Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Blog by Dr. Gary Pusillo Regarding Mycotoxins

“Pet food manufactures are adding various types of clays, such as montmorillonite, sodium Bentonite, and similar porous materials in an attempt to counteract the problems associated with molds and mycotoxins.  If the particle size is not small enough they will not have the proper dispersion in a feed and their surface area will be too limited; Mary Poppin’s spoon full of sugar example.


Some clays offer absolutely no nutritive value in their own right while reducing overall feed value through their nonselective binding property, which immobilizes vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.


Recently some companies have been promoting the use of FOS into a pet food as an attempt to counteract the problems associated with mold, and mycotoxins.


For many of the clays and sources of FOS, their particle size per gram is too large for adequate dispersion in the blend. In addition, the larger particle size does not give the dog the needed amount of surface area.


In the battle against unseen combatants in a dog’s digestive tract, I prefer to use select sources of MOS (mannan oligosaccharides) that provide the highest possible surface area at the lowest possible inclusion rate. For example one pound of MOS may contain a minimum of 2.5 acres of surface area! That type of surface area is not going to happen with some of the clays and FOS particles the size.


The bottom line in this year’s battle against mycotoxins and mold is “less is more.” Pet product recalls and dog health problems are going to get worse instead of better for some companies that use corn, wheat, and soybeans; the less of these ingredients might mean more safety, and more consumer confidence.”



Blog by Dr. Gary Pusillo Regarding Mycotoxins

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Build A Better Dog Goes Retail

Build A Better Dog is going retail with two retail locations in the Burlington area.  The first location is at the offices of the local Humane Society of Alamance County which is at Tribek Court in the same shopping center with Delancey’s Restaurant.  The Humane Society will carry the one pound container and will have some related literature for your convenience.


The second new retail location will be in Carrboro at the location of Carrboro Music  located at 204A W. Main Street.  John Pardue, owner of Carrboro Music will also have available for sale the one pound containers of Triad Performance Supplement which could very easily become your dog’s best friend.


 



Build A Better Dog Goes Retail

Build A Better Dog Goes Retail

Build A Better Dog is going retail with two retail locations in the Burlington area.  The first location is at the offices of the local Humane Society of Alamance County which is at Tribek Court in the same shopping center with Delancey’s Restaurant.  The Humane Society will carry the one pound container and will have some related literature for your convenience.


The second new retail location will be in Carrboro at the location of Carrboro Music  located at 204A W. Main Street.  John Pardue, owner of Carrboro Music will also have available for sale the one pound containers of Triad Performance Supplement which could very easily become your dog’s best friend.


 



Build A Better Dog Goes Retail

Saturday, April 20, 2013

At Tour For Life In Boone


At Tour For Life In Boone

Laboratory Results For MOS

“Rapid changes in the microflora and/or the proliferation of intestinal pathogens can lead to gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, a number of trials have been carried out to explore the efficacy of MOS in improving gut health in dogs.

To reduce the risk of digestive upsets it is critical to keep the concentrations of potential pathogens low. MOS has been shown to reduce faecal E. coli and C. perfringens and tended to have greater concentrations of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.[26][27][28][29]Older dogs tend to have reduced concentrations of bifidobacteria.[29] A significant increase in bifidobacteria concentration was noted with MOS supplementation to diets of senior dogs, thus counteracting the negative effect of age on colonic health.[29]

The mechanism of action for reducing the numbers of C. perfringens may differ from that previously explained for bacteria with type-1-fimbriae. Research in other species has demonstrated that MOS has an effect on intestinal morphology as well as both innate and acquired immune system components, which may help to explain the observed reductions in C. perfringens. Research shows an increase in serum lymphocytes and lower plasma neutrophils when adult dogs were supplemented with MOS and FOS. These findings indicate an improvement in immunity that, in turn, gives rise to increased protection against intestinal pathogens.[30]

Other areas of interest to dog owners are the effect of MOS on nutrient digestibility and stool quality; both for health and practical (poop-a-scoop) reasons.[31][32]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannan_oligosaccharide-based_nutritional_supplements


Laboratory Results For MOS

Laboratory Results For MOS

“Rapid changes in the microflora and/or the proliferation of intestinal pathogens can lead to gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, a number of trials have been carried out to explore the efficacy of MOS in improving gut health in dogs.

To reduce the risk of digestive upsets it is critical to keep the concentrations of potential pathogens low. MOS has been shown to reduce faecal E. coli and C. perfringens and tended to have greater concentrations of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.[26][27][28][29]Older dogs tend to have reduced concentrations of bifidobacteria.[29] A significant increase in bifidobacteria concentration was noted with MOS supplementation to diets of senior dogs, thus counteracting the negative effect of age on colonic health.[29]

The mechanism of action for reducing the numbers of C. perfringens may differ from that previously explained for bacteria with type-1-fimbriae. Research in other species has demonstrated that MOS has an effect on intestinal morphology as well as both innate and acquired immune system components, which may help to explain the observed reductions in C. perfringens. Research shows an increase in serum lymphocytes and lower plasma neutrophils when adult dogs were supplemented with MOS and FOS. These findings indicate an improvement in immunity that, in turn, gives rise to increased protection against intestinal pathogens.[30]

Other areas of interest to dog owners are the effect of MOS on nutrient digestibility and stool quality; both for health and practical (poop-a-scoop) reasons.[31][32]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannan_oligosaccharide-based_nutritional_supplements


Laboratory Results For MOS

Pet Food Frustrations

For many years, those who have become activists for better pet food nutrition have become frustrated with the fact that the FDA has responsibility for pet food quality but act as though it is not near as important as human nutrition and does not merit similar focus on not only ingredients but quality of ingredients.

Susan Thixton is a bold and ferocious advocate of healthy food for our dogs and cats.  She founded Truth About Pet Foods and has been a stalwart defender of doing what it takes to keep our beloved animals safe and healthy.

This item gives some detail to the lack of adequate standards and the degree to which the FDA ignores better vigilance in what makes up our pet foods.

This is a huge concern for Build A Better Dog as we use better nutritional ingredients to make you dogs safer and healthier and their owners more secure in what they feed.

 

 


Pet Food Frustrations

Pet Food Frustrations

For many years, those who have become activists for better pet food nutrition have become frustrated with the fact that the FDA has responsibility for pet food quality but act as though it is not near as important as human nutrition and does not merit similar focus on not only ingredients but quality of ingredients.

Susan Thixton is a bold and ferocious advocate of healthy food for our dogs and cats.  She founded Truth About Pet Foods and has been a stalwart defender of doing what it takes to keep our beloved animals safe and healthy.

This item gives some detail to the lack of adequate standards and the degree to which the FDA ignores better vigilance in what makes up our pet foods.

This is a huge concern for Build A Better Dog as we use better nutritional ingredients to make you dogs safer and healthier and their owners more secure in what they feed.

 

 


Pet Food Frustrations

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Tour For Life in SC

pawmetto Sponsor of Tour For Life for our South Carolina pet lovers

Pawmetto Lifeline

Event Details
April 13, 2013
10am-2pm
Walmart Supercenter
1326 Bush River Road
Columbia, SC 29210

 

Sponsoring Shelter Information
Pawmetto Lifeline
1275 Bower Parkway, Columbia, SC 29212

Tour For Life in SC

Adoption Fair This Week End In Boone

Tour for Life FlyerLOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING BY ABANDONED PETS.

 


Adoption Fair This Week End In Boone

Monday, April 8, 2013

Carrageenan in pet foods and human food chain

I am reading about carraggenans in pet foods and why is it a concern.  The substance is a polysaccharide extract from red seaweeds that is used for its gelling, thinkenings, and stabilizing properties.  Are there downsides?  From Wikepedia, “Scientists have raised serious concerns about the safety of carrageenan in food, based on laboratory animal studies showing gastrointestinal inflammation, ulcerations and colitis-like disease in animals given food-grade carrageenan in their drinking water or diet.[2][3][4] Some physicians advise avoiding consumption of foods with carrageenan, especially for people with gastrointestinal symptoms.[5]”

Also from Wikepedia,

“Starting in the late 1960s, research has linked food-grade carrageenan to gastrointestinal disease in laboratory animals, including ulcerative colitis-like disease, intestinal lesions and ulcerations and colon cancer.[22][23][24][25]

In 1981, two scientists wrote in the British medical journal The Lancet: “we wish to reiterate our warning in relation to the long-term dangers in the continued use of carrageenan in our food.”[3]

Recent research, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, has identified how carrageenan’s unique chemical structure may trigger an immune response in the body; this immune response in turn may lead to inflammation of the intestines.[26][27]Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a precursor to more serious disease, including colon cancer.

A 2012 study showed that mice given food-grade carrageenan in the diet exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance.[28]


Carrageenan in pet foods and human food chain

Tour for Life Flyer


Addressing Salmonella

The news online and otherwise has been filled with stories about pet food recalls and the top culprit seems to be salmonella.  When a dog or cat comes down with salmonella poisoning, it is an ugly and painful experience.  The truth is, salmonella is almost everywhere but the important part of the story is how much doe the animal get.  All dogs have experienced some level of salmonella but the part that is really dangerous is when the pathogen attaches itself to the intestinal wall and begins to colonize and the population grows by leaps and bounds.  This is when your dog gets really sick.

There is an organic and very innovative product on the market that is called Bio-Mos.  It is actually a mannan oligosacharide which is an extract of molecules of yeast.  These “mos” products do some very good things to a dog with one of the very important effects that it prevents the pathogens from colonizing and growing on the intestinal wall.  The substance virtually locks onto the bacteria and escorts it out of the dogs body in the form of feces.

Triad Performance Supplement is now added to Bio-Mos to help counteract and reduce the damage done by salmonella.  Thanks to Build A Better Dog you can have more peace of mind when you top dress Triad onto your favorite pet food for your beloved pet.

 


Addressing Salmonella

Charlotte Pet Expo

The Charlotte Pet Expo is coming on May 18 indoors at the beautiful Park Expo Center.  There will be over 100 exhibitors, discount vaccinations & microchipping, pet costume and talent contest, agility demonstrations, mega adoption event, great pet products, free nail trims, tons of family entertainment and so much more.

The event will begin at 10:00am on Saturday morning and go on until 6:00 pm.


Charlotte Pet Expo

What Are Chelated Minerals?

A lot of people have heard of chelated minerals but are not sure what they are.  The term chelate comes from the Greek meaning “claw” and if you will picture a claw clamped down on some object, that is what a true chelated mineral is.  It is a molecule of a mineral surrounded by two amino acids.  The advantage of chelated minerals is the molecules have limited size and the minerals are in their pure form and do not have to be broken down before they are absorbed.  This makes mineral absorption fast, simple, and efficient.

There is only one true chelated mineral that meets this definition and that is “metal amino acid chelates” which will be displayed on a feed product with the name of the mineral followed by the term amino acid chelate, like zinc amino acid chelate.

This is the type of minerals you will find in products produced by Build A Better Dog  These amino acid chelates have never been equaled in performance and reliability by any other products on the market.

chelated minerals


What Are Chelated Minerals?