Molasses The "Natural" Ingredient That Shouldn't Be In Your Pet's Treats

Posted 4/3/24

Molasses, commonly found in pet treats, may seem like a wholesome ingredient, evoking images of traditional, healthy indulgences, but in reality, can pose problems for your pet. Molasses is a byproduct of sugar production from sugarcane or sugar beets, primarily utilized for its sweetening properties. While molasses derived from sugarcane contains trace amounts of beneficial nutrients like vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and potassium, the most common type of molasses used in pet products are lower quality and originates from sugar beets and is essentially sugar (sucrose, glucose, and fructose).

Products incorporating molasses, whether from sugarcane or sugar beets, often bear labels like "all-natural," "naturally delicious," or "all-natural flavoring," conveying an impression of healthfulness. However, molasses possesses a high glycemic index, potentially elevating your pet's blood sugar levels.

How High Blood Sugar Can Affect Your Pet's Health

Feeding foods that have a high glycemic increase increase your pet's blood sugar levels. We all want to indulge our pets so why is this a problem? If you are giving your pet the same treat every day or foods that are high in sugar, over time, this will increase in your pet's blood sugar on a consistent basis. Here are health issues that might occur from feeding dogs and cats foods high in sugar:

Obesity- high blood sugar levels contribute to obesity similarly to humans. Consistently elevated blood sugar levels can lead to insulin resistance. This resistance can cause the pancreas to produce more insulin, which may stimulate appetite and promote fat storage, ultimately leading to weight gain. Managing blood sugar levels through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and appropriate medical treatment is essential in preventing obesity and its associated health issues in dogs and cats.

Diabetes - is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) due to insufficient production or utilization of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Symptoms of diabetes in pets include increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss despite increased appetite, lethargy, and recurrent infections. Untreated diabetes in dogs and cats can lead to severe complications like diabetic ketoacidosis, cataracts, nerve damage and kidney disease. Managing diabetes in pets requires lifetime care.

    

Dental and gum problems- high blood sugar in cats and dogs can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow in the mouth, leading to the formation of plaque on the teeth. Over time, plaque can harden into tartar, causing gum inflammation and tooth decay. It can also weaken the immune system, making pets more vulnerable to infections in the mouth. In addition to managing your pet's blood sugars, practice good oral hygiene and get regular check-ups.

Yeast overgrowth- elevated blood sugar in dogs and cats can contribute to yeast overgrowth primarily due to the favorable environment it creates for yeast (fungus) to thrive. Elevated blood sugar levels provide excess glucose, which yeast organisms feed on, promoting their growth. Additionally, high blood sugar can weaken the immune system leading to skin infections, ear infections, and digestive problems in dogs and cats.

Cancer- high blood sugar in dogs and cats can potentially contribute to cancer in a few ways. It can fuel the growth of cancer cells by providing them with the extra glucose they need to multiply. It can cause inflammation throughout the body, creating an environment that supports tumor growth and it can weaken the immune system, making it less effective in fighting cancer cells.

Molasses and Sugar In Pet Treats

Many experts assert that added sugar has no nutritional merit in a dog's or cat's diet, but despite the apparent risks, molasses remains prevalent in numerous cat and dog treats. It is most commonly found in moist, chewy varieties of treats, solely for the sake of enhancing flavor and palatability. Offering your pet a "naturally" flavored treat may seem appealing, but there are much healthier treats that can contribute to your dog or cat's well being. Consider freeze-dried raw treats from reputable brands like Stella and Chewy's, Halo, Primal, or Instinct. There are organ meats like freeze-dried liver that pets love. These healthy treats prioritize your pet's health and well-being without compromising on taste or enjoyment.

Author: Susan Davis

Revised and updated:  4/3/2024

Causes Of Blood and Mucous In Your Pet's Stool

IBD KIT

If you notice blood or mucous in your pet’s stool, it is important to take your pet to your veterinarian right away for a fecal exam.   Listed below are some of the causes:  

Possible Causes of Blood and Mucous in a Pet's Stool

• Parasites/Worms-such as Giardia which is a single-cell organism that infects a dog’s intestine.
• Colitis - Pets with colitis can have mucous or blood in their stool.
• Dietary Indiscretions- food allergies, food intolerances or when the diet is changed too abruptly
  
• Foreign Body/Bowel Obstructions-Dogs may eat things that they cannot digest such as a sock or toy which can result in a surgical emergency if the object isn't passed quickly
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)- which is an irritation and inflammation in the large intestine
• Colon Cancer or Intestinal Lymphoma- the pet may have diarrhea, vomiting and discomfort similar to IBD
• Bacterial overgrowth--Pets can get into trash but also some breeds are more prone to SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
• Parvovirus- most commonly seen in puppies, parvo is a virus that attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea with blood and mucus.

Many of these conditions can decrease absorption of nutrients, affect their appetite and cause pets to lose weight rapidly.  Once your veterinarian determines the cause and your pet is treated, you can then consider natural supplements and diet changes to help relieve any continued discomfort or symptoms.  For example, giardia, worms and parasites can be treated short-term with medication, but may leave ongoing inflammation in some pets.  Use  Power Probiotic along with our  IBD Kit to help relieve digestive discomfort long-term.  The Kit repopulates friendly flora, helps control harmful bacteria and relieves indigestion and stomach discomfort in pets.

Author:  Susan Blake Davis

First posted:  4/3/2017

Updated:  2/2/2024

There's a New Sheriff in Town

“On March 13th, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office welcomed two new deputies to the department, K-9 Sarah and K-9 Phantom. K-9 Sarah and K-9 Phantom came to the department by way of a grant from the Animal Farm Foundation of New York and Universal K9 of San Antonio Texas. The two foundations have taken on the mission to show that Departments do not need to spend $15-$20,000 for a pure breed German Shepard or Belgian Malinois to search and find illegal drugs, at the same time giving dogs destined for a life in a shelter or euthanasia a second chance at life serving Law Enforcement Officers and Departments around the country…”

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Clay-County-NC-Sheriffs-Office

What might surprise you is K-9 Sarah is a Pitbull and K-9 Phantom is a Pitbull-Boston Terrier Mix.  These, often misunderstood breeds are all too often left in shelters because of their bad reputation, but this shows that they can be trained to be of great value to society. Sarah and Phantom were trained for one purpose (narcotics detection) and will not be used in a capacity of criminal apprehension or “bite work” We wish them a long and productive career!

The Benefits of Freeze Dried Raw Diets, Toppers and Treats For Pets

While raw frozen diets may be the gold standard of pet nutrition, not everyone can use them all the time due to a variety of factors such as cost, travel and refrigeration requirements.   Some pets may not like the taste or texture of raw frozen diets and their high fat and protein content may not be appropriate for certain pets.  As a convenient alternative to raw frozen diets, some manufacturers have introduced freeze-dried raw food which retains many of the benefits of raw but is more convenient and doesn't require freezing or refrigeration.   Freeze dried diets, treats and toppers seem to be especially tasty!  Some pets that won't eat raw frozen food will gobble up the freeze dried version from the same manufacturer which contains the identical ingredients! 

Freeze dried food is more nutritious than dry kibble or dehydrated food as the freeze-drying process retains much of the nutrient value since the food is not exposed to high temperatures.    Freeze dried foods use pressure to remove moisture.  This is in contrast to dehydrated foods which use low heat for an extended period of time to removed moisture and dry kibble which is cooked at high temperatures, resulting  in the loss of many nutrients.  Freeze dried raw and raw frozen food are also highly digestible as they contain a minimum of carbohydrates and contain food in its most natural state.  This means better nutrition for your pet and less pooh pickup for you!  While there are many brands of freeze dried raw food and treats, our favorites include Instinct, Stella and Chewys, Primal and Halo (treats).     

AHA Hero Dog Awards Voting Opens Soon!

The American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards nominees will be introduced on March 29th when voting opens.  Visit them at herodogawards.org to vote for your favorite hero. We would like to share the story of last year's winner Hooch.

Hooch American Humane Hero of the Year for 2016

"Hooch is a French Mastiff with badly cropped ears, a broken tail, no tongue and the brightest spirit you’ll ever encounter. Zach Skow, of Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, was alerted about him by a shelter in Bakersfield, and was told that the dog wouldn’t eat or drink, and would instead thrash his food and water bowls around like a maniac. By the time he was pulled to freedom, he was 35 pounds underweight – starving, dehydrated and severely malnourished. Never thinking to check for a missing tongue, they thought he might have a broken or dislocated jaw that was causing his behavior. When taken to the vet, he was sedated to ready him for x-rays, and the gruesome discovery was made… Hooch’s tongue had been savagely removed at its base, likely in an attempt to prime him for the role of a bait dog.  After using a feeding tube (Hooch kept yanking it out) it was discovered that Hooch could be hand-fed!  He tilts his head back while Zach has a handful of food and places it in the back of Hooch’s throat and they let gravity do the rest. Hooch stands for overcoming adversity, bravery and living in the moment. He spends many hours with Marley’s Mutts Miracle Mutts division, as a therapy dog.  He works with autistic, abused and special needs children.  Hooch is known for showing patience and kindness and is proof that anything can be overcome. He is our hero and the best mascot for bravery around." from American Humane Hero Dog Awards site

Brown Rice--Is It Healthy For Your Cat or Dog?

Rice is one of the world’s most popular foods, is a major component of many people’s diet and often considered a “comfort” food, but should it be for your pet? It is important for us to remember that what is considered a “healthy” diet for humans does not always translate to be the same for our canine and feline companions.  Brown Rice is less processed than white rice and is produced by harvesting the seeds running the rice through a rice huller that removes the outer grain husk.  White rice has the added step of removing the germ and the inner husk which then removes even more nutrients and fiber.

Why Is Rice An Ingredient Dog and Cat Food?
Many pet food companies use rice as a “healthy” inexpensive carbohydrate that has less incident of being an allergen then other grains such as corn. It is a filler that can bring up the protein percentage on the label INSTEAD of using the more costly real meat, fish or poultry.   “Premium” brands may market the fact they use brown rice or even organic brown rice as a benefit, but the fact is, the rice is still a replacement for the real nutrition a pet needs.   Feeding brown rice and starchy carbohydrates can affect the pet's overall nutritional balance contributing to obesity, yeast overgrowth, diabetes and a weakened immune system.  Most pet nutritionists agree that dogs (and cats) were originally meat-eaters and although they have become more “domesticated”, this still holds true. Cats are carnivores and do not need carbohydrates while dogs thrive when their diet consists of minimal carbohydrates.

Effects of Rice on Your Pet's Health
If your pet is showing signs of itching, licking, chewing, digestive problems, urinary tract infections, hypothyroidism (dogs), hyperthyroidism (cats), upper respiratiory infections and so on (the list goes on and on), grains such as rice, no matter how wonderful they sound for you to eat, should not be a part of your pet's.  The ONLY time rice may be helpful (and even then our preference would be to feed sweet potatoes instead) is when the pet requires a low protein diet due to kidney failure or liver disease. Yes, there are plenty of exceptions where some pets seem to do just fine on diets with plenty of grains, but as a general rule, grains such as rice contribute to inflammation and an increased carbohydrate load.

Avoid Rice AND Grains In Your Pet's Food and Treats

We do not recommend feeding your pets treats or pet foods containing brown rice or any rice. Just a few examples of cat and dog food brands that contain rice:  Rachael Ray Nutrish,  Canidae Life Stages, Blue Buffalo Life Protection,  Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets, Nature's Recipe Limited Ingredient,  Nutro Wholesome Essentials, California Naturals Dry,  Simply Nourish, Royal Canin and Hills Prescription Diets, Purina ProPlan and many, many more.

Have A Question About Your Pet's Well Being? Read our articles about pet nutrition or email us at support@askariel.com  Please be sure to include your pet's diet on the order form at checkout and our nutritionist will include a diet suggestion for your pet on the order packing slip that comes with your product directions.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Rescue dog Wrangler (a special needs dog) wanted to make sure you smile today! Wishing you and your pets a Happy St. Patrick's Day with a pot o' gold of good health!  Wrangler is featured her with the AskAriel.com supplements he takes.  Wrangler has a feeding tube and many health issues, but is loved and cherished by all!