What's New @ Animal Designs June 2002
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1. What's New
2. Pet Journals
3. Featured Item
4. Ask the Vet
5. Drawing and Fun Stuff

HAPPY FATHER"S DAY

1) WHAT'S NEW
Exclusive offer for our newsletter subscribers. Free softsided
eyeglass case holder ($9.95 value) with your purchase of $25.00 or
more. Your choice of patterns, either cats, dogs, horses, or
birds . Take advantage of this limited offer during the month of
June. Visit our online store now: http://www.animaldesigns.com/cgi-
sz/webcwrap/szw/st_main.html

2) PET JOURNALS
Last year, we had a beautiful rooster and a few hens that would
visit us once in a while, foraging for a good meal near the back end
of our acre lot. We sat at the window, watching them hunt and peck.
They stayed about 20 minutes and then left, heading into the forest
on the other side of our driveway. Over the year, they stopped coming
and we figured they had either been caught and penned in or moved on
to brighter pastures. We missed their occasional visits and talked
about getting some chickens of our own. However, with all of us
having difficulty getting around, we decided it would be too much
work and the chickens wouldn't get the care they needed. A few months
ago, we started hearing a rooster crow in the forest and wondered if
he was part of our troop. One day, he showed up alone in our driveway
and wandered around for a bit, poking at some fruit and vegetable
peelings we had thrown out for the birds. We decided he was the same
rooster because of his markings and the sound of his crow. He has a
dark golden brown head with the usual red comb and wattle. His neck
and upper shoulders are a golden orange-brown leading to a medium
golden brown back and body. His almost black tail stands proud with a
nice arch at the top. Amid these dark feathers are five long pure
white feathers that seem to shimmer in the sun. Mother lived on or
around farms as a child and never lost that "farmer's heart." Over
the years, she kept chickens at different times and missed being able
to have them anymore. We decided to get some cracked corn to throw
out in the driveway, maybe he would come back and bring his ladies
with him. Then mom would have "her" chickens again. We got a nice big
bag of cracked corn and started throwing out 1-2 cups every morning
before daybreak. At first, we wondered if he would come but we
needn't have worried. Although many birds showed up first to nibble
at the corn, soon he came out of the forest. He walked slowly toward
the corn, looking all around with each step. Once he started eating,
he stuck around for about 10 minutes. He was still alone but we
thought he might bring the ladies after he felt safer. When he
finished, he gave a little crow and walked back into the forest. We
continue to put out corn each and every morning and "our" rooster
comes to feed. He now gives a little crow before he arrives, letting
us know he's coming. Then he struts, or sometimes runs, over to the
corn. The wrens and finches stick around but the crows fly away until
he has finished and left before they return. Our new little ground
squirrel generally moves to the edges but the rooster doesn't seem to
mind him being there. There is a domesticated bunny that has adopted
us also, although he won't let us touch him. He sometimes joins the
group to eat some of the corn but most of the time, he just frolics
in the area, sometimes getting the squirrel to join him. One day,
even the rooster decided to play, hopping over the bunny as they
faced each other. Our rooster has never brought any ladies around so
we figure he's a loner now. He sticks around, pecking and eating, for
about 15 minutes, then flaps his wings, gives a couple of crows and
leaves. As he struts away, he stops every few steps to crow us
another little "Thank you." And of course, we always say, "You're
welcome." You see, the pleasure really is ours. www.petwarmers.com
We all have stories that we like to tell our friends about our pets,
so send us your favorite "tail", and we will select one each month
to feature in our newsletter.

3) FEATURED ITEM
Get cooking with our newly designed hotpads for your microwave
meals. Never burn your fingers again when you use these hotpads.
Made of cotton in your favorite animal print, they measure 4"X 8"
have finger pockets and are washable. Makes a great all occasion
gift and if you like the idea but want a different pattern, just
email me with your request.

4) ASK THE VET
GLUTAMINE SUPPLEMENTATION FOR DOGS & CATS
One of the more commonly recommended supplements for pets is the amino
acid glutamine. Glutamine, or L-glutamine, is an amino acid derived
from another amino acid, glutamic acid. It serves as a precursor to D-
glucosamine, an amino sugar well known for its ability to relieve
pain and inflammation and regenerate connective tissue in people and
pets with osteoarthritis. There is no daily requirement for glutamine
as the body can make its own glutamine. High-protein foods such as
meat, fish, beans, and dairy products are
excellent sources of glutamine. Severe stresses may result in a
temporary glutamine deficiency. Glutamine plays a role in the health
of the immune system, digestive tract, and muscle cells, as well as
other bodily functions. It appears to serve as a fuel for the cells
that linethe intestines (it serves as a primary energy source for the
mucosal
cells which line the intestinal tract.) Because stress on the
intestinal cells (such as chronic inflammatory
bowel disease) can increase the need for glutamine as the body
replaces the cells lining the intestinal tract, glutamine is often
recommended for pets with chronic bowel disorders including
inflammatory bowel disease. Heavy exercise, infection, surgery, and
trauma can deplete the body's glutamine reserves, particularly in
muscle cells. It has also been suggested as a treatment for food
allergies, based onthe "leaky gut syndrome." This theory holds that
in some pets whole proteins leak through the wall of the digestive
tract and enter the blood, causing allergic reactions. Preliminary
evidence suggests that glutamine supplements might reduce leakage
through the
intestinal walls. However, there is little real evidence that it
works as a treatment for true food allergies,
although it is highly recommended for pets with various bowel
disorders.
In people, there is evidence that glutamine supplements might have
significant nutritional benefits for those who are seriously ill. In
one study, 84 critically ill hospital patients were divided into two
groups. All the patients were being fed through a feeding tube. One
group received a normal feeding-tube diet, whereas the other group
received this diet plus supplemental glutamine. After 6 months, 14 of
the 42 patients receiving glutamine had
died, compared with 24 of the control group. The glutamine group also
left both the intensive care ward and the hospital significantly
sooner than the patients who did not receive glutamine. Adding
glutamine to the feeding formulas of hospitalized pets might be
warranted. In people and pets, glutamine is also recommended to
reduce the loss of muscle mass (as may occur during injury, stress,
or high-endurance activities as might be
encountered by dogs competing in field trials.) Glutamine is also a
precursor to the enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate
amidotransferase, which plays a role in the development of insulin
resistance that may eventually manifest itself as diabetes if there
is an imbalance or deficiencies in glutamine levels. Supplementing
diabetic pets with glutamine may be helpful, although more research
is needed in this area. Glutamine may reduce the gastrointestinal
toxicity of some chemotherapy drugs and is often recommended for pets
undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Glutamine can prevent inflammation
of the intestinal tract caused by radiation therapy of
this area. Glutamine should be considered as a supplement for dogs
undergoing half-body irridation for the treatment of lymphosarcoma.
Glutamine, being one of the body's amino acids, is thought to be a
safe
supplement when taken at recommended dosages. Because many anti-
epilepsy drugs work by blocking
glutamate stimulation in the brain, high dosages of glutamine may
overwhelm these drugs and pose a risk to pets with epilepsy. If your
pet is taking antiseizure medications, glutamine should only be used
under veterinary supervision. Maximum safe dosages for young
children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or
kidney disease have not been determined; similar precautions are
probably warranted in pets. Recommended dosages in pets are 250-3000
mg daily. The most common use of glutamine in dogs and cats is for
bowel disorders. Acute gastroenteritis responds well to a combination
of glutamine, intestinal adsorbents, and probiotics. This same
regimen plus plant enzymes can also be very effective in reducing or
even eliminating the
need for corticosteroids for pets with inflammatory bowel disease.
By Shawn Messonnier DVM
author, The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats.
naturalvet@...


5) DRAWING & FUN STUFF
Congratulations to Debbie G.....winner of the billfold for May.
June's drawing is our popular visor for your outdoor activities.
After entering your name , vote for your choice of this month's
fabric and answer the fun question.
The adorable minature horses featured on our web site were submitted
by Cindy F... of Finch Farms... Thanks to her for sending their
precious photos.
We would like to honor your Pet next month, so send us a copy of
their photos either by email or snail mail.


As always, we appreciate your comments, questions and suggestions and
we've provided this link for sharing this newsletter with your
friends. http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=620320

All the best,
Jeanie