Veterinary Highlights: Probiotics And Acute Stress Colitis Study

Sym-bi-o-sis: a close association, usually a mutually beneficial relationship, between two different organisms

Mircobes: we work so hard to eliminate them. But while some of them really are out there to get us, the vast majority are actually necessary for life! Did you know, for example, that a human body is only about 10% actual human cells? We are only 10% ourselves, the rest are bacteria. We really just are walking petri dishes! Talking about some serious symbiosis ...

The majority of these microbes are found within the digestive tract.

Given all that, perhaps it would make sense that these microbes got some respect, whether in our own bodies or the bodies of our dogs.

Some seem to believe that probiotics are the answer to about anything; some feel that all that hype is bogus. I think there might be more to them than meets the eye.

Image PrecisionNutrition

How about using probiotics for treatment of acute stress colitis?

Researchers at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine recently conducted a study to compare the use of probiotics vs. metronidazole to treat acute diarrhea caused by stress colitis in shelter dogs.

Conclusion?

The researchers concluded the probiotics are an equally effective treatment to the traditional antibiotic regime for the treatment of acute diarrhea in shelter dogs, and that antibiotic-treated dogs with limited improvement appeared to benefit significantly from subsequent probiotic treatment.

I love metronidazole, because it has always worked when Jasmine's GI tract needed some extra help. On the other hand, I always feel conflicted about giving another round of antibiotics. So to me such a study is very interesting.

Some experts believe that the benefits of balanced gut flora go far beyond the GI tract. 

It would make sense to me. The GI tract is an important part of the immune system. The gut flora is involved in production of vitamins and other important processes. Hopefully more studies on the benefits of probiotics are under way.

Source article: Why Give Antibiotics When This Natural Supplement Works Just as Well?

Related articles:
Unsung Heroes: Probiotics

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Using Ivermectin For Demodectic Mange?

 by Simon Tong

Ivermectin is one of the few medicines that vets often prescribe for dogs with demodectic mange. The drug is easy to administer, and results are usually seen within a short period of time. It's been proven many times over that Ivermectin is successful in treating the skin problem, but that doesn't mean it can be considered as the de-facto solution for it.

Image: 2ndchance

The problem with Ivermectin is that it isn't the wonder drug that it appears to be. 

Yes, it does seem to get rid of the mange, but its only a temporary solution at best. And that's not to mention the various negative side-effects that can result from its use, some of which can even prove fatal.

How do you know if Ivermectin is the right type of treatment for your dog? 

Here are a few questions you should ask to help you decide.

What is Ivermectin?

Simply put, Ivermectin is an active ingredient in several medicines, specially designed for getting rid of parasites. In the pet world, these are available in several products meant for different animals, like horses and dogs.

For dogs, two of the most popular products are 'Ivomec' or 'Heartgard', both of which are marketed as parasite control drugs. They affect skin parasites and several others, such as heartworms. Ivermectin is also used to prevent heartworm infestations in dogs as well, although that's not its primary purpose.

How is it administered?

Ivermectin is usually produced in liquid or tablet form, which are administered to dogs orally - that is, the dogs are fed the drug. The dosage varies for each dog, determined by their weight. Usually the vet will provide the appropriate dosage, but generally speaking, a dose of 0.3mg/kg once every two weeks is sufficient for the treatment of demodectic mange. The liquid version of Ivermectin is sometimes packaged in filled syringes with set amounts, which makes it easier to gauge the dosage levels.

How does Ivermectin work?

Once it is administered to the affected dog, Ivermectin enters the bloodstream, using it as a means to affect the demodex mites in contact with the dog's skin. From that point onwards, the drug does two things: Firstly, it disables the nervous systems of the mites, effectively paralysing them. Then, it manipulates the dog's white blood cells into attacking the mites and killing them. In this way, the mites will no longer cause further skin damage to the dog's body. As long as the drug remains in the body, the demodectic mange will be kept away indefinitely.

Ivermectin doesn't affect unhatched demodex mites still in their eggs. Therefore, more than one dose of Ivermectin is required to completely eradicate the mites from the body.

Advantages of using Ivermectin for Demodectic Mange

Ivermectin has actually been proven to be capable of destroying the mites efficiently, which is why vets are still recommending it as their first choice in treating demodectic mange.

The drug is also very easy to administer, since they're designed to be ingested orally and not given in the form of injections. This removes any effort required to calm the dog, since an injection can be a stressful experience.

Lastly, Ivermectin is relatively safe when used responsibly. This requires the vet and the owner to fully understand the dog's condition and to adapt the treatment accordingly. If extensive care and caution is exercised, Ivermectin should not cause any trouble in the short-term.

Disadvantages of using Ivermectin for Demodectic Mange

So far, Ivermectin seems like the perfect method of demodectic mange treatment; it's safe, easy to use and most of all, it's effective. In spite of all this, however, there are still a few disadvantages of using Ivermectin that I would like to highlight.

It only solves half the problem

As I've said before, the purpose of Ivermectin is to kill off the mites that are causing demodectic mange to happen. However, that only settles part of the equation. The true key to stopping demodectic mange is to repair and rebuild your dog's immune system, because it's the only thing that can stop the demodex mites from appearing again. Even if all the mites are killed in one go (which is impossible, due to Ivermectin being unable to affect unhatched mites), the weak immune system will always be unable to prevent the mites from causing demodectic mange in future.

Reliance on Ivermectin

This is somewhat related to my first point. Some owners may discover by themselves that the drug is indeed a short-term solution; once the treatment stops for the affected dog, the mange might come back. Because the immune system wasn't strong enough to handle the mites on its own before the Ivermectin was withdrawn, it still remains vulnerable to another attack and may cause a relapse.

At this point, the owner can pursue two options: keep the Ivermectin flowing to shut the mites out permanently using chemical drugs, or start building up the immune system to help the dog to recover on its own. Unfortunately, some owners choose the first option and suddenly find themselves spending a lot more in pet medical bills, just to keep the problem from spreading.

Besides the increased expenses, depending on Ivermectin as a long-term solution can also cause the immune system to 'slack off', letting the drug do all the work. When the Ivermectin doses eventually cease (which it eventually will), the dog will be essentially defenceless against the mites because its immunity is non-existent. The demodectic mange will most definitely reappear with a vengeance then.

Possible adverse reactions to Ivermectin

This drug may be the default treatment recommended by vets to treat demodectic mange, but Ivermectin should never be given to some dogs due to possible adverse reactions.

Border collies and other herding breeds in particular have genetic sensitivity to Ivermectin; and a relatively low dose for another dog may be too much for a collie, and will cause severe side-effects such as lethargy, dehydration and even death.

Most people know about this genetic sensitivity and will keep their dog away from the drug, but it actually isn't as widely known as it should be.

Long term use in high doses may cause liver damage

This is another reason why Ivermectin should not be given for demodex over a long period of time. While relatively harmless when used as a temporary solution, or in low doses, at doses needed to treat demodectic mange the drug may cause damage to the liver in the long run. It's important to remember that Ivermectin is primarily a pesticide for use against parasites, which means that it's essentially a type of poison.

Conclusion

Ivermectin is often used to cure demodectic mange by killing the mites, and it does its job very well. The problem only starts when dog owners and even vets start treating it as a wonder drug due to a lack of understanding, and depend on it exclusively.

The one thing that you should know is that Ivermectin only solves the problem of a mite overpopulation on your dog's body as long as it's being administered; the mites will return as soon as it stops and will start the cycle all over again.

The mange will only clear up if the mites are denied the chance to spread, and the only thing that can do that is the immune system of the dog. 

Unfortunately, the Ivermectin does nothing to help in that regard. The only other way to control the mites would be through continuous use of Ivermectin, but as I noted earlier on in this article, it's definitely not an ideal treatment plan for your dog.

The dosage needed for treatment of demodectic mange is much higher than is used for heartworm prevention. Ivermectin has actually never been approved by FDA for use in such dosages. However, the off-label use of Ivermectin for demodectic mange is quite common.

Please take the above information into consideration before reaching for Ivermectin to treat your dog's demodectic mange.

***

Simon has a miniature schnauzer and owns a website devoted to gathering information about dog skin problems. Do you need more information about demodectic mange? Just visit http://dogskintreatments.com to find out more about its causes, the demodex mite, as well as the various methods of treatment available.

Related articles:
Demodectic Mange: The 4 Most Important Questions You Should Ask 

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Dog Cartoon Of The Week: There, I Said It

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.


Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

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The Calm After The Storm

After three weeks of challenges with Jasmine's joints and mobility, things seem to have settled down. She is looking quite good and showed no signs of lameness or pain in last couple days.

The last veterinary exam determined that Jasmine's joints were quite happy now, and improving. Her muscles, though, particularly iliopsoa and hip muscles, were quite angry.

On Saturday was Jasmine's appointment with her chiropractor/physical therapist.

Boy, did she ever find a whole lot of angry muscles! Once the body starts compensating for one thing, a whole hell can break lose, and it did. Jasmine's session lasted almost a whole hour!

That seems to have done the trick, though, Jasmine's body looks much happier.

It again makes me think where would Jasmine be without the chiropractic care. Would those muscles settle down on their own eventually? Probably. How much time and pain meds would that take, though, I don't want to know.

 It would be like digging your way out of jail with a spoon, when you could just get a key instead.


I am so glad that Jasmine has such an amazing team taking care of her.

I would also like to thank Vet-Stem, who were there for us all the way, particularly during that dreadful weekend. Those folks really care about each and every one of their patients.

Things are looking good now, and hopefully will just keep on improving. The chiropractor too was pleased with the joints, and particularly the progress the left elbow has made.

One other thing I figured out on Saturday; Jasmine's main vet and her chiropractor really like each other, and I realized why. The are so much alike, they really care from the bottom of their hearts. We are very thankful that we have found them.

So here is to all the great veterinarians out there, you make the world a better place.

Related articles:
Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns
The Day Of The Treatment
First Time For Everything: A Healing Crisis(?)  
From Zero To Sixty In Four Days: Stem Cells At Work 

***

Meet Jasmine

I'm Still Standing! (Happy Birthday, Jasmine)
How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care

Further reading:
Jasmine’s Story: Can Chronic Diarrhea and Soft Tissue Injuries be Normal?
Jasmine’s Story: An ACL Injury and a Cancer Scare
Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess
Jasmine Recovers from Surgery and Jana Discovers TCVM
Who’s Minding Your Pet’s Health?
Pet Owner Perspective On Stem Cell Therapy
Difficult to Manage Lameness Treated with Physical Therapy
Our Journey to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Read More

Adoption Monday: Charlie, Labrador Retriever/Boxer Mix, Deerfield, NH

Check out this beautiful boy at Mary's Dogs Rescue & Adoption!

Charlie is about 2 years old, very friendly dog with lots of energy. 

He gets along with other dogs, and people of all ages. 

Charlie wants to have a bed to call his own in a nice home. He wants someone to give all of his love to. Is that you? Charlie would be a great running/walking/hiking partner for a young couple, or an active family.

Charlie is house trained, neutered and up-to-date with his shots.

Charlie is ready for you. Are you ready for him?

Want more info on Charlie? Call Mary's Dogs: 603.370.7750 or send along an email: marysdogsrescue@gmail.com

Ready to bring Charlie home? Tell us about yourself and your interest in Charlie in our adoption questionnaire. Check out all the wonderful dogs on Mary's Dogs Facebook Fan Page.

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Mary’s Dogs rescues and re-homes dogs and puppies from Aiken County Animal Shelter, a high-kill shelter in South Carolina, USA. They also serve as a resource to communities in Southern New Hampshire and pet owners nationwide by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spay/neuter, positive behavior training, and good nutrition.

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Shaping A Dog's Recall: Movement Towards You

If you think that training a reliable recall doesn't have anything to do with your dog's health and well being, think again. Reliable recall might just end up saving your dog's life one day.



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Donna Hill has a degree in zoology and a teaching degree. She has 20 years experience in adult and child education and enjoyed teaching people how to observe animals in nature as a nature interpreter, field biologist and train-the-trainer for presentation skills and now applies her knowledge and skills to help people and their dogs. She helps people with disabilities to train their own service dogs and has experience working with autistic and developmentally delayed teens. She uses plain English to explain what you are doing and why and also provides analogies you can relate to. She was also a Girl Guide and earned the highest honor as well as worked in the Tourism industry as a information counselor. She loves to share key information with people!


Visit her blog at Online Clicker Training Tutorials & Coaching

Check out her two Youtube channels supernaturalbc2009 and supernatural 2008 to see if you like her style of teaching. Her motto is "Yard by Yard, Life is hard. Inch by Inch, It's a Cinch!" Break everything down into it's simplest parts and it's achievable!


Related articles:
Shaping A Dog's Recall: Check In

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More Creepy Crawlies

by Jennifer Coates, DVM

In my last post I talked about venomous snake bites. Today, something a little less scary (for most folks, at least)… spider bites.

I should start out by saying that after the great majority of spider bites, owners won’t have the slightest idea that anything is amiss. 

Your dog might be a little itchy around the bite site, but rather quickly that subsides and life returns to normal. What I’m going to talk about are those thankfully relatively rare occasions in North America when spider bites present a serious risk to health.

Black Widow Spider. Image: National Geographic

The Black Widow

When I practiced in southern Virginia, I saw a few dogs that I suspected had been bitten by black widow spiders. They exhibited the typical symptoms of this spider’s venom, which is a neurotoxin.

The dogs all had muscle rigidity, tremors, and were in pain. I treated them symptomatically (e.g., fluids, pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and the like) and they all recovered. This is the most common scenario when the individual that is bitten is fairly large. When petite dogs, cats, or other small animals are bitten by a black widow, the muscles necessary for breathing are more likely to be affected, which can lead to death. In these cases, a human black widow antivenin is available, but it may be prohibitively expensive for some veterinary patients.

Black widows reside primarily in warm areas with mild winters, but they have been found as far north as Canada.

Brown Recluse Spider. Image: The Inquisitr

The Brown Recluse

The brown recluse spider lives in the midwestern and south central regions of the United States. Its bite contains a toxin that destroys tissue, leading to pain and sometimes large wounds that develop days after the bite occurred. Treatment depends on the severity of damage but may include antibiotics, pain relievers, and surgery to remove devitalized tissues and deal with open wounds. Affected dogs may also require symptomatic treatment for nausea and a fever.

Secondary Infections and “Hot Spots”

Any injury to the skin, including bites from benign species of spiders, can become infected and/or irritated, particularly if a dog licks, chews, or scratches at the area. Relatively mild itchiness may respond to an oral antihistamine and/or topical anti-inflammatories. More severe symptoms respond best to a short course of a corticosteroid. An antibiotic ointment or spray may be all that is necessary to resolve a superficial skin infection, but oral antibiotics are often required in more advanced cases (particularly if your dog tends to lick topical preparations off before they can be effective!). If an abscess develops, surgery to drain it and deal with devitalized tissue may also be necessary.

If you suspect that your dog has been bitten by a spider, keep an eye on him. 

Just as is the case for people, most canine spider bites don’t require medical attention. But if your dog acts sick or develops a lesion at the bite site, it’s time to call your veterinarian.

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Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado.  She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian. 

Dr. Coates has recently joined the PetMD team and she is now writing for the Fully Vetted column; great blog, do check it out.

Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.


Articles by Dr. Coates:
Kidney Disease – Say What? 
What Happens In The Dog's Body When The Kidneys Fail To Function Properly? 
The Perplexities of Pancreatitis
The Other Side Of The Coin: The Cost Of Defensive Medicine
To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question
Don’t Forget the Physical Therapy
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 1)
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 2)
Picking the Right Dog to Breed
When Is It An Emergency?
Dog Allergies: Common, Commonly Misdiagnosed, or Both? 
Why Does The Spleen Get No Respect?
Protect Your Dog From Snake Bites 

Related articles:
Spider Bites Dog 

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Veterinary Highlights: Maggot Debridement Therapy

This article on petMD generated many sounds of disgust and lead to a number of nightmares. However, this topic is very interesting to me. I am equally fascinated by debridement therapy as I am by the idea of helminthic therapy (which, sadly, presently doesn't seem available in veterinary medicine).

Everybody keeps calling for natural treatments, right? LOL

The use of maggots in medicine is neither a medieval torture or a new invention. Maggots are actually regulated by the FDA as medical devices. Maggots feed on dead tissue, effectively cleaning away tissue that is not healing and may be harboring harmful bacteria.

This is a process that is referred to as debridement.

Maggot debridement therapy is often used where other therapies have failed.

Image Wound Research

Is it a step backward for medicine? I actually find it quite enlightening. I think that accepting that it doesn't always have to be fancy shiny medical instruments that get the job done best is actually a step forward. (Not that I have anything against fancy shiny medical instruments.)

If you read the comments to the original article, you'll actually find some testimonials of people who have seen this work.

Never send a man to do a maggot's job.

Would I agree to use of this therapy for my dogs? No question. Would you?

Source article: Maggots: Thumbs Up or Down?

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Canine Anemia and Your Pet's Nutritional Needs

by Matt Milstead

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells. Because the red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, symptoms of anemia stem from insufficient oxygen in organs and muscles.

A dog can become anemic as a result of blood loss (e.g. from trauma, bleeding ulcers, parasites), destruction of red blood cells (e.g. immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, some infectious diseases) or inadequate red blood cell production (e.g. due to a chronic illness, cancer or dietary deficiencies).

Dogs with anemia require special care to address nutritional needs and to help maintain a healthy energy level.

Important Foods for Anemic Dogs

Foods high in iron, protein and B vitamins (particularly vitamin B12) are essential in helping the production of red blood cells. I would avoid commercial dog food, especially generic brands, with the exception of high-quality pet food such as Royal Canin , Science Diet, Iams, and those that are high in iron. I recommend supplementing a good dog food with the following healthy, natural foods:

• beef liver; contains iron, protein as well as B vitamins, particularly B12
• brewer's yeast along with vitamin B 12 offers similar benefits as the liver
• kelp powder; contains iodine and other trace minerals
• green vegetables like string beans and leafy produce like spinach which contain iron as well as other minerals and chlorophyll
• carrots, whole wheat and rye breads, pumpkin and egg yolks which are high in vitamin B9
• nuts, fish, and vegetables
• lean meats such as ground beef and lamb

By combining both a high-quality, iron-rich dog food with these natural foods, your dog's nutritional needs will be better maintained.

Supplements that I Recommend for Canine Anemia

A diet rich in protein and vitamin B12 is critical for your dog's anemia treatment. Supplements and minerals added to your dog's diet can also enhance overall health.

Consider adding one of the following supplements to your dog's diet according to special needs and other conditions:

• Milk Thistle which boosts hemoglobin levels
• crushed vitamin C tablets in your dog's food to help with iron absorption, approximately 500 mg a day, more for a larger dog
• geritol tablets to give the blood a bigger boost of iron and B vitamins
• phosphorus pellets which helps treat bleeding in anemic dogs
• sulphur tablets which help dogs with worms, fleas, skin disorders, and a poor immune system.

The Importance of Iron in the Anemic Dog's Diet

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, an oxygen-transporting protein. Hemoglobin requires iron to be able to perform its oxygen-transporting function. Dogs need approximately 35 mg of iron a day for each pound of dry food consumed.

Herbs, such as burdock, red clover and nettle are also often used in treatment of canine anemia. Adding these to an overall dietary plan can greatly benefit an anemic dog.

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Dog Cartoon Of The Week: Botox

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.


Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

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From Zero To Sixty In Four Days: Stem Cells At Work

After the very rough weekend, this morning, when Jasmine first got up she did that without difficulty. She then went out and came back looking very good.

After the recent roller coaster, however, we were reluctant to believe what we were seeing.

We arrived to the vet's office bright an early. He came out to meet us, expecting to see a very lame dog. But that was not what what barged out of the bus to greet him.

He examined Jasmine thoroughly and found the joints cool and happy. The left elbow already exhibited increase in range of motion and lubrication!

There is a marked improvement in the joints from their pre-treatment state.

The right elbow seems to have an injection bruise which should be self-limiting. Jasmine's vet seemed very pleased with the amount of progress the joints have made.

The iliopsoa and hip muscles are quite angry and might have accounted for most of the lameness of the rear end.

These muscles had been bothering Jasmine in the past and might have got aggravated by the rolling from side to side during injection of the joints, or by compensating for the sore elbow(s).

The situation Jasmine's vet got to see this morning was very different from what we have dealt with over the weekend.

Was all the lameness caused by manipulating of the joints in order to get the injections in their precise locations and the act of injecting them itself, or was it indeed some kind of a healing crisis type of event?

I guess we will never know for sure.

Judging by what was happening over the past few days, I would say it might have been [a healing crisis].

Apparently, whether or not a healing crisis might occur, would depend on two factors. How much healing there needs to happen, and whether or not the body has the resources to mount such an aggressive response.

From his today's examination Jasmine's vet feels that the angry ilipsoas were the source of most of weekend anxiety. But he couldn't have seen Jasmine during her worst lameness, which involved the elbow to a degree that Jasmine had a hard time to bear any weight on it at all.

The picture over the weekend was a very different one from the picture today.

I think understanding what exactly did Jasmine go through is important. Whether the complete puzzle can be put together without Jasmine's vet having been able to examine her during those days, that is a question.

I feel, that regardless of the angry muscles, a healing crisis is as good of an explanation as any. Could all that happened have simply been from the stress the joints underwent, being manipulated and injected? Perhaps.

Unfortunately hubby and I were the only ones who actually witnessed the whole thing.

Could the muscles have been behind all of the mobility issues Jasmine went through? Personally I am not seeing that.

For us, of course, the main thing is that the joints presented as very happy today. 

We will make an appointment with Jasmine's physical therapist to deal with the muscles.

I do believe, though, that it would be beneficial to have been able to figure out what exactly went on, should somebody else face such a situation. 

That might not be possible to determine with any certainty. I do feel, though, that some kind of a healing crisis type of event remains a possible explanation.

A take home point? Don't set up a major treatment for Friday before a long weekend! Duh!

The silly thing is that the worst horror Jasmine's gone through in the past, a result of a drug-induced hyperthermia (and she was just going it for an x-ray!) also happened over the weekend. That was three years ago, and we swore to ourselves not to ever do any procedures or even diagnostics on Friday. We stuck to this rule for three years.

The reason we broke the rule this time was our zeal to help Jasmine as soon as possible. 

We wanted those stem cells in her joints at the earliest date possible, so they could start doing their thing. The treatments she had in the past were uneventful. So we figured it would go the same way this time also. Should have know better, huh? Gotta respect Murphy's law. EVERY time.

Has your dog ever gone through a healing crisis type of event?

Of course, in her excitement of her vet coming to meet her at the bus, Jasmine stumbled on her way down the steps. So I'm hoping she didn't aggravate those sore muscles further. *sigh We shall see tonight.

Related articles:
Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns
The Day Of The Treatment
First Time For Everything: A Healing Crisis(?) 

***

Meet Jasmine
I'm Still Standing! (Happy Birthday, Jasmine)
How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care

Further reading:
Jasmine’s Story: Can Chronic Diarrhea and Soft Tissue Injuries be Normal?
Jasmine’s Story: An ACL Injury and a Cancer Scare
Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess
Jasmine Recovers from Surgery and Jana Discovers TCVM
Who’s Minding Your Pet’s Health?
Pet Owner Perspective On Stem Cell Therapy
Difficult to Manage Lameness Treated with Physical Therapy
Our Journey to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Read More

The Challenge Continues

Jasmine is improving—slowly—so much for 36 hours... But at least her right legs now seem fully functional, well, at least in comparison with the left side.

And at least she get around well enough now.

After another two days of strict bed rest we figured that she really needed to get out of the house so we all went to the farm. It made her VERY happy. It was quite hot so that helped keeping her somewhat subdued. She really is all go, no quit.

When she was out there, her weight bearing and gait looked quite decent. The lameness is now most obvious only when she gets up from laying down.

I was worried what the activity was going to do to the sore legs, but at night she didn't look any worse than the day before. That's a big relief.

In the morning the vet's office is finally open again, so we'll be there first thing (again).

We're all very exhausted, both physically, and emotionally, so more detailed update will be coming later.

Related articles:
Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns
The Day Of The Treatment
First Time For Everything: A Healing Crisis(?) 

***

Meet Jasmine
I'm Still Standing! (Happy Birthday, Jasmine)
How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care

Further reading:
Jasmine’s Story: Can Chronic Diarrhea and Soft Tissue Injuries be Normal?
Jasmine’s Story: An ACL Injury and a Cancer Scare
Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess
Jasmine Recovers from Surgery and Jana Discovers TCVM
Who’s Minding Your Pet’s Health?
Pet Owner Perspective On Stem Cell Therapy
Difficult to Manage Lameness Treated with Physical Therapy
Our Journey to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

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Adoption Monday: Lilly, Labrador Retriever Mix, Deerfield, NH

Check out this beautiful girl at Mary's Dogs Rescue & Adoption!

Lilly is about one year old, sweet girl. 

She is just blossoming! She was quite fearful when she first came to the rescue, but through careful training and patience, Lilly is learning the world is a safe place. Her forever family will continue to keep her safe and teach her the world is a good place to be.

Lilly is house trained, spayed and up-to-date with her shots.

Lilly is ready for you. Are you ready for her?

Want more info on Lilly? Call Mary's Dogs: 603.370.7750 or send along an email: marysdogsrescue@gmail.com

Ready to bring Lilly home? Tell us about yourself and your interest in Lilly in our adoption questionnaire. Check out all the wonderful dogs on Mary's Dogs Facebook Fan Page.

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Mary’s Dogs rescues and re-homes dogs and puppies from Aiken County Animal Shelter, a high-kill shelter in South Carolina, USA. They also serve as a resource to communities in Southern New Hampshire and pet owners nationwide by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spay/neuter, positive behavior training, and good nutrition.

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First Time For Everything: A Healing Crisis(?)

Healing crisis – a temporary worsening of the patient’s symptoms during stage(s) of treatment.

The night after her treatment, Jasmine looked very rough. Her front left leg was very sore, and her rear left was right behind it. We figured that it might have been because she was off her pain meds for that day.

That didn’t, however, prepare us for the following morning, by which things went from bad to worse.

Jasmine was still very sore on her left side, but now all four legs were not doing well!

She did struggle up to go out to do her business. She was, however, having extreme difficulty, and after she got half way to the door, that was about all that she could do.

Hubby carried her back on her bed.

Now what? This was not just worsening of her original lameness, this was something else all together.

The moment Jasmine vet arrived to the hospital, he found me waiting on the phone.


We would have taken Jasmine to the hospital if it had to be, but were reluctant to volunteer taking her on a trip she was ill-equipped to handle. We figured we better discuss the situation with him to see what to make of it and what to do.

First things first, he wanted to know whether there was any swelling, redness or heat at the incision sites. 

This was very important, because, while unlikely, infection could happen and that would be an emergency situation. If it was going to happen, it would indeed have gotten very bad very fast.

That’s why keeping everything completely sterile was so important in such procedure. Hubby described how after they shaved the incision sites, they washed them off and then drenched them with alcohol. At one point the tech said she might have had put too much, but the vet replied that there is never too much alcohol.

Fortunately, we found none of the above signs. Also if there was an infection, Jasmine wouldn’t be putting any weight on the leg at tall, which she was, to various degree, on all of them.

It was good to have this scary option off the table, but what is going on?

I described the progress of the events to Jasmine's vet. It was comforting that he didn’t sound surprised or worried about Jasmine; he just sounded quite worried about me.

He explained that some of the pain might be a result of some of the manipulation of the limbs which was necessary to get the injections where they needed to go.

Then he explained, that what he believes is going on, is what is in holistic medicine referred to as healing crisis.

I have read plenty about healing crises so I understood what he meant. Reading about it, and watching it—totally different things!

He used the term reluctantly, however he felt it best described what we might be looking at.

Healing crises were described by the experts using platelet rich plasma therapy, and our vet witnessed them himself, when he used the therapy for their resident rescues. With the treatment, the body’s healing process is pushed into an overdrive, which then results in variety of scary looking symptoms.

In case of their resident rescues, the healing crises lasted about 36 hours with each of the patients. 

After that, the benefits of the treatment should start showing. Our vet also said, that, while he has not seen that yet, same thing could happen with the stem cell therapy, as these therapies have a lot in common.

Jasmine had stem cell therapy in the past and we did not see such onset of symptoms. 

But this time we did four joints at once, and her vet said that the joints we treated then are not the same as the joints we treated now.

He sounded very confident and reassuring. 

So we’re really hoping that this is all we’re looking at. I have to admit that I’d be perfectly happy to pass on such excitement; but on the other hand, it might be a sign of some serious healing going on. So that would certainly be good thing.

He also said, that if we wanted, we could get her some Coenzyme Q10 which might help with the process. So I ran out and got some.

The good thing was that she was interested in food and her eyes were bright and didn’t lose their fire.

By the end of the day we’re seeing some marginal improvement.

Jasmine drank, ate enthusiastically, eliminated, and seemed to have rested comfortably in between. She now gets to where she needs to go without as much difficulty as in the morning, at least I don’t have to worry about her falling over any more.

Jasmine hates cold compresses, but so it happened that a new cooling bed, we ordered for her, just arrived yesterday, so we set it up for her and she’s already using it.

All this is not what we were hoping to see going in, but we're hoping that the final outcome will be what we wanted for her.

This is certainly something new. In the meantime we have to take things one step at a time and be thankful for any sign of improvement.

Related articles:
Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns
The Day Of The Treatment

***

Meet Jasmine
I'm Still Standing! (Happy Birthday, Jasmine)
How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care

Further reading:
Jasmine’s Story: Can Chronic Diarrhea and Soft Tissue Injuries be Normal?
Jasmine’s Story: An ACL Injury and a Cancer Scare
Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess
Jasmine Recovers from Surgery and Jana Discovers TCVM
Who’s Minding Your Pet’s Health?
Pet Owner Perspective On Stem Cell Therapy
Difficult to Manage Lameness Treated with Physical Therapy
Our Journey to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Read More

The Day Of The Treatment

Friday was the big day of the stem cell treatment. We have high hopes that it will fix Jasmine right up.

Her lameness seemed controlled reasonably well with the pain management we were using.

Reasonably well meaning Jasmine moving without visible problems during the day, and only showing various degree of lameness at night. Of course she'd still want to do everything as she normally would. Getting her to take things a little easy is one of the hardest tasks. Holding her back is sad for her as well as for us.

All we want is to get her body caught up with her spirit once again.
 

Gambit

Getting her to take it easy was even harder on Wednesday, when son showed up on the walk with his Sharpei, Gambit.

Jasmine just loves that dog and really really wanted to play with him. How could we not let them play around at least a little bit? I was very scared but not letting her play at all just was not possible under the circumstances. Or course she did pay for it that night …

We couldn't wait for Friday, getting those stem cells in and letting them do their thing.

Since Jasmine was so good and cooperative getting the x-rays, her vet was hoping that it might be possible to inject the cells under sedation only as well.

Jasmine WAS a good girl, but couldn't help twitching her legs. That was no good, as the stem cells needed to be injected into precise locations. So she ended up having to go under anesthesia after all.

The procedure went well and Jasmine underwent the anesthesia without any complications.

The areas of injection had to get shaved, in order to create a sterile environment. Unfortunately, Jasmine ended up with a bunch of other shaved patches, as they were trying to find a place to draw some blood. Drawing blood from Jasmine is always difficult because finding a vain on her is nearly impossible.


Hubby actually got to be there during the entire procedure; originally to help keep Jasmine steady with the sedation only, but he got to remain even after the plan had to be changed.

He was admiring how the vet and his team are a well-oiled machine.

When Jasmine came home she was still quite groggy and slept until dinner time. She wasn't overly interested in food but I was able to coax her with a bit of turkey. Then she slept some more.

When she finally went to get up, her front left leg was very sore and her rear left leg was quite sore also. In fact, in retrospective, it makes my wonder how much of her wobbliness, which we though was from coming off the drugs, was from pain instead ...

She had quite a hard time getting around again.

I guess the DMSO++ and all that was of much more benefit in terms of pain management than we would figure. Today, since she ended up off all those things, we got a true picture of what the situation really is. (Note to self: the DMSO++ concoction seems to be really good)

It was very disheartening for me to see that (again).

OK, clearly, I'm emotional. I do understand that the stem cells will need some time to work before we can expect to see a true improvement in those joints. Somehow, though, I was not expecting to see her that lame. So her poor vet can look forward to an early morning phone call from me. It would make sense, though, that the lack of pain management for the day would have done it.

Half a kingdom for never seeing Jasmine lame again!

At least not this badly; at least not on a front leg ...

Some dogs show almost immediate pain relief response, even the night after the treatment; we weren't meant to be that lucky so we got to ride it out. We applied the topical treatment again and today she will be back on the original regime.

Come on, little stem cells, do your thing! Do it as fast as you can, please, for my little girl!

Related articles:
Jasmine's Acute Lameness
Jasmine Doesn't Like "Doing Time"
Our Of Jail Free Pass
When It's Looks Too Good To Be True … The Lameness Returns

***

Meet Jasmine
I'm Still Standing! (Happy Birthday, Jasmine)
How Dogs Think (Well, Jasmine Anyway)
How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child!
Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In
Arthritis? What Arthritis? 
Guess Who Is An Ever-Ready Bunny And Really Liking The Bit Of Snow We Got? 
Don't Knock It Until You Tried It: Animal Chiropractic 
Jasmine's Fur Analysis
Back At Chiropractic Care

Further reading:
Jasmine’s Story: Can Chronic Diarrhea and Soft Tissue Injuries be Normal?
Jasmine’s Story: An ACL Injury and a Cancer Scare
Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess
Jasmine Recovers from Surgery and Jana Discovers TCVM
Who’s Minding Your Pet’s Health?
Pet Owner Perspective On Stem Cell Therapy
Difficult to Manage Lameness Treated with Physical Therapy
Our Journey to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Read More

Veterinary Highlights: Prebiotics And Weight Loss?

I was just seriously struggling with picking out a topic for my Veterinary Highlights, when I wondered off and came across this article.

Could prebiotics assist with weight loss?

I am not talking about loading your dog's food with fiber just to make them feel full. This is a different concept all together.

Prebiotics are nondigestible fibers that promote beneficial bacteria in dog's intestine.

Scientists are finding that supplementing prebiotics causes beneficial change of intestinal bacteria, which results in hormonal changes that decrease appetite, decrease intestinal fat cells and decrease body weight in humans and rats.

How cool is that?

Whether or not this would work the same way for dogs is just a speculation at this point. Studies have shown that increase of dietary fiber decreases intestinal absorption of some minerals and essential fatty acids.

Like everything else, the use of prebiotics is a question of the right balance.

The studies in humans and rats showed that the weight loss effect was greatest with highest concentrations of fiber. On the other hand, my question would be, how much can the intestinal bacteria really need to flourish? The hormonal changes don't come from the fiber itself, but from the bacteria. So I'm thinking it shouldn't have to take THAT much fiber to achieve optimal state of the intestinal bacteria.

I am curious what they find out.

Source article: Prebiotics and Weight Loss in Pets

Related articles:
Unsung Heroes: Probiotics

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Dog Treat Ingredients – Beware!

by Lindsay Stordahl of ThatMutt.com

Recent issues with dog treats made in China aside,
what is in your dog's treats?

Today, many owners appreciate the importance of quality food for their dogs. They know to read the list of ingredients. They often choose to feed grain-free, raw, or homemade dog food, in order to keep inferior or unhealthy ingredients out of their dogs' food bowls.

But what about treats and snacks for dogs?

In the past I've thought of dog treats as "junk food" in moderation. I might eat a processed candy bar filled with high fructose corn syrup once or twice a week. Why is it so bad if my dog has a few unhealthy treats as well? My dog and I live active lifestyles, neither of us are fat and overall we eat a healthy diet.

Will a few "bad" treats hurt us? 

Well, probably not. But a "few" unhealthy treats here and there add up over time.

Why eat such unhealthy treats when there are healthier, tastier options out there (for dogs and humans)?
After taking the time to actually read some of the ingredients in popular dog treats on the market, I now think twice about the kind of treats I give my dog.

Reasons to avoid many
commercial dog treats

1. Many commercial dog treats contain sugar or corn syrup

It never occurred to me that dog treat companies would actually put sugar or corn syrup in dogs treats! I assumed there were regulations against this. Boy was I wrong! I started reading the labels of popular, commercial dog treats. It turns out many of the companies list sugar or corn syrup among the top ingredients!

Sugar has many of the same negative effects on dogs as it does on people. Consuming sugar can increase a dog's risk of developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes and dental disease.

Do read the labels on the treats you buy for your dog as you would on your dog's food.



2. Commercial dog treats often contain chemical preservatives

Unfortunately, it's common for commercial dog treats to be loaded with chemical preservatives and dyes. These ingredients provide no nutritional value to the dogs but help make the food look more appealing to people.

Potential carcinogens such as ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA are permitted in U.S. pet foods as preservatives, according to the animal advocacy organization, Born Free USA.

Reading the ingredients on many commercial treats and I was not surprised to see these chemicals listed. Dog owners should make sure to shop for natural dog treats made with wholesome ingredients such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin or natural, sugar-free peanut butter.

Semi-moist dog treats will also likely contain propylene glycol, generally recognized as safe within certain levels, yet prohibited in cat food formulations. Think about it, do you really want to feed your dog these things?

3. Many dog treats contain corn and other cheap fillers

Corn is a cheap filler with little or no nutritional value to a dog, yet many commercial dog food companies use some form of corn (corn gluten meal, ground corn, etc.) as the top ingredient in their food and treats. That's because corn is cheap.

On top of that, many dogs are actually allergic to corn. Some potential allergy symptoms in your dog could include itchy skin, an upset stomach or ear infections.

Many veterinarians suggest that dogs do not need grain in their diets at all. I feed my own dog Ace a grain-free dry food. If you do decide to feed your dog grain, make sure it's high-quality grain such as whole brown rice. Avoid cheap grains such as soy and brewer's rice.

Image: ToadMama's Interstitial Space

Brewer's rice is a cheap rice by-product that provides zero nutritional value, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials. The AAFCO establishes nutritional standards for pet foods, but does not regulate pet foods.

Editor's note: While I don't believe that the issue of corn and grains in dog food and dog treats is as simple as that, I do agree that they are used in much higher amounts than what would serve our dogs' best interest. For example, I believe that healthy dog's diet should not contain more than 20% of carbohydrates. Yet, most dog food products derive at least 50% of the calories from carbohydrates. That is so partially because these ingredients are cheap and partially because certain levels of starch are needed for processing of many of these products. Certainly, grains contain protein also—that is the other reason they are used in high quantities—but that is a source of a whole other set of issues. I won't argue that quality grains in reasonable quantities can be of benefit. Overloading dog food and dog treats with grains, or worse, grain products such as gluten meal, does not a healthy dog make.

Here is an example of ingredients on one of the popular dog treats: Ground wheat, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, ground yellow corn, water, sugar, glycerin, soybean meal, meat, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, bacon fat (preserved with BHA), salt, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), calcium propionate (a preservative), natural and artificial smoke flavors, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6), choline chloride.

So how can I make sure my dog's treats
are healthy?

Before you buy any commercial dog treats for your dog, make sure to read the list of ingredients!

Avoid treats that list any of the above things such as sugar, corn syrup, cheap grains, chemical preservatives and other inferior or potentially harmful ingredients.

I like to shop at local dog bakeries where they make homemade natural dog treats that are safe for my dog. I would rather buy treats from an individual or a small business rather than a larger pet-food company.

I also prefer to shop at our natural pet food store where all the dog treats, chews and food are safe for my dog. The owners and staff members are knowledgeable about canine nutrition and are happy to answer my questions and address any concerns. I notice the employees at larger pet food chains typically know very little about canine nutrition and show little interest in my dog's health.

Another option is to make the dog treats yourself! 

I like to make peanut butter treats for Ace using a simple recipe of whole grain brown flour, peanut butter and water. Unfortunately, most brands of peanut butter contain sugar, but if you shop in the organic section you should be able to find sugar-free peanut butter. It's healthier for you and your dog!

Certain fruits and veggies also make healthy treats for dogs, but not all fruits and veggies are safe for dogs. Just make sure to ask your dog's vet if you are unsure if a certain food is safe for your dog. Ace loves apples, carrots, bananas, asparagus and green beans.

What kind of treats do you give your dog?

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Lindsay Stordahl maintains the blog and dog training forum at ThatMutt.com. ThatMutt.com is a dog blog dedicated to everything about dogs - dog training, dog rescue, dog behavior, dog health and much more!

Related articles:
Chicken Jerky Anyone? Not When It's From China! 

Articles by Lindsay:
Knowledge Is Your Friend: Brittni's ACL Injury 
How To Help Your Dog Overcome Separation Anxiety

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