, turnips, rutabaga, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, celery, peas, parsley - the list goes on and on.

Generally, veggies provide lots of vitamins, such as Vitamin A and C, and minerals like calcium magnesium, and potassium. They provide good “occupational therapy” and help keep parrots entertained. They are easily digested and help reduce stress in birds. Veggies provide some protein as well. Including daily servings of several different veggies in your bird’s diet will go a long way in improving his health and building his immune system. Better feathering and more vibrant floors will be your reward, as well as having a happier, more contented companion.

by Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant
Phone: (503) 771-BIRD
www.yourparrotplace.com 

Variety and Moderation in Parrot Diets

There are a lot of opinions, sometimes fanatic, about what one should eat. With humans, that means macrobiotic, or vegetarian, or fruitism, or our ancestors’ diet, etc. With our birds, it is pellets or not, seeds or not. Though most of us agree on one thing: fresh vegetables and fruits are good for humans and birds.

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Aspergillus and Aspergillosis

You’ve probably heard of Aspergillus and Aspergillosis, but may not be clear on what these terms mean. First, “Aspergillus” is the name of a common fungus that is naturally present in the environment. For most birds (and people) it causes no problems, but if too many aspergillus organisms are around and your bird has a poor immune system, then the illness “Aspergillosis” sets in. It is often fatal, causing severe respiratory problems. It can be transmitted from birds to humans and vice versa.

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Tips for People With Pet Allergies

Does your pet make you sneeze?

The Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association suggests the following for people with pet allergies:
# Make sure your pet is really the source of your allergies. Many people mistakenly blame their pets when the real allergy source is something else.
# Wash your hands after petting your animal.

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