Everyday Pet Wellness Through Supplements

Pet supplement company Animal Necessity works with veterinary specialists

Posted on by a@nBL0gAr_k

In 2005, Dr. Johanna Fava and Joseph Fava, along with Dr. Norma Pestano, recognized an unfilled niche for dietary supplements in the zoo and aquarium industry. Their company, Animal Necessity, was born to fill this void, and to help animals live healthier lives by providing a comprehensive holistic approach to their wellness. Shortly after the launch…

View the article online at AnimalWellnessMagazine.com

Published in Animal Wellness Magazine

Brody the Guide Dog

Posted on by Animal Necessity

During the ACVO National Service Animal Eye Examination in May 2015, I was given scary news about my 5-year-old guide dog.  Since my guide is a Golden Retriever, the biggest worry has been that this news might lead to worse news.  The ophthalmologist recommended that we start with oral supplements of Ocu-GLO™, and that we watch things closely with follow up vision screenings.

I am so thankful that Animal Necessity has worked with the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind to help me give Brody Ocu-GLO™ every day for the past two years.  At our most recent eye exam, our ophthalmologist was thrilled to report again that Brody’s eyes have remained stable, and his vision has not been impaired.  My guide dog continues to be able to guide me, and we will celebrate his 7th birthday next month.   Thank you Ocu-GLO™!

~ Dana T. and Brody

How Dogs See The World

Posted on by Animal Necessity

Every pet owner wonders… Which of my gestures does my dog actually understand? How does my puppy see the world around him? If only our furry friends could talk!

On one July weekend, moviegoers spent more than $100 million seeing The Secret Life of Pets, an animated adventure story following a group of animals in New York City. Part of the draw for some viewers, no doubt, was the opportunity to experience a day in the life of their beloved animals, however fictionalized (indoor cats don’t typically venture into the sewer like Chloe, the movie’s feline star).

Fortunately, with each year that passes, our knowledge of how real animals actually experience the real world increases, giving pet owners genuine glimpses into the minds of their dogs, cats, birds, fish, and more—literally! While humans and dogs are both adept at using their senses to understand the world, their sensory experiences are quite different.  

So if you’re eager to understand your dog’s experience better—and who isn’t!—read on for a summary of up-to-date, remarkable facts about how dogs see the world.

Fact 1: Dogs Are Basically Color Blind

Over the last decade, scientific research has made great strides in understanding canine eyes.  No, dogs do not see in black and white, but the world created by their eyes and brains is different from the one that we perceive.

Both human and dog eyes have two types of “photoreceptors”, rods and cones, that are responsible for vision.  Cones perceive color, and function in well-lit environments. There are different types of cones too that allow for detection of different wavelengths of light and, thus, detection of color.   Humans have three different kinds of cones (trichromatic) and dogs have two kinds of cones (dichromatic). Because of this difference, the number of colors your dog can perceive is much smaller than the wide array most of us enjoy. Basically, dogs are like colorblind humans (red-green color-blindness). They mainly see blues, yellows, and grays.   To a dog, a “safety orange” tennis ball and green grass have the same color.   Dogs can better see a blue ball on green grass. (Keep this in mind next time you shop for a dog toy!).

While the human eye has 6 million cones, dog eyes only have about 1.2 million. This means that dogs have less acute vision in bright light than we have.

Fact 2: Dogs Have Night-Vision

Rods are much more sensitive to light than cones, allowing their eyes to function in low-light environments. Naturally, rods power vision at night, and also facilitate peripheral vision and motion detection.

In contrast with cones, dog eyes have vastly more rods than humans do (our eyes have about 120 million rods). Although we don’t have precise numbers for canines, their eyes are about 5 times more sensitive to light than humans are. This means that they can see in 5x dimmer light, and they’re much better at perceiving motion—which goes a long way towards explaining how little guys can so easily track down and catch an airborne Frisbee!

Fact 3: Dogs Are Near-Sighted

An additional difference between the human eye and the dog eye is in visual acuity (basically, the ability to focus and perceive shapes at a distance). If we say that the typical human has 20/20 vision, the average dog has about 20/80 vision. This means that your dog would need to be 20 feet away to see an object that you could recognize from 80 feet away.

If you’re not quite sure how all of this applies to how dogs actually perceive the world—you’re not alone! We really appreciated the below visual comparison, from Think Fact Video. Quite a difference!

Fact 4: Dogs “See” Through Their Noses and Ears, Too

As humans, we use all of our senses to perceive the world around us, but the sophistication of our eyes allows us to rely heavily on vision. Dogs, as we’ve learned, “see” a much simpler version of the world through their eyes. But any proud owner can tell you that this doesn’t slow them down. This is because our canine friends have rather impressive senses of smell and hearing that contribute to how they perceive the world.

Human brains are much larger than dog brains—10 times the size, actually. But when it comes to the sense of smell, that part of your dog’s brain is an incredible 40 times larger than yours, and your dog has somewhere between 25x and 60x more scent glands than you do.  Dogs’ sense of smell is between 10,000 and 100,000 times more acute than ours.  They can seriously smell!

And how about hearing? While this sense is secondary to smell for dogs, they still have us humans beat in ear abilities. Canines can hear sounds from 4x farther away than the average human! Additionally, they can take in sounds from each ear independently.  Unlike humans, dogs can detect ultrasonic frequencies of sound.    All of this is to say that your dog’s ears are an integral part of how he or she takes in the world.

Protecting Your Dog’s Sight Over Time

Recent research has enlightened us with better understanding of the remarkable ways that dogs see the world. We’ve long known that dogs will look us right in the eye, but it turns out that they can track our eye movements at the level of a 6-month-old child, and even distinguish between our emotional expressions. All of these factors contribute to the amazing relationships we have with our furry best friends.

As our dogs age, their powerful sensory abilities deteriorate, just like their owners’ vision, hearing, and smell. Because our pets can’t tell us directly when they’re losing their vision, we put together a list of signs that owners of aging dogs should stay on the lookout for (you can reference it right here).

Helping keep our dogs’ vision intact as they age is also why we developed Ocu-GLO ®, a natural supplement that is formulated to protect vital cells in the eye, and the rest of the body, at the DNA and protein levels. Read more about Ocu-GLO right here.

Salt Lake City seal gets eyesight saving surgery

Posted on by Animal Necessity

SALT LAKE CITY — Cataract surgery is routine, unless the patient happens to be an adult harbor seal.

Nika, a longtime resident at the Hogle Zoo’s Rocky Shores exhibit, started developing cataracts months ago, and her keepers noticed she wasn’t seeing their hand gestures as well as she usually did.

The Zoo invited two world-class experts in seal surgery to remove the cataracts from the 13-year-old seal’s eyes.

Dr. James Bailey, an anesthesiologist, and Dr. Carmen Colitz, a veterinary ophthalmologist, are old hands at this kind of procedure, according to Hogle Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Nancy Carpenter.

Read more on the FOX 13 Website…

Animal Necessity Named to Inc. Magazine’s List 2 Years Running

Posted on by Animal Necessity

Animal Necessity Named to Inc. Magazine’s List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies for the Second Consecutive Year — Inc.500|5000

NEW YORK, September 1, 2016 — Inc. Magazine today ranked Animal Necessity NO. 4012 on its 35th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Companies such as Yelp, Pandora, Timberland, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, LinkedIn, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 5000.

“We are once again honored to be recognized by Inc. Magazine for our strong business growth,” said Joe Fava, Animal Necessity President and Co-Founder. “Our results are a reflection of the tireless effort put forth by our committed team of veterinarians, board certified specialists, and dedicated animals lovers. We also owe a great thank you to the tens of thousands of pet parents who are committed to supporting animals with the highest quality natural healthcare. We set out in 2005 to become the worldwide leader in animal health science and we are proud to be raising the bar in this rapidly growing field.”

The 2016 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 433%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $200 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 640,000 jobs over the past three years, or about 8% of all jobs created in the entire economy during that period. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

“The Inc. 5000 list stands out where it really counts,” says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “It honors real achievement by a founder or a team of them. No one makes the Inc. 5000 without building something great – usually from scratch. That’s one of the hardest things to do in business, as every company founder knows. But without it, free enterprise fails.”

“With parents as Medical Doctors (Dr. Norma Pestano and Dr. Raul Mejia) natural medicine was always a family business,” added Johanna Mejia-Fava, Ph.D., D.V.M., Animal Necessity Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder. “It is an honor to continue their 35+ years of scientific research into this new era, where alternative medicine has returned as a mainstream complement to traditional therapies.”

About Animal Necessity:

Founded in 2005, Animal Necessity is the leading scientific brand in the pet health supplement industry and is the leading provider of supplements to the zoo and aquarium industry. With a specialty focus towards animal eye health, the flagship product is the patented Canine Vision Supplement, OcuGLO. Animal Necessity and it’s team of Veterinarians, Research Scientists and Medical Professionals frequently contribute articles to industry publications, are are highly sought after to lecture at conferences and scientific meetings, and are extensively published in peer reviewed scientific journals.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 500|5000

Methodology

The 2016 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2012 to 2015. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2012. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent–not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies–as of December 31, 2015. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2012 is $100,000; the minimum for 2015 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/5000.

About Inc. Media:

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders.  Winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 13,000,000 today.  For more information, visit www.inc.com.

The Inc. 500|5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring all the companies on the list will be held from October 18 through 20, in San Antonio, TX. Speakers include some of the greatest entrepreneurs of this and past generations, such as best-selling author and strategist Tony Robbins, SoulCycle co-founders Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, Cornerstone OnDemand founder, president and CEO Adam Miller, Marvell Technology Group director and co-founder Weili Dai, and New Belgium Brewing co-founder and executive chair Kim Jordan.

CONTACT:

Joe Fava, President, Animal Necessity, LLC
1.800.721.1310
Joe.Fava@Animal-Necessity.com

How to Travel with Your Dog: A Starter Guide

Posted on by Animal Necessity

Roadtrips: the glorious outing when every ride in the car brings us a little closer to our dogs, as we unabashedly enjoy the wind in our hair. And taking your dog with you on a trip can be an incomparable joy. So if you’re considering bringing your furry friend with you this year, now is the time to make sure you’re prepared.

Before you load up the car or make flight transportation plans, take a few minutes to read up on Animal Necessity’s tips for traveling with your outgoing, adventure-ready dog. Continue reading “How to Travel with Your Dog: A Starter Guide” →

Joint Guard Vet™

Posted on by Animal Necessity

Supporting an Active Lifestyle For Your Pets……Naturally!

Can your dog jump up into your car as readily as he or she used to? Does he or she “poop out” after playing ball with you for just a short time? Do you need to help him or her up, onto, and off of your bed or couch? (—and is your back hurting from lifting them?) Are your long walks together slower, and your dog “dragging” the next day?

As aging occurs, simple tasks become increasingly difficult.  Even though the aging process is a part of our normal progression, there are steps that we can take to help maintain the best possible quality of life for our aging pets.  Good nutrition, daily exercise, and proper supplementation are the cornerstones to helping maintain a healthy, happy, and mobile pet.

Joint Guard Vet™ was developed to offer a natural alternative for the discomfort associated with normal joint use, overexertion and stress, and can be used in conjunction with other medications or supplements that your dog may already be taking.

As our pets age, lack of normal mobility and subsequent reduction in physical activity can contribute to further problems and significantly reduce your dog’s quality of life.  Many pets suffer in silence. Joint discomfort, associated with every day exertion, not only reduces your dog’s ability to physically perform at their best, but can greatly affect mental well-being as well.

Joint deterioration associated with aging is a natural occurrence, with the knees and elbows being the most commonly affected areas. The discomfort associated with this deterioration  can vary from  mild discomfort to severe debilitation; the pain level experienced is one important criterion for the choice of therapy. Since your dog is rarely able to truly convey their level of discomfort to you or to your veterinarian, we must be both diligent and astute in monitoring for the warning signs of these conditions.   Signs to watch for may include: stiffness, awkward movements, limping, difficulty standing, swelling of joints (swollen joints can be hard to see in very furry pets), hesitancy to jump or climb stairs, an aversion to petting in tender areas, whimpering, lethargy, and crabby temper. When their joints are hurting, elderly pets often act even older—i.e. if they have hearing problems, they may act even more deaf; if they have vision problems, they may act as if their sight is even worse– all because their joints ache and they cannot concentrate on using the hearing and sight that they still have.

If you suspect that your dog may be suffering from joint discomfort, your veterinarian should be consulted immediately. Identifying the exact cause and location of the problem, as well as the extent of pain and inflammation, is critical; your veterinarian is your best resource for both diagnosis and for creating the optimal treatment plan for your pet. Possible treatment options may include nutritional changes, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, medical management, or even surgical intervention with one or more of the other available therapies.

Here are some dietary recommendations that may help reduce the body’s natural  inflammatory response and support the body’s immune system:

1). Grains are thought to increase inflammation and allergic responses. Replacing them with healthy proteins and vegetables provides additional amino acids and nutrients necessary for support and replacement of healthy collagen and cartilage. Beneficial vegetables include celery, carrots, parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus. Avoid vegetables in the nightshade family such as tomato, white potato, eggplant, onion or peppers, as these tend to increase inflammation.

2). Maintain adequate (but not excessive) amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and magnesium. These nutrients are important for the production of collagen and healthy joint function. Most good quality commercial foods  contain appropriate quantities of these nutrients in the correct balance, but you may consider supplementation if you are feeding a raw diet that is not complete.

3). Avoid dairy, except yogurt or cottage cheese (low-fat).

4). Maintain proper caloric intake and exercise. Weight control is important if the pet is overweight, to reduce excess load on affected joints.

5). Limit additional salt, sugar, flavorings, colorings, or preservatives. Try to avoid highly processed foods.

Depending on the severity of the joint discomfort your pet’s veterinarian may choose to recommend topical or oral medication to reduce inflammation and associated pain. While there are numerous anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers that can be tried, they all tend to have an extensive list of possible side effects, the most serious of which include the formation of stomach ulcers (and other gastrointestinal ailments), liver and kidney toxicity, bleeding disorders, and (rarely) sedation.

A more natural approach may be preferred, either alone or as complementary aid to more traditional remedies.

The unique combination of natural plant extracts found in Joint Guard Vet™  was specially formulated to support joint flexibility and mobility by providing nutrients that may help the body restore collagen levels and healthy joint fluid viscosity, necessary for the maintenance of healthy joints and cartilage.

Joint Guard Vet™ ingredients include:

Manganese Gluconate:  Manganese is an essential mineral necessary in the metabolism of cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates. It, therefore, is required for the formation of healthy cartilage and bone. Manganese is an antioxidant that catalyzes the conversion of superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxide in cells, which is then converted to water. Manganese is also essential for the action of many enzymes necessary in the production of fatty acids and energy.

Manganese is found in many foods including whole grains, seeds, teas, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and legumes.

Boswellia Serrata Extract:  Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian frankincense, is found predominantly in India where it has been used as a natural remedy for hundreds of years. The active ingredient, boswellic acid, works by decreasing polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and migration, decreasing primary antibody (leukotriene) synthesis and almost totally inhibiting the complement pathway, therefore promoting healthy joint function and movement.  It has also been shown to inhibit 5-lipooxygenase.

Lastly, boswellia inhibits both mast cell degranulation and matrix metalloproteinase expression.

Bromelain:  Bromelain is a protease (digestive enzymatic protein) that occurs naturally in pineapple. In addition to being a naturally occurring digestive aid, it is also used to ease the pain and swelling associated with normal inflammatory processes due to its inhibitory effect on the production of prostaglandins. It interferes with the formation of kinins and interferes with the breakdown of fibrin.  As a culinary ingredient it is used as a tenderizer.

Collagen Type II (avian source):  This collagen source is the basis for both articular and hyaline cartilage, making up 50% of all protein in cartilage and 85-90% of articular cartilage collagen. It is also beneficial in that it forms fibrils, thus enhancing the health and tensile strength of cartilage.

By stimulating the biosynthesis of collagen type II from chondrocytes in joint cartilage (where hydrolyzed collagen accumulates), oral administration has been shown to help relieve joint discomfort in humans. It is likely then, that animals could also benefit from supplementation.  The complex also contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which may also help rebuild cartilage that has been lost or damaged.

Chondroitin Sulfate:  Chondroitin is a chemical attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan and is found in joint cartilage, thus providing most of the body’s resistance to joint compression. Both chondroitin and glucosamine are glycosaminoglycans, and glucosamine is a precursor molecule for chondroitin. These molecules are usually used together in most commercial products, often with manganese as well.

Chondroitin is beneficial in the relief of joint discomfort  by slowing the destruction of joint cartilage and providing building blocks for production of new collagen, and by helping to reduce the body’s natural inflammatory processes. It attracts essential fluids into the joints, acting as a shock absorber while attracting needed nutrients into the cartilage.

Glucosamine (HCl and Sulfate):   Glucosamine is the most popular glycosaminoglycan. It is an amino sugar and a prominent precursor in the synthesis of proteins and lipids. The body’s demand for proteoglycan precursors often exceeds the body’s supply due to increased destruction of joint cartilage under certain conditions.  Oral supplementation with glucosamine may help increase the synthesis of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and collagen. (Proteoglycans can help maintain the health and resiliency of joints and connective tissue).  Glucosamine may also act as a cyclooxygenase-independent agent and help maintain synovial fluid levels.

Glucosamine is part of the structure of chitosan and chitin, which form the exoskeletons of crustaceans as well as the cell walls of fungi and other higher organisms, and is commonly produced by the hydrolysis of crustacean exoskeletons.

Glucosamine is marketed to support the structure and function of joints in patients experiencing discomfort, and is usually combined with chondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Extensive research demonstrates the effectiveness of glucosamine for dogs, as well as in human trials that show significant improvement in movement and relief from discomfort. The safety profile of glucosamine has been shown to be extremely favorable. The only real concern may be when consumed by patients with shellfish allergies since it is of crustacean origin.

Opti-MSM™ (Methylsulfonylmethane, MSM) is an organosulfur antioxidant compound found in plants, animals, and humans (found distinctively in human melanoma cells), and is also produced in the laboratory. It is also known as crystalline DMSO, as it is found as a solid rather than liquid in nature. Studies have shown that the combination of MSM and glucosamine is more effective for joint discomfort than either ingredient alone.

It is proposed that MSM provides sulfur molecules that help with the production of necessary chemicals in the body which require sulfur. The sulfur content in our foods is easily depleted by cooking and processing; MSM is an important source of bioavailable sulfur.   Sulfur is essential for healthy hair and fur, skin, and claws, by helping form collagen that maintains skin elasticity. By supporting collagen formation and by helping build amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), MSM may help maintain a more normal range of motion.

Turmeric Extract:  Turmeric is a natural plant extract of the ginger family mostly found in the Far East and tropical regions such as southeast India.   Comprised of a number of ingredients, the most important active ingredients are curcumin I, II, and III. Curcumin (cumin) contains salicin which is converted to salicylic acid in the body.

Turmeric has also been shown to inhibit tissue necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and is a lipooxygenase inhibitor. Other beneficial mechanisms of action include: reduction of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-KB) and MAP kinase AP-1; reduction of COX2 expression and leukotriene activity; modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic proteins; and elevation of glutathione S-transferase activity.

White Willow Bark Extract (Salix alba):   Native to Europe and western and central Asia, this natural extract is taken from the bark of the white willow tree. The extract contains 25% salicin, and as in turmeric, salicin is converted to salicylic acid in the body.  (Because the chemical structure of salicylic acid does closely resemble that of aspirin, the practitioner should keep in mind the usual cautions exhibited for the use of salicylates in animals, even though side effects are much less likely from natural products).

Joint Guard Vet™ is a unique blend of nutrients and natural plant extracts that help maintain your pet’s active lifestyle and comfort level by:

  • Supporting hip and joint health-
  • Supporting joint flexibility-
  • Supporting connective tissue health by promoting synthesis of proteoglycans-
  • Supporting joint lubrication by synovial fluid production and healthy fluid viscosity-
  • Providing bone and joint reinforcing factors for strong bone development-
  • Enhancing tissue pliability and healthy cartilage development-
  • Helping relieve joint stiffness and maintaining joint mobility-

Help your pet have the best quality of life possible—- Naturally!

Why Grapeseed Extract Won’t Kill Your Dog

Posted on by Animal Necessity

One of the most common questions we receive about Ocu-GLO™ is in regards to the grapeseed extract (GSE) present in Ocu-GLO™:

Why is GSE in our supplement since grapes are known to be toxic to dogs? Can you feel confident when giving Ocu-GLO™ to your pet?

The answer is that there are two components of grapes that have health benefits, the seeds and the skin. The seeds of grapes are safe for all species evaluated so far, including dogs. The seeds of grapes contain powerful proanthocyanidins, a group of antioxidants that can support eye function as well as helping to promote normal body function throughout the body. Grapeseed extract(GSE) is well tolerated because the seeds lack the toxic components found in the skin of grapes.

There are compounds in the skins  of grapes and raisins, especially darker varieties of the fruits, that may cause toxicity in dogs. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant found in grape skins  that has also been shown to potentially damage dog kidneys at higher doses. Resveratrol, however, does not seem to exhibit this toxicity when used as a supplement in humans.

Along with the 11 other antioxidants included in Ocu-GLO™, Grapeseed extract supplementation is generally well tolerated and is an excellent way to help support healthy canine ocular function in all dogs.

Should we extend to cats? It is safe for them too!

– Dr. Terri McCalla

The Importance of Antioxidant Supplementation

Posted on by Animal Necessity

Man’s Best Friend has lived alongside us for tens of thousands of years, providing protection, service and companionship. The strength of this bond and depth of this relationship have only increased over time; in addition to sharing our lives, our canine partners protect and serve people with disabilities such as visual impairment, hearing impairment, seizures, and PTSD.

As our sentinels, dogs teach us about ourselves and our environment.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe are becoming increasingly polluted. Additionally, essential nutrients used by the body to maintain health and counteract the effects of environmental toxins are diminished with aging, disease, and the constant fight against oxidative stress. In fact, most major dog foods are cooked at high temperatures to meet safety standards, but in doing so nutrients and antioxidants are destroyed. This is a real problem as our canine friends age, because aging digestive tracts do not absorb nutrients as well.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), also known as free radicals, are highly unstable molecules resulting from natural metabolic processes such as breathing and digestion.  Environmental toxins contribute to higher levels of free radicals. When free radicals outnumber the natural protective antioxidant pathways in a cell, an imbalance commonly known as “oxidative stress” occurs. This is a major component of aging and is why a diet rich in antioxidants is so important!

This interaction between ROS and antioxidants is particularly evident in the eye, where the replacement of essential antioxidants may help reduce the negative effects of oxidative stress.

Supplementing with Ocu-GLO™ provides your dog with a carefully designed, well-balanced, patented blend of antioxidants and other nutrients that can help maintain optimal eye health, as well as overall wellness. What is good for the eye is also good for the rest of the body, especially brain health, because the retina and the brain share the same embryonic origin. They both require huge amounts of oxygen to function well, but this also means that oxidative stress can easily be triggered in these tissues.  Ocu-GLO™ is an excellent antioxidant supplement that may help support healthy brain function, supporting normal nerve conduction and memory recall.  Antioxidants have also been shown to help maintain normal DNA and support immune system function.

The use and benefits of some of the ingredients in Ocu-GLO™ are outlined below.

Grapeseed Extract (GSE): GSE is a potent free radical scavenger that “grabs” and neutralizes ROS and other harmful free radicals. It is one of a family of compounds called proanthocyanidins, which are naturally occurring compounds found in high concentrations in fruits, vegetables, wine, tea, nuts, seeds, flowers, bark and cacao. In addition to the ability of proanthocyanidins to help reduce the process of oxidative stress, they may also assist in the bodies ability to maintain a healthy inflammatory response.  In addition, proanthocyanidins may also potentiate the beneficial effects of vitamins C and E; help support normal cell function, and help protect the circulatory system.

**It is important to note that grapeseed extract is not the same as grape skin extract. There are compounds in the skin of the grape that can be toxic to dogs and should therefore be avoided.  The seeds, however, do not contain these harmful substances.

Lutein (& Zeaxanthin): Lutein and zeaxanthin are potent carotenoids found in dark leafy vegetables, colored fruits and egg yolk. The leading source of lutein and zeaxanthin is marigold flowers.

These two antioxidants function synergistically to help support the bodies ability to reduce free radicals associated with the aging process in the eye, reduce the negative effects of oxidative stress, act as natural blue light filters, and may help maintain a normal inflammatory response.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, and fish oil, (the latter which is ultimately derived from marine algae). Omega-3 Fatty Acids are important for normal brain and retinal development in babies and puppies, help decrease normal inflammatory pathways in the body, and help support the bodies immune system. They are also vital to everyday health, strong muscles, and healthy joint function. In the eye, Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help promote normal vascular health and capillary function.

Lycopene: Lycopene may be the most powerful carotenoid quencher of singlet oxygen, thereby reducing the formation of damaging free radicals.  This powerhouse antioxidant does not get the press it deserves! Lycopene is found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelon, papaya and carrots.

Green Tea Extract (EGCG): Another amazing anti-oxidant, EGCG is the principal flavonoid found in mature or darker teas, and may help significantly reverse oxidative stress and help support a normal inflammatory response in the body. In addition, it can also enhance the body’s own natural immune response, promoting the bodies innate resistance to pathogens.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA): ALA is a water and fat soluble antioxidant found in spinach, broccoli, peas, Brewer’s yeast, and organ meats.  ALA is necessary in the normal production of glutathione in the body and can also help enhance the effects of vitamins C and E, and coenzymeQ10.  Glutathione is the major antioxidant in the lens, the liver and the brain. ALA is  important in the management of oxidative stress in the body.

These antioxidants, as well as the other ingredients found in Ocu-GLO™,  have been combined into this unique formulation to specifically offer healthy support for the canine eye.  By assisting the body in combating environmental pollutants, aiding in the elimination of unstable free radicals, and supporting the bodies normal cell function, Ocu-GLO™ promotes healthy vision for your canine family member!

Giving  Ocu-GLO™ to your aging pet can provide ongoing optimal vision support for your canine friend!  Just as older people have difficulty with night vision, so do geriatric dogs.  Rods don’t handle aging well, so night vision suffers. Given that elderly dogs often have hearing loss, vision becomes even more important!

Ocu-GLO™ helps support normal rod function in the retina, to help your aging dog see all that it can see!

– Terri McCalla DVM MS

Imuno-2865™

Posted on by Animal Necessity

Helping Our Pets’ “Body Police” Do Their Job….Naturally

What can we do to help our pets live the healthiest and longest lives possible with their human families? One very important answer to this question is to do all we can to help keep their immune systems as healthy as possible.

What can impair or damage the immune system? Genetics, environmental toxins, dietary indiscretion, aging, and daily oxidative stress play big roles in affecting our pets’ immune systems— just as they do for our own immune systems. These factors weaken the immune system, causing it to work harder than it was designed to function. The immune system is an incredibly intricate network of organs and cells that “talk to each other” in many ways and is designed to protect the body against internal and external stressors.

When it is working as nature intended, the body is able to function at its highest level, much like a finely tuned sports car.

If the immune system is overworked and on “overstimulated” high alert, it will eventually malfunction. This means that it might over-react or under-react to a typical stimulus, resulting in less than optimal performance.

Imuno-2865™ is a first responder all-natural supplement that may help to reduce the body’s normal inflammatory response and promote both normalization and balance of immune function. Appropriate immune function requires effective natural killer cell cytotoxicity, phagocytosis and nitric oxide production. Specifically, beta glucans are very active immuno-supportive agents, helping to enhance the immune system through activation of macrophages, T cells, and natural killer cells. Beta glucans modulate the host defense system by selectively priming the functions of macrophages and neutrophils, without activating leukocytes or generating cytokines.

Imuno-2865™ is a blend of natural plant-derived hemicellulose  (high molecular weight polysaccarharide complex) extracts that are both potent immunostimulators and immunomodulators, designed to help balance and support a healthy immune system. Hemicelluloses are heteropolymers found in cell walls of plants and fungi, and are less complex than primary cell wall polysaccharides such as cellulose.  The special laboratory extraction process used to obtain hemicellulose extracts enhances immune stimulating and modulating effects, thus, allowing Imuno-2865™ to be much more digestible, thus making it an ideal oral supplement.

The hemicellulose blend in Imuno-2865™ contains:

Arabinogalactan: Derived from the bark of larch trees, it may help aid in the support of healthy natural killer (NK) cell activity.

Arabinogalactan: Helps support the immune system and a healthy metabolism, thereby supporting normal blood sugar levels. It may also aid in digestion by providing an important part of dietary fiber essential for a healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Several hemicellose compounds exist in nature; of them, the arabinoxylanes in Imuno-2865™ are thought to be the most potent immunostimulators.

Plus:

A Novel Fatty Acid extracted from a natural blend of Graminiae (true grasses) and Dioscoreaceae (yams) plant families and a proprietary blend of several species of mushrooms.

The beta glucans in Imuno-2865™ have a micro-particulate size of 1-2 microns, and are absorbed through the intestine and ingested by macrophages. Optimal GI absorption occurs when the particulate size is 1 to 2 microns, and this small size potentiates the immune response. Once in the lymphatic system, macrophages containing beta glucans potentiate T, B, and Natural Killer cell function in the immune cascade.  Immune potentiation by beta glucans depends on the amount ingested; therefore, optimal ingestion (and therefore the quickest immune response) occurs when beta glucans are micro-particulate in size. Quicker absorption = quicker action.

Therefore, Imuno-2865™ is a novel, natural supplement designed specifically for healthy canine and feline immune support:

  • It helps support healthy GI function
  • It works to enhance normal immune system response and activity
  • It is an immunostimulator
  • It is an immunomodulator
  • It boosts circulating lymphocyte production
  • It promotes cytokine production
  • It helps modulate and normalize macrophage function while also stimulating their proliferation
  • It enhances phagocytosis
  • It increases natural killer cell destruction

And, together with balanced nutrition and exercise, Imuno-2865™ can help your pet continue to enjoy a long, happy life— providing essential elements in giving your pets the healthiest immune system and the healthiest lives possible.

Help make that happen!

And as you share your life with your pets, be healthy together! Exercise with your pets, eat right with your pets and balance their immune systems with Imuno-2865™.

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