As seen in the June 2012 issue of the Holistic Veterinary Society Newsletter.

Demands on the working dog far exceed those of the average family dog. Their bodies and brains need to be able to keep up with all the tasks required of them. This makes it particularly important for working dogs to get all the supplementation they need to maintain health, drive, intelligence and tenacity. Working dogs, with their generous spirits and the pride they take in doing a good job deserve full support for their special contributions.

Dogs who work as farm dogs, security dogs, search-and -rescue dogs or any service dogs have both a physically and mentally demanding job. Whether a dog is helping someone in a wheelchair or is a Police Canine the hours and demanding nature of their job requires stamina and perseverance.

PREVENTING INJURIES
Most sport injuries occur when an athlete is tired and muscle fatigue sets in. Balance, concentration and foot placement begin to deteriorate. Complete, balanced supplementation works to increase both concentration and stamina. This results in fewer injuries and illnesses, a greater enjoyment of work and play, and longer careers. In other words, excellent supplementation often results in a happier and healthier working dog.

INCREASING STAMINA
Complete supplementation increases stamina by keeping cellular processes working full on during the times when concentration and endurance are so very necessary. A full complement of B vitamins for stress, iodine and selenium for the thyroid and vitamin E, vitamin C and Grape seed extract for antioxidant activity all help to keep things running smoothly during times of stress.
Phytochemicals provide even more energy and resilience as they remain and are available in the system far longer than vitamins and minerals. Additionally, bioresearch has shown that the phytochemicals in foods such as broccoli, kale, cranberries, blueberries, and carrots help to prevent cancer as well as many other diseases.

MENTAL AGILITY
Working dogs have to think things through and thinking is indeed work. A dog’s nutritional intake affects brain function. The brain itself has very high energy and nutrient needs. Nutrient intake affects the levels of neurotransmitters; which, in turn, affects memory and problem-solving ability. Vitamin B 6 is needed to produce most of the brain’s neurotransmitters, while Vitamin B 12 is needed to maintain the outer coating of nerve cells. A Niacin deficiency results in loss of memory. Vitamin D3 maintains the nervous system and Boron, a trace mineral, enhances brain function. Zinc is called ‘the intelligence mineral’ and is required for mental development. Zinc helps in the production of about 100 enzymes in your dog’s body, builds a healthy immune system and maintains the sense of smell and taste. It’s also great for the skin and coat. Vitamin A is important for sight and a deficiency in this vitamin can cause night blindness. Working Dogs need to think through situations and handle problems. We put them at a disadvantage if we don’t provide all the tools they need for support.

REPAIR AND REGENERATION
At the end of the day, our working dogs need to repair and regenerate. Cells run a race against time, disease and aging. And they need specific tools to run this race and win. Imagine if the Maytag Man came to fix your washing machine and you found him leaning against the wall doing nothing. “ What’s the problem? you might ask. And he might answer, “ I forgot my tools so I can’t fix your washing machine.” Just so, our dog’s cells must have their necessary tools to create health and stave off disease.

We all think of food in terms of carbohydrates, fats and protein and duly search our pet food labels to find out how much of each is in the dog food we’re considering buying. We forget that these basic food groups act as the structure and not as the tools to maintain the structure.

CHOOSING HEALTHY TOOLS
Let’s look at it this way; to maintain your home you need cleaning solutions, a broom, mop, Spackle paint, screwdrivers, a hammer, nails, and all manner of ‘tools.’ And it needs to be a complete set of tools, too. Imagine our now familiar Maytag Man leaning against your dryer, once again failing to fix it. ‘ I don’t have the right tools for this job for I didn’t bring a complete set of tools with me.’ Vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals are the tools needed to actually keep your working dogs – via all the cells in their bodies- healthy.

Several factors should be addressed in order to choose a quality supplement. The milligrams or international units should be listed on the bottle. The composition of the vitamins should be complete and balanced. The sources should be from a quality supplier and bioavailable. As an example, calcium from powdered bone meal or oyster shells is not well absorbed or assimilated, but many pet vitamins use this as their calcium source. The vitamins should incorporate new research on health in their formulations and should be designed with the needs of the species in mind. Working dogs are exposed to far more toxins than the average pet dog so a vitamin that helps to decrease the toxic load will further benefit health and decrease disease incidence.

Deserving Pets Vital Vitamins www.deservingpets.com were created with the needs of the working dog along with superior health benefits in mind. All of the vitamins, minerals and super-foods listed above, along with many other necessary ingredients craft a supplement that creates a visible effect in your dog within weeks. A special flavor blasting process hides any unpleasant taste and makes it a real treat for any dog when simply added to the food.

LONGEVITY AND PERFORMANCE
Hippocrates never dreamed that his words, “ Let food be thy medicine.”, would be proven true in laboratories all over the world in the 21st century! In fact, it’s even more important to eat healthy food and take supplements in today’s toxic, chemical-laden world. Excellent supplementation improves the rate of tissue repair and this works to extend a working dog’s career. Retirement due to injury, loss of performance or illness is often devastating to both dog and owner. We can’t expect our dogs to stay healthy and ward off disease if they don’t have the necessary tools. A quality supplement such as Deserving Pets Vital Vitamins will help your dog do his or her natural best and be a happier and healthier working dog, creating a perfect win-win situation.

Dr. Deva Khalsa, VMD