Monday, June 25, 2012

best article I've read on pet's health so far

I highly suggest taking the time to read every single word



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Joined: November 15, 2010 Australia
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Allergies in Dogs and Cats - Simple Solutions That Work

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Allergies in dogs and cats:
When I first graduated as a vet 20 years ago, I thought I knew how to treat every disease in animals known to man. A few years in suburban practice quickly taught me the error of my thinking - and the greatest stumbling block I ever came across, was trying to treat skin allergies in dogs and cats. I quickly realized that the side effects of most of my treatments were rapidly becoming worse than the original disease itself. It was with this back ground that I was impelled to look deeper, to look for the un-seen cause of allergies.
Allergies are basically an "inappropriate" or "over-zealous" reaction of an animals' (or persons) immune system. The reaction is caused by exposure to certain chemical or organic agents, commonly referred to as "allergens". Genetics certainly play a role in pre-disposing an animal to developing allergies, but environment and nutrition will ultimately decide to what degree the allergy is expressed.
Allergies in pets fall into several different categories, but nearly all allergies have a common expression - chronic allergic skin disease (allergic dermatitis or "eczema"). Allergies can be triggered by airborne allergens (atopic dermatitis), by direct contact with the skin (contact allergy), by exposure to certain foods (food allergy), or by exposure to parasites (eg flea allergy dermatitis). The pattern of skin disease can vary widely, but subtle differences can help to determine what type of allergy is involved. The classic signs of allergy include generalized itching, feet chewing, face and muzzle rubbing, dermatitis of the inner legs, abdomen and armpits, chronic ear infections, "hot spots", and more recently, asthma in cats.
Traditional veterinary treatments for allergic skin disease have included using drugs like cortisone, anti-biotics, anti-histamines, ant-parasitic agents, and topical medicated shampoos. The good old "bucket on the head", known more professionally as an Elizabethan collar, has also been widely used to prevent self trauma. More recently, testing for known allergens has become popular, and the use of de-sensitisation (gradual exposure to diluted forms of the known allergen) has shown some success. Recognition of the role of essential fatty acids (primarily Omega 3 fatty acids), and their inclusion as a dietary additive, has also shown some promise. But on the whole, allergic skin disease is still one of the most common, and frustrating, veterinary complaints that brings pet owners to the waiting room. One unfortunate reality of allergies is that despite all the advances in modern medicine, allergies are still considered a "chronic" disease - meaning that there is no "cure" for an allergy, the best we can hope to do is "control" the expression of an allergy, and limit the use of drugs required to do so.
Understanding the Immune system:
The key to "controlling" allergies is to understand how and why they occur. As mentioned, allergies are an inappropriate immune reaction to a specific allergen - a reaction that that is not "pre-programmed" into the immune system by the core genetic code, but one that is "learned" or "accidentally" occurs. The study of the immune system (immunology) is a fascinating science, and one that has provided much of the information that is driving modern medical advances. One of the fascinating facts about the immune system, is that it works in almost the same way in all animal species- from man to fish. It is an ancient and untouched genetic code, and is designed to "protect" an animal from disease, and to assist repair.
A thorough description of how the immune system works is beyond the scope of this article, but a very simplified overview will assist in understanding allergies. In very rough terms, the immune system can be divided into 2 parts. One part is involved in making antibodies - cells that produce special proteins that are specifically designed to "recognize" specific foreign molecules (eg bacteria or viruses) which are called "antigens". The body has millions of different cells (B lymphocytes) which produce different types of antibodies which protect us from infection, and these antibodies form the basis of the practice of immunization (where we introduce non-dangerous parts of a bacteria or virus so the body can make antibodies to that particular pathogen). The second part of the immune system is known as the "innate" immune system, and it involves cells that we commonly call "white blood cells". These cells are responsible for directly destroying foreign agents, infected cells, or antibody/antigen complexes formed by the other part of the immune system. When your body is under attack by a bacteria or virus, these cells poor into the blood stream to fight off the agent, and the result is that on a blood test, you have a "high white blood cell count". As white blood cells capture and destroy these foreign particles, they actually die themselves, and the resultant protein sludge that remains is known as pus (when concentrated in a small area).
In an allergic reaction, we have an "accidental" response. Lets use the example of an inhaled grass pollen. Normally the immune system should not recognize the grass pollen as foreign or dangerous (we inhale microscopic pollens all the time during spring and summer). But in an allergic response, for some reason the immune system creates a specific antibody to the pollen. This antibody seeks out the pollen, and binds to it. Then, a particular part of the innate immune system (white blood cells known as "eosinophils") are released into the blood to capture and destroy these antibody/antigen complexes. When these eosinophils have done their job, they also "die", but as the cells burst, they release histamine - which causes intense local swelling and itching. In people, this reaction commonly occurs locally, at the location of the nose and eyes where the pollen first contacts the moist mucus membranes - and results in "hay fever symptoms" (swollen itchy eyes and nose, sneezing etc). If the reaction occurs deeper in the body, at the level of the bronchi in the lungs, it can cause "asthma". In dogs and cats, these cells actually migrate to the skin (and sometimes to the lining of the gut) where they cause an intense itching reaction which we call allergic dermatitis. When the animal itches, it breaks the skin, and allows secondary infection to occur, which further adds to the irritation - and so the cycle goes on.
The pattern of allergies is determined by the type of allergen. Some allergies are seasonal, meaning that the allergen is only in the environment for a specific time of the year - most of these are caused by plant pollens etc (called atopic allergies). Some contact allergies, like grass allergy only occur when grasses are dry and producing seed heads, and most of the signs occur on the underneath of the dog, in areas where there is no fur protecting the skin (eg groin, armpits, belly). If the allergen is present all year round, such as a food allergy (to a specific food type) or allergies to dust mites, then the signs of allergic dermatitis will be constant.
So what causes the Immune system to malfunction?:
The answer to this question is the key to solving the mystery of allergies, and unfortunately there is not one simple answer. A genetic predisposition (ie an inherited tendency) is certainly one big factor. Certain breeds of dog (eg West Highland White Terriers) are genetically predisposed to developing allergies. Staffordshire terriers are prone to contact allergies, German Shepherds are prone to food allergies and chronic ear infections etc. But in veterinary practice, we are seeing more and more dogs with allergies (probably the number one reason people go to see their vet apart from vaccination), and genetics alone cannot be the answer.
Modern immunology has now shown us that both nutrition, and environment, will affect the way our immune system functions. When we talk about environment, we really mean the "artificial" environment, and the exposure to man made chemicals. In the house, pets may be exposed to chemical cleaning agents, carpet and floor products, insect sprays, deodourisers, perfumes etc. And outside, in the garden or on a walk, there are air pollutants (eg. petrochemical fumes), weed sprays and herbicides, water pollutants (fluoride, chlorine) and a host of other "un-natural" potential allergens. And what about the products we deliberately use on our pets - shampoos, conditioners, worm tablets, flea and tick control, heartworm prevention, even the chemical stabilizers used in vaccines - all of these can act as potential "triggers" for allergies. Naturally some of these cannot be avoided, but we do need to exercise some care when we have an allergic pet. Other recognized triggers also include the huge range of chemical preservatives and colourings used in processed pet foods, some of which are now recognized as carcinogenic. Sulphur dioxide, a common preservative used in pet meat, is also a known trigger for asthma and eczema in people. It is important to remember that most of these chemical agents are "new" to the immune system (they weren't around hundreds of millions of years ago when the immune system was evolving in fish), so it is not surprising that our bodies do react to them as "foreign".
Recent studies into immunology and parasites have also revealed some startling results in this area. Dogs and cats have been evolving on earth for some 40 Million years, and for the first 39.98 Million years, they did so without interference from man. Their bodies had developed a natural balance between intestinal and topical parasites, which was controlled by their immune system. The part of the immune system that controls parasites, are the same cells (eosinophils) that are involved in allergies. When these eosinophils react at the gut level, the release of histamine actually causes swelling and increased motility, which aids the elimination of gut parasites (worms). At the skin level, the release of histamines causes itching, which in turn, aids the removal of fleas. This process has kept the natural balance of parasites in check for millions of years. With the advent of modern chemical worming tablets and the widespread adoption of 3 monthly worming programs, intestinal worms have become a thing of the past. To further add to this, modern "all in one" topical preparations that control topical parasites and heartworm, also kill the majority of intestinal worms, but on a monthly basis. Whilst this may at first appear to be a great thing for our pets (and don't get me wrong, these products are very useful), we have now reached a position where our pets can be completely "sterile" of all parasites.
What modern immunology has discovered however, is that when the body is sterile of parasites, the part of the immune system that has evolved over millions of years to control them, the eosinophils, is now left without a job to do - and as a result, there are now large numbers of these cells available to react to "allergens". What this means is that the effect of an allergic reaction in pets that have no parasites to control, is actually far more intense, than in a pet where these cells are actually doing the job they were designed to do. In short, dogs and cats that are "sterile" are far more prone to having serious allergic skin disease.
And what of nutrition? How does what we eat, or what we feed our pets', affect the immune system? Most people nowadays do accept that what we eat will affect our overall health and longevity, but what we may not realize is, that it affects our health by affecting our immune system. In simple terms, the better your immune system works, the better your every day health will be, and the longer you will live (excluding bad luck). Modern nutrition recognizes that there are 76 known macro and micro nutrients required for perfect health. Simply put, your immune system needs all 76 elements to function perfectly. What we also now understand, is that our bodies (and that of your pets') do not exist in a "sterile" environment. The intestinal tract requires the presence of pro-biotic bacteria (often termed "good" bacteria) - names like acidophilus (the bacteria found in natural yogurt) are now commonly recognized as being healthy. Our pets also have their own population of good bacteria, and they are also essential for good health. It is the combination of a diet that provides all the necessary nutrients, combined with an intestinal tract full of pro-biotics, which allows our body to absorb the nutritional value. And this ultimately ensures that the immune system receives all 76 of the elements required for it to function at its optimum.
Unfortunately, for both humans and pets, the supply of good, healthy food is no longer as simple as it used to be. Just two hundred years ago, people ate good quality fresh food. Produce was grown organically, harvested and eaten. There was little in the way of processing or preserving, and the soils that were used to grow crops, fruit, or livestock, were healthy and nutrient rich. Compare that to today, when an apple bought from the supermarket may be 9 months old before you eat it, and it has been grown entirely on artificial fertilizers and sprayed with chemicals, or the fact that the vitamin C content of a supermarket orange has fallen to 2% of what it was the day it was picked, and we see it is not so hard to understand what has gone wrong. If you add to that the processing and preservatives used to extend shelf life, and the over-abundance of sugars and salts included in processed food and drinks, we start to see an insidious pattern of modern day "malnutrition" emerging.
But don't think that you pet has been spared this reality. For the past 40 Million years, dogs and cats ate a healthy diet of wild prey, raw, uncooked and unprocessed, supplying not only the necessary probiotic bacteria for gut health, but also the complete 76 nutrients for perfect health. But in modern society, we now know better, and pets' are fed on man's waste! On the whole, processed pet foods are made from in-edible carcass remains (made into meat meal and meat by-products), cheap sources of bulk carbohydrate and vegetable matter, sugar, salt, flavours, and preservatives. Add to this a cocktail of about 25 + chemically derived essential vitamins and minerals (a commercially available product which guarantees a pet food will meet AAFCO nutritional standards). Then finally, mix all this into biscuits, cook at high temperatures (> 260'C for import into Australia), and then spray with liver digest and fat (so your pet will actually eat it) - this is what has replaced the natural diet of dogs and cats.
Modern pet foods are sterile (they provide no pro-biotic bacteria) and they certainly do not provide the body with the 76 nutrients required for optimal health, no matter how much they cost, or what they say on the pack. Sure, there are much better ones, and much worse ones, but collectively, they are contributing to the same "modern day malnutrition" that is affecting western society. We are slowly turning our pets into "junk foodies".
So back to allergies, how is all this causing allergies in pets? It is quite simple. The way immune cells react is actually influenced by a wide range of nutritional factors, many of which modern science is yet to fully understand. We do know that if an animal's diet is deficient in Omega 3 essential fatty acids, the immune system will react in a more inflammatory way, producing more histamine release and a greater "allergic" tendency, than compared to an animal that has an adequate dietary intake of Omega 3 fats. We also know that omega 3 fats are commonly deficient in processed pet foods, or are easily oxidized and rendered useless, by the processing and handling of dry and tinned pet food. And this is but one of the 76 elements that can affect the immune system. When we combine this type of deficiency, with other mal-nutritional factors caused by poor dietary ingredients and processing,a pattern emerges. Add the loss of pro-biotic bacteria, and the sterile gut caused by over zealous parasite control, and we have a "pro-allergic" state in the animal's immune system - which is just waiting to react.
So whereas the "healthy" body may have shown just a mild reaction to an allergen (say flea saliva from a flea bite) we suddenly have a massive over-reaction to the introduction of a normally mild allergen - with wide scale release of histamine and intense itching and chewing (and we end up with a dog with "hot spots"). If we combine all this with a living environment full of modern chemical agents and potential "triggers" (and in the food we feed our pets), then it is not hard to understand why we are seeing such an "epidemic" of allergies in pets, and in people.
So what can we do?;
Certainly I do not profess to have all the answers to treating allergies, but there are some basic guidelines that I follow in practice, that consistently lead to effective, positive results in pets that have allergies.
1. To best supply the necessary pro-biotics and 76 elements, change you pet onto a natural, raw, balanced and unprocessed diet, using fresh meats and produce that has not been treated with chemical preservatives (avoid sulphur dioxide = preservative 220, 221, 222 etc). Choose a meat source that your pet is not likely to have had regular access to (eg kangaroo meat, or tripe) - avoid chicken and beef. And stick to a simple carbohydrate, like rolled oats or brown rice. Eg. Vets All Natural Premium Choice, or Complete Mix
2. Add the following daily supplements - a dose of pro-biotics (eg Protexin), an all natural multivitamin and mineral supplement, an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement such as Flax Seed oil or Fish oil (fish oil is better for cats). Eg. Vets All Natural Health Booster and Omega Blend Oil.
3. When using parasite control, try to use products that only affect the parasite you are targeting. Eg, use a product that only kills fleas if you have a flea problem, or a product that only kills heartworm larvae, and not one that also kills intestinal worms. For regular worming, consider having a fecal test done to see if there are worms present at large numbers (much like we do for horses and other stock animals) rather than just treating every 3 months. Pets can tolerate low numbers of worms naturally.
And if these changes alone are not fixing the problem, try:
• Consider using rain water for drinking rather than chlorinated and fluoride treated tap water.
• Make whatever adjustments to your home and backyard environment that are feasible - try and avoid using harsh chemical sprays or cleaning agents
• When an animals skin is inflamed, avoid using shampoos and medicated washes, they often provide only temporary relief, and may actually be "contributing" to the ongoing cycle.
My experience, gained over the last 15 years in practice, has shown me that more than 70% of allergic pets can be maintained on a drug free regime if they follow these guidelines. The ultimate goal is to get your pet off all ongoing medications and treatments (especially cortisone) - even if they have the occasional itch.
Dr Bruce Syme BVSc (Hons), veterinarian and animal lover
http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au
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Submitted On November 15, 2010. Viewed 219 times. Word count: 3,234.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Question from an Owner

So the last few days I've had some good questions come my way and I thought I would share the answers,

 One of my clients has a 14 yr old cat named Tabitha. She runs the show, if you know what I mean. Most queens are the boss, so it doesn't surprise me.

Her owner asked me, " What can I do for her arthritis? "

First thing I suggested was good , clean water. You would be surprised the longterm effects of fluoride, chlorine/ unknown toxic exposure in animals. It's something we rarely consider. Giving steriods are unadvised as they hinder the immune system for the long haul and change the bacteria in the gut, basically they disrupt the normal system to solve the inflammation immediately, which is understandable, but let's discuss options.
I have a 18 year old poodle. I almost lost her last week. I credit her good health in her senior years to the limited vaccinations, good quality food, and for the last two years--vegetables.
One thing you have to consider is, you have no idea what your pet is really eating in their food. Even if you buy an expensive brand-can you guarantee the meat came from a reliable source? Can you guarantee the animals used to produce your dog's food were disease free and fed well?
I have to open a can of worms here when I say most diseases people suffer and die from are a result of a weak immune system. Pets are no different. If the world runs on good deals and saving money, who is to say our pets are getting quality ingredients? I've been hesitant to ever spend more than $30 on a 40 pound of dogfood, and not more than $25 on cat food.
With that being said, an animals lifespan can be long and healthy if the animal maintains a good immune system. With a working immune system, arthritis can be maintained better, skin conditions can be eliminated/minimized/controlled, and possible prevention of more serious diseases ( lupus, cushings, etc) can be expected.
I think there is a faulty area of health care that is prominent in not only the animal field but also in the human medical industry. And that's what it is, industry. I am shocked that medications used are cut with toxins and there is never any attention the delayed reaction of these chemicals by the doctors practicing medicines.
On that note, there are several alternatives to your pet's condition-- Let's discuss arthritis---


1.  Water Source--- It's almost always tap. If you have a filter, it probably does not remove the fluoride and some of the unknown toxins lurking in your pet's water. You can invest in a reserve osmosis system on ebay, they run anywhere from $99 and up. I know it sounds like a lot to do, I will inform you once I changed all my drinking water to reserve osmosis only, got a filter on my shower, and started cooking with only good water, I no longer wake up feeling stiff and painful.

I love referring to clinical studies when it comes to different topics:


Gedalia I, et al. (1964). Effects of Estrogen on Bone Composition in Rats at Low and High Fluoride Intake. Endocrinology. 75: 201-205.
"[T]he decrease in the mean breaking strength was significant statistically" among the fluoride-treated rats, and "is in agreement with the known fact that the breaking strength of bone decreases with increased fluoride intake."
Daley R, et al. (1967). The Effects of Sodium Fluoride on Osteoporotic Rats. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. (Abstract). 49A:796.
"[T]he heavily fluorinated bone tended to break under less stress than did bone from any other group. These findings suggest that the heavily fluorinated bone was not as strong as the bone from normal rats or from rats fed low-calcium diets without fluoride."
Beary DF. (1969). The Effects of Fluoride and Low Calcium on the Physical Properties of the Rat Femur. Anat Rec. 164: 305-316.
"In the low calcium group a similar significant increase in flexibility appeared at the 10.0 ppm dosage level as well as the 45.0 ppm, but a significant decrease in strength at the two dosage levels were observed. These were in direct relation to the amount of fluoride given."
Wolinsky I, et al. (1972). Effects of fluoride on metabolism and mechanical properties of rat bone. American Journal of Physiology. 223(1): 46-50.
"Femurs of fluoride-treated rats exhibited a decrease in mechanical strength as manifested by a decrease in ultimate stress to breaking as well as decrease in limit and modulus of elasticity."

Hodsman AB, Drost DJ. (1989). The response of vertebral bone mineral density during the treatment of osteoporosis with sodium fluoride.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 69(5):932-8.
In osteoporosis treatment "there have been serious concerns raised about the safety of sodium fluoride, which has a tendency to cause significant upper gastrointestinal side-effects, arthritis, fascitis, and a more recently described acute lower extremity pain syndrome."


2. Inflammation of your pet's joints

If an animal is experiencing inflammation of the joints, it means there is an underlined reason, whether it is an injury, a result of vaccinosis, loss of joint fluid etc.
A veterinarian would usually treat a limping pet with a steriod, or a pain medication. In dogs, rimadyl is usually prescribed. Rimadyl is not for every animal because it can interfere with the liver and cause unwanted side effects or death. Most dogs can handle it and can take it for years.
The reason why I never used any of the rimadyl I have been prescribed for my dogs is because of the ingredients. Don't get me wrong, you give it to your dog and your dog will be walking better and seemly be more relieved.

Rimadyl ( Carproden)

In my search of trying to find the ingredients because I have a feeling there's toxins in the ingredients I came across the package insert.
In my opinion the insert is too vague --It doesn't give detailed ingredients---

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/animalveterinary/products/approvedanimaldrugproducts/druglabels/ucm050400.pdf

From what I know from the research I've done on my son's condition, these NSAIDS are cut with fluoride --but for right now, let's just explore the natural alternatives for your pets.

For Cats, there are some products. I know Yucca is good for inflammatory, but I recommend getting the dosage right, especially for the felines who tend to have a more sensitive immune system and react to chemicals with seizure like responses. So be careful and get a product designed for cats. You can seek out a holistic vet. These days, yelp will direct you to one that is reputable.

I found some great cat arthritis options without the risk of making your pet sicker---

http://www.amazon.com/Adizone-Natural-Anti-Inflammatory-Reliever-Bottle/dp/B0038UBFV2


http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Newton-Homeopathics-Inflammation/161018.aspx

An immune booster is always a good preventive choice--

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/LoveMyPet-Immune-Boost/197003.aspx

And don't forget to make sure you cat is getting the best food options you can give him or her. It never hurts to prepare the food yourself, even though cats tend to have to have a supply of dry food. They have to have the crunching to keep their teeth clean and they like the way the food feels on the roof of their mouth.
I don't care if you cat loves the worst garbage cheapo food, it can lead to urine stones in males, really smell bowel movements, poor hair quality, irritated bowel syndrome, and a low immune system. If you need a good local place to buy pet food, I can gladly recommend it.

For Dogs---


Feverfew

Feverfew is anti-inflammatory and is one of the most commonly used herbal pain remedies for migraine and arthritis sufferers. This herb is a useful alternative to aspirin for cats (aspirin is toxic to cats).
To use feverfew as a pain remedy, use a tincture or tea. Use 12 drops of the tincture or 1/2 teaspoon of a strong tea for each 20 lb. of the dog's body weight, 2 times a day.
Skullcap
Skullcap is an effective herbal nervine and is commonly used to relieve pain resulting from nerve-related injuries or diseases, especially when combined in equal parts with St. John's wort.
An alcohol tincture can be used for this purpose. 
St.-John's Wort
St.-John's Wort is effective in reducing pain brought on by injuries where the muscles, joints, or nerve endings have been bruised or crushed.
Topically, a tincture, oil infusion, or salve can be applied to the affected areas.
Internally, a tincture of the herb can be used in combination with skullcap (see above).
Licorice
Licorice is an effective anti-inflammatory due to the presence of a constitutent called Glycyrrhizin, which has a similar chemical structure to that of natural corticosteroids released by the adrenal glands. It is therefore one of the many natural herbal pain remedies that can relieve pain without compromising the body's immune system.
To alleviate pain and reduce joint swelling resulting from arthritis, an oil infusion of licorice can be used topically on the affected areas.
Cayenne
The compound in this herb, capsaicin, has the capacity to block pain and increase circulation. In addition, it can also activate the body's own anti-inflammatory mediators at the site where the herb is applied. A cream or ointment of this herb, is perhaps one of the most frequently used topical herbal pain remedies for treatment of stiff or arthritic joints.
Ginger
Fresh ginger's antispasmodic property makes it a good herbal pain remedy for stomach pain, and lower back pain. Used topically, ginger can be made into a poultice for the treatment of muscle pains and strains.
Turmeric
This culinary herb's anti-inflammatory effect is said to be comparable to those of cortisone. Turmeric is effective in treating arthritis and it can be safely fed to dogs (just sprinkle some of the dried herb on their food) as a dietary supplement.
Yucca
One main constituent of yucca, saponin, has anti-inflammatory actions. It also stimulates the body to produce its own cortiocosteroids and corticosteroid-related hormones. Using yucca to relieve pain and inflammation resulting from arthritis, therefore, is much safer than using synthetically produced drugs such as prednisolone.



There are several products you can find that contain these ingredients. The good thing about homeopathic medicine is most of the time you don't have to worry too much about a bad reaction. Homeopathic medication tends to lean on the safer side.


****************************************************************************************************


In pets that are diabetic, I recommend researching on your own about the different options you have for keeping the dog's condition more manageable --the possibly eliminate the need for insulin. 
( signs for a diabetic pet are increased appetite or water, blindness/kidney failure, increased urination/  intake/ heavy panting/ lethargic-uncomfortable)

Diabetic conditions in pets is preventable before it starts. In cats, sometimes, diabetes seems invisible until the cat is already in renal failure. Educating yourself on the warning signs and the ideal diet for your pet can ensure saving money on vet bills and extending the life span of your pet, not to mention keeping your pet comfortable in their senior years. 

Here are some good articles regarding diabetes in pets

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-dept/small-animal-dept/education-is-key-in-diabetes-maintenance.aspx


http://demkoit.com/

Here are some good youtube videos on diabetes--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mdeg_M1mn4

So basically, if you want to take control and do your best for your pet's arthritis, focus on a healthy, working immune system and some natural inflammatory that won't poison your pet's immune system. Diabetes has to be treated in order for the arthritis to be maintained. 




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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Guaranteed to make you smile

I think it's my new addiction--- Look at how lucky I am

http://youtu.be/lF33t8vr6mY
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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Just another day

( this was actually from last saturday, I just never had a chance to finish writing it)  I need to go to sleep soon as I have a really busy day tomorrow. I had such a long day, and I'm so exhausted, everything has been done, everyone has been fed, I managed to groom two of my dogs today. I made myself groom them first so I didn't get lazy at the end of the day. I'm happy my shar-pei mix isn't covered in big bloody patches anymore.
She has the worst allergies ever. I managed to go almost 7 years with no hotspots on her. I didn't want a senior dog with disgusting smelly skin. Dogs with allergies tend to have stinky skin from time to time. The kind of stink that is less than tolerable. Not to mention the annoying sound of munching and chewing of agony that is the allergy.
I've still got to groom my poodle. I don't like to groom her when it's cold, she's so ancient, I swear her eyes look like their decomposing in her eyesockets. It seems like she can see something or has adapted to whatever pinhole of shadows she can cock her head to navigate through. Trust me there's blindness, sometimes she royally crashes into something, and she's back up again moving.
Old dogs tend to do the old dog strut bounce thing. They take twice as long as they used to to stand and then take off in a whirl of bouncy legs, for about a whole minute.
So back to my long day. I had a couple nice animals today.
This is Lucky. I've been grooming Lucky for 8 years! I remember like it was yesterday seeing her come into the vet for the first time as a tiny little pup. She's one of those dogs that has always "just wanted to go home" the second she set foot in my shop.
 I will not lie to you, dogs don't really like getting groomed, but they sure do enjoy the way they feel afterwards. Even my own dogs were pouting and giving me the face. But as  soon as they were loose, they were doing their happy laps.
 A client asked me what kind of dog Lucky was and honestly I don't know. She's a well mixed dog, as she's gotta be half something that's mixed with another half something else. Papillion mixed with a sheepdog? Cockerspaniel mixed with a chow? I really don't know. Feel free to comment and guess. At any rate, I love her brown and black against the white. I love the way she looks fluffy or shaved. In this case it was good to shave her down so the owners could tell if she had fleas or not. Lucky looks great for her age.
 Another sweetheart that came into was some kind of rare blonde westie mix.  I was surprised at how beautiful and soft her coat was this time she came in and she's getting to know me so she wasn't as terrified as last time.
 I had to take a picture of her too, her owners are so attentive and loving to her. She always comes in on schedule and they really do respect her feelings as an animal.
So the last part of my day was just !!!
 A man came by with a sick puppy and pretty much said, take it or Im gonna not take it to the vet like you suggested to me at first.
 This poor little face, it's eyes were so swollen and had big conjuctivitis like boogers coming out. She was pale gums, shallow breath, lethargic, swollen muzzle with painful rash, rash inside ears, swollen vagina....
 My guess is she was exposed to some kind of chemical. Probably orally and topically. It is unusual that the vagina would be swollen and not her butt or her stomach. She is only about 9 weeks or so.
 So I wasn't able to take her to emergency, mainly because of not having an extra $400 sitting around for a sick pup. Luckily my friend who works for a vet helped me get two bags of lactated ringers, and an IV line. I took the pup home and hydrated her with fluid.
 She was so sweet. I gave her a bath in warm oatmeal water. Sometime around 3am I managed to find out via googling for hours a condition called, " puppy Strangles". A rare genetic condition where the puppies immune system is not working properly. It almost mimicks what my son has.
 The next morning she was doing much better. Her gums were pink and no longer white. I can't have a puppy, let alone a sick needy puppy with my schedule so I gave her to a friend who took over the care. We decided to do homeopathic medicine for the strangles as most articles online sited predisone was only a temporary fix and the strangles almost always returned when the dog would come in contact with a certain antigen.
 It's a horrible condition, but I'm happy to report she is on the mend and can walk, eat, poop, play and be loved.

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