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6A Daily News – Saturday, November 3, 2012 healthPetsactivities & How to pet a pup or meet a mutt An estimated 4.7 mil- lion dog bites occur in the U.S. each year and out of the 800,000 who seek medical attention for bites; half of these are children. Many of these bites can be easily avoided by learning some simple things. Dog behavior is not the same as humans. They can interpret many of the actions we view as friendly as being hos- tile. Remember, when an animal is in a situa- tion not familiar to them they will often be fear- ful and quite self-pro- tective. When they feel threatened they will do what is instinctual and normal for them. There- fore, whether you are approaching a strange dog to help it, or are meeting your friend's new pooch, the follow- ing tips and signals can help you correctly intro- duce yourself to any dog you do not know. One of the signals that people often find misleading is a wagging tail. A happy dog usual- ly wags his tail and gets his whole playful body involved. A dog who is about to bite usually has his tail pointed high, moving it quickly back and forth and his body is rigid. Choose pet food carefully: Ingredients in some may not be best for dogs, cats By Kathy Antoniotti Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) We all want to protect our pets by giving them a nutritious, well-balanced diet that will help them thrive. But even with our best intentions, it's diffi- cult to know what is the best food to feed our ani- mals. When dogs are afraid, you may see the hair (hackles) on their backs stand up. For some, it may be just the hair on the back of the neck between the shoul- ders. On others, the hair stands up for the entire length of their backs. If you see hackles raised, back off. ears and tail are raised high. If you reach out to pet a dog, and his entire body immediately freezes rather than try- ing to get closer to you, he is definitely not pleased and it is time to move away slowly. If you notice a dog is licking his lips (when food is not involved), yawning, or turning his head to avoid meeting your gaze, he is again talking to you. These signs let you know that the dog is not comfy with what is going on around them. Keep remembering, a dog who distressed is often more likely to bite. Scared dogs do not not present, do not approach, touch, or attempt to move a dog. Instead, get assistance from those who have experience handling ani- mals (e.g. Animal con- trol officers, veterinary professionals, etc.). When meeting an sure give away about a dog,s attitude. A dog that is comfortable usu- ally has a relaxed body with his ears low and a happy, wagging tail. An aggressive dog is just the opposite. His entire body goes stiff, and his Body language is a always bite, but it the likelihood is increased. If you encounter a dog who cowers away from you, has his tail tucked between his legs and the ears flattened against his head, back off and let him approach you. So, how do we approach a new animal without causing trauma to the animal or injury to ourselves? Always ask if it is OK to touch some- one's dog. If an owner is unknown dog for the first time, allow the dog to come to you. Crouch down and turn to the side, avoiding direct eye contact. Let him sniff your hand before you begin to pet him. After the dog has thoroughly sniffed your hand, pet his chest, first. Our first instinct is to pet the dog on the top of his head and shoulders. Putting yourself over his head and shoulders, in dog language, states that you are trying to establish dominance. Therefore, first pet the dog's chest, before moving up to shoulders and sides. As you are petting, speak softly and soothingly to the dog and if you know his name, use it. Do not ever put your face close to an unknown dog. If you are carrying anything in your hands, slowly set it down on the ground an arm's length away from you and to the side, and allow the dog to sniff it. This will help reassure him it is not something that you might use to hurt him. Never approach a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies. Dog in these situations can become startled eas- ily and are likely to be extremely protective of their food and young- sters. In addition, never leave young children or babies alone with a dog for any reason. They like to give "hugs and kisses" which often makes dogs quite uncomfortable. Remember, the obser- Can we believe everything we read on a bag of pet food? And even if it's true, what does it all mean in terms of the health of our pets? "You would need two degrees to be able to read and understand a pet food label," said Richfield, Ohio, veterinarian/dermatologist and allergist Alice Jeromin. Like many of you, I have done online research and poured over nutrition and ingredient labels for many years. Personally, I have relied on the mantra of not feeding my dogs any food I can buy in a gro- cery store. Instead, I buy it online or at a pet store or a feed and grain store. Also, I do not feed my pets anything that comes from China — remember the melamine scare from years ago and more recently, the chicken treat recall? And, while we are at it, we've been advised to stay away from wheat, corn and soy. Last week, I learned everything I thought I knew about pet food is wrong. But it seems the cards are stacked against us from the start. As an allergist, Jeromin specializes in discover- ing the reasons dogs and cats scratch themselves raw, cough and wheeze, have skin problems, stom- ach issues or recurrent ear infections. Sometimes, it is due to what they eat. Generally, if a problem is due to a food allergy, it is caused by the meat protein in your pet's food, Jeromin said. So you can't blame all your animal's allergy issues on wheat, soy and corn found in many pet foods. vance of a few simple actions and signs can make a large difference in how the initial meet and greet between you and Fido goes. Ronnie Casey is a volunteer with Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter. You can read her blog, Mutts & Moggies, at redbluffdailynews.com. The bigger issue, said Jeromin, is the fact that some foods contain large proteins that are difficult for animals to break down when they are ingested, particularly beef and chicken. In an over-the-counter sample of four brands of dog food labeled "venison," all the test product contained beef and/or chicken, she said. Jeromin has a few tips for helping you find a food to serve your canine and feline companions. "Avoid generic pet food." It has been shown to cause a zinc deficiency and produced poor growth rates in puppies, she said. Do your research, Jeromin advises. "Make sure the pet food company employs a vet- erinary nutritionist on their staff," she said. And make sure all the manufacturing is done in one plant. you have better control of the product," she said, "a lot of these pet food companies don't even have quality control," she said. Jeromin's advice is the same for cat and dog "If you are producing everything from one plant owners. "Also interesting is that fish is not a commonly eaten protein in cats — cats were originally derived from desert areas, no fish there! — but because it's cheap, it was and is used in most cat foods. With cats, higher protein and high fat is actually best for them," she said. A Loving Tribute to Man's Best Friend My Beloved Jack Russell Terrier's Reine~ 1997 - 2012 MARTI TUCKER 1994 - 2012 God knew what he was doing when he named man's best friend a dog. Now spell dog in reverse: GOD! The summer's gone and the clouds are playing the morning song, it frees me an autumn tune that is breaking through, today's the day I'll see them? My eyes are full of childlike wonder, My heart, it beats a thousand times I only need to gaze upon them, and all I want is what's mine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Very Special Thank You All the best things, they come small from God Like just one bark from their mouth With just a few words life can turn I'm upside down, inside out. You twist me all around. I will never forget the blessed church memorial service with such loving music and scripture at reading, The First Baptist Church, Red Bluff, by Pastor Bruce Cloutier! Thanks be to God. A true man of God. In Remembrance Of: Beloved Marti and Tucker Let me take this opportunity to say a big Thank You! I will cherish all the kind words, sympathy cards, phone calls, letters and poems. When I thought I was going to lose it, Dr. Paul Riggle, The Lord comes through in a special way, through prayers, Christian friends, good neighbors, and some special people at La Carona Mexican Restaurant, The Green Barn, Casa Ramos of Red Bluff, Valeighs Airport Restaurant. I will always remember and cherish the memorial cake for my Jack Russell's by Val and staff. Dr. Charles Whitcomb, and the staff of the University of California, Davis Medical Center were there for me, as were my dear friends Phil and Esther, and Kristin at St. Elizabeth Hospital. The Association of American Feed Control Offi- cials, a voluntary nonprofit organization of local, state and federal agencies charged by law to regu- late the sale and distribution of animal feed and drug remedies, is the only official body that gov- erns pet food. approval on the package or can, Jeromin said. "If it's not human-grade food, it can't say it on the package," she said. Pet food manufacturer Honest Kitchen, head- quartered in San Diego, claims it produces the only pet food in the U.S. with a statement of "no objec- tion" from the Federal Drug Administration to use the "Human-grade" on its packaging. Honest Kitchen pet food, made from whole food ingredients, which are sourced from the human food chain, comes to the purchaser in a dehydrated form. The company requires that all ingredients come from providers with a signed pledge that they are free of genetically modified organisms, do not originate from China, have not been irradiated and have been screened in accordance with human food standards, among other things. As proof, the company advertises its employees are "taste testers," who, along with their dogs, insure the products' aroma and color as well as taste. Stick with brands that have the AAFC seal of Jeromin cited pet food manufacturers Purina, Iams and Hills as producers of products that con- tain nutritionally sound ingredients. Raw feeding, a method that has become popular within the last decade, is another alternative. Pets are fed a diet primarily of uncooked meat, edible bones, and organs. For it is by God, and Grace that I go on, one day at a time! With much love and thanks, Albert John Reine, Jr., Hazel "R" Ranch of Red Bluff, CA. Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, and Today is a gift; that's why they call it the Present. Yes, a gift from God. Memorial donations maybe made to Tehama Couty Animal shelter and/or the Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your photos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Inspirational sights, Any shot you think readers would enjoy You might just see it in the Daily News Send pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption.