I thought with the warmer months headed our way that we all could benefit from a little information about the dangers that might be lurking out there in the desert. So whether you love to camp in the desert with your favorite pooch or just like going for hike, be sure to know the symptoms of canine valley fever so you can get your furry friend treated right away.

Do dogs get Valley Fever? Yes, dogs get Valley Fever! Like people, dogs are very susceptible to Valley Fever. Dogs primarily contract Valley Fever in the low desert regions of Arizona, New Mexico and southwestern Texas and the central deserts of California. Dogs accompanying people traveling through these areas or wintering in these warm climates have about the same chance as their owners of being infected.

Valley Fever is caused by a fungus that lives in the desert soil in the areas described above. As part of its life cycle, the fungus grows in the soil (saprophytic cycle) and matures, drying into fragile strands of cells. The strands are very delicate, and when the soil is disturbed - by digging, walking, construction, high winds - the strands break apart into tiny individual spores called arthroconidia or arthrospores. Dogs and people acquire Valley Fever by inhaling these fungal spores in the dust raised by the disturbance. The sickness Valley Fever occurs when the immune system does not kill the spherules and endospores quickly and they continue to spread in the lungs and sometimes throughout the animal’s body. About 70% of dogs who inhale Valley Fever spores control the infection and do not become sick. These dogs are asymptomatic. The remainder develops disease, which can range from very mild to severe and occasionally fatal.

Symptoms - The most common early symptoms of primary pulmonary Valley Fever in dogs are:

• Coughing
• Weigh Loss
• Fever
• Lack of Appetite
• Lack of Energy

Some or all of these symptoms may be present as a result of infection in the lungs. As the infection progresses, dogs can develop a severe pneumonia that is visible on x-rays. Sometimes the coughing is caused by pressure of swollen lymph nodes near the heart pressing on the dog’s windpipe and irritating it. These dogs sound like they have bronchitis. Additional symptoms develop when the infection spreads outside the lungs and causes systemic or disseminated disease. This form of Valley Fever is almost always more serious than when it is only in the lungs.                                                                                Signs of disseminated Valley Fever can include:

• lameness or swelling of the limbs
• back or neck pain
• seizures and other manifestations of central nervous system swelling
• soft swelling under the skin that resemble abscesses
• swollen lymph nodes under the chin, in front of the shoulder blades, or behind the stifles
• non healing skin ulcerations or draining tracts that ooze fluid
• eye inflammation with pain or cloudiness

Some of these symptoms are very rare and most need to be differentiated from other diseases of dogs. Still other signs can develop that are referable to affected internal organs and may only be detected by your veterinarian. While the lungs are the most common site of Valley Fever in dogs, it can infect almost any tissue of the body.

Sometimes a dog will skip any signs of having a primary infection in the lungs and only develop symptoms of disseminated disease, such as a swollen, lame leg but no coughing or fever, or fever, weight loss, and a draining tract, but eating and not coughing.

Valley Fever is considered a noncontagious disease. Even if multiple animals or humans are affected in a household, each infection was acquired by inhaling spores from the soil. Coughing cannot spread it between animals or people.

Diagnosis - Diagnosis of Valley Fever requires suspicion of the disease from the dog’s history, its symptoms, and the results of examinations and tests performed by your veterinarian. If your dog has recently visited an area where the fungus can be acquired, telling your veterinarian about your dog’s travel history can be very helpful in deriving the diagnosis.

In addition to examining your dog, your veterinarian is very likely to order diagnostic tests to help identify the Valley Fever infection. Common tests include:

• blood tests and blood cell counts
• chest x-rays
• bone and joint x-rays
• Valley Fever blood test (also called cocci test, cocci serology, or cocci titer)

Sometimes tests are negative early in the infection, especially the Valley Fever blood test, and they may need to be repeated in 3-4 weeks to establish the diagnosis. In difficult cases, the routine tests are not very helpful in the diagnosis. Your veterinarian may recommend other tests to find out what is making your dog sick.These tests are often more definitive: Culture of fluid or tissue samples from your dog to isolate and identify the fungus; this is highly specific. Microscopic examination of cell, fluid, or tissue samples to visualize fungal organisms and inflammation in your dog.If your dog is having seizures or other signs of neurological disease, your vet may urge you to get a CT or MRI scan of the brain or spinal cord.
Usually Valley Fever is easily confirmed with basic diagnostic tests, but occasionally it may be difficult to diagnose. In those cases, persistence and advanced diagnostics will be required to rule out other diseases and confirm Valley Fever. Diagnosis of Valley Fever in cats is the same as for dogs.

• Ketoconazole (Nizoral) is the most commonly prescribed and the least expensive. Incidence of side effects is relatively high and the drug is usually administered twice daily with food. Absorption is an issue on an empty stomach and acidification usually improves uptake.

• Itraconazole (Sporanox) is expensive with a moderate incidence of side effects. Administration is once to twice daily with food. Absorption is usually poor on an empty stomach. An oral liquid formulation with much better absorption is available and might be indicated for animals who are not eating very well but need this medication. However, expense may be an issue.

• Fluconazole (Diflucan) is expensive with a low incidence of side effects compared to the other two medications. It is administered once or twice daily. Absorption is excellent even on an empty stomach and this drug is often a good choice for very sick dogs that aren’t eating well.

Treatment - In most cases, a dog ill enough from Valley Fever to be seen by a veterinarian will require treatment with anti fungal medication. Courses of medication are usually extensive, averaging 6-12 months. Dogs with disseminated disease in bones, skin, or internal organs usually require longer courses of medication. Central nervous system (brain or spinal cord) involvement frequently requires lifetime treatment with medication to keep symptoms from recurring.

Oral anti fungal medication in the form of daily pills or capsules is the usual treatment for Valley Fever. There are three common medications used to treat Valley Fever in dogs.

Fluconazole is the drug of choice for dogs and cats with infection of the brain, spinal cord, or eyes as it is the only drug that crosses into those tissues.

Treatment choices vary by the individual veterinarian and patient. Reasons for choice of medication include practitioner’s experience with the drugs, costs, side effects, efficacy, severity of illness, and convenience to the owner. If one medication is unsuccessful, another will often be tried.

For disease of the brain and spinal cord, fluconazole (Diflucan) is the drug of choice. Fluconazole is also the only drug that penetrates tissues of the eye and should be employed in ocular cases.

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– As buds sprout and flowers bloom, vets are asking owners to make sure the signs of spring remain on trees and bushes, and not in their pets’ stomachs.Several household and backyard plants and flowers can be toxic to animals, they warn. And with Easter around the corner, vets are also reminding people to be cautious of lilies, in particular, one of the deadliest flowers pets can consume.

“People like to buy Easter lilies and we recommend against that for any household that has cats in particular,” said Cori Gross, DVM, a field veterinarian for Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation’s largest pet insurance company.

“Cats are known to chew on the leaves and can get very sick and die, even. If people do decide to get lilies, they need to keep them away from their pets.”

VPI recently released a list of the most common household items that proved toxic for pets in 2008, based off of 400 insurance claims. Raisins and grapes topped the list, followed then by mushrooms, marijuana, and lilies.

The average amount claimed for plant poisoning this year was $427, according to VPI.

Walnuts, onions, Sago Palm, macadamia nuts, Azalea and Hydrangea also made VPI’s top 10 list.

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Fluffy and Spots Painful Secrets

All too often, owners bring in their pets to their veterinarian for an illness that came on “overnight.” Suddenly, the pet is very thin, or not walking, or unable to eat. We often find that the pet’s condition is far advanced in these cases. How, you may be wondering, does this happen?

Wild animals naturally hide their pain to protect themselves from predators, and this behavior exists even in our domestic pets. Observing your pet’s behavior is vital to managing his or her pain. This can be very difficult when you see your pet every day, as subtle changes slowly progress. However, there are some “red flag” changes that can tip you off early in the course of a problem. Should you notice any of the following, a visit to your vet is recommended.

Change in chewing habits
Dropping food, slow eating, or chewing on one side of the mouth may indicate a dental disorder or other oral problem. Additional signs may include weight loss, bad breath or excessive face rubbing. Routine dental checkups are important to prevent and treat dental disorders and related pain. I believe in providing dogs the opportunity for natural chewing often. That means either raw or hard “recreational” bones. Feeding bones, such as turkey necks, chicken backs, etc. also is a great way to provide both a natural diet and natural tooth care.

Drastic weight gain or loss
Pain directly affects your pet’s weight and eating habits. Overweight animals have an increased chance of tearing ligaments and damaging joints. They also exercise less, causing them to gain weight. Pain can also cause animals to lose their appetites, which will lead to weight loss. Kidney, liver, and thyroid problems can cause weight changes, as can cancer. Whether your pet’s weight has increased or decreased, a change that occurs without you changing the feeding program is cause for concern.

Avoids touching or handling
Avoiding attention or handling may be a sign of a progressive disease such as osteoarthritis, Lyme disease, or other systemic problems. Even gentle pressure can be painful for these animals. They may shy away from a back rub, when it used to be a favorite thing. They may even hide or avoid interaction with people or other pets to avoid pain. Dogs especially may become “grumpier” and growl or snap when other dogs bump into them – a sign frequently described by the owner of multiple dogs when the “grumpy” dog is having a health problem.

Decreased movement and activity
Arthritis is the most common cause of pain in pets. However, other organ diseases as well as cancer can cause changes in activity level. This is the common sign owners report in the very stoic pet. Increases or decreases in your pet’s activity or energy level should always be investigated. I have seen Greyhounds with a corn in their pad show no other signs other than decreased movement. Removing the corn transforms the dog!

House training accidents
Pet owners often believe that “accidents” are a result of behavioral issues. Some even feel the pet is being spiteful. However, most pets do not lose their house training without a reason. Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, parasites, food allergy, and intestinal disease can all cause changes in urination and defecation. Behavioral problems are usually more common in senior pets and multiple cat homes. Changes and stress in the home situation, such as during a family crisis, moving, or merging/splitting of households often provoke behavioral issues.
Because of the natural tendency to hide pain and discomfort, many health problems can be missed until they are severe. Minor changes in activity and behavior can be the first sign of a serious problem. Being in tune with your pet’s normal habits and acting promptly when you observe a change enables early detection and treatment of disease. Don’t be afraid to call your veterinarian, even if your only observation is that your pet is not acting normally. Your prompt action will at the very least save your pet pain and discomfort, and in the extreme, can even save his life.

Dr. Laurie S. Coger DVM is a well known holistic veterinarian who also blogs for Times Union at http://blogs.timesunion.com/petsandvets/
Please visit her web site at www.TheWholisticVet.com to learn more about a natural approach to your pet’s care.

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A Guest Post from Margarat Nee, Reiki Practitioner

Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) is an energetic healing method that is non-invasive, gentle, and relaxing. Reiki is a Japanese word that can be generally translated as “universal life energy” (you might already be familiar with the Chinese word Chi or Qi in this context). This healing energy does not originate with the practitioner, but is simply channeled through them.

Reiki can do no harm, and in fact the animal is allowed to choose how long to accept the healing energy offered. The deep relaxation that results allows the animal’s body to begin to heal itself, whether physically or emotionally. Reiki is ideal for animals that become very stressed with more direct bodywork such as acupressure. In fact, it is often done “hands-off” rather than “hands-on” because animals are much more sensitive to the energy.

Because Reiki is about offering healing energy rather than doing a physical manipulation like massage or acupressure it may look as though nothing is happening, It may look as though the practitioner is simply meditating, and in fact it is a little bit like meditating because the practitioner is creating a quiet healing space that the animal can choose to enter. One might imagine it’s as though the energy is radiating from the practitioner and the animal chooses how strong a signal to receive (like sitting around a campfire!).

If you’ve ever had Reiki yourself, you’ll assume that the same hand positions are used on animals, but in fact skin-to-skin contact is not the norm when offering Reiki to animals. Many animals prefer to have it done “hands-off,” and may even move further away from the practitioner when first being offered Reiki because they find this new energy flowing near them to be strange at first.

It’s essential that the animal be allowed this freedom to accept Reiki as it desires. Animals may not even look like they’re “getting it.” They may relax for five minutes then get up and stretch or walk around the room, changing position in the room and settling down again. They may yawn, lick, or just settle down for a nap. Often animals will take breaks, and this should not be seen as a failure but as a normal part of the process. Sometimes, over the course of a session and a series of sessions the animals may settle in for longer periods of time and get progressively closer to the practitioner, even offering specific part of their body for attention, but not doing so does not mean that they are not getting the full benefit of the treatment.

Reiki is often presented as flowing from the hands of the practitioner, but it really flows from the whole person. While some animals push their bodies into the hands of the practitioner others prefer to simply get the “spill-over” from a practitioner’s personal space. A good Reiki practitioner will just let the animal come into their space at whatever pace the animal is comfortable with.

You are welcome to be present with your animal during a session, but it’s important that you also set your own inner intention for healing your animal. You might meditate or lay down, but however you choose to be a part of the healing process it’s important to relax and let the Reiki be offered without worry or stress, even if the animal is having a health crisis. You may be inclined to interact with your pet, but we don’t want to distract them from their own healing process, so it’s best to just let them be. Quiet background music may help everyone relax and focus. Your other pets may wish to present as well to share in the Reiki energy, and that is fine.

Margarat Nee is a Reiki Practitioner who also specializes in nutritional consulting, flower essences, training and animal massage & bodywork. Learn more about Margarat’s work at http://theartofdog.com

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♥ We all want to slow the aging process for our dogs as well as ourselves, though there is no exact tool for doing this. Scientific research for a ‘Fountain of Youth’ has pin pointed some of the aging culprits.

The major focus for aging has been placed on the destruction and damage of a systems DNA, mostly by oxidation. Leading causes of oxidation are as you would imagine pollutants, toxins in the air/ water/ and food, disease (diabetes), stress, hormone dysfunction, poor quality diet (commercial/ processed foods), and the list goes on (hence the need for antioxidants).

The DNA, Telemerase theory on aging describes how cells loose there ability to replicate appropriately, this eventually this leads to cells becoming more and more damaged. The term Cellular Dysfunction is commonly known to us as “aging”.

Along with cellular dysfunction is the Free Radical, ‘balancing act’. We all have heard of the effects of Free radicals, (cancer, disease, aging), but truth of the matter is that the production of Free Radicals is an ongoing and natural process in the body systems (dogs and humans alike). Free radicals are produced with the release of ATP (energy formation) and energy metabolism (food), an on going process in all body systems. The best way to keep Free Radicals in a ’state of balance’ is to balance the input of energy with the output, food intake with expenditure of energy.

Of course, the controllable aspects of aging are eating a healthy diet (no additives, preservatives, fillers, etc.) and living a fun filled wagging tail life (dog park, beach, hiking trail). Having your dog on a healthy Honest Kitchen diet and taking the time to offer plenty of affection, exercise and love are going to send you both pretty far on the Anti- Aging scale. Please take a look at some of the founding reasoning for the Honest Kitchen.

There are further things you can do to enhance, strengthen, and add vitality to your dogs life, preventing premature aging. Check out the benefits of Invigor. This product was designed with all the aspects of anti- aging in mind by increasing antioxidents, ’scavenging for’ free radicals, improving immune systems, and helping with blood circulation for heart.

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“May Madness” is still here and we have brought back by popular demand the stainless steel storage canister. This baby comes in handy and not only is it great to store the food in but it is attractive looking too. Unlike some of those big plastic storage tubs this can actually be displayed in your kitchen for all to see. Plus it has an infinite recycle-life, food safe, convenient and can be used & re-used.

Our food storage canisters keep out air, moisture and most inquisitive hounds, too. They hold more than 10 lbs of Honest Kitchen food and stow away neatly - or sit proudly on a counter top

Use Promotion Code “BLOGTIN08” at checkout for your FREE stainless steel storage container!! Don’t forget to check back for more free goodies!!

*MUST BE USED AT TIME OF PURCHASE-This code or any previous code can not be added to orders after they have been placed.*

Shop The Honest Kitchen

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Last week on an inspirational whim I decided to invest on some teeth cleaning tools for my dog, Kylie. Little did I know this seemingly easy task would erupt into an all out war which would end in me lying breathless across the living room floor. Here I thought I was doing a good thing for my baby, promoting good dental hygiene… she, on the other hand, acted as though I was committing bloody murder. I purchased one of those kits with a toothbrush, tooth paste, and a slip cover mini brush that goes over your finger for those “hard to reach places” in your dogs mouth. The instructions were seriously twice the length of this blog title; some thing to the effect of:

1. Remove Products from package

2. Let dog taste small sampling of toothpaste then squeeze onto brush

3. Gently brush dogs teeth and gum line (for hard to reach places use finger cover)

Simple, yes? NO!

I got the first two steps down thinking I was pro. But step 3 didn’t come so easy. The minute I so much as attempted to insert the brush into Kylie’s mouth she made noises that reminded me of the time I tried to clip her nails, (another glamorous event that lead me to forking out the $11 bucks to the vet to do it for me….) noises much like a cat in heat or a really high pitched whining sound. After a few attempts Kylie made an escape for the other side of the room huddled in her bed.

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Ear infections can be common in certain breeds of dogs and though often easily treated, if ignored, an ear infection can lead to serious damage. Dr. Pitcairn’s’ Complete Guide to Natural Health offers a natural home remedy-

If the discharge is watery, smelly, and thin, flush and massage the ear canal once or twice a day with a solution of 1 cup of pure water (distilled or filtered), 1 teaspoon of a tincture or glycerin extract or Marigold flower buds (calendula) and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.

For ears that are very painful or sensitive but have little discharge, treat in the same way as above but use fresh juice. Use a liquid preparation of gel made from the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant.

to soften and dissolve dark, waxy, oily ear discharge, flush and massage the ear canal with sweet almond oil, which is also soothing and healing to the skin. If the ear is painful as well, alternate with aloe treatment.

Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats.

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Any time urinary tract problems arise, there is a potential risk for serious illness to occur, so it is always important to get a proper veterinary diagnosis before treatment begins. My initial thought would be to try to seek out a good holistic vet. AHVMA has a database that you can search by state. Any vet should be able to determine what sort of crystals are present, based on analysis under a microscope. It should not require submission to a lab. It is vitally important to diagnose if crystals, infection or another underlying cause exists. The two main types of crystals (struvite and calcium oxalate) are diametrically opposed to one another and therefore the treatment method for each is different, too.

My recommendation would be to feed a good quality commercial food (not one of the ‘prescription’ diets which tend to be full of by-products and artificial ingredients including chemical preservatives) or better still - a home made diet, along with a supplement that is suited to the type of crystals the pet has. A product such as Berry Balance made by Solid Gold Health or a similar product made by Wysong will help to acidify the urine in the case of struvite crystals, which form when the urine is too alkaline. Potassium Citrate granules are indicated when the urine is too acidic, and calcium oxalate crystals start to from. When chosen correctly, based on the diagnosis and analysis of the urine, these supplements can help manage urinary pH and reduce the likelihood of more crystals developing.

Animals with urine that is too alkaline (those prone to struvite crystal formation) can also be susceptible to urinary tract infections. Research is ongoing as to whether one condition causes the other, or the two things just flare up with the pH becomes high. Antibiotics will help to correct a true infection but they should not be used indiscriminately and we never recommend their long term use to try to ‘prevent’ infections.
A holistic approach to health Is all about balance, and helping the body to heal itself. Long term supplementation with the above mentioned products, is not always necessary; you can monitor the pH of the urine yourself if you wish, using pH strips which are now quite commonly available. Any variances in the pH can be addressed with occasional supplement use, based on whether the urine has become more acidic or alkaline. A urinary health tincture called Tinkle Tonic from Animal Essentials is also an excellent product for achieving and maintaining over all urinary tract health.

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Ever gone to give your stinky furball a bath only to realize your out of dog shampoo? What Now?! Grab your bottle of Herbal Essence and break out into song “Ooh Yes”? Ok, maybe not, but is there a difference between our shampoo and a dog’s shampoo? Can they be flip flopped for use?! Our friends at Happy Tails Spa have got the answer!

“You may be surprised to learn that a lot is different. Of course, if you run out of Fido’s shampoo and you use your own to wash your dog a couple of times, nothing will happen. Your dog’s hair won’t fall out and life will probably go on as normal.

But there are areas in which human and dog shampoos differ. You may not notice the ill effects of human shampoo if used only a couple of times on your pooch, but after repeated use, you’ll start to see.

1. Ingredients. Dog’s have different problems that humans do. We usually don’t sit around and scratch our heads as much as dogs scratch. This is because dog’s eliminate toxins differently than we do. We can sweat them out. Since dogs really don’t sweat their toxins are eliminated through their kidneys and bowels. With this in mind, we add ingredients to help relieve itchy skin and soothe skin inflammations. The best shampoo to help relieve itchy skin is Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo for Dry & Itchy Skin.

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Dogs are naturally curious creatures and have a tendency to explore and get into things…and puppies are known to chew on everything they can wrap their mouth around. It’s important to take into consideration what types of plants you bring into your home. More than 700 plants produce toxic substances that could potently hurt your pet. Common symptoms to keep an eye out for are mouth sores, diarrhea, vomiting, tremors and seizures. If you have a concern that your dog has ingested a poisonous plant you can call the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435, a consultation fee may be applied.

Ten Common Poisonous Plants

Azalea/Rhododendron

Castor Bean

Cyclamen

Kalanchoe

Lilies

Marijuana

Oleander

Sago Palm

Tulip/Narcissus bulbs

Yew

Image Source: Mooseys Country Garden

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