Organotherapy

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If you haven’t heard of organotherapy, you’re not alone. This ancient therapy is defined as the practice of using whole animal tissues to support or promote the healthy functioning of a body’s internal organs.¹ It is also known as glandular therapy, cell therapy or tissue therapy. 

Why Organotherapy Works

Organ meat is high in a plethora of vitamins and minerals that may offer benefits for your pet. The cells within a particular organ or tissue contain the amino acids, nutrients, lipids, and glandular secretions (insulin, enzymes, and nucleic acids) needed to benefit that same organ within your pet. In other words, organotherapy may benefit your pet’s body on a cellular level by stimulating the function of that organ. For example, feed your pet liver (which contains amino acids and vitamins) to improve liver health.¹

Where to Find Organ Nutrients

Organ and tissue are plentiful in commercially prepared fresh and minimally processed diets where they have not been heat treated and therefore have the most bioavailable nutrients. Most of these diets contain at least 80% meat, organ, and bone, so they are rich in the essential nutrients, omega fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals that may support healthy organ function. Feeding organs doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult to incorporate into a healthy pet’s diet. For example, many commercially prepared options such as Instinct include amino acid levels like taurine as part of the guaranteed analysis. These can even be added to kibble diets as a fresh topper.

Some dietary supplements, like taurine, are derived directly from beef and pork heart. Digestive enzymes–primarily used to improve pancreatic function–are commonly sourced from pork pancreas. 

Freeze-dried organ treats also offer an excellent source of nutrition for your pet’s organ health, particularly single-ingredient options.² Freeze-dried liver, heart, lung and kidney make extremely healthy treats. Liver is perhaps the most popular as it’s frequently used and recommended by dog trainers due to its rich flavor and palatability. Liver is also considered one of the highest value rewards you can offer your pet. Freeze-dried treats are perfect for both cats and dogs. 

Organ benefits:

Heart: Taurine, carnitine, CoQ10

Lung: Iron, Vitamins A, D, E and B12

Kidney: Vitamin A, B, and iron

Liver*: Vitamin A, glycogen, potassium, copper, B vitamins, and vitamin D, K and E

Pancreas: digestive enzymes, manganese, insulin and glucagon

Spleen: Vitamins D, K, A, E, plus iron and zinc.

Brain: DHA and EPA, other omega-3 fatty acids

*It’s important to note that liver should be fed in moderation. Excessive amounts can induce vitamin A toxicity.³

Every pet is different and has unique nutritional needs. Supplementing with organ meat for various reasons should be considered on an individual basis. Stop in to speak with us about what options may be best suited for your pet. 

This information is provided for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian for treatment options for your pet. We recommend consulting a board certified veterinary nutritionist for disease-specific nutrition information.

REFERENCES:

  1. Cameron, T. “Glandular Therapy.” Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine. Integrative Veterinary Care Journal. 2012.
  2. Gaylord, L. Raditic, D. “Glandular therapies for pets.” Integrative Veterinary Care. August 6, 2022 https://ivcjournal.com/glandular-therapies-for-pets/
  3. Cho DY, Frey RA, Guffy MM, Leipold HW. Hypervitaminosis A in the dog. Am J Vet Res. 1975;36(11):1597-1603.

Uncovering the Hidden Signs of Arthritis in Cats

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Cats are notorious for hiding their discomfort very well, so it’s important to be aware of subtle changes in their behavior or routine that may indicate an underlying problem. 

Unfortunately, signs of arthritis in cats are often dismissed as normal signs of aging or go unnoticed altogether. 

Our job as pet owners is to pay close attention to their behaviors, so we can easily pick up on the tiny clues that they aren’t feeling their best. Since every cat will show discomfort differently, here are some behaviors to keep an eye out for that may indicate joint pain. 

Changes in litter box habits – Since most litter boxes have sides tall enough that your cat has to lift their legs and/or jump to enter/exit, they may seek alternative places to do their business that are easier to access. Similarly, they may struggle to settle into a comfortable position inside the litter box, or you may find that their aim is a little ‘off.’

Expert tip: Litter box habits offer a first line of observation into your cat’s health and well-being. If you observe changes in their routine, it’s best to schedule a vet visit as soon as possible. 

Changes in sleep patterns – Cats tend to develop strict routines, including specific preferred places to nod off throughout the day. Suppose your kitty historically likes to sleep up off the floor (my cat prefers the tall back of our couch) and suddenly prefers lower ground (often tucked out of sight). They may be too stiff to climb up or down from that place. Additionally, if the cat becomes more interested in hiding overall, that can be another red flag that they aren’t feeling great. 

Avoiding the stairs – This behavior mimics how dogs display joint pain — hesitating or struggling to go up or come down the stairs. This is particularly difficult with stiff joints if the stairs are bare (not carpeted) because they offer less cushion and traction for unstable joints. If kitty seems to suddenly spend all day on one level of the house, consider that they may need extra joint support. 

Less interest in playtime – While it’s common to observe your cat’s activity level decrease as they age, it’s not always simply because they’ve lost interest. Cats with healthy joints should still be able to jump, climb, and run for short play sessions throughout the day. If your cat seems interested in playing but prefers to participate without moving from their lounging spot, joint pain may be to blame. 

Irritability – Perhaps the most common indication of discomfort is a shift in their personality. Cats who don’t feel well will choose to seclude themselves as much as possible and become easily annoyed when they feel threatened. This can be as subtle as pinned ears when you pet them or a hiss if you pick them up. 

There are several ways to prevent and manage joint pain for cats:

  • Maintain a healthy weight with the right food and an appropriate feeding schedule (avoid free-feeding).
  • Reduce inflammation with a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and rich in antioxidants to avoid cell degeneration. 
  • Maintain cartilage with glucosamine and chondroitin (many options are available for even the pickiest kitties!)
  • Ensure your cat has active playtime daily to keep their body moving. 
  • Provide supportive bedding and extra warmth during cold months. 
  • Provide litter boxes with at least one low side that is easily accessible.

If you’re not sure where to start, stop in to speak with one of our experts for tips!

The Science Behind Leash-Pulling

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Over 2500 dog owners were surveyed about their dog’s leash habits and their training approaches to address it. The results may surprise you!

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How to Pick the Best Food for Your Pet

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Ever wonder how to help determine what food is best for your pets? Packaging and marketing can make it difficult to make choices. Did you ever wish for a guide to help you evaluate the quality and nutrition of products available? Good news! We did just that. Read on…

What if I told you that it’s highly likely that the pet food you are feeding your cat or dog has never been tested to ensure it is nutritionally adequate? Or, maybe it’s been tested, but your pet food company claims the results are ‘proprietary’. What if I told you that some of the most recent pet food recalls and scandals likely could have been prevented if companies were testing to prove nutritional adequacy? The fact is that pet foods are allowed to come to market and be sold without ever being tested to prove nutritional adequacy– leaving your pets exposed to significant risks. Most companies will only perform a palatability study – just to ensure pets like the food. Surprised? …read on.

Lack of accountability

It’s no secret that the pet industry has more than its fair share of problems, and to be honest most of these are self-inflicted wounds. Recalls, contamination issues, formulation errors, and deceptive marketing tactics are numerous. As a ‘retailer’ or ‘shopkeeper’, it’s exhausting to keep on top of issues and communicate them to customers – but it’s way more exhausting to even get pet food companies to answer simple questions – never mind hold them accountable. The more I learn, the more questions I ask – and unfortunately, I keep uncovering holes that many retailers and consumers are woefully unaware of.

We’re starting to change the industry

There are a small number of retailers across the country that have been asking many small and large pet food companies some very pointed questions centering around transparency, formulation, nutrition adequacy testing, safety, and ingredient sourcing. I can count on one hand the number of pet food companies that are truly transparent and provide adequate nutritional and scientific data to back their product. There are several more who are making positive changes. However – most companies are not and to be honest, they really don’t have any incentive to change. They have been getting by doing the bare minimum for years, if not decades. Advertising budgets continue to boom – to keep the consumer largely in the dark, exactly where they want you. But this is where you can help create significant change.

Who’s asking the tough questions?

The problem is that consumers aren’t asking tough questions because many companies have trained consumers to read ingredient labels. This is because the label is something that is easily controlled and manipulated. The consumer’s perception of that label is further distorted through various product claims and marketing ‘puffery’ that alludes even seasoned retailers. Most pet food companies know this and target their marketing efforts, product claims, and packaging design to appeal to the customers (and retailers) desire for certain ingredients. And that is exactly what pet food companies want you to continue to focus on – questions that they can control. They don’t want you to ask the tough questions.

Believe it or not, most companies are not nearly as transparent, or thorough in their manufacturing and formulation processes as they advertise – or would like you to believe. In fact – in asking many of the following questions some companies have actually had the audacity to call me ‘suspicious’ or ‘uneducated’ when I have asked certain questions. You see, when companies start to figure out that you know more than they want you to, they get really uncomfortable. Some will go as far as trying to discredit your experience, education, and reputation to try and scare you from seeking answers. This would not be the case if consumers and even veterinarians started to ask these questions and put pressure on them to change.

How you can help make your pet’s food safer and healthier?

All things considered, I strongly suggest that you reach out to your pet food company and ask the below questions. If consumers begin to put enough pressure on the industry there will inevitably be a positive change. So how can you help hold pet food companies accountable? How can you improve the pet industry and the quality of products on the market?

1. Who formulates your food, and what are their qualifications?

An answer of ‘a team of veterinarians’ or ‘a formulator with 20 years’ of experience’ is not a good enough answer. One thing I’ve learned is that the list of board-certified veterinary nutritionists and board-certified Ph.D. nutritionists who are actually qualified to formulate, evaluate pet food is very short. This is because the science of nutrition is very complex and takes years of schooling and experience – not something many people have done. In short, the company should be willing to provide you the name(s) and qualifications of those formulating – whether they work for the pet food company themselves or on a contract.

2. Do your products meet an AAFCO nutrition profile as verified by a 3rd party nutrition analysis on all of your finished products?

If yes, are they willing to provide a copy of that analysis? A nutrient profile is different from the Guaranteed Analysis on the pet food package and puts the focus on nutrients and not ingredients. Essentially, you’re asking the company to show you the proof that their ingredients are superior. The nutrient profile will display a range of amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Pay close attention, because most companies are deceptive and will instead provide a ‘Target’ analysis, which is a prediction and NOT representative of the final product. If a company tells you that this information is proprietary, or that they do not perform a nutrient analysis I would highly recommend finding another company that is more transparent and does their due diligence.

3. Do you conduct 3rd party digestibility studies for each of your formulas?

If yes, are they willing to make those publicly available? A digestibility study is important because it tells you what amount of each of the nutrients listed in the nutrition analysis the animal is able to absorb. Some companies will say they do not conduct these studies and claim it is because they don’t test on animals or believe in invasive testing. However – this answer is simply ‘crap’ since digestibility testing is a very simple, non-invasive process that involves feeding the food to a group of dogs or cats over several days, collecting feces, and analyzing the feces. In fact, one could argue that a company that does not perform these tests is using your animal for the experiment – not good! If anyone or any company attempts to tell you otherwise they are simply ignorant to reality.

Ideally, companies should be willing to provide a total percentage of digestibility for fat, protein, energy, and total digestibility. A ‘high quality’ pet food should be in the high-80% range and above. Foods less than this may put your pet at risk for nutritional deficiencies.

4. Do you test your final product to ensure the formulation is correct and ensure there are not any contamination issues?

If so, do they hold those products from the market until all testing comes back clear? You may be surprised to learn how many companies (yes, even raw pet foods) that do not conduct pathogen testing on their final product. We also know that some kibble companies do not conduct nutritional adequacy or even contamination testing prior to products leaving their facilities. This is a significant issue.

5. Does the manufacturing facility where your food is made have 3rd party safety certifications in place?

For reference, these include a Global Food Safety Initiative recognized 3rd party food safety certification (i.e. SQF, BRC) to verify your facility follows adequate manufacturing, food handling, and safety procedures. For many pet food manufacturers, the answer should be yes, mostly because many use the same co-manufacturing facilities (i.e. one manufacturer makes several brands of food). However, there is still a fair share of companies that do not have safety certifications in place, which again put your pet and you at risk for health and nutrition issues. If you ask this question and the answer is no, or they seem confused by the question then the pet food companies ‘transparency’ is likely smoke and mirrors.

References:

Publications: Cammack, N.R., Yamka, R.M., and Adams, V.J. (2021). Low Number of Owner-Reported Suspected Transmission of Foodborne Pathogens From Raw Meat-Based Diets Fed to Dogs and/or Cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.741575.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.741575/full

Contact Nicci:

www.northpointpets.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-cammack-8400084b/?trk=author_mini-profile_title

Are You Overfeeding Your Pet?

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Food label directions can be deceiving. They’re not as cut and dry as you may think!  If you have questions, let’s talk! We’re here to help you dial in your pet’s serving size and meal frequency.

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Left Paw or Right Paw? Exploring Dog Handed Preferences

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Did you know that our pets may favor one paw over the other? Recent research suggests that dogs are not only capable of being left or right-handed, but also that their handedness may be linked to their behavior.

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Dogs: Essential Habits for a Long, Healthy Life

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Want to ensure your pup lives a long and happy life? Check out these five simple tips to keep your dog healthy and active for years to come.

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Does Your Kitty Love Catnip?

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Have you ever wondered why catnip has such a powerful effect on cats? Find out the science behind this amazing plant and why cats — including lions and tigers — go crazy for catnip.

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Could Your Dog’s Diet Be Connected to Heart Disease?

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Are you concerned about the potential link between certain diets and canine heart disease? Learn more about the FDA’s investigation into the potential link between specific grain-free diets and heart health in dogs.

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Q & A Session with Mercedes

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What brought you to NPP?

 I started as a Veterinary Receptionist in 2018 with hopes of becoming a Certified Vet Technician, although I ended up working at an animal shelter in various positions. I ended up as a Foster Coordinator where I was helping care for homeless and sick pets waiting to be available for adoption. Many of these sick pets had skin infections, diarrhea, or joint issues, and although our vets helped them with prescriptions, I wanted to do more in the way of nutrition. We saw pets thrive on things like omega oils, pumpkin, and glucosamine and thus began my curiosity in pet nutrition! 

Tell us about your pets…

My boys are all rescues from having worked at a vet/shelter for a few years. My pekingese Kingsley was “adopted” in 2019 when a client couldn’t afford his medical care (dry eye,16 teeth removed, and anemic) so I took him home that day on a whim. Ferguson my dollfaced Persian is my first cat adopted at the beginning of 2020 and at the end of 2020 I rescued Bean from a Louisiana hoarding case with over 160 dogs. They are all sweet mamas boys![vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9019″]–  Bean[vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9020″]–  Kingsley[vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9021″]–  Ferguson

Tell us your must-have item from NPP.

Glucosamine is a must have item in my house because I’ve always had senior dogs. With having rescued them I got to see them transform and be more active after being on glucosamine, it is so rewarding!

What are your pets’ favorite treats or toys?

My little dog only has 5 teeth left so his favorite is probably goats milk, but my big dog loves anything to chew on. We give him raw bones, bully sticks, and fish skins for enrichment on the weekends. 

What’s your favorite product to recommend and why?

Goats milk is a product I always recommend because there are so many benefits, and pets love it! I love that we have different flavors like blueberry for antioxidants or pumpkin for even better gut health. 

What is the most FAQ that you get?

I get a lot of questions about what is the longest-lasting chew for dogs, which I can relate to having a Pitbull who destroys chews in seconds. I always recommend antlers, water buffalo horns, or Himalayan chews.