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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Virafungal Fighter for Pets Now Available for $19.95

I wanted to write about Virafungal Fighter and the two Amigos since we are having an amazing success with this product in our store. In fact as I write another two orders came in today, and from all places, Calgary, Alberta.

Virafungal Fighter is an all natural, organic anti-microbial support product — a very solid immune system booster  for your dog or cat, and for fighting infection. Its two key active ingredients (hence the Two Amigos) are grape seed extract and grapefruit seed extract and it is these special ingredients and their properties that give Virafungal Fighter its punch.

Grape seed extract is the best source of one of the most powerful bioflavonoids known as procyanidolic oligomers. Laboratory tests have found it to have natural anti-inflammatory, antihistamine and anti-mutagenic properties as well as the abilities to reduce allergic reactions and cholesterol levels. These phyto-chemicals exist in the skin of grapes, cherries and blueberries, but we find the greatest concentrations in grape seeds.

Our second Amigo is grapefruit seed extract which protects the body against bacterial and viral organisms as well as strains of fungus (including yeasts) and single cell and multi-celled parasites, without the dangers of standard antibiotics. While antibiotics have been proven effective, these antibiotics indiscriminately kill the pathogens as well as the normal flora in the bodycausing further illness.

Its is true that many products on the market contain these two amigos, but most of these are too bitter or too harsh to be used daily. The manufacturer of  Virafungal Fighter, Danielle L’Don, has not only forumlated a product with two of the most powerful natural sources of anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antioxidant agents found in nature, but managed to make it palatable for pets.

Virafungal fighter isn’t overly bitter and with its flexibility of being applied as a topical or sub lingual (under the tongue) spray, taking advantage of grapefruit seed and grape seed extracts has never been so easy!

The human body has an innate ability to heal itself and even modern medicine is simply a means to further facilitate the body in this healing process as well as herbs or food.

Virafungal fighter is one such natural alternative. The formula is a unique and powerful broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent with the added power of the antioxidant benefits of potent bioflavonoid complexes, which our bodies can’t produce but are assimilated through food.

Here’s a handy Flea Fighter recipe

Put 12 drops of Orange essential oil in 1 bottle of Virafungal Fighter. Spray on coat of animal and brush in, 2-3 times daily until fleas are gone. Use 1-2 times per week as maintenance. For external use only, keep away from eyes. Shake bottle well before each use.

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reprinted with permission from Danielle L’Don Inc. August 12, 2009.

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Everybody’s talking about Univera these days, and for good reason. Some say its a wonderful herbal drink that promotes a better body balance and overall health. Others say its a multi-level marketing system with health benefits that are dubious.

I have friend who has asked to be a participant in Univera, and has given me some product to try, and because I’m a good guy I shelled out $260 CDN and bought the 24 3ml sample sizes and two 30 oz bottles of concentrate.

I have been using it and so far for about 15 days now and its hard to tell what’s happening inside my body. The thing is I already feel great and I am in good shape for a 54 year-old. I bike once per week, swim three times a week, and I go to a boot camp class, yoga and I run.  I think from a physical activity point of view I’m right up there so for me I can’t really see a difference. Am I missing something? At this stage I would welcome a call from the President of the company to solicit his views.

Be that as it may, I’m also big on herbs and alternative medicine and natural medicine so I’ve been looking at the label and so far so good. Univera has the right fuel. Let’s explore this a little more, and take a look at the herbal ingredients that make up the gas that accelerates Univera.

The first herb that shows up in the Univera tank is Aloe vera. This is undoubtedly good stuff. Aloe Vera is a kind of wunderkid herb. Its usually comes to us as a juice, and its healing properties are well known. It soothes and protects the body and speeds healing of injuries and is purported to have anti-tumor affects. It’s also a laxative that helps push things through the digestive track and urinary track. So in the Univera concentrate, Aloe Vera shows up as a derivative of the whole Aloe leaf in a measure of 51 mg per 30 fl ounces.

The next ingredient in the gas is Licorice. Now this is a cool herb. In our herbal tinctures at allpetnaturals.com Licorice shows up in our Spring Tonic, Phytomucil Tonic, our Liver Detox Blend and our Alfalfa / Yucca Blend and for good reason, the herb is excellent for hypoglycemia, liver detox, coughs and Addison’s disease. For pets its mostly used to fight or relieve constipation and gastrointestinal inflammation. In the Univera concentrate, Licorice root is present but the label doesn’t show how much is in the liquid mix. So I’m not sure what type of conclusion I can draw. However, since it is present I think we can safely say its a good thing.

The third herb used in the Univera concentrate is Ginkgo biloba. Everybody loves Ginkgo! Why? Because its one of natures’ best antioxidants. Its has anti-inflammatory properties, anti-clotting and prevents platelet aggregation that can lead to blockages of arteries. Its kind of right up there on the super list of herbs. In Univera it appears as an extract from the leaf (which is correct) in the amount of 10 mg.

That’s it for the herbs in the tank. I’m not sure what conclusions I can help draw from this mini review. What I think I can say with some authority is that Univera seems to have it right, herbaly speaking. If you could choose three herbs to round things out for a healthy diet supplement I would likely go with Ginkgo, Licorice root and Aloe vera myself. I will just have to keep drinking the concentrate and see what happens and report back in a few weeks time. One thing for us, I love this business so much I will never run out of gas! Namaste.

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by William Greenbaum, aka love ya woof!

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Ferndale, Washington, August 15, 2009. All Pet Naturals, the premier online web store for natural pet care remedies, products and supplies has won the exclusive online sales and distribution rights for Virafungal Fighter — the first all natural, organic anti-microbial support for cats, dogs and horses.

Virafungal Fighter  is a safe, organic anti-microbial that has had amazing sales success in health foods stores throughout California, and is now moving full steam into the  pet market.

William Greenbaum, president of All Pet Naturals‘ parent company Brilliant Health said, “we are thrilled and excited to be representing this amazing product online exclusively through our Webstore – www.allpetnaturals.com; which from the research and evidence we’ve read and studied, and testimonials from consumers that have used the product, Virafungal Fighter has proven to be a unique performer and we are pleased to be introducing it. The natural care companion animal market is growing and certainly we are all ready for an organic, effective pet anti-microbial.”

Virafungal Fighter has Grape Seed Extract and Grapefruit Seed Extracts, which contain bioflavoid complexes that are 20 times more potent than vitamin C and 50 times more potent than vitamin E as an antioxident. It has also been found to be anti-inflamatory, antiallergic, antihistamine, anticholesterol and antimutagenic. Virafungal fighter also provides powerful protection against 800 bacterial and viral organisms as well as 100 strains of fungus and a large number of single cell and multi-celled parasites.

The advantage of using organic natural Virafungal Fighter instead of prescription antibiotics is that ViraFungal Fighter doesn’t upset the natural balance of good bacteria in the intestines.

The product comes in a 2 oz spray bottle and normally sells for $22.95, but is on sale right now on the webstore at www.allpetnaturals.com for an introductory offer of only $19.95. Uses for Virafungal Fighter include -

• Skin problems caused by bacteria, even basic cuts and wounds.
• Helps fight tooth decay and gum disease, prevents free-radical damage to the lens and retina of the eye, and even treats glaucoma by protecting collagen structures in the eye.
• Helps relieve asthma and emphysema.
• Daily use helps to support brain function.

The ingredients in Virafungal Fighter are the most potent, antioxidant free radical deactivators ever discovered. They fight inflamation by binding to connective tissue of joints, preventing swelling, helping heal damaged tissue, and lessening pain.

Virafungal Fighter is manufactured in Irvine California by Danielle L’Don Natural Skin Care, Inc. All Pet Naturals is proud to represent this unique and exciting new product.

For more information: William Greenbaum\All Pet Naturals.com\ 778.238.7410 or via email at bill@allpetnaturals.com.

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Cushing’s Disease or Hyperadrenocorticism

by Michael Richards, DVM

Cushing’s disease is probably more accurately referred to as hyperadrenocorticism — the production of too much adrenal hormone, in particular corticosteroids. It can be naturally occurring or due to over administration of corticosteroids such as prednisone (iatrogenic Cushing’s). The latter is easy to cure – just cut out the corticosteroid administration slowly to allow the body to return to normal function. The former is more difficult.

Hyperadrenocorticism occurs for two reasons — a tumor of the adrenal gland that produces adrenal hormones or stimulation of the normal adrenal glands from the hormones that control it. The primary reason for this to occur is a pituitary gland tumor that produces excessive ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal gland to produce corticosteroids. Adrenal gland tumors account for 15% of the cases of spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism. Pituitary tumors account for 85%.

Cushing’s disease causes increased drinking, increased urination, increased appetite, panting, high blood pressure, hair loss – usually evenly distributed on both sides of the body, pendulous abdomen, thinning of the skin, calcified lumps in the skin, susceptibility to skin infections and diabetes, weakening of the heart and skeletal muscles, nervous system disease and other symptoms. Most owners reach a point where the water consumption and urination become bothersome to them.

The diagnosis of Cushing’s can be done with several blood tests. A general hint of Cushing’s can be obtained by a blood panel. To confirm it, a test known as a low dose dexamethasone test is done. A baseline blood sample is drawn in the morning, an injection of dexamethasone given and a follow-up blood test done 8 hours later. In a normal dog, the dexamethasone should suppress cortisol levels in the blood stream. In Cushing’s disease this effect does not occur. Once the disease is diagnosed, it is possible to differentiate between the adrenal tumors and pituitary gland tumors using a second test, a high dose dexamethasone suppression test. Most dogs with pituitary tumors will have cortisol suppression on this test. There are other tests used, including ACTH response tests and urine cortisol/creatinine ratios to diagnose this disease. X-rays and ultrasonography can help determine if an adrenal gland tumor is present.

If it can be determined that there is an adrenal gland tumor, it can be removed. Many veterinarians prefer to have a specialist attempt this since the surgical risks can be high. Pituitary gland tumors are not usually removed in veterinary medicine. This situation is treated using Lysodren (o’p'-DDD, which is a relative of DDT) or ketaconazole. Some research with Deprenyl for treatment of this is being done, too, I think. Lysodren selectively kills the outer layer of the adrenal gland that produces corticosteroids. By administering it in proper amounts it is possible to kill just enough of the gland off to keep the production of corticosteroids to normal levels. Obviously, close regulation of this using blood testing is necessary since overdoing it can cause severe problems with Addison’s disease – hypoadrenocorticism. Adverse reactions to Lysodren occur at times but it is the standard treatment at this time. Over medication with Lysodren can cause inappetance, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and weakness. If any of these signs occur then your veterinarian should be immediately notified.

Treatment of Cushing’s disease caused by pituitary tumors is symptomatic therapy — it does not cure the pituitary tumor. The average lifespan of dogs diagnosed with Cushing’s, with or without treatment is estimated at 2 years by Dr. Mark Peterson, but in a recent conversation with another endocrinologist I came away with the impression that this was an “educated guess” rather than the result of extensive survey of Cushing’s patients. At present, though, I think that treatment should be viewed as a means of providing a better quality lifestyle rather than as a method of extending longevity.

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