Your Dog’s Health
INTRODUCTION
The programs presented in this book about canine health and happiness represent the next level of understanding for nutritional therapies. It is the science of nutrients interacting with genetic signaling, also known as nutragenomics. This area of study, which is the focus of my research and product formulation work, is based on the cells’ capacity to interpret and act on genetic instructions and hormonal signals, referred to in some circles as cellular consciousness.
I began my research into nutraceuticals decades ago, focusing on performance nutrition. I embarked on a conventional university education program in nutritional sciences and biochemistry and integrated my personal interest in performance enhancement in sport into my studies. This work led me to study the intricacies of our DNA, which we now know is where many nutrients interact. In fact, this research has identified many points of modulation for these nutrients—nutrients regulate genetic activity.
The fruits of this research were applied personally to achieve elite international status in sport. The research from the lab work, wedded to a scientific training approach, led me to win after win in the sport of bodybuilding, culminating with the win in Los Angeles California of the IFBB North American Bodybuilding title. My research continued, and I began developing sports medicines for mass production and worldwide distribution-nutrient-based supplements and medicines designed primarily for performance enhancement and therapy for humans.
I was soon winning formulation awards in the human health industry and, not too long after, I was inducted into the Canadian Health Food Association’s Sports Nutrition Hall of Fame in recognition of my scientific and education work. My research continues today and includes an initiative to improve the health of all family members-from infants to adults to family pets.
The research done to establish human wellness products often stemmed from animal work. My need to understand the metabolic differences from one species to another in order to make sense of this research led me to apply the animal-derived formulations to benefit my own pets. As I became more involved in competitive sport with my dogs, I became an informal consultant for other dog owners. Eventually, I began presenting my research to and consulting with veterinary clinics to help treat some of their difficult cases. The results in this controlled environment were impressive.
Due to repeated requests, I started to produce formulations in bulk to address the most common ailments in companion animals. It quickly became too costly to just give away the remedies because the demand skyrocketed. I soon began mass production of the powerful formulations, and BiologicVET was born.
The nutrient-based formulations developed from this research consist of powerful therapies and disease-prevention strategies that you can rely on for your pet. The products are designed specifically for the metabolism of pets. Our companion animals have distinct metabolic needs that require specific dietary and nutraceutical formulations. They also have very different social and instinctive tendencies that influence their emotional state, which, in turn, affects their ability to tolerate illness. A basic understanding of these needs enables a better level of care that preserves our pets’ health and vigor throughout a longer life.
Too many pet nutritional products on the store shelves today are relabelled products that were originally designed for humans. This strategy has been adopted by manufacturers who simply try to stick with conventional methods, but the conventional outcome is inadequate. In addition, most of what we feed our pets today is designed primarily for our own convenience. Their health is a secondary thought, and this includes most forms of supplementation. My goal is to change this trend and provide a scientific standard for products that suit the metabolic needs of the animals themselves-to shift the focus of the pet nutrition industry away from profit, convenience, and convention and make our pets’ health the priority.
The nutritional strategies that are outlined in this book are based on the nutragenomic science that I specialize in. Historically, most nutritional remedies worked because they had nutragenomic activity, but the formulations did not capitalize on this activity because it was not as well understood as it is today. Now, multiple ingredients can be chosen to accurately target a gene system, and both health maintenance and therapy can be that much more effective. The result is a powerful pharmacology that works as well as a drug, without the side-effects.
It’s much easier to control a pet’s diet than it is to control the diet of a human patient. People must contend with misdirected cravings for the wrong foods and the temptation to live unhealthy lifestyles, plus their ability to act on those cravings and give in to temptation. These emotionally and subconsciously driven challenges make it difficult for people to stay with programs that can restore wellness. When it comes to pets, however, compliance rests with their human owner.
Your dog can live a long and healthy life. Sound nutrition is the best way to empower your dog’s body with the potential to prevent illness and preserve health. This concise guide has been provided to show you how.
CHAPTER ONE
A DOG IN THE FAMILY!
Welcoming a dog into your household will change your life. New pet owners look forward to this change, anticipating the joy of companionship, a warm bond, and time spent having fun with a lively, healthy pet. However, like most relationships, this outcome is not guaranteed— it takes work and some careful planning on the part of dog owners.
The benefits of companionship, learning opportunities, protection, and assistance are well worth the effort. Pets help children learn about responsibility, friendship, and a unique perspective on life. A dog can teach all members of the family life lessons on unconditional love, patience, tolerance, and life balance. In addition, research shows that interaction between a human and an animal companion can normalize a person’s blood pressure and heart rate, and calm their state of mind.
Dogs need their daily exercise and, rain or shine, they must go for their walk to relieve themselves and stimulate their senses. This routine will bring their human guardians off the couch and out for a daily walk too. Who needs a personal trainer when you have a dog? And it’s great to have everyone commit to a daily walk together, supporting the physical and emotional health of the entire family.
GET TO KNOW YOUR DOG
You may have chosen your dog after doing research into the breed to find out its basic traits and likely personality, and perhaps you spoke with current owners. Or you may have gone to a shelter and found a loving companion from the gaggle of animals of mixed or unknown origin. Or your dog may have found you, as was the case with my terrier- shepherd, Dexter, who showed up in my front yard one day with clear signs of abuse, including a fractured front limb. We bonded as he healed, and he is now a welcome member of our family.
Regardless of how you and your dog came together, get to know your companion animal. If you don’t have a general book about the breed (or the dominant breed in the mix), invest in one. Alternatively, talk to a knowledgeable breeder to find out how your dog will likely develop, how to interpret its behavior and cues, what to anticipate in behavior, and how to manage it.
The breed matters because many dogs have been bred for specific traits that will affect your relationship. For example, dogs bred for hunting, tracking, herding, or prey chase, such as greyhounds, German shorthair pointers, border collies, and blue heelers, require a lot of yard room for active play and need to be exercised regularly in order to stay healthy.
If you have a greyhound, it can be docile, extremely gentle, and relaxed in a home environment, but it will need regular physical activity so it can stretch out and run. When walking one of these dogs, owners must be conscious of the dog’s ability to see things from afar and their instant reflex to chase. If you’re not ready when the chase reflex kicks in or at least in control of the relationship, you could find yourself on your back, being pulled by a dog running at full speed. A heeler will actually nip at the heels of dogs, goats, sheep, cows, or even humans it’s attempting herd. This formidable dog was bred to protect and drive cattle. Its instinct to nip may express itself when it’s at play with children. Bringing a herding animal into a home where children run and play is tempting fate as the animal may not be able to resist its genetic programming. Strangers may perceive the behavior as aggression, putting the animal in danger of being confined or even euthanized. Knowing a breed’s inclinations will help you work with the animal’s instincts and prevent disaster.
Jack Russell terriers are another popular breed, and Diesel, my second dog, is one of these. They can be tenacious and strong-willed. As much as dogs in general have a genetically driven tendency to protect the pack, if challenged, this little guy behaves as though he’s a mastiff.
And maybe in his little mind, he believes it. Jack Russells tend to be a little more independent than other breeds and prefer satisfying their penchant to hunt and dig for vermin over satisfying the desires of their human companions. It usually takes considerable patience and training to get a Jack Russell to abandon its prey and follow commands.
Too often, family pets are chosen for the wrong reason, although it is true that cute puppies and wagging tails are hard to resist. If you don’t know and fail to account for the tendencies of the breed when interacting with and integrating a new family pet, the relationship can fail. Additionally, if you don’t know the basic instincts of the animal so you can train your pet properly, then you fail your dog as the family leader.
Above all, never forget that your dog is a dog. Its primary concerns revolve around food, territory, and its place in the hierarchy of the pack—which is your family. Dogs are sensitive to stress, changes in routine, and challenges to their place in the hierarchy of the family.
MAKE ROOM IN YOUR HOME
Like their human owners, dogs like to know which space is theirs and what to expect. Feeding routines, exercise routines, and sleep routines are generally good for everyone. In your plan to integrate your dog, accommodate these needs for routine and instinctive behavior rather than finding them exasperating. The first order of business is doublechecking your pet-proofing, and the second is letting the dog know which spaces are his or hers and which are yours.
PET-PROOF YOUR HOUSEHOLD
Beyond your dog’s primary concerns, it has a keen sense of smell and an eagerness to get to know your home and keep track of what’s in it. You need to simply accept that when your dog is nosing, sniffing, pawing, and possibly tasting things in your home, it is merely doing what dogs do in order to find out about unfamiliar things…..
ARTICLES FROM THE CANADIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
