Sept 05

Nourish Your Pet...Body & Soul
To say that Americans love their dogs and cats is an understatement. From feeding them gourmet food to getting them treated by holistic vets, there now seems to be nothing we won't do for the health and well-being of our family pets. Here are the latest developments on nutritional and alternative therapies for Fido and Fluffy.

By Susan Weiner

   I have a confession to make. I’m one of those crazy cat ladies. You know the ones: We forever stumble upon lost or injured animals, we seldom say no to a cat in need and our porches attract local strays like, well, like a cat to tuna fish. I knew I was officially a cat lady a few years back while walking down my street looking for a misplaced kitty. “Why don’t you ask the cat lady in the blue house?” a neighbor suggested, motioning toward my blue house.
   For most people, offering a loving home to a furry friend fulfills a need for companionship and even creates an alternative or extended family. It’s not unusual for pet guardians to integrate animals directly into the family dynamic: The American Animal Hospital Association reports that 86% of pet owners include their animals in holiday celebrations, and another 84% refer to themselves as their pet’s “mom” or “dad.” As proud mother to 16 cats, two dogs, three hens, one rooster and three golden pheasants, that’s something I can relate to.
   It’s little surprise that many “moms” and “dads” routinely indulge their four-legged offspring the way a parent would spoil a child. The 90 million cats and 74 million dogs that inhabit US homes have never had it so good. From gourmet foods to alternative health care to pampering at the pet spa, Americans are expected to plunk down a whopping $36 billion on their animal companions this year. That’s more than the collective gross domestic products of Iceland, Fiji, Armenia, Grenada, Belize, Swaziland, Nepal, Suriname, Samoa and Jamaica. It’s clear that you simply can’t put a price tag on puppy love.

Pet Chow
   One pet “luxury” that is now increasingly seen as a necessity—and is becoming one of the biggest trends in the pet industry—is human-grade pet food. Considering that conventional pet food manufacturers have been known to include such unsavory ingredients as feathers, beaks, horns, hooves and even dried animal blood in their products, human-grade and organic foods can play a key role in achieving optimal pet health.
   The Organic Trade Association reports that pet food is one of the fastest-growing segments of the organic foods market, projected to grow an average of 17.4% a year through 2008. Doggie and kitty owners can also choose from among low-carb, vegetarian, organic and gourmet cuisine. Even companies traditionally known for human products, like Newman’s Own and Omaha Steaks, are going to the dogs. With so much high-quality food within easy reach, it’s possible that the household cat or dog is eating healthier than its two-legged “siblings.”
   Andi Brown saw the light 15 years ago when she founded Halo, Purely for Pets, an all-natural pet product company, and first coined the term “human-grade.” Inspired by a beloved but sickly cat named Spot, Brown watched her cat’s health markedly improve once she began preparing home-cooked food. Today, Spot’s Stew, a rich blend of human-grade chicken, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, green beans and celery, is prepared in a USDA-approved kitchen. In keeping with tradition, Brown personally taste-tests every batch of Spot’s Stew prior to packaging.
   “When a person eats well themselves, they know they feel better and look better,” says Brown. “The same thing holds true for pets. If you’re feeding a food that supports the body to improve itself, you will notice improvement in almost all areas.” Halo, Purely For Pets refuses to market dry pet food, citing the numerous health challenges it triggers, including diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and urinary tract infections.
   “Dry food robs the animal’s body of its vital water content,” explains Brown. “Corn, brown rice and wheat are all fillers with no nutritional value for cats and dogs. These fillers tend to clog animals up and make them obese, while grains tend to create diabetes when they turn to sugar.”

In Sickness and In Health
   High-quality foods and advanced medical technologies have vastly improved pet well-being, yet veterinarians are finding that dogs and cats are commonly suffering from more “human” diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. “We do tend to see the same kinds of disorders that humans suffer from,” says James Richards, DVM, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. “It’s probably just the fact that we’re all mammals and our organs function very similarly.”
   Cancer continues to be a big threat for dogs and cats. The disease is often the result of sun and viral exposure and, as in humans, can be linked to eating poor-quality foods. Studies estimate that over 40% of dogs that reach the age of 10 will die of a cancer-related problem, while approximately one in six cats will develop the disease. Among older cats, mammary, liver and skin cancers, particularly in white cats and cats with white ears, are common.
   The high cost of pet health care is one reason owners don’t try a range of treatments when their companions are stricken with a disease such as cancer. “We have the technology to do an awful lot with animals today,” explains Richards. “We have sophisticated equipment and surgical techniques. The ugly, nasty evil twin of all this is that this all costs money. It’s an issue that is always very difficult for vets to deal with.”
   Pet insurance could be the answer, though in the US, where 45 million citizens have no health insurance, covering pet health has been slow to catch on. However, alternative treatments, which cost less, have gained a significant following. The International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing (IAATH) is dedicated to treatments including holistic veterinary medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, nutritional therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, dentistry, homeopathy and flower essence therapy.
   Some illnesses, such as diabetes, can be managed or even prevented via dietary change. “Certainly the old adage ‘you are what you eat’ is true,” asserts Richards. “We have to be aware of the differing nutritional requirements of different animals.” Excessive carbohydrates, most notably those in dry foods, can play a role in the development of diabetes, in part because free-choice feeding of such diets often leads to obesity, a risk factor for the disease in felines. “Cats are true carnivores and don’t require any carbohydrates. If we are able to prevent obesity in cats, we would go a long way in reducing feline diabetes.”
   Of course, the best way to avoid sickness in companion animals is to provide them with proper care: healthy food, regular medical attention, exercise and love.

Dog Day Afternoon
   Less than a decade ago, sending the family pet to a spa would have seemed doggone absurd. Today, countless pet lovers consider pampering to be an extension of how they look after themselves. Just ask Arnold Katz, licensed massage therapist, certified canine massage practitioner and founder of Katz & Dogz, a Boston-massage practice for people and pets.
   Five years ago, while massaging a friend’s golden retriever, Katz hit upon his current business idea. Segueing his 20-plus years of massage therapy experience with a certification in animal massage, Katz trained to rub down dogs, cats, rabbits and even a donkey. “When I work with an animal and I help them, it’s a wonderful feeling,” says Katz. “The benefits of massage are that it increases circulation, improves flexibility and range of motion, and encourages relaxation.”
   For $60, Katz travels to Boston-area homes and massages pets using a specialized line of aromatherapy products and paw balm. For an additional $90, “mom” or “dad” gets a full-body massage, too. Still, Katz acknowledges that not everyone is keen on massage and other therapies for animals. “In major urban areas, this is the norm. On the other hand, people in smaller areas would think the idea of pet massage or holistic treatments is ridiculous.”
   Yet pet massage and other pampering services, such as pedicures, oatmeal baths and hot oil treatments, are beginning to take hold across the country. Organized just five years ago to nurture growth among these types of providers, the North American Dog Daycare Association already boasts nearly 800 members.

What’s on Fido’s Mind?
   If you’ve ever wondered what your dog or cat is thinking, you’re not alone. Encouraged by the feats of pet psychic Sonya Fitzpatrick of the TV hit The Pet Psychic, pet communicators have many believers eager to work on behavioral issues, locate a missing animal or get a glimpse into their pets’ private world. Others are desperate to contact a deceased pet or determine the desires of a gravely ill animal.
   The common thread is their devotion to their pets. “Their animals are their best friends, bringing great joy and unfathomable support,” concurs Marta Williams, a Graton, California-based animal communicator and author of Learning Their Language and Beyond Words (New World Library). “These people experience intense distress when their animals are in crisis or dying.”
   Using a photograph or a description, name, age and sex of the animal, Williams imagines the pet in front of her and interacts with the animal, giving it a treat or a pat. She draws on relaxing and focusing techniques, introduces herself, explains why she is there and begins the “interview.” Receiving information is more complex. Utilizing well-honed skills, Williams opens herself intuitively and scans for incoming pieces of information: unspoken words or ideas, emotions, physical sensations and visual images. Throughout the years, Williams has successfully communicated with cats, dogs, birds and horses.
   Not everyone is a believer, but for those in search of an animal communicator, it’s a sound idea to shop around. “As in any industry, there are good practitioners and bad ones,” warns Williams. “I advise people to shop around, ask friends for referrals, try a short, inexpensive session and keep shopping until they find the practitioner they like. The help of a qualified animal communicator can be invaluable for pet owners.”

Friends With Benefits
   The love Americans have for their pets may have spawned a booming industry, but it’s not just the animals and enterprising pet lovers that are reaping the rewards. Elevating pets to family member status has proven itself priceless to owners, who may be unaware that they are gaining a host of health benefits.
   Research reveals that pets soothe nerves and offer companionship, promoting an interest in life and keeping stress and depression at bay. Pets may also provide their guardians with psychological stability, thus protecting against both hypertension and heart disease. And, interestingly, pets may save owners money: Studies show that people with pets make fewer doctor visits.
   So, it turns out that being a crazy cat lady isn’t so nutty after all.

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