Be your dogs advocate!!

 

This page is dedicated to your dog.   I hope this info. will help save you money, and maybe even add a few years to your dogs life. I will be adding links and my personal thoughts to information regarding alternative medications, at home care of your pet, and other useful informative information. Of course we can not dump conventional medicine altogether but we need to open our eyes a little (or a lot). BIG PHARMA, THE DRUGIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. TREAT THE SURFACE PROBLEM NOT THE UNDERLYING CAUSE!

I haven't always use alternative methods, and it is hard to only use alternative, and there are times that you must use conventional medicine!  I have used several different alternative methods for many years.  The first thing I changed many years ago, was the dog food I was feeding, when my Rottweiler (Nick) got cancer. He died at 8 years of age.  Then, as I did research, I slowly changed or added things to my other Rottweilers' (Mauser) diet. He is now 10 years old. (Edit Mauser passed away and the New Rottweiler is on a Raw diet) I think we owe it to our pets to do what we can.  Not everyone knows everything, you have probably been given bad advice from someone you trusted, and someone who you thought should know what they were talking about.  My theory as of late "Trust No One" do your own research, and do what you think is best.  Gather information from everywhere you can. Dabble, see what you think works for your dog, and go with it.  If you have any suggestions feel free to E-mail me.

 

I am not a Dr. of Veterinarian Medicine, and if you have a good Vet please see him/her if you are having concerns with your dog's health. This information is not designed to take the place of veterinary care. This page is for information only. It is not intended to treat, cure... blah blah blah (legal) blah blah blah...

 

Heartworm Info Supplements Nutrition Holistic Spay/Neuter Flea & Tick SURGERY? Vet info Catalogues Vaccines/Meds

 

 

Natural / Alternative Information

The Whole Dog Journal Magazine

The Whole Dog Journal

 This magazine is about natural dog care.  The dog Food reviews I love, and can not wait for each year. Of the other magazines I have received over the years this one I still subscribe to.  Get a free sample, try it!

 

Dr. Jones Inner Circle - The online Vet - Veterinary Secrets Revealed

Dr. Andrew Jones DVM

OMG if you have the money buy it! I spent a lot of money on this but I swear one maybe two vet visits, and it's paid for!  And you will be saving your dog some damage and you wallet some money, instead of a prescription you maybe able to do alternative medicine.  You might be skeptical but when you try it and it works and it was natural you will change your mind.  Veterinary Secrets Revealed Complete Home Study Multimedia Course 2.1 contains info such as, Home Pet Health Exam, Acupressure, Healing Your Pets With Massage, Herbal Healing, Homeopathy, Side Effects of Vaccines, Dog Food, First Aid, and more. There is a manual, DVD's etc... you won't find anything like it (to my knowledge) out there.  And if there is something that interest you, you can do more research on the subject. The manual has about everything in it, if your dog has hip dysplasia for instance or kidney problems, you go to that section and it will discuss any conventional methods, herbal, homeopathy, acupressure and massage. It can defiantly make you more informed, even if you must go to the vet.  Just take a look at the site, really look around and think about it. You can also sign up for a free newsletter it will give you some good info.!


 

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/

(Nutrition-Dog care-Vaccines)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


~Nutrition~

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food” attr. Hippocrates(circa 460 - 357)

Natural Feeding for Dogs

Good info. I also do not feed Pork products, and Mauser drinks filtered water only. But I discourage any dung eating ;o)

 

http://www.k9rawdiet.com/

Read "Food Prep 101" they are selling specific brands of food but it is good info and good introduction for those thinking about doing a raw food diet.

 

Home Prepared Dog & Cat Diets by Donald Strombeck, DVM, PhD (BOOK)

Should be interesting...

 

 

http://www.dogwise.com/search.cfm

(UNLOCKING THE CANINE ANCESTRAL DIET) (Book)

 

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (book)

 

The BARF Diet by Dr. Ian Billinghurst (BOOK)

 

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/teleseminar

 

More and more people are feeding RAW there are a few good books I use as a guide (Not shown here) you must do research before feeding all raw.

 

 

~ Holistic ~

 

http://www.naturalrearing.com/coda/learning.html#landing

Marina Zacharias - Natural Rearing

(nutrition supplements, supplements, diet, vaccines, antibiotics)
 

 

Holistic Dog

(Homeopathy Acupuncture Herbs Chiropractic Natural Feeding info.)
 

 

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association

(Find a Holistic Veterinarian)

 

Alt Vet Med

(complementary and alternative therapies in veterinary medicine)

 

http://www.avcadoctors.com/avcadus.htm

Find an AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic Association) Certified Doctor in the United States

 

http://www.aava.org/php/aava_blog/aava-directory/

(Find an Acupuncturist - The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture)

 

http://www.wholepetvet.com/welcome.php

(Some Hints, some interesting case study, and general info.)

http://www.naturalvetforpets.com/

 

 

 

~Supplements~

Supplements I use

Buy the whole flax and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder!!

Supplements I use

 

Coconut Oil

(Coconut oil - good for so many things internal and skin related click HERE for a list) 

Tropical Traditions

Use my user ID (414942) and get a free book! And I get free product.  Thanks!

~I use the Gold label~

 

Herbs

http://www.iherb.com/

(Shop for products)

 

http://www.renewlife.com/products/healthy-joints.aspx

~ I use this product ~

Premium Health Supplements for Dogs, Aging Joints, Stiffness, Flower essence blend with healing herbs, Includes glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin. Promotes healthy joints and hips, Supports and maintains overall joint and cartilage health. 
 

 

 

~HEARTWORM  MEDICATION & intestinal parasites~

~~~Here is an Alternative to you purchasing Heartworm Medication from your vet...~~~

ivermectin - you can get it from tractor supply, or feed stores, you can also buy it from pet catalogues.  It comes in different brand names but the main ingredient is ivermectin.  It is 1% solution labeled for cattle usually.

Typical dosage for intestinal parasites (roundworms, whipworms etc...) - Use 1/10cc per 10# of bodyweight, & just put on the dogs food. Due every 6 months. If you get a 1cc syringe it is easy to measure (ex. if you have a 30# dog with this syringe you just go to .30)  Do a fecal at your vet to see if your dog has worms. Why would we put chemicals in or on our dogs if we don't need to.  That is my opinion.

Heartworm preventative - One dilution scheme which would minimize waste would involve using a 1 cc syringe, and, the more common 3 cc syringe. Draw up .1 cc (1/10cc) of Ivermectin, using the small syringe, and mix well with 3 cc of vegetable oil, glycerin or propylene glycol. Using this diluted product, the heartworm preventative dose would be a familiar .1 cc (1/10cc) per 10 lbs. of body weight. A larger amount could be diluted and stored in the refrigerator for future use, but the length of time its potency would remain is unknown.
 Heart worm medication is due every 30 - 45 days.

Here is a site with some info.!

http://www.dogaware.com/health/ivomec.html#30dilution

 People (a lot of us) have used the dose for parasite removal for years with the advice - go ahead - and blessings of vets, vet techs, web-site information, etc... New information has come to light that the parasite removal dose is way too much and can cause live damage over time. Do your research. I'll try to keep you updated!

   Please do not use on sight hounds- a blood test is available to test for genetic sensitivity (see below). Collies with ivermectin sensitivity have been found to have a mutant gene for what is called the "P-glycoprotein." The P-glycoprotein has been studied largely because overexpression of this protein (i.e. having more of it than normal) results poor function of chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of cancer. The P-glycoprotein appears to be involved in keeping drugs out of certain body tissues. Having excess P-glycoprotein keeps chemotherapy drugs from reaching the tumor. When it comes to ivermectin sensitivity the problem is the opposite: mutant or non-functional P-glycoprotein leads to failure to keep certain drugs out of the central nervous system, allowing them access to sensitive tissue. Ivermectin side effects stem from ivermectin entering the central nervous system. Approximately 35% of Collies have a genetic mutation creating a non-functional P-glycoprotein. This allows for ivermectin doses that would normally be blocked from the central nervous system to gain access to it.Other herding breeds as listed above also have a tendency to express this mutation. There is now a test for P-glycoprotein mutation so that ivermectin sensitive dogs can be identified. This is a DNA test using an oral swab. Test kits can be ordered directly from the Washington State University Veterinary School via
www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl 

Google, Bing, etc... this info., check it out! If your determined to buy the other stuff (heartgard etc...) at least get it through a catalogue (see bottom of this page) and save money$$$$ You'll need a vet Prescription.

 

~Flea & Tick~

Products intended to treat cats and dogs for fleas and ticks kill hundreds of pets each year and injure tens of
thousands, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday as it outlined plans to make the products safer.


               The EPA said it received 44,263 reports of harmful reactions associated with topical flea and tick products in 2008, up from 28,895 in 2007. Reactions ranged from skin irritations to vomiting to seizures to, in about 600 cases, death of an animal.

An EPA spokesman said he did not have a breakdown of how many deaths were dogs and how many cats.

Dog and cat owners say their pets have suffered burns and welts on their skin; started to drool excessively; begun to
shake uncontrollably; lost control of their legs or experienced other neurological problems after using the flea and tick treatments.
The majority of the reactions are from improper dosing-
especially with small dogs and cats. BUT, reactions have
happened at supposed 'SAFE' doses.

Use with caution. Only use if you need to.
 

Are there alternatives? Yes.

A clean house, neatly mowed yard, and well-groomed dog. If you feed good food (natural/raw is best),  groom your dog regularly, vacuum your house often, and take good care of your lawn, in most areas you’ll have a good chance of staying flea-free.

Use beneficial nematodes in your yard

Or agricultural lime (you can mix 1 cup cayenne pepper per 1 gal lime)

Food-grade diatomaceous earth

use borax on your carpets lightly vacuum to remove surplus

Pyrethrum products

tea tree oil - lavender

Mix-1 cup Avon skin so soft, 1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil, 2-3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Spray on people, animals, carpets cars...

Again "Google" there is a ton of info out there and newer products that are more natural.

Mercola Natural Flea and Tick Defense

 

~ Vaccines ~

Oh boy don't get me started on this one...most likely your vet is (or has been) over vaccinating your pet, get educated!

CLICK the Link Below!!!!!!  ↓↓↓↓↓

https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/CanineVaccineGuidelines.pdf

(2011 AAHA guidelines)

 

Rabies !!!

WV passed HB4407 Your dog my now receive a 3 year Rabies vaccination! Make sure your vet does this and gives you a tag good for 3 years.

(Though your dog may not need a shot ever again!.........)

Let's work on getting the 7 year vaccine now!!!!!

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/PetCareArticle.aspx?art_key=d67f75bb-e978-4abf-a3be-3e405af1abf7

 

AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Main Site

http://www.aahanet.org/

 

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/truth4dogs/e84bc131e2e34e6d9a232d3fc78fe337

(CLINICAL APPROACHES TO MANAGING AND TREATING ADVERSE VACCINE REACTIONS by W. Jean Dodds, DVM)

http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/canine-vaccines.html

 

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/dogs.htm

The CDC

 

BE INFORMED !!!!

 

As with everything on this page, you should be as informed as possible here is just another thing to think about...

You can read, can't you?  If your vet takes a CBC, or Chemistry on your dog, what does that mean? Well you can read about that on several sites (see below).  You want to get the results from your vet and look at it yourself.  You have the right to it.  You need to understand what is going on, and make some decisions for yourself.  There are things you can do differently and ways to save money and still give your dog the care it needs, and sometimes better care, than the vet would give (it happens). Not to suggest you have an x-ray machine at home, or can do surgery.  But you might know that after surgery your dog needs antibiotics (unlike a certain vet I know) 

An example: (Long story but I'll make it short) Someone I know, knew there was something wrong with her dog, but the vet ran a test or two and nothing, everything is fine.  She got frustrated and took it to another vet.  He ran some tests, and walla found something, so they put the dog on antibiotics for many many weeks to see it it helped.  Also had her give prescription food from the vet. $$$ So did the antibiotics help? Nope. So sent her to another vet for some work.  I gave her the advice of such things as changing her food to a natural diet (raw) or at lease a more natural diet still out of a bag but with the main ingredients needed and that was in the prescription diet (which was crap with other cancer causing ingredients) that the vet prescribed.  The dog loved the new food!! The dog in the end had exactly what the informed owner thought all along.  After who knows how much money they spent. Also instead of buying the medication she needed, from the vet she could get it from mail order or have the local pharmacy make it up.

 These tests (CBC, Chem, x-rays etc...) may be needed, and your vet can give you the information but you can research the symptoms, the causes, the drugs the side effects of the drugs, if you can get the food or drugs another way to save yourself money, etc... If you can help your dog naturally, or give it the same medications but save money wouldn't you?

 

I think it is a good idea to get the base levels (CBC, Chem) for your dog so that if something is wrong or you suspect something is wrong you'll have something to go by.  If you get the results of a Chem panel you can see if a level is high or low you can also see what that would mean with a little research.  Then you can research the treatments, conventional and natural, and can knowledgably talk to your vet.

http://itsfortheanimals.com/BLOOD-TEST-EXPLAINED.HTM

http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/caninebloodwork.htm

http://www.infovets.com/demo/demo/canine/D080.HTM

 

 

 

Think about this - Ever notice the drug commercials?  Take X drug for X problem!! FDA approved!!!  Doctors prescribe the heck out of this new drug, then a year or so down the road we find out it had killed many people/animals or caused something worse than the problem they had, and was taking X drug for! I think I'll try the alternative method first, and if nothing works then we'll think about a conventional drug after I've done all the research!  Because most likely your vet will not tell you the side effects of the drug your about to give your dog.

 

http://www.seriousaccidents.com/accident-blog/products-liability-accident-blog/veterinary-drug-recall-becomes-bigger-problem/   Drugs recalled

 

 

Rimadyl & Baytril reports FDA

I used Rimadyl once with one of my rottweilers long ago, was not told of the side effects, he got a nose bleed really bad I quit using it.  Then he died of fibroscarcoma linked?? who knows but I vowed never to use it again.  A vet tried to get me to use it recently on one of my bitches good try, didn't happen.

 

http://google2.fda.gov/search?q=rimadyl&client=FDAgov&site=FDAgov&lr=&proxystylesheet=FDAgov&output=xml_no_dtd&getfields=*&x=12&y=15

(you can search drugs on this page)

 

Rimadyl

http://www.doglogic.com/rimadylandbaytril.htm

http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/rimadylfr.html

http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/rimadyl.breedstat.html

http://rimadyldeath.com/

 

Deramaxx

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/drugs/2005-04-11-dog-pain-usat_x.htm

 

NSAIDs

http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/Rimadyl.Rogers.html

 

 ~Spay/Neuter info.~

 

 "Endogenous Gonadal Hormone Exposure and Bone Sarcoma Risk" & "Weighing in on Health Risks and benefits of Early Sterilization in Rottweilers" Here

A Study ~ Endogenous Gonadal Hormone Exposure and Bone Sarcoma Risk ~  Read it Here

http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10498

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/new-study-neuter-risk-hip-dysplasia-dogs/

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/1/5/3/1/15319800/earlyspayconsiderations.pdf

 https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/131101a.aspx

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/13/neutering-spaying-cancer-risk.aspx

 

 

 ~Surgery???~

Surgery what does your vet do for your dog during surgery?

The link below is about surgery and large breeds, it was written as Guidelines for Great Danes, but makes you wonder if your Vet does any of these things for small or large breeds. ~Spay/Neuter ~Clotting Profile ~Anesthetic Agents ~During and after surgery, ogs are highly susceptible to hypothermia

http://www.gdca.org/health/surgery.html

 

 

This was from GDCA, but read it, is your vet doing these things?? Really,?? how can your be sure? Have you ever been in the back with your dog during surgery?

Please print out and provide your veterinarian with a copy.

Surgery Guidelines for Great Danes
The following information regarding both routine spay and neuter surgery as well as emergency situations in the Great Dane (such as those involving C-sections) is presented as a basic protocol to help avoid complications such as DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy) which appear to occur in a higher number of giant dogs undergoing surgery than the norm. Therefore, the GDCA offers the following information for owners and breeders of Great Danes.
Several veterinary clinics with regular and extensive experience dealing with giant breeds have developed similar protocols for surgery that can be recommended preferentially for giant breeds. These are techniques that have proven highly successful; both in routine spay/neuter surgeries as well as more critical care situations, such as C-sections. Such a set of protocols is offered below. We suggest you download it and discuss this with your veterinarian PRIOR to any surgical appointment.
Please review the following with your attending veterinarian before deciding to have surgery done on your Dane:
1. First find a veterinarian experienced with surgeries involving giant breeds.
2. All elective surgeries, such as spay/neuter, should be done ideally only on healthy animals. Spays are best planned in anestrous: about 3 months after the last season. Please insure your veterinarian is aware of any health concerns you might have about your dog prior to surgery.
3. Prior to any surgery, request that the veterinarian do a complete physical examination, including a good heart auscultation, and EKG.
4. Ensure that you elect to have the pre-surgical blood work done (CBC and serum chemistry panel) and ask them to also include a CLOTTING PROFILE.
5. If all blood work and the exam are normal, then schedule the surgery and fast the dog overnight. It's not generally necessary to withhold water for 12 hours (simply put the water bowl away at bedtime).
6. Ask that the surgeon insert an IV catheter prior to surgery. Fluid therapy should generally be administered as a safety precaution. Pulse oximetry and cardiac monitoring are also recommended. If blood pressure monitoring is available, consider any extra costs as potentially insuring additional safety margins.
7. Spay surgery in conjunction with C-section is not always the safest option in giant dogs. Be sure to discuss the pros and cons of two separate surgeries vs. doing both procedures at once with your veterinarian.
8. Currently, the induction agent, Propofol (deprivan), and the gas anesthesia, Sevoflurane, are considered the most ideal (safe and effective) anesthetic agents. These agents are not always available and always cost more to use. Valium, ketamine, and the gas isoflurane are widely available and generally acceptable. Due to the variations in physiology in giant breeds, drugs such as acepromazine, rompun and the thiopentals are less appropriate choices. Discuss this with your veterinarian. Also discuss appropriate pain control for your dog when contemplating surgery for your Great Dane.
9. During and after surgery, dogs are highly susceptible to hypothermia (lowered body temperature). The body loses heat directly through the surgical opening; stress and anesthetic agents further impair ability to maintain body temperature. Hypothermia adversely affects the cardiovascular system, coagulation, anesthesia recovery time and increases the risk of wound infection. Preventive measures, including warming of IV fluids, placing the dog on a heated pad (circulating water heating pad or other heating pad set on “low”) and covering the body and extremities with warmed blankets, towels, bubble wrap, or other protective coverings post-surgery are vital in conserving body heat. Temperature monitoring, either via electronic device or rectal thermometer, should be done during surgery and periodically throughout recovery.

Prepared by the Health and Welfare committee of the Great Dane Club of America. Written by Sue Cates, RVT and reviewed by LeAnn Lake-Heidke, DVM.
Permission to reprint as submitted for educational purposes is given.


My Editorial Comments:
YOU ARE YOUR PET'S ONLY ADVOCATE
There are two issues you need to discuss before doing surgery on your large/giant breed.

1) keeping the dog warm when coming out of the surgery

2) supporting the head and neck during surgery and aftercare.
It is crucial that you make sure you have a meeting ahead of time with the vet and staff that will be doing the surgery and handling the after care of your dog.
In a survey taken of over 385 Great Dane owners/breeders, 30% of them had lost a dog to spay or neuter surgery. There are precautions you MUST take ahead of time, one being not to spay when bitches are in estrus (see above) or if you have a male in a house full of females in season. Wait until they are all out of season and he is no longer stressed.
Yes, they can die in surgery or recovery if they are in the cycle of estrus (season) but they can also expire due to a drop in body temperature causing bleed out.
If they get cold coming out of anesthesia and recovery and their body temp drops it can cause them to bleed to death internally, and they are gone before you even know they are bleeding. This is because on a very large dog, the "mass" of the dog is often greater than the area or body surface of the dog, causing them difficulty in keeping hot or cool.
If after the surgery they carry your dog to recovery and lay them on a cold concrete floor, it can be a death warrant. They MUST keep the dog on a warm floor - with ample bedding under the dog, and keep the dog covered up with a comforter or blanket as well during the recovery process - usually the first 24 hours is the most crucial.....it is the drop in body heat that causes bleedout internally. I mean make them understand THIS IS REQUIRED from you..and you supply the bed and blanket if you have to, and put it in writing and hand it to the vet as you drop off the dog. It's your dog, you pay the bills, be an advocate for your pet.
The second critical issues is for you to tell your vet and staff in writing and verbally "DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOG'S NECK AND HEAD DANGLE OFF THE OPERATING TABLE DURING SURGERY AND YOU WANT IT SUPPORTED ON EITHER SIDE WITH TOWELS OR A SURGICAL TROUGH". I would ask to talk to the helper that will be carrying the dog back to recovery as well. Make sure every one knows that you want the head and neck of this dog supported at all times, while under anesthesia and during surgery and transport to recovery.
I can't tell you the number of dogs that end up with slip disc's or diagnosed with wobblers syndrome right after surgery. This is because the dogs are limp under anesthesia and then not supported properly during surgery or movement to recovery and it causes misalignment of the spine!!
Either of these problems wobblers or discs..usually means euthanasia, they are not repairable so you must step up to the plate and be the voice for your pet.

 

 

Finding a Vet

Google your vet or if your looking for a vet you may find comments on some sites, use the practice name, also check the individuals name. There is truth to some comments.  Ask lots of people and maybe some of us who are in the animal care business!

http://www.acvim.org/websites/acvim/index.php?p=61

http://www.acvs.org/?c=owners

http://www.vetquest.com/VQ.htm

IF SOMEONE FINDS A GREAT VET LET ME KNOW WHO IT IS PLEASE!!

 

Misc.

http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.cd.html#Arthritis

http://www.idexx.com/view/xhtml/en_us/small-animal-health.jsf?navigation=default

 

 

Vet/Medical/Conventional Info.

(OK I won't agree with everything here and it seems to be vet written but again the more informed you are.... and good tips on some problem you may have with your dog, look around the sites)

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/deindex.html

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=H&S=1

http://netvet.wustl.edu/

Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook (Book)

UC Davis Book of Dogs : The Complete Medical Reference Guide for Dogs and Puppies (Book)

 

 

Medical Journals

http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/

(I found lots of info. about different medical conditions, in human medical, journals, etc...)

 

 

www.dogwisepublishing.com

(Good Place for Dog books)

 

Some Pet Care Catalogues

(Just do a search for their web-sites)

Pet Supplies Delivered 1-800-367-4444

KV Pet 1-800-423-8211

Pet Edge 1-800-738-3343

Foster & Smith 1-800-826-7206

Direct Pet 1-800-360-4838

Springtime Inc. 1-800-521-3212

Revival 1-800-786-4751

Cherrybrook 1-800-524-0820

Thomas 1-800-359-8387

Valley Vet 1-800-360-4838

Lambert Vet 1-800-344-6337

Dog.com 1-800-367-3647

Jeffers 1-800-533-3377