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by Dr. Jean Hofve & Jackson Galaxy
Library of Congress ISSN #1550-0764 Volume 7, No. 1 March 2009
In this issue:
1. News Bites
- Canned Food Prices Going Up
- Alpha Lipoic Acid is Toxic to Cats
- Same Food, Different Cans
- Nestle/Purina Sues Wysong, or was it Wysong Sues Purina?
2. Bad Hair Days - Skin Problems in Cats - Part II
3. Omega 3's Are Essential For Your Cat!
1. News Bites
Canned Food Prices Going Up: Makers
of canned pet foods expect a "major" increase in the price of cans in
2009, forcing them to either eat the cost or raise prices--guess which
it will be! Menu Foods said that although raw material costs declined
from recent highs,
it's been advised by its can supplier that it should expect a "major
increase" in the price of steel cans in 2009 that will "at least,
necessitate a price increase on petfood sold in steel cans."
Alpha Lipoic Acid is Toxic to Cats.
The popular and powerful antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid, is included in
several products for cats. However, a study from The Ohio State
University found that just 1/40th of the dose that makes rats sick will
harm a cat. While the amount in most supplements is very small, there
may be cumulative effects. Too much alpha lipoic acid is extremely
toxic to the liver. Never give your cat alpha lipoic acid made for
people, and avoid pet products containing it.
Same Food, Different Cans.
A recent survey by the pet food industry found that people are more
likely to buy pet food if the can is in a different shape than other
brands. Our advice: "Pay no attention to that can behind the curtain!" It's what's in the can that matters; see the many articles on feline nutrition in our Free Article Library for more info. (Tip: You can find what you want faster if you sort our 90+ articles by topic; just click on the "Category" heading at the top!)
Nestle/Purina Sues Wysong, or was it Wysong Sues Purina?
It's both! Why? Purina somehow obtained a patent in 1999 on technology
invented by fellow pet-food maker Dr. Randy Wysong to "enrobe" (coat)
kibbles with live probiotics. Purina now wants to prevent anyone else
from using it without paying them a "license fee," even though Purina
has never even used the technology. Nice guys, huh? One more reason to
avoid Purina products; but Purina and other grocery and discount brands
in general are made with inferior ingredients (corn, wheat, soy,
by-products) that your cat shouldn't be eating anyway.
Dr.
Jean was recently interviewed for LoveToKnow.com about holistic cat
care, and it was just posted online. Read the whole, very comprehensive
article here!
2. Bad Hair Days (Part II) In Part I of "Bad Hair Days,"
we considered the major external causes of hair loss (alopecia). As we
mentioned, a veterinary visit is the first step in solving "bad hair"
problems. Along with parasites, the veterinarian will also consider
other potential causes of hair loss. Certain patterns, such as
symmetrical hair loss along the sides, may point to an endocrine
disorder; i.e., a problem with one of the hormone-secreting glands,
such as the adrenals.
Contact allergies, while extremely rare,
are possible. A new carpet, cedar bed, or different detergent used to
launder the cat's bedding can cause a local allergic reaction that
causes the cat to lick at the itchy area. Hair loss and rash will occur
in the areas where the cat most frequently comes into contact with the
material, such as feet and tummy.
Localized
pain may also cause the cat to lick an area excessively. A brewing
abscess is painful, and will inspire a lot of licking before it opens
and drains. Hair loss over joints may indicate arthritis pain. I once
examined a cat who had suddenly started licking at one particular spot
on her right side. As I mulled over which organs were in that part of
the abdomen, I became suspicious and did some tests. It turned out she
had acute pancreatitis, which we successfully treated before it became
a full-blown, life-threatening problem.
Once parasites and
medical problems have been ruled out, there are still two major players
to consider. The first is diet. Food intolerances or allergies may show
up first in the skin, causing tiny red crusty sores that spread or
coalesce as the cat rubs or scratches at them. Lesions around the face
and ears are typically seen with food allergies. Allergies to inhaled
substances, such as dust mites or pollen, produce identical signs. A
diet trial, skin or blood test, or trial treatment with antihistamines
or anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to assess the cat for allergies.
(See our article on Food Allergies in Cats for more info.) Read more....
Spirit
Essences are the next generation in flower remedies, drawing from more
than 300 of the world's best essences to create formulas to keep your
pet happy and healthy! Visit the Spirit Essences website to see the latest in holistic care for pet behavior and health!
3. Omega-3's Are Essential For Your Cat! 
No
doubt you've heard of Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-6 fatty acids, and
essential fatty acids. But did you know that they are essential for
pets, too?
The term "essential" means that the animal
cannot synthesize the nutrient within its body, but must obtain it in
the diet. For example, humans and dogs can make Vitamin A out of
beta-carotene, but cats must consume Vitamin A directly from their
food. Among fatty acids, arachidonic acid is essential for cats but not
for dogs; while Omega-3s and Omega-6s are essential for both.
Omega-3s
generally are anti-inflammatory, while the kind of Omega-6s that are
found in vegetable and plant oils and most animal fats, Omega-6s (the
most common in both human and pet diets), can actually promote and
increase inflammation when there's too much of it.
What do
essential fatty acids do? First, they are critical in development,
especially for the nervous system and heart. They are incorporated into
the membrane of every cell in the body. They are precursors to many
important hormones and other compounds in the body. In dogs and cats,
they're especially important for skin and coat health. Lack of a
healthy balance of essential fatty acids is linked to many serious
health conditions, such as allergies, skin diseases, obesity, cancer,
insulin resistance, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases,
behavioral issues, and cognitive dysfunction (senility). 
Pet
foods typically utilize leftovers and by-products of the human food
industry. In the U.S., livestock and poultry are fed large amounts of
corn, which shifts their natural Omega-3 content to mostly Omega-6. Pet
foods that use animal fat or vegetable oils therefore contain large
amounts of Omega-6s and virtually no Omega-3s... Read more....
Don't forget to visit Little Big Cat's Free Article Library (now over 90 articles strong!), Bookstore, and lists for lots more information on cat health, behavior and nutrition!
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