Doctor Snippet’s Pet Report

Bone broth adds flavor, water and electrolytes to pet diets.
Bone broth is an ancient food with deep cultural roots that pet owners have begun to embrace as a new approach to connect with their pets.

How does mercury get into dog and cat foods?
Concern for mercury in pet food affects only certain cat and dog food products. Reports are saying that heavy metals and non-nutritional mineral levels in pet foods are not likely an issue.

Copper-associated liver disease in dogs may be found to be a pet food issue?
While most evidence currently points to genetics, it’s possible that copper as a dietary ingredient plays some role.

Do clay mineral ingredients have merit in pet food?
There are several pet foods on the market that contain clay minerals such as montmorillonite and bentonite. Inclusion of these earth elements at small amounts are purported to benefit our pets.

Will Betaine prove to be a natural ingredient for next generation of pet foods.
Betaine has become more common in pet diets in the last decade as natural and unique ingredients have become the driving force behind new petfoods. Betaine is a nearly pure chemical nutrient that hails from natural origins, and it certainly isn’t mainstream.

Does Sodium selenite ingredient in pet food warrant concern?
Selenium is an essential trace mineral for dogs and cats. Due to wide variation in selenium content among ingredients used to make petfoods, most manufacturers will include a supplemental source in their trace mineral premix. The predominant form used in petfood is sodium selenite, which has been used for decades without much issue.

Bones are seemingly a not-so-novel source of essential pet nutrients.
In human foods, bones have long been a staple for making ingredients like soup stock and gelatin; however, people don’t often eat bones directly. Rather, any bone that lands on our plates as a function of eating a steak, drumstick or chop often ends up being discarded or shared with the family pets.

Potassium chloride said to be a popular potassium source for pet foods.
When balancing the macro-mineral portion of a pet food, calcium and phosphorus are usually the first priority, magnesium seldom requires adjustment, and sodium and chloride, if inadequate, are easily met with a pinch of salt (sodium chloride). All that remains is potassium.

Kirk’s DikiDik In Yorkshire

A new family of antelopes are settling into their new home at the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

The group of Kirk’s Dik Dik, one of the tiniest antelopes in the animal kingdom, are the latest addition to the park’s unique collection of rare and endangered species.
The Dik Dik, who get their name from the call they make when startled, are herbivores that grow to a maximum 16 inches tall and 13lbs in weight.

The dainty animals are native to East Africa, with small populations found in Southwest Africa, but their status is becoming perilous because of hunting by poachers who sell their bones for jewellery and their hides for suede gloves.

The arrival of Davos and Crissy and their four-month-old calf Mr Cashew is part of a global conservation project to protect their numbers and raise awareness of their plight.
“They inhabit shrubland and thickets and their diet consists primarily of leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits,” said Ayshea Seston, Hoofstock Team Leader of the park at Branton, near Doncaster.

“They were quick to explore their new enclosure and have settled in very well and I’m sure visitors will love them.”

The Dik Dik family are part of the park’s ambitious plans to introduce new species to visitors and strengthen its acclaimed conservation work.

The 150-acre park, which is home to more than 450 animals from 70 different species, is now open to the public with clear safe distancing marking around its five kilometres of pathways and wide-ranging safety precautions.

As entry is restricted, tickets are available online only www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com

Born To Be Wild