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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After reading the beneifts of garlic, you might consider it a medicine as much as a food ingredient. Garlic has been said to fight caner, low blood glucose,, boost the immune system, and fight viruses for both people and dogs. In addition, dogs re attracted to food containing garlic, perhaps because the foods both smell and taste good. However, be aware, too much garlic can become toxic. “Everything in moderation”- Liz Palika, The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook

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Though summer is still a few months away, for several of us around the country the heat is already inching it’s way up to summer temperatures. Our 4 legged friends could care less what the thermostat reads, and will chase their tennis ball at the park in 95 degree weather until we drag them home. BF Info Station offers a few tips to protect your pup from dehydration.

Tips to avoid Dehydration

“Dogs lose a lot of water while panting. Leave two or three bowls filled with water around the house, so that he gets enough to drink.

If he has not had a good drink for a long time, start re-hydration slowly … allowing your dog a few sips every few minutes. Overdrinking after a dry spell can quickly lead to vomiting and he may end up losing more fluids than he had.
Don’t let your dog drink excessive amounts of water after a strenuous exercise session.

Wait a few minutes after your dog has exerted in very heavy exercise and then allow frequent but small amounts every few minutes.
If your dog is showing some signs of dehydration, give him electrolyte mixed in water. While water helps in replenishing a lot of nutrients, electrolyte can do the job more quickly.

Dogs who have gone a long time without water have a problem holding it down. So let him lick ice, he hydrates himself with licking the ice.

If your dog refuses to drink for any extended period of time, consult your veterinarian immediately!

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Not too long ago I was in New York City walking the streets, acting like a tourist, when I saw a small pup come “ROLLING” up from behind me. The little guy had wheels for back legs?! I was a bit shocked, since I had never seen such a thing, but the dog was as happy as ever to be running down the street with his dad following close behind!

For dogs suffering from paralyzing nerve diseases, such as degenerative myelopathy, theres still hope for a happy “fetch filled” life thanks to company’s like “Eddie’s Wheels”, who specialize in wheel chair-like carts for dogs of all sizes, from mini dachshunds to St. Bernards.

Most dog carts start around $250 and can exceed $500 based on the size of the dog, while the cost of wheelchairs for other animals can vary depending on the type and size of animal.
Since launching the business, Eddie’s Wheels has shipped carts worldwide — the largest to a 220-pound Saint Bernard in Great Britain — and has made wheelchairs for several cats, a ferret, alpacas, goats, sheep, a rabbit and a possum.
They even keep a supply of tiny wheels on hand for a gerbil or hamster.

When paralyzation happens to a pup, they don’t understand why, but are almost ALWAYS accepting. “Oh, this is the way I am today.’ So when we put them in the cart, they’re like: ‘Oh, now I’m back to normal. I can go where I want.”

Source: Yahoo News, The Pet Blog

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Dear The Honest Kitchen

Maggie my Wire Fox Terrier is a retired show dog. She left the show circuit before attaining her AKC championship as she could not tolerate the severe itching and multiple small crusty pus filled lesions which plagued her skin. Over the course of the past three years I have made routine trips to the vet which included complex clinical assessments, dietary changes and expensive medical treatments with less than satisfactory results. Maggie was diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis. After several courses of prednisone, clavamox and medicated shampoos, and several prescription dog foods my vet decided to place her on Atopica (Cyclosporin) an immune suppressant. The induction phase took 4 weeks of daily medication at the cost of $250.00. Drug side effects included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

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Jordan, an adorable little customer of ours, had a recent bout with demodectic mange (caused by a sensitivity to an overpopulation of Demodex mites, as the animal’s immune system is unable to keep the mites in check.) He got the problem taken care of and was then put on The Honest Kitchen, alternating between Thrive & Force (Learn More) His parents sent his story our way via a comment, but I think it deserves it’s own post! I’m happy to report the little hiker hasn’t had any skin problems since eating The Honest Kitchen and is back to his crazy min pin ways! ( I have two Min Pins myself, so cant help but love this story).

Hi Honest Kitchen! Our doggy Jordan loves your food and we wanted to tell you about Jordan’s experience with Demodex…
If your dog (or cat) has demodex, perhaps Jordan’s story will help you:
Our dog, Jordan the mini pinscher, started losing his hair about two months ago. It started as a tiny spot above his eye - I noticed it and figured he had scratched his skin on something. Then within a week it was apparent that the bald spot was growing. After recently losing another dog (Duke) to a rare disease (PLN), I became concerned and started searching the Internet for possible causes. One of the first things I checked into was mange. The description of the sarcoptic mange (the most common variety) said that he would be very itchy. Since he didn’t seem to be itching much at all, I ruled that out. Then after another day or two, I noticed another bald spot starting to show up further up on his head. Getting more worried, I kept searching online and came across the description for demodectic mange. After considering the alternatives, and examining him thoroughly, it seemed likely that this was what Jordan was experiencing.

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We do what we can to help limit the amount of chemicals our pets are exposed to, but sometimes it’s unavoidable, especially during this time of year, when you and your’ pup are always out & about. Think of where those paws go in a day; parks with fertilizers, de-icing chemicals on the sidewalk, water pollution they swim in, air pollutants, carpet and car cleaning agents, etc. Now can you count how many times your pet licks himself clean in a day! You can imagine the amount toxins in his system.

This is a nice mix of some cleansing herbs and veggies that can be mixed into your dogs meal. If you can “be strong”, this mix can be used to aid in a 1 day fast for your dog (don’t worry, he’ll be alright). Cat fasts are not recommended more then 12 hours, especially in over-weight felines.

(Organic, fresh ingredients are recommended)
2 cup spinach (washed)
1 medium zucchini (chopped into chunks)
2 stocks of celery (chopped into chunks)
1 tsp. lemon zest
2 cup parsley
2 cloves garlic (optional use for cats)
2 cups filtered water

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Some old friend’s of mine recently came for a visit, unaware of the stress that would ensue thanks to my two 4-legged children. The large suitcases, foreign voices and strange people sleeping in “their” turf ruffled the feathers of my min pins (to say the least). Besides muzzling them and locking them away for three days (none of which I actually did), there was not much I knew to do, until now! *Essential Oils* The use of essential oils, either in a diffuser in the home, or combined with a carrier oil for massage or bathing, can help pets to remain calm and relaxed.

When odors are inhaled, the receptors signal nerves to carry the information to various parts of the brain. This is all possible because the molecules that make up essential oils are small enough to be readily absorbed through the mucous membranes in our noses and skin. Fear Not, Essential oils usually leave the body within a 24 hour period. Try these two oils next time your in need of a “calm & relaxed” furball!

• Chamomile is particularly suited to relieving conditions of nervous tension & depression, as well as emotional stress, fear and worry. This is a sweet, slightly herbal & fruity scented oil with wonderful relaxing, soothing properties. Chamomile is an herbaceous plant similar in appearance to the daisy family. It is associated with the Sun and the element Water.
• Lavender is a fresh-scented oil from the purple-blue spike-shaped flowers of the lavender plant. It is one of the most versatile essential oils and is used to combat stress, anxiety, panic and depression. Lavender also brings about clarity and focus. It is associated with Mercury and the element Air.

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“Many dogs, male and female, suffer from short fuses that make them mean, teary, anxious, or overly alert. If your animal jumps at loud noises, barks at everything, bolts for cover when someone enters the house, or attacks from fear when someone touches him, odds are they’re high strung!

The condition may reflect family emotion stress factors, or diets that wear the fluids (and thus the calming capacity) down in the body.

A few Natural Healing tips to help:

Diet- Adding to the diet “cooler proteins”, such as cod, white-fish or pork, and minimizing lamb and corn, may provide a calming effect. Feeding turkey with tryptophan may also help. Also, try adding 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of pickled cucumbers or strained green beans to the diet, and sprinkle the food with chamomile flowers.

Flower Essence- Impatiens, mimulus, and Red Clover help with nervousness, fear, and tension, which play roles in the animals high strung nature. Use 1-3 drops of each in your buddy’s water bowl for up to 3 weeks!”

Let’s hope these tips work for you, and good luck with the little terror bundle of joy!!

Source: Natural Healing for Dogs & Cats, A-Z, Cheryl Schwartz, D.V.M

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