A Winter-time Boost: Omega Supplementation for Horses

Much of North America has been feeling the effects of the “arctic blast” these past few months and it has taken a toll on our equine companions as well.  During “typical” winters, horses in the Deep South may not even come off of pasture or will spend a few nights with a turnout rug on. But this year, many horses have had to spend more time indoors and have even experienced a change in diet due to the unusual weather. 

Despite our best efforts, there are many essential bioactive compounds that may be missing from your horse’s diet during these long months of hay and grain.  I’m going to discuss how omega essential fatty acid supplementation can help your horse get through the winter and transition into spring in good health. So how can omegas help keep your horse stay healthy this winter?

Gastrointestinal Support

Every horse owner knows that horses can have finicky digestive systems. Horses are designed to be eating roughage such as grass or hay around the clock. In the winter-time, horses are often kept indoors and often don’t have 24-hour access to forages to munch on. This can lead to a pH imbalance in the stomach, predisposing your four-hooved friend to painful gastric ulcers and poor digestion.  Also, many horses don’t drink or eat as much when their “routine” has been changed.  Due to these factors, veterinarians usually see a spike in the number of colic cases during the winter months.

When your horse’s GI tract is under stress, prevention is the key.  As the winter months continue to bear down on us, keep your horse healthy from the inside out with Seabuck 7 Equine. Omega-7 packed sea buckthorn berry has been clinically shown to keep the mucosa healthy in the horse’s GI tract. If your horse does succumb to GI problems this winter, sea buckthorn is recommended as an all-natural adjunct therapy for the treatment of gastric ulcers.(1,2)    

Skin and Hair Health & Omega-7

Many horses will develop a lack-luster coat during the winter months and even dry skin around the eyes and muzzle. Omega-7 fatty acids in sea buckthorn are key building blocks for skin health. It helps support collagen production within the skin, which improves its elasticity and strength. You will be surprised at the sheen your horse will have from sea buckthorn’s unique nutrition once that winter coat has been shed away this spring.

Heart- healthy Omega-9 & Omega-3

Omegas 9 and 3 are “good” fats that provide a host of health benefits.  They are found in many vegetarian sources such as sea buckthorn berries, canola seed and nuts. These fats have a positive effect on cardiovascular health and can provide your horse with an energy boost to stay warm during the cold weather. Intake of omega-9s has been linked to increases in metabolism and improved mood. When it’s cold and dreary outside, who wouldn’t benefit from a little boost? 

This is a perfect time to start your horse on a whole-food essential fatty acid supplement. Products like Seabuck 7 Equine, made from whole-fruit sea buckthorn, are bursting with omega-3, 7 and 9 essential fatty acids and over 190 bioactive compounds.


References
1. Huff, N. et al., 2012 Sep-Oct, Effect of sea buckthorn berries and pulp in a liquid emulsion on gastric ulcer scores and gastric juice pH in horses. J Vet Intern Med. Vol. 26(5) 1186-91.
2. Reese, R. et al., 2008, The Effect of Sea Buckthorn Extract on the Prevention and Treatment of Gastric Ulcers in Horses. University of Tennessee publication.

5 Healthy Diet Tips for Pet Owners

It breaks my heart to see so many pets come into the animal hospital suffering from preventable diseases usually caused by lifestyle choices, not bodily invaders. While the battle rages on between researchers on the causes of obesity in humans (Is it caused by food addiction? Is sugar addictive? How do genetics play into the problem? Is it a lack of food education or worse- simply bad food choices?) – we are 100% in charge of our pet’s food intake. For dogs and cats and even horses, humans dictate what and when they eat- they have no choice.

After helping obese and underweight pets for many years, I’ve found that some small changes can make a big difference in managing your dog’s weight.

1. Portion control

Most pet owners are guilty of over-feeding their pets. We like to show our love and affection by providing full bowls.  Sometimes we feed more than we should when our animals beg for more. They like the way their food tastes and it is our job to say when enough is enough. If you are not sure about how much your pet should be eating, look on the side of the bag of food for recommendations and talk to your veterinarian.

2. Limit or eliminate snacks

For many years scientists have been debating the causes behind the “French paradox”. This ‘paradox’ is that while the French eat what Americans consider the ‘bad foods’- full-fat dairy, fatty meats, alcohol and carbs – they have some of the lowest instances of coronary disease and obesity in the world.

After living in Europe for a few years, I think I have cracked this ‘paradox.’  The French, like the Poles and other European groups, limit their portion sizes at meals and do not snack between meals.  The culture around their food is one of pleasure and celebration, they don’t want to ‘ruin their appetite’ by snacking between meals.  Processed snacks, while not taboo, are especially frowned upon.

These cultural lessons can be applied to ourselves and our pets. There is no nutritional reason to give our dogs treats or snacks between meals. Pet stores are bursting with fatty, salty processed snacks for dogs and they love them. Their waistlines and their health do not. Small snacks can help while training because dogs are usually very food-motivated. However, these snacks should be very tiny and only given during training sessions.

If you must give a snack or a reward during training, portion control is key. Use a very small piece of raw veggie or fruit, such as carrot or apple. I’m talking the size of your thumbnail. It is low-calorie and just enough to let your dog know that he/she is being rewarded and enjoying a tasty treat.

3. Whole-foods

Whole foods that are less processed provide better nutrition for your pet. Select commercial brands of dog food that list whole-food ingredients such as ‘brown rice’ and ‘chicken breast’ and leave out ingredients such as ‘high fructose corn syrup’ and other by-products. Some dogs that are chronically underweight may have problems absorbing nutrients and commercial dog food just isn’t for them. For these types of patients, home-cooking a diet custom-formulated by a veterinary nutritionist may help them maintain a healthy weight.

4. Incorporate ‘superfoods’

‘Superfoods’ such as sea buckthorn berries, blueberries and sweet potato are great additions to your dog’s diet.  These can be incorporated in small amounts every day for a nutritional boost without adding too many calories. Even if you select a high-quality, whole-foods based commercial pet food, some essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-7 need to be supplemented, as processing can diminish the levels of these nutrients. 

If your pet suffers from chronic disease, food can also be medicinal and extremely helpful in the healing process. Talk to your veterinarian about the role that superfoods and supplements can have for your pet’s health.

5. Unusual but nutritious

If you cook for your pet, consider incorporating less expensive but highly nutritious cuts of meat and offal. Talk to your butcher about purchasing organ meats such as beef heart for your dog or cat. Beef heart is less expensive than other ‘choice’ cuts of meat and is packed full of vitamins such as B12, and minerals like iron and high-quality protein.

What are your top diet tips for your pets? Share them in the comments below.

Pure vs. Purified- What's the Difference?

It can be difficult to wade through the vocabulary related to health-food products and nutritional supplements, even for pets. There is little regulation of terminology on what is considered “natural” and other terms can be equally ambiguous. When it comes to omega fatty acid supplements such as omega-3 and omega-7, two terms are especially confusing: pure and purified.  What is the difference? Is there a difference and is it important? Will I be purchasing an ‘inferior’ product if I pick one over the other?  Don’t worry - I’m going to set the record straight on what these terms mean and why it is important to choose the right one.

What is "purified" omega-7 oil?

-This is what "purified" omega 7 looks like-

Omega-7 oils are beneficial for your pet’s health in a variety of ways, but not all products are created equal.  When a product says “purified” on the label, it can be very misleading, this usually means the product has been heavily processed by chemicals like bleach and surfactants to “purify”, or isolate a specific nutrient. Many “purified” omega-7 oils start as anchovy crude oil and go through a series of 6 or 7 processing steps to reach the final product. (refer to the image above)

Why choose a pure, whole-food sourced omega-7 oil?

‘Purified’ oils may contain residual chemicals from processing, which can be harmful to your pet’s health. Some of the residues may even contain known carcinogens! This purification process also exposes the fatty acids to high temperatures, breaking them down and causing the oil to go rancid. Rancid oil can not only have a funny flavor or smell, making it less palatable to your furry friend, but it also loses its nutritional value.

Pure sea buckthorn oil naturally contains the world’s richest source of omega 7, up to 40%, without ever having to process or isolate the nutrient in order to achieve these high levels. SeaBuck produces oil extracts using a simple process called CO2 supercritical extraction. Basically, this works like a big espresso machine. High-pressure, recyclable CO2 is put through ground sea buckthorn seeds, forcing out the oil component. 

This low-temperature (90-100 F), whole-food processing of SeaBuck products retains the integrity of the omega-7 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.  SeaBuck’s pure oil extraction is free from any chemical washes, surfactants and residues. You can’t find that level of purity with a “purified” fish oil product. 

In short, mother nature knows best. Whole-foods and minimally processed supplements are better absorbed and assimilated into the body than man made/altered supplements. As a veterinarian, I have a hard time recommending products that may contain chemical residues or harmful carcinogens. You will certainly gain more from selecting the purest, least refined products to include in your and your pet’s diet. Your pet will thank you!

What's your opinion on "pure vs. purified"? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Natural Hairball Remedy: Omega 7 and Sea Buckthorn

Hairballs can be a major issue for a number of housecats. They make your cat very uncomfortable and can ruin your upholstery!  There are a variety of ‘hairball remedies’ on the market that claim to help your feline friend, but which one is best for addressing the problem as naturally as possible?

What exactly causes hairballs?

Before I discuss which product may be best for your cat, we need to understand why cats produce hairballs in the first place. Hairballs are actually not a normal occurrence in healthy cats. Cats are very tidy, fastidious groomers and when they groom themselves, they swallow hair. This hair should simply pass through the digestive tract. Experts think that hairballs are a product of stomach or intestinal problems, skin disease, and can even be a symptom of other issues, such as kidney failure.

Cats that have skin problems such as fleas or allergic dermatitis will groom themselves more than others, leading to more hair ingestion. Some cats may produce hairballs a couple of times a day, causing further irritation. Chronic irritation can slow down the movement of ingested contents (food and hair) through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and predisposes vomiting.  Some cats that chronically produce hairballs or vomit may also suffer from undiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome or constipation.

What are your options?

If your cat is frequently producing hairballs or vomiting undigested food, have him or her examined by your veterinarian. Additional diagnostics may be necessary such as bloodwork or x-rays if your vet suspects concurrent constipation or another medical problem.

If your cat is suffering from health problems, it is best to consult your veterinarian before trying a remedy. There are a great number of hairball remedies out on the market that are ‘over-the-counter.’ Most are made from a variety of natural and synthetic ingredients.

• Petroleum jelly
• Petroleum jelly is an old remedy for addressing hairballs, but has not been proven to help move hair through the GI tract. Petroleum-based remedies won’t address any underlying inflammation either. Some cats dislike the taste while others readily eat it in their food.
• ‘Bezo-pet’ or ‘Laxatone'
• These products are also mineral oil or petroleum jelly-based products, which also contain a fish or malt flavor additive.
• Lactulose
• This is a prescription-strength laxative that stimulates the GI tract and helps to propel hair and other ingested contents along. It is often prescribed for cats who suffer from constipation as well as hairballs. Often it is too strong for some cats and can cause diarrhea.
• Psyllium
• Psyllium is a fiber found in grains such as wheat and corn husks. It is the ‘active ingredient’ in ‘over-the-counter’ laxatives and fiber supplements such as Metamucil.  It has a grainy texture and human products are often flavored.  It is best used in cats with stool problems but is reported to occasionally help with hairballs.
• Pumpkin
• Pureed or canned pumpkin is an all-natural hairball remedy. It is thought that pumpkin’s high fiber content helps to soothe the irritated stomach and helps “pull” the hair along in the gastrointestinal tract. While dogs readily like the sweet flavor of pumpkin, many cats just don’t have a sweet tooth.
• Sea buckthorn omega-7 oil
• Omega-7 rich, whole-fruit sea buckthorn helps soothe irritated GI tracts in many species from horses to cats. Owners who supplement their cats with omega-7 oil see a great improvement in their cats hair coat and a drastic reduction in the number of hairballs produced. Some report that their cat’s hairball problem completely disappeared, calling it “a hairball cure”! Whole-fruit sea buckthorn helps to soothe irritation and inflammation in the stomach. This inflammation predisposes cats (and other mammals, like horses) to ulcers and poor GI motility. Poor motility leads to hair getting stuck in the stomach, predisposing hairball formation.
• The fiber content and lubricating properties of sea buckthorn and omega-7 oils help hair to move at greater ease in the GI tract. 

"You know, now that it’s been about a month, I've noticed that Katie has not thrown up a hairball in a LONG time. On the recommendation of my vet, I tried Cat Lax which seemed to improve things but not completely. She’s been hairball and throw-up free ever since the Omega 7 oil."~ Debbie G.

For preventing hairballs, sea buckthorn-sourced, pure omega-7 oils are by far the best “bang for your buck.” It is a natural whole-food source and pure, not purified using harmful chemicals. It will also bring a brilliant shine to your cat’s coat and may help minimize skin problems such as dry, itchy skin. 

Do you have a hairball success story to share? Tell us about it in the comments.