Lesson From Darby, The Yorkshire Terrier

by Ron Rutherford

It was over 14 years ago that I held my family’s Yorkshire Terrier within the palm of my ten-year-old hand.

From that point on, Darby was a member of our family.

Even though her contribution came from her seemingly petite five pound frame, her impact was undeniable. She passed away during the 2012 Idaho summer.


Dogs can provide emotional security and stability through the peaks and valleys of our everyday existence. 

Dogs are so faithful in their love that it becomes expected. It’s not every year that they impress. It’s not every month, nor each day. It’s every single hour, every minute.

This is the realization that hit me right in the sternum the day that Darby passed away this year. 

I think humans are inherently mesmerized by the simplicity with which dogs live by, and because of this, their importance and impact aren’t measured properly until they are gone.

The health and well-being of any pet is of utmost importance. 

With the Yorkshire Terriers, fitness and hygiene are incredibly crucial as their size makes them more susceptible to illness and injury. With Darby, we brushed her teeth every single night before bed to make sure her mouth was in good health. With her type, infections in the mouth can often be fatal as their body is too small to recover and cope properly.

We continually fed her carrots rather than traditional  treats, all in the hope of helping her push forward with a sparkling set of teeth.

We believe as a family that our efforts gave Darby the most quality journey she could have possibly had. 

I just wish in hindsight that I could have learned more from her, as I’m sure all widowed pet keepers do. Pets are a phenomenon that humans have generated through the domestication and breeding of other living beings.

Most people have good intentions and treat pets with the respect that they deserve, and this is relieving. 

Having said this, there should be no limit to the respect people pour outwardly onto their dogs. If you have a dog, walk it.  If you have a Yorkshire terrier, brush its teeth. Every single night.

They will thank you for doing so, even if it’s after they are gone.

***

Ron Rutherford is a writer with a passion for dogs and a soft spot for Thai food. He currently freelances for havahartwireless.com, which specializes in progressive and humane wireless dog fences.

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Veterinary Highlights: Dogs Wanted For A Promising Dog Cancer Study

Owners of dogs with cancerous tumors can enroll their dogs in a University of Missouri study that aims to use the body's own defenses to fight cancer.

Clostridium sporogenes. Image The Purple Society

The study’s objective is to stimulate the immune system to combat cancer via the introduction of bacteria.

Introduction of low dose of bacteria into the tumor should stimulate the body to attack the tumor cells. Previous studies, including research out of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, have shown that clostridium is the most successful bacteria because it only survives in oxygen-deficient environments — it thrives in tumors and stays out of the oxygen-rich bloodstream.

If the treatment works as hoped, the dogs will successfully fight off the cancer and also build fortified immune systems that will resist tumor growth in the future.

All breeds are eligible to participate, although larger dogs are preferred.

Types of cancer: melanoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, soft tissue sarcoma or cutaneous carcinoma that is resectable by a regional or smaller resection.

Source article:
Promising University of Missouri cancer study needs canine participants

Further reading:
MU veterinarian seeks dogs for cancer study
Current Oncology Clinical Trials/University of Missouri 
(Evaluation of immunological and tumor defining response to an IV infusion of C. novyi-NT for the treatment of melanoma, STS or select carcinomas in dogs)
Canine Cancer Clinical Trials

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Itching For A Diagnosis

by Dr. Robert Foley, DVM

Sometimes I like to surprise people by asking them, as soon as they walk in the room, before they have even had a chance to introduce themselves, something like,

“What’s Max here for today, an ear infection?"

Image Simon Winbles

The nice thing about dermatology is that dogs are literally coming in wearing their clinical signs. I particularly liked studying dermatology at school. While  I did read Miller and Scotts cover to cover (over 1000 pages),  I was more fortunate to attend lectures by both of these authors. These two lecturers (one of them who only wore tie dye shirts, shorts, and Birkenstocks) had a way of cutting through a lot of dense material and focused more on the approach to the veterinary patient. Their textbook, after all, would always be available for reference.

What was important was to look at your patient, get an accurate history, diagnose and treat infections, and to perform the right diagnostics.

Some of the lessons that they taught me are actually quite intuitive, and I can pass these on to you, the reader.

The first thing to note is how old is your patient.  

Young dogs (< 6 months) tend to have either food allergy or parasites (scabies, ear mites, Cheyletiella etc.).

Slightly older dogs (1-3 onset of development ) presenting itchy for the first time tend to be atopic (allergic to things inhaled such as dust mites, pollens, weeds etc.). 

Very old dogs presenting with severe skin problems are often trying to tell us that they are systemically ill with something else (like cancer or endocrine problems).

Also important is the distribution of the lesions.  

Dogs with inhalant allergens, for example, are often itchy in one or all of these three places:  the face (including the ears), the armpit, and the feet. Dogs with flea hypersensitivity chew around the base of their back near the tail, the tail, and under the tail. Often times these dogs will present with hotspots. Food allergic dogs can itch anywhere on the body and can mimic other diseases. 

Pruritic (itchy) and also repetitively infected ears are common but not exclusive for food allergy.  

They will often have itching around the anus mimicking anal gland problems. Dogs with scabies tend to have crusty, extremely itchy lesions around the ear tips and elbows. Greater than 90% of these will kick up their feet when you rub the ear tip between your fingers!

We also need to consider breed.  

Labrador Retrievers, for example, are overly represented when it comes to food allergy. Wheaton Terriers, Bull Terriers (all pits), Jack Russell Terriers are a few breeds that are documented to suffer from inhalant allergy.  Brachycephalic breeds (dogs with pushed in faces like Bulldogs ) often suffer from infections and itches in areas that other dogs don’t have, e.g. skin folds. Cocker Spaniels and others suffer from primary seborrhea (scaling and itching for no other reason other than they’re Cocker Spaniels).

Infections are common and can present either as primary causes of itching or can be present secondarily,  from the animal scratching and damaging his skin barrier, making him more susceptible to infection.  

In the latter instance not treating the secondary infections can hinder your ability to rectify and/or control the primary problem of itching. For example, steroids are often used to control outbreaks of  itching from allergy. Their use however can make clearing infections more difficult as steroids can suppress the immune response.  Thus we are left wondering why the patient is still itching even though we have given steroids.

The infection is still present or a new infection has developed.  

This is why when people call and say, “Hey can I get the steroids that helped my dog last year for his allergies, we often say no (or at least plead our case to the owner). Cytology is necessary to document what infections are present,  and how they need to be treated.

A veterinarian that does not know how to, or does not routinely perform cytology (from scrapings, swabs, and smears) is not worth her salt.

Taking a proper history is crucial.  

When did the animal first become itchy? (Cf. some age of onset examples above.)  Are there any other pets in the house?  Are those pets also itchy or are you itchy (signs of parasites)?  Are any other signs present like increased or decreased appetite, increased thirst (signs of underlying primary metabolic disease)? Are the problems seasonal or all year round?  (Food allergy symptoms , if the same food is fed all year, should be year round, for example).

Then there are just little pearls of knowledge which help.  

For example, most people, when I first discuss food allergy say, “Well he’s been on his same food his whole life”.  An allergen has to be developed however.  It is chronic exposure that leads to a hypersensitivity.

The first time you get stung by a bee it hurts, the second time it swells, the third time you are getting the epi-pen in the Emergency room…).   

Another common misconception by pet owners, and we are seeing that right now, is that flea allergy is a summer problem when it is in fact much more prevalent and severe towards the end of the season in the late fall.

Ultimately, as is usually the case, Angryvet readers and South Bellmore Veterinary Group and East Meadow Veterinary Clinic patients, are encouraged to help with the diagnosis (by giving an accurate history) and paying attention to what is working when we are treating the problem.

Unfortunately, many skin problems become recurrent, sometimes lifelong.  

Attentive clients can head off a lot of bad outbreaks by early intervention. I am a phone call away.  Often times patients can be diagnosed by the phone or treated with brief rechecks. There is a lot that the owner can do at home (baths,grooming,  feeding etc.) to help manage their pets condition long-term. Once again, the relationship between Dr., patient, and pet owner is crucial.

***

Angry Vet's blog offers objective opinions on many controversial topics often not readily available from your local veterinarian. This includes health concerns with over-vaccination, spaying and neutering controversy, and nutritional issues.

Dr. Robert Foley and Dr. Michael Ferber, founders of Angry Vet blog, are raising questions about the general recommendations that veterinarians are taught to give to their patients. Why do veterinarians vaccinate so much? Why they recommend spaying and neutering as a dogma, and as the only option? Is an intact animal actually healthier? Why are certain diseases so prevalent in our pets? Why is "people food" unhealthy for our pets but processed dog or cat foods superior?

Are you asking the same questions? And if you're not, should you? Check out  Angry Vet blog or connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.

Articles by Dr. Foley: 
Really Angry Vet: Winston's First Seizure  
Ruptured Cruciate Ligaments And Early Spay And Neuter  

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Tackling The Veterinary Terminology: Suffixes (-osis)

Remember the Spelling Bee? Big words are easier to tackle when you understand how they're put together. Veterinary terms are composed in the same way. Just like with other words, the main parts of a veterinary term are a prefix, a root, and a suffix. The difference is that they typically come more directly from Greek or Latin.

The suffix is the bit that will tell you about what procedure, condition, disease or disorder you're dealing with. Well, usually ...

-osis [əʊsɪs] from Greek - condition, process, increase

This  covers quite a broad range of possibilities! The way I understand it, the suffix -osis typically indicates the presence of something that doesn't belong.

However, it also means process.

Apoptosis and necrosis are medical terms that clearly describe a process.
Both these terms stand for cell death, the process of cell destruction. However, apoptosis means programmed cell death, which has to do with normal cell turnover, while necrosis is cell death and breakdown caused by injury or disease. The first one does belong, the other one does not.

As for the actual disease conditions, their meanings and severity vary.

For example, halitosis is just a fancy word for bad breath (talking about something that doesn't belong!). While on its own it merely describes the condition, the cause behind it remains unclear and must be diagnosed. The most common cause of halitosis is dental disease. However, there are other possible causes, such as gastrointestinal, respiratory or autoimmune diseases; metabolic disorders; oral cancer; and more.

Dermatosis is pretty vague and really just means any disorder affecting the skin. An example would be vesiculopustular dermatoses, in other words skin blisters filled with serum or pus. Again, determining the cause behind the symptoms is crucial for treatment.

What would, btw, be the difference between a dermatitis and dermatosis?

Dermatitis stands for inflammation of the skin. Dermatosis stands for abnormal skin condition of any kind, whether there is inflammation or not. So if your dog's skin turned green color but had no associated inflammation, it would be dermatosis. Demodectic mange, without the secondary bacterial infection, skin lesions associated with hormonal imbalances, seborrhea, these would all fall under dermatosis but are not dermatitis.

Acidosis stands for excess acidity in the blood. Examples would be metabolic acidosis and ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes.

To my mind, these are all examples of a lot of something that doesn't belong.

Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition in which normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which, of course, cannot perform the same functions. This is a perfect example of the suffix's definition—it is a process of infiltration by something that doesn't belong.

Causes, again, are many and figuring them out is ever-important.

It's starting to make sense why diagnosis is a process, isn't it?

Some other examples would be spondylosis (bony growths where they don't belong), thrombosis (blood clots forming where they don’t belong), leukocytosis (overproduction of white blood cells) and so on.

Some of the terms ending with -osis have to do with infections.

For instance, ehrlichiosis (tick transmitted bacterial infection) or mycosis (diseases caused by fungi)… these organisms definitely don’t “belong” in a dog’s body.  The names of many other infectious diseases actually end with -iasis, which we'll cover next time.

***

Related articles:
Veterinary Suffixes (-itis)
Veterinary Suffixes (-oma) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-pathy) 

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Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part II)

Continued from Part I

With Jasmine unable to get up on her own, barely making it out to potty, peeing brown, there we were, on our way to the emergency.

And all that from trying to diagnose her episodes...

How could this be happening? Could whatever was causing her episodes have something to do with all this?

That was the emergency vet's question also.

They wanted to know why was Jasmine in for the x-rays in the first place.

They were expecting us and when we arrived they came out with a cart to load Jasmine on.

They checked her out and asked about what preceded the situation. Jasmine's temperature at this time was actually below normal, so was her heart rate. There was bruising on her tongue, which we did notice, and more bruising on her abdomen, which we were unaware off.

They took her in the back for testing. They gave her IV fluids, tested her blood, took some x-rays, and whatever else they did back there.

When they returned, they presented us with x-rays and horrible news.

They told us that either her liver or kidneys were failing, and her platelets were tanked (thus all the bruising everywhere).

The biggest bomb was when they showed us on the x-rays what they believed was intestinal perforation.

Basically, they told us that Jasmine was finished.

There we were, shaking in shock. This cannot be!

They asked us whether we wanted to put Jasmine down or get a second opinion at the teaching hospital.

Last thing we wanted was to prolong Jasmine's suffering.

If she was finished anyway, wouldn't euthanasia be the humane thing to do? But where the heck would the intestinal perforation come from? None of what was happening made any sense.

We decided, that before ending Jasmine's life, we wanted a second opinion. Got the referral papers, and left for the teaching hospital.

That was a decision that saved Jasmine's life!

As we arrived to the teaching hospital, they too took her in the back for their own testing (And yes, we got to pay for everything twice). After what seemed like eternity, they came out with their verdict.

Jasmine's kidneys were fine, her liver shot but not beyond repair.

There was no intestinal perforation!

Instead, she had a large abscess in her abdomen. They would need to operate as soon as possible, but would have to wait for the platelets to get up to safe levels. They explained all that would need to be done to treat Jasmine and gave an estimate.

All we wanted to know, if we did all that, was she going to be ok.

They said that if everything went right she should fully recover. And even though it was a very rough journey for her, she did!

This was four years ago. Four years Jasmine almost didn't get to have!

Had we accepted the emergency vet's diagnosis and prognosis, Jasmine would have not been here today.

I don't know what the emergency vet was seeing, but they were seeing wrong. And it almost cost Jasmine her life.

PS: Another thing I had a hard time getting over was a note on the emergency vet's file which I got to see after Jasmine's vet uploaded it to her online medical records: "Owner insists that if you get Jasmine in standing position she will be able to hold herself up."

OK, I get it that one cannot trust everything the owners say, but to assume we're so dimwitted that we couldn't tell the difference between a walking (even though with extreme difficulties) and non-walking dog? Truly?

We had the same difficulties trying to be heard at the teaching hospital that prior to the incident Jasmine was walking perfectly fine. Once they saw bi-lateral cruciate surgery, they were convinced that was why Jasmine wasn't walking the entire week she was hospitalized, even when we had Jasmine's main vet telling them otherwise. We were very concerned that her mobility was not improving but they wouldn't pay attention to it because they had made up their minds about the cause.

***

Related articles:

OK, I Am A Sucker: We're Going Through With The SLIT 
Jasmine's Episodes: Back To The Allergies Dilemma 
This Is What Jasmine's Episode Looks Like
Gotta Try Everything Once (Or Twice): On The Quest To Figure Out Jasmine's Episodes 
Thundershirt vs. Jasmine's Episodes
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Another Experience With VetLiveThe Diagnosis Is In: Jasmine Has An Interdigital Cyst
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Interdigital Cyst Update  
Is Crawling Under Things Some Kind Of Secret Physical Therapy?  
Is There No Place Safe? Jasmine's Acupuncture Session
Senior Sensory Systems Function: Zero Defects  
It Looks Like A Keeper: Jasmine's New Integrative Vet 
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
The Calm After The Storm 
If It Was Easy, It Wouldn't Be Jasmine
Practicing What I Preach: Jasmine's Semi Annual Wellness Exam  
No Skimping On Oral Care 
Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part I) 

***
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

Read More

Adoption Monday: Frankie, Affenpinscher/Lhasa Apso Mix, Deerfield, NH

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

"Okay, so I do not know exactly who my parents are but that is not my fault. Folks who recently saw the dog show seem to think I am part Affenpinscher, perhaps Lhasa and or mini-schnauzer. Who knows? Who cares?"

Frankie is a bundle of canine cuteness. 

He has a stubby little tail and a little underbite too! 

Frankie is a very friendly guy who enjoys hanging out on his bed, going for walks and getting attention.  If you are looking for some companionship Frankie is the little guy for you!

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

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

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

***

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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Why Jasmine Gets Everything She Wants

Can you see why Jasmine gets everything she wants?



We typically take camera out on the walks or pull it out for special events, so catching a cozy moment isn't very likely to happen. This was filmed at the end of Jasmine's acupuncture session (which I still have to process).

Jasmine knows exactly how to make people do her bidding.

You make them all mushy, until they become totally pliable. One needs to sacrifice SOME dignity but hey, it's worth it.

Jasmine is a grand master in turning people into mush.

I think it's part of her world domination plan.
(Note: if you see me waving my hand in the video, that's because hubby was filming ME also, which he was specifically instructed not to do. But I managed to crop myself out)

***

Related articles:

OK, I Am A Sucker: We're Going Through With The SLIT 
Jasmine's Episodes: Back To The Allergies Dilemma 
This Is What Jasmine's Episode Looks Like
Gotta Try Everything Once (Or Twice): On The Quest To Figure Out Jasmine's Episodes 
Thundershirt vs. Jasmine's Episodes
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Another Experience With VetLiveThe Diagnosis Is In: Jasmine Has An Interdigital Cyst
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Interdigital Cyst Update  
Is Crawling Under Things Some Kind Of Secret Physical Therapy?  
Is There No Place Safe? Jasmine's Acupuncture Session
Senior Sensory Systems Function: Zero Defects  
It Looks Like A Keeper: Jasmine's New Integrative Vet 
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
The Calm After The Storm 
If It Was Easy, It Wouldn't Be Jasmine
Practicing What I Preach: Jasmine's Semi Annual Wellness Exam  
No Skimping On Oral Care 
Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part I) 

***
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

Read More

Rover and VetLive Partnership

by Laruen Colman

Rover.com already offers a valuable service to pet owners looking for sitters. The site, which matches pets with willing sitters in the area, has grown tremendously since it first opened.

Rover.com has now partnered with VetLIVE to provide another valuable service to dog owners and sitters alike.

VetLIVE is a website that allows visitors to get 24-hour assistance from a team of veterinarians. Users can upload photos or videos of their pets and chat with vets about symptoms and complaints. They can also upload a pet's recent medical history to obtain a second opinion on a diagnosis. This allows pet owners to get help for their pets even when regular veterinary offices are closed, and it can be an especially valuable resource for pet sitters who must determine whether or not to take client's pet to the veterinarian.

Rover members who opt to use the service can receive multiple benefits:

• 24-hour veterinary support for emergencies and other questions
• Nutritional advice from licensed veterinarians
• Email and text notifications whenever an answer has been posted

 

These features will allow pet owners and sitters to benefit from the services of VetLIVE regardless of where they are or what time it is.

According to Dr. Laci Schaible, the co-founder of VetLIVE, “VetLIVE is currently the only 24/7 immediate response veterinary advice website that connects concerned pet parents with licensed veterinarians, allowing pet parents to address questions about their pet’s health and well-being. It’s basically like having access to a team of vets at all times, which allows Rover.com members and all users the ability and confidence to make informed and educated decisions regarding their dog’s health.”

Why the Partnership is so Valuable

Although VetLIVE does not and should not replace real veterinary care, it does provide pet lovers with the tools to make smart decisions regarding a pet's well-being. For example, a pet sitter may have been left by the owner with a small amount of cash to cover emergencies. If a pet becomes ill overnight, a visit to the emergency vet can be extremely expensive. Consulting with VetLIVE to determine whether the situation is a true emergency or something that can be dealt with in the morning can save money while protecting the health of the pet.

The VetLIVE partnership also enables owners to have greater confidence in the sitters they leave their pets with. Knowing that a sitter will have licensed veterinarians available to answer questions and help with emergencies should make pet owners more comfortable leaving their furry friends in the hands of strangers.

Real Questions Asked at VetLIVE

Here are just a few of the questions that Rover members and other pet owners have recently asked VetLIVE:

• My dog ate some chocolate; what do I do?
• How do I recognize heat stroke in the dog I'm sitting?
• I found a lump on my pet. What is it? Should I be worried?
• My dog isn't walking normally. What could be wrong?

From fielding questions like this to walking a pet owner through post-op care for a neutered pet, VetLIVE provides real, valuable answers to pet owners and sitters alike.

***

Laruen Colman serves as the digital marketer for the dog boarding and dog sitting community at Rover.com and is a true dog lover at heart. Lauren spends her days at the office with her dogs Squish and Brando by her side. For more dog tips, you can follow Rover.com on Twitter @roverdotcom or on their blog, Dog Boarding News. 

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Veterinary Highlights: Walking Again After Nose Cells Transplant

A pioneering new treatment, developed at the University of Cambridge, is allowing paralyzed dogs to walk again. And the secret?

Cells from dogs' noses.



What do nose cells have to do with spinal cords? One thing that the olfactory system can do that other nerve fibers cannot, is to regenerate. In the nose, there are unique cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, which take care of the regeneration.

Transplanted to the spinal cord, they can do the same thing there.

Cellular changes associated with the advance of the regenerating cut corticospinal tract axons (black)
across lesions (grey) repaired with transplants of olfactory ensheathing cells.
Image Nature Reviews Neuroscience

In the study, transplanting these cells to a damaged spinal cord resulted in significant improvement. All dogs, paralyzed as a result of severe spinal injuries, injected with these cells, had improved mobility and some also regained bowel and bladder control.

That is seriously exciting stuff!

Source article:
Dogs Paralyzed By Spine Damage Walk Again After Nose Cell Transplants

Further reading:
Nose cell transplant enables paralysed dogs to walk 
Repair of neural pathways by olfactory ensheathing cells
Olfactory ensheathing cell biology

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The Food That Saved My Dog's Life

by Rick Woodford, a.k.a. “The Dog Food Dude”

Although I had a dog as a child, it had been fifteen years since I shared my life with a dog when I adopted Jackson. Charlie, our childhood black poodle, lived his life under a different standard; he was allowed to roam around the neighborhood until we moved and then was confined to the backyard. The only time he saw a leash was when it was time to go to the veterinarian. 

His food was a smelly, gloppy mess that came out of can. 

We loved Charlie, played with him, he slept on my bed and he was a member of our family. Three decades ago, dogs were just treated differently and it seemed our standard was no better or worse than other people we knew with dogs. We were just regular dog owners.

Upon his arrival, Jackson's routine only varied out of necessity.  

At 85-pounds I'd be opening cans all day to keep him fed, so Jackson was fed a commercial dry food that today is ranked one star on dogfoodadvisor.com.  Without a yard, walks were required so that Jackson could relieve himself. Jackson's Cujo-like aggression at other dogs filled our walks with stress so they were less recreational than task minded. 

Although curious about each other, there wasn't a lot of trust on either side.  

Jackson raided the garbage at regular intervals and attacked me if I got to close to his food bowl while he ate. We started training classes but after a couple of sessions were told that we were no longer welcome to group classes. In an effort to tire him out, we started running together.

When Jackson jumped up on the counter to snag something, I swatted him hard on the butt. It was the same thing we would have done to Charlie. Jackson, however, wouldn't have it and snapped back at me. I paused for a moment and apologized, "You're right. Buddies shouldn't hurt one another." We sat down in the kitchen and Jackson laid beside me while I rubbed his ears. Our exchange was never forgotten, but it was forgiven.

Jackson rarely had "human food" and when he did, it was mostly cheese or due to his vigilant countertop surveillance. 

When Jackson stole half a blueberry pie off the counter I didn't appreciate that he was getting his antioxidants, instead I grumbled about cleaning blueberry stains off the floor. In an effort to curb Jackson's shedding I moved him up a couple of stars to a higher quality food, and I grumbled about the price as well.  It didn't seem that feeding a dog should be so expensive, even if it was costing me less than two dollars a day.

Over time Jackson and I became buddies due to thousands of walks, hundreds of runs and scores of hikes.  We developed games to play in the house and at Jackson's insistence he shared the foot of my bed. He was my constant companion and one of the best friends I ever had.

When Jackson developed a lump in his throat, we started a long odyssey of veterinary visits. 

Jackson slowed down and his kibble was often left untouched. His rapid decline meant he was no longer interested in runs, walks, playing or even food. Curled up in a ball day after day his misery infected the entire household. When the oncologist called to confirm the latest round of tests I was in a grocery store stuck in the only part that I could retain cell-phone reception; across from the butcher's counter.

"Jackson has lymphoma and his prognosis is nine months, maybe a year if he responds well to treatment."

I went through the checkout with two steaks and tears running down my face.

 (I think the clerk must have thought I was a vegetarian that decided to call it quits.) That night Jackson ate timidly, but at long last he finally ate.

Spurred by a successful meal and a clean bowl, I started throwing food together and mixing it in with Jackson's dry food. 

His clever tongue often picked around the kibble, preferring instead the mixture of turkey, greens and yams that I cooked. Some research on diets for dogs with cancer and Jackson's weight gain showed that I had no idea what I was doing so I did what I do when confronted with plenty of data and no solution; I built a database. Comparing the nutrient requirements of dogs with the the nutrient values in food I formulated a better diet and emphasized the nutrients that would assist Jackson's cancer; fish oil and proteins, selenium, along with vitamins A, C & E. 

Jackson's energy returned and we started running together once again.  My old buddy was back.

Then the doorbell rang.  A neighbor's dogs was diagnosed with cancer and was hoping I could help feed her dog as well. I had just left my full-time job and decided that I could feed her dog and many others and decided to start Dog Stew. Another similar company started up in Portland at the same time but there was a striking difference between our foods; while the other company served spaghetti with meatballs and burritos, Dog Stew delivered meals that were a cross between a casserole and a stew. In addition I was grinding up vitamins and minerals to ensure that dogs received all the nutrition they needed to stay healthy.  Customers raved about the food and dogs all over Portland started dancing before meal time.

Eighteen months after the oncologist's ominous phone call, we returned to the office to hear unexpected news; "I rarely get to tell people this, but you don't need to bring Jackson back." 

I explained it was the food and she told me, "I doubt it, you don't know what you're doing."  Since she hadn't seen the copious amounts of research that I had done, I felt confident in replying, "No, you don't know what I'm doing. I'm doing this like you'd want me to."  Regardless of our difference in opinion, we were both pleased by the good news.

Jackson and I celebrated that evening with a long run and scrambled eggs in his bowl.

I hand-made and delivered thousands of meals each week to dogs throughout Portland and was repeatedly called, "The Dog Food Dude" even if I preferred Rick. I loved hearing people tell me how much they appreciated the food because it made their dogs so happy. As the recession started, I found myself at a tipping point that left me unable to scale up the business any further.

I closed the business and decided to write a book to help make providing better nutrition easy for other pet owners. 

The most important message for me to convey was that vitamins and minerals aren't enough; dogs also need a wide variety of phytochemicals and antioxidants to stay healthy and it can be really easy to do provide. I spent four years writing Feed Your Best Friend Better, and am proud to have written something that's accessible, easy and as full of research as it is common sense.

Four years after Jackson's diagnosis, he passed away at the age of twelve, not from cancer – simply from old age. 

Sure, I spend 30 minutes in the kitchen every week making a big batch of food, but I consider it a fair trade off because it gave me three extra years with my best friend that veterinarians said I would never have.

Today our dogs go for plenty of walks and we feed them half commercial food and half dry food. It's the best of both worlds; the dry food is heavily supplemented so we know that they are getting enough nutrition and I know with fresh foods included they're getting additional nutrients that are not included in the "complete and balanced" equation.

As my understanding and affection for Jackson increased so did my desire to feed him not just what was convenient but what would keep him happy and healthy. 

I was a pretty crappy pet owner when Jackson showed up at my door, but I loved him and he loved me so I changed.

I'm no longer a pet owner, I'm part of a family.

***

Rick Woodford, a.k.a. “The Dog Food Dude,” is an expert on pet nutrition and wellness. He is the author of Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs (available for purchase on Amazon), a comprehensive collection of simple and nutritious recipes perfect for the busy pet parent on a budget and that you're pet will love. 

You can also find Rick on Twitter and Facebook.

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Tackling The Veterinary Terminology: Suffixes (-pathy)

Remember the Spelling Bee? Big words are easier to tackle when you understand how they're put together. Veterinary terms are composed the same way. Just like with any other words, the main parts of veterinary terms are a prefix, a root, and a suffix. The difference is that they typically originate from Greek or Latin.

The suffix is the bit that will tell you about what procedure, condition, disease or disorder you're dealing with. Well, usually ...

-pathy [pəθi] from Greek - disease

By itself, this one is probably the most vague of all medical suffixes. All it's really saying is that there is something wrong with whatever root word precedes.

For example, myelopathy means that there is a disease of the spinal cord. Without further qualification, quite useless, really. Degenerative myelopathy then, is a progressive deterioration of the spinal cord. Not that anybody really understands why this happens. 

Wobbler syndrome (cervical spondylomyelopathy) is a disease of the cervical spine. Anatomical problem with the spine (slipped disc or bony malformation) compresses the spinal cord, causing pain and difficulty walking. But you won't learn any of that from the suffix.

Wobbler Syndrome (CVI). Image Sirius Dog.

Myopathy means muscle disease, neuropathy means nerve disease and so on.

I guess it sounds better than saying, "there is something wrong with the dog's muscle(s) or nerves." And it is easier to understand for veterinarians in all languages.

Not a whole lot of useful information, though.

Only when it is further qualified, you can actually learn something.

For example, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes thin and unable to contract normally. This causes enlargement of the heart and its ability to pump blood deteriorates. But it's the bit that comes BEFORE the suffix that tells you all that.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Image The Big Hearts Fund

Related articles:
Veterinary Suffixes (-itis)
Veterinary Suffixes (-oma)

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Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part I)

Recently I published Angry Vet's post about a bad experience with an emergency vet. The story was very close to home, as we had our own emergency vet horror. In fact, if we went with their conclusions, Jasmine wouldn't have been alive today.

It was almost four years ago and, fortunately, we decided to get a second opinion.

I was thinking about it today again, as hubby is away teaching and Jasmine wasn't feeling well tonight. Her belly was upset, which does happen from time to time. However, she also had a bit of a fever and that scares the pants of me—you'll see why when you read on.

What if the fever didn't resolve or got worse?

We have great hesitations about taking Jasmine to the emergency, hubby no less than myself. I always say there would most definitely be somebody else now, somebody good this time. I so hope I'm right about that.

Our emergency vet horror happened when Jasmine was recovering from her knee surgeries. 

Her legs were doing well, she had the bounce back in her step, she could run and jump and was enjoying her time outside.

At that time, her episodes kept getting worse, though.

She could go for two days straight, couple times a week. The hypothesis of choice then was her heart or her lungs. It was decided that we shall do more x-rays to confirm or exclude that idea.

We booked an appointment for early morning Friday. Hubby had a day off and the plan was to swing by the vets, get the x-rays done, and continue to the horse farm for the day.

But that couldn't have been further from how this actually played out.

When Jasmine was waking up from anesthesia, she seemed uncomfortable. Could it be that it was already a prelude of things to come? Of course, nobody could have known that then. It was assumed that she was in pain from having her neck manipulated to get the images, and so they gave her a shot of Buprenorphine.

And then whole hell broke loose.

In no time, Jasmine spiked a fever of 42.5ºC (108.5 ºF)! The only assumption was that the buprenorphine was behind that. She was given injections of naloxone to counter the drug and alcohol rub downs. It took hours to get her temperature back down.

It was the day we almost killed our dog!

And we were just trying to diagnose her! Nobody could have expected that. Buprenorphine is known to RARELY cause hyperthermia in cats, no such case has been reported in a dog.

By the end of the day she seemed exhausted but stable. With the best of intentions, she was sent home. Was that a mistake? In retrospective, clearly so. But the idea was that she may recover better in her own environment.

She looked like a train wreck but seemed comfortable enough. 

She went to have a drink once, walking like a drunken sailor. Very unstable, having a hard time with it, but with her usual determination. I was trying to provide some support with a towel but hubby felt that I should let her have some dignity and let her do it on her own. Well, she fell. With dignity.

After that, she tried to get up couple times but thought better of it. That night we all slept with her on the kitchen floor. Well, I didn't sleep ...

We were told she should be better by morning.

The morning came but she was not better. She really struggled getting up and needed help. With extreme difficulty, but nonetheless, she made her way into the yard to go potty. As if all that wasn't bad enough, her pee was brown!

Time was wasting.

We called the emergency vet ahead of time, while I was printing out Jasmine's records. They wanted a urine sample but she didn't want to go pee again and we didn't want to torture her, standing was very exhausting for her.

Off to the emergency we were.

Related articles:
Our Own Emergency Vet Horror (Part II)
OK, I Am A Sucker: We're Going Through With The SLIT 
Jasmine's Episodes: Back To The Allergies Dilemma 
This Is What Jasmine's Episode Looks Like
Gotta Try Everything Once (Or Twice): On The Quest To Figure Out Jasmine's Episodes 
Thundershirt vs. Jasmine's Episodes
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Another Experience With VetLiveThe Diagnosis Is In: Jasmine Has An Interdigital Cyst
Jasmine's Mysterious Swelling And Interdigital Cyst Update  
Is Crawling Under Things Some Kind Of Secret Physical Therapy?  
Is There No Place Safe? Jasmine's Acupuncture Session
Senior Sensory Systems Function: Zero Defects  
It Looks Like A Keeper: Jasmine's New Integrative Vet 
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
The Calm After The Storm 
If It Was Easy, It Wouldn't Be Jasmine
Practicing What I Preach: Jasmine's Semi Annual Wellness Exam  
No Skimping On Oral Care   

***
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

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Adoption Monday: Barney, Dachshund Mix, Deerfield, NH

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

Small, fuzzy, warm, and cute, Barney is a sweet and loving Doxie mix. 

Barney likes other dogs and he is a fairly calm boy. 

He is also good with cats. Barney would love to hang out with you and play with squeaky toys and go visiting. He loves car rides. 

If you think Barney is the guy for you then take a look below.

Barney is house trained, neutered and up-to-date with routine shots.

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

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

***

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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