FSB Author Article
Healthy Dogs
by Ted Kerasote,
Author of Pukka's Promise: The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs
In the months following the publication of Merle's Door, I received hundreds of emails from readers who had lost beloved dogs and closed their letters with a variation on this theme: "Why must our dogs die so young?"
Naturally, when most of us say this, we're not expecting an answer. We're expressing a rhetorical complaint: "Why do our best friends in the animal kingdom live so much such shorter lives than we do, only about an eighth of the normal life expectancy of a person in the developed world?"
However, I also received another question from many readers, which was more particular in its nature and much more heartrending: "Why did my dog have to die of cancer at three years old . . . at four . . . at six?" "Why," as one person wrote, "have four of my five Golden Retrievers died of cancer?"
What are the key elements of having a long-lived, healthy dog? Here are some pointers.
One of the best sources of information on keeping dogs healthy is Dr. Karen Becker's archives of Pet Health Articles.
Contaminants
Don't expose your dog to environmental pollutants, particularly
the herbicides and pesticides that are applied to lawns and golf
courses.
Nutrition
Rotate your dog's food on a weekly or monthly basis. Would you be
healthy if you ate the same thing your entire life? Reduce the
carbohydrates your dog eats (corn, oats, soy, barley, rice) and
replace it with high-quality protein.
Helpful Links: The recommendations of an increasing number of veterinarians as summarized by Dr. Marty Goldstein and Dr. Karen Becker.
Vaccinations
Once your dog has gotten its course of vaccinations and boosters,
eliminate yearly vaccinations except those required by law
(rabies) and those that are recommended by your veterinarian for
your area. If your veterinarian says that a full round of yearly
boosters is a must (e.g., parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus,
kennel cough, leptospirosis) get a second opinion.
Helpful Links: Dr. W. Jean Dodds Vaccine Protocol
Vaccinations 101: Dr. Ron Schultz shares his vast expertise in vaccines with dog owners. (HEALTH): An article from: Whole Dog Journal
Genetics
If you're looking for a new dog and are getting one from a breeder
take a close look at the dog's family tree, finding out how long
its ancestors lived and what they died of. Case in point: 61.4
percent of Golden Retrievers in the United States die of cancer (http://www.grca.org/pdf/health/healthsurvey.pdf,
p. 142). Researching your pup's ancestry before you even lay eyes
on it can save a great deal of heartache a few years down the
road. Take Dr.
Karen Becker's 18-Point Assessment of a breeder and his or
her facility before committing to a pup.
Spaying and Neutering
There is a growing body of scientific evidence that points to the
harmful effects of spaying and neutering: shortened life span,
increased risk of certain cancers, and increased incidence of ACL
injuries. Depending on your situation, you may wish to delay the
spaying or neutering of your dog until it is 14 months old or not
sterilize it at all. If you're worried about not being able to
control your dog when it becomes sexually mature, consider a
vasectomy or tubal ligation, which will prevent your dog from
becoming a parent, but retain the beneficial effects of the dog's
sex hormones.
Helpful Links: "Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay/Neuter in Dogs", by Laura J. Sanborn
Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation - Ovaries & Longevity
Prevention
Run your hands over your dog every day. The instant you feel a
lump take your dog to your vet and get the lump aspirated and an
analysis made of its contents. If your veterinarians says, "Let's
watch it," find a new vet. Tens of thousands of dogs needlessly
die of cancer each year because their humans "watched" a lump that
could have been easily removed before the cancer metastasized.
What do I do if my dog gets cancer?
When humans get cancer, they seek specialized care. So, too,
should it be with dogs. For advanced cancer care go the the American
College of Veterinary Internal Medicine's website and search
for an oncologist in your area by using the pop-down menu.
© 2013 Ted Kerasote, author of Pukka's Promise: The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs
Author Bio
Ted Kerasote, author of Pukka's Promise: The Quest for
Longer-Lived Dogs, is the author of several books,
including the national bestseller Merle's Door: Lessons from a
Freethinking Dog and Out There, which won the
National Outdoor Book Award. His essays and photographs have
appeared in Audubon, Outside, and the New York Times,
among others. He lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.