Page 10 - Martin Downs Bulletin - October '19

Page 10, Martin Downs

Tip of The TaiL

Diet-Associated Heart Disease veterinarian to discuss if a diet change is recommended your veterinarian is a great resource. You can also review
In Dogs for your dog. From a veterinarian’s perspective, there published information on the subject on the FDA’s website
are no known health benefits associated with feeding a
or on Tufts University’s veterinary nutrition website.
grain-free diet, and a grain allergy is incredibly rare in Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical
dogs. Unfortunately, the explosion of grain-free and exotic Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
ingredient diets is simply a marketing trend that seems to for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
now be causing harm to some pets. surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
Signs of heart disease in dogs can include exercise medicine, extensive diagnostics, and emergency service,
intolerance or reduced interest in exercise, a soft cough, Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
an increased respiration rate (particularly at rest) or in medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
severe cases, collapse. If your pet is experiencing any of owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
these symptoms, contact your veterinarian. www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
For more information about diet-associated DCM, Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.

Treasure Coast Outdoors

Over the past year, a trend in canine heart disease has It Is Time To Think Of Deer: Our area (Zone C) has an archery and
developed that has been linked to grain-free and boutique Hunting, But Forget Bear crossbow season running Sept. 14 to Oct. 13. The
diets. Specifically, affected dogs eating certain diets are general gun season is Nov. 22 to 25.
developing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition Hunting Bear: There will again be no season.
that affects the heart muscle which causes the heart to With regards to the lack of a bear season, there is no
become enlarged and ineffective at pumping blood. By Jim Weix biological reason not to have one. However Florida’s
Researchers are working diligently to understand why I’ll be the first to admit poorly planned bear hunt several years ago resulted
certain diets, particularly grain-free diets, are causing that I find hunting in Florida in a disaster. It was definitely a FloriDUH event.
heart disease in some pets. Historically, a deficiency in to be a real challenge. Not I could tell it was going to be a disaster in the
a specific amino acid called taurine has been known to the game, but finding a making, when I found out that Florida sold 4,000
cause DCM, but in a majority of the dogs affected in these place to hunt. Unlike my permits, but only wanted to harvest 300 bears. You
recent cases, taurine levels have been normal in the dog home state of Wisconsin, had to wonder what kind of math was taught in grade
as well as the implicated food. much of the private land school.
There are also some breeds of dogs (Dobermans, in Florida is leased out for I know some people in Florida don’t like to hear
cocker spaniels, Great Danes and boxers) that have a hunting. That leaves public how they do it “up there.” However in this case it might
higher risk of developing DCM, however, in these recent hunting areas, which often have been worth the effort to find out how states “up
diet-associated cases, we are seeing DCM in breeds not are crowded. there” can have a successful bear hunt every year.
typically thought of as at-risk for heart disease. So before you grab your gun or bow, you will need to do I have hunted black bear in numerous states, plus
What is it about these diets that is causing heart disease some homework. The best place to start is https://myfwc. Canada. I have stalked and trailed, hunted with dogs,
in some dogs? The short answer is, we don’t yet know. com/hunting/. sat over bait, and on horseback. There is a reason why
The common link seems to be foods that use lentils or Below are season dates to keep in mind: these methods are used. The primary reason is that
other legumes (e.g. peas, chickpeas, beans, soybeans, Quail: Nov. 9 to March 1 hunters can correctly identify the bear. This eliminates
peanuts) or potatoes as their base ingredient. To determine Duck: Nov. 23 to Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 to Jan. 26. There is a the shooting of cubs and sows with cubs, like we saw
if your pet’s diet uses one of these ingredients as a special teal and wood duck season Sept. 21 to 25 and a teal in Florida’s disastrous bear hunt attempt.
main ingredient, check the label; ingredients are listed season Sept. 26 to 29. Editor’s note: Jim Weix is an avid hunter, angler,
from largest to smallest, so main components of a diet Dove: Sept. 28 to Oct. 20, Nov. 9 to Dec. 1, and Dec. 19 conservationist, as well as an outdoor writer. Jim is
formulation are listed early in the ingredient list. to Jan. 31 included in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s Hall
Some owners feeding a grain-free or boutique diet Turkey: This season runs Nov. 2 to Dec. 29 in our area of Fame, for his work in helping restore thousands of
have started giving their pet a taurine supplement. (Zone C), with an archery season Sept. 14 to Oct. 13, a acres of wetlands. Jim is a Broker Associate with The
Unfortunately, this is not recommended, particularly since crossbow season Sept. 14 to Oct. 18, and muzzleloading Keyes Company. He can be reached at (772) 341-2941
most affected dogs diagnosed with diet-associated DCM season Oct. 19 to Nov. 1. or by email: jimweix@jimweix.com.
have adequate taurine levels when tested. Supplementing
taurine does not appear to reduce the risk of developing
diet-associated DCM in the cases seen so far. Good Works from page 9 area. A 501(c)(3) private, nonprofit organization, the HSTC
If you are feeding a grain-free diet, or a diet with a base is independent and locally operated and relies on donations
ingredient of lentils, legumes or potatoes, contact your About The Humane Society Of The Treasure Coast to support its programs and services. Follow the HSTC on
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) is a no-kill Facebook at www.facebook.com/humanesocietyTC and Twitter
animal welfare organization located at 4100 S.W. Leighton Farm at www.twitter.com/hstc1. For more information, visit www.hstc1.
Ave. in Palm City. Since 1955, it has been the leading advocate org or call (772) 223-8822.
for animal protection and well-being in the Martin County
When it comes to your to-do
list, put your future fi rst.

To fi nd out how to get your fi nancial
goals on track, contact your Edward
Jones fi nancial advisor today.

Protect your savings with FDIC
coverage up to $1.5 million. Cassie Waitkus, Missi Campbell and Sue Hedgepeth Ashley Bates, Jasmine Pollino and Sasha Camley

Our Insured Bank Deposit program o ers the assurance of
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protection.
This interest-bearing savings solution gives you the convenience
of having your savings and investments on one statement.
Getting started is easy. Call your fi nancial advisor Palm City
today to learn more.
Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $1.5 million or $3 million for joint accounts of two or more Christmas Holiday Fair
people. More information about the Insured Bank Deposit program, including the program
disclosure, is available from your fi nancial advisor or at www. edwardjones.com/bankdeposit.
For more information about FDIC insurance, go to www.fdic.gov. Holy Redeemer Women's Guild
th
th
Bryce R Buchanan www.edwardjones.com Nov 16 and 17 Chance to
Member SIPC
Financial Advisor Bryce Buchanan
Jamie L Chapogas, Financial Advisor 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. win
2900 S W Town Center Way
Palm City, FL 34990
AAMS® 772-463-7189 2900 SW Town Center Way Holy Redeemer Parish Hall $200 cash
BNK-6611D-A
www.edwardjones.com
Financial Advisor Palm City, FL 34990
772-463-7189
Member SIPC
. 2900 S W Town Center Way Corner of Mapp and Matheson
FAP-1966C-A Palm City, FL 34990 Christmas Decor, Home Goods, Specialty Items, Jewelry,
Home Baked Goods, Collectibles
772-463-7189
www.edwardjones.com
For info call: 772-291-3840
Member SIPC