Healthy Pets

Skin Problems

Becaue we can see the skin, we seem to worry more about problems with the skin than we do about more subtle ailments.

First, I want you to understand that it is a good thing to have skin problems rather than morre internal and serious problems. We do want our animals to have healthy skin and have great fur. We just want it to happen in a way that builds up his overall energy, activity, emotional state and general health.

Second, the best way to heal the skin, re-grow the fur and have him be healthier overall is to feed a raw meaty bone and pureed vegetable diet, stop all vaccines, avoid chemicals and smoke, use good for the skin supplements like Zinc, Lecithin, C, B, algaes, salmon oil. If that is not helping, then try some holistic approaches. I have seen hair grow faster when someone learns Reiki, or does massage. I have seen hair re-grow overnight with the correct homeopathic remedy.

Third, learn  about illness and healing and the patterns it takes. Then use a journal (Mine or your own. Mine is avaailable at www.HealthyAnimalsJournal.com) to track each symptom )so you know if you are doing the best for your dog.Learning can come from great books and classes - see my site.

Plastic Bag Danger

None of likes to see the litter of plastic bags. What we often forget is how dangerous they are to animals. The following story is from a great site (http://www.onebagatatime.com) that educates you about the environment impact of using paper and plastic bags. I have used no more than 5% paper or plastic bags since I was 18, so this is a topic of great interest to me.

Bags pose a danger to wildlife on land too. This story came to me from a customer in Alaska:
My husband is a veterinarian. One of the saddest things he ever did was treat a friend's baby reindeer. She was about 3 months old. Just kept getting sick, getting worse, and would not eat. She finally died, and when my husband checked to see what she had died from, she had ingested a grocery bag that had flown into her corral. (He suspected this). We have two reindeer ourselves and we are very careful about trash around here. The owners of the reindeer fawn have discussed with us what to do about the bag problem. Thank you for being the beginning of an answer! In fact, I'll give them a few of the bags. Ann

Click on the comment button and let us know if you use paper or plastic bags, or reusable ones.

Struvite crystals

Vinegar dissolves struvite crystals

For those of you whose cats have struggled with urinary blockages, this tip for your vet may help  get your cat home sooner for your holistic treatment and TLC.

One of my homeopathic colleagues told us that she is able to easily unblock cats with struvite crystals.  After she passes the urinary catether, she flushes the bladder with

commercial vinegar (that's about 5% acetic acid) half vinegar and half sterile water. Generally what I will do is mix up several syringes full of the solution, and watch for the urine to come out and not precipitate in the bottom of the bowl. I usually then take some of the solution and urine that is withdrawn after flushing and check it under the microscope to see if all the crystals are gone. When I check u/a for crystals and want to confirm struvite, I just put 1 or 2 drops of straight vinegar on the slide and watch the magic show -- BTW it's a great way to impress vet students, who don't tend to learn simple things like that any more.

Healthy Pet Classes

Radio Show & Healthy Pet Workshops in

Timonium

,

MD

Jan 26 & 27 at Pet Expo

Radio Show Hear Zoe Heronimus interview me on Sunday, Jan 20. Go to http://www.zoharaonline.com/ for podcast access information and more. Check out her other shows, too.

CLEARVIEW RADIO 

SHOW

- SUNDAYS

3-5PM

   1370AM WVIE RADIO, MD

2. Healthy Pet Workshops in

Timonium

,

MD

Jan 26 & 27 at Pet Expo

On January 25, 26, & 27 2008, the World of Pets Expo will be held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in

Timonium

,

MD.

The Expo features something for everyone from the serious pet enthusiast to the casual pet admirer. Many activities and demonstrations will be directed toward children and the Expo is an exciting event for the entire family.  www.worldofpets.org

Canine Health Evaluation Workshop with Dr. Christina Chambreau 

An internationally known homeopathic veterinarian will teach you how to evaluate the health of your dog. Save money on your vet bills and take steps to vibrant health for your pet. Learn to recognize the early warning signs of illness. How can you improve your dogs health and longevity? Let Dr. Chambreau show you the natural way in this 1 1/2 hour workshop. One workshop on Saturday, January 26,

10:00 am

till

11:30

, and one on Sunday, January 27,

10:00 am

till

11:30

.  Pre-registration is required due to the limited number of available slots. $50 with dog, $30 without dog. Limit of 6 spaces with dog per workshop and 30 spaces without dog. 
Call 800-882-9894 or email: info@worldofpets.org to register.

In addition to the many popular returning entertainers, World of Pets Expo will be announcing new acts as contracts are finalized. Please book mark this site and return for updates.

Shopping, Entertainment, Educational Seminars

Exhibitors will fill the spacious

Cow

 

Palace

with thousands of products and services for pets. Some of the country’s foremost authorities in the pet industry will present seminars and demonstrations covering practically every aspect of pet care and training. Pets covered in these seminars include dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, ferrets and other animals. In addition to the shopping extravaganza and the seminar series, there will be continuous entertainment and demonstrations by nationally known pet organizations, interactive and educational presentations where children may handle live animals, a Parade of Breeds, a Petting Zoo and many others.

3. Vinegar dissolves struvite crystals

For those of you whose cats have struggled with urinary blockages, this tip for your vet may help  get your cat home sooner for your holistic treatment and TLC.

One of my homeopathic colleagues told us that she is able to easily unblock cats with struvite crystals.  After she passes the urinary catether, she flushes the bladder with

commercial vinegar (that's about 5% acetic acid) half vinegar and half sterile water. Generally what I will do is mix up several syringes full of the solution, and watch for the urine to come out and not precipitate in the bottom of the bowl. I usually then take some of the solution and urine that is withdrawn after flushing and check it under the microscope to see if all the crystals are gone. When I check u/a for crystals and want to confirm struvite, I just put 1 or 2 drops of straight vinegar on the slide and watch the magic show -- BTW it's a great way to impress vet students, who don't tend to learn simple things like that any more.

Pet food Recalls

Blog pet 4 1 07
More and more foods implicated in the recall of processed foods. You know that I have been

recommending feeding fresh, whole food products to your animals for the last 20 years. Here is

one more reason why that is important. Even companies with great reputations, like Hills Pet

Nutrition are using ingredients that are now possibly contaminated.

Find a local farm that raised animals for meat in a caring, wholistic way and visit the farm. (Or

raise them yourself.) See what they feed. Ask how they are slaughtered. Notice what is being

spread on the land. Feed this meat to your dogs, cats and other carnivores. Get fresh vegetables

locally or raise them yourself. If you use grains, find a store that will grind them freshly or

grind them yourself (http://waltonfeed.com/self/grinder.html).  Grains lose nutrients within

hours of being ground. Feeding your animals whole foods from sources you know will dramatically

lower the risk of contaminated foods and will help the planet by decreasing petroleum usage.
You also know I have firmly advocated never feeding dry food to cats. In the Baltimore Sun

newspaper on Saturday, 3/3/107, the wire reports said that the first dry food is being recalled -

M/D Feline Dry Cat Food. This is the only Hills product with contaminated wheat gluten. The

problem is that with dry, and even canned foods, you DO NOT KNOW where the ingredients come from.

Sometimes even the manufacturer does not know the ingredients of the mixtures they purchase and

they rely on the reputation of the processing companies.

TAKE ACTION NOW - begin to switch your animals to a freshly prepared diet. It does not have to

cost more. It does not need to take a lot longer to prepare. Call me for an appointment for

guidance, if you need some. There are many great books that I will cover later.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 24, 2007) - As a result of reports from the FDA and

various media outlets that some recalled lots of "cuts and gravy" style wet pet food remain on

store shelves, Menu Foods has asked all retail outlets to immediately remove all impacted

varieties of wet pet food posted at www.menufoods.com , regardless of the date code.
Variety or Multi-Packs:
If you are in possession of a variety or multi-pack, please be sure to check the individual can

or pouch rather than relying solely on the date coding on the side of the carton.

        Dog Foods                                          Cat Foods

America's Choice, Preferred Pets    Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority                                     Authority
Award
Best Choice                                 Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Cadillac
Companion                                  Companion
                                                   Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket              Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba                                    Eukanuba
                                                   Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion                                    Food Lion
                                                   Foodtown
Giant Companion                        Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford                                  Hannaford
Hill Country Fare                         Hill Country Fare

                                                  Hill's M/D Feline Dry Cat Food
Hy-Vee                                       Hy-Vee
Iams                                          Iams
Laura Lynn                                 Laura Lynn
                                                  Li'l Red
Loving Meals                              Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice                   Meijer's Main Choice
Mighty Dog Pouch
Mixables
Nutriplan                                   Nutriplan
Nutro
Nutro Max                                 Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice                  Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Ol'Roy Canada
Ol'Roy US
Paws                                        Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty          Pet Pride
Presidents Choice                    Presidents Choice
Price Chopper                          Price Chopper
Priority Canada
Priority US                               Priority US
Publix
Roche Brothers
Save-A-Lot Choice Morsels       Save-A-Lot Special Blend
Schnucks                                 Schnucks
Shep Dog
                                               Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
                                               Sophistacat
                                               Special Kitty Canada
                                               Special Kitty US
Springsfield Prize                    Springfield Prize
Sprout                                    Sprout
Stater Brothers
Stop & Shop Companion           Stop & Shop Companion
Tops Companion                      Tops Companion
Wegmans Bruiser                    Wegmans
Weis Total Pet                        Weis Total Pet
Western Family US                  Western Family US
White Rose                             White Rose
Winn Dixie                              Winn Dixie
Your Pet

Heat Stroke

Hot Dogs in Hot Weather

Dogs are most likely to experience heat stroke in the spring or early summer before they have had time to adjust to higher temperatures. Humidity increases the risk. Getting used to heat can take about two weeks, according to Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, a specialist in Internal Medicine. Even though it is hotter and more humid later in the summer, the dogs are less likely to have heat strokes unless left in a car or severely overexercised. The adjustments are salt conservation by the kidney and sweat glands and blood volume changes and improved cardia performance. According to The Capitol Area Kennel Club, younger dogs in good health are more likely to be affected and this can happen even with mild exercise.

If you realized your dog is overheated - red gums and tongue, weakness, collapse, excessive panting, muscle tremors, even vomiting and diarrhea - hose her down with cool (not cold or icy) water. Or put some water on and blow a fan on her. Offer Gatorade or other electrolye replacement if not vomiting a lot.

Keep taking the temperature and when it is at 103 (still high), stop the cooling as you do do want him to become hypothermic. If your dog is collapsed, you do need to go straight to a veterinary clinic while applying the ice packs and any holistic treatments. IV fluids, IV glucose, balanced electrolytes and oxygen can be given if necessary.

Rescue Remedy, Emergency Animal trauma essence or any other emergency Flower Essences are totally safe and easy to administer, both in the mouth and in the cooling water baths.

Generally safe to give would be homeopathic remedies. Start with a dose of Belladonna - put 2 pellets of 30c (or higher if you have it on hand) in 1/2 Cup of water in a jar and shake it 30 times. Give a dropperful. This is most useful if there is a lot of redness and heat in the gums, face, ears and skin.  Repeat evey 10 minutes if it is helping, for up to 4 times, then occasionally if still needed. If your dog seems very anxious, Aconite can be given the same way. Gelsemium is best for profound exhaustion, collapse and muscle tremors.

Some Labrador Retrievers have a metabolic condition where their temperature rapidly rises even in normal weather. This can cause the same symptoms and collapse. They can be fine as pets. These dogs would need excellent holistic care to be cured of the energy imbalance that is causing the problem. 

Healthy Animal's Journal

LOOKING FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT?  THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THE JOURNAL.

HEALTHY ANIMAL'S JOURNAL IS IN AN E-BOOK VERSION

Marty Levin, my partner, is putting the finishing touches on having the ebook on the web so can order the soft cover book or the ebook.  The electronic version will be a blessing to those who have large numbers of animals. The soft cover book is still perfect for gifts and for those of you with only a few animals. The following are a few comments from happy journal users.

***Just a note to let you know how vital the journal has been in tracking my cats' health. Each cat has their own and it is my bible! Just a few notes each day gives me the ability to see any patterns or symptoms developing between our phone appointments. It allows me to provide you with a summation of raw data, enabling you to pinpoint an exact course of treatment for them. I could never do this off the top of my head, with the accuracy the journal gives me. Many thanks to you for this valuable tool!

Lauren Palmieri and Muntz and Violet Lynn   

***

The healthy pet journal arrived, it is lovely, I really like how you can put
the pet's photo on the front. There is a lot of good information in it for
pet owners at all stages. Joan Goddard, New Zealand Homeopath

***

The journal helped me be to learn to be more aware of my cats' habits and to have a place to note these things. I am still learning to use it to the fullest extent!

***I am enjoying my journal although I must say I don't make daily entries.  But it's wonderful for writing down anything I notice, instead of relying on my memory when we visit our allopathic, holistic and myofascial release vets.  I make note of all the supplements (name and dosage) and other products I use as well and take the book with me instead of lugging a baggie full of bottles and tinctures :-)

Vicky, Bailey Boo and Beanie T. Bear

To order, go to www.HealthyAnimalsJournal.com or email me at HealthyAnimals@aol.com or call  410-771-4968. If the ebook is not up yet, it will be very soon, so keep checking.

Have a blessed holiday season

Maryland Venison

You have heard me and others speak of the benefits of a fresh food diet. Your dog loves fresh meat, raw or cooked, and bones. You have a big dog and are looking for local (to help the environment by using less petroleum to ship the meat) sources of meat. Here is one!!

A GREAT SOURCE OF RAW MEAT

A Christmas Present to your dogs and cats from the gentle herbivores.

In the Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, December 12, 2006, an article spoke of venison being used in soup kitchens. I called one company in the article, Ridgely and Ferrens Marketplace in Towson, MD. Hafey Hyle, the owner, said they make packages of "venison dog bones" which are bones that often have meat on them. They sell for $10. Call 410-823-2030 and ask if a box is available. This would be especially good for those of you with large dogs.

In Montgomery County, a farmer, Tom Wiles, Jr manages Willard Farm and says he loses 10 to 15 percent of his grain crop, so you know that these deer are not 100% organic, but their meat is still much better than grocery store meat and is local (this helps the environment). You could try to contact him to see if he would sell deer scraps for your wonderful dogs and cats.

Also, Paul Peditto, the director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources wildlife and heritage services, may have leads as to where else to purchase deer meat.

Tuna for Cats (and People)

Christmas is coming and I like putting a can of dolphin safe tuna in my cats' stockings along with some organic catnip from PetGuard. The following will help me choose the most healthy tuna.

You know that the quality of ingredients is critical for your health and that of your animals. In our increasing polluted, overconsuming world, we must constantly update ourselves on our food sources. That is why it is best to support local, organic farms, through CSA (community support agriculture) and free range meat and dairy. When a product, like tuna, is not produced in your back yard, you must relay on different sources to tell you of the source and processing of the product. I speak often that one benefit of feeding a whole, fresh food diet is seeing the ingredients and knowing the source of them. The following is from the wonderful newsletter from www.LittleBigCat.com. Dr. Hofve and Jackson Galaxy are totally trustworthy and subscribinig to their newsletter will provide you with wonderful information in addition to my blog newsletter.

In Volume 4 Number 7, they speak about levels of mercury in tuna.

"High levels of mercury were even found in light tuna, which the FDA once recommended over albacore because of the latter's even higher levels. The FDA advises pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children to avoid fish with high levels of mercury—not only albacore but also shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. High mercury levels have been linked to developmental delays in children and to heart, nervous-system and kidney damage in adults.   

Tuna is a common ingredient in pet food, especially in cat food; and you can bet that the tuna used is the cheapest grade available—which is potentially the highest in toxins. (Salmon, another popular ingredient, is nearly all factory-farmed, and therefore high in a variety of toxins.)   

So what to do if you and your cat are tuna lovers? Tuna from Asia had the lowest levels of mercury. There are also a few companies that specialize in small, line-caught, sashimi-grade albacore that is naturally low in mercury, such as Oregon's Choice and Vital Choice. It is best to simply avoid cat foods containing a lot of fish. (For more information, see the article "Why Fish is Dangerous for Cats" in our Library.)"

The web site for Vital Choice, www.VitalChoice.com, is full of great information as well as products you can order. To order their products and contribute to animal shelters, go to www.ChristinaChambreau.com/products. For instance, the following speaks to benefit and safety of fish oil

"Twin Studies Agree Fish Benefits Outweigh Risks	10/20/2006
Two new scientific reports released yesterday reinforce what we heard at last year’s Seafood & Health conference: -The benefits of fish to human health outweigh the risks, with certain specific exceptions for children and pregnant/nursing women. -Fatty, short-lived wild fish such as sardines and Alaska salmon or sablefish are the most beneficial species and the safest as well."

Milk Thistle

The following tip comes from the great newsletter by Dr. Jean Hofve and Jackson Galaxy. to subscribe, go to the fun, purring website, www.LittleBigCat.com.

"Many cats and dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have concurrent inflammation of the liver/bile system and the pancreas. This threesome of symptoms is called "triaditis." Because milk thistle's beneficial actions concentrate on the liver and bile systems, it may also be helpful in animals with IBD." volume 4 #7

I like using Milk Thistle in combination with other herbs, and particularly like Senior Blend or De-Tox from Animals' Apawthecary at Animal Essentials (order at www.ChristinaChambreau.com/products).