24-7PressRelease.com/ - SCOTTSDALE, AZ February 18, 2005 - Let's face it, dog lovers could provide you with a million reasons why they share their life with a canine friend. However, most will tell you that to sit at the front or rear of a dog with "odors" is anything less than pleasant. Bad breath and excess gas are embarrassing for the whole family. However, body odor and excess gas are equally as bad for the dog as skin eruptions, dry coat, bloat [gastric torsion], and sheer embarrassment can result.
Chemicals [ammonia, sulphides, indoles and skatoles] generated in the intestines with the digestion of food are most responsible for bad breath, body odor, and excess gas. These chemicals, if not eliminated with feces are then absorbed through the intestinal wall and circulated through the blood stream where components of these chemicals are excreted from the lungs as foul breath or body odors. No dental procedure will treat this problem. That's not to say that oral hygiene is to be ignored, it too plays a very important role in overall health.
Modern resolutions include bathing, chemical sprays for body odors and treats dedicated to enhancing breath, however most treatments are short term and "band aid" the problem, rarely providing a long lasting, effective solution.
Options:
Body Odor, Bad Breath~ Natural substances such as Champex Mushroom have been studied for 10 years and are proven to improve the condition of the bowels and inhibit the production of unpleasant odor causing chemicals. Found in more than 75 products including human breath mints, beverages and supplements, studies have proven that this food's components work in tandem to create a multiplier effect in neutralizing foul or offensive odors.
Flatulance/colic~ As for the gas, once it's there it can actually be life threatening for many large breeds of dogs, the most affected include Great Danes, St. Bernard, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and dozens of other popular breeds. The condition is known as "bloat" [medical term "gastric torsion"] afflicts approximately 60,000 dogs annually, killing close to 30%. When excess gas builds in the stomach and cannot escape, the stomach turns or "torques". The result is immediate loss of blood flow to major organs, then shock, even death. Immediate medical attention is needed. The treatment for this acute and life threatening emergency is usually a surgical procedure which can range from $2,000-$7,000. Many vets recommend products containing Simethicone after each meal. This ingredient alters the surface structure of the air bubbles allowing small gas bubbles to form into large ones, making them easier to release.
Aiding Digestion~ Good digestion helps. Many herbs have been used to ease flatulence and digestion problems, they include dill, fennel, parsley, coriander seed a.k.a "Chinese parsley" and mint. These help stimulate digestion and relieve colic symptoms. Many are used in babies and pregnant women as an alternative to prescriptions or chemicals. Digestive enzymes also aid the body in breaking down starches, sugars, proteins and fats.
Natural Remedy: A Scottsdale, AZ company has released a chewable "deodorant" for dogs. PetaMint is a unique, human-grade, liver flavored tablet contains containing champex mushroom, simethicone, digestive enzymes including amylase, lipase, protease and multiple herbs which help freshen a dog's breath and digestive system, neutralizing offensive odors. When taken after meals, this tablet also provides effective gas control and digestive aids to help metabolize nutrients. Results are guaranteed and can be seen [for most dogs] in 24-48 hours. The product retails for $29.95 per 60 chewable tablets. For a medium sized dog, each bottle will last 30 days.
The company feels that neutralizing dog odors will make for a more pleasant existence for both man and his best friend.
By Vets Only, Inc works with vets to formulate, test and sell safe remedies for common pet health problems. Their product line includes Petaprin "an effective and safe alternative to NSAID's" states Dr. Tom Leininger, DVM/advisory vet to company. The company also has PetaCalm, an effective anti-anxiety and stress remedy, as well as PetMulti Senior Formula, an advanced multi vitamin dedicated to senior dogs. The company is currently producing a unique line of natural dog and cat treats, formulating human-grade dog and cat food and developing several other natural, targeted supplements.