Q: Hi, I am looking for some names of doctors that treat both pets and people with obesity. Any information that you have on this subject would be amazing.

A: Your best bet is a university-based nutritionist that deals with both human and pet obesity. Most universities have comparative medicine departments and nutrition departments and an on-line search can get you the contact number for these departments. I have recently met the following individual that specializes in this field:

Roschelle Heuberger, Ph.D., R.D., Associate Professor of Foods and Nutrition, Graduate Program Director, Department of Human Environmental Studies, Central Michigan University. 117 Wright Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, Office (989) 774-3571, Fax (989) 774-2434, heube1ra@cmich.edu.

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Q: When Maggie came to us, she had already been in two other homes. Both homes returned her to the breeder because she could not be house broken. When we got her, we noticed that she would go right where she stood, no matter where that was. I took her to my vet and he diagnosed her with a bladder infection. She was about three months old when we got her. So, looking back I can see where she has had bladder problems from a very early age. (I wonder had the first people who owned her taken her to the vet and found out what was wrong and had it treated….would it have ended up a minor infection, whereas, now, she will be forever likely to have a recurrence of the infection and more stones.) After treatment the first time she seemed better. She became house broken and we were all happy. When she again began to go where she stood, I knew the problem was back. I had never heard of dog bladder stones. She probably suffered for a long time before we began to see the symptoms.

I hope this never happens to her again. We are trying to be diligent in what she eats now. It is hard for me to withhold the treats and “people food” she loves so much. I realize now that I was literally killing her with kindness when I would give in to her pleading brown eyes and give her just about anything she wanted. If you come up with something that would be safe for her, please let me know.

A: Maggie is a lucky little girl to have found you! Thanks for sharing your story. Some treat ideas for Maggie:

Try giving her ice cubes…many dogs love them, especially in the warm weather. It is my dog’s favorite treat and she waits at the freezer door! Try making baked treats from her dog food. Put a small (dime-sized) amount of canned dog food (patted out flat) on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes (depending on the food). This way she is getting a treat that is good for her. Small bits of unflavored rice cakes can also serve as a little crunchy treat.

Bon appétit, Maggie!

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Q: My 13 year old beagle/terrier mix (34lbs) has diabetes and was also diagnosed six months ago with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I struggle every single day when trying to feed him in order for him to get his proper dosage of insulin on time. He LOVES chicken, but my vet believes that he is now allergic to that protein source. He turns his nose up at almost everything I put down for him unless it’s junk dog food or human food. I was watching ELLEN and decided to try the Spot’s Stew. Well, Mickey ate the whole 13 oz can and I was able to administer his medication (Metranidazole and Pepcid), along with this insulin on time (YEAH!)

My question: Is Spot’s Stew appropriate to feed Mickey? I keep calling Mickey’s Internist, but even they have run out of options. It’s such a delicate balance!!! Any help or suggestions with food and treats would be so welcome.

A: I appreciate how difficult it can be to manage both of Mickey’s conditions. Now the good news: Spot’s Stew can be fed successfully to a diabetic dog with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Halo natural dog food products have low numbers of grains which means they have limited amounts of carbohydrates. The whole grains we use in our natural dog food are also “low glycemic index” and are not highly processed. What this means for Mickey is lower blood sugars throughout the day. Commercial dog foods (even premium brands) often contain large amounts of rice and corn and these are “high glycemic-index” foods; meaning that they often create large blood sugar spikes.

Diabetic dogs often benefit from a slightly higher fiber diet to help keep their blood sugar levels controlled throughout the day. Dogs with IBD frequently have improved intestinal functions with the addition of fiber to their diet. You should consider a fiber supplement in addition to Halo natural dog food for Mickey. There are many types of fiber available (e.g. psyllium, pumpkin, Metamucil, etc) and you should ask your veterinarian what would be the best supplement for Mickey. If Mickey may be allergic to chicken, the Salmon, Lamb or Turkey based Spot’s Stew would be a better choice to help manage his Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Hope this helps….good luck with Mickey!

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With summer right around the corner, help naturally protect your pet from flea bites and be on the look out for pet allergy symptoms. Try natural pet grooming supplies to keep your pet free from the skin itch of summer!

Flea Control Recipe

Try the following recipe for natural flea control to enjoy a flea-free summer!

Add to the food for each adult pet:
- level teaspoon brewer’s yeast
- level teaspoon garlic powder

Brewer’s yeast and garlic also come in tablets if your pet is unwilling to eat these powders in their food.

This flea treatment helps repel adult fleas from your pet but does not kill the fleas. You will need to follow the advice of your veterinarian to achieve successful flea control in your home. To learn more about pet allergies, visit our pet education area.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

Clients commonly search for effective flea and tick control products for dogs and cats. There are several excellent products, which many people attempt to find more cheaply online than at the vet office.

However, there are counterfeit versions of these products going around….(which customers have been purchasing almost exclusively online). Go to this EPA link to read a description of how to tell if they have the real or counterfeited product.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.