AHAngaling health tips for our dogs

Most pet owners prefer their dogs to be huggable, but did you know that too much fat and cholesterol can also be deadly for our furry friends? GMA’s science education TV show ‘AHA!’ talked to veterinarians and animal trainers about how to keep our dogs fit and healthy. The experts also talked about how to spot and deal with symptoms of cancer in pets. 1. Avoid fatty food. Feed your pets lean meat. Many dog owners get into the habit of feeding their pets food from the dinner table. According to Dr. Nielsen Donato, veterinarian and host of ‘Born to be Wild,’ if we can’t help to feed them what we had for lunch or dinner, we just have to make sure that we serve lean meat, or meat with no visible fat. Lean meat is ideal for dogs because it has less fat and cholesterol content. According to Doc Nielsen, dogs, in general, are prone to high cholesterol. However, each breed of dog has different feeding requirements, says Nielsen: “It’s always best to consult ‘yung mga vets. ‘In general’ lang kasi iyan. May ibang dogs kasi na may require high fat naman.” (It’s best to consult vets. In general, lean dogs is better for most dogs. But other dogs may require high fat content in their food.) 2. Try vegetables and fresh fruits as alternative doggy treats. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not only are they rich in vitamins and minerals, but they’re free of the chemicals and artificial flavoring that may be harmful to our dogs. Doc Nielsen suggests that for fruits, we can feed our dogs apples, bananas, and avocado. While for veggies, we can feed them carrots. However, we should remember that not all fruits are good for man’s best friend. Grapes, raisins, and plums can be poisonous for our dogs. 3. Feed your pet only twice a day if it’s six months or older. Doc Nielsen recommends that normally, for dogs aged six months and up, we should only feed them twice a day to avoid obesity. Different breeds of dogs, however, may have individual feeding requirements. The best thing to do is to consult a veterinarian to determine the proper feeding requirement of your dog. 4. Make sure your dog gets exercise. “Aha!” also interviewed representatives from BetterDog Canine Behavior Center, a dog training center in Makati.  BetterDog recommends that we walk or jog with our dogs daily to help them burn fat. But if we don’t have enough time to spare for this activity, an alternative would be to set up an obstacle course at home. To motivate our dogs to go through the obstacle course, we can place food (healthy, of course!) at the finish line. 5. Learn how to spot early signs of cancer. Like humans, dogs too can get cancer. Cancer, as explained by Doc Nielsen, is one of the killer diseases for domestic pets. Cancer may be caused by genetics, exposure to carcinogens such as nicotine and preservatives, or irritation of wounds. “Maraming encounters na genetic so kung ‘yung lolo or tatay ng aso may cancer, posibleng magka-cancer din,” Doc Nielsen said. “ Puwede rin dahil sa kinakain. If they’re fed with food na may maraming preservatives at cholesterol.” (In many cases, cancer is hereditary. If the dog’s dad or granddad has cancer, it’s possible too for the dog to get the disease. Food rich in preservatives or cholesterol can also cause cancer.) Early signs of cancer, according to Doc Nielsen, include the appearance of bumps, slow healing of wounds, sudden weight loss, and loss of appetite. Meanwhile, dogs who already have malignant cancer may exhibit abnormal discharge and abnormal odor. “The best way to confirm kung may cancer dogs natin is through biopsy,” says Nielsen. (The best way to confirm if our dogs have cancer is through biopsy.) Dr. Sixto Carlos, owner of Makati Dog and Cat Hospital, told “Aha!” that getting your dog spaid or castrated can help prevent cancer and other diseases, especially those that affect the reproductive system. If you don’t plan to breed dogs, consider getting castration for your male dog or a hysterectomy for your female dog. ‘AHA!’ airs every Sunday, 9:00 AM, on GMA 7. Follow the show’s Facebook and Twitter account for your daily dose of AHAmazing tips and trivia, and updates on upcoming episodes. —Bernice Sibucao, PF/GMA News