Ear Problems in Pets and the Solutions [24-3-16]

Ear Problems in Pets and the Solutions


Ear infections and problems are one of the top reported problems faced by many pet owners. Does your dog or cat shake their head and scratch their ears or rub their ears against the ground or furniture? Do you ever notice a foul smelling, discharge in their ears, black, yellowish or brown in color? Are their ears red and tender? These are all signs of an ear infection or problem in your pets.

A dog or car's ear canal is L-shaped which causes dirt, moisture, parasites; mites, and wax to be trapped in the canal which can lead to ear infections. Dog which have long, floppy ears tend to be more prone to ear problems due to the lack of air circulation available to the canal. With long haired, floppy eared dogs, you can keep the hair trimmed on the inside of the ear to increase air circulation.

The conventional treatment for most infections is antibiotic and anti-fungal medications. The problem with these treatments is that they treat only the symptoms, not the underlying cause. To successfully conquer the problem, both must be treated. Medications will mask the problem and may actually make it worse in the long-run by creating a chemical imbalance in the ear resulting in long-term problems.

Approximately 80% of ear infections are actually caused by allergies, with the ear infections and problems actually being one of the symptoms. You need to treat the allergy; the underlying cause as well as the ear infection for a long-term cure.


Treatment

One of the first things you need to do is to clean your pet's ears. Use white vinegar (acetic acid) diluted by half with water and squirt this into the affected ear with a small squirt bottle or syringe. Rub the base of the ear to move it into the canal and clean the outer ear with cotton balls or a soft cloth. The vinegar will remove debris from the ears as well as kill the yeast and bacteria responsible for ear infections. Do this for 5-7 days then continue weekly to avoid recurring problems.

You can also treat the infection herbally. Garlic, sage and thyme all have natural antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. Pau d'arco has natural antibiotic properties. Soak the herb of choice in calendula oil overnight, remove it and using a dropper, apply the oil to the infected ear, 2-3 drops a day for several days. You should see a cessation in the infection. This should also eliminate ear mites.

For the itching and inflammation you can apply aloe or calendula essential oils topically to the ear twice a day. Vitamin C can also be added to your pet's diet and works in two ways; it suppresses the product released from cells in the body that causes itching (histamine) and it will help the adrenal glands, which produces a natural steroid that can help reduce inflammation, to function more efficiently. Watch the dosage, vitamin C can cause diarrhea. Starting with a low dosage of 100mg per 10lb of body weight should be a safe dosage. If there are problem, decrease the dosage.

The next and very important step in treatment is working on the underlying cause, most likely allergies. Some of the main food allergies are grains, such as corn and wheat in many commercial pet foods as well as some of the protein sources and in some more sensitive dogs and cats, the additives and preservatives can cause problems as well.

The best thing you can do for your pet is do change their diet over to a natural, homemade diet free of the toxins of commercial pet foods. You may have to try different foods to figure out what your pet will respond to best, but in the long run it is worth it for your pet's health and comfort. There are some natural and organic alternatives out there but you need to take the time to know what is really in the food you are feeding your pets.

There are also some supplements you can add to the diet to help with allergies. Quercetin has been effective for people with allergies and may be effective in dogs, it helps prevent an allergic response in the gastrointestinal tract, making food allergies less of a problem. The dose is 25mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily, and omega-3 fatty acid, a must for any allergy that triggers recurring ear infections. My preference for omega-3 is organic flaxseed oil or cold salmon oil. Aside from the allergy benefits, omega-3s offer many benefits to pets including improving the skin and coat and for joint and heart problems to name just a few.


Vet Time

As much as I am a strong advocate for natural health and treating your pet at home when the options are advisable, there are times when you must turn to a professional for treatment.

Most of the time, especially when caught and treated early, ear problems are confined to the outer ear and can be successfully treated at home. When the infection is in the inner-ear or cannot be alleviated by the above treatment, you need to see a vet. Symptoms to be watchful for include; head tilting, clumsiness, walking in circles or drooping eyes. The vet may need to drain fluids and treat with antibiotics if the infection has progressed to this point. Sometimes even more aggressive measures need to be taken. In any case where surgery is advised, I always suggest getting a second opinion. Not every vet knows everything.

Something else to be watchful for is that aggressive scratching and head shaking can cause a hematoma in the ear. Hematomas can cause permanent damage if severe enough and left untreated. A vet must evaluate and advise proper treatment.

The best thing you can do for your pet is to take the time to spend time with them and notice any problems before they turn into major problems. Many pet health issues can be treated at home with the right knowledge and if caught early enough.

And for your pet's sake, go natural!
 

Three Key Ingredients to Raising Healthy Cats and Dogs [28-10-15]

  
Three Key Ingredients to Raising Healthy Cats and Dogs

Melissa Gallagher

If you are reading this today, you are a proud mom or pop of a darling animal that loves you unconditionally, doesn’t talk back, is there when you need them and brings joy into your every day life. I, myself, am the human of two sweet kitties: Wellington and Lacie. They are the one constant in my life when things get tough and have endured a move each year including two Atlantic Coast trips. I love my babies and as a natural health and wellness professional and advocate I extend my natural health knowledge to maintain and improve the health of my pets.

Diet, fish oil supplementation and other holistic and alternative therapies are essential to keeping your beloved pet healthy and happy.

When I began researching about the pet food I was feeding my cats, I was alarmed by the finding. This is a very unregulated industry and the bi-products and chemicals are frightening.

According to Dr. Richard Pitcairn in his book, Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, there is no mandatory federal inspection of ingredients used in pet food manufacturing.In all but two or three states, the law allows pet food makers to use “4-D sources”, that is tissues from animals that are dead, dying, disabled or diseased when they arrive at the slaughterhouse.Another shocking fact is that before meat even arrives at the rendering plant it has already been saturated with chemicals.

To comply with government regulations all meat rejected by slaughterhouses must be “denatured”; a procedure designed to make it unpalatable to humans, thus ensuring it cannot be resold as human grade meat.There are a variety of methods used.Dr. Wendell Belfied, DVM (former USDA vet) wrote in “Let’s Live” magazine:”In my time as a veterinary meat inspector, we denatured with carbolic acid (phenol, a potentially corrosive disinfectant) and/or creosote (used to preserve wood, also a disinfectant).”

According to federal meat inspection regulations fuel oil, kerosene, carbolic acid and citronella are the approved denaturing materials used. Other foods rejected by the USDA that ends up in pet foods include moldy grains and rancid animal fats. According to an article in “Environmental News” (March ’99) a large percentage of commercial pet food is made up of meat by-products: a toxic brew containing diseased and contaminated meat from slaughterhouses, animal heads, toenails, chicken feathers, feet and beaks.It also includes dead animals picked up from the nation’s roads, rancid restaurant grease, and thousands of animals euthanized in animal hospitals and shelters (flea collars and all).Along with the meat come any drugs that have been introduced into the animals such as hormones, antibiotics and barbiturates used to put pets to sleep.Unsold supermarket meats arrive in their original Styrofoam and plastic packaging are tossed into the pot.

It would be wonderful if we could all feed our animals an all-natural raw food diet, but for some the following alternatives will be very helpful. After further research and discussion with natural and holistic vets the best organic and natural pet foods are listed below. The following is not a complete list of all that is available but will give you some respected names:

CANIDAE
CALIFORNIA NATURAL
PETGUARD LIFESPAN
SOLID GOLD
PRECISE
STEVES REAL FOOD
FLINT RIVER RANCH
INNOVA
WYSONG
WELLNESS
NATURAL BLEND
SOJOURNER FARMS

Fish oil or Pet Cod Liver Oil is essential for your dog and cat. It replenishes essential fatty acids- essential fatty acids – Fish Oil, Borage Oil and Natural Vitamin E – that are easily destroyed by the normal processing of commercial pet foods. Fatty acids are vital to the everyday health, skin and coat, heart and cardiovascular system, strong muscles and healthy stong joints.

When I started to give Lacie and Wellie Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil, their energy levels spiked, they stopped shedding as much and their fur is softer and shinier.

A very close friend of mine is a holistic vet who conducts acupuncture on pets and mixes herbal remedies for sick animals speaks highly of massage treatment for your pet. Essential you can give your dog or kitty cat a highly effective massage that will help release toxins and ease muscle pain they may experience. Massage in general is great for moving and releasing the lymphatic system. You can massage your pet when watching tv or a movie or when grooming. They’ll love the attention and it will also increase the bond between you and your pet.

Keeping our pets healthy and happy further helps our own health as they give us so much joy and love that, in my fair opinion, we are the lucky bunch that comes home to a loving animal.
 

Pet Vet: What could blood in cat's stool mean? [18-10-15]

Pet Vet: What could blood in cat's stool mean?

Angela shares an apartment with her 6-year-old cat Andy. Andy has spent all his life indoors. Recently, Angela has noticed small amounts of blood in his stool. The stool is otherwise normal. It does not seem to show blood on every bowel movement but it has become increasingly prevalent. His diet consists of Science Diet Feline Maintenance in a dry form with occasional wet food of the same brand.

Visible blood in feces is usually the result of irritation to the colon. The colon is the large intestine at the end of the digestive tract and when it becomes irritated, it can bleed. There is a possibility that the stool can become bloody if there is a wound around the rectal area or a problem with one of the anal glands causing some bleeding. I am betting on the colon as the source.

The colon has the primary job of resorbing water from the stool. This is one of many mechanisms in a cat's body to keep from wasting water. There is really no digestion of food done in the colon. Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients occurs primarily in the small intestine. After the small intestine does its job, the leftover material is passed into the colon where water is resorbed and, finally, the stool is excreted.

When the colon becomes irritated, we term this condition colitis -- inflammation of the colon. Colitis can be either primary, due to a problem with the colon itself or, secondary, due to a problem somewhere else in the body causing the colon to become irritated.

Secondary colitis can be a common finding when there is a digestive problem in the small intestine. If the small intestine for any number of reasons is not completely digesting food, it can send inadequately digested product into the colon. The colon is not equipped to handle this stuff and the normal bacteria within the colon will begin to ferment this partially undigested material. The fermentation process can be very irritating to the colon to the point of causing the colon wall to bleed. If the irritation is severe enough, the colon can be impaired from its normal duty of resorbing water causing a change in the stool consistency. This can show up as loose stool or stool with a gelatinous mucous material surrounding it.

Diet change, although not apparently relevant in this case, can cause colitis. If a companion is suddenly fed a new diet without a weaning process, their digestive tract, specifically the small intestine, may not handle the new product well, leading to secondary colitis manifesting as blood in the stool and often diarrhea.

Primary colitis can be caused by any primary insult to the colon. A mass or multiple masses within the colon can cause colitis. So, too, can some types of intestinal parasites.

A visit to Andy's veterinarian should provide an avenue to a diagnosis as to the cause for the intermittent blood his stool. Radiographs can be a very helpful tool in trying to distinguish between primary colitis and secondary colitis due to small intestinal inflammation. If the colitis is being caused by small intestinal disease, a biopsy of the small intestine may be necessary to determine the underlying cause and armed with a definitive diagnosis, appropriate treatment can be initiated to hopefully eliminate his problem.

Cat's limp may be from claw growing back [19-9-15]

 
Cat's limp may be from claw growing back

Jag is a 9-year-old indoor cat who recently developed a limp in his left front leg.

Tammy reports no known history of trauma, though Jag likes to perch on objects and leap to the floor.

When Tammy took a close look at Jag's leg, she noticed that he seemed touchy around his toes and thought she felt a scab on one of the toes. Unfortunately, Jag allowed only one quick check. Tammy was glad Jag did not have his front claws.

I have known many cats who did not like being examined -- at least not without anesthesia. That's why Jag will need to visit his veterinarian. Perhaps he or she will have better luck examining Jag's leg and foot. If Jag does not wish to cooperate, it may be necessary to use a light anesthesia to allow a thorough evaluation and, if warranted, radiographs.

When I read Tammy's letter, what struck me was that Jag has no front claws. Perhaps, when Jag had his front claws removed, there might have been some tissue left behind. This may have allowed for regrowth of part of the claw, which might then break through the skin and cause discomfort. Perhaps that is the scab that Tammy thought she felt.

Both front feet should be radiographed just in case this problem is smoldering in another toe.

When a cat is declawed, a procedure known as onychectomy, there are two widely used techniques. One involves a cutting process where a portion of the third digit of the toe, the one containing the nail, is cut, removing the area from which the nail grows. If this growth area -- the ungual crest -- is not removed entirely, the nail will attempt to grow back. The second technique involves removal of the entire third digit of the toe by dissection between the second and third digit. This technique does not allow for any chance of regrowth of the nail. Incidentally, declawing is something that is much less commonly done in cats. It is an uncomfortable procedure that can alter a cat's behavior.

If Jag is regrowing a nail, he will have to have it removed. In this case, it would be recommended that the third digit be dissected away as described in the second technique I mentioned. Hopefully, there are no other digits involved, but if so, they will have to be handled at the same time. It will be important to manage Jag's pain. With proper, thorough pain control, this procedure should be well tolerated and return Jag to a limp-free life.
 

Vaccine Sarcoma [31-8-15]

Vaccine Sarcoma

Regular vaccinations for your cat are important to his health, but in rare cases they can be a problem. Veterinarians across the U.S. are seeing a slight increase in the number of cancerous tumors, called sarcomas, in places where cats recently had vaccinations. Sarcomas are uncommon-four or fewer per 10,000 vaccinations-but serious and very difficult to manage successfully. To reduce your cat's risk of developing a sarcoma, talk to your veterinarian about ways to lessen the number of shots your cat requires. Carefully examine the cat's environment, including his potential exposure to infectious agents. If there's little risk, certain vaccinations may not be necessary. For more information, consult your veterinarian.
 

Ear Problems in Pets and the Solutions 06-04-2015

Ear Problems in Pets and the Solutions

Deanna Raeke

Ear infections and problems are one of the top reported problems faced by many pet owners. Does your dog or cat shake their head and scratch their ears or rub their ears against the ground or furniture? Do you ever notice a foul smelling, discharge in their ears, black, yellowish or brown in color? Are their ears red and tender? These are all signs of an ear infection or problem in your pets.

A dog or car’s ear canal is L-shaped which causes dirt, moisture, parasites; mites, and wax to be trapped in the canal which can lead to ear infections. Dog which have long, floppy ears tend to be more prone to ear problems due to the lack of air circulation available to the canal. With long haired, floppy eared dogs, you can keep the hair trimmed on the inside of the ear to increase air circulation.

The conventional treatment for most infections is antibiotic and anti-fungal medications. The problem with these treatments is that they treat only the symptoms, not the underlying cause. To successfully conquer the problem, both must be treated. Medications will mask the problem and may actually make it worse in the long-run by creating a chemical imbalance in the ear resulting in long-term problems.

Approximately 80% of ear infections are actually caused by allergies, with the ear infections and problems actually being one of the symptoms. You need to treat the allergy; the underlying cause as well as the ear infection for a long-term cure.

Treatment

One of the first things you need to do is to clean your pet’s ears. Use white vinegar (acetic acid) diluted by half with water and squirt this into the affected ear with a small squirt bottle or syringe. Rub the base of the ear to move it into the canal and clean the outer ear with cotton balls or a soft cloth. The vinegar will remove debris from the ears as well as kill the yeast and bacteria responsible for ear infections. Do this for 5-7 days then continue weekly to avoid recurring problems.

You can also treat the infection herbally. Garlic, sage and thyme all have natural antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. Pau d’arco has natural antibiotic properties. Soak the herb of choice in calendula oil overnight, remove it and using a dropper, apply the oil to the infected ear, 2-3 drops a day for several days. You should see a cessation in the infection. This should also eliminate ear mites.

For the itching and inflammation you can apply aloe or calendula essential oils topically to the ear twice a day. Vitamin C can also be added to your pet’s diet and works in two ways; it suppresses the product released from cells in the body that causes itching (histamine) and it will help the adrenal glands, which produces a natural steroid that can help reduce inflammation, to function more efficiently. Watch the dosage, vitamin C can cause diarrhea. Starting with a low dosage of 100mg per 10lb of body weight should be a safe dosage. If there are problem, decrease the dosage.

The next and very important step in treatment is working on the underlying cause, most likely allergies. Some of the main food allergies are grains, such as corn and wheat in many commercial pet foods as well as some of the protein sources and in some more sensitive dogs and cats, the additives and preservatives can cause problems as well.

The best thing you can do for your pet is do change their diet over to a natural, homemade diet free of the toxins of commercial pet foods. You may have to try different foods to figure out what your pet will respond to best, but in the long run it is worth it for your pet’s health and comfort. There are some natural and organic alternatives out there but you need to take the time to know what is really in the food you are feeding your pets.

There are also some supplements you can add to the diet to help with allergies. Quercetin has been effective for people with allergies and may be effective in dogs, it helps prevent an allergic response in the gastrointestinal tract, making food allergies less of a problem. The dose is 25mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily, and omega-3 fatty acid, a must for any allergy that triggers recurring ear infections. My preference for omega-3 is organic flaxseed oil or cold salmon oil. Aside from the allergy benefits, omega-3s offer many benefits to pets including improving the skin and coat and for joint and heart problems to name just a few.

Vet Time

As much as I am a strong advocate for natural health and treating your pet at home when the options are advisable, there are times when you must turn to a professional for treatment.

Most of the time, especially when caught and treated early, ear problems are confined to the outer ear and can be successfully treated at home. When the infection is in the inner-ear or cannot be alleviated by the above treatment, you need to see a vet. Symptoms to be watchful for include; head tilting, clumsiness, walking in circles or drooping eyes. The vet may need to drain fluids and treat with antibiotics if the infection has progressed to this point. Sometimes even more aggressive measures need to be taken. In any case where surgery is advised, I always suggest getting a second opinion. Not every vet knows everything.

Something else to be watchful for is that aggressive scratching and head shaking can cause a hematoma in the ear. Hematomas can cause permanent damage if severe enough and left untreated. A vet must evaluate and advise proper treatment.

The best thing you can do for your pet is to take the time to spend time with them and notice any problems before they turn into major problems. Many pet health issues can be treated at home with the right knowledge and if caught early enough.

And for your pet’s sake, go natural!
 

Cancer in Pets – Don’t Just Take it Laying Down!

Cancer in Pets – Don’t Just Take it Laying Down!

Cancer, the Big “C” is one of the worst words a pet owner can hear. It almost sounds like a death sentence, but it doesn’t have to be. Caught early enough and aggressively treated, survival rates are improving everyday.

Cancer in Our Pets

Cancer is not uncommon in dogs and cats and the incidence increases with age. It accounts for almost half of the deaths of pets over 10 years of age. Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans, while cats get fewer cancers.

Here are some common warning signs of cancer;

* Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
* Sores that do not heal
* Weight loss
* Loss of appetite
* Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
* Offensive odor
* Difficulty eating or swallowing
* Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
* Persistent lameness or stiffness
* Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

This is definitely one area where modern medicine has made huge strides but you don’t need to rely only on modern medicine. There are many things you, as a pet owner, can do to improve your pet’s chances and keep them strong and help them fight.

What Can We Do?

One of the first and most important things, from my point of view, is to make sure your pet’s diet is as good as it can be. Specific diets have been formulated to help combat cancer but you can make your own at home very easily if you just keep some things in mind.

Cancer cells metabolize food differently then we are used to. Extensive research has shown that cancer tends to grow quickly with plenty of glucose to ‘feed’ on. This glucose is the product of broken down carbohydrates, simple sugars. To cut the available glucose for cancer to grow on you need to cut down the carbs in your pet’s diet.

What cancer does not metabolize well is fats and the best fats to add is omega-3 fatty acids. These, aside from the fact that they may retard cancer growth, also have many benefits. They are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, they improve cardiovascular health and can boost immunity. As an added benefit, they also great for skin and coat. Flaxseed oil and cold water fish oil are the best sources.

Cancer will also feed on protein but protein, at least a moderate amount of high-quality protein, is a necessity in your pet’s diet. What the cancer is is actually ‘feeding’ on the the amino acids provided by the protein. Amino acids are the “building blocks” for tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, etc. This is why many cancer patients have low muscle mass. To combat against this, supplement your pet’s diet with some good amino acids, even on top of the omega-3.

Arginine appears to enhance immune function and may inhibit the growth of some tumors and for cats be sure to add Taurine which is a necessity in their diet. Another amino acid to add is glutamine, especially if your pet is on chemo. This is will help to keep the gastrointestinal tract in balance which can be beneficial since vomiting and diarrhea are two side effects often seen in chemotherapy treatments. It may also help to inhibit tumor growth. And last, but not least, add glycine. This will counter the effects of the chemo drug, cisplatin, on the kidneys.

Antioxidants have been shown to slow the growth and spread of some types of cancer. They are known for their ability to fight ‘free radicals.’ Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium are the most effective but you need to watch the dosage. Too much of any supplement can be a danger. Accepted dosages are Vitamin C dose: dogs 100mg per 10 lbs of body weight twice daily; cats, 250mg twice daily. Vitamin E dose: dogs and cats 100IU per 10lbs body weight twice daily. Selenium dose: dogs and cats, 25ug per 10lbs twice daily, but be sure to double check with your vet as an added precaution.

‘Cytotoxic’ is an agent or process that is toxic to or kills cells and chemotherapy is one form of cytotoxicity. A natural cytoxic is Vitamin A because it is a retinol. Studies have have documented the capacity for natural and synthetic retinoids to reduce carcinogenesis significantly. Vitamin A is also commonly known as the anti-infective vitamin, because it is required for normal functioning of the immune system.

Now let’s take a look at boosting the immune system. A strong immune system will help your pet fight off other illnesses that cancer treatment make it more vulnerable to as well as helping your pet to fight the cancer itself. Green tea is a well known immune system booster and it may as well inhibit cancer cell growth. You can easily add a standardized extract to you pet’s diet. Ginseng is another well known immune system booster and may actually decrease tumors. Garlic also has immune building properties as well as antioxidant properties. Be careful with garlic thought, high doses may cause anemia.

I am not offering you any miracles but anything you can do to help your pet fight is a positive. Along with the diet and supplements, another very important thing you can do is keep a positive attitude. As pet owners, we know our pets are a lot smarter then they are often given credit for. They can pick up on our moods and feelings and attitudes. Keeping a positive outlook can do more for you and your pet than you probably realize.

And for your pet’s sake, think about going natural!