Dental Care in Pets Saves Lives

Dental care in pets is one of the most often overlooked aspects of health care. I've posted videos, blogs, and photos in the past, but it bears repeating. The bacteria that lies within the mouth spreads throughout the body via the bloodstream. Filtering organs like the heart valves, liver, and kidney tubules catch a lot of the bacteria as they stream through the organ. Bacteria become trapped and set up infections and inflammation, leading to mitral valve disease, liver disease, and kidney failure. The best form of dental care is daily brushing, just like you would do for yourself. Do not use human toothpaste or baking soda to perform this chore. I like coconut oil or natural products without chemicals and dyes.

Feeding a species appropriate diet that is not loaded with carbohydrates will also help you in the battle to fight dental infection. Pets are not designed to eat a high carbohydrate load. Carbohydrates can actually promote dental decay because they break down into sugars. So the old myth that dry kibble is good for your pet's teeth is FALSE. 

Have your pet's teeth checked at least once a year by your veterinarian. Even though an anesthetic procedure is scary, it is better to have a healthy mouth for overall good health. I am NOT in favor of the new non-anesthetic dental cleanings. It is impossible to thoroughly clean under the gum line and on the back sides of the teeth in an awake animal. Scraping tartar without adequate polishing leaves etching on the teeth, which actually promotes tartar and plaque build up.

The pets that had these rotten teeth (photos) both had grade 5 heart murmurs. With proper anesthesia, fluids, and monitoring, their procedures were safely performed. Please don't wait for your pet's teeth to get this bad. Be kind - get their teeth cleaned.

The only part that isn't rotten is the tip of the root on the right.

Infected teeth smell bad and they hurt!

Check out Kalvatin Dental Spray

Price and ingredient comparison for dog food.

PRICE AND INGREDIENT COMPARISON.
You want to feed your 10 pound dog a beef diet. Cesar's recommends 2.5 trays per day, at $4.52 per pound ON SALE (normally $6.00 per pound). This comes out to $2.47 per day. (And the first ingredients are water and chicken, not beef). Allprovide is $4.20 per pound and would cost $1.57 per day, which is 37% less cost per day. And the ingredients are REAL food with no synthetic vitamins. Still think you can't afford to feed a raw, high quality food? Think again. Stop throwing your money away on processed food with poor ingredients.

 Allprovide​ Ingredients: Beef, Turkey with Bone, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Broccoli, Green Kale, Small Red Beans(sprouted), Milled Flaxseed, Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Dried Sea Kelp, Oregano Leaf, Organic Turmeric, Vitamin E Supplement

Cesar's Ingredients: Ingredients: sufficient water for processing, chicken, beef, chicken liver, meat by-products, dried potatoes, starch, wheat gluten, minerals (calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, magnesium proteinate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide), dried carrots, dried peas, pea fiber, salt, wheat flour, sodium tripolyphosphate, vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin e supplement, biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin b1], vitamin b12 supplement, riboflavin [vitamin b2], vitamin a supplement, vitamin d3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride), added color, natural flavor, xanthan gum, guar gum.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES!

Those of us who practice alternative medicine commonly state that traditional Western medicine is great for putting out fires. Drugs are used to treat things that are inflammatory, like arthr-ITIS, pancreat-ITIS, dermat-ITIS, encephal-ITIS, etc. "Itis" indicates inflammation and drugs are used to decrease the symptoms and pain of inflammation. Therefore - putting out fires. But wouldn't it be better if you could PREDICT where inflammation might occur BEFORE it occurs? Wouldn't you rather be pro-active and stop the train before it gets going at 100 miles per hour? That's were alternative medicine like Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine can be a powerful ally.

I did a consultation the other day for a dog with kidney disease. The dog was a typical "Water" dog,

Toxic Red Tongue

meaning it's five element constitution was Water - fearful, apt to bite when afraid, black coat color, thin build. Because the Water element is ruled by the Kidney and Bladder systems, it would have been predictable that this dog would develop kidney issues later in life. If we had designed a diet and lifestyle to support the Kidney system early in life, there is a greater chance this pet would not have developed kidney issues. No guarantees, but certainly worth consideration. Of course, genetics plays some role in the course of certain diseases over a lifetime. But if you KNOW the pet has a genetic predisposition toward developing a certain disease, wouldn't you do everything in your power to prevent or delay the onset of disease and symptoms?

My head receptionist has a senior dog that appeared to be the picture of health. But she was slowly losing weight. Most pet owners would not have noticed a problem. The weight loss was subtle. Lab work showed all systems were normal. But the one thing that was abnormal on exam was this dog's tongue color. It was brick red, something I call toxic red. I knew something wasn't right (and actually was very wrong!) based on the tongue color. Most traditional veterinarians would have proclaimed everything was in great working order. But based on the tongue color, I insisted on an abdominal x-ray. We were going on a tumor hunt because I knew there had to be one somewhere. The x-ray showed her spleen to be somewhat enlarged, with a very small bulge along one edge. The dog was taken for an ultrasound, where it was proclaimed the spleen had abnormal texture and contour. We went to surgery and removed a VERY abnormal spleen, filled with cancer. Parts of the intestine looked thickened and scarred, so we performed an intestinal biopsy as well. We are still waiting for the biopsy results to confirm what kind of cancer was lurking. The big question - what would have happened if we had waited? How much would this pet's life have been shortened by allowing the cancerous organ to remain until it ruptured and the cancer spread? This dog is a typical Earth personality, which is ruled by Spleen and Stomach. See any connection here? Tumor in spleen, Earth dog ruled by Spleen......

Unfortunately, too many pet owners wait until the fire has been burning out of control, treating the "symptoms" with drugs and medications. If given the right tools, the body could help itself heal and medications could be diminished or eliminated altogether. Early intervention can help pets live longer. Holistic medicine saves lives.

DO YOU KNOW WHO MAKES YOUR PET'S FOOD?

The vast majority of pet owners buy their pet food in the same store where they buy their groceries. Many pet parents purchase diets prescribed by their pet's veterinarian to treat different disease problems. But is there really a difference in the quality of ingredients used to make these foods? While some foods are proclaimed to be made in US facilities, the real question lies in the sourcing of the ingredients to make those foods. It is IMPOSSIBLE to know where the ingredients started by reading the pet food label. Pet food companies are allowed to say "Made in the USA" if the food is put together in the US. It does not mean the ingredients started in the US. Commonly, synthetic vitamin/mineral supplements are sourced overseas, usually China. The latest new ploy, now that pet parents have decided to avoid products "Made in China" is for the pet food companies to source or assemble in Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, or Taiwan. The question is, how safe are ingredients originating in those countries? What oversight governs production of food (or feed) products? Who tests the ingredients before entry into the United States? My recommendation for every consumer (yes, you have homework) is to call the company that makes the food you want to feed. Ask them where they source their ingredients. Ask if the meat is sourced from free range, antibiotic-free, hormone-free flocks or herds. Ask them what kind of purity and quality testing they perform. Ask if they use synthetic vitamins or real vitamins. Ask if they add artificial flavors and colors. Once you make a list of questions, you can easily find a phone number to reach the company by looking online or looking on a bag or can of the food. A good pet food company will readily answer your questions and be pleased to serve you. I recently called Allprovide pet food and asked these questions. The owner of the company answered the phone and provided a clear answer to every question. I called the Dingo pet treat company and got a run-around with a lot of unanswered questions. Who would you buy from?

Xylitol and Artificial Sweeteners are Extremely Toxic to Dogs

Xylitol is a natural, sugar-free sweetener commonly found in many chewing gums, mints, snacks, oral rinses, peanut butter, toothpaste, and supplements. Xylitol can be extremely toxic when eaten by dogs. The xylitol content of these products can vary widely depending on brand and flavor.

Signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs include:

• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Collapse
• Vomiting
• Tremoring
• Seizures
• Jaundice
• Black-tarry stool
• Coma or death

If you suspect your dog ingested xylitol, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) immediately. 

In dogs, ingestion of 1 gram per 20 pounds of body weight can cause an acute, life-threatening low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) within 10-15 minutes. Take the packaging with you when you see your veterinarian so the amount ingested can be determined. Ingestion of larger amounts can result in liver failure. Depending on the symptoms in your dog, vomiting may be induced by your veterinarian. Treatment includes monitoring of blood sugar and liver values, IV fluids, sugar supplementation in IV fluids, and liver protective drugs [e.g., milk thistle, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)], as needed. Activated charcoal does not reliably bind xylitol, therefore it is not recommended. Blood work (evaluating liver function) should be re-evaluated 2-3 days after discharge, depending on the toxic dose ingested.

Please keep all products containing xylitol out of reach from your pet. I see pets that have taken these products from lady’s purses quite commonly and I have also seen cases where children “shared” with the family dog.

Kidney Failure in Cats and How to Treat it Naturall

Kidney failure in cats is the number one problem reported to pet insurance companies. Some things that can contribute to kidney disease include

high blood pressure, chronic urinary tract infection, urinary tract obstruction, viral diseases, and some drugs (like NSAIDS).

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease can include: 

• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Rough coat
• Poor grooming
• Vomiting
• Increased or decreased thirst and urination

Cats do not drink enough water in general. When they are fed dry food they make very concentrated urine and the kidneys have to work very hard. Because the urine is so concentrated the cats tend to make crystals and stones in their urinary tract. Kidney stones are much more common since we have been feeding so much dry food to cats.

One simple solution to kidney disease prevention is feeding a high-moisture, species appropriate diet. In nature, cats would eat fresh-killed prey that is high in moisture and protein. Dry food with only 3-6% moisture that is high in carbohydrates is inappropriate for cats and contributes to chronic kidney disease.

Treatment for kidney disease includes feeding a very high moisture diet. Traditional veterinarians recommend feeding low protein diets, including dry diets. These are inappropriate, in my opinion.
Newer research has shown that old animals have a higher need for protein and should not be fed overly protein-restricted diets. Treatment can include subcutaneous fluids given frequently, injections of B vitamins, D vitamin supplementation, high moisture species-appropriate diet (meat!), supplements, blood pressure medications, and a low-stress environment. Acupuncture and herbals can also be very helpful.

For more information, check out my book From Needles To Natural, the chapters on kidney disease and feeding cats.

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Osteoarthritis in Dogs and how to Treat it Naturally

Osteoarthritis is the third most common problem in dogs reported by pet insurance groups. Osteoarthritis is seen more commonly in older dogs, but even young dogs with elbow or hip dysplasia can have osteoarthritis. On radiographs, there will be bone spurs and chips and joint swelling. The joints may feel enlarged or hot on palpation.

Most people think arthritis symptoms are worse in cold, damp weather, but there are actually some forms of arthritis that are worse in hot, dry weather. No pet should have to suffer from the pain of arthritis, as there are so many treatments available to help them. Traditional veterinarians will tend to grab an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) as the first line of defense, as these medications will decrease inflammation and pain. But they come at a cost; many dogs will develop liver or kidney disease secondary to drug usage.

There are many alternatives available. In my practice, we use supplements like glucosamine/chondroitin/hyaluronic acid, colostrum, PSGAGS, and omega 3 fatty acids to help rebuild joints and decrease inflammation. We use therapies like acupuncture, cold laser therapy, and chiropractic manipulation to decrease pain. Weight management is very important for these dogs, so a species-appropriate diet with an appropriate amount of caloric density is paramount. Chinese herbs and homeopathic remedies can also be used to decrease pain and inflammation.

Don’t settle for poorly managed pain for your dog. For more information, check out by book From Needles To Natural, the chapter on degenerative joint disease.

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somewhere i have a great hip dysplasia photo. If not i'll try to find one at work

How to Treat and Cure Ear Infections in Dogs

The second most common problem for dogs, as reported to insurance companies for reimbursement, is otitis – infected ears. I commonly see dogs with chronically infected ears in my practice. If I can get owners to follow a few simple instructions, the problem can usually be solved for good.

Before

First and foremost, have your veterinarian perform cytology to see what is growing in the ear. This
procedure is very simple and painless. A small amount of debris from the infected ear(s) is obtained using a cotton swab. The debris is smeared on a microscope slide, stained, and observed under the microscope. The infection can be identified as a yeast or bacterial infection. Bacteria can be identified according to type, as cocci or rods. Determining the organisms is important, as this will dictate the treatment.

After First Treatment

Bacterial infections are commonly found secondary to getting water in the ear after bathing or swimming and should respond quickly to treatment. They should not be recurring if the correct therapy has been implemented. If the infection is occurring secondary to a polyp or mass down in the ear canal, the mass will need to be removed in order to solve the problem permanently. Your veterinarian should use an otoscope to examine the external ear canals, all the way down to the ear drum, making sure there has been no rupture of the tympanic membrane (ear drum).

If yeast is detected on cytology, it is most commonly associated with an allergy. The most common yeasty otitis externa is a food allergy. Over 95% of external ear infections in my practice will respond to treatment if the diet is modified to eliminate the offending allergen.
allergy that manifests as

Determining the source of the allergen can be very difficult. Traditional veterinarians and dermatologists will usually resort to prescription hypoallergenic diets. Even the board-certified dermatologists will admit that these diets only work about half the time. Part of the reason behind that could be the contamination of these diets that was proven in multiple studies and presented at the August 2015 AAFCO meeting.

I have had the best results by putting the pets on a single protein that they have never eaten, along with draining vegetables like turnips and radishes, fruits like pears and apples, and one carbohydrate. Some pets will not be able to tolerate any carbohydrates, which will be a bigger challenge. My first choice carbohydrate is usually quinoa, but sometimes I will use barley, as it is cooling and draining. The hypoallergenic diet must be maintained for at least six weeks. I will usually add a mineral supplement to the diet although short-term mineral deficiencies will not cause problems. Once it is determined which proteins the pet can tolerate, it may be possible to find a high-quality commercial diet that will solve the problem.

For clients who want a commercial product from the outset, I usually recommend a frozen or dehydrated raw product, as they are generally very high in protein, available in many different proteins, and have no grains that could contribute to allergies.  Commercial rabbit or duck diets are usually a good choice. Your pet does not have to suffer from chronic ear infections. You do not have to suffer from the odor and work of cleaning your dog’s ears. Cure the problem once and for all with diet and correct treatments. For more information, check out my book, From Needles To Natural, the chapters on ear disease and allergies.

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Pet Allergies and Itching

Before

Would it surprise you to know the most common pet insurance claim for dogs is related to allergies and itching? Many pets suffer from seasonal allergies to trees, weeds, grasses, molds, and pollens. Rather than suffering from runny eyes and nose, most pets develop intense itching. They lick and chew their feet and skin, causing hair loss, hot spots, and skin infections.

How do you help your pet through these tough times without resorting to the use of steroids and other harmful medications? First and foremost, your pet needs to have a healthy immune system. Since the majority of the immune system can be found in the cells lining the intestinal tract, it is paramount to keep those cells healthy. This can be accomplished by feeding a species-appropriate diet high in animal protein. Many pets do not do well on a high-carbohydrate diet and many suffer from allergies to the plant proteins found in kibble foods.

Use a high-quality probiotic, like Rx Biotic or Synacore, along with good food. The pre- and

After

probiotics found in these products help feed and restore the good bacteria found in the gut. The good bacteria fight the bad bacteria that release toxins into the bowel and bloodstream. Avoid antibiotics that kill off the good bacteria.

Allergy testing (by skin scratch or by serum blood tests) along with desensitization (with injections or oral therapy) can help decrease your pet’s itching by up to 90%. Omega 3 fatty acids are naturally anti-inflammatory and can be combined with herbal licorice. For hot spots that have appeared, apply honey to combat infection, cucumber slices to drain heat and swelling, and bathe the area with warm black tea to soothe and draw out inflammation.

There is no need for your pet to suffer from chronic allergies. By following a natural health protocol, you can keep your pet’s itching to a minimum. For more information, check out the chapter in my book From Needles To Natural on allergies.

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