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Pet
Health
Allergies, Food Intolerance, Sensitive Digestive
Systems
B.A.R.F. Diets
Bloat
Canine Hip Dysplasia
Crystals, FUS
Diabetic
Hairballs
Recovery Diets
Large & Giant Breed Formulas - Science
& Research
PROACTIVE
APPROACH TO RESOLVING SKIN, EAR, AND EYE ALLERGIES, SENSITIVE DIGESTIVE
SYSTEMS, FOOD INTOLERANCE*
“…my pet has been
experiencing ear problems, (redness and itchiness), hot
spots, lick sores and thickening of the skin where she
constantly licks. This has gone on for two years and no
one has an answer”. Other comments received from
concerned pet owners include yeast infection in the
ears, itching, swollen feet, lips, eyelids, ears and
tongue, wheezing, coughing, weepy eye discharge, itching
tail that has turned from chocolate to white where she
licks, large portions of her body where all hair has
been licked away and the skin is red, staph infection,
crusty skin, sores on the muzzle and lips. Other
comments include, “We have constant loose stools and
diarrhea.” and “I’ve spent $3000 and still don’t have an
answer”.
Owners have fed
expensive vet recommended diets that don’t always work.
Many owners rebel at the ingredients (ethoxyquin, peanut
hulls, wheat mids, soy, by-products, corn as the first
ingredient). Sometimes pets
won’t eat the food. Owners have administered all kinds
of medication, used topical shampoos, injectable and
oral glucocorticoids, antihistamines, corticosteroids /
prednisone, with mixed results. What relief they do get
is often temporary. “The poor dog lives in an
Elizabethan collar”, said another pet owner. What’s a
pet owner to do?
SKIN ALLERGIES
Option 1: Medications and Testing
Traditional approaches
focus more on control of symptoms through use of
medication. It seeks to diagnose and address the
symptoms, not the root cause, which means the allergy
and medication can continue indefinitely.
Option 2:
Natural-Holistic Approach
Our Holistic approach seeks to address the problem
nutritionally. Addressed correctly, the allergy will
usually resolve and medication can normally be
discontinued. Our philosophy is to start first with a
holistic, whole-health, nutritional approach to
resolving the root cause of the problem. There is far
more to resolving allergy and digestive problems than
eliminating the offending ingredient, usually a protein
source. (1)
Eagle Pack Nutritional Approach To
Resolving Dermatologic Allergies—
First, be certain to rule
out fleas. If the reaction is year-round, the problem is
probably diet related. If the problem is during the
summer ‘allergy’ months only, then pollens, etc. may be
the primary cause. Sometimes airborne allergies and food
related allergies enforce each other. Finding the
correct diet may reduce the intensity of the allergy but
will not resolve it 100 percent. It is hard to know in
advance how a pet will respond to a particular diet. You
should see an improvement within 60-days and the problem
will often resolve 100%. If your first selection is not
effective select from among the other recommendations. For dogs and cats, do NOT feed anything
else during the recovery period…NO table scraps, treats,
biscuits, rawhide, supplements, chewable medications
(unless vital for other reasons and ask your vet if it
can be delayed for 30 days), chewies, rawhide. NOTHING,
until the problem is resolved.
Science suggests
feeding diets with a single protein and a single
carbohydrate source. Avoid beef, wheat, soy and dairy,
which account for over 68% of skin allergy problems. The
diet should be highly digestible and contain high
vitamin and mineral levels. The following Eagle Pack
diets, kibble and canned, excel in these areas:
Dogs
Holistic Select® Anchovy,
Sardine & Salmon Meal w/Oatmeal Formula
Holistic Select® Duck Meal &
Oatmeal formula
Holistic Select® Lamb Meal &
Rice with Oatmeal
Cats
Holistic Select® Duck Meal
& Oatmeal
Holistic Select® Anchovy, Sardine &
Salmon Meal w/Oatmeal Formula
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Food
Intolerance/Sensitive Digestive Systems—
Food intolerance, sensitive stomach, IBD, IBS,
Cystitis, Colitis, Pancreatic Insufficiency,
Pancreatitis, diarrhea, vomiting food & bile: While
science does not fully understand the causes, the
nutrition approach to resolving these problems is the
same. Understand the problem(s) can return, regardless
of formula fed. If it does return, use our Holistic
Solution™ powder (link) for life.
“…lifelong bouts of bloody diarrhea, loose stools…I have been to 9
vets and no one has an answer”, said one owner. Others
say their pet vomits or has frothy throw up at least
once a week, or they bemoan how much gas a Great Dane
can pass…”clears the room”, said one owner. “My dog has IBD”, said another. Some of these issues may be diet
related or your pet may have worms, parasites, or a
blockage. You
will want to have your pet’s stool checked.
Science suggests
several approaches for managing diarrhea associated with
the listed issues. Highly digestible, low residue foods,
fiber enhanced foods and elimination foods i.e. a single
protein and carbohydrate diet and foods that reduce
intestinal irritation / inflammation. When feeding,
divide the daily amount fed into 3-4 meals daily. The
following Eagle Pack diets** combine the 4 approaches,
and excel in these areas:
Dogs
Natural Formula—for dogs
with sensitive tummies, loose stools, mild diarrhea, and
persnickety digestive systems. This diet has worked well
for GSD, Boxers.
For all other issues detailed above…
Enhanced Maturity Formula
Holistic Select® Anchovy,
Sardine & Salmon Meal Formula with Oatmeal
Holistic Select® Duck Meal &
Oatmeal
Cats
Holistic Select® Duck Meal
& Oatmeal
Never vary the diet.
Divide the daily amount in half and feed morning and
evening. Most problems should resolve in 3-5 days.
During this period be consistent in your feeding
schedule; do not feed anything else; nothing.
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Holistic Transition™ and
Holistic
Solution™
During the 7-day
transition from other brands to Eagle Pack, feed Eagle
Pack Holistic Transition™. For more serious issues like
IBD or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, use Holistic
Solution for life.
In cases of advanced
skin allergies, supplement with Omega 3 fish oils
If you have central
air in your home buy the very best filter (about $17
U.S.D.)
Analyze vinyl floor,
carpet, carpet cleaners and shampoos, washing machine
detergents/softeners if your pet sleeps on anything that
you treat or wash.
Water your lawn
immediately after you cut it and try to keep the pet off
it for a few hours. Hose down patios, decks, and
walkways daily during pollen season.
Be aware of contact
with insecticides and fertilizers. Does your neighbor’s
application go over the property line and your pet then
eats grass along the fence line?
(2) The Science Behind Resolving Allergies
and Food Intolerance
There is an abundance of peer reviewed research
indicating that there is far more to resolving allergies
and food intolerance than feeding diets with novel
proteins. Our diets have several unique characteristics
listed in texts, but not found in either prescription or
non-prescription diets.
Highest
digestibility--Veterinary texts (2) suggest feeding
diets with a high protein digestibility, and suggest 87%
as ‘high’. Animal protein meals used in Eagle Pack diets
are 91-95% digestible. The less digested a food protein
is, the greater the potential to incite an allergic
response.
Digestive Enzymes
enhance the already high digestibility of Eagle Pack
animal meal proteins.
The gut is probably
one of the largest immune systems in the body. Ingested
food represents the greatest foreign challenge to the
immune system. The defense against food-born allergies
includes an effective mucosal barrier. Inflammation of
the mucosal barrier predisposes the animal to the
development of acquired food allergies. Barrier health
can be enhanced when Probiotics (DFM’s) and Prebiotics
are included in the diet. Eagle Pack diets are the only
diets that list FDA/AAFCO mandated Probiotic/DFM
guarantees on the bag.
Aids for resolving
IBD include avoiding gas-producing foods. Our highly
digestible protein meals, inclusion of Probiotics/DFM’s,
Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, improve digestion and
reduce gas.
(1) Proteins, not fat, normally cause
allergies. A pet can be seriously allergic to chicken,
but not chicken fat. Ten documented case studies
incriminated beef, dairy products and wheat as
accounting for 68% of reported allergy cases. Soy is one
of 4 ingredients causing 25% of recorded cases. Soy is
known for causing gas. Corn is often incriminated as
causing adverse food reactions but in 10 different peer
reviewed studies it was not listed in the top 68% or the
next 25% of ingredients causing adverse reactions.
Gluten enteropathy (celiac disease, an
inflammatory disease of the small intestine), affects
the Irish Setter. Prolamins of wheat and rye
have marked sequence homology but not prolamins of rice
or corn, which do not exacerbate the disorder. (Small
Animal Clinical Nutrition IV)
(2) Small Animal Clinical Nutrition IV
*The approaches noted in this outline
follow accepted advanced nutrition recommendations for
addressing these problems. Pet owners must understand
that some diseases like IBD may recur regardless of food
fed. Approaches are provided as a guideline in working
with your vet. Research and the science supporting our recommendations are
documented for veterinarian review. Your vet is also
encouraged to discuss any questions with our Director Of
Nutritional Services or our Staff Veterinarian.
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B.A.R.F. DIETS (bones and raw food):
Feeding raw foods and kibble
It is a diet that some
dog owners are feeding to their pets and it is a bit
more appetizing than it sounds. BARF stands for
bones and raw food. Some pet owners are feeding
100% BARF; while others are mixing BARF with dry
kibble. Why bother?
Ingredients
used in dog food are cooked, as are many of the foods we
eat. Some pet owners feel, however, that dogs and
cats were meant to eat raw food, though our caveman
ancestors, after they discovered fire, threw their
fire-cooked scraps to their waiting pets.
For those
who choose to feed a combination of dry and raw, Eagle
Pack Pet Foods has some suggestions, based on 20 years of
experience. Eagle Pack Super Premium formulas are
nutritionally balanced so pet owners can mix up to 25%
raw food with the Eagle Pack formulas. Up to this
amount the correct balance of protein, fat, amino acids
and vitamins and minerals will be maintained. This
mix provides the value of raw foods with the proven,
nutritional balance offered by Eagle Pack ingredients
and custom supplements.
Pet owners should be cautioned that raw meat may cause
problems associated with E coli and salmonella.
If you prepare your own raw meat diets, be aware that
people are more susceptible to bad bacteria than dogs
and cats. Thoroughly clean surfaces used to
prepare raw meats and keep raw meat away from toddlers
and anyone with immune deficiencies.
Eagle Pack
Super Premium formulas are the ideal mixer for BARF
diets. Eagle Pack ingredients are human-grade, all
natural, with added vitamins and minerals. Trace
minerals are sequestered (kelp coated) to keep vitamins
from being destroyed. A total of eight or more
Holistic, Custom Supplements provide
optimum health to the pet. These ingredients
include digestive enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, SQM®
(the science of sequestering), yucca, OMEGA
HEALTH®, AQUA-C®, the 3 primary antioxidants,
and higher overall levels of vitamins and minerals.
Contrary to what you may hear, we are one of the few
companies that adds ingredients that could be destroyed
during the cooking process after the food has cooled to
room temperature. We are a family founded company,
have been making pet food for 30 years, and have more
experience than anyone, in effectively adding these
ingredients. Independent tests and AAFCO confirm the
effectiveness of the supplements in our diets. We are
the only company that guarantees this on
the bag.
All Eagle
Pack diets contain the ingredients mentioned
above. Selected diets also contain glucosamine.
Eagle Pack's Holistic Select formulas also contain a variety
of fruits and vegetables, organically grown
quinoa (keen-wa); grain of the gods, and
antibiotic-free
chicken meal with no added hormones.
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CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA
Click on
http://www.offa.org/hipgeninfo.html
to widen the understanding of this hereditable disease,
how it may occur, as well as some possible methods of
controlling its development through nutrition.
Eagle Pack Pet Foods, Inc. provides the above
article only for the purpose stated above.
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CRYSTALS, FUS
Veterinarians and pet owners will
sometimes blame the food for causing crystals. As long as
the food is formulated to have an acid pH level and lower levels of magnesium, the food has done all it can do to prevent
the problem. After treatment, we recommend:
Dogs
Enhanced Maturity Formula (kibble)
and
Chicken canned. This
suggestion has worked especially well with Dalmatians.
Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon
Meal Formula with Oatmeal
Cats
Indoor
Mult-Cat Formula
and any of our
cat canned formulas
For dogs and cats
feed 50 to 75% kibble and the balance in canned food.
Know the problem may recur regardless of food fed.
Always leave plenty of fresh water available.
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DIABETIC
There is some controversy about what to
feed a diabetic animal. Compared to appropriate
non-prescription diets, there is little difference to
control the level of insulin needed. However there is
significant difference in the digestibility and performance
of an animal on a prescription diet with highly insoluble
fiber diet that contains 26% peanut hulls as the fiber,
versus a highly digestible non-prescription diet with
moderate fiber levels. Always time the feeding and
inoculation schedule as recommended by your vet. We
recommend:
Dogs
Feed
Senior Care® Formula
(26% protein) and any of our
canned foods
(Only 2-3%
carbohydrates.) One-half to two-thirds of the food fed
should be Senior Care Formula (based on the higher
protein percent). The balance should be our canned
formula.
Cats
50% of the food consumed should be our
Eagle Pack Kitten Formula
(34% protein) and 50 % our
canned formula, with only 2-3% carbohydrates.
For dogs and cats,
feed the exact same diet, the same amount, at the same
time, in relation to when the insulin shot is given.
Have insulin levels checked periodically. We have had
numerous cases where dogs and cats have been able to
reduce or eliminate insulin shots, based on feeding this
program.
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HAIRBALLS
Research supporting the effectiveness of
our Hairball Relief formula is on file with the FDA. Our
research was more scientific than that performed by any
other brand. We outperformed the leading brand 6 to 1.
Cats
Eagle Pack Hairball Formula
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RECOVERY DIETS
This type of diet is higher in protein,
fat and ME and is highly digestible. It is ideal for pets
recovering from surgery or that have been severely depleted
nutritionally, such as some rescue dogs and cats. For rescue
animals, definitely use our
Holistic Transition™
powder when transitioning to a new diet. Then use our
Holistic Solution®
until the bottle is gone.
Dogs
Power Formula, with 25% of
the diet to be any of our
canned formulas. Feed for 30 to 60 days and then
transition to one of our other diets.
Cats
Kitten
or
Holistic Select® Chicken
Meal & Rice Formulas with our canned
Ocean Fish & Tuna
comprising 25% of the diet. If feeding Kitten Formula,
transition to Holistic Select® Feline Chicken Meal &
Rice Formula, or our regular
Adult Cat
Formula after 30 to 60 days.
Science supporting
our statements comes from “Small Animal Clinical
Nutrition IV”
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SCIENCE AND RESEARCH...AND
EXPERIENCE
In Formulating Large and Giant Breed Diets
In 1990 we were presented with the statistical results
of a national survey conducted among owners of 3,000 large and giant
breed dogs. The survey focused on three bone growth problems; HOD,
OCD, and Pano. Armed with this data, results of feeding trials and the knowledge that a leading text,
"Small Animal Clinical Nutrition III", lists these three problems under
nutritional issues, and not under genetic diseases, we set out to
develop the first formula specifically for large and giant breed puppies
and adult dogs.
A Formula Is Born
The key to the correct formulation in our researched opinion was to
create a highly digestible diet, then balance digestibility and protein
(amino acid) levels with metabolizeable energy, calcium and phosphorus
levels. The challenge was to provide balanced growth of skeletal
structure, cartilage and muscle in the growing puppy and then to
maintain the long-term wellness of the adult.
The Results
The diet was test fed extensively by Large and Giant dog breeders.
Puppies were fed the diet from weaning to 18 months of age. There
were no reported cases of the three bone problems. Armed with
these results,
Large & Giant Breed
Formula was introduced, and most recently
Holistic Select® Large
& Giant Breed Puppy Formula. Now, over a decade later, our success
in maintaining the long-term health of these breeds has been
outstanding.
Conflicting Research
Some research done in Sweden in the 1970's and touted today, suggests
that protein levels are immaterial and that calcium levels are key with
a calcium level of 0.8% as "optimum". The test diet was a custom
formula totally unlike any brand on the market then or now.
Ingredients were: bloodmeal, casein, soybean flour, corn gluten
meal, corn/potato starch mixture, tallow, soybean oil, sugar, cellulose,
and vitamins and minerals. Twenty five percent of the dogs fed the
"optimum" calcium diet limped during the gaiting exam. Other
research states that calcium levels of 0.7 and 0.6% cause stress
fractures.
If You Choose The Wrong Brand*
The research on the Eagle Pack
Natural Formula
and
Large & Giant Breed Puppy Formula
is noted above. In 2002, we followed up that research, and again
there was no incidence of any bone growth diseases. |
