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The Protective Effects
of Vegetable Consumption in Scottish Terriers
By Dr. Ron Beatty, DVM
As a Scottie owner, you
may be already aware of the risk that your dog has in developing bladder
cancer called Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TTC). Recently, I came across an
exciting scientific study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association. The article is exciting because it contains hope and it
suggests that you can significantly reduce your dog’s risk for TCC!
Approximately 175
Scotties were involved in the study done at the Purdue University School of
Veterinary Medicine. Many had TTC and some did not. Half of the dogs in
the study consumed vegetables. Carrots were the most common. Some Scottie
owners used vegetables as healthy treats for their pets. The study
indicates that Scotties fed any type of vegetable at least three times a
week have a 70% reduction in risk of developing TCC! Dogs fed
yellow-orange or leafy green vegetables at least three times a week have
about a 70% and 90% reduction in risk of developing TCC, respectively.
It has been
suggested in other studies that vegetables may have cancer fighting
substances. These substances may include: carotenoids, ascorbate,
tocopherols, selenium, dietary fiber, dithiolthiones, isothiocyanates,
indoles, phenols, protease inhibitors, allium compounds, plant sterols, and
limonene, to name only a few. These cancer fighting substances are
collectively known as phytochemicals or bioactive compounds. Phytochemicals
may be beneficial in many ways and may work together in ways we do not even
understand. Phytochemicals may help the body create enzymes to fight
cancer, destroy dangerous compounds produced by cancer, boost the immune
system, prevent healthy cells from becoming cancerous, regulate healthy
hormone levels in the body, and fight infection. Scientists still have a
lot to learn.
As a veterinarian,
I always recommend fruits and veggies as healthy treats for dogs.
Of
course, never feed grapes, raisins and onions because they are toxic
for dogs. Most fruits and veggies are low in calories and are high in
fiber. Often, when I recommend this to clients they are worry because they
consider these things people foods. However, since dogs are
omnivorous just like their human companions, these foods are healthy for
them—and beneficial. Just remember to never feed dogs from the table and
never feed items with butter, salt, or sauces. Ideally, feed just feed
plain raw fruits and vegetables.
Most packaged
treats at stores are real doggie junk foods! They have excessive fat
calories and very little nutrition. As a side note, the best biscuits are
made by well known companies and mimic the nutrition of their premium dog
foods. However, I only buy fruits and veggies for my own dogs.
This wonderful
scientific study gives us hope for our Scottie companions. We can be
proactive in helping them fight TCC by feeding them healthier. As with many
diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Dr. Beatty cares for Scotties at his practice in Mequon, Wisconsin.
MyPetsVetMequon.Com
Copyright 2007 |
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Someone posted preliminary findings of Dr. Larry Glickman's on a Scottie
listserv. Marcia Dawson DVM (Chairperson of the Scottish Terrier Club
of America Health Trust Fund-HTF) confirmed these preliminary results
are from September 2002 at the AKC CHF's Genes and Cancer seminar in Aurora,
Ohio. Dr. Dawson says: "Dr Glickman is really interested in the "inert"
aspect of the herbicides and pesticides that are used so routinely. There
have been claims in the past that these are the real villains in carcinogenisis,
and that it is chronic exposure to these ingredients that are at the root
of many cancers today. That is his hypothesis, and he used the Scottie
study as a pure example of a naturally occurring cancer in a high risk
breed. Therein lies the power of the elevated risk for TCC in dogs exposed
to routine lawn chemical use. None of us in the study knew that this was
the hypothesis he was testing."
If you cut
and paste this site into your browser and scroll through the website posting
and you'll see reference to Glickman's preliminary data. http://www.rottweilerhealth.org/pdfs/CHF%20Conference%20091802.pdf
“Dietary
and Environmental Risk Factors for Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the
Urinary Bladder in Scottish Terrier Dogs”
Dr. Larry
Glickman of Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine then addressed the dietary
and
environmental risks for transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder
in Scottish Terrier Dogs. Transitional cell cancer is the most common
form of bladder cancer in dogs. Scottish Terriers are 18 times more likely
than the average dog to get TCC (transitional cell carcinoma). At the
time of diagnosis, 20% of the cases have metastatic disease (meaning the
cancer has spread to other areas), chemotherapy is not effective, and
the disease is terminal in 50% of the cases, with a survival time of 2-6
months.
Dr. Glickman’s research involved test dogs divided into two separate
groups: the first set was proven to
have TCC via biopsy or histopathology; and the second set (of the same
age as the first set) tested negative for TCC. The dog’s owners
completed questionnaires and Dr. Glickman presented the following data
based on his study:
• Females had a 2.8 time greater risk of disease
• Second hand smoke or passive smoke from owners was not considered
to be a risk factor
• Overweight or obese dogs have a higher risk of disease
• Dogs exposed to flea dips had a 2 time greater risk
• Dogs living near a marsh where mosquito sprays were used had a
3 time greater risk
• Dogs whose diet was supplemented with Vitamin E and C, had a 50%
lower incidence
• Dogs whose diet included cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli,
cabbage, and cauliflower)
had a 75% lower incidence
• Dogs who were administered NSAIDS (such as aspirin), had a 50%
lower incidence
• Dogs who drank chlorinated water, had a 26% greater incidence
• Dogs who had access to chemically-treated lawns, had a 100% greater
incidence
• Dogs who had exposure to herbicides had a 400% greater incidence
• Dogs who had exposure to phenoxy herbicides had a 100% greater
incidence
‘Genes, Dogs and Cancer’ Conference September, 2002 Page 9
of 11
• Dogs who worn flea collars, had used flea/tick dips, shampoos,
sprays, or powders had a 300% greater incidence. It was also cited that
a dog using a combination of three of these products, the incidence was
even greater
Dr. Glickman then spoke briefly about the typical composition of products
used to kill insects and pests. Typical pesticides are comprised of ‘active’
ingredients and ‘inert’ ingredients. An inert ingredient is
any ingredient, other than the ‘active’ ingredient. For example,
in some flea sprays, pyrethins are listed as the active ingredient, which
comprise only a small percentage of the product,while inert ingredients
can sometimes be as much as 97% of the product. Many inert ingredients
are known to be hazardous as environmental carcinogens. Examples of inert
ingredients: toluene, xylene, benzene, and petroleum distillates. Dr.
Glickman pointed out that companies who manufacturer pesticides, herbicides,
and insecticides are not regulated by the federal government to list a
product’s ‘inert’ iingredients, which typically comprise
a great percentage of the product.
Please keep in mind that Dr. Glickman’s research is only in its
eighth month, so what was presented should be labeled as preliminary.
In many cases, Glickman made very broad range claims based upon a very
small sample size. The real ‘pressure test’ for any data generated
in a scientific study is to use a statistical analysis to determine if
the results were significant and not just a matter of chance. Many of
Dr. Glickman’s claims did not have sufficient numbers to be statistically
significant. As Doreen notes,the group of scientists she traveled back
to the airport with, felt that very little could be taken from Dr. Glickman’s
preliminary data.
Although Dr. Glickman’s study cannot be considered statistically
significant, certainly it creates an awareness of environmental influences
and how they may be potentially harmful. In addition, as bladder cancer
is on the rise in both dogs and man, our dogs do serve as a sentinel for
the future of society.
ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center Issues Cocoa Bean Fertilizer Warning Organic
mulch fertilizer may pose hazard to dogs
(URBANA,
IL) March 13, 2003 -- As spring approaches, people will start to tend
their lawns and gardens. Many will consider using cocoa bean mulch as
a fertilizer. Made from spent cocoa beans used in chocolate production,
cocoa bean mulch is organic, deters slugs and snails, and gives a garden
an appealing chocolate smell. However, it also attracts dogs, who can
easily be poisoned by eating the mulch.
Cocoa beans contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine. Dogs are
highly sensitive to these chemicals, called methylxanthines. In dogs,
low doses of methylxanthine can cause mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting,
diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain); higher doses can cause rapid heart rate,
muscle tremors, seizures, and death. If eaten by a 50-pound dog, about
2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5
ounces, increased heart
rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death. (In contrast,
a 50-pound dog can eat up to about 7.5 ounces of milk chocolate without
gastrointestinal upset and up to about a pound of milk chocolate without
increased heart rate.)
If you suspect that your dog has eaten cocoa bean mulch, immediately contact
your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435).
Treatment will depend on how much cocoa bean mulch your dog has eaten,
when the mulch was eaten, and whether your dog
is sick. Recommended care may include placing your dog under veterinary
observation, inducing vomiting, and/or controlling a rapid heart beat
or seizures.
For
more information on this article, please contact:
Deborah Sindell
(212)-876-7700 ext. 4658
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