Supplements…..

At the risk of gibing away my age, I remember when pharmacies didn’t offer much more than the filling of a prescription from my doctor.  There were always a few sundry items on the shelves by not like today!  And health food stores?  Those usually offered some mysterious supplements while incense burned and sitar music played in the background.

Today, supplements have become mainstream and new ones seem to pop up almost weekly.  We find them in our supermarkets ans pharmacies ans are overwhelmed by them at the health food stores.  Every company has something ‘better’ or ‘new and improved’.  It can be a difficult to make sense of any of it at the best of times.  Even more confusing is the information that we try to gather when, in fact, not very much is known about some of these items.

Urinary Tract Infections and Kidney Disease

Urinary bladder infections, known as cystitis, are the number one killer of cats.  In cats the infection is known as FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome).  In dogs, it is both less usual and far less serious.  It is caused by magnesium and phosphorus crystals on the urine that irritate the bladder and urethra.  The first symptoms are of frequency, running back and forth to the litter box or in and out of the house.  The animal strains and may void a few drops, but it is itching and burning, rather than fullness, that makes her think she needs to go.  There may be traces of blood in the urine.  A pet who suddenly starts wetting indoors or missing the litter box, likely has a urinary-tract infection and should be checked immediately.

Overweight….

The dog or cat who is overweight is probably starving.  She is seeking nutrients from foods that have too little nutritional value,  and therefore is eating too much.  Commercial pet foods are filled with things an animal doesn’t need—-sugar, salt, waste fillers, chemicals.  These same foods lack what is required for animal health—vitamins and minerals, enzymes, proteins, vegetables, grains.  Malnutrition and/or malabsorption are important factors in animals and human obesity, as are food allergies and sensitivities.  Other factors include glandular malfunction, boredom and habit, lack of exercise, competition for food with other pets and guardians who substitute food for love.