I was told to feed my dog pumpkin when he had a stomachache. I tried it and it did help him so I wanted to pass the information to other dog owners.
Pumpkin has high fiber and water content so it can ease gastrointestinal distress. Because it's also low in calories, veterinarians recommend using it as a between-meal treat for dieting dogs.
Celebrity dog trainer Cesar Millan calls plain canned pumpkin a "miracle food" because it's loaded with beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. He says canned pumpkin can also be combined with dry or wet dog food to add fiber to a dog's diet. When buying canned pumpkin, read the label to make sure the only ingredient is pumpkin; do not buy pumpkin pie mix, which contains sweeteners and spices that could upset your dog's stomach.
When serving pumpkin a la carte or mixed with food, keep the portions small, Millan advises. Small dogs should get only a teaspoon or two a day, while larger dogs can handle a couple of tablespoons.
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Last week's column looked at the issue of grain-free food for cats, which naturally leads to the issue of trying to decipher pet-food labels. Since that column was written, another reader has asked if commercial dog foods labeled "organic" are actually made from 100 percent organic ingredients. As with so many questions dealing with the complexity of pet food labels, the answer is no and maybe.
There are currently no official rules about manufacturers' claims that a pet food is "organic," according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has strict guidelines for use of the term "organic" on labels of food intended for humans, has been working to create a definition that applies to animal foods. Nothing has been adopted so far. Maybe someday.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials, which sets standards for pet food regulation and defines label terms, says the designation "organic" on pet food labels refers to ingredients that are from USDA-certified organic sources. If the label says it includes organic beef, then the beef has to be from a certified source. But the association has no power to enforce its regulations; that's done on a state-by-state basis.
Kind of makes one's head spin, doesn't it? There's more. Some pet foods get around the nebulous rules by using the word "organic" as part of the company name. So, hypothetically, there could be a company named MeeMaw's Organic Hound Chow churning out dog food that includes not a single organic component.
On the positive side of the organic equation, there are pet food companies that voluntarily follow the USDA rules regarding organic food for human consumption. Foods made by these companies will include the green and white circular USDA organic seal on the label.
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After house-training issues, dog owners seem to be most distressed by barking. There are all kinds of training tactics and tools on the market, but one discovered by a professor at Texas Tech University apparently does the trick to curb barking. The product, Stop That, is a pheromone spray; one spritz purportedly silences a dog instantly.
The "magic" ingredient, a pig pheromone, was discovered by accident by John McGlone, a Texas Tech professor specializing in animal welfare and behavior. According to an article at ScienceDaily.com, McGlone says he had long been frustrated by his inability to keep his Cairn terrier from barking incessantly. During one day's barkfest, he happened to have on hand a container of Boar Mate, which contains androstenone, a pheromone secreted by male pigs wanting to breed. He spritzed his dog with the smelly stuff and, arf, his dog quit barking.
After numerous tests, McGlone's discovery went on the market as Stop That, a spray made and sold by Sergeant's Sentry line of canine products. While Stop That gets rave reviews from users, McGlone says, the downside is that the effects last only a minute so an owner has to spray again when the dog resumes barking. McGlone now suggests using Stop That as a training tool rather than as a deterrent. More research is underway.
Family on 09/24/2014