How to Remove a Tick from Your Cat or Dog

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Finding out that our cat or dog has a tick in their skin is always unpleasant experience. However, there is no need to immediately rush to the veterinarian for help. We are providing you with this simple guide on how to remove a tick from your cat or dog. Please read it carefully, and if you still don’t feel comfortable to do it yourself, call your veterinarian.

You will need:

  1. A pair of latex or similar type of gloves
  2. A pair of specially designed tick-removal tweezers or other sharp-pointed tweezers 
  3. Airtight jar
  4. Rubbing alcohol (optional)
  5. Magnifying glass (optional)
  6. Cotton swab or a piece of paper towel
  7. Mild soap and water

 

The Procedure of Removing a Tick

  1. With latex or similar gloves on, take a pair of specially-designed tick removal tweezers or any other sharp-pointed tweezers and grasp the tick at the point of attachment as close to the skin as possible. Be careful not to squeeze the body of the tick, because this could provoke the tick to regurgitate more saliva and potential pathogens into the skin. 
  2. Pull the tick out from the skin slowly with an even pressure. Don’t try to twist or turn the tick . Sometimes pulling the tick out leaves a visible hole in the skin, and that is normal. This just means that a small piece of skin was left on a tick’s head. If the lesion starts to bleed, press it lightly with a cotton swab or a piece of a paper towel. Check the spot to confirm that no parts of tick’s head are left in the skin. If you notice an almost black very small dot in the middle of the wound use the tweezers to gently pull it out. Use magnifying glass if needed.
  3. Put the tick in an airtight jar in case for an identification if the illness occurs. Adding some rubbing alcohol to the jar will kill the tick quickly, but this step is not necessary. Label the container with the date and store it.
  4. After removing the tick, clean the area with mild soap and water. Keep an eye on this spot for few days for any signs of irritation or infection. If the area looks infected, swollen, or irritated after a few days, call your veterinarian. 
Ixodes scapularis
Ixodes scapularisContent Provider(s) : CDC/ Michael L. Levin, Ph. D. Photo Credit : Jim Gathany / Foter.com / Public Domain Mark 1.0

Tip:
Do NOT use oil, nail polish remover, or any other kind of chemical to kill the tick while it’s still in the skin. This may cause the tick to regurgitate more saliva into the skin, thus increasing the risk of the infection.

Check your cats and dogs daily, especially in the spring when ticks are most common, and after playing in the grass.

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Lamb Liver Treats Make Dogs Happy!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

We were very excited to receive the video that one of our valuable customers sent to us! Apparently, his dogs were very excited because they were about to get our treats!

To make dog and cat treats, we use only pasture-raised, human-grade livers, hearts, or kidneys from local California farms that are participating in a creation of a more sustainable food model, restoring, conserving and maintaining the productivity of our landscapes and the health of its inhabitants. There are no artificial additives, grains, denatured meats, gluten, or added sugars in our products. Our treats are made of only one ingredient which makes them hypoallergenic by nature.

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Liver Treats for Cats and Dogs?

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Nutritional value of liver 

Liver is considered a delicacy in most of Europe, but has never achieved the same popularity in the United States. Because of our own eating habits and poor understanding of proper foods, our pets often suffer from malnutrition. In the age of ultra-processed pet food, many of us have forgotten that cats and dogs are carnivorous creatures designed to kill and eat the whole prey and not just what we choose for them. As a matter of fact, cats are such specialized meat eaters that they cannot survive without certain nutrients found only in the meat and organs of other animals. For them, the main source of Vitamin A (an essential nutrient for both cats and dogs) is the liver of their prey. This vitamin (along with other nutrients) is found in the liver in amounts much greater than elsewhere in the body. Since their bodies cannot produce it, they must get it from food. Instinctively cats know this, and that is why they love eating liver so much. Dogs sometimes get so excited sniffing our liver treats that they roll over on the floor with excitement! Liver is a good source for several other important nutrients that include: iron, calcium, vitamins D, E, K, vitamins of the B group, and many other minerals. Our pets are not the only ones suffering from deficiency of these elements. According to the University of Washington’s Neuroscience for Kids, many Americans do not get the recommended daily intake of these essential nutrients. One to five million people is Vitamin A deficient; while one of the most common vitamin deficiencies is of Vitamin B9 or folic acid. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world.

Miss Marple
Altweibersommer / Animals Photos / CC BY-NC-SA

Benefits

Eating liver can reduce the risk for several health issues related to nutrient deficiency. Vitamin A from beef, goat, or lamb liver can help decrease the likelihood of experiencing night blindness and other vision problems. Increasing the amount of iron in their food helps prevent anemia. Getting enough folic acid helps reducing the risk of nerve and memory problems, as well as, the risk of neural tube defects for pregnant females.

Are there any risks from eating liver?

Besides all the nutritional benefits , there is an important fact that we should keep in mind when talking about liver. While it detoxifies the body, it concentrates many toxic substances in itself. One must ask: is there a way for our pets to enjoy full benefits of eating liver, and still be protected from these harmful substances? The answer is, yes! The key is in using the liver of animals raised on pasture without hormones and antibiotics. Only livestock and poultry raised without constant influence of drugs and pesticides can give us liver that is healthy and safe to eat.

Please take a look at Pets’N'Nature hypoallergenic beef liver, lamb liver, and goat liver treats for cats and dogs. 

In the following table we compared the nutritional value of ground beef  and beef liver:

Nutrients per 100g Unit Ground Beef Beef Liver
Proximates      
Water g 54.38 70.81
Energy kcal 332 135
Protein g 14.35 20.36
Total lipid (fat) g 30 3.63
Carbohydrate, by difference g 0 3.89
Fiber, total dietary g 0 0
Sugars, total g 0 0
Minerals      
Calcium, Ca mg 24 5
Iron, Fe mg 1.64 4.9
Magnesium, Mg mg 14 18
Phosphorus, P mg 132 387
Potassium, K mg 218 313
Sodium, Na mg 67 69
Zinc, Zn mg 3.57 4
Vitamins      
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 0 1.3
Thiamin mg 0.044 0.189
Riboflavin mg 0.139 2.755
Niacin mg 3.382 13.175
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.278 1.083
Folate, DFE µg 8 290
Vitamin B-12 µg 2.07 59.3
Vitamin A, RAE µg 0 4968
Vitamin A, IU IU 0 16898
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) mg 0.49 0.38
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) µg 2.9 3.1
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Salmonella Infection in Cats and Dogs

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Description and Symptoms

Salmonella is a Gram-negative microorganism that often lives in the intestines of humans and animals and includes more than 2000 different types of bacteria. These types are called serotypes, and some of them are more aggressive than others. Salmonella often causes no symptoms at all, but in times when immune system is compromised, or when the serotype is aggressive, various symptoms can develop. The symptoms are caused by the very presence of bacteria and toxins they produce, and may include:

  • Fever ( up to 104º F)
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Lethargy
  • Weight loss
  • Mucus in stool
  • Anorexia
  • Abnormally fast heart rate
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion
  • Skin disease
  • Shock
  • Death

Salmonella competes for the space in the intestines with all the other kinds of good bacteria (intestinal flora) that normally live there and help the process of digestion. Therefore, it is very important to remember that keeping  the intestinal flora balanced, often prevents Salmonella from making colonies and causing the illness. This is especially important in animals whose immune system is weak, such as the very young or very old animals. Common name for Salmonella infections is “Salmonellosis”, and it affects both humans and animals. Salmonellosis is a “Zoonosis“, meaning that it can be transmitted between humans and their pets, causing very similar symptoms.
If the body overcomes the first attack of Salmonella but fails to totally defeat it, the illness may go into the chronic phase with long lasting symptoms that usually include:

  • Weight Loss
  • Fever
  • Loss of blood
  • Non-intestinal infections
  • Long lasting diarrhea

Diagnosis

Given the complexity of symptoms, in addition to a general overview, the veterinarian will probably want to do some more tests to determine whether the illness is caused by Salmonella, another intestinal bacteria, or an allergy to a certain food. These tests may include taking urine and fecal samples, as well as blood samples. After confirming the Salmonella in any of these samples, the veterinarian will decide about the treatment, in relation to the severity and type of symptoms.

Treatment

The treatment includes two main points:

  • Fighting the bacteria themselves
  • Fighting the symptoms

Fighting the bacteria themselves includes antibiotic therapy. Since different types of Salmonella react differently to various antibiotics, the best way to determine which antibiotic is the best choice is by performing the test called “Antibiogram”. The test involves growing bacteria from a sample in an environment that contains certain antibiotics in order to decide which antibiotic bacteria the most.

Fighting the symptoms includes everything that can be done to facilitate the overall condition of the animal, like:

  • Rehydration
  • Treatment with glucocorticoids to prevent shock
  • Blood transfusion in severe cases that include sepsis (bacteria found in blood)

Prognosis

Prognosis is very variable and it depends on the severity of infection, aggressiveness of bacteria, age of the animal, general health of the animal, and more factors. Mild, uncomplicated cases, are usually solved in a couple of days, while severe cases can end up with death of the animal no matter what we do to help.

Prevention

The most important factors in preventing Salmonellosis are proper nutrition and low level of stress. Always feed your pet the food that is natural for them. Even though some say that raw food carries risk of  Salmonella, there are many cases of Salmonellosis caused by dry kibble. In fact, it is never proven that animals who eat raw food more often get sick than animals who don’t. Raw food is the most natural food for cats and dogs, and if we choose high quality meats the risk of Salmonella infection is lowered to a minimum.

Animals should always have enough space to rest, play, and do all other daily activities. Taking a proper care of an animal greatly helps reducing the stress, which is another big factor in general health of the animal.

 

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Anal glands, and how to prevent their inflammation

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Anal glands are small sacks near anus and both cats and dogs have them, but their inflammation is mainly a canine problem.  These glands contain a strong-smelling sticky liquid that is used to mark territory or to express strong fear. The glands empty spontaneously usually during bowel movements. Sometimes however, if not emptied regularly, they can cause an infection and an inflammation which manifest itself in a few ways:

There is pain and/or itching present in the anal area and the dog will “scoot” along the floor.

Anal area becomes swollen and reddish, and sometimes even abscess and fever are present.

The dog is licking or biting his anus, sitting, or even standing uncomfortably.

Some factors that play role in the development of these problems are constipation or infrequent bowel movements, stress, and lack of time for exercise, but the most important one appears to be the improper nutrition. Inadequate diet is the main cause of irregular or soft stool, which is again the main cause of anal glands inflammation. Hard stool helps emptying the anal glands, and if the stool fails to form properly, the anal sacks will accumulate more and more liquid causing the inflammation.

If there is no infection, the treatment is done by emptying the glands. It’s always the best idea to take the dog to a qualified person for this procedure, in order to avoid possible complications. If, however, there is an infection present, the veterinarian will probably include antibiotics in the treatment. In the hardest cases where the glands become infected over and over, they can be even surgically removed in a procedure known as anal sacculectomy, but this process carries its own possible complications like fecal incontinence, painful defecation caused by scar formation, and persistent draining fistulae.

For all these reasons mentioned, it’s always a good idea to try to prevent potential problems by following a couple of simple tips:

Make sure your pet has proper diet that includes enough Omega 3, Zinc, Vitamins of B complex, Vitamin A, and Lecithin. Provide enough space for play. Take the dog outside often enough to have regular bowel movements, and thus empty their anal glands.

If however you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, take the dog to your veterinarian before the infection takes its place and makes bigger problems.

Anal glands inflammation became a bigger problem when we started feeding our dogs commercial kibble. This condition almost never occurs in wild dogs and wolves due to their different diet based on raw meat and bones. Raw pet food, because of its similarity with natural diet, promotes smaller and harder stool, which again promotes natural emptying of anal glands.

If you have a dog with this problem and you have any diet questions, please contact us.

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How to avoid dog bites?

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

In the USA every year a number of deaths are caused by dog bites. Most of these cases are small children killed by family pets or a neighbor’s dogs. US medical personnel treat at least a million dog bites annually; ranging from small scratches to severe mutilations requiring reconstructive surgery. Majority of these bites come from dogs that have a reputation for being nice. There are many reasons of canine aggression: inconsistent leadership, overly emotional home, violent treatment, too little exercise, teasing, failure to correct a dog that nips while in play, physical discomfort from aging or injury, and poor breeding.

Many pet owners live in a denial that their dog may poses a potential danger. They refuse to recognize small signs of aggressiveness. Their dog might have already bitted someone in the past, but often excuses are made to protect the dog, while a victim ends up blamed. For example, the owner might say that the dog has been started or provoked. Such aggressive reactions tend to get worse with time; especially in the older animals.

Here are some basic guidelines that should reduce the risk of dog bites:

    • Do not disturb a dog while it’s eating or sleeping.
    • Do not intrude upon a private territory of a confined or restrained dog.
    • Do not tease a dog by dangling toys or food over his head.
    • Do not hug or hold a pet that wants to be free.
    • Avoid stray dogs completely.
    • Do not yell or wave your hands around the dog.
    • Avoid facing the dog head-on or staring it in the eye.
    • Do not turn and run unless you are certain of reaching safety.
    • If a dog starts to chase you while on a bike – get off, stay on the opposite side, and walk away at an unhurried pace.
    • When two dogs are in a fight, get out of their way and get assistance from the distance.

If a dog bites you anyway – stay calm. Do not scream as you may provoke it further. Try to put something else near his mouth to distract him. This way he will have something else to bite besides you. Cleanse the wound with soap and water. Try to establish the dog’s identity. Call your doctor for advice and report the incident to the public health department.

Angry dog with bared teeth

Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats

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Flea Season!

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

It is springtime! Many insects – among them fleas are at their peak. Our pets can easily catch them by playing outside. There are many brands of insecticides on the market that are marked as safe for the animals, but simply using toxins may not be good for overall health of our pets. As the old saying goes, it is always better to prevent than to cure; therefore we have came up with few helpful tips on how to eradicate them in case you find yourself in such situation:
1. Vacuum clean floors and furniture at least once a week. Steam clean your carpets at least once every three months. High temperature and moisture kills flea larvae and pupae.
2. Use a flea comb to kill fleas present in the fur.
3. If you have a lawn, mow and water it regularly.
4. Don’t kill ants because they love to eat flea eggs and larvae.
5. Occasionally, on a sunny day, cover bare-earth spots with black plastic. The high temperatures will kill the flea larvae!
6. At least once a year sprinkle diatomaceous earth along the walls and under the furniture. It will dry out any insects that come in contact with it.
7. Use an herbal flea collar impregnated with insect-repellent herbal oils, rather than insecticides.

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How much to feed our pets?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Most people take the easier road when it comes to the feeding of their pets. Some don’t even think about it. They just follow the daily norm. Most of the time it’s easier to read the manual on the food packaged and proceed with the direction given. However, if you are one of those who are precised about your pet’s consumption and want to explore an option of preparing the food yourself, we have come up with few important tips.Before we do anything we should educate ourselves with understanding our pet’s bodies and the way the food is consumed and processed. Even though some may be able to intake a lot of at once; that does not necessarily mean that it’s healthy. After all they are not machines, and sometimes feeding them less can be beneficial. Cats and dogs have very elastic stomachs that allow them to eat a lot at one time. They possess the same natural structure of those in the same family of animal kingdom. In the wild animals are not guaranteed the next meal; therefore, their bodies have an ability to store more food in case they don’t catch the next prey. That is way in domesticated pets overfeeding leads to the obesity.

How do we know when enough is enough?

There are no two cats or dogs alike. Just as humans. Every pet is different. That varies from puppies to kittens, pregnant females, neutered/spayed adults vs. intact. However, there is a general feeding formula that applies to a healthy average animal.

What is it the formula?

First, recognizing the pet’s weight! It is very important that we maintain the knowledge of that for many reasons. In this case, we’ll use it towards better understanding our feeding formula. For an average adult, the amount of food per day a pet should consume is anywhere between 2% – 3% of their body weight.

Example:

For a dog of 40 lb – the formula should look like this:

40 : 100 x 2 = 0.8 lb (40 divided by 100 times 2)

40 : 100 x 3 = 1.2 lb (40 divided by 100 times 3)

Going off of the example above, the amount of food we should give our pet is between 0.8 lb and 1.2 lb per day. (Let’s keep in mind that this doesn’t apply to the dry food, because the dry food contains very small amount of water. That is why it is often advised to stick with manufacturer recommendations). The same principle applies to youngsters with only one difference. Growing puppies and kittens need about 6%-10% of their weight to start with depending on how old they are (younger ones need more food than several month olds).

Things to look for?

It’s simple. Watch your pets’ weight. Keep a chart. Take notes, and talk to your veterinarian. If you notice that a pet is becoming obese to a naked eye, decrease the food amount during a meal. On other hand, if you notice that ribs and spine are becoming noticeable, increase the amount. To get you started on the process we have create the following feeding calculator that applies the best to our raw food, but you can use it as a starting point for all kinds of meat based diets:

 

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Tip of the Day – Choosing the Right Meats for Cats and Dogs

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Meat is the most natural food for cats and dogs.  When we talk about meat, we usually don’t think about the total cost of meat production, including great cost to the environment and considerable suffering by the livestock raised on modern farms. Also, meat is the most chemically contaminated food, as chemicals from the livestock food get concentrated in animal body.

How do we do to prevent these chemicals from entering the body of our cats and dogs? The answer is simple: We stick to pasture raised and organic meats because these two types of meats are the least contaminated. However, when we resort to standard grade meat it’s good to know that not all types of livestock accumulate the same amount of harmful substances in their body. Turkeys, ducks and sheep are known to have significantly lower cancer rates than chickens, cattle, and hogs. This is directly related to the amount of meat meal fed to each species. Dogs and cats who eat mostly chicken, pork, and beef, are at the higher risk of getting cancer themselves, and we have to think about that when we feed them. For complete formulas with pasture raised meats and organic produce checkout our products.

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Dehydrated Treats for Cats and Dogs

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Ivan Paunovic, DVM

Great  news everyone!

We are developing a new line of products: Cat and dog treats made of pure dehydrated meats and organs! All meats that we use are human-grade quality and grown on local farms. We go one step further by using only pasture-raised meats, because they are richer in Omega 3 fatty acids and other important nutrients. Our delicious treats will be packed in reclosable high quality stand-up pouches, and will be available for shipping and delivery. Stay tuned!

In the mean time visit our products page to see what we offer right now.

Cat and Dog Chefs

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