Q. I have two Brittany spaniels, not related, each with lipomas. They have been on a human grade food for a few years but I am trying different grain-free foods as recommended by you. I have started giving them fish oil capsules (one daily), L-carnitine (one daily) and yogurt to convince them to eat their food and supplements when I am watching. I plan to add Tri-lipotropic, Chih-ko and Curcuma but am wondering if this is too many supplements (aside from the fish oil) for lipomas. Is this too much mixing? I also think I heard you say on the Martha Stewart show that you would give the Chih-ko and Curcuma five days a week rather than seven?

 

A. You’re a good student and have done well here. (By the way, it is not Tri-lipotropic, but rather Mega Lipotropic by the Best For Your Pet company.) I don’t think the supplements you list are too much to give, since each has a different mechanism of action and lipomas tend to grow, many to the point of requiring surgical removal. I’d rather jump on it now and try to avoid any surgery. But yes, the Chinese herbal Chih-ko and Curcuma is one that should not be given consistently. So do a two- or three-day-a-week break; another way is to give it for two weeks and then stop for five to seven days.

Q. I have two Australian Cattle Dogs. One was diagnosed with pancreatitis and the other has dangerously high levels of lipase. My dogs chew bark from my Black Walnut tree. Is it possible that this is causing the problems?
 

A. I would say probably not, however, there’s no such thing as coincidence and black walnut does have reported toxicity so you do have to look at it as a possibility. However, we see many animals at my clinic with elevated lipase that don’t gnaw on black walnut trees. If you want to be sure, you should find a way to keep your dogs away from the tree. I would also suggest that you feed your dogs a home-prepared diet. A raw diet would be ideal for your dogs, especially if you keep it simple (meat & veggies at one meal, for instance) so that the pancreas is not being called upon to make all the enzymes at one time. Add a pancreas glandular (Standard Process makes one called Pancreatrophin) and a homeopathic remedy such as Professional Health Products Pancreas Drops.

Q. I have three dogs. Diarrhea started in one of them eight weeks ago. Two days later, I noticed it in the terrier. My vet thought it might be viral and prescribed Flagyl. About ten days later, the third dog started having diarrhea too. Stool tests showed nothing, but the diarrhea continued. An alternative doctor determined they have parasites and prescribed shiitake mushroom. Almost two weeks later, their stools sometime appear well-formed and at other times very soft or liquid.
 

A. First thing to consider — were your dogs vaccinated within several weeks prior to the onset of the diarrhea? A percentage of cases of inflammatory bowel disease are autoimmune-derived and related to certain components in vaccines.

The first thing I would recommend is the potato diet in my book The Nature of Animal Healing. It can be very effective in stopping diarrhea:

[Leanne – maybe we can put this in a box?] The potato diet

50% white potatoes
50% sweet potatoes
A slice of turnip
A slice of leek

Boil all the vegetables together and then mix with boiled chicken or lamb for flavor.

The supplement Acetylator from Vetri-science also works phenomenally well for diarrhea. As for herbal formulas, look for one that contains slippery elm, which soothes the intestinal tract and works for both constipation and diarrhea.

Finally, as a more intensive measure, you could put your dogs on a two-day fast. A fast directly addresses the gastro-colic reflex. As soon as the stomach fills with food, it sends a neurological message to the colon to empty. The colon’s job is to absorb water back into the body before it eliminates the waste but if the colon is hyperactive, the water passes through unabsorbed. The result is diarrhea. Fasting for a couple of days can break the cycle of diarrhea and help the intestine “calm” itself. After the fast, slowly introduce your dogs to a bland diet.

Q. I have had my shih tzu Angie since she was six weeks old. She was hypoglycemic and had a blood sugar count of 16, and we almost lost her. I thought all was fine, but just recently we had family visit us for two weeks. I bought Revolution and we also brought a new puppy home. Now Angie has drool on the sides of her mouth all the time. It seems slimy. I am hoping this is just stress related and will go away once she gets her bearings again. The visitors are gone and the new pup settling in. What do you think?

 

A. These small breeds of dog do have what are called glycogen storage diseases, where the reserve for blood sugar typically needed to handle stress is not available. Though quite rare, I have seen a few dozen cases and the dogs grew out of it as they matured. Since dogs don’t have a sweat gland system as humans do, Angie’s salivation could be a way of eliminating toxins. I’m not that fond of Revolution unless really needed. Instead, work from the inside out with very high quality, fresh foods, a multivitamin/mineral supplement and digestive enzymes.

Q. I have eight Alaskan malamutes and recently switched everyone to a raw diet. I would like to feed a vitamin supplement every second or third day so they don’t become deficient in their diets. Are there any you can recommend?

 

A. There are many on the market, but here are two we’ve been using in our practice for many years: Canine Plus by Vetri-Science Labs and Canine Health Nuggets by Earth Animal.com. For raw feeders, we also recommend a good fish oil supplement. If the raw meal doesn’t contain crushed bone, make sure you add a proper calcium supplement as well; we use Animal Essentials Natural Calcium.

Q. I have an English Setter who is about 12 years old that I adopted from a rescue group three years ago. We originally thought he had arthritis because he has a tendency to limp on his back legs. After having an x-ray taken for another issue, we discovered that he actually has a bullet lodged in his leg, probably from years ago. He seems to be having more problems getting around and sometimes his rear legs give out on him. What can I do to help him? We’ve tried some supplements and acupuncture, but nothing seems to help.

 

A. This is a difficult one to handle via magazine. It really depends on which supplements/remedies you did try which have not worked to see if there are others that could possibly help. If he were at my facility, and no supplements helped, the next step we would recommend would be to refer you to a great orthopedic surgeon with whom we have associated for many years and who is also quite familiar with alternative therapies.

Q. I have an eight-year-old Lab/malamute cross. We just got her from a shelter, and recently found she is suffering from a food allergy. She has very sore paws; they are very inflamed and she bites them a lot to relieve the itch. Also, her anal area is very swollen. We have put her on a special hypo-allergenic diet recommended by our vet. Can you offer some advice on how else we her can deal with this problem?

 

A. A hypo-allergenic diet is a good start, but make sure the ingredients are high quality real food. Remember that dogs are true carnivores and a lot of the processed carbohydrates put into commercial products are very congestive to the system and can serve as a basis for diseases like allergies. Home prepared foods, ideally a raw diet (if she can acclimate to it), would be best. There are also many nutraceuticals and naturally based remedies to address allergies. Some of the most common that we have used in our practice include beta-sitosterol, in the brands Betathyme by Doctors Mutual or Moducare, herbal formulations with nettles, echinacea, calendula and licorice, and homeopathic combination formulas containing ingredients like histamine, graphites, psorinum, silicea and mercurius. The best advice would be to see veterinarian trained in alternatives and homeopathy. A natural form of cortisone is available but would have to be prescribed through a veterinarian.

Q. I have an almost two-year-old female yellow Lab. She has unusually large stools: formed, but large for her size. I’ve had her checked for worms and parasites and the tests were negative. She tends to gulp her food and I have tried different methods to slow her down, even putting her food on a large cookie sheet. She doesn’t vomit after eating. I’ve been trying different types of kibble to see if that would make a difference in stool size. I’m not into feeding raw, but am wondering if there may be a particular ingredient that could cause this. Would a grain-free or fish-based kibble be something to try?

 

A. The particular ingredient that could cause this problem is grain and its by-products, if the dry kibble you are feeding is grain based. A high quality, grain free canned food is better for health and more digestible. Above this would be a home prepared, grain free diet consisting mostly of whole meats and vegetables. Also, adding a good digestive enzyme to anything you feed your Lab will enhance digestibility. Prozyme or Vet Zimes V1 are the two common enzymes we use.

Q. I have an almost 13-year-old male Shih Tzu. In July of 2003 he had emergency bladder surgery for struvite stones, after which I took him off all commercial dry dog food. We decided I would make home-cooked meals of brown rice or oats, organic chicken or turkey and vegetables. [My holistic vet] gave me several different types of supplements to use for various problems he has, which include elevated liver enzymes and a grade 4 out of 6 heart murmur. As of July, 2004, he has been on Enalapril and Lasix for his heart and to prevent congestive heart failure. On September 16, 2004 he had a calcium oxalate stone stuck in his urethra for which he had to undergo another surgery.

Are there any dietary or supplement changes I can make to prevent his body from forming stones?

 

A. Once again and as above, I typically don’t like treating cases as complex and deep seated as this by magazine recommendation, as you must address the whole patient and not just its one condition. But here are a few recommendations for the urinary problem. The diet sounds good, but you could think of improving it more by removing all the grains and even trying the switch toward raw meat. With struvite stones, the obvious acidification of the urine with agents like vitamin C or cranberry concentrates is helpful. Herbally, you can use combination preparations indicated for the kidney/bladder containing such herbs as uva ursi, parsley and juniper, or the Chinese formulation Pyrossia from Seven Forests.

Q. I have an 8 year old Dalmation who has been suffering with allergies for the past five years. My vet has had him on Vetalog for all these years, assuring me that the dose was too small to cause him harm. Now, he’s requiring treatment for thyroid [problems] and a bladder infection. Now she tells me the steroids are wearing on him. Do you have any suggestions?
 

A. When I ask people in my office if pollen causes hayfever, most answer “yes”. But since pollen is everywhere, if this is the case, why doesn’t everyone have allergies? We need to understand that First of all, watch out for vaccines. Allergies can be connected to vaccinations. Allergy Formula, the Chinese herb, Kai Yeung, Allergy Drops, BHI Allergy.

Nutraceutical Quercitin, change diet to raw (chicken, turkey with veggies and grains such as barley or oatmeal. Dalmations have a light-sensitive condition.

It’s the reaction against the thing we’re allergic to that causes the problem. The reaction is coming from some form of autoimmune reaction in the body. Don’t work on just the symptom.

Q. I have an 11-year-old Shih tzu/Schnauzer mix. She has had three surgeries to remove stones in her bladder. I have her on Royal Canin Urinary. I was told that if her urine pH was low it would create stones, and if it was high it would create a different stone. Any recommendations?

 

A. To properly treat any urinary stone condition, you must know exactly what the specific stone type is. There are a number of urinary stones dogs can get, each having different recommendations and requirements for proper care and possible prevention.

From what you stated here, it sounds like the stone created by low pH would be the calcium oxalate stone, and the one created by high pH would be struvite. In general, although there are a number of commercially available foods specifically and scientifically designed for urinary conditions, I still like feeding whole foods that are of much higher quality.

Again, knowing the specific stone type is vital before even being able to select the proper components of the diet. This is because some stone formations could be enhanced by feeding certain meats. There are a number of books you can use as reference, especially after you find out the name of the stone. The classic is Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets by Dr Donald Strombeck. Regardless of the stone type, I have has success using the Chinese herbal formula Pyrossia 14 by Seven Forests.

Q. I have an 11-year-old mixed breed dog. We have been living with the diagnoses of chronic liver disease for about three years. In the past six months, she has begun to deteriorate. She will no longer eat kibble. Can you recommend a canned food that would be good for her?

 

A. You need to get into a well balanced home-prepared diet or one of the higher quality foods such as Wellness, Innova, Spot’s Stew or one of the other brands with whole meat sources and no by-products or chemical preservatives. Sam-e is great for the liver, and milk thistle is THE herb for liver disease but you could add a few more things. You could begin by adding a liver supplement, like a raw liver glandular. Vitamins A & D are important because they serve as “lubricants” to the inner surface of the liver membranes. For these, I would recommend a daily dose of cod liver oil and sunshine. There’s also a great homeopathic remedy called Hepaticol (from Professional Health Products) – it has chelidonium in it and it’s great for liver and gall bladder functions.

As important as looking for ways to heal the liver is looking for what may still be causing damage. For this reason, I would suspend any use of vaccines; they are renowned for causing liver damage. As well, the chemical anti-flea products and heartworm medications are toxic to the liver. Interestingly enough, I haven’t seen one dog die from heartworm since 1979, yet people in my area are giving a liver toxic chemical to prevent a disease where the incidence of the animal dying from it, in my experience, is less than 1%. Ethoxyquin, a chemical preservative found in some dry foods, is also liver toxic, so look for foods with natural preservatives i.e. vitamin E.

Q. I have an 11-year-old golden retriever with several health problems. She has laryngeal paralysis and we did the tie back surgery about a year ago. It helped a little bit but not significantly. In addition, she has seizures about once every three to four months, and rear end weakness.

We home cook for her and that has helped reduce the frequency of her seizures. I do not feel she can handle raw. She is on 0.3 mg soloxine twice a day to keep her thyroid numbers in the upper range of normal. She is also very weak in the rear legs and sort of skates across our tile floors.

The biggest issue with her is the laryngeal paralysis. Do you have any suggestions for treating it? She pants, is heat intolerant, exercise intolerant, etc. She has had numerous vaccines in her life and we have tried to treat that homeopathically.

 

A. I am not a big fan of vaccinations, especially when they are routinely given in major combinations then arbitrarily repeated every year despite scientific evidence disproving that supposed need. So many of the problems we treat in veterinary medicine are the result of this unnecessary practice.

Laryngeal paralysis is almost entirely a mechanical problem. I am not saying anything against the surgery that was performed, but if you were at my practice, I would have the surgery site re-checked by the surgeon just to make sure all looks well.

If this was still a mechanical problem, I don’t think giving your dog anything is going to alleviate it much. However, I have had success in dogs with coughs using a human herbal cough syrup called Olbas. For the seizures, I would consider Neurotrophin by Standard Process, Epilepsy Drops by Professional Complementary Health and Relax Caps by Crystal Star.

In general, your dog should be properly evaluated, hands on, by an experienced integrative veterinarian, especially by looking at and correlating recent and comprehensive blood results. In many parts of the country, these results should include tick disease profiles.

Q. I have an 11-year-old female cocker in remission from IMHA. Her first case was in 2000, and her second within eight months of the first. She was not put on a high enough dose of medicine the first time. She is now on a maintenance dose of prednisone: half a 5 mg tablet every three days. Her vet has tried to take her off the prednisone completely but her pvc do lower slightly. She also takes levothyroxine for a low thyroid.

She also has severe skin problems that are hard to control. She has lost the hair on her chest. I use zymox medicated shampoo on her two to three times a week. I also think she has food allergies. She is on a cooked homemade organic diet. I do give her a 1/4 cup of raw meat a day. I have been told not to.

Could you please suggest and guide me towards the supplements I could give her to help strengthen her immune system as she ages? Would she need a special diet? She has acupuncture treatment. I have her on basic daily supplements and organic milk thistle for the liver.

 

A. IMHA stands for immune mediated hemolytic anemia. It’s a suddenly occurring autoimmune disease where the body’s own red blood cells are attacked and destroyed.

In my practice, we have been quite successful in eventually getting animals off all medication backed by supplementation for a long term. We do not have one set protocol for dogs with this disease since we treat each on an individual basis and prescribe supplements based on their own blood results.

Conditions of this potential severity should be treated hand in hand with an experienced integrative veterinarian. With this said, here are several of my favorite supplements we use for this disease: Betathyme by Best for Your Pet; Reconciling Tablets by Seven Forest; a good fish oil (we use wild salmon oil by Bravo); and Homeopathic Inflammation by BHI.

We also try to replace the synthetic steroid with natural hydrocortisone by Pet Health Pharmacy (available through a veterinarian) and then attempt to wean off that. As with the two prior questions, this condition has been demonstrated to be directly related to vaccines.

Q. I have an 11-month-old Chihuahua whose immune system has been severely compromised by vaccinations. Her lungs, heart and abdomen swelled after her second set of shots. She had difficulty breathing so the doctor put her on Furosemide. It worked, and when they followed up with an ultrasound they found nothing. After her third set of shots she developed a twitch in her head and front paws. The vet gave her Phenobarbital. It did nothing for the tic and it made her very high strung, so I took her off it.

I found a pet health food store and they helped me detox her. I also put her on a raw meat diet, along with vitamins and supplements. She has gained three pounds and is doing wonderfully. But the twitch still comes on when she is anxious, nervous and tired, though not as strong as it was. Do you think the distemper shot could have done something to her nerves or brain? Is there anything I can give her to reverse the damage?
 

A. I don’t think the vaccines had something to do with what happened — I know it! Your dog should have never received her third set of vaccines after the reaction she had from the second. Keep in mind that the dose she received is the same as that given to a Great Dane; it has been reported that such a dose is more than even a giant breed dog needs!

In my opinion, and that of many others in the field, your Chihuahua should be medically exempt from any further vaccinations for the rest of her life. If you continue to work on her health as you are doing, she will hopefully heal herself in time. You can add a good Omega oil supplement, especially in the form of fish or wild salmon oil. Standard Process Labs’ Neurotophin, available through holistic veterinarians, would also be high on my list. Herbally, a product named Relax Caps by Crystal Star is also indicated.

Q. I have a wonderful golden/terrier mix, Abigail, who has just been diagnosed with a lung tumor. The vet said it was most probably malignant, and that dogs do not tolerate conventional treatments well (chemo/radiation/surgery). No testing/biopsy has been done.

Is there any kind of holistic/homeopathic treatment that might help in reducing the tumor or at least halting its growth? After one month, Abigail had a second x-ray and it showed the slightest growth in the tumor. Since it appears to be slow-growing, I am hoping that we might have an opportunity to pursue some effective alternative treatment.

 

A. There are a number of products that I have subjectively seen to be successful with lung tumors: Pneumotrate by Progressive Labs, Pneumodrops by Professional Health Products, Poly MVA, the herb artemisinin, and Seven Forests’ Astragalus 16 herbal formula. I have also seen primary and solitary lung tumors surgically removed as a very successful adjunct.

Q. I have a two-year-old boxer mix with an incredible spirit and love for life. Unfortunately, he suffers from separation anxiety and finds it intolerable to be left alone. He has been taking Clomicalm which hasn’t helped all that much and I don’t like to see him on it anyway. Is there anything that can help us?

 

A. You should definitely have his thyroid checked. Medical studies have shown that auto immune thyroiditis is a common cause of behavioral problems so he needs to have a complete thyroid panel run. I believe this condition is related to vaccines, much as vaccines are related to Attention Deficit Disorder in children. You can try flower essences, herbal formulas containing valerian and melatonin (3 mg. per day) but if this is thyroid-related, you need to address that or he will not improve.

Q. I have a three-year-old female French Bulldog, an eleven-month-old terrier mix and a twenty-week-old deaf American Bulldog. Diarrhea started in the American Bulldog eight weeks ago. Two days later, I noticed it in the terrier. My vet thought it might be viral and prescribed Flagyl. About ten days later, the French Bulldog started having diarrahea too. The stool test results showed nothing but the diarrahea continued. An alternative doctor determined they do have parasites and prescribed shiitake mushroom. Almost two weeks later, sometimes their stool appears well-formed and at other times very soft or liquid. The American Bulldog also started scratching and this has intensified over the last couple of days.

 

A. First thing to consider – were your dogs vaccinated prior to the onset of the diarrhea? Mild cases of inflammatory bowel disease are auto immune-derived and are related to vaccines. The first thing I would recommend is the potato diet in my book, which can work overnight to stop diarrhea. Also, the supplement Acetylator from Vetri-science works phenomenally well for this. As far as herbal formulas, look for one that contains slippery elm, which soothes the intestinal tract and works for both constipation and diarrhea. Finally, as a more intensive measure, you could put your dogs on a two-day fast. How does this help, you may ask? It directly addresses the gastro-colic reflex. As soon as the stomach fills with food, it sends a neurological message to the colon to empty. The colon’s job is to absorb water back into the body before it eliminates the waste but if the colon is hyperactive, the water passes through unabsorbed. The result is diarrhea. Fasting for a couple of days can break the cycle of diarrhea and help the body “calm” itself. After the fast, slowly introduce your dogs to a diet consisting of bland foods.

Q. I have a three-year-old Basset Hound who is having a bad time with yeast infections. He suffers recurrently from ear infections, and his skin is patchy and damp and omits an odor. After three weeks of oral medication, and a special shampoo once weekly, I’ve yet to see improvement.

 

A. It’s hard to say what’s causing the infections. It could be vaccinosis, for instance. Obviously, the ear area is too alkaline so treating this condition could be as simple as buying a bottle of apple cider vinegar, diluting ¾ tsp. in ½ cup of water and rinsing out the ear canal. This will help to acidify the ear area. This remedy does not always work but it’s a start. Another treatment is to change the diet. Getting carbohydrates out of the diet by eliminating grains and putting your dog on a raw meat & veggies diet may be the answer.

Q. I have a ten-year-old dog – she is half white shepherd and half Keeshond. Over the past two years she has gone through three operations for benign cysts. She had just had six removed over the past month, one of which burst and was bleeding. I do not want to keep putting her through operations. Is there anything you can recommend that I can give her for this? She is a very healthy and active dog. She eats a lot of vegetables, mainly carrots and broccoli.

 

A. The skin is a powerful detoxifying organ. The problem you describe suggests that her body is voiding excessive waste, probably resulting from poorly or improperly metabolized foods. In our practice, we would perform a full metabolic analysis. Short of that, I would recommend a good digestive enzyme supplement, an antioxidant combination supplement and a good multi vitamin/mineral. Also, look at feeding a diet of high quality, whole ingredient foods, low in processed carbohydrates.

Q. I have a ten-year old Siberian husky with a little smaller than golf ball-sized mast cell tumor (grade 2) inside his mouth (on his upper left lip). Since it seems to be bothering him, I have decided to have it removed surgically. But I want to avoid chemo/radiation therapy and instead would like to treat him with alternative therapies. After removing the tumor, what should I do?

 

A. As always, it’s not advisable to try and treat a cancer patient via magazine column. With that said, I do advise surgical removal. At my facility, we would most likely use cryo-surgery, seeing as the tumor is located in the mouth. After that, some of the supplements we routinely use with mast cell cancer are the antioxidant querciten, Betathyme by Doctor’s Mutual or commercially available Moducare, the Chinese herb artemisinin, and an herbal formula indicated for allergies containing nettles and Echinacea.

Q. I have a seven-year-old, 65-pound golden retriever in excellent health. He has developed four lipomas in the past six months, and I have taken him for a fine needle aspiration/cytology each time, grateful to discover it’s a fatty deposit. I am questioning the necessity of having this exam done each time a lump appears. I feel compelled to have it checked out, but want to be sure I am doing the right thing. I know goldens are very prone to these lumps as they are to cancer. He has been on a homemade, cooked, mostly organic diet with supplements and very limited vaccines since he was three.

 

A. You are correct in stating that lipomas are very common in retrievers. Your concern about goldens and cancer is also well founded.

Lipomas are typically very easy for an experienced veterinarian to differentiate from most other tumor types by using simple palpation. If there’s any doubt, it is not overly involved or painful/stressful for a veterinarian to aspirate a questionable mass. Aspiration material from lipomas, when spread across a glass slide, will reveal obvious fat, and sending it to a laboratory is in most cases unnecessary.

To aid in lipoma control, I’ve had success using Mega Lipotropic by Best For Your Pet, Lipocomplex by Progressive Labs, and the herbal formulation Chih ku & Curcuma by Seven Forests.

Q. I have a seven-year-old spayed German shepherd with terrible hips. She eats Blue senior food. I add Missing link, Prozyme and salmon oil to her food. I also give her glucosamine and condroitin tablets. Glucosamine and chondroitin seem to be everywhere, in food, treats, etc. How much is enough? Can they be toxic in any way? What else can I do to make her comfortable? My vet wants her on Rimadyl but I refused.

 

A. For the proper dosing of glucosamine/chondroitin, you should get one of the more accepted and known brands, such as Cosequin by Nutramax, and follow the recommendations by weight on the label. I also like Glycoflex (especially formula #3); one of the many homeopathic combinations, especially containing rhus tox; and herbally, one of many indicated for arthritis containing especially yucca, alfalfa and devil’s claw. You can also consider getting her on foods that are whole and unprocessed and contain no or minimal processed carbohydrates.

Q. I have a seven-year-old male Scottish terrier. He was diagnosed about two years ago with cerebellar abiotrophy/ataxia. Griffey’s tremors are exacerbated with stress and excitement. I give him holistic food – organic when I can. He gets virgin coconut oil, fish oil, barley greens, and the best supplements I can find, including vitamins E and C. Would Neurotrophin be beneficial? I also recently learned that lion’s mane is being used to help humans for ataxia. Can dogs be given this, and if so, what would be the appropriate dose?

 

A. In this condition, the centers in the brain that control coordination of movement degenerate prematurely. It is believed to be an inherited trait. In my experience, the Scottish terrier is not one of the more prevalently reported breeds for this condition, but it doesn’t exclude it from being the correct diagnosis.

I have concerns about a potential link between vaccinations and conditions such as this. It has been demonstrated that a process called demyelination, or a dissolving of the protective layer of the nervous system, is linked to vaccines. Please try to prevent future vaccines of any type.

Supplements like Neurotrophin by Standard Process, Sphingolin by Emerson Ecologics, Phosphatidyl serine, and choline would all be good choices. Professional Complementary Health Formulas makes a remedy called Brain Stimulation Liquiesence. I honestly have never heard of lion’s mane.

Q.I have a seven-year-old female spayed beagle. A month ago, we took her to the vet for an insect bite and she was given a steroid shot. Now she is urinating in the house, something she never did before. We took in a urine sample to make sure she did not have a UTI. We were told all looked okay but they wanted to make sure she had no kidney issues, Cushing’s or diabetes.

On top of that, she had to have her rabies shot, and they also put a dose of Frontline on her — which I would not have done. This must be overwhelming her immune system. What can I do? I currently feed her a frozen raw diet, she gets no vaccines except for rabies every three years, no Frontline (as a rule) and no Heartguard. She is supplemented with Great Life eNZYmes PRO+.

 

A.One of the common side effects of steroids is increased thirst coupled with increased urination. This alone could be a probable cause of your beagle’s problem, especially if the injection she was given was a long acting steroid shot.

I highly agree with you on the Frontline and especially the rabies vaccine. The inserts that come with vaccines state that they are intended for use in healthy animals only. If your beagle did in fact have something going on at the time, be it allergies or any of the other conditions you mentioned associated with the urination problem, then she should not have received a vaccine, nor the Frontline!

My advice would be to seek out a holistic veterinarian to work with and have him or her do a comprehensive examination and workup (including blood testing) before prescribing therapy. One good source for finding such a veterinarian is AHVMA.org.

Q.I have a rescued Yorkie mix. One ear stands erect but the other droops at times (although it does sometimes stand erect). I feed her a raw diet and she is a hardy eater. Is there something I can supplement her food with that can aid her droopy ear in standing erect?

 

A.I can picture her being really adorable, and personally would leave her like this. If that’s not what you want, the only thing I’ve seen work (and this is with very minimal experience), is to have a veterinarian tape-splint the ear up. The only supplement, if any, you might try is Collagen Complex by Professional Health Products.

Q.I have a rescued Jack Russell about four years old. He has White Dog Shaker Syndrome. Prednisone doesn’t seem to be helping. Any other suggestions?

 

A.See an experienced veterinarian, especially one well versed in alternative therapies.

Q.I have a redbone coonhound mix puppy that is one-and-a-half years old. When she was just a couple of months old, she had giardia and coccidian, so solid bowel movements were few and far between for about a year. Since puppyhood, we have had to take her to the vet every two months to have her anal sacs emptied. Both sacs are filled every time. Are there any homeopathic remedies for something like this? We thought it would get better over time but it hasn’t. Is there anything we can do?

 

A.First, realize that anal sacs are supposed to be somewhat full, not empty. In my experience, one of the practices contributing to anal sac problems is having them expressed too frequently. This creates a vicious cycle of inflammation resulting in an over-production of secretions and filling, which leads to a more frequent need to again be expressed.

In general, the higher quality the diet is, the better the chances to ultimately stop the problem. Adding fiber in the form of vegetables has also been shown to help. I have seen this condition remedied by switching dogs to an all-raw diet.

The only homeopathic I’ve had success with for this condition is a combination of Heel’s Hemorrhoid and Inflammation, and when indicated, their Infection remedy.

Q.I have a question about my bulldog Fionna’s cherry eyes. She has one that is always out, the other goes out and in at random. She had surgery on the one that is always out and the ophthalmologist sutured it back in, but after a month, it popped back out. I don’t want any more surgery because it’s expensive and her blood pressure was apparently very low during the procedure. My doctor suggests Optimmune/cylcosporine, but I don’t do it every day because I feel like I’m overmedicating her. Do you have any suggestions?

 

A.These conditions can be very difficult to remedy and heal non-surgically. However, if there has been a noticeable response to the Optimmune, I would recommend trying the topical homeopathic eye drops Similasan #1.

Q.I have a nine-year-old Irish setter who developed pancreatitis about three years ago and is now diabetic/insulin injection dependent. She also developed cataracts and is mostly blind. She is on a natural diet of raw food and very good dry dog food; I only do homeopathic and natural treatments for her. Can you offer some alternatives or directions to follow? My goal is to have her off insulin, at least the injectible form, and I would like to consider surgery for her cataracts so she can see again.

 

A.We’ve had success treating diabetics with herbs, especially some Chinese herbal formulas, so I would follow your vet’s advice here. One formula we use is Seven Forest’s Rehmania 16. In my clinic, we will add Pancreas-Stomach Drops (Professional Health Products). We’re also using a relatively new supplement called Gluconase, a human supplement that contains vanadium, a trace element reported to have a positive effect with diabetes. We have used and had some success with injectible pancreas from Germany but it could be difficult to obtain. Vitamin E reportedly works as a pancreatic cellular stabilizer.

In all diabetics, we will use Pancreatrophin (Standard Process) or another pancreatic glandular. I would also do a metabolic balancing by blood tests instead of just focusing on the pancreas.

I’ve had a couple of animals over the years whose humans refused to put them on insulin, so we used goldenseal. We had to monitor them carefully, and although their blood sugar levels never returned to normal, they stabilized in the high 200’s to low 300’s, so the animals could live normal lives. LaDean Griffin wrote a pamphlet years ago called Insulin vs. Herbs and the Diabetic, which talked about the blood sugar stabilizing effects of goldenseal.

As for the cataracts, I’ve not seen these reversed when they’re associated with diabetes, so definitely consider the surgery.

Q.I have a nine-year-old black Lab who has been having problems with hair loss and itching for over a year. Some of the hair loss was attributed to a thyroid condition and she is on medication for that. However, it has been touch and go; the hair loss is now back and the itching has been fairly constant. I have been to two vets (three if you count the thyroid doctor). Nobody seems to be able to get to the bottom of this problem. The groomer swears it is mange, but none of my other dogs have it, and she has been scraped at least two times and undergone two treatments with Mitoban. She has undergone allergy testing and is receiving shots for known allergens. She is currently on skin vitamins and herbs as recommended by the holistic vet.

When I read about selenium sulfide prescription lotion in your response to a previous letter about a similar case (Oct-Nov 2005), I felt a ray of hope. My vets have not heard of it – where can I get it and are there any side effects? I feel my dog’s immune system is compromised either from the on-going problem or the treatments meant to cure it. She gets ear infections and skin infections and just finished more antibiotics. The doctor wants to give her cortisone shots which I resist because she seems so medicated.

 

A.The mange that responds to selenium sulfide does cause itching, and is contagious but not typically localized. The mange that typically causes hair loss around the eyes, demodex, usually does not cause itching (unless it is secondary), is not contagious and does not respond to this lotion. Selenium sulfide is easily obtainable by prescription through most pharmacies. The only rare side effect I’ve seen is for it to be slightly irritating and to temporarily turn white fur pinkish orange. My guess is that your dog has allergies.

Q.I have a nine-month-old long-haired blue piebald dachshund who began to show signs of hair loss on her tail, back, and the back of her head. She has color dilution alopecia. Everything I have read states there is no cure. A dermatologist recommended giving her three milligrams of melatonin twice a day but said that she has a 50% chance of losing all her blue hair (she is blue and white but about 60% to 70% blue). Is there anything else you can suggest?

 

A.This is probably the closest thing we have in veterinary medicine that resembles typical male pattern baldness syndrome in men. This condition has been genetically engineered and created. Since melatonin does affect pigment, it is a wise choice. I would also recommend the homeopathic Hair and Skin by Heel’s BHI line, a good fish oil EFA supplement, and you could try Dermatrophin by Standard Process Labs. Although this is a genetic condition, I truly believe that even a genetically based disease, or at least the clinical symptoms, can be reversed to varying degrees.

Q.I have a Jack Russell who has recently acquired a rather strange colored skin on the underside of his body and near his genitalia. It was originally pink, but has turned a nasty
shade of dirty black. What could this be?

 

A.It could be one of several conditions. It might be chronic irritation and inflammation with secondary yeast, typically associated with allergy; a hormonal imbalance, especially if he has not been neutered; or a condition called acanthosis nigricans. This last one is usually found in dachshunds, but I’ve seen it in other breeds. There are potentially even more possibilities, so getting a hands-on diagnosis would be highly recommended before proceeding with any treatment.

Q.I have a four-year-old spayed female Pembroke Welsh corgi. The last two years we have battled a chronic UTI. She has had numerous cultures that come back as e-coli and has been on and off Clavamox the last two years. She has undergone an ultrasound, vaginal scope, blood tests, and x-rays which showed no underlying cause. The vets felt that the cause was a hooded vulva. She had surgery to correct the problem, but the UTI is still present.

For the last 13 or 14 months I fed her a raw meat diet (Dr. Pitcairn). We recently went to see two more vets and they were very much against a home cooked or raw diet. I was instructed to use Science Diet, canned salmon dog food, and add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and salmon oil plus a product by Purina that is supposed to help the digestive system, along with an herbal pill. I tried this and it didn’t work.

Currently, Wrigley is taking one amoxycillian at bedtime to control the UTI. I had heard that oregano oil might help. We need help because I really do not want her living on antibiotics. Plus, I want to go back to making her dog food. The vets that told me stop doing that, and also told me not to feed her carrots or her other regular veggie and fruit treats, other than little pieces of banana.

 

A.I have no problem with you going back to making Wrigley’s food or even giving her a raw diet. You can also address this chronic condition with some remedies and nutraceuticals. Oregano oil has proven to be effective as it has anti-bacterial properties. Olive leaf extract is another choice. The product we use in my clinic is Olivet by Vetri-Science Labs. The herbs uva ursi and dandelion are two of the more common ones used to address kidney and bladder problems, including infections. Personally, I like UT Strength, also by Vetri-Science. Homeopathically, we use Uri-Cleanse by BHI, or Urinary Aid by Professional Complementary Health Formulas. If testing the urine pH proves it is too alkaline, acidifiers such as cranberry extracts or vitamin C in the ascorbic acid form could also help.

Q.I have a four-year-old rottwiler that was recently diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma in his right front elbow area. Amputation is being recommended but I’m told the chance of survival is slim. What would you do?

 

A.This is a more rare tumor. One thing that differentiates it clinically from typical bone cancer (which rottwilers are getting a lot these days) is that bone cancer always stays in one bone and doesn’t cross into or across joints, so if see a cancer crossing from one bone to another, then there’s a really good chance it’s synovial.

Cancer is a very serious issue and it’s important to actually see the dog to treat it properly. What we do in my clinic is get the dog in for three to five days for intravenous high levels of vitamin C. We also use ozone, injectible homeopathic remedies in the joints, an IAT (Immuno Augmentative Therapy) program and we conduct a full nutritional analysis as well.

Q.I have a four-year-old Maltese. He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a month ago. He has been put on a low dose of synthetic hormone.

About three weeks into his medication, he decided he no longer wanted to eat his dog food. We change his protein source once a week so he is not bored with just chicken or lamb, etc. He is on a raw diet. My vet is not a supporter of the raw movement and has been trying to steer me to another type of food. So I really can’t contact my vet for advice.
I broke down and bought several sample bags of dry food from our specialty pet store. He is now eating this without issue and looks forward to mealtime again. Is it possible that the medication has changed the way food tastes? I can’t imagine that a dog would walk away from a raw diet.

 

A.You are starting with a disease, hypothyroidism, that affects basic metabolism. Then you add a synthetic to re-regulate the body. So yes, there are considerable changes that could possibly shift how your dog perceives food.

With that said, and as much as I feel a raw diet is the best choice, not all animals acclimate to it. I have also seen animals love raw for a period of time, then shy away from it. I’d rather an animal eat a high quality food he likes than force him to eat something theoretically better. But dry would not be my second choice. I’d choose home-prepared, and next, high quality canned.

Before committing to the synthetic for life, keep in mind that hypothyroidism can be more naturally and effectively addressed, controlled, and even reversed by working with a good integrative veterinarian.

Q.I have a four-year-old Lab/chow mix. About a month ago I noticed that she would run from one spot to another and check behind herself. She would also sit down and lift her left hind leg during walks. I took her to the vet and he checked her anal sacks and did a physical exam to check the mobility of her legs. He actually did what I thought was a thorough and rigorous exam. During the course of the exam she did not seem in pain or show any weakness. The only thing the vet told me to do was lower her calorie intake because she was about ten pounds overweight. I put her on [a light food] and noticed that she did not have any episodes after a couple of weeks. However she recently suffered what looked like a muscle spasm in her left hind leg. They are not frequent like the last time but it is unnerving because I have no idea what is happening.

 

A.It would be very difficult for me to definitively diagnose the problem via this column, but the most common thing I have witnessed that causes signs/symptoms such as these is, believe it or not, good old fleas. The distribution pattern for the medical condition known as flea allergy dermatitis is invariably around the base of the tail and down the back surfaces of the rear legs. Bites in these areas can cause the symptoms you are describing. Remember too, that fleas live most of their time off the animal so you don’t necessarily have to see them. By definition, this is an allergy to flea saliva. High carbohydrate diets are not only “unnatural”, but can precipitate or worsen allergy conditions. This could be why the dietary change made some difference. If fleas are truly your dog’s problem, there are many products on the market to address the allergy and help naturally repel the fleas.

Q.I have a four-year-old beagle mix that won’t stop scratching. It’s basically located around her neck, where her collar is. She is now gnawing and licking her paws. I’ve tried rimadyl, steroids from the doctor, and nothing helps. I also tried many creams, ointments, and human Benadryl, along with children’s Claritin, and she still itches. I also tried changing her collar, and bathing her in aloe and oatmeal. Nothing seems to help. I keep an air cleaner on, and vacuum three times a week. She is the only dog in the house. I feed her mostly organic, or make her chicken with rice.

 

A.Given the paw licking, your beagle’s condition sounds more like a systemic allergy problem rather than just local irritation from the collar. I am concerned that she has shown no response to medications as strong as steroids, Benadryl and Claritin. Despite routine skin scrapings coming out negative, I have seen cases like this wind up being the itch mange named sarcops.

Although this condition is treated with harsh medications, I have seen non-toxic selenium sulfide lotion shampoo show success. This is a medication needing a veterinarian’s prescription. Homeopathics I have used include Allergy by BHI or Skin Aid by Complementary Health Formulas.

The herbal Spring Tonic by Animals Apawthecary or Zaocys by Seven Forests, and the anti-inflammatory supplement Betathyme by Best for Pets along with a good fish oil could also help. However, I remain leery about their success when stronger medications aren’t bringing even temporary relief. You may have to seek out a good integrative veterinarian.

Q.I have a four year old dog that has been diagnosed with corneal dystrophy and Pannus. Is there something I can do to support his total health?

 

A.Pannus is a general covering that forms on the cornea of the eye, typically in German Shepherds. Eyes are the gateways to the body and eye problems can usually often be associated with a deeper liver problem. You’ve probably heard people say that eating carrots is good for your vision. Actually carrots contain vitamin A, which has more of a pronounced effect on the liver than on the eye itself. In Chinese medicine, the acupuncture points for eye function are the same ones associated with liver function. For this type of thing, I would do a metabolic balancing of the system, focusing on the liver function. I would use glandulars to help accomplish this as well as a supplement called Visioplex by Progressive. You could also use the Herbal Eyewash Kit by Halo or the topical homeopathic Similasan 1.

Q.I have a five-year-old black lab who has a chronic yeast infection in his right ear. He also has hip dysplasia on the right side. He had knee surgery last July and was clear of the ear infection until he had the surgery. Now it has returned in full force, I am treating him with the medication from the vet, Zymox, but I know I must treat him from the inside as well.

 

A.There are a few things you can try, starting with a simple apple cider vinegar solution to flush out the ear (begin with 1 tsp. vinegar in ½ cup of warm water but you can strengthen the dilution if need be). Seven Forests Chinese herbal formula Forsythia can work well with chronic ear problems (you can order this through your vet only).

Although not a natural product, Malaseb, an ear flush, works very well on yeast in the ear and on the skin, and I’ve had no problems with side effects using this product. There are a few herbal veterinary ear washes on the market you could try as well.

You should note that carbohydrates in the diet can lead to yeast problems in dogs. Putting these animals on a raw meat and veggie diet may clear things right up. If it seems as though allergies may be the culprit for the yeast infections, we’ll do blood testing to determine the source of the allergy and eliminate the allergan from the diet.

Q.I have a five-month-old pug puppy that I am trying to switch to a total vegetarian diet. When do I start to add omega 3s, plus anything else? Also, will this diet increase skin conditions?

 

A.You can add the omegas now. I prefer using fish, especially imported salmon oils. You can also provide a good vitamin/mineral supplement. One word of caution: I have seen dogs do well and live long, healthy lives on vegetarian diets, but they are ancestrally carnivores. So monitor the process and your puppy’s growth and health. To answer your last question, I have seen vegetarian diets improve skin problems, actually make them worse, or have no effect either way.

Q.I have a dog who has gingivitis. I read about an oral care gel for dogs that contains alcohol and grape seed extract, which are both known to be toxic to dogs. My veterinarian informed me that products with any amount of alcohol should not be given to dogs. Do you think it is safe to use this product?

 

A.For decades, I have been using homeopathic and herbal formulations in alcohol tinctures, some rather strong, to successfully treat many thousands of animals. This even includes cats and dogs with liver disease. If the product you reference is on the market, I’m certain the proper trials have been performed before release. If you’re still in doubt, you might want to contact the company with your question.

Q.I have a cocker spaniel that I have had about 10 years. I noticed about 3 or 4 months ago that she acted as if she just didn’t feel well. She was vomiting up her food. It would be covered in mucous but then she would eat it again. We took her to the vet and he said she had pancreatitis. He put her on amoxicillin and cephalexin. We took her back to the vet yesterday. Her white blood cell count had gone from 29.54 to 39.37. He thinks she has cancer and there is nothing that can be done.

 

A.Unfortunately, it could be pancreatic cancer. We don’t usually treat pancreatitis medically; we treat it nutritionally with diet, supplements and homeopathic remedies. A really good sonographer could help with a more definitive diagnosis so ask around and try to find the best. If you’re anywhere on the east coast, I would highly recommend Victor Randano at Multi Imaging in Groton or Ithaca, New York.

Q.I have a beautiful seven-year-old female Chow. She has bladder infections every three to four months. When a culture is done, “proteus mirabilis” shows up. I have tried different foods, filtered water, and no grains. She has had ultrasound and x-rays, but there’s no problem. Would you have any information about this ongoing problem?

 

A.The inside of the bladder does have contact, via the urethra, to the non-sterile world outside the body. It is also the container that stores the waste products the kidneys eliminate from the body, which could weaken it and make it more susceptible to infection.

Here are some of the treatments we use in my clinic: if the urine pH runs high (alkaline), then vitamin C or a cranberry extract can be used. Homeopathics include Professional Complementary Health Formula’s Urinary Aid, or BHI/Heel’s Uri-Cleanse. One of my favorite products is UT Strength by Vetri-Science. For a natural antibiotic, consider Oli-Vet, also from Vetri-Science.

Q.I have a 9-year-old Labrador retriever who has a fear of walking on wood floors. He will not move from an area which is carpeted onto a wood or other shiny surface floor without being coaxed and accompanied. He will stay on the carpet and whine until he is assisted across the wood floor to the next carpeted space. He does not have a problem with stone, brick or cement floors. In fact, he was brought up for the first five years of his life in a home primarily with slate floors, never with a problem. He would never however go upstairs because the stairs were wood, so this fear began early. His fear seems to be worsening recently.

The other more recent problem is whining all the time when he wants something: to play, go outside, drink or eat, or if he is just bored.

 

A.Not having more specifics on these fears and when and how they started, I will share with you factors that I have personally experienced to be associated with conditions like this. One that immediately comes to mind is a neurologic disorder with related behavioral changes. These changes are associated with reactions secondary to vaccinations, especially the annual combination vaccines which studies now show are unnecessary.

The other condition your dog may be suffering from is a thyroid disorder. Some of these are secondary to a medical condition called auto-immune thyroiditis (also a potential side effect of vaccinations). You should investigate these medical conditions first and, if existing, address them with the assistance of a veterinarian. If the problem does not appear to be medical, you could try one of the many natural products available for anxiety-like conditions. These include Rescue Remedy or other flower essence formulas, specific flower essence remedies selected for specific symptoms, homeopathic and/or herbal combination formulas indicated for anxiety. Also, if this is a cognitive disorder, you could try Neurotrophin by Standard Process (through a veterinarian) and phosphatidyls serine and choline, usually available through health food stores.

Q.I have a 9-month-old ½ shar-pei, ½ shepherd mix puppy. About 4 months ago, she started displaying symptoms of demodectic mange. We cook organic chicken and rice. We have used cortisone only twice by injection and of course she heals up for about 2 weeks. About 2 weeks ago, we started Ivermectin orally as recommended. She was vaccinated finally and that really pushed her over the edge. Do you have any suggestions?

 

A.First, I would suggest counteracting the effects of the vaccine with the homeopathic remedy Thuja, either 30C or 1M.

Demodectic mange is an immune deficiency disease. The mites responsible become out of control when the dog’s immune system is suppressed. Part of the problem is that cortisone and Ivermectin, which are being used to control the mange, are also very immune suppressing, so the cycle is perpetuated. In treating this condition, it’s important to build up the immune system. You could consider high levels of intravenous vitamin C as well as Chinese herbs. Seven Forest Viola 12 and Astragalus 10+ are both indicated for this condition and can be ordered through your vet. Thymus extract is another immune enhancer you could use, as well as flax seed oil and a good multi-vitamin. I would also recommend a veterinary product called Acemannan, an aloe vera extract that your vet can inject under the skin or in the belly. I have seen it reverse life-threatening demodectic mange cases. Topically, you could try tea tree oil.

Q.I have a 7-year-old neutered Chinook. He has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Rather than load him up with steroids and antibiotics, I have chosen home prepared cooked chicken diet. Carbs are limited to cooked sweet potato and white potato. I use shark cartilage powder rather glucosamine/chondroitin products which may have known allergens for him as oats, wheat, beef, yeast or soy. Have you any suggestions for a multivitamin and joint support product?

 

A.We have been very successful with these cases. We use Acetylator by VetriScience. It does have a glucosamine derivative in it but it may be worth trying. We also use a homeopathic combination of BHI Intestine and Diarrhea. I’ve just started to work with a new product called Primal Defence (homeostatic soil organisms) which I feel will have great benefit. As for diet, I list a potato diet in my book similar to that you are currently feeding, but with a few additions. In all these cases we perform a metabolic analysis to align the other organs of digestion and assimilation.

Q.I have a 7-1/2-year-old smooth fox terrier, Beau, who has recently had elevated liver values and a slightly elevated cholesterol. Aside from a couple of fatty tumors, itching skin (better on EFAs), and slight obesity, he eats well, plays and has no problems with stool, digestion or anything else that I can tell. We have now had a second series of blood tests and now the doctor if he should do an ultrasound. Is this really a good idea? I would like to start Beau on milk thistle, she did say SAM-e was good too. Is it possible to get SAM-e from a health food store? What is the appropriate dosage?

 

A.Ultrasound is a good idea. This non-invasive procedure is the first thing I would do for Beau. A good ultrasonographer can tell a lot from an ultrasound. Do make sure that your dog wasn’t recently vaccinated or on medication, particularly cortisone, because both of these will elevate liver enzymes. I would recommend milk thistle (there are veterinary products available with dosage recommendations by weight). If you’re using a human product, one “rule of thumb” for a dog is to use one-third to one-half the human dosage, depending upon patient weight. SAM-e is available from health food stores (Nutramax puts out a veterinary formula) and although it’s not necessarily the first product we turn to in our clinic, you may have success with it.

Liver disease responds dramatically to intravenous vitamin C and ozone and injectible homeopathic liver extracts so if this is a severe case, you could consider these therapies as well.

Q.I have a 5-1/2-year-old Bouvier who has itchy skin. She is mostly scratching around her tail and up her back and sides. She has had many skin infections as this has been going on since she was a baby. She had allergy testing which came back as allergic to fleas only, but there is never a flea in sight. She had another flare up right after the last bout of prednisone. She is now on a diet of whitefish and rice.

 

A.This is one of the most typical things we see. I would suggest homeopathic Thuja if you think it’s vaccine-related. You could also try Sulphur Heel (indicated for dermatosis), BHI Skin (indicated for eczema, blisters, rashes and hives) or BHI Allergy, (indicated for relief of skin rashes and hives). You could try Dr. Goodpet’s Flea Relief, Betathyme or Moducare, which are basically natural cortisones. For true skin infections, you can use Olive Leaf Extract, or the homeopathic remedy Hepar Sulph. Often with these types of cases, the dog needs to be detoxified. Remember that the skin is the “third kidney”.

Q.I have a 3½-year-old sheltie. I have been told she has an enlarged liver. Two other dogs at the same vet clinic have liver disease. Is this happening more and more? Has her diet caused the problem? She eats Ceasar and dried chicken jerky, plus Alpo dog bones. What can I expect with this?

 

A.Yes, in my experience, this is happening more frequently. I commonly see elevated liver enzymes, even in dogs under eight months of age. Keep in mind that elevated liver enzymes, as with the body producing a fever, doesn’t necessarily mean something bad. The liver has major functions to perform for the body, and the enzymes are “helpers” or “good guys”.

I can not say definitively that your sheltie’s problem was caused by diet. But you should be feeding the highest quality diet possible. One possible contributing factor is vaccines — it has been demonstrated that liver enzymes can be markedly elevated after vaccinations.

Four of the more common items we use for liver support are Marin and Denosyl by the Nutramax company, glandular Hepatrophin by Standard Process Labs, and homeopathic Liver Gall Bladder Drops by Professional Complementary Health.

With the right approach, there’s a good change your sheltie will do well.

Q.I have a 16-year-old part cocker and golden retriever mix. He is an indoor dog. Is it necessary to get bordetella bloodwork done, Heartguard pills, other vaccinations besides rabies, etc.? What is absolutely vital for him to have?

 

A.I feel that giving a 16-year-old dog any vaccinations is totally unnecessary. Even with rabies, through it’s legally required in most states every three years, there is a fairly decent chance of getting a legal exemption due to age, especially if your dog is not due until he is even older.

There is no reason to get any vaccine related bloodwork performed, except for rabies, to help you get an exemption; if you do, it will most likely indicate ample protection. As far as heartworm prevention goes, that depends on where in the country you live and the true incidence there. You’ll need to do some local research to determine a more educated decision on that one.

Q.I have a 16-year-old female Bichon who has been suffering from struvite bladder infections (no stones) since she was diagnosed with Lyme disease several years ago. With the help of a ledum regimen (she could not tolerate antibiotics), she got through the Lyme, but it compromised her kidneys and caused some arthritis. I give her Thorne Arthroplex for the arthritis. The ledum must have helped her kidneys because they seem fine now. But now she is on antibiotics for the bladder infections.

I have fed her a raw diet most of her life and limit vaccines, but I don’t know what to do to prevent the bladder infections. I have tried D-Mannose and Berry Balance but she stops eating when I add these supplements. A sonogram indicated her kidneys have shrunk a bit, but the values suggest no renal problems. The vet says shrinking kidneys are normal for an old dog. I have been giving her the homeopathic remedy Renelix and Akutur UTI Support Drops but they don’t seem to be helping either. I just started giving Cholodin, thinking it might help with old age.

What should I feed her? I can’t seem to find a good supplement. Unfortunately, she’s picky and knows when her food is doctored.

 

A.I’m a bit confused as to why she’s on antibiotics for the bladder infection when she could not tolerate them previously. In our practice, we use Urinary Aid by Professional Complementary Health and UT Strength by Vetri Science Labs for bladder infections. One fairly new product broadly accepted across veterinary medicine is Azodyl by Vetoquinol.

For further kidney support, we commonly use a glandular supplement by Miller Pharmacal named Kidney, or Renal Complex by Professional Complemetary Health. The diet should consist of high quality whole foods, fairly low in carbohydrates. It has been proven that protein restriction is not only unnecessary in cases like this, but can actually cause or contribute to cachexia and wasting.

Q.I have a 14-year-old Westie. Last May she began vomiting, having diarrhea, lost her appetite and half her body weight, and generally looked bad. The emergency vet took every test known to man or dog, and it all came back negative or inconclusive. My regular vet has examined her several times and found nothing, but assumes she probably has cancer of the stomach or intestines (he can’t find anything on examination).

I’ve been medicating her with Pepsid, Tums, Prednisolone and Sucralfate twice a day. The vomiting has stopped, but she pees all over the house, eats in moderation (but has not regained weight), and is generally weak. Yet her tongue is pink, her eyes are bright, and by her face she looks okay. When our previous dog was failing, it was evident she was miserable. Not so with Bitsy. What signs do we look for to know whether she’s in pain and it’s “time”?

 

A.As you can imagine, a case like this is very difficult to advise on by magazine. My rule of thumb with pain, and especially with making the choice for euthanasia, is that you will know when you know. Some signs you might watch out for include a complete loss of appetite, extreme lethargy, unresponsiveness or collapse, or definite indications that she’s in pain or distress, such as whining, fear, excessive restlessness, or trying to hide.

On a more positive note, I’m not certain you have used every known test or have explored all possible therapies, especially in the field of alternative veterinary medicine. For over 30 years, my practice at the Smith Ridge Veterinary Center has had a specialty in pets considered or pronounced hopeless or terminal. I have witnessed thousands of animals respond positively to our form of testing, analysis and especially treatment. For example, has your Westie ever had a metabolic nutritional analysis (now trademarked as the Nutritional Blood Test created for veterinary medicine by Animal Nutritional Technologies)? Or, has she ever been treated with high levels of intravenous vitamin C with added injectable homeopathic remedies? If not, then you may consider researching more options with the help of a holistic or integrative vet.

Q.I have a 13-year-old terrier, poodle and cocker spaniel mix. A year ago he showed signs of cancer with an enlarged node and lesion on his lip. The biopsy report showed squamous cell carcinoma. We opted for the less radical surgery for the removal of the node and lesion. No evidence of cancer was left. Since we neither removed part of the jaw nor followed up with chemotherapy, we expected the cancer to return and it has. There is a lemon-sized growth at his neck.

 

A.This is a very aggressive form of cancer. I recommend one kind of surgery – cryo-surgery. This surgery non-invasively freezes the tumor and leaves it there. The body then rejects it. Cryo-surgery converts live tissue to dead tissue so it has an immunostimulatory effect. Unfortunately, the best that any surgery can do is bring the body back to the place it was before the tumor grew. It does nothing to prevent another tumor from growing. Consider this car analogy: If black smoke is coming out of the tailpipe, you can remove the tailpipe but it does nothing to help the car.

Your dog will need a lot of immune enhancements following the surgery. Unfortunately, however, you don’t have enough time to work with just the immune system at this point, but I really recommend metabollically balancing the body to help strengthen the immune system after the surgery.

Q.I have a 13-year-old Bedlington terrier with idiopathic age-related liver disease. It is under excellent control with a home cooked diet. She also has an enlarged adrenal gland and borderline Cushing’s. We can’t put her on Cushing’s meds because they are all hepatotoxic. She is panting and itching and I’m trying to find something to help her. I’ve seen several mentions of phosphatidylserine being used as a cortisol suppressant. But I can’t find any research to tell me if this supplement is safe for her liver, and my vet is unfamiliar with it. I would like to try it, but obviously only if it’s safe (50 mg per day?).

 

A.I have been using phos serine for many years since it first hit the market. In those days, I was working closely with the company that did the original work documenting its beneficial effects in humans, especially helping to support proper brain function.

It was then that I learned about a study done on conditioned athletes where phos serine was shown to suppress cortisol output by the adrenal glands without any noticeable side effects. From that point on, I have been using it in Cushing’s patients and have not noticed any side effects.

For a dog the probable weight of your terrier, 100 mg is what we would typically recommend – and many of my clients, over the years, have doubled or tripled our recommendations without any observable side effects. One other supplement you could consider looking into would be Humanofort by Dogtor Rx.

Q.I have a 1½-year-old miniature schnauzer. Ever since I started taking him out when he was five months old, he has shown a very weird bathroom pattern. When the walk is limited to ten minutes, he releases properly, but if I take him for longer walk, he poos at least eight times until it becomes watery. I talked to three different vets but all said there was nothing wrong and that nothing could be done. Is it possible that scents left behind by other dogs are causing this reaction? He has very weak digestion as well. I have been feeding him natural food for some time, but he is not interested in anything except lamb and chicken. Is there any homeopathic medicine that might help him?

 

A.From what you are describing, especially with the weak digestion and watery stools, this does not sound like a behavioral problem. Colitis and inflammatory bowel disease are becoming an epidemic in pets, especially young ones. I personally feel that vaccinations have a contributory role, so a word of caution here. Two homeopathic remedies that will address the issue are Diar-Relief by Dr. Goodpet, and Diarrhea Aid by Professional Health Products. About the best supplement I have experienced for intestinal health is Acetylator by Vetri-Science Labs. Another good product is a fermented fish product named Seacure. Also, as mentioned in previous columns, I am currently very interested in the application of Garden of Life’s Primal Defense to veterinary medicine. There are a number of other products available. Of course, make sure to rule out intestinal parasites through your veterinarian.

Q.I am trying to go all natural with my beagle. She is not quite four years old and is spayed. What is a good natural heartworm/flea preventative? I have had some problems with Frontline Plus/Heartguard. I have not used these products in more than a year. Any helpful information and tips? I live in Florida.

 

A.I frown upon conventional heartworm preventative in most sections of North America. However, because you live in Florida where heartworm incidence is high, the proper decision becomes a touchier subject. There are homeopathic heartworm nosode programs available, especially through experienced veterinarians, that I have seen to be effective. Also, I have seen black walnut reverse positive heartworm patients, so I have also used it as a preventative. Even though there are reports of potential toxicity with black walnut, I have not observed this and feel it wouldn’t have nearly the toxic effects of chemical medicines. For people who live in areas of high heartworm risk, I advise a combination of the above by alternating the black walnut with a daily heartworm preventative throughout each week. Remember, this is just advice; not a set recommendation. (For more information on heartworm, see Volume 6, Issue 3.)

Q.I am trying to buy a puppy in the U.S. (I am in Germany) and one of the requirements is to vaccinate him for rabies prior to transporting him. I am told he needs to be older than one month before this can be done. I was wondering how young a puppy can be to receive a rabies vaccination safely.

 

A.In answering this, I would like to reference Dr. Jean Dodds, an expert in the field of vaccinations, an integral part of the Rabies Challenge Fund (Rabieschallengefund.org) and no stranger to this magazine. Do not vaccinate puppies for rabies before 12 weeks of age! Pups younger than that are not required to have a rabies vaccine before travel. The health certificate from the attending veterinarian just has to state: “Too young to vaccinate for rabies.”

Q.I am thinking of adopting a 2½-year-old mini dashie named Buffy. She is the breeder’s dog, who cannot keep her because she has had a seizure. Buffy’s brother has also had seizure problems. I have a dog from her that is 5 years old and has only had one seizure. I really want this dog so do you have any advice on what to do for the dog to prevent future seizures?

 

A.Absolutely. STOP vaccinating and get a professional exception for the rabies vaccine. Nutraceuticals I typically use for epileptics are: , and an herbal formula that contains a combination of herbs for nervous sedation, primary of which are skullcap and valerian. The two we use in our practice are Calming Formula or Crystal Star’s Relax Caps. I’ve also seen good classical homeopathic veterinarians and acupuncture have excellent success in treating epilepsy.

Q.I am sick over this matter. I have a rescue dog in foster care. This one-year-old spayed female (40 pounds) has received three doses of distemper-parvo and rabies vaccines. This is because of sloppy record keeping and lack of communication. The discovery was only made after the third vaccine. Please advise what I can do to save her from a disaster and what to look for. The only side effect that has been noticed so far is irritability.

 

A.I empathize as I see this all the time and think it’s horrible, especially when it has been demonstrated that as few as one vaccine could provide a lifetime of protection. Behavioral changes are common side effects of vaccines. One of the primary mechanisms by which this manifests is the body creating antibodies to the thyroid as a result of the vaccines. I would recommend your veterinarian running full thyroid profiles or contacting Hemopet in Irvine, California for guidance. There are many calming remedies and herbals on the market for the irritability. We use Bach Rescue Remedy or homeopathic Show Aid by Professional Complementary Health Products. Herbals that contain valerian and passion flower can also be effective. Otherwise, provide a high quality diet, good supplementation and a course of antioxidants for the potential free radicals caused by the onslaught.

Q.I am concerned about giving Heartgard/Interceptor and Frontline to my two goldens (six and nine years). What do you recommend that is safe and does the job?

 

A.The most important factor with the heartworm issue depends on where you live and the real incidence of the disease in your area. Where I live, I rarely see positive heartworm and we have hardly distributed any preventative in over 15 years. A number of our patients are taking homeopathic nosode preventatives. As far as fleas go, there are dozens of products on the market for repelling these parasites, both for oral and topical use, that can be tried in place of products like Frontline.

Q.I am a U.S. soldier serving in Germany. I have a three-month-old Shih Tzu named Juli. Last week she started getting a small lump on her neck. I took her to a vet and he gave her some antibiotics. Three days later, she started getting another on her back. I took her back to the vet and he did the same thing. The problem is, neither of the lumps is going away. They feel like they are filled with fluid and are just under the skin. Here is the strangest part: when Juli plays with my other Shih Tzu, the lumps seem to get harder and bigger. Do you have any idea what these could be?

 

A.It would be good to have a veterinarian do a fine needle aspiration for cytology (no sedation required). I say this because I have recently seen several mast cell tumors in three-month-old dogs. One of the characteristics of these tumors is that they do fluctuate in size when manipulated. If this or something similar were the diagnosis, it would make a big difference in the proper approach to therapy. Remember that the nickname for the skin is the “third kidney”. It is a powerful eliminative organ. These may just be cysts that will either run their course or could be lanced by your veterinarian. Also, it is common for animals to have local reactions to vaccinations and the neck is a common site. Before giving Juli any more vaccines, please read the series of articles about over-vaccination in the Animal Wellness library.

Q.I am a nutritionist working in a health and wellness centre. I’ve been asked by several pet owners if alkaline water is the same for dogs. Do they need it, or will it affect them to drink water that has been alkalized?

 

A.I’ve pondered this myself for many years. As big a proponent as I am of alkalizing for humans, dogs and cats are carnivores and meat-eating is basically acid-forming. Also, when animals experience chronic illness like arthritis and cancer, a blood enzyme they have, referred to as alkaline phosphatase, commonly elevates, possibly indicating a too alkaline state. With this said, I have had many clients over the years use water for their animals they claim is alkaline, and feel it is beneficial.

Q.I adopted a seven-year-old dog from the shelter who is lyme positive. His liver enzymes are fine except the alkaline phosphaste is 217. I presently give him Vetri Science multiple, Missing Link for his omegas, and Jointagen. Should I give milk thistle?

A.Our research taught us that the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, though actually produced in the liver, metabolically references the function of the adrenal glands. I would say yes to the milk thistle and would also recommend an adrenal glandular supplement as well as a liver glandular. Also, by definition, you have an elevation in an enzyme designated alkaline, so giving vitamin C in the ascorbic acid form would be indicated.

Q.For years, my mother’s seven-year-old Pekingese has had a condition called vulvafold dermatitis. The doctor prescribes cream for it but it never really goes away. It bothers her so much she constantly rubs her bottom on the floor and it sometimes ends up bleeding. The doctor said the only way to get rid of it is with surgery. Can you suggest a holistic approach?

 

A.The cause of this condition is typically mechanical or anatomical in nature. It would be similar to chronic diaper rash, propagated by a fold that retains moisture. This leads to chronic inflammation and secondary infection.

In its early stages, I’ve had success using topical preparations such as hydrogen peroxide (it doesn’t sting dogs like it does us), medicated powders like aloe cornstarch or Gold Bond, propolis ointment, aloe vera or calendula gels. If infected, olive leaf extract or oil of oregano can help.

If the condition is as chronic as it sounds, the veterinarian may be correct. One surgical procedure to remove that deep fold could lead to years of relief.

Q.Every time my Peke/Shi-Tzu mix sheds, she scratches and pulls tufts of hair out with her mouth. I guess when they shed, they itch? What herbal can I give her to eliminate the itching? She is driving us both crazy!!

 

A.There are a myriad of products on the market to address skin problems and especially those associated with allergies. Besides the natural anti-inflammatory Beta thyme, by DMSC or Moduvet, I would recommend one of each of the many homeopathics and herbals on the market indicated for this condition. For example, we use homeopathic Skin Aid by PHP and we have an herbal formulation tincture called Allergy Formula by Animal Nutritional Technologies that contains echinacea and nettles. Also, do some research on the best diet for your dog. If you get no response from these suggestions, it would be wise to get this looked at and diagnosed by a veterinarian.

Q.Do you think Mgn-3 is good for dogs that have lymphoma? What would you suggest for this?

 

A.In our clinic, we have been using Cellular Forte but if you wanted to try Mgn-3, you could certainly do so.
Our approach is not to put all our eggs into any one basket. There are many products out there that have been touted as a cure-all for cancer and if it works for specific animals, it is a cure. But not all animals respond the same way and that’s why we use multi-faceted treatment programs.

A word about cancer
With so many animals being diagnosed with cancer these days, more and more people are looking to alternative or integrative therapies to help their companions. We applaud those people who care enough to investigate treatment options that will save your companions’ lives and cause the least amount of long-term side effects. Obviously, it is difficult to make recommendations for cancer treatment through a question and answer column. In our clinic, we work up each case individually. We don’t work on the cancer so much as we do on the patient because we know the cure for cancer is the reestablishment of proper immune integrity. We use a myriad of homeopathic, herbal, and glandular products, for instance, to restore the patient’s health. There are now many nutraceutical products that have actual anticancer/antitumor activity and, depending upon the cancer, we will incorporate one or several of these. We look at diet, lifestyle, genetics, and medical (including vaccine) history to try to determine how the patient got to this place and then make recommendations to help rebalance the immune system.

Since some of you have asked specifically about diet, let me tell you that, in general, the new documentation for cancer patients is to provide a high protein (of good quality), high fat, little or no carbohydrate diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are recommended and we like salmon oil or oil from another cold water fish source. Of the raw diet for cancer patients, I would say this: cancer is the most unnatural state of health. Raw diet is the closest thing to nature for carnivores. Sometimes you have to fight the extreme with the extreme and raw does provide a superior source of protein. The acclimation to home prepared or raw diet is also different from one patient to another. Some animals will do fine on it immediately while others require a transition period. Your holistic veterinarian can help provide you with personal advice for your animal with respect to diet.

Q.Do you know of any products or methods that may help us live with fecal incontinence? My red heeler has had anal gland surgery and now suffers from this condition. She sleeps on our bed and accompanies me to work every day and has done so for the last 13 years. How long does it take from the time food goes in to the time it comes out the other end? Can we regulate this?

 

A.Every patient is different, as is the speed at which food passes through their GI tract. Sometimes bulking up the stool can work. I have had limited success using slippery elm and Acetylator by Vetri Science. Since one of our specialties over the last three decades has been rectal surgery by freezing, I have seen more cases like this than the average veterinarian. With some, I have had good success with sedating or using general anesthesia, and gently and gradually stretching out and breaking down any strictures that might be causing the incontinence. This should only be done by a veterinarian experienced in this kind of procedure. If the incontinence is neurological of functional, try acupuncture as a possible treatment.

Q.Can you recommend to me a natural medicine for Cushing’s disease in dogs? My 12-year-old mixed breed Pomeranian/Chihuahua developed diabetes because of Cushing’s. I read your book The Nature of Animal Healing and am giving her goldenseal, five drops at night with food. I am also giving her alpha lipoic acid (50 mg) and 125 IU of vitamin E in the morning for the diabetes. I found phosphatidyl-serine in a health food store (you recommended it for Cushing’s) but I don’t know how many milligrams to give her. I also changed her food with potato, green beans, carrots, broccoli, chicken and whole wheat rice. I live in San Juan, PR and it is hard for my dog to travel to the U.S.

 

A.So far, you are doing a good job and I would not change any of that. The phos-serine you mention almost always comes in a complex formula, and giving one labeled 50 mg is a proper dose. I’ve had clients go up to 100 mg with their dogs, including those that are Pomeranian-sized, with no reported problems.

One form of Cushing’s disease is called atypical, and this variety responds to melatonin supplementation. Specific testing through your veterinarian would be needed to diagnosis if this is the type of Cushing’s your dog has. Another fairly new supplement we’re witnessing positive clinical response with is called Humanofort. It comes in a formula called Dogtor Rx by Pet Equinox.

Q.Can you recommend a diet and herbal remedies for a dog with struvite bladder stones? My dog is a ten-year-old neutered male Peke cross.

 

A.There are commercially available prescription diets that address this condition but I typically like to stay away from them because of quality issues with their ingredients. Although it could entail more work, I prefer home derived diets. The top of my list are raw diets consisting of 70% to 80% meats, crushed bone and the rest veggies. This work very well. Under that would be home cooked meals. There are several ways to go with this; a good reference would be the Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: The Healthful Alternatives by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, PhD. For supplementation, I would use UT Strength by Vetri-Science Labs, CoQ10, a cranberry extract supplement, and the homeopathic Uri-Cleanse by BHI or Urinary Aid by Professional Complementary Health Formulas.

Q.Can you give any advice on how to stop dogs eating rocks? I know a caring dog owner of two mixed breed ten-month-old puppies who has tried almost everything to stop her one male dog eating rocks, and nothing has worked.

 

A.If this is due to a pica condition (the term used when animals consume non-food items such as feces, rocks, and other objects), one product I have seen work is Sea Meal by Solid Gold. This product is indicated directly for stool eating, but may help your friend’s puppy. She could also consider “training” the dog by coating rocks with a bad-tasting product like bitter apple. I have also seen a hot pepper sauce work. If this is truly a behavioral problem, then I would consult a specialist in the field of dog behavior modification.

Q.Both of my dogs (unrelated) had Cushing’s disease. Do they now know what the cause is? I have heard that it is from too many vaccines.

 

A.The correct answer to this question is beyond the scope of one definitive answer. Most Cushing’s cases are secondary to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland; currently, surveys show that approximately 50% of all disease-related deaths in dogs are due to cancer. So this is almost analogous to trying to explain the cause of cancer in one paragraph! Basically, immune suppression and aberration are behind it all, so we must look at the many factors that cause this. And yes, vaccinations are one of those key factors.

Q.Are “human grade” vitamins safe for dogs? There are so many dog vitamins out there and the cost is more than what I pay for my own. I’m looking for a good multi for my dogs. We home cook for them. Also, my springer has pulled out her dew claw. The area is puffy, with no blood or discharge. Our vet didn’t want to prescribe antibiotics and suggested topical polysporin and saltwater poultice. Is there a homeopathic oral remedy that would reduce the puffiness? She won’t let me near her paw.

 

A.I’ve been practicing and prescribing supplementation for dogs and cats for over 30 years and the majority of these supplements, especially up to just a few years ago, have been human products. For the dewclaw, I like topical 3% hydrogen peroxide. I also use the oral homeopathics by BHI Infection, Traumeel and/or Injury. Also, good old homeopathic arnica can help.

Q.Any suggestions about protecting my one-year-old dog from lepto? My five-year-old dog died from it almost two years ago. He had four strains, and two had no vaccine. I run titers on my dogs. My 13-year-old dog has not had DHPP since 2002. I do a rabies vaccine by law. I feed the 13-year-old a raw diet, and the one-year-old is on a natural brand of dog food. What else can I do?

 

A.This is a delicate situation to give advice on. Yes, there are new strains of this illness for which no vaccines offer protection. I don’t know exactly which strains you are referencing above. Fort Dodge now offers the Duramune Leptospirosis vaccine that immunizes against L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona as well as L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola.

I’m not a big fan of vaccinating for lepto, but then I do not practice in a very high-risk area. I have seen too many adverse reactions to the vaccine, including kidney failure and death.

My general advice is to focus on health, as you seem to be doing already, along with avoiding potential exposure. Leptospira thrive in spring and autumn when wet soil conditions and moderate temperatures support their otherwise poor survival. Infection by contact with infected urine or ingesting urine-contaminated water is the most common means of transmission. So avoiding these scenarios is key in locations where lepto is reported. If the illness is suspected, early treatment with appropriate antibiotics is generally quite successful.

Q.Annabelle is five years old and we have had her for eight months. She has adjusted well. We have some anxiety issues being treated with “rescue drops”. She has started filling up with mucus and sneezing all over the place when she gets agitated or sometimes just out of the blue. Prednisone stopped her chewing her legs raw and the sneezing for a while but I don’t want her on it again. That’s when I started “rescue” and have tried a program of vomica, hepar and engystol. Again this stopped the itchy skin but not the sneezing. She plugs up so bad at times she breathes with her mouth open. She also throws up white frothy, slimy vomit whenever she gets excited.

 

A.You need to first make sure this is not associated with a condition called autoimmune thyroiditis (many times related to vaccines). Your dog’s thyroglobulin autoantibodies should be tested. If this is the problem and it’s not addressed, it will be substantially more difficult getting her better. At our clinic, we would use Betathyme, the Chinese herbal Kai Yeung (Seven Forest)–which is good for severe itching, Skin-Aid (Professional Health Products), which contains homeopathic histamine and finally allergy formulas containing herbal echinacea and nettles.

Regarding diet, stay away from known allergens such as wheat, beef and yeast and try alternative protein sources such as fish and duck. Your veterinarian could consider doing allergy testing on blood through Spectrum Labs to determine known allergens. If you need relief from the symptoms of the itchy skin, I would recommend natural hydrocortisone over prednisone. As far as the anxiety goes, there are a number of flower essences on the market which are more precise than “rescue remedy”. If you can narrow it down to the specific essences your dog needs (or consult an expert in this field), it can make a real difference to issues surrounding anxiety.

Q.After much research and seeing four veterinarians, my three-year-old Australian shepherd female has been diagnosed with Mouth Chewer’s Syndrome, and is re-injuring her frenulum. She is scheduled to have surgery by a very qualified veterinary dentist (in MI). In the meantime, she has been on two courses of antibiotics to try and remedy the wounds in her mouth. After the first episode, she got stubborn yeast infections in both ears and now her vulva-vaginal area. The new vet dentist gave us Animax for the ears, mineral oil, and what human ladies use for yeast infections (he mixes this up himself). He reswabbed her ears and they are sterile. She still has the yeast infection down below, and he wants to reswab her when she comes in for surgery. My question is (keeping in mind she is going to have laser surgery on her frenulum, and probably will be put back on antibiotics) what probiotics do you recommend that I add to her diet? Can one give something vaginally as well? I would also like to add vitamin C to her diet. Should we use ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, or the esterfied vitamin C?

 

A.The probiotic I prefer over all others on the market are those composed of soil organisms. Initially, I started using Primal Defense by Garden of Life. While others are now becoming available, it is the original and the one I still prefer. As far as topical treatments for yeast go, a product named Malaseb might help; consult with your veterinarian. The true way to know which vitamin C to chose would be determined by blood results and by looking at the enzymes that reference acid and base balance.

Q.About three months ago, my 12-year-old German shepherd began having difficulty getting up and walking. Our vet, who is an orthopedic specialist, X-rayed her and it appears her vertebrae have fused together with new bone, and that this new bone has since cracked. Her spine and ribs appear to have frayed in many places. Her liver, spleen and heart were slightly enlarged. Her lungs were fine. Our vet suggested she may be fighting a bacteria in her spine, causing the body to build new bone to combat it. Although he does practice holistically, he prescribed Cephalexin (500mg caplets, three times a day for three weeks). She improved enough that we could resume our daily walks, but a month later she began to have problems again. Our vet put her on a second round of the same antibiotic and added Geri-Tabs (Vetcom Inc.) three times a day.

 

A.I prefer cases like this to be handled hands-on by a veterinarian well seasoned in both conventional and complementary medicine. In my practice, we primarily handle patients like this with full metabolic analysis leading to multiple nutraceutical formulations along with herbal and homeopathic remedies, intravenous therapy with high levels of vitamin C, adrenal extracts, ozone gas and injectable homeopathics and acupuncture with chiropractic. We will do long distance consultations where a willing veterinarian is involved in the loop.