I’m writing this post with overwhelming grief and sadness. *sob**sob*

Bobo, my 13-year Doberman was finally put to sleep and buried in my backyard this afternoon. She was suffering from degenerative joint disease and was unable to stand on her hind legs. Half way through her Cartrophen treatment, she fell very sick after the 2nd injection. For 3 days, she didn’t eat, drink and move, but vomited.

Last night, her breathing was heavy as if she was out of breath. She laid sprawled on the floor… very weak, in pain and almost lifeless. I knew she was nearing the end of her life. I called the vet to inform him of her worsening condition. We both knew there was no point prolonging her suffering.

Dog euthanasia is one of the most heart breaking decisions I’ve made. As much as I didn’t want her to go, it would be selfish of me not to end her suffering sooner.

I’m feeling the emptiness she left behind. No more of her greeting, barking, gazing, protective guarding, waiting to be fed… She was truly more than a dog to me.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France

Rest in peace, Bobo.

(This is a guest post by from Dr Andrew Jones, author of Veterinary Secrets Revealed)

The veterinary name hot spots in dogs is Acute Moist Dermatitis.

I was pleased to try out a new remedy that worked well - and it was in my kitchen.

Here is some of what’s in my book:

SIGNS

A very itchy, smelly, oozy area on the skin. There may be more than one spot. They often form on the face and at the base of the ears. They are often very painful.

CAUSES

The technical name for a hot spot is acute moist dermatitis. They are a local area of bacterial infected hair follicles. They form most often during the warm summer months. Any scratch or wound can cause the skin to become infected and develop into a hot spot. Most hot spots are secondary to some type of skin allergy.

SOLUTIONS

REMOVE THE HAIR. This is the most important thing to do in order to allow hot spots to heal. Use a pair of blunt nosed scissors to trim as much hair as possible on and around the spot. If you have clippers use them for trimming.
These can be very painful and some dogs will not let you trim much hair.

CLEAN THE AREA. Use a mild, non-perfumed antiseptic soap (Hibitane) to clean the skin. Gently dab it on the spot, lather up and rinse well.

A CUP OF TEA. The key to curing hot spots is to get them to dry out. A very effective antiseptic drying solution is tea and aspirin. Brew up a strong cup of black tea and dissolve an aspirin tablet in it. Soak a cloth in this brew and apply it to the area for 5 minutes four times daily.

And my new remedy…

Apple Cider Vinegar - It can be applied directly to the Hot Spot- 4 times daily. I soaked it in a cloth and wiped the clipped area. It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

As an aside, it is also high in potassium, making it beneficial for older, sometimes potassium deficient pets. As well, it can be consumed orally (after all it is fermented apples) - and it can give your pets an overall immune boost.

The MOST common cause of recurring Hot Spots is ONE thing.

Underlying allergies.

And the best way to decrease your pets allergic response:

Essential Fatty Acids.

In high enough doses to be beneficial.

Here is a supplement with EFA’s in high amounts to decrease your allergic pets signs:

–> Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Canine Health Formula

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

Dr Jones had personally tested K9 Klear Up for treatment of hot spot in a dog and acne in a cat, and found it to be effective in getting rid of both skin problems. See his testimonial at www.K9KlearUp.com

According to the manufacturer of K9 Klear Up, it can be used to treat 17 conditions:

1. hot spots and chronic skin rashes
2. cuts and scrathes
3. minor bleeding
4. split pads
5. surgery
6. skin allergies (eg. eczema)
7. burns
8. bug bites
9. general pad wear & tear
10. dull coat
11. coat growth after injury
12. infections
13. joint swelling
14. acne
15. dry, itchy and flaky skin
16. fungus infection
17. itching & scratching

Check out K9 Klear Up here:

www.K9KlearUp.com

Diatomaceous Earth is made up of fossilized skeletal remains of algae, especially diatoms. They are ground up into a fine powder, to be used for various purposes:

1. tick and flea control
2. pest control-ants, cocokroaches, slugs
3. filters - swimming pool, drinking water, fish tanks
4. abrasive - toothpaste, facial scrub, metal polish
5. absorbent - clean up liquid spills, used in cat litter
6. hydroponics - as growing medium
7. agriculture - anticaking agent in grain handling and storage areas
8. dewormer

Diatomaceous Earth for flea and tick control

While diatomaceous earth feels like talcum powder and harmless to human beings, it is lethal to fleas, ticks and other insects. The microscopic sharp edges of the powder cut through the protective layers of the body, causing adult fleas/ticks, their eggs and larvae to dry up and eventually die.

The powder can be applied to carpets, floors, furniture, bedding, in the yard and on your dog.

Make sure you get food grade Diatomaceous Earth. Do not use pool grade (for swimming pool) as it has been treated and therefore, toxic to animals.

Here’s a Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth powder:

Alternative Health & Herbs Remedies: Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

While it takes a few days for Diatomaceous Earth to kill off fleas/ticks, its natural flea/tick control effect is more lasting than that of chemical pesticides. It is a natural tick and flea killer that’s non toxic.

Since Diatomaceous Earth is a drying agent, avoid direct contact with eyes or mucuous membranes. Do not inhale the dust. Wear a mask or protective gear to cover your mouth and nose when applying it. If you are treating a large area, keep the dog away until the dust (if any) has settled.

Here’s a natural flea and tick remedy that contains Diatomaceous Earth:

Only Natural Pet All-In-One Flea Remedy

Lyme disease in dogs is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. This bacteria is transmitted by ticks, especially deer ticks. Lyme disease is common in certain parts of the USA, particularly the Northeast, Midwest and the West.

Dogs that live in endemic areas are more likely to be infected. Besides dogs, human beings, horses and cattle can be develop Lyme disease.

How Lyme disease is transmitted to dogs

The bacteria is transmitted by 2 types of ticks: Ixodes and I. pacificus. The 3 stages of a tick are larva, nymph and adult. Larva and nymph feed on small mammals (such as mouse), while adult tick feeds on larger host (such as deer, dogs, humans, horses). Infected ticks attach to the host until they become engorged with its blood and then fall off.
It is during this time that a feeding tick transfers the bacteria from its mid-gut to the host. Transmission only occurs after at least 48 hours.

Lyme disease symptoms in dogs

About 95% of infected dogs do not show Lyme disease symptoms. It would take weeks or months after being infected before symptoms appear.

Some of the Lyme disease symptoms in dogs are:

- fever
- loss of appetite
- depression
- lameness in one limb or several limbs
- swollen joints
- pain on joints
- enlarged lymph nodes

Kidney failure, heart problem or nervous system disorder may occur in rare cases.

Other medical conditions may share these symptoms, so a proper diagnosis is necessary.

How to diagnosed Lyme disease in dogs

It is difficult to diagnose Lyme disease in dogs. There is no one test for diagnosing the disease. While the standard test is for the presence of Lyme disease antibodies, it is not able to differentiate between exposure and infection to the disease. A dog exposed to the bacteria does not always develop and show symptoms of Lyme disease. Treatment is only required for an active infection.

The presence of symptoms, exposure to endemic area and the response to treatment may sometimes be enough to diagnose Lyme disease in dogs.

Treatment for Lyme disease in dogs

Lyme disease in dogs is treated with antibiotics. Symptoms should improve within 1-2 days of starting treatment.

Antibiotics only suppress but do not kill the Borrelia burgdoferi bacteria. The bacteria remain dormant in the dog’s body where it doesn’t cause active infection. Lyme disease can recur in dogs if the immune system is low.

Natural remedies

If your pet does have Lyme disease, there are natural remedies available to help fight it and other flea and tick borne illnesses. These herbal remedies actually strengthen your pet’s immune system, and ultimately increase their natural ability to fight off infection. As an alternative to the dangerous side effects of prescription medications, these natural products can be very effective in helping keep your pet’s system clean and to boost their natural immune functioning in cases where prescription medications may be necessary.

• TF-Defense treats Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses
• Immunity & Liver Support strengthens and improves immune system and liver functioning.
• Muscle & Joint Support relieves stiffness in swollen joints, reduces pain and promotes healthy muscles and bones.
• LiverAid stimulates and improves liver functioning and prevents disease.

Prevention

• Check your dog regularly for ticks by brushing with a flea comb. If ticks are removed immediately or within 48 hours of attaching to your dog, transmission does not occur.

• Avoid tick infested areas such as wooded, bushy, leafy or grassy areas.

• Keep your lawn mowed, and clear of leaves and overgrowth trees.

• Use tick control products to repel ticks from your dog. See my previous post on: How to get rid of fleas without chemicals and pesticides

If you consider microchipping your dog so you can locate it in case it gets lost or because the law requires you to do so, you may be doing it more HARM than good.

Here are some true stories of dogs that developed cancer after being implanted with microchips…

Seamus, a 5-year old bullmastiff, developed a tumor (hemangiosarcoma) around 2 microchips implanted in between the shoulder blades in Sep 2009. Three months after the tumor was removed, the cancer returned. He was eventually put to sleep in Feb 2010.

The owner wanted to prevent Seamus was from being stolen, so he thought he did the right thing by giving him the microchip implant. Little did he know that it was a death sentence for his dog.

Read more about: Seamus killed by pet microchip.

Scotty, a 5-year old Yorkshire terrier, also developed a tumor (malignant lymphoma) between his shoulder blades where the microchip was implanted. He was given 1 year to live.

Leon, a 9-year old french bulldog, was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma at the site of the microchip implant in April 2004 and eventually died. Here’s a memorial website dedicated to: Leon and sharing the real TRUTH about pet microchips and vaccines.

Several studies have clearly shown the link between microchip implants and cancer in laboratory animals and dogs.
Dr Katherine Albrecht discusses the literature published in toxicology and pathology journals showing a causal link between implanted radiofrequency (RFID) microchip transponders and cancer in laboratory rodents and dogs in “Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990–2006″

I strongly encourage you to check out the FAQs on microchip implants for pets and human posted by Dr Albrecht. Discover how microchips cause cancer and how a leading microchip manufacturer lied and misled the public, causing unnecessary deaths.

Here are the top 10 pet poisons of 2009 (source: ASCPA)

1. Human medications
Prescription and over the counter drugs: painkillers, cold meds, antidepressants and dietary supplements.

2. Insecticides
Most common is the misuse of flea and tick products, such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong species.

There are alternative non toxic ways to eliminate fleas. Check out how to get rid of fleas and ticks without chemicals and pesticides.

3. Human food

Grapes, raisins, avocado and products containing xylitol, like gum can cause serious disability to pets.

Chocolate contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

4. Plants
Common harmful house plants: azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts.

5. Veterinary medications
Although vet meds are meant for pets, the improper dosage or application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements by pet owners can be harmful.

6. Rodenticides
Pets can accidentally ingest rat and mouse poisons. Potential life threatening problems are bleeding, seizures or kidney damage. Be sure to keep baits away from the reach of pets.

7. Household cleaners
Toxic household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract when inhaled by pets.

8. Heavy metals
Poisonous heavy metals: lead, zinc and mercury. Lead is especially pernicious, and pets are exposed to it through many
sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.

9 Garden products
Certain types of fertilizer and garden products can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.

10. Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards–found in ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals–form a substantial danger to pets. Substances in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.

What you can do

The key is prevention, so make sure you keep potential hazards out of the reach of your pet.

Watch out for signs of poisoning and bring your pet to the vet for immediate treatment.

(Thank you to Dr Andrew Jones for allowing me to share a section of his book, Pet First Aid Secrets)

In most cases, it is fairly obvious that the eye is injured. Your pet will have many signs including: squinting, spasm of the eyelids, rubbing or pawing at the eye, discharge, watery to purulent (pus), redness of the eye, pinpoint pupil.

CAUSES

Damage to the eye is very common, and unfortunately the eye is very sensitive and reacts aggressively to any injury. Complications from infections may result in total blindness. Common injuries are from foreign objects, such as sticks or grass awns getting into the eye, or from cat scratches, or running into branches or other sharp objects.

SOLUTIONS

CHECK OUT THE EYE. Gently open the eye to examine it. You need to have good lighting so you can clearly see what is going on in the eye.

PAIN CONTROL. Any eye injury is very painful, and some pets are more inclined to let you examine the eye if it doesn’t hurt so much. For dogs, (NEVER IN CATS) Aspirin is safe at the dose of 325mg per  40lbs. An alternative that is safe for dogs and cats is Arnica. The dose is 1 30 C tablet per 10-20 lbs of body weight every 4-6 hours.

SEE YOUR VET. I advise that your veterinarian examines every eye injury. I commonly see eye ulcers caused by foreign objects damaging the surface of the cornea. Your veterinarian should always assess these.

FLUSH IT OUT. If the foreign object is loose it may be washed out.

Tilt your pet’s head upwards. Gently draw the lids apart this may dislodge the object. Wash the eye with a gentle stream of clean water or saline (salty water). If this does not work then do not attempt to remove the object especially if it is over the colored part of the eye.

PREVENT ADDITIONAL INJURY. Pets love to rub their eyes, and this can cause additional injury. You can prevent this a few ways.

Bandage the dewclaw on the front paw on the same side as the affected eye.

If your pet is still rubbing at the eye or trying to rub its face on the floor then apply an Elizabethan collar.

PROLAPSED EYE

This is a special case in which the eye actually pops out of the head. Growing up, my family dog was a Pug who had the misfortune of getting kicked in the head by a cow and having his eye prolapsed.

It occurs most commonly due to head trauma, such as when the animal is hit by an automobile or in dog attacks. Some breeds, like Pugs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, are predisposed to eye prolapses, as their eyes are large and protrude between the lids.

SOLUTIONS

SEE YOUR VET ASAP. Early treatment by your veterinarian improves the chances of the eye being saved.

KEEP MOIST. The eye has the best chance of regaining vision if kept moist. Before leaving the accident scene, soak a gauze pad in contact lens solution or water and cover the eye. A sugar solution of 50% corn syrup and 50% water will also work. If your pet won’t allow this, then at least mist the eye with a sprayer while you get to the vet ASAP.

REPLACE IT. If you are more than 30 minutes away from a veterinarian, then it is best if you attempt to replace the eye. The longer the eye is out, the more difficult it is to replace, as the tissue behind the eye swells. The main nerve that is responsible for vision, the optic nerve, has a better chance of working if the eye is replaced quickly.

* Rinse the eye well with sterile saline or tap water.
* Apply a generous coating of lubrication, such as K-Y jelly to the eye.
* Grip the skin of the upper and lower eyelids tightly.
* Apply gentle even pressure to the center of the eye, pushing the eye back into the globe.
* If the eye won’t pop in, then likely there is already too much swelling behind the eye. See your veterinarian ASAP.

Vaccine is either made from killed or modified forms of microbe (bacteria and/or virus). It stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that protect your dog against the disease-causing microbe. If your dog is infected with the microbe again, his body knows how to defend against it by producing antibodies.

Why over vaccination is dangerous

Vaccinations put excessive strain on the immune system. The latter responds by attacking itself (autoimmune diseases), attacking the site of injection or worsening inhalant allergies.

Some of the potential problems arising from vaccinations are:
- immune related diseases (including immune mediated hemolytic anemia and immune mediated skin disease)
- skin cancer
- skin allergies
- arthritis
- leukemia
- inflammatory bowel disease
- behaviour problems
- thyroid disease
- recurrent ear infections
- recurrent respiratory infections
- cancer

Should you give your dog any vaccination?

Vaccinations can prevent serious illnesses but use them with caution. Consider the risk before vaccinating your dog.

Do your own research before making your decision about dog vaccination. Don’t rely on your vet for up-to-date and unbiased advice. Most of them are motivated by profit from the quantity of vaccines given.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) conducted a test on 10 popular dog food brands for fluoride levels and found 8 of them contain 1.6 and 2.5 times higher than the Environmental Agency’s maximum allowable in drinking water for humans.

Health effect of fluoride on dogs

The effects of high fluoride levels on dogs are not known as no safe amount of fluoride for pets has been determined. However, people who consume too much fluoride tend to have mottled teeth, weakened bones, reproductive and developmental system damage, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption and bone cancer.

Three studies have shown that 6- to 8-year old boys who drink fluoridated tap water are more at risk of developing bone cancer (osteosarcoma).  This is worrying as dogs are 10 times more susceptible to bone cancer than humans. High fluoride levels can potentially increase the risk of canine osteosarcoma, a common type of cancer in dogs.

Sources of fluoride in commercial dog food

The EWG has identified bone meal and animal byproducts as sources of fluoride in commercial dog foods in the 8 dog food brands. It defines animal and bone meal as “ground bones cooked with steam, dried and mashed to make a cheap dog food filler”.

Dogs are also exposed to fluoride in drinking water. If they are fed commercial dog food only, they can easily over consume fluoride. The combination of fluoride from water and pet food can cause potential health problems in the long term.

What you can do

Pet health, food and products come under lax regulations or standards. The FDA is doing very little to protect our pets. You minimise fluoride health risks by feeding your dog with home cooked food. If cooking is not an option, choose commercial dog food without bone meal, animal byproducts and additives. Check out my previous post: What’s the best pet food?

Source: The Environmental Working Group - http://www.ewg.org/book/export/html/27364

Secondhand smoke has been known to adversely affect non smoking people. Are you aware that pets are also seriously affected? Several studies have shown that secondhand tobacco smoke causes certain types of cancer in dogs and cats.

Colorado State Univ conducted 2 studies to determine whether exposure to environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of nasal and lung cancer in dogs.

They discovered that:
- long-nosed dogs such as pugs and pit bulls, have an increased risk of nasal cancer. This could be due to enhanced filtration and exposure of nasal membrane to carcinogens.
- short-nosed dogs such as collies and German Shepherds, have an increased risk of lung cancer. A possible explanation could be that the lungs are exposed to more carcinogens as less are being filtered in the nose.

In a study conducted by Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Massachusetts, cats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke have a higher risk of developing feline lymphoma.

In another study, also by Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Massachusetts, cats develop feline oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Cats living in a smoking household are exposed to carcinogens through inhalation and ingestion. As cats tend to lick themselves during grooming, they also ingest other types of chemicals from anti flea products. Cotinine (metabolized nicotine) has been detected in the urine of cats exposed to passive smoking.

If you smoke and own a pet, quit the habit. Don’t risk the lives of your pet and other non smokers (kid, wife, husband, mum, dad, etc) in the same household. Watch out for respiratory problems in your pet as these can be signs of lung or nasal cancer.