K9Cuisine.com and Wellness Donate 10-Thousand Pounds of Food to Pooch Pantry to Help Families in Bad Economy April 17, 2009

K9Cuisine.com and Wellness Donate 10-Thousand Pounds of Food to Pooch Pantry to Help Families in Bad Economy

K9Cuisine.com, one of the web’s fastest growing online pet food stores, and the WellPet Foundation are teaming up to donate more than 10,000 pounds of all natural dog food to the Pooch Pantry to help families in financial crisis who are struggling to feed their pets.

Mundelein, Illinois (PRWEB) April 17, 2009 — K9Cuisine.com, one of the web’s fastest growing online pet food stores, and the WellPet Foundation are teaming up to donate more than 10,000 pounds of all natural dog food to the Pooch Pantry to help families in financial crisis who are struggling to feed their pets. “Families are having a hard enough time trying to pay their mortgages and keep food on the table during these tough economic times,” said Anthony Holloway, owner of K9Cuisine.com. “We are thrilled to be able to donate high quality pet food to help feed as many animals as we can and hope that the new supply will keep the food bank for pets stocked for months.”

The Pooch Pantry is run out of the B.C. Dog Training Club in Mundelein and is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Many of the pet owners who come to the Pooch Pantry are seniors on fixed incomes. Holloway will personally deliver a truckload of premium pet food this Saturday. Wellness is shipping more than 5,300 pounds of dog food this week. The Wellness recipes have the highest quality natural ingredients carefully chosen for a dog or cat’s optimum health benefits. Wellness promises: “Your pet’s wellbeing is at the heart of all we do, that’s why we do whatever it takes to make the healthiest natural products for the pets that depend on us.”

At K9 Cuisine, we know how you feel about your pet. We understand that you want to provide your canine companion with the healthiest food for a long, happy life. So we offer only the highest quality dog supplies. When you order from K9 Cuisine, you can be assured you’ll receive not only quick, courteous service, but also healthy, high-quality food and treats. We do not sell products that contain additives or preservatives, or ingredients that may otherwise be harmful to your dog. Many of the brands we carry use human-grade ingredients. http://www.k9cuisine.com/

Wellness® – Guaranteed Natural Nutrition for the Life of Your Pet
Wellness, a proud member of the WellPet family of brands, delivers lifelong, natural nutrition for pets – guaranteed. The pet professionals at Wellness carefully select all-natural, human-grade ingredients proven to deliver 100% of a pet’s lifetime nutritional needs. To ensure pets enjoy a long and loving life, Wellness guarantees the best natural ingredient sourcing, most meticulous quality assurance and production standards, and nutritional analysis in the industry. Wellness is sold in pet specialty stores and natural food stores across North America and internationally. Visit www.wellnesspetfood.com to learn more.

The WellPet Foundation – Responsibility, Passion, Commitment
At WellPet, we are committed to giving back to the world we share with our pets. Through the WellPet Foundation, we support organizations and activities that promote the power of natural nutrition and the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles. Learn more at www.wellnesspetfood.com/aboutus_wellpet_foundation.html.

CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods Introduces New Easy-Open, Easy-Pour, Velcro Closures On 30 Pound and Larger Bags, Offering Convenience and Freshness March 26, 2009

Source: PRWeb.com, March 25, 2009

These revolutionary Velcro closure bags are the first of their kind in the mainstream pet food industry.

CANIDAE® All Natural Pet Foods began rolling out its improved, patented Easy-Open, Easy-Pour bags featuring durable Velcro® closures in March.

CANIDAE bags with the new Easy-Open, Easy-Pour, Easy-Seal feature are beginning to appear in the marketplace now on 35 lb. and 44 lb. “Big Bags” of CANIDAE All Life Stages Formula and will soon be featured on all 30 lb. and larger CANIDAE formulas.

These revolutionary Velcro closure bags are the first of their kind in the mainstream pet food industry. The improved design is a direct result of customer feedback for improvements on CANIDAE’s previous easy open, easy pour bag feature. Designed to keep food fresher longer, prevent accidental spills and keep out contaminants, these easy-to-use bags are designed with an exclusive re-sealable pouring spout that allows the pet owner to dispense just the right amount of dog food then seal the bag by pressing the built-in Velcro strip. These patented bags are much easier to open and they re-close and re-seal time and time again without wearing out. Pet owners get a perfect seal every time. Taping the bag or rolling it down to keep food fresh will no longer be necessary.

These new Velcro closures will appear on the 30 pound bags of CANIDAE Lamb and Rice, Chicken and Rice, Beef and Fish, CANIDAE PLATINUM®, Grain Free All Life Stages, Grain Free Salmon, and on both the 35 pound and 44 pound “Big Bag” of CANIDAE All Life Stages.

‘Miracle Dog’ Beats Aggressive Cancer March 24, 2009

Cancer-Fighting Drug Works in Dogs; Can It Do the Same for People?

Source: WebMD Health News, by Kelli Miller Stacy, March 23, 2009

Researchers with the Cleveland Clinic have successfully treated cancer in dogs without toxic side effects or discomfort. The feat could soon lead to a powerful new strategy for treating the disease in people.

Joseph A. Bauer, PhD, with the Center for Hematology & Oncology Molecular Therapeutics at the Cleveland Clinic, detailed the extraordinary achievement at the 237th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Salt Lake City.

Bauer’s team’s success story begins with a “miracle dog” named Oscar, a 10-year-old male Bichon Frise stricken with an extremely aggressive form of cancer called anal sac adenocarcinoma. Chemotherapy and radiation failed to treat the dog’s disease, which left him unable to walk. Oscar had about 3 months left to live.

That’s when Bauer and colleagues gave him an innovative cancer-killing drug called nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl). Within two weeks, Oscar’s cancer significantly improved and he was back on his feet.

‘Trojan Horse’ Kills Cancer

The NO-Cbl drug targets cancer cells like a biological “Trojan horse.” A Trojan horse is a damage-causing substance hidden in something apparently harmless.

In this case, the drug is made of a cancer-killing substance called nitric oxide, which is attached to vitamin B12. Substances called receptors on a cell’s surface attract the vitamin and help it enter the cell. Cancer cells grow abnormally fast with extra B12 receptors. NO-Cbl spots these receptors, sneaks into cancer cells, and releases the nitric oxide, which kills the cancer cells from within.

Scientists have been trying for more than 60 years to develop a successful B12-based “Trojan horse” to fight cancer, according to a news release from the American Chemical Society.

Bauer’s team is reporting promising results in two other dogs without any negative side effects. Ultrasound and MRI imaging showed significant reductions in tumor size in all three dogs. Nine months of NO-Cbl treatment shrank a spinal tumor in a 6-year-old golden retriever named Buddy by 40%. Buddy, who once had nerve damage in his right hind leg, is now taking 2-mile walks. The treatment also significantly reduced inoperable thyroid cancer in a 13-year-old female Giant Schnauzer. The dog had a 77% reduction in tumor size in less than 10 weeks. The team is now treating a spinal tumor in a fourth dog, a golden retriever named Haley.

The team wants to successfully treat 10 dogs with NO-Cbl and then quickly get FDA approval to test the drug in people. Bauer points out that people and dogs are genetically similar, which may help the drug’s “chance of getting through the FDA’s strict drug approval chain.”

Focus on Pets, Too

Each year in the U.S., an estimated 6 million dogs are diagnosed with cancer. Pets with cancer afford researchers an opportunity to study cancer treatments in animals that are more genetically similar to people.

“The [National Cancer Institute] gets data on pets that are exposed to the same environmental factors their owners are,” Bauer says in a news release. “They breathe the same polluted air and drink the same polluted water that you and I do every day. If you can find an agent to treat cancer that occurs in a dog with success, there is a higher likelihood that you can take that to the human population and have a much higher response rate than with mice.”

Such research also provides pets access to potential life-saving therapies, such as the case with Oscar.

“We are one of the few research groups that is offering to treat dogs with cancer that otherwise have no hope,” Bauer says. “With no other options available, most people in this situation opt to euthanize so that their pets don’t go through the pain of disease and trauma of surgery.”

Bauer, a dog owner, says his research is “one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life.”

New Study Highlights Antioxidant Benefits For Your Pet March 3, 2009

Source: DBuisnessNews.com, March 2, 2009

(Cary, NC)— Doctors have told us for years about the importance of eating foods that are high in antioxidant levels. Studies have found time and time again that foods with increased levels of antioxidants generally reduce the effects of aging, lower risk of cancer as well as help to maintain a healthy immune system. However, most people don’t realize that the same principle applies for your dog. Just like humans, animals can benefit greatly from a diet that includes a high level of antioxidants.

Casey Pets Essential Supplement, a new dietary supplement creating lifelong wellness for pets, was recently spotlighted as a great alternative for pet owners looking for a way to provide their animals with higher levels of antioxidants. A recent study by Brunswick Laboratories of Norton, MA measured the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) level in Casey’s supplement to be almost six times the antioxidant capacity of foods typically associated with high antioxidant levels. Developed by scientists at the USDA Office, the ORAC value has long been considered a reliable means to measure the levels of antioxidants in various foods. Fruits like blueberries and cranberries range from 65 to 95 on the ORAC scale; in comparison, Casey Pets Essentials Supplement measured at 621. “The results of this study affirm the outstanding health benefits of the Casey Pets supplement for dogs,” said Pete Maletto, senior scientist and president of PTM Food Consulting, Inc. “The spice mixture has a profound antioxidant effect and should be seriously considered by pet owners as a way to maximize their pet’s current diet.” Casey Pets Essential Supplement is a unique blend of vital human – grade ingredients that supports and enhances your dog’s overall health and well being. The powder is sprinkled over your dog’s food and provides a simple and convenient way to restore balance to your dog’s diet. “Owners are very selective with what food they choose to give their pets,” said Nancy Seymour, founder of Casey Petraceuticals. “We are delighted at the findings of this recent study. We have seen amazing results from dogs that use the Casey’s supplement and this study only re-affirms the benefits it provides. Casey’s is an ideal choice to assist in the lifelong wellness of pets.”

About Casey Petraceuticals Inspired by her cocker spaniel, Casey, and her fight against an inflammatory disease, Nancy Seymour developed Casey Petraceuticals with the goal of improving the lifelong wellness of pets. Casey’s health and wellness product was created by a team of food scientists, nutritionists and veterinarians, using a unique blend of herbs, antioxidants, natural vitamins and minerals, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Over 30 human-grade ingredients, sprinkled over pet food, are aimed at fighting inflammation and increasing nutritional absorption. For a complete list of testimonials, background research and ordering information, visit www.caseypets.com.

Vet points to pet acupuncture as a way to heal, NC March 3, 2009

Source: Chapel Hill News, by Deborah Meyer, March 1, 2009

If there’s ever a fan club for veterinarian Doug Knueven, it’s likely that Jenn Merritt will start it.

Merritt attended two lectures Knueven gave at an Association of Pet Dog Trainers conference on topics such as natural diets and minimal vaccinations.

“I was just so impressed with his perspective,” said Merritt, who owns Blue Dog Creature Coaching. “I just thought I have to get him to North Carolina so I can share that knowledge and common-sense perspective with other people.”

Knueven integrates traditional veterinary medicine with alternative modalities, including acupuncture, in his Beaver County, Penn., clinic. On March 21, he’ll give an all-day Canine Health Seminar at Paws4Ever (the former Orange County Animal Protection Society) in Mebane.

Knueven received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Seven years later, frustrated with the limitations of conventional veterinary medicine, he took the 150-hour International Veterinary Acupuncture Society Course.

“It was an eye opening experience,” he said. “Chinese medicine is a totally different way of looking at the body, health, and disease. Once you become aware of this new paradigm of medicine you start to apply it.”

The first case where Knueven used his new knowledge and ability involved a cat with mouth cancer. The cat had stopped eating and was hiding. Knueven told the owners he would try acupuncture at no charge because it was experimental for him. The cat started eating and stopped hiding, despite the cancer.

Another early case involved a little Yorkshire terrier with kidney failure. He too had stopped eating. The owners brought him in to euthanize him.

“I was on my way to get the solution and I came back in and said, ‘Let’s try acupuncture,’” said Knueven, who did a quick treatment and sent him home.

He didn’t hear from the owners for three days and decided the dog had probably died. When he finally called, the owners told him the dog had started eating and was bouncing around like a puppy again.

“We treated him weekly with acupuncture and the dog stuck around for another six to eight months,” Knueven said.

Knueven is the author of “Stand by Me: A Holistic Handbook for Animals, Their People, and the Lives They Share Together,” (ARE Press, 2003) and “The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog” (TFH Publishing, June 2008).

In December, Merritt took her dog Big Sandy to Knueven. In Louisville, Knueven had talked about spondylosis, a degenerative spinal condition in dogs and people too. Big Sandy was diagnosed last year.

“I have been working with him to treat her using a natural diet and Chinese herbs. She is [no longer] having a lot of the other issues she was having like bladder infections, incontinence and kidney problems,” Merritt said. And though she loves her local vet, acupuncturist and chiropractor, “Dr. Doug brings it all together because he is all of those things.”

TO REGISTER

Dr. Doug Knueven’s March 21 seminar costs $80. Topics include canine nutrition, vaccines, massage herbs, spinal health and homeopathy. Register at www.paws4ever.org or call 304-2300, ext. 233.

Animal Wellness Magazine Awards Dog-Wa Liquid Pet Supplement ‘Seal of Approval,’ Naming Healthy Concentrate as ‘Product Pick’ January 22, 2009

Source: PRWeb.com, Jan 17, 2009

Dog-Wa, a liquid concentrate that provides dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients from leafy greens needed to create a well-balanced diet, has been awarded the prestigious “Animal Wellness Seal of Approval” and named a “Product Pick” by the number one natural pet magazine in North America. With annual readership of over 1 million, and an average of 3 million web hits per month, the leader in pet health and lifestyle magazines recommends Dog-Wa as a wise health care choice for pets.

(PRWEB) January 17, 2009 — Dog-Wa, a liquid concentrate that provides dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients from leafy greens needed to create a well-balanced diet, has been awarded the prestigious “Animal Wellness Seal of Approval” and named a “Product Pick” by the number one natural pet magazine in North America. With annual readership of over 1 million, and an average of 3 million web hits per month, the leader in pet health and lifestyle magazines recommends Dog-Wa as a wise health care choice for pets.

“We are thrilled that Animal Wellness Magazine has recognized our commitment to offering safe, healthy alternatives for our customers,” said Matt Israel, Dog-Wa founder and co-owner. “As a manufacturer, we encourage concerned pet owners to be proactive and educated about providing their animals with the healthiest diet possible.”

According to a study by Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, pet supplement sales reached $1.2 billion in 2007 and are expected to increase 40 percent in the next five years. After all the pet food recalls in recent years, concerned pet owners are becoming more discerning about finding products with fresh real food.

According to Dr. Jane Leon, distinguished Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Dog-Wa columnist and brand spokesperson, “Many veterinarians are paying greater attention to pet nutrition. They recognize that it is important to feed pets healthy diets consisting of fresh foods versus foods manufactured with fillers and/or synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements.” She added, “Simultaneously, an increasing number of forward thinking pet food companies are offering healthier alternatives.”

Dog-Wa, a liquid concentrate of pesticide-free fresh peppermint and parsley, is a revolutionary solution for providing dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients gained by adding leafy greens. The fresh herbs aid digestion, soothe the stomach, freshen breath, and discourage gas. Nutrients in the herbs have been known to promote a shinier coat, stronger bones and teeth, healthier gums, and overall well-being. Adding Dog-Wa to water or mixing it into food every day offers the latest and most effective solution to maintaining a dog’s optimum health. The cold-pressed, pesticide-free parsley and peppermint are holistically balanced and rich in Vitamins A and C, phytonutrients, chlorophyll, and antioxidants.

Dog-Wa is a human-food-grade product, and all ingredients are grown and made exclusively in the USA. There are stringent controls on all phases of the manufacturing process and extensive testing, guaranteeing the very highest standards of safety, quality and purity. Dog-Wa’s ingredients are all Generally Recognized As Safe and approved for use in all human and pet foods in regulations of the FDA. Dog-Wa has no synthetic vitamin or mineral supplements, no ethoxyquin, BHT, or BHA, no alcohol, artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Dog-Wa is available through specialty pet suppliers and select web-based retailers such as www.inthecompanyofdogs.com and www.healthypets.com. To learn more, please visit: http://www.dog-wa.com.

Know The Content Of Your Pet’s Food October 14, 2008

Source: (CBS News) “I fed my cat the wrong food, and it killed her.”

Heather Lyons, of Elgin, Ill., says her cat, Gizmo, ate food tainted with melamine. It’s an industrial chemical found in wheat gluten made in China, and its presence triggered the largest pet food recall in history.

“The vet told us she had kidney failure,” Lyons said to The Early Show‘s resident veterinarian, Dr. Debbye Turner Bell. “A couple of days later on the news, I saw the massive pet food recall.”

Lyons says when she realized the food she thought was safe and of high quality killed Gizmo, “It made my stomach turn.”

She returned to buying canned cat food. Even so, she’s still not quite sure what’s in the cans — like millions of Americans.

Pet food is big business, Bell reports. Americans spend $16 billion on it every year.

But many owners probably have no idea what that food is made from.

And, says Bell, the huge pet food recall of 2007 reminded us what we don’t know about the contents of pet food can hurt our pets.

One woman in the Prairie Wolf Dog Exercise Area in Lake Forest, Ill., told Bell she had “no idea” what’s in her dog’s food. When told the third ingredient is beef byproducts, the woman admitted she doesn’t know what that means and, “I wouldn’t want to know, I don’t think.”

Bell remarked to another woman, “If I told you it’s whole carcasses, and could include beaks, feathers, might be a little manure — it’s just all been cooked in a big vat…”

“That would make me sick,” the woman interrupted Bell.

Legally, Bell explains, byproducts can include part of the lungs, brain, blood, stomach and intestines. And 64 percent of the people surveyed recently by Wellness Pet Food didn’t know the contents of meat byproducts.

“I feel bad,” the first woman in the park continued. “I mean, outside of my husband and my kids, he’s like one of the most important things in my life, and I… I don’t know what I’m feeding him (my dog).”

Dr. Edward Moser, a veterinary nutritionist, says pet owners need to care about ingredients: “When you look at a pet who’s not receiving adequate nutrition, the things you see are dull, discolored eyes, watery eyes, red eyes. You see poor skin and coat condition.”

Turner observed that, “It’s really important to read the ingredients on the label. And the first few ingredients should be words you understand, like meat, grain, fruit or vegetables. And avoid a brand that has too many of the four “A”s: artificial ingredients, preservatives, flavors, and colors. And if your pet has a sensitive stomach, avoid foods that produce allergies: corn, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy and beef. Of course, none of this matters if the food we feed our pets is not safe.”

What’s more, says Dr. Marion Nestle, the author of “Pet Food Politics,” pet food is “regulated in the most bizarre way. There’s no real oversight of national regulation for pets, except for a few things that are on the labels of the cans and packages.”

And that, says pet advocates, is how melamine ended up in pet food in the first place.

And it’s why Heather Lyons, the one whose cat died, joined a class action lawsuit against Menu Foods, the manufacturer that sold the melamine-tainted wheat gluten.

“Basically,” she says, “what I want to happen is the government to regulate the pet food better. I don’t really care about the money; I just want to make sure everyone has a safe pet.”

The reality is, most pet food isn’t going to kill your pet — unless, of course, there’s some contamination in it, Bell says.

She adds that wet food simply has a higher water content than dry pet food. “If your pet tends to overeat, wet food is not the best, because they love it and want to eat a whole lot of it! A dry food for a normal healthy adult animal, particularly dogs that are active I think is the best. Use the wet food as a treat. If you have a picky eater, use the wet food.”

And the best advice should come from “your veterinarian. Work out nutrition plan and the number of calories your pet gets. Obesity is a huge problem for people and our pets and we have to be careful about that.”