Fast forward 4 years, with chiropractic and accupuncture treatments, supplements, and other therapy, our little girl can stand and walk in deliberate steps. Running to keep up with the others is bunny hop. She bounces more than Tigger! Everyone is thrilled for her to have come this far and have regained some of her mobility. She uses her cart outside, but can get around in the house without it.
Last night, I came home from work to find Heidi's diaper down around her ankles (she has never regained bowel and bladder control). Valentin and Pogo have tried to steal Stanley's blanket from his expen, so Stanley (14, downed, very short sighted) is sitting in his squished expen, and the mill foster in the front hallway is in danger of finger/paw painting in her poop, so Heidi's diaper is going to have to wait for a minute. What's this I hear? A tail beating a tattoo on the floor? It must be Pogo and his smooth little tail. NO!! It is Miss Heidi!!! Free of the diaper, her little tail is just a blur as it wags!!!!!!!!! This is HUGE!! She has been able to wag her tail on her own for some time now, but never this hard and this fast. Our little girl (who is probably around 11 or 12) has come so far in her recovery, is there more to come????? Maybe control of bodily functions??? I am fine with the diapers, but wouldn't it be wonderful for her!
Again, I come back to the core reason for this blog. Do not give up on the downed ones (or other "handicaps"). They will suprise you. Heidi did not get the memo that she was paralized and had no hope of recovery - so she does not know that she is not supposed to be able to do these things. And I am certainly not going to be the one to tell her so.
A natural at-home dog remedy might be better and safer for your dog than using too many of the products from your pet store or even your veterinarian Why should you worry about this? Consider the long term effects for your dog’s health. Many of the commercial ingredients, chemicals or medicines are linked to various organ damage, cancers, heart problems, skin problems, and many other conditions that can develop over time with your dog. Thus the trend of dog owners like me sometimes turning to a natural dog remedy instead of relying on commercial products that can cause your dog to develop long term health problems.
Many of these natural home remedies for dogs are quite common to find, often they are items you already have in your home. Your kitchen might be the place to find many of these. Here are a few examples of simple but effective remedies:
1. Garlic can be used as a flea repellent.
2. For treatment of ear mites or ear infections, try mineral oil or olive oil.
3. Try applying vitamin E topically if your dog has dry or irritated skin.
4. Skin problems from allergies can be tough to manage, especially if the problem is fairly wide spread.
Unfortunately this describes my dog. Try oats in bath water. My dog doesn’t like the bath but his rough skin on his hind legs do improve significantly from doing this.
5. Epsom salts and water for sore or raw feet. Works for us humans, and for your dog!
There are so many of these natural home remedies for dogs that are safe, easy and often right in your cupboard to use anytime at little cost. Keep your dog happier and away from the pet clinic too.
I have been looking for a great resource with these natural treatments and remedies for my dog. I love my buddy and want him around for many years, so a resource called Home Remedies for Cats and Dogs really caught my eye. A natural dog remedy can often be the best and safest option and reading this book has really helped me understand that I need to manage my dog’s health. Of course, consulting with your veterinarian is often wise but wouldn’t it be great to have some knowledge and confidence that helps you make your own informed decisions along with your veterinarian?
There is a good review of the Home Remedies for Cats and Dogs book and two other well accepted resources that altogether provide very comprehensive at home dog remedies and information to help your dog live a happy, healthy life. Hope you read on and enjoy it as much as I have!
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MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEBER 2009
A dog receives a massage at the Chateau Poochie, the luxury hotel for dogs and cats in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Photograph by: Herald Archive, AFP-Getty Images, Calgary Herald
Announcement:
Canine Massage Exam
November 2009 …….The National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure & Massage (NBCAAM) is pleased to announce that the Canine Massage Examination is now “live” and available.
All 4 examinations are now available for applicants to take, Canine and Equine massage and Canine and Equine acupressure. This is a very important step toward supporting and promoting individuals within the profession and standardizing the profession itself through voluntary meeting of standards. Applicants are encouraged to review the Study Guides for the examinations posted on the NBCAAM website.
Mission Statement:
National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage (NBCAAM) endeavors to provide examinations that reflect and uphold the highest professional standards of practice for animal acupressure and massage. To that end, the examinations are available to people who have completed specialized animal training programs in either or both disciplines. Upon successful completion of the examination in their chosen discipline, the practitioner will be deemed a knowledgeable and professional animal acupressure or massage practitioner and will be recognized as such by noted professionals practicing in that particular field.
Member Benefits:
As NBCAAM continues to develop member benefits will include: a directory of Nationally Certified Animal Acupressure and Massage Practitioners, listings of advanced training opportunities for the practitioner, narrative examination study guides, sample questions, listing of NBCAAM approved schools, and learning materials for continued study.
Intention:
NBCAAM provides the general pubic, the veterinary community, and other animal healthcare professionals assurance that NBCAAM Certified Practitioners meet the highest professional standards of practice. Biannual Continuing Education is required of all NBCAAM Certified Practitioners. We are taking important strides toward monitoring and increasing the level of professionalism within the animal massage and acupressure disciplines. Taking the examination is entirely voluntary and we are excited to be able to offer this option to people who are serious about enhancing the professional standing of animal massage and acupressure in the United States.
NOTE:
NBCAAM, a not-for-profit organization, was created for the purpose of establishing and upholding professional standards for animal acupressure and massage practitioners. The method by which NBCAAM certifies that a practitioner has met these standards is by developing standardized national certification examinations. Taking the examination is entirely voluntary. Information and the requirements for taking the examinations are available on the website: www.nbcaam.org
Contact: Amy Snow, 888.841.7211, amy@animalacupressure.com
For further information about NBCAAM and FAQs please visit the website. www.NBCAAM.org.
From time to time I receive comments from readers who express opinions about what they will consider in treating their dog’s cancer.
These particular folks segregate themselves into a single group…the “anti” people.
First, we have those who are very impressed with conventional veterinary care. This is my background, so I see the appeal. Big machines, big words, big science, big studies. Strong, powerful, reliable, reproducible.
And getting re-soundly beaten, mercilessly, by canine cancer.
Members of this camp tend to be “anti” herbs, supplements, dietary manipulation, and other forms of “hocus pocus” that don’t have multiple double blind, placebo-controlled studies done to support efficacy and safety.
The other “anti” people want to rely on things like homeopathy and acupuncture to cure their dog’s cancer. They don’t want to “poison” their dog with anything that is not “natural”.
Please, everyone, it is time to wake up!
First, to the “anti alternative” set (conventional care only): have you taken a look at the efficacy data for chemo and radiation treatments of systemic cancers lately? If you have, you will no doubt agree that the numbers, overall, are abysmal.
And you guys, who don’t want to use anything that comes compressed in a tablet or in an injection vial, you need to wake up too (the “alternative people”). If a certain conventional protocol can give your English Mastiff another year of life, you just extended your dog’s life 10-18% or something. Suppose a human lived for 80 years. This human’s life would be proportionally extended another 8 to 14 “human” years with this treatment!
On top of that , if you think that a little Carcinosinum under your dog’s tongue will cure the osteoarcoma making his leg swell twice it’s size, you are probably living in a dream.
Now, let’s get a grip on the big picture. It is absolutely critical to balance efficacy with life quality, to weigh survival times with what is manageable, and to factor in personal ethical considerations and beliefs with guardianship. Aspects like these are fundamental.
But, it is high time to avoid letting our rigidity, bias, and resistances get in the way of what can help. Weigh all options, be flexible, formulate a plan choosing from all the of what is available, modify it as needed, and do it.
If you need help getting the structure and data you need to look at all these aspects of canine cancer care, from all angles, consider the Dog Cancer Survival Guide.
I wish you all the very best,
Dr D
