Chewy’s Thankful for Force
Dear THK,
My dog Chewy had been suffering from skin problems, toe nail loss, and avoidance of his food for several months. We were seeing a new vet who kept giving him antibiotics, steroids, and anti-fungal. She was even suggesting that he was suffering from Lupus. After nothing was working, I decided to see if this was a food allergy. I was telling this to a friend of mine who told me about The Honest Kitchen and she ordered Chewy a box of Force.
I have never seen a dog SO excited to eat his food! Chewy had a complete turn around with his ailments as well as returning to his old, happy, playful self. I believe it was your food that gave me back my dog. For this, I am very thankful. You have wonderful products!!
Sincerely,
J. & Chewy
October 2011
Flaxseed – One of nature’s most perfect foods.
Ever wondered where we get our certified organic flaxseed from? Here’s an actual photo of one of the flax fields in full bloom! So beautiful!
“Our organic flax is grown here in North Dakota, where 95% of US flax happens to be grown. Our supplier told me that when the flax is in bloom in mid-August, the fields from a distance look like a rippled lake,” says Laurette Sipe, our resident herbalist and director of operations and purchasing.
“The pods are quite ingenious, where the shell holds about 7-11 flax seeds, a great example of nature at her finest. The seeds inside the pods are amazingly shiny – and are sliced not milled using ultra-sharp blades, which helps to prevent leaking of the valuable golden oil inside each one.”
Flaxseed has often been referred to as “nature’s most perfect food”. It is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, vital for healthy skin, coat, heart, joints and kidneys. Flaxseed also contains lignans which are potent cancer fighters and antioxidants. Loaded with vitamins and phytonutrients, flax offers a great supply of fiber and protein, too!
Flax offers a nice ratio of healthy fats to protein, as well as both soluble and insoluble fiber and, in addition, some essential minerals, according to Laurette. And since our flax is grown organically, therefore, it is likely higher in minerals than conventionally grown.
Flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid(ALA) and omega-3 fatty acids. Essential Fatty Acids are important in the development and maintenance of a healthy brain, liver, heart and immune system. Animals cannot survive without them and this is why they are referred to as essential fatty acids. However, dogs are not efficient at converting ALA to EPA and DHA so a variety of sources of fats is recommended for our dogs to make sure they get the essential fatty acids they require.
Cushings Disease
Cushings Disease occurs when there is an over-active adrenal gland (known as Hyperadrenocorticism or HAC), which causes chronically increased cortisol to circulate in the blood. Cortisol affects nearly every cell in the body and is a natural blood steroid, responsible for the presence of glucose in the bloodstream; more directly, cortisol creates a balance of glucose in the bloodstream by breaking down muscle (catabolism) and fat (lipoysis) tissue. Insulin’s job is to bring glucose into hungry cells and cortisol pulls glucose out.
Cushing’s disease and Hyperadrenocorticism have 3 types:
Pituitary-dependent, which results from a benign or malignant tumor in the brain and is responsible for 80- 90% of cases of Cushings Disease in dogs.
Adrenal-dependent, caused by a cortisol-secreting tumor involving adrenal glands near kidney, responsible 15- 20% of Cushings Disease diagnoses.
Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism, which is the result of long term veterinary steroid treatment for problems like skin allergies and causes adrenal gland atrophy.
The classic signs of Cushings, known as the 5 P’s, are:
Polyuria (increased urination)
Polydipsia (increased drinking)
Polyphagia (increased appetite)
Panting
Pot Bellied
Other signs include bilateral weakness, symmetrical hair loss, thin skin and increased blood pressure.
Poor quality, highly processed commercial diets can also play a role in the onset of Canine Cushing’s disease. By metabolizing inferior, heat-processed ingredients, GI tract upsets and other inflammatory conditions such as colitis and skin problems, can occur. The treatment of these inflammatory conditions by conventional veterinarians often involves high-dose steroid treatments (cortisone injections, prednisone, and other derivatives of steroids) all of which are a contributing factor in one of the three types of Cushing’s disease.
For dogs with Cushing’s disease symptoms vary extensively. Some dogs start with just one symptom and end up with to multiple clinical signs as the disease progresses. The symptoms include muscle weakness, or wasting (created by the over production of cortisol breaking down muscles), ravenous appetite, pot belly (large swollen belly), erratic blood glucose levels, depressed immune system (resulting in increase risk of infections), excessive urination and drinking (resulting in imbalances flushing of minerals), heat intolerance, skin sores and arthritis (from improper use of calcium), liver disease, mood changes, abnormal sleep patterns, hair thinning (balding), as you can see quite an array of disturbances to a dog’s whole body. Pets with Cushings disease are more likely to form clots in their blood, which can lodge in the lungs, and be potentially fatal.
Diagnosis of Cushings is made via a general health exam and profile, complete blood count, urinalysis and other specific tests if the signs point to Cushings.
Conventional treatment for Cushings disease involves medication with drugs that suppress adrenal function.
A Holistic approach includes a Healthy, Natural Diet, along with Traditional Chinese Medicine: An herb called Si Miao San as well as the herb Ginko, which helps to lower Cortisol secretion.
In general, the outlook for a pet with Cushings disease is good, there are several conventional and complementary treatment approaches available and most pets who have the disease are able to lead normal lives while receiving treatment.
The book “Dogs, Diet, and Disease” by Caroline Levin has been a great guide for this information and we would recommend for anyone with a dog with Cushing’s or other metabolism disease.
