I'm both an animal lover and an advocate for green living, so, when it was time to pick out a heartworm preventative for my dogs, I felt like I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I didn't like the idea of feeding my dogs a pesticide every month, but I live in an area where the risk of heartworms is extremely high, and I didn't want to chance my precious pets catching such a serious condition. When I asked other pet owners for suggestions, many of them advised me to give my dogs garlic to prevent heartworms, but there are several reasons that pet-parents should avoid this popular natural remedy.
Garlic as a heartworm prevention would, in theory, prevent the parasites from infecting dogs by deterring mosquitoes. Advocates for "natural" heartworm prevention claim that garlic makes dogs' blood taste or smell unappealing to mosquitoes, which spread heartworms to dogs through their bites. In theory, a garlicky-smelling dog would have fewer mosquito bites and would therefore be at a lower risk of catching the parasites.
Unfortunately, there's no evidence that this method actually works. Garlic isn't an effective mosquito repellent. If it were, mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria wouldn't infect humans in areas where garlic is used heavily in food, such as India. We'd be able to hike without fear of mosquito bites by simply indulging in garlic bread before heading out. While there's a chance that massive amounts of garlic might affect the scent of a person or dog enough to repel mosquitoes, it certainly isn't a reliable technique.
There's another catch, too. To be effective, even theoretically, a dog would have to consume massive amounts of garlic on a daily basis, which would have very severe consequences for the dog. The ASPCA warns that garlic (as well as its relatives, like onion and leek) is potently toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Dogs who have eaten garlic might have symptoms like vomiting, weakness, panting, and a rapid heart rates. Over time, even doses of garlic too low to acutely poison the dog would break down the pooch's red blood cells, leading to a potentially fatal case of anemia. This is just one example of how often a natural remedy can be far less safe than its conventional counterpart.
The bottom line is that, while we green pet owners would love to be able to protect our precious pups without resorting to conventional heartworm prevention, this is one case where I'm willing to compromise "natural" for "safe" and opt for vet-approved treatments over natural remedies. All heartworm prevention medicines available through your vet have been thoroughly studied and found to be both safe and effective for preventing heartworms. If you have concerns about heartworm prevention, don't hesitate to talk to your vet for advice and reassurance.
Wellness Pet Food Review
As the owner of two pets with special medical needs, I've seen firsthand how much diet can affect an animal's health. One of my cats has been on a carefully selected premium diet for two years because of health problems. If he eats lower-quality foods for even a few days, he develops life-threatening urinary crystals and severe stomach problems. My dog's body is just as picky: she needs just the right balance of quality food, or her tummy will rebel in a ways that require an iron stomach and an impressive supply of carpet cleaner to manage. That's why I was excited when I had a chance to try out Wellness Pet Food, a line of top-notch pet foods made with only natural and healthy ingredients.
Wellness Pet Foods are specifically formulated to include only high-grade ingredients that promote lifelong health and vitality. The company's resident veterinarian, Dr. Al Townshend, explains that Wellness Pet Foods promote the health of the digestive system with lots of lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, without any wheat, corn, or soy (which often upset sensitive pets' stomachs). Their foods also reduce issues associated with allergies, like rashes, and supply a respectable amount of essential fatty acids that keep animals' skin healthy.
For pets like mine with chronic health problems, Dr. Townshend notes that Wellness Foods can be a helpful solution. They're specifically formulated to improve urinary health and to meet the needs of pets with sensitive digestion. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my most sensitive cat, whose body usually rebels to new foods, chomped down the Wellness Divine Duos wet foods without experiencing his typical tummy troubles afterward. His reaction to the Divine Duos food was especially welcome, since he normally eschews wet food even though his vet recommends it for his urinary health. However, Dr. Townshend does advise pet parents to talk to their vets before switching a cat or dog from a prescription diet.
My picky cat wasn't the only one who enjoyed the taste of Wellness products. His "brother" gobbled up their Chicken Pate and Diced Turkey so fast that I think he would have made himself sick had he eaten any other food at that pace. My two dogs, both border collie mixes, were also thrilled by the Core Superfood Protein Bars, made with turkey, duck, and kale. I honestly didn't expect my dogs to like the protein bars because, like children, dogs tend to enjoy unhealthy foods more than nutrient-packed "superfoods," but the protein bars quickly became my dogs' favorite treats. Who knew that dogs could enjoy kale so much?
The cost of Wellness pet food is the only real drawback associated with the line of products. Because they're made from top-notch ingredients, many of which are imported from overseas or contain uncommon ingredients like venison, Wellness pet food does cost a pretty penny compared to others. But it's an expense that can "pay for itself" over time. Townshend notes that all of the top five reasons for visiting a vet's office can be remedied or prevented through a healthy diet, so an investment in a higher-quality food can actually save thousands of dollars in vet bills down the road.
My pets aren't likely to have Wellness foods as a full-time diet because my vet advised me against switching my sensitive cat away from prescription food, and my dogs prefer other brands as their staple diet. However, I'm definitely going to be keeping Wellness treats on hand for my dogs and Wellness wet foods as an occasional treat for my kitties. The high-quality, high-nutrient foods offered by the company are a great addition to my furry family's lifestyle.
Why does the basenji yodel, not bark?
The beautiful Basenji is one of the most ancient dog breeds currently alive today. These primitive dogs hail from central Africa, where they have been used for thousands of years as a hunting dog. One of the most peculiar traits about this breed is its reputation as the "Barkless Dog," since it does not have the barking vocalizations typical of other breeds. Instead of yapping or woofing, the Basenji instead yodels.
The Basenji yodel is one of the most fascinating traits associated with the breed, since it isn't seen in any other extant breed. It's likely that the original breeders of Basenjis intentionally selected for this trait for some reason that isn't apparent or relevant to the breed's modern function. No one is certain of exactly why the Basenji yodels and doesn't bark, but there are a few plausible theories.
One potential reason for the Basenji's yodel may lie in the nature and history of the breed. The United Kennel Club, classifies the Basenji as a pariah, or primitive, breed, in the same category as the dingo, the Carolina dog, and the Canaan dog. These breeds are very primitive in their behavior and appearance, and many prefer to howl or yodel than to bark. The Basenji's origin as one of the most ancient breeds might contribute to its tendency to vocalize with sounds other than barking.
The shape of the Basenji's larynx holds an important clue to the mystery of the yodel. While other pariah breeds tend not to bark because of both behavioral and physiological differences, the Basenji's unique anatomy is at least part of the equation. A Basenji's larynx is narrow and doesn't doesn't allow low, rapid barking the way other dogs' bodies do, so their vocalizations sound more like singing or yodeling, according to Abutu.
Ancient breeders may have selected this trait very deliberately. In antiquity, the barks of dogs could have led rival hunters to camp sites or hunting grounds, thus endangering the hunt or the people participating in it. The Basenji's yodel, which might sound more like the cry of a jackal or other wild dog, is safer than the characteristic bark of other dog breeds.
The Basenji's barkless nature and adorably unique yodel are part of what make the breed so fun and delightful, especially to enthusiasts of ancient dog breeds. While an inability to bark is a defining trait of the breed, specific vocalizations can vary from dog to dog, with some yodeling for hours on end and others remaining mute most of the time. While man and nature spent thousands of years adjusting the Basenji to be the yodeling dog it is today, variations always exist-- and your dog's specific sounds may be different than those of his relatives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)