Equine Joint Health: Could Sea Buckthorn be the Solution?

Our equine companions are living longer than ever and some performance horses are still going strong well into their 20’s. The horse’s natural ability to move gracefully and with strength is what captivates us. In order to preserve this movement, it is important for us to protect their joints from the march of time. But what is it that causes horses to develop painful joints in the first place?  

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, most commonly known as arthritis, is the inflammation of the cartilage that lines the joints. Over time and with enough damage, the cushioning cartilage will wear away, allowing the surface of the bones to come in contact with each other, causing pain and inflammation. Arthritis can be caused by a number of problems, including injury, infection (from penetrating wounds or sepsis), poor conformation and daily wear-and-tear. 

The most common signs of arthritis are lameness, swelling of the joint, pain upon flexion or extension, ‘grumpiness’ and reluctance to perform. If there is a significant amount of arthritis present, a “crunching” sound or feeling (crepitus) may be observed when the joint is flexed or extended. Due to the unique blood supply of the cartilage, it can take some time for horses to recover from joint injuries. It can be even harder to prevent lasting damage to the cartilage in the absence of anti-inflammatory therapy. 

Horses of all ages and activity levels can benefit from natural, holistic nutritional joint support. The key factor in preventing pain and nourishing the joints through natural remedies is to start them before problems happen. However, even if your horse has suffered an injury, these products still have significant value and can improve recovery times. 

Glucosaminoglycans (GAGs)
GAGs have been used in horses for several decades to help nourish cartilage and ‘treat’ arthritis. GAGs are naturally occurring compounds that are found within the cartilage of other animals, particularly sharks and mollusks. When these compounds are introduced into the diet, taken up by the synovium of the joint and it in turn can “lubricate” the joints more efficiently. 

GAGs also have a mild anti-inflammatory effect at the level of the joint. One of the downsides to using GAGs is that some products are made from non-environmentally friendly sources, such as factory-farmed beef cartilage and shark cartilage. If you use GAGs for joint support, select an ocean-friendly source such as sustainable New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel. 

Sea Buckthorn 
Sea buckthorn is scientifically known as Hippophae rhamnoides, which means “shining horse.” The Ancient Greeks noted that when their horses foraged on the leaves and berries of the sea buckthorn plant, that it had a wonderful effect on their health. Their coats were shiny, hooves were stronger and the horses had an overall “bloom.”  Today, researchers have begun to understand why we see these health benefits. 

Sea buckthorn berry contains over 190 bioactive compounds that support every aspect of your horse’s body.  This sustainably wild-crafted food is rich in omega-3, omega-7 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, numerous antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. One of the most important reasons to consider using sea buckthorn as a joint support supplement is the high levels of omega-3 and omega-7. 

Extensive research in dogs, cats, primates, rats and horses have shown that across the board, the high levels of omega-3 and omega-7 fatty acids found in sea buckthorn controls inflammation, arthritis pain and supports joint health.(1,2,3) Recently, two important groups of anti-inflammatory compounds in the body have been discovered called resolvins and protectins. These molecules are made in the body from dietary omega-3 fatty acids found in sea buckthorn berry. These compounds are “switched on” during inflammatory process and act as a “braking signal” which prevents prolonged inflammatory over-reaction within the body.(2) These findings show that high levels of omega fatty acids can be extremely helpful for controlling arthritis-related inflammation and prevent further cartilage damage and degradation. The antioxidant punch of sea buckthorn also helps to prevent free radical damage not only in the joints but in the rest of the body as well.  

It is a good idea to use a combination of natural remedies, including GAGs and sea buckthorn for your horse’s joint health.  Both supplements work in different ways and can complement each other. If you have a horse that is taking a NSAID such as phynelybutamine (“bute”) for severe arthritis pain, laminitis, or an injury, sea buckthorn has another benefit that GAGs do not. “Bute,” combined with the stress of recovering from an injury, can predispose horses to painful gastric ulcers. Studies in horses and dogs have shown that sea buckthorn berry puree and oils have a natural preventative gastro-protective effect and can speed the healing of gastric ulcers.(4,5) 

Numerous users of sea buckthorn have reported an increase in their horse’s energy level and flexibility. Even small improvements in performance can make all the difference, especially for demanding disciplines.

Horses, despite their power and strength, are somewhat delicate animals. Keeping them healthy and performing at their peak without pharmaceuticals is in everyone’s best interest. Your veterinarian will likely agree that use of holistic products like sea buckthorn will help your horse to outshine the rest.


Resources
1. Patel, C, et al., 2012, Remedial Prospective of Hippophae rhamnoides Linn. (Sea Buckthorn). ISRN Pharmacol. 2012: 436857.
2. Roudebush, Philip. Nutrition, Inflammation and Pain. Hill’s Global Mobility Symposium. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, Kansas.
3. Mozafarian, D. et al., 2010, Trans-Palmitoleic Acid, Metabolic Risk Factors, and New-Onset Diabetes in U.S. Adults. Annals Intr Med, Vol. 153, no. 12.
4. 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.
5. Xing, J. et al., 2002 December, Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seed and pulp oils on experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats. Fitoterapia. Vol. 73(7-8), 644-50.

Pet First Aid Essentials 2: How to Know if It's a Medical Emergency

Just like with other things in life, accidents and emergencies can happen to anyone. Many different situations can arise, but it is important for all pet owners to know the basics before heading to the veterinary hospital. The very first step is to recognize normal from abnormal. This can be done in just a couple of minutes and can help save your pet’s life.

If you suspect that your pet is in trouble, take a deep breath and follow these recommendations:

• Appraise the situation
• Remain calm – it may be emotionally taxing but you will be able to think more clearly if you remain calm.
• Be safe – remove yourself and your pet from further danger (ie. in the road)
• Can your pet walk or not?
• What happened? 
• Weakness or lethargy
• Vomiting
• Coughing
• Trauma
• Toxicity
• Seizure

It takes just a few seconds to appraise the situation and move on to the next step.

Evaluate the ABCs:

• Airway
• Breathing
• Circulation

While your pet is normal and healthy, it is a good idea to find out what your pet’s normal ‘vital signs’ are. You can do this at home or have your veterinarian help you.  Knowing your pet’s typical heart rate, temperature, etc. can help you determine when to act. 

Airway:

• Is it open or obstructed?
• Was your pet chewing on a toy and suddenly collapsed or started coughing or breathing heavy?
• Look inside the mouth – take care, don’t get bitten!
• If you suspect a choke, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
• Take note of your pet’s gum and tongue color (mucous membrane color)*
• Normal: pink, moist
• Abnormal: purple, blue, brick red, white, yellow, or brown. Call your veterinarian.

* If your pet has a pigmented tongue, mucous membrane color can be checked on the vulva or inner eyelid

Breathing:

• Is your pet breathing?
• How fast or how slowly?
• Is it normal?
• Normal Respiration (breathing) rate
• What is normal for your pet?
• 10-30 breaths per minute is average ‘normal’
• Panting = up to 200 breaths per minute
• Panting can be a sign of pain or respiratory distress 

Circulation:

• Is there a heartbeat or a pulse present?
• You can check for a pulse on the inside of the rear leg, where the thigh meets the body wall. Press down gently. You can have your veterinarian show you how to do this.
• Is the heart rate normal?
• Normal heart rates
• What is normal for your pet?
• Puppy under 1 year of age: 120-160 beats per minute
• Adult under 30 pounds: 100-140 beats per minute
• Greater than 30 pounds: 60-120 beats per minute
• Not uncommon for giant breeds like Great Danes to have a heart rate of 70 

Other basic assessment information:

Temperature:

• It is best to take a rectal temperature on all animals
• Pets with a fever may be especially lethargic
• Normal temperatures for cats and dogs
• 100-102.5 F

If your pet’s temperature is below 99 F or above 104 F, this is an EMERGENCY, please call your veterinarian!

Once you have made your basic assessment of the situation and checked the ABCs, call the veterinarian. If you have someone with you to help, they can get the vet on the phone while you make your assessment. With a little know-how and practice, you can assess your animal swiftly in less than a couple of minutes.

Having basic information about the situation and how your pet is doing is helpful to the veterinarian. He or she can use this information to help you figure out what to do next.  Many times he or she will give instructions on how to safely transport your pet and keep him or her stable en route to the hospital.

Moving your Pet in an Emergency    

It is best to have a second or even third person to help in these times. Some dogs are especially large and you may injure yourself or your pet further without extra help. Call your neighbor or family member if you can.  Also keep in mind:

• Always take care to PROTECT YOURSELF
• DOGS and CATS WILL BITE OUT OF FEAR OR PAIN
• Use a ‘slip leash’ from your first aid kit as a muzzle if necessary to prevent bites
• Cover a cat’s head with a towel to prevent bites
• Get assistance when lifting dogs over 50 pounds
• Handle your pet as little as possible
• Use a gentle touch
• Lie pet on its side, if possible
• Place on a hard surface for transport
• Cover pet’s body with a blanket
• Position head in alignment with the body
• Drive carefully!

Our next installment in this series will cover common emergency situations. This will give you a basic idea of what to look out for and how to act quickly and effectively. Stay tuned!

Resources-

American National Red Cross. Dog First Aid: Be Read Cross Ready. Safety Series Vol. 2. Staywell Co. 2008.

Mamatto, Bobbie. Pet First Aid: Cats and Dogs.  American Red Cross and the Humane Society of the United States.  Mosby 1997.

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.