All Pet Naturals Blog

by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof!

FERNDALE, WA: Eee gads, what is that horrid smell? Good people, unfortunately its your dog’s ear and it caused by bacteria and is likely an ear infection that’s acting up.

Pet ear infections are one of the most common ailments that veterinarians see patients for. So before we begin with helpful tips, lets come up with a list of symptoms.  First of all, head shaking, scratchy neck or ears, holding one ear flopped over or rubbing neck and ears into the carpet — are all symptoms of a possible ear infection. Some ear infections have a powerful odor to them, anything from a sweaty sock smell all the way up to foul rotten egg style stench, so use your nose (oh my my) to determine where the smell is coming from, whether its coming from your pet’s mouth, its skin or the ears.

Why do dogs get ear infections? The three most common reasons are: Number 1, the natural configuration of your dog’s ear and ear canal. Number 2 underlying allergies, and number 3 inadequate drawing after moisture has been introduced into the ear, and sometimes a combination of all three reasons.

Fight Ear Infections Use All Natural Herbal Ear Rinse

So what can you do to reduce the possibility of your dog getting an ear infection? First of all when bathing your dog avoid getting moisture in the ears. Use an ear cleaner to actually clean the ears (see our Animals Apawthecary Herbal Ear Rinse CLICK HERE); put the ear cleaner in the ears, then massage the ear base then wipe the excess off with cotton balls or ear wipes. If you think your pet might have a food allergy, try a hypo  allergenic diet (ask your vet);  also after swimming, if your dog likes to swim, make sure you use an ear cleaner at the end of the day. Finally if you suspect your dog has an ear infection and whatever you are doing isn’t working, see your vet right away.

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Ferndale, WA: Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

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Use Phytomucil Powder to Relieve Constipation

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Natural Treatment for Dog Allergies over Thanksgiving

by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof

FERNDALE, WA – Well its the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and people need to spend time with family so thinking too much is definitely not in the cards nor is a long-winded article that goes into tedious detail about dog allergies. Just Google ‘allergies’ on the net and thousands of references will come up that you can pursue, but in this article lets just go over the basics and cut to the chase. So if your pooch is suffering from allergies this Thanksgiving, what can you do? How can you use natural treatments and cut down on the symptoms? Easy.

Allergy Guide

FOOD

Change it. Many commercial pet foods are loaded with highly processes, inferior quality ingredients that appear because of the manufacturing process, as well as chemicals that may contribute to overall ill health or trigger allergic sensitivities. Switch to higher quality, more natural  food with few allergic offenders.

Eliminate processed treats (e.g. S’  nausage). Get rid of treats that contain gluten (e.g bread or biscuits made from wheat, barley or rye). You can serve food from the table as long as its not grapes or onions. Sauces, gravy made from mixes, processed food (i.e deli meat, processed cheese) should not be given to you dog. Fat or gristle from meat is not appropriate as a dog treat.

OMEGA -3s

Give ‘em. We have the top fish oil in the world, Nordic Naturals, that is loaded with Omega-3’s. Gel or Caps, your choice.  Nordic Naturals Fish oils have been shown to help  reduce the allergic inflammation affecting both the skin and the intestines by promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body.

Omega-3 Fish Oil from Nordic Naturals

HOTSPOTS

To help stop the scratch-itch cycle and soothe skin irritations,  apply a wet, warm black tea bag on the affected spot. The tannic acid in the tea bag has a soothing effect relieving the itch. Hold the bag to the skin for 4 – 5 minutes. Do this twice a day for a least 3 days. Following the tea bag treatment, apply  Aloe Vera either from an opened leaf or from a a purchased gel/ Aloe speeds the healing process. See our article on this uses of this herb.

Another get product that we carry that does double duty as both an anti-inflammatory and a Hotspot healer is our ViraFungal Fighter. Its wildly popular because it does such a great job on both problems. In case you want to check it out, visit this hyperlink. ViraFungal Fighter sells for $25.95 in our store.

EARS

Keep your dog’s allergies in check, clean their ears with water + vinegar (a 50:50 combination) or rubbing alcohol + vinegar (50:50). AllPetNaturals also carries a great product that can make your life much easier and cheaper too. Its called Animals’ Apawthecary Herbal Ear Rinse. Click this link, and the hyperlink will take you right to the page where you can order.  The cost is only $11. Its got great reviews and is used by many Holistic Veterinarians.

IN THE HOME

To keep pesky allergens in check. Do the following:

1. Don’t use scented laundry detergent when washing dogie blankets. Wash in hot water. Also don’t use fabric softener sheets when drying blankets.

2. Use glass or ceramic dog dishes, n ot plastic which gives of toxins that stimulate allergic reactions.

3. Dilute dog shampoos. Dilute Conditioners. Use about a squirt of each but dilute with one cup of water.

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

Digestive Enzymes improve nutritional absorption, and reduce the allergenic load on the intestines and you dog. These should contain:  Protease (to break down protein), Lipase (to break down fats),  Amylase 9to break down carbohydrates), Cellulase (to break down plant fiber). A great example of this is our Organic Green Alternative product in our store,

Organic Green Alternative 300grams, only $24.95

or also Udo’s-Choice Pet Essentials for Dogs. These are super star products that work brilliantly to provide the body with a a full suite of digestive enzymes.

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References: Dr. Lea Stogdale, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof!

Canine Cancer is disturbing. No question. When your beloved pet is diagnosed with cancer, this is probably the worst. What can be done? Well lots of things. First don’t panic, don’t give up and read everything you can. Talk to your vet, ask around for others that have gone through this before. There is a ton of information out there, probably way too much, but much can make you feel better by giving you the background you need for the decisions you will have to make. Have hope, have faith and don’t give up!

From the world of All Pet Naturals we’d  like to share a few tips on preventative care for your companion. We think we can help by giving you some product knowledge (as we are very proud) of the Animals Apawthecary line we carry and their signature herbal tincture Constitutional Blend — of which I fondly think of as our HERO product – the key attribute of which is a combo of  herbs fo pets that act like a SWAT team that boosts the immune system of the body so as to slow down the spread of anything that remotely looks like a cancer cell into the surrounding tissue and major body organs.

Bottom line? Herbs for pets that strengthen the immune system and support major waste-removing organs (the liver, kidneys and lymphatic systems) are especially useful in fighting cancer. “Now let me introduce you to the SWAT Team. Gentlemen, please take center stage and introduce yourself to these fine people.”

BURDOCK ROOT - supports and stimulates the liver, therefore facilitates waste and toxic removal from the body. It is also a very safe herb for pets for prolonged use.

DANDELION – is a diuretic herb for pets that helps waste removal via the kidneys and urinary tract. It also improves digestion and removal of waste by providing gentle stimulation to the liver.

SLIPPERY ELM – this herb is a jack of all trades. Slippery Elm is culled from the inner bark of the elm tree and works as a demulcent and astringent. It is the classic remedy for acute diarrhea, stomach ulcers, constipation, colitis, sore throat, coughs, wounds, abscesses.

TURKEY RHUBARB – this herb packs a huge cancer fighting punch. First of all, its antibiotic, antimicrobial and anti-tumor. Its used specifically in holistic herbal pet medicine for digestion, liver tonic and as an appetite stimulant.

The herbal ingredients found in our cancer fighting formulaton  Constitutional Blend — are safe and reliable and make a mighty contribution as a synergistic immune-boosting effect on dogs, who are weakened by chronic diseases such as cancer or allergies.

Finally, Constitutional Blend is built around the  famous ‘Esssiac’ formula – which is considered to be the numero uno herbal cancer therapy of all time; originally developed by Canadian nurse, R. Caisse. It is available in our web store at $22.95 USD per 2 oz remedy bottle.

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Please note other top cancer fighting herbs include:

ALFALFA – has been found to reduce the risk of cancerous growths and is therefore considered a good herb for cancer prevention.

MILKTHISTLE -  this herb can protect the liver against harmful by-products of the cancer. As well, milk thistle is effective in protecting the body from liver damage resulting from chemotherapy.

ASTRAGALUS – this herb is an immuno-stimulant; thus it can be used to boost your dog’s immune system. In addition, it has been found that astragalus contains an alkaloid that inhibits the spread of melanoma, a skin cancer.

ECHINACEA – this herb is well-known for its effectiveness in supporting and strenthening the immune system.

GARLIC - has a lot of sulphur-containing compounds (thus the strong smell!). These compounds are helpful in enhancing the immune system. It has also been shown that garlic stimulates the growth of beneficial cells.

RED CLOVER - this fine herb has been hailed as the “the” herb for cancer by many herbalists. The herb has tumor-inhibiting properties and strengthens lymphatic functions (crucial in cleansing cell tissues).

GREEN TEA – has been found to be effective in boosting and stimulating the immune system. It is also an antioxidant and astringent and has been shown to be an effective herb for cancer (especially for some kind of stomach and skin cancers).

MUSHROOMS – REISHI, SHIITAKE, MAITAKE – mushrooms, especially reishi, has been used for many years in China and Japan as herbs for cancer prevention and treatment in people. Recent research has found that these mushrooms can enhance the immune system, due to their high levels of polysaccharides and their effect on white blood cells. In addition, these mushrooms have been found to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidant properties.

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof

If your pet develops cancer, what should be your treatment goals?

IN THIS ARTICLE I’d like to share with you what cancer is and then discuss the different therapy options available, and then conclude with what your treatment goals should be.

Lets begin with a description of this insidious disease. Cancer is essentially cells going wild. It is the unrestrained growth of cells that destroy healthy tissues and body organs. There are many forms of cancer and each of them have different outcomes.

Your vet can choose to surgically remove the tumor or begin radiation therapy — which are two common treatments, and expensive. Other therapy options include: chemotherapy, pain relief, complementary therapies including vitamins and nutritional supplements, homeopathics, biologicals, acupuncture, herbal remedies or a combination of therapies. Each case is different and there are stress factors (on both people and pets) as well as costs that often determine a course of action. The course of the disease is often unpredictable so essentially the goal of treatment is to:

1. Slow down the illness
2. Prolong life
3. Make your pet as comfortable and happy as possible

Conventional treatment options

1. Surgery – recommended only if there is a good chance of removing enough of the tumor to boost quality of life.

2. Radiation – can work for certain types of tumors. Not without risks and complications. Speak to your vet.

3. Chemotherapy – has a good success rate with lymphoma in dogs and cats, and with some other cancers. For many cancers, it has little or no benefit.

4. Appetite Stimulants – Weight loss is a huge issue. No food, no nutrition, and the immune system goes south faster than a duck in winter. There are a number of different medications on the market that help increase your pet’s appetite.  Use these medications at the first sign of decreased appetite rather than delaying until significant weight loss has occurred. It is much easier to maintain weight then it is to gain it back after it’s been lost.

5. Pain Medication – as quality of life is the top priority, seek advice from your veterinarian and likely you will have to buy prescriptions.

6. Acupuncture – this holistic treatment is increasingly popular in cancer treatment. Acupuncture for pets is now recognized as a specialists degree from the American Holistic Veterinarian’s Association. About 300 vets graduate each year with an advanced degree, but be that as it may, acupuncture does have a downside. It will stimulate the body’s systems and may backfire and cause tumor growth.

Holistic Pet Treatments

Holistic pet treatments

1. Supplements - should be a part of everyday pet health and life-long therapy. Refined pet foods most often lack the vital nutrients required and the reason for this is that they are leached out during the manufacturing process — much like our foods have been for decades and now look at the huge incidences of cancer in society! Okay back to supplements. One more thing, if your pet is difficult to pill or won’t accept a supplement mixed with food, these many not be practical.

2. Digestive Enzymes – anything that will help your pet get the most out of its food is a requirement whilst your pet is suffering from cancer. Digestive enzymes breakdown carbs, fats, proteins and make the food and its nutrients more bio-available to the body. This is good. It is in fact, vital.

3. Pet Vitamins – he or she needs pet vitamins! Specifically pet vitamins A, C and E – of which are all antioxidants and have a number of anti-cancer effects, including the inhibition of blood vessel growth in tumors, the promotion of healthy collagen, and free radical scavengers.

4. Herbal Remedies – at AllPetNaturals we carry a number of natural herbal tinctures that are potent antioxidants that also serve to stabilize cells, as well as detox the liver and boost the immune system.  They have proven themselves to be effective as they have been in use by over 200 holistic veterinarians for over 10 years.

5. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oils for Pets – this product is rich in EFA’s (essential fatty acids) specifically EPA and DHA — which have been shown clinically to reduce inflammation by promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body. They also help your pet with energy and can slow tumor growth.

6. Marijuana oil (a legal form) for pets – is a good source of Omega-3s and has the additional advantage of improving appetite.

7. Essiac Formula – this herbal remedy (known in our store as Constitutional Blend) is an immune booster and an antioxidant. The formula has a taste the some pets find weird and don’t like. Homeopathic Essiac (called Constitutional Blend) is available from AllPetNaturals.com.

8. Protein Rich Diet – a good quality protein in the diet is tasty and the easiest for the body to process. High quality proteins include real meat, poultry and fish, and better quality canned food. Simple carbohydrates should be eliminated from the diet if possible – or reduced. Simple carbohydrates include sugar, milk, fruit and kibble (dry pet food). Complex carbohydrates (starchy vegetables) should be reduced in quantity.

When is veterinary attention required?

Please contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following:

• decrease in appetite
• weight loss
• increase or decrease in drinking or in urinating
• urinating or defecating in an inappropriate location
• straining when passing stool or urine
• stool that is dry or hard or constipation
• vomiting
• change in behaviour (ie. withdrawing, becoming aggressive)
• decrease in energy
• a sore that does not heal
• an unusual odor

Same day veterinary attention is required if you notice any of the following:

• if your pet stops drinking and urinating
• if your pet hasn’t eaten for 24 hours
• if your pet is extremely lethargic or is having difficulty walking
• if your pet is in pain
• if your pet vomits more than 3 times in a 24 hour period.

In summary

As mentioned earlier the primary goal of a pet with cancer is ‘quality and dignity of life.’ To be honest, quality of life is difficult to measure in animals, however some of the factors to consider are appetite, activity and energy levels, grooming habits and finally sociability around other animals. When your pet’s quality of life is no longer adequate and treatment options have been exhausted, humane euthanasia is recommended.

References: Dr. Lea Stogdale, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM

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Canine Addisons Disease is Serious. Essentially what happens is your dog’s body under produces an adrenal secretion known as corticosteroids. It’s the opposite of Cushings Disease in which the adrenal glands over produce corticosteroids. Addisons Disease requires immediate medical attention. Please get your dog to the vet emergency clinic right away!

Lethargy is a symptom of Addisons Disease

Addisons symptoms are tricky to pick up so many dogs may actually be suffering from the disease before its finally diagnosed. Symptoms look too common, such as diarrhea and lethargy plus appetite loss. We’ve all had pets that show these conditions. In list form, here are the typical Addisons  Disease symptoms:

1. Lethargy and Loss of Appetite

2. Diarrhea and/or Constipation and/or dehydration

3. Muscle Weakness

4. Vomiting

Also there is something called “Addisons Crisis” and you need to be mindful of this. In three out of ten situations  (30%), your dog will go into crisis — a sure sign of Addisons — and he or she will collapse in shock because his body is devoid of blood sugar and cannot adapt to the imbalance of electrolytes and metabolism whilst stressed. In addition the heart rate slows and the beat becomes irregular (a condition known as arrhythmia). All troubling and serious signs.  Again, the smart thing to do is rush your pet to the vet.

Conventional veterinary medicine treats Addisons Disease in dogs using drugs, and the most commonly prescribed is Florinef — pharmaceutically known as fludrocortisone. And this drug acts by replacing missing hormones in the body.  Another option is an injectable medication called Percorten-V that is given under the skin once a month.

Natural herbal remedies on the other hand can be fed to your dog to support the immune system and provide added nutrients to the body, and thereby slow down the progress of Addisons Disease. Two herbs that work safely and effectively to support your pet suffering from Addisons (or in recovery) are Dandelion and Nettle. They are both nutritious, being rich in minerals and vitamins. Other immune boosting herbs are Echinacea and Astragalus.

Available in 90 or 180 Caps

Contains EFA-rich Flaxseed!

Supplements can also benefit dogs that are suffering from Addisons Disease. Nordic Naturals has a wonderful product that we carry called Omega-3 Pet which is rich in Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) or Animal Essentials’ Multi-Vitamin Herbal Supplements – this one also is top notch and a big seller in our store.

Both of these great products taste great, have extraordinary purity and are rich in vitamins and minerals beneficial for strengthening your dog’s adrenal functions, immune system, and overall general health.

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof!

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof!

1. Regular Exercise. To detox your pet the first step is to ensure regular exercise and it should be daily. Exercise gets everything moving, particularly blood circulation, lungs, heart, lymph fluid, truly the entire body is active and engaged. Its not only good for your pet its essential. One key thing that happens is that waste material is moved around inside the bowel and via exercise micro-toxins and cellular debris are expelled.

2. Good Food & Treat Choices. Bad food, bad life, toxin build-up. Simple as that. Your pet needs a top notch diet enriched with vitamins, nutrients and minerals notwithstanding a life force. Switch right now if you’re buying the lowest grade dog or cat food. It would be like giving you a McDonald’s Hamburger everyday for the rest of your life. Commercial pet food is rife with additives, artificial flavors, chemicals plus all the essential minerals are leached out during the manufacturing process. Eating this stuff means your pet is building up pretty nasty toxins in its body. Switch today to a raw food diet or premium food infused with Omega-3s, EFAs, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. There are many on the market. We recommend Dr. Lisa Newman’s Azmira holistic pet foods, which place emphasis on clean, high-quality, human-grade ingredients that will detoxify your pet and rid it of many of its health problems.

3. Minimize Exposure to Pollutants. Keep your pets away from anti-freeze spills in the garage, motor oil spots, second hand cigarette smoke, mold and mildew, lawn chemicals, cleaning fluids, just anything hazardous; because in small amounts your pet either ingests it and vomits or toxins leech into its body and remain since they are hearty bugger microbes, artificial and man-made. Your pet’s environment has got to be treated the same way you treat your own. How about a clean-up after work?

4. Provide Fresh Water. This one’s a no brainer quite frankly yet it should be articulated and emphasized. You know how we all have gravitated to pure source water in our daily lives and many people have Brita Water Filters at home and we are all very conscious these days about the purity we’re drinking. Well same goes for pets. If you wanna detox, you gotta have pure fresh water on a daily basis. No dirty stream water, chlorine, fluoride, chemical residues, harmful bacteria, or parasites toxins from the city water supply, mercury, etc. Nasty stuff, but once again, treat your pet with the same caution as you would your kids. Fresh water flushes your pet’s body in the most delightful way.

5. Use Natural Medicine, Herbal Detox Remedies. This is a good one too. Natural herbal remedies heal and detox. The magical ingredients that mother nature has infused into herbs such as burdock root, dandelion, milk thistle and licorice root, safely and consistently support the organs that help flush toxins from the body such as the liver, kidneys, lymphatic and immune systems. In addition, theses herbs act as a kind of blood cleanser to improve the body’s abilities to remove toxins from the blood.

What is a Good Herbal Detox Remedy for Your Dog?

Detox Blend. Available for $21.95

Try All Pet Natural’s Liver Detox Blend from Animals Apawthecary

Milk Thistle (courtesy of Lighthelper /Flikr)

This natural remedy contains the power detox herbs burdock root, licorice root, milk thistle, dandelion and alfalfa. It gently assists the body in correcting chronic skin problems and other imbalances that may be related to liver dysfunction symptoms or poor waste elimination. Squirt directly into mouth as suggested by label or as directed by your veterinarian.

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Needs A Detox?

He stinks! This is a quick test indicator that your companion’s body is trying to flush out some nasty toxins that have accumulated over he past few weeks or months. Other signs of toxicity build up include bad breath, oily fur, yeast infections and allergies. We’re seeing a lot of this these days and other chronic conditions such as cancers and various tumors and the most reasonable explanation is the adverse effects of the environment on biological life on this planet.

Call me loud and annoying but more to come of this in the weeks ahead. Blame global warming and pollution in our air and water for the higher rates of disease and toxicity that we are seeing everyday. Its happening to us and to our companion animals as well.

During The Detox Process You Should Be A Careful Observer

As you dose herbal remedies to your dog and as it goes through the detox process watch for any physical changes such as runny nose or appetite or bowel movements. These are all good signs, and it means the detox is working. They are likely to go away in few days. However, if you see something that concerns you consult your veterinarian for help and guidance.

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by William Greenbaum, aka Love ya Woof!

What is Cushings Disease?

Canine Cushings Disease is a rather nasty and insidious disease known medically as hyperadrenocorticism, which is a condition of the adrenal glands in which they over-produce a hormone known as cortisol.

Adrenal glands are important. They are small and live beside each kidney (which explains why surgery is tricky) and their purpose  is to regulate systems and metabolism.

Under normal conditions, the adrenals secrete cortisol in balanced amounts which is important  for the regulation of protein, carbohydrate and fat; body weight, mineral balance, and skin health and this helps your dog fight illness and  remain healthy.

However when Cushing’s Disease occurs, the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol (corticosteroids) and this has adverse effects. The origins and causes of  the disease are not so well understood.

In the majority of cases, Cushings Disease is found in senior animals and small breed dogs and comes about as a result of a benign tumors in the pituitary gland. The tumor cells produce excessive amounts of ACTH, which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of cortisol.

The remaining 15% of the cases of Cushings disease are caused by either a tumor in one (or very rarely both) of the adrenal glands, resulting in overproduction of cortisol, or excessive use of corticosteroid drugs.

What are Cushings Disease Symptoms?

Symptoms of Cushings Disease include:

• Excessive Drinking and Urination
• Appetite gain
• Lethargy
• Excessive panting
• A sagging pot belly
• Diabetes Mellitus (more frequent in cats, but less frequent in Canine Cushings)
• Endocrine (hormone-related) skin diseases (hair loss and slow-healing wounds)
• You notice a general sense of your pet not feeling well

If you think about it the above conditions are consistent with what you would expect to see in older dogs and this explains why its sometimes quite tricky to diagnose Cushings Disease in its early stages.

So whats the end game with Cushings Disease? The answer is that left unchecked, an unfortunate raft of troubles may occur such as:

1. diabetes
2. urinary tract infections
3. pancreatitis
4. liver disease
5. kidney failure
6. skin infections
7. ear infections
8. congestive heart failure
9. hypothyroidism

Can Herbal Remedies Help?

At our company Allpetnaturls.com we have always said that classical veterinary medicine used in combination with alternative therapies is a reasonable way to proceed, so always, always work with an animal health care professional.

From a herbal perspective, and the answer to this important question, can herbal remedies fight Cushings Disease? The answer is that a holistic approach to the disease can help, particularly if you think of boosting the immune system — which is under pressure from the disease.

Allpetnaturals has a product called Constitutional Blend which is available for $21.95. This herbal tincture has two active ingredients -  dandelion and burdock root – among others which are key to flushing the body of toxins and effective in strengthening an overtaxed liver, kidneys, and digestive system.

Both herbs are also rich in minerals such as potassium and magnesium, which are good for the body because much is lost due to excessive urination.

What Other Ways is Cushings Disease Treated?

Conventional treatment of Cushings Disease  in dogs includes drug therapy and surgery. The good news is that drugs do work but the side effects can be rough stuff.

Surgery works as well but that depends where the tumor is located. If the tumor is on the pituitary gland then generally their is no cure because the gland sits right underneath the brain and its generally too risky a location for surgery. If the tumor is located on the adrenal glands, the tumor is then removed.

Conventional drugs used to treat cushings disease include: Lysodren and Ketaconazole. Side effects would be: nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, lethargy. A new drug entered onto the market about 10 years ago showing some promise. It is called Anipryl. Again, possible side effects include: lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea.

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Okay its summer here in Ferndale, WA and the temperature is skyrocketing. Your pet hangs in the garage seeking shade and it just so happens there’s antifreeze around and well, one thing leeds to another, and, well you have a problem on your hands. What to do?

Here are the top signs that your pet has ingested antifreeze. The first thing to do is not to panic. In acute cases your pet will appear to be intoxicated with alcohol: stumbling, vomiting, and depression are all common and key signs of poisoning. Kidney failure usually takes about 12 to 24 hours post ingestion for cats, and about 36 to 72 hours for dogs.

The second thing to do is:

Call Your Vet Immediately!

Its a good idea to keep emergency numbers around and the location of the nearest vet clinic that’s open 24/7. If your pets has ingested antifreeze, give it plenty of  fluids  and  rest.  Please get your pet to the clinic asap. Quick action will save a life.

Namaste, in health, William G, aka lova ya woof!

The Poison Safety Kit

Experts at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommend that you create a safety kit

• A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3%
• Can of your pet’s favorite wet food
• Bulb syringe or large medical syringe
• Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants•
• Can of your pet’s favorite wet food
• Bulb syringe or large medical syringe
• Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants
• Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing
• Mild dishwashing liquid for the animal after skin
• contamination.
• Rubber gloves
• Forceps to remove stingers
• Muzzle
• Pet carrier

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By Greg Tilford, Herbalist
©2009 all rights reserved

Cedar, my Australian cattle dog has red, runny, eyes.  He itches too.  Probably because of a sudden rise in mold or pollen, an event that always follows a spring snowmelt.   Regardless, he’s suffering, and I need to do something.

The cat is sneezing again too— just like she does every spring.  Come to think of it, I’ve been waking up with sore, red eyes too— and I am sneezing a lot. Yep… hay fever season is upon us.

A large percentage of dogs, cats, and probably most other animals suffer, at least to some degree, from seasonal allergies— just like humans.   Airborne pollens and molds are probably the most common culprits, but the list of possibilities is practically endless.  Finding and removing the exact allergens that cause your pet’s misery can be virtually impossible. It doesn’t matter where you live either — with spring comes a plethora of potentially allergenic particles— particles that are everywhere—  in the wind, and in the water  dish.

So what to do?  A trip to the veterinarian may yield a prescription for an antihistamine or, if symptoms are severe, a corticosteroid drug.   Although either one can be effective toward shutting off the symptoms of seasonal allergy, neither will help correct the underlying immune system dysfunction that causes the problem.  And in the case of corticosteroid drugs (such as Prednisone) the side effects of extended use can be far worse than the allergy itself.

So, what to do?

First and foremost, clean up the diet.  If your purchasing choices are driven more by cost than by quality, chances are you are compounding the problem by throwing poor quality food ingredients into the mix.  You may even be feeding ingredients that are causing your pet’s allergy. Regardless, poor quality meat and grain byproducts, artificial flavorings and preservatives and things like soy protein may be compromising the natural immunity of your pet.  So make changes.  Buy good food—recipes that feature whole meats (“chicken”, beef”, “duck”, etc.)  and real vegetables as top line ingredients— not meat byproducts or cheap grain fillers.

Second but equally important: start supplementing your companion’s diet with fish and vegetable oils that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids right now.  Omega 3 fatty acids are essential components in the animal body’s regulation of inflammatory response to any allergen that enters the body system. Without enough Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet, the body’s inflammatory response to an invading allergen cannot be properly regulated, making the whole problem much worse than it should be.  In my opinion, the best essential fatty acid supplements use fish oil as the primary ingredient— and the best fish oil is that which comes from the whole bodies of wild harvested cold water fish.  Avoid products that are made from farm raised salmon or other cultivated sources, as they might contain potentially carcinogenic contaminants, like PCBs, or residual amounts of antibiotics and growth hormones that are used to farm the fish.

Finally, to help alleviate some of the symptoms, you might want to try adding a few herbs to your pet’s daily regimen.  The following herbs are safe for dogs, cats, and most other mammals, and are all part of my favorite “Spring Tonic” tincture formula for hay fever.

NETTLE (Urtica spp.)
At the top of my list of anti-allergy success stories is nettle leaf.  Many people and their animals find symptomatic relief from daily use of this herb, especially when its use is commenced at the earliest onset of hay fever season.  One of the predominant theories of how nettle works is centered on the release of histamine.  Histamine is a protein produced by the body that contributes to the body’s inflammatory responses.  If histamine is released by the body too quickly or in too much abundance,  symptoms such as swelling, sneezing and coughing are more likely to occur.  Nettle’s chemistry includes an interesting assortment of proteins and histamine-like compounds that herbalists (like myself) believe may slow the body’s own release of histamine, thus lessening severity of allergy symptoms.

EYEBRIGHT (Euphrasia officianalis)
Herbalists have used eyebright herb for centuries to help relieve inflammation of upper respiratory mucus tissues.  Eyebright is also thought to help support and strengthen various liver functions, meaning that it helps with the body’s elimination of systemic waste that may otherwise compound the allergy scenario.

BURDOCK (Arctium lappa/minor)
Burdock has been used since ancient times as a safe, gentle liver tonic.  In both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (where it is known as “gobo”) burdock has been long regarded as a specific remedy for various forms of chronic dermatitis.  It is thought to work by supporting the liver in the elimination of protein byproducts and other metabolic waste that may otherwise cause allergic reactions if left in the body.   The idea: get the allergenic stuff out of the body before inflammation is triggered.

LICORICE ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra/uralensis)
I regard licorice root as perhaps the most broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory herb available.  In addition to strong liver-support attributes, this herb contains an assortment of phytosterol constituents that may serve to supplement the body’s natural production of cortisone; a hormone that serves to further slow and regulate the body’s inflammatory response.   It is also anti-tussive and expectorant, meaning that it will help make your pet’s coughs and sneezes less violent and more productive.

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