Cici needs surgery

Update:

I have a concussion from bashing my head during a recent fall. Along with the other health issues I am dealing with, and other crises (last blog post). We are on our way to hopefully get housed in the Palm Springs area.

Right now, we are stranded about 30 miles away without gas or a cent to buy any.

At least there is a Starbucks, Walmart, Home Depot, grocery store and other stores here but it is also 20 degrees colder here than in Palm Springs. Not fun when you are sleeping in your car.

Thankfully, CIci was able to go to a vet to see about a lump / tumor on her leg. Pets of the Homeless paid for the exam. She is going to need surgery to get the tumor removed and biopsied.

Put up a fundraiser to help pay for the costs. If you can, please share and/or donate.

Here is the link:

https://www.youcaring.com/cici-the-polka-dot-princess-468095

Thank you.

New diet for Cici

 

well, I decided that I could not give Cici the antibiotics and steroids. I was getting anxiety attacks every time that I did. She was acting strange so that was that. And I also realized that the Neutralizer gel makes growths, warts and skin tags seem worse before they fall off so that is probably what the vet was concerned about, that the growth looked worse.

Now, am giving Cici a new diet. An anti-growth on the toe diet.

She is getting Nori seaweed with her food, quinoa which is an amazing food for dogs and humans, avocado, almond butter, and raw tripe as well as Bio-Preparation with her food… In addition, will continue to topically spray ASEA on her toe, give her ASEA internally and also put Miracle 2 Neutralizer gel on her toe (not at the same time as when I put the ASEA on her toe).

BioPreparation for pets from Optimum Choices, check out their web site at BioPreparation_for_animals The founder of the company believes that the anti-cancer properties are due to realignment and re-balancing of the body through the metabolism of the algae.

Nori seaweed, amazingly, I got some for her already and she will not take it plain but sprinkled into her food, she scarfs it all up. surprise surprise.

Nori contains porphyran which has been shown to cause the death of cancer cells. (Nori is a red seaweed. Red seaweeds are the source of carrageenen and agar agar.) Algae are also an important emergency food. Spirulina contains compounds which help the body extract toxins (similar to brown seaweed) and in a variety of ways assists in killing cancer cells.

10 sheets of nori a week for cici

will be cooking up the Quinoa and mixing it up with other food, too.

Right now, we still have Dr. Harvey’s K9 Health. We may get some of the new Oracle dog food with raw tripe. She loves their Power Patties (tripe). There is a price factor to consider but I think it will wind up being six of one half a dozen of the other. The K9 health (10 pound bag) lasts two months and I have to add meat/protein to it. Oracle comes in a 6 pound bag, do not need to add protein to it.

http://www.drharveys.com/blog/post/52-dr-harvey-s-oracle-tripe-for-dogs

Quinoa (keen-wah) is not a grain; its actually a seed related to the spinach family. When cooked, it is light, fluffy, a bit crunchy and has a pleasant subtle flavor. It cooks and tastes like a grain, thereby making it a great replacement for grains that are difficult to digest or feed.  It is used in many hypoallergenic foods for dogs.

Some of the great things found in Quinoa are:

1. Protein – It contains the 9 essential amino acids that help to build muscle
2. Magnesium – Which helps relax muscles and lower blood pressure
3. Fiber – Aids with proper elimination
4. Manganese and Copper  – A great team of antioxidants and cancer fighters

By far, Quinoa is higher in potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper than wheat and barley.

1. Quinoa is rich in protein and can be a good substitute for meat-based-proteins in your dog’s diet.

2. Quinoa works as a good filler. Mix it with other foods and the dog may find it an interesting mixture. Several dog owners have been experimenting with adding quinoa with other ingredients like salmon and boiled eggs.

3. Quinoa is rich in Vitamin B12 essential for dogs. In fact there are a number of other important nourishment that quinoa packs as well.

4. The magnesium in quinoa keeps blood pressure under check.

5. Quinoa is quite filling and packs in proteins in place of carbohydrates. This keeps the dog’s obesity levels under check. Labradors, some retrievers and a few other breeds have a natural tendency to gain weight.

6. Quinoa has a nutty flavor and (at least) some dogs quite like it.

Quinoa for Dogs – the Againsts

1. Quinoa has a lot of fiber and dogs find it hard to digest. Dogs have shorter intestines, unlike us humans, and cannot digest cellulose or fiber. A number of owners reported observing complete quinoa seeds within their dog’s excreta.

2. A few dog owners said that their dogs had digestion problems to the extent of diarrhea and vomiting. However, in most of these cases, the dogs seemed to have been fed with uncooked quinoa. It may be that the quinoa in a few cases may not have been rinsed properly as well and the dogs may have lost their digestion because of saponins.

Useful tips and agreements

1. Nearly everyone agreed that quinoa may be given to dogs but in moderation. Instead of making quinoa a part of the dog’s daily diet, it may make greater sense to feed him the food twice a week.

2. Uncooked quinoa is a big no-no. While a number of owners give raw meat to dogs, raw quinoa is not a good idea. Dogs find it difficult to digest it. Nearly all owners who reported seeing whole quinoa seeds in their dog’s excreta had fed raw quinoa to their dogs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7645421

Pupdate 22

Had to take Cici to the vet AGAIN because her rear end was all red and swollen near her tail. Turned out that she needed to have her anal glands expressed (which I suspected)… and it turned out that she also lost 2 pounds (last time she gained 6 pounds, so this time she lost 2, she only gained 4 pounds then of the 14 she has lost in total)… have to pig this girl out, any suggestions???  vet said I just feed her even more food, am already giving her three meals a day plus treats. It is making me somewhat nutty that she is still so skin and boney.

The vet admitted that Cici’s skin is better even though she is still somewhat itchy. However, I did NOT enlighten her that I stopped the antibiotics. She wanted me to give her steroids but I have opted out of that too.

I called our local health food for dogs store (yes there is one in Carmel) and asked what they would suggest (sometimes the MOST obvious things you do not think to do until you do think of it)… this was after I ordered some special doggie shampoo from Amazon that turned out to be NOT so natural and made me ill… smelled like a combo of hair spray and those plug-in fragrances, two odors that are not not not all natural and get me sick.  I washed Cici with the shampoo and now she smells like that, ugh. But the company said they give 100% refund so I called Amazon and asked what their policy is and thankfully they said they would take it back, too. Refunded my card and sent me a link to print out a shipping label, too so I do not even have to pay the shipping charges. Gotta love Amazon for that !!!

Moving on in this saga, so I called the raw food doggie store, The Raw Connection, in Carmel and asked for their suggestion of an all natural doggie shampoo that would stop the itchies. And they told me about Miracle II Soap and Neutralizer (Liquid and Gel). She said it worked really well for her white poodle. I decided to give it a try. They had it on Amazon but I did not want to wait so we toodled on down to Carmel after the vet and got the moisturizing shampoo and gel.

 

This stuff is lauded to be good for just about EVERYTHING (I googled it)… so far have not given Cici another bath because TWO baths in ONE week would surely make her leave me. But I have used the gel on her icky areas (where she chews on herself until red, raw and bleeding) and voila, works!!!  also have rubbed the gel onto my osteoarthritis knees and seems to eliminate the pain, so am a happy camper.

Not cheap and there is the gel (which I bought) and the neutralizer liquid which I still plan to buy. The liquid can be taken internally for various reasons.

Fleas and Ticks:
Shampoo dog and cat with Miracle Soap – rinse. Then spray Neutralizer and let dry.  It will not hurt their eyes. Heals rashes, and cuts on dogs, cats and horses. Animal lovers, you will love it!

Putting on the Pooch

Update about my Cici girl….

SHE HAS GAINED SIX POUNDS… she had lost 14 pounds. Now to recap, she had fleas and possibly a tapeworm so I tried EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN and nothing natural really worked for her, the aromatherapies just made her rashy and itchy. Finally, I took her to the vet.  She is still somewhat itchy but I have ordered some doggie shampoo for her and an anti-itchy spray (herbal) that hopefully will take care of the issues. I talked to the company and found that I could get the products at a slightly better price and no shipping charge on Amazon.

I have been giving her an extra meal a day to put the weight back on and it is working.

No more fleas.  Now the vet gave me drugs to give to her including antibiotics. I gave her them for a couple of weeks but then it seemed to me that the drugs were making her rashier and itchier so I stopped.

And the medicated shampoo she gave us got Cici all greasy and did not stop the itchies.

So now am giving Cici the Herbal Internal Powder and No More Flea Drops from earthanimal.com that Kate suggested and it appears to be working since she is due for her flea medication and has NONE.  We shall see.

The powder and drops adjust the blood chemistry so that the fleas do NOT like the taste of it anymore. The powder is filled with good stuff like alfalfa, kelp, blue green algae, and the drops have wormwood (good to taking care of tapeworms), and other ingredients. I still have the confortis from the vet if necessary but am hoping that the powder and drops will work.

And we are not due back to the vet for a month and Cici should be back to her normal weight by next week. Am back to feeding her Canine Health by Dr. Harvey’s and a can of dog food (a huge can from Trader Joe’s). The rabbit and turkey burgers are great AND kind of expensive.

Voila.

and the big lump you see hiding under the cover is Cici LOL… If/when I put a cover over her, she will just stay like that until I take it off again… what can I say, she’s weird that way…

Give an Angel a Bone

Update:    Thanks everyone for posting about and sharing Tori’s fundraising info and donating to her vet care.   they now have enough money to cover the cost of the surgery. However, Tori will need several months of after-care and continuous monitoring by the vet and lots of x-rays to make sure the bone graft is successful. If not, she may need another surgery. Any future donations received for Tori will be earmarked for her follow-up vet care.

Dear friends,

This blog post is a heart felt plea. There are many animals in need and I do not usually ask for your help. But Tori is the sweetest dog living with enormous pain (and a great foster family who want to adopt her) and she needs your help. Can you please read her story and if you can, please do what you can to help her. If you cannot donate, please share her story with others.  Thanks.

Angels usually do not need extreme makeovers. But Tori, an adorable and very sweet little 6-yr-old bichon girl, needs an extreme makeover of the pain relieving kind. Tori has everything a former shelter stray could want: a loving home with foster parents who want to adopt her, lots of toys, treats, yummy food, and a new best friend named Samantha. Tori has everything a dog could ever want – except a jaw bone that is.

Tori’s story starts out like so many others at the shelter – running scared on the mean streets of Fresno, fending for herself. Unknown at the time was the fact that she was unable to eat anything but the softest of food, which explains why she was a bony nine pounds when she was rescued.

Tori’s vet exam revealed that she was healthy but in need of a dental cleaning. She didn’t want her mouth touched, but that’s pretty normal for anyone who has bad teeth. Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw on the x-rays. One of Tori’s teeth had decayed and abscessed to the point that it fractured and completely deteriorated her lower right jaw.

The excruciating pain she must have been in for so long is unimaginable. It is amazing that she has never complained or shown even one smidgen of aggression or bad temper.

Tori is now on round-the-clock pain medication, but she needs surgery. The preliminary estimate was between $3,000-$4,000. We’ve been told that with surgery her prognosis is excellent . She will live a happy and normal life. BUT WITHOUT THIS SURGERY WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HER? The one thing we know for sure is that she can’t stay the way she is.

We decided to take a leap of faith (that’s where you come in!) Tori’s surgery is scheduled for October 16, but we desperately need your help!!

We hope that you will find it in your heart to help Tori’s makeover dream come true. Whatever you can spare will help, be it $5, $10, $50 or $500 on Tori’s behalf. Your donation is tax deductible and we will provide a receipt for your tax records. K9BFF is a 501c3 nonprofit charity (ID # 26-1185144), operated entirely by unpaid volunteers. 100% of your donation will go toward Tori’s vet expenses.

Imagine how great Tori will look and feel after her surgery! Just knowing that you helped make it possible, that you contributed to ending this angel’s suffering and giving her a new leash on life will be a divine gift.

Donation info:

Credit card payments can be made via Paypal on the website: www.k9bestfriendsforever.com

Checks can be mailed or delivered to K9BFF or directly to Tori’s vet (please specify it’s for Tori):

K9BFF

8839 N. Cedar Ave. #320

Fresno, CA 93720

Waterhouse Animal Hospital

1115 E. Champlain Dr.

Fresno, CA 93720

Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Blog Hop time…thanks to Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume…  grab the blog hop  link

my dog is a bunny rabbit hopping

why is cici  limping/hopping?

http://www.2ndchance.info/limping.htm

my major concern is due to her “bad” leg, the one she had three surgeries on her femur bone which was broken due to being run over when she was a little over a year old…there seems to be a bump standing out on the joint of that leg… does not appear to hurt her when I touch or move it… she was limping about a month and a half ago after some heavy exercise but it stopped so why now all of a sudden the last few days has she started hopping again????

 

roommate got home last night, am hoping he will take cici for a long walk

 

 

http://www.medicinenet.com/pets/dog-health/dog_is_limping.htm

Joints: Any one of the many joints in a dog’s limbs can be the source of enough discomfort to result in a limp. Discounting the multiple joints of the paws, there are three major joints in each limb of a dog. A dog’s front limb consists of the carpus (or wrist), the elbow, and the shoulder. The hind limb includes the tarsus (or ankle), the stifle (or knee), and the hip. Check each of these joints by applying light pressure and then increasing the pressure to moderate. If no discomfort is noted, try gently lifting the limb and slowly duplicate a normal range of motion. By supporting the entire limb, you can examine each joint in isolation and hopefully identify the source of the limp.

Bones: There are approximately 321 bones in a dog’s body. Bruising or fracturing of many of them could cause enough discomfort to result in a limp. Check the leg bones by visual observation first. Look for swelling, bleeding, or other signs of injury or asymmetry. Similar to examining the joints, examine the long bones of the limbs by applying mild to moderate pressure along their entire length. You can verify any suspected irregularity or abnormality by comparing it to the other healthy limb.

Steps for Performing an At-Home Pet Exam, by Dr. Karen Becker of Mercola.com

Regular at-home physical exams can help you learn what is normal for your pet’s body, and therefore allow you to detect when something is not normal. While it’s still important to take your pet for a professional annual exam at your vet, you can keep watch on your pet’s health in between visits by getting to know what’s normal, and what’s not, for your individual pet.

Perform the exam in a relaxed environment when your pet is not stressed or excited, or after an exercise session or nap (when they are likely to be sleepy and ready to relax). Put them on your lap, start with the tip of their nose and work your way to the tip of the tail.

1. First check the nose for debris and take note of whether it is wet or dry. Your pet’s nose will not always be wet and typically vary from moist to dry throughout the day depending on your pet’s body temperature, activity level and hydration.

2. Then, take a look to see whether there is abnormal eye discharge. For instance, if your cat or dog never gets eye discharge and suddenly has it, it’s a sign that there could be a problem.

3. Next check whether your pet’s pupils are symmetrical and look at the whites of their eyes. Red sclera (the part that is normally white) could mean inflammation of the eyes.

4. If your pet is not accustomed to having its mouth examined, slowly acclimate your pet to facial massages so that you can eventually check their mouth, gums and teeth. When you can, check inside the mouth for lesions, swelling, and bad breath. Their gums should be pink, teeth free of tartar and plaque, their tongue clear and the roof of the mouth clean and free from debris.

5. Next check the jaw line to see if it feels normal. Check the ears for debris, odor and cleanliness. Brush back the hair and look at the skin and coat. Check for excessive flakiness, lumps and bumps on the sides of the spinal cord and evaluate muscle tone and weight.

6. Look at the claws and pads of their feet. There should be no debris between the toes. Check for heat and swelling over your pet’s body and test the range of motion of the joints. Do the joints move freely without resistance or difficulty?

7. Gently palpate their belly to look for lumps and notice if your pet seems to experience discomfort. This is a good time to also gently check both mammary chains (do this for males too). Even if you don’t know the names of all the parts you are touching, if you examine your pet regularly you will begin to know what is normal for your companion. When there are changes, you will notice them quite quickly because you are familiar with the terrain of his or her body. Also examine your pet’s bottom for cleanliness.

Remember, in order for you to know what’s abnormal about your pet, you first need to know what’s normal. Performing regular at-home exams is a simple and very effective way for you to keep a close eye on your pet’s health. You can see a video of this exam at http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/11/07/how-to-perform-a-home-physical-exam-on-your-pet.aspx

spread the goo

It is Happy Peanut Butter month and what better way to celebrate than to add a little Healthy Goo to your dog’s life???  Cici is now itch-free and drools at the sight of her Goo. So get a jar, a spoon and get your dog on the Goo today.

Spread a little Goo and Fight Canine Allergies Too

Doggy GOO™ makes the Serious Business of Fighting Canine Allergy Itch Fun ! FUN for You Tasty Treat FUN for your Dog   with 100% Natural, GOO-licious Peanut Butter !   And to celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers Month, Healthy GOO has a Spread the GOO Promotion with $ 5 Savings on Doggy GOO.

When you Think American, you think Mom, Apple Pie, Hot Dogs, Baseball, Football, NASCAR and of course PB & J ! Found in 75% of American homes, Peanut Butter is as American as it gets. What child or adult, in the gut wrenching ravages of hunger has not grabbed a jar of their favorite peanut butter, their sweet tooth craving jelly, jam or preserve, maybe a little butter and a loaf of bread and hunkered down to make their favorite tasty snack on the planet… PB & J ! To call Peanut Butter a Food is a vast injustice to this humble appetite quenching, protein filled powerhouse. For many, Peanut Butter transcends the definition of a Food. It moves beyond a Snack, to a state of nirvana. Satisfying a craving, what does it better than peanut butter? In 1890, a St. Louis physician suggested processing and packaging ground peanut paste into a nutritious protein substitute.  Now, Top Chefs all over the world have embraced this GOOey substance for its taste, versatility and creative possibilities in some of today’s most innovative dishes! In symbiosis with this Peanut Butter Renaissance, Healthy GOO, an innovative Pet HealthCare Company has embraced 100% Natural Peanut Butter as “The” critical patient compliance ingredient in its Canine Allergy Product, which is Cute & Playfully called Doggy GOO.  DOGs just go Craaaazzy for Peanut Butter. Healthy GOO’s Medical Director and Veterinary Dermatologist Dr Kristin Holm explains why there is a Canine Allergy Fighting Method to its Peanut Butter / Doggy GOO Madness. “We chose 100% Natural Peanut Butter for a number of critical reasons. To begin, DOGs just Luv Peanut Butter, which ensures high “Patient / Dog Compliance” for Doggy GOO’s allergy focus. And because Doggy GOO is regarded as a Tasty Treat by your Dog, Pet Parent compliance is also virtually guaranteed to keep both the Pet and Pet Parent’s GOO Allergy Fight going!” Dr. Kristin further explains, “But there is more to GOO than meets the Dog’s Taste Buds. You see, Peanut Butter was not only chosen for its Tasty Treat appeal, but for its Lick / Lick / Lick GOOey-ness. You see, Doggy GOO employs what is called a Sublingual Delivery methodology in its fight against Canine Allergies. Pet Parents spread a small amount of Doggy GOO onto a clean bowl or plate, so that the Dog has to repeatedly Lick / Lick / Lick up their GOO. But while this is a GOO-Licious Tasty Treat for the Dog, with every GOO Lick, small amounts of Enviro Allergy ingredients are brought into the Dogs mouth, and the mouth is slathered with GOO Juice. It is via this GOO Juice presence to the thin mucosal skin of the Dog’s mouth that the Allergy ingredients are Sublingually absorbed into the bloodstream. It is via this GOO Juice presence, followed by absorption, that the Bio-Availability to the BloodStream begins to leverage the adaptive power of the immune system to build tolerance to these offending allergy sources and begins to work its Allergy Magic. Given Peanut Butter’s critical patient / dog compliance role in Doggy GOO’s Allergy Fight and in Celebration of November Peanut Butter Lovers Month, Healthy GOO offers its Spread the GOO Promotion with a $ 5 Savings ( Promotion Code PB&GOO5 ) toward each Doggy GOO Purchase thru December 5 2011. Please visit www.DoggyGOO.com and enter your GOO Promo Code. Dr Kristin shares ” A Dog’s Healthy Immune System can Fight Off much of what Life Throws at it Everyday. But when it comes to a Mis-Wired Allergy Immune System, Mother Nature can’t do it on her own, she needs a little extra Doggy GOO Re-Calibration Help. Doggy GOO celebrates Peanut Butter for making Fighting Canine Allergies FUN for Pet and Pet Parent.”.         A Dal named Rico drooling (for Goo) or food…   http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/drool6.htm

fleas and allergies and bites on dogs, oh my

Cici is still itchy and scratching herself, but after discussing the situation with Dr. Harvey’s office and Dr. Richmond’s office, I’ve been putting coconut oil on her skin and she is loving the taste of it too. I LOVE essential oils but Cici has had strong reactions to them sensitive girl that she is. Coconut oil is supposed to help with itchies and a lot of other situations. Am going to start taking it myself as well. We also got some spirulina. (Read about the health benefits at Dr. Mercola’s website).   I love Dr. Harvey’s herbal protection shampoo, smells yummy and has all good organic ingredients. Cici survived her bath. And she is eating Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health.  Only thing is that yesterday something bit her. And I got bit, too. Do not know what the bites are from. Ugh.

Once she got the hang of it, she LOVED having her belly and chest rubbed with the coconut oil (raw unrefined) and licked it off my fingers, too.  I think we have a winner.

http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/coconut-oil-benefits.html#2

Coconut oil has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal functions. Coconut oil alleviatesskin allergy symptoms (e.g. itching, dry skin and hair coat) and protects the skin against cancerous growths. When used topically, coconut oil can:

• Disinfect cuts and promote wound healing.
• Improve dogs’ skin and hair condition, making the hair coat smooth and shiny. It can also eliminate the dog’s body odor.
• Clear up numerous skin problems, such as warts, eczema, dandruff, precancerous lesions, ringworm, bites and stings.

an interview with Dr. Annette Richmond, holistic vet in Pacific Grove, California

do you have general suggestions for dogs who are itchy?  what do you look for and/or what should pet owners consider if their dog is constantly itchy, scratching and licking their paws?

Of course check for basic things like fleas first. If none, then I am thinking a food or environmental allergy. So then I always start with looking at the diet. A diet that is NO grain, high quality and easily digestible proteins, preferably organic is what I recommend.

Raw food is the best. Home cooking is terrific too. But if those options don’t appeal to the owner, then the brands I recommend include; Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Wellness, just to name a few.

Eliminating any treats that don’t fall in that category too. Supplementing with fish oils is therapeutic for itchy skin as it is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Use shampoo that contains therapeutic quality lavender oil and chamomile on a weekly basis, a high quality shampoo with oil will not dry out the skin. There are a few homeopathic anti-itch remedies as well.

Environmental allergies are tricky to diagnose, but all the above will help with that too. A blood test is easily performed to check for either food or environmental allergies.

are certain breeds more susceptible to fleas or allergies?

Yes, there are certain breeds affected by skin problems. All the breeds with extra skin folds: English bulldogs, Shar-peis, Mastiffs, and Pugs. Other breeds include: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, and West Highland Terriers.

are allergies seasonal or get worse during hay fever time? do dogs get hay fever? are there plants/grasses that make dogs sneeze and itch?

Some allergies are definitely seasonal for pets, as there are many environmental grasses and trees that make dogs itchy. So if these are in bloom, or growing well, dogs can be adversely affected by them. Dogs usually don’t sneeze like people, but may have inflamed eyes and discharge from the eyes.

how can pet owners prevent or treat fleas and allergies naturally?

Essential oils are a wonderful flea and tick repellent for dogs. Cats are too sensitive to the oils and I don’t recommend them for cats. One product line I carry is Only Natural Pet, they have an oil that is put along the back of the dog once weekly and also a spray to put on anytime the dog is going out. This product line also carries a flea powder that is made of diatomaceous earth which dries up the flea eggs and larva, and also contains essential oils as a repellent (this powder is safe for cats). These types of essential oils are used by humans for the same effect.

best diet/foods for dogs with allergies, sensitivities, digestive issues?

Organic, no grain, high quality protein. I recommend raw food whenever possible. There are many raw food brands. Starting the dog off slowly with just little bits to get them used to it, and supplementing their diet until they eat only raw food is the purest diet that their digestive tract is designed to handle. Raw meats can also be cooked if owners prefer. I also recommend probiotics and digestive enzymes along with the meat.

what do you think about comfortis and over the counter flea treatments? drugs for allergies (steroids)?

I don’t like to use any of the strong flea medications, they do build up in the environment and because there aren’t any long term studies on these products, I don’t feel comfortable recommending them for ongoing treatment. However, if an owner is dealing with a severe infestation, doing one dose after a good bath may be required once in a while. Many general practitioners will give steroids without trying some of these other treatments first. Only in very severe cases is a steroid warranted.

any other thoughts about itchy dogs esp. during summer?

Baths are wonderful with the right type of shampoo that puts good quality oils back onto the skin and all the other things I mentioned above.

About Dr. Richmond

Dr. Annette Richmond graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She became a certified veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society which is a world recognized certification program. Dr. Richmond has been integrating acupuncture in to her practice since 1999, and has continued the study of natural medicine, Eastern and Western herbology, homeopathy, flower essences, healthful diets, and nutraceutical support. She incorporates all of these into her natural medicine clinic to treat most common ailments. The clinic also includes a canine and feline physical rehabilitation component helping pets before and after orthopedic and neurologic surgery, pets that suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia and much more.

www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com

some relevant articles written by Dr. Richmond for Canine Coastal Magazine

http://www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com/coastal_canine_magazine_articles

my dog ate what?

should you or do you feed your dog raw soup bones (the marrow)???  well, sometimes I do… however, this past week cici had one and ate the whole thing… it was frozen, she ate it over a few hours, and it was large… a few hours later, she was panting and just plain acting weird, finally, she threw up a few times, and by about midnight, she finally stopped panting and came to bed… the next few days she had the runs (diarrhea)… I fed her lightly and was quite concerned that she might have swallowed a big chunk that might have gotten caught and clogged up her intestines… the vet said she would have to have x-rays ($100) and possibly exploratory surgery (thousands)… so if I EVER give her a raw bone again, it will be MUCH Smaller… and I will monitor her more often… I was watching her but was surprised when the whole thing was GONE…

The other night watched a show on National Geographic about stuff that dogs eat… and usually had to have surgery for because it threatened their life/health… $800 in $20 bills (the dog was able to throw those up like a doggie ATM), a huge spoon, a clothes hanger, fish hooks, thong underwear and other crazy things…

what’s the weirdest thing that your dog has ever eaten???

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/wild/shows-my-dog-ate-what

http://rawfed.com/myths/bones.html

socks are a dog’s best friend…

http://www.examiner.com/x-1552-New-York-Local-Travel-Examiner~y2008m11d2-What-your-dog-eats-when-youre-not-home

 

What your dog eats when you’re not home

November 2, 10:21 PM
by Hillary Richard, New York Local Travel Examiner

New Yorkers love their dogs. You can’t walk down any street in this city without seeing a dog on a leash, in a purse, or at an outdoor café. With over 200,000 dogs and counting (according to the 2005 statistics), it’s no surprise that it was a New York veterinarian who compiled a list of the strange things dogs eat.
Dr. Jennifer Mlekoday, the Co-Chief of Staff at West Chelsea Veterinary, created a Top 10 list of non-food items that most appeal to canines based on her work experience.

The top inedible pick for dogs? Socks. Yes, that’s right – the socks dirty enough to be relegated to the laundry hamper are Fido’s favorite. Other items range from the bizarrely unappetizing (rocks) to the strangely specific (corn cobs). Also on the list:

2. Underwear
3. Tights
4. Rocks
5. Balls
6. Chew toys
7. Corn cobs
8. Bones and rawhide
9. Hair ties
10. Sticks

Mlekoday theorizes that many of these items appeal to dogs because they smell like their owners, and that others are accidentally ingested during play.

Next time you find a sock without a partner after doing laundry, think twice before you blame the dryer.

nydailynews.com/…/30/2008-10-30_bowow_dogs_swallow_pins_pens-2.html