World IBD Day takes place on 19 May each year and unites people worldwide in their fight against Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Today and everyday we want to raise awareness about this disease, and show support to the millions of people and pets worldwide that live with inflammatory bowel disease. AnimalBiome is proud to share a guest blog article by film director, Saffron Cassaday. Saffron is directing an upcoming documentary called, “Designer Shit” a film about fecal matters.
Kibble. Canned. Raw. Dehydrated. Freeze dried. Home cooked. With so many options available to feed your dog or cat, it can be really hard to know if you’re making the best choice. And even then, how do you know whether the ingredients are truly benefiting your pet, and making them healthier?
"All diseases begin in the gut." ~ Hippocrates What a smarty pants he was! But thankfully we’re slowly catching up to the secrets of the gut. Gastrointestinal disorders are at the top of the list of health conditions I see in dogs and cats at my holistic veterinary practice. Pet health and long-term quality of life is greatly affected by these diseases. In this article I will explain the underlying mechanisms such as leaky gut and imbalance of microbiome (the bacteria that live in the digestive tract) that are key to improving your beloved dogs’ and cats’ overall health and longevity and preventing all sorts of painful disorders.
Is it hype, or are supplemental digestive enzymes for your dog really important? Digestive enzymes break down your dog’s food into tiny pieces that are small enough to be used to fuel crucial life functions. Just like humans, dogs cannot survive without their own digestive enzymes.
Recent dog food recalls have sounded the alarm about the dangers of diets that contain too much vitamin D. In dogs, high levels of this vitamin can cause vomiting, joint issues, kidney failure, and even death. So how much vitamin D should your dog be getting? And why are large amounts so dangerous?
March is Women’s History Month! And while it’s important to recognize the achievements made by all women, we are here to highlight women scientists who made history with their scientific innovations and leadership. Despite facing gender-based discrimination, women in science have played a long and integral part of scientific history. They have made great strides in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and innovation. Women scientists have created and developed groundbreaking innovations such as stem cell isolation, caller ID, and even the first type of computing software.
Marigold is a sweet, middle-aged, orange tabby cat found as a stray and taken to the city shelter. Affectionate and easy-going, she had everything going for her, except for one critical flaw that threatened her adoptability -- she had constant liquid diarrhea. Even though she was a favorite at the shelter, her cage was constantly a mess, as was her bright orange fur, and it wasn’t long before Marigold was deemed “unadoptable.” Soon after, her digestive issues earned her a spot at the top of the shelter’s euthanasia list.
What if your cat loves dairy, but even a treat-sized dollop of milk or cream leads to unpleasant symptoms like gas, diarrhea, or vomiting? Actually, that’s pretty normal. Most adult cats have trouble digesting dairy products because they lack the ability to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk. Lactose makes up between 2% and 8% of milk.
Anxiety and aggression are common problems in dogs. In fact, it’s estimated up to 70% of behavioral problems in dogs can be attributed to some form of anxiety, according to the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. As strange as it sounds, the bacteria that live in your dog’s gut (digestive tract) may affect their mood, and therefore their behavior. Evidence suggests that the gut influences the brain, and these two are constantly communicating with each other.
Most dogs get all the vitamin B12 they need from their food. But dogs with digestive disorders or other health issues may not be able to absorb enough of it, and the resulting B12 deficiency can cause serious health problems, including diarrhea, weight loss, and even seizures. When AnimalBiome CEO Holly Ganz’s dog Yuki developed pancreatic cancer at the age of 16, for example, her B12 levels plummeted.
