Diets for Dogs with Copper Associated Liver Disease. Copper is not a nutrient that many owners contemplate, until it is associated with disease. In health, copper plays a role in the formation of a dog’s bones, connective tissue, collagen, and myelin (the protective covering of nerves). Copper also helps the body absorb iron, making it an important part of red blood cell function. It also acts as an antioxidant, is a part of many enzymes, and is necessary for the formation of melanin, the pigment that darkens hair and skin. Copper is found in meat, liver, fish, whole grains, and legumes and is typically added as a supplement to commercially prepared foods. Copper deficiency is extremely unlikely if a dog eats a nutritionally balanced diet. Problems are most often associated with copper excess, not generally from an improperly formulated diet but instead due to inborn errors of metabolism that eventually cause too much copper to accumulate in the liver. At excessively high levels, copper results in oxidative stress, inflammation, and eventually to liver scarring (cirrhosis) and failure. Liver disease associated with abnormal copper metabolism has a strong genetic component and is seen most frequently in Bedlington Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Skye Terriers, Dalmatians, Labrador retrievers, and possibly Doberman Pinschers. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, accumulation of fluid within the abdomen, and behavioral changes. Liver disease can usually be diagnosed based on the results of blood work but determining that copper is responsible requires liver biopsies that are evaluated using special stains. Treatment for this type of liver disease centers on reducing the amount of copper that gets stored in the liver. Chelating agents like trientine or D- penicillamine bind to copper and aid in its excretion from the body. Zinc changes the way in which copper is absorbed and metabolized and ameliorates its toxic effects. Zinc supplements are often prescribed for maintenance after a dog has been decoppered (I love that word) with chelating agents. Generalized liver support is also important and can include antioxidants like Vitamin E and S- Adenosylmethionine. Dietary therapy plays an important role in managing copper associated liver disease. The ideal food is low in copper, high in zinc, high in B- vitamins (which are often deficient with liver disease), and contains adequate but not excessive amounts of high quality protein since eating too much protein can adversely affect brain function in dogs with liver disease. The diets should be tasty enough to encourage dogs to eat and nutrient dense so that pets with marginal appetites don’t have to take in large volumes. Feeding multiple meals throughout the day is often necessary to maintain a dog’s body condition. Prescription “liver diets” are available that meet most if not all of these parameters. Homemade diets prepared according to a recipe designed by a veterinary nutritionist familiar with the dog’s case are another good option, particularly for dogs with poor appetites. It is also important to avoid feeding these dogs foods that are high in copper, including shellfish, liver, and mineral supplements that have not been prescribed by the pet’s veterinarian. ![]() Dr. Jennifer Coates. Image: Penelope Malby Photo / Shutterstock. Ways to Retrain a Cat to Use the Litter Box. Cats are very clean animals, and they almost always prefer to use a litter box naturally. If a cat starts defecating other places in the house, it's usually because something isn't right, and this it the cat's way to tell you. This can happen if the cat feels stressed, sad, left out, over or under stimulated, etc. There are many reasons for a cat to feel . They are animals of routine and even the slightest change in environment can be hard for them. ![]() ![]() ![]() I have never kept a kitten on kitten food past the 5-6 month mark. When I was younger, we always started to switch our kittens to an adult food once they were spayed. Maybe you have re- furnished your house or moved to a new one. Maybe there's a new family member in the house, or maybe you just clean too often. Maybe its litter box has been left too long without being cleaned. Try to understand what might have changed to help the cat change its behavior. Royal Canin Cocker Dog Food 3kg is available to buy online at Pets at Home, the UK's largest pet shop with fast delivery and low prices. Capstar 11mg is a veterinary licensed flea treatment for cats and dogs weighing less than 11 Kg. Capstar is a tablet that works: a simple and cost effective way of. A newly adopted 5-month old Sphinx kitten was taken to the vet by his owner because he was showing signs of rear leg lameness. X-rays revealed the kitten had below. Royal Canin Kitten cat food formulated for 2nd stage kittens (4 to 12 months old). Kibble designed for the permanent teeth of young cats at 4 months old. Would highly recommend it to everyone! My cat is healthy and his coat is so beautiful! Every kitten biscuit upset her stomach. She loves these, she has made an incredible recovery & is full of life now. She is filling out nicely, her coat is thickening up & she has so much strength & energy. I wouldn't consider feeding her anything but these. The other kittens love these too. One was so poorly she couldn't stand up & was nearly dead. These are the only biscuits that don't upset her stomach. She has made an incredible recovery & is bigger than the other two now. The others love these too & empty the dish. Fill up their bowls and they're like mini hoovers, can't keep up with them! In the shops it's very expensive but you can buy it much more cheaply online. My cats like it very much, so much so it's even more popular than their wet food! My cats love it, although I've occasionally mixed in other foods with it (Whiskas, Perfekt Fit and No. Name) for a change and so that they aren't only used to one food. The kibble is ideally sized for little kitty mouths, and the food also smells quite pleasant. The vet is also happy with how my kitties are doing - they don't have any tartar on their teeth and have lovely, shiny fur. I originally chose Royal Canin because my parents have a persian who is now 1. It's absolutely worth paying the higher price if it keeps your kitty healthy for longer. I tried to change him over to Applaws, but no luck! He always went for the RC kitten and now gets it all the time. In short, he loves it! I had tried all varieties of quality cat kibbles but this was the only one that has reduced his wind and poo smells. They both love the taste, too, the 1 year old as well, and I will be sticking to this! I have tried the indoor long hair but she wasn't keen on it - may try the Ragdoll one, but she looooves the kitten food. This dry food is particularly pleasing but I preferred to move gradually to Almo Nature, more natural and cruelty free. She loves it and so do my other cats. Can't get them to eat anything else. Pet. Ag KMR Milk Replacer Food Supplements for Kittens & Small Animals Liquid. Ingredients. Water, Condensed Skimmed Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate, Soybean Oil, Cream, Egg Yolks, Disodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, L- Arginine, Soy Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin E Supplement, Carrageenan, Manganese Sulfate, Taurine, Calcium Phosphate, Ferrous Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide,Coppersulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrins, Vitamin D Supplement, Potassium Citrate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B1. Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin. The calorie content (ME) is 0.
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