Pat McKay has been kind enough to provide her wonderful books on natural pet healthcare as free downloads. Follow this link to get your free copy of “Natural Immunity” http://animalhomeopathy.net/id23.html
Obscessive Compulsive Disorder in Dogs January 21, 2010
This is a link to an interesting article linking obscessive compulsive disorder in dogs to a gene variation. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/science/19dogs.html?ref=health#
The reason I posted this link, is because behavioral problems are one of the main reason that pets are euthanized. Samuell Hahnemann the founder of homeopathy was a pioneer in the treatment of mental and emotional disorders in humans, freeing many patients from the horrors of 1800′s mental institutions.
Homeopathy can used very successfully to treat animals suffering from mental and emotional disorders.
Hidden Dangers in your Cat’s food and supplements: Benzoic Acid January 12, 2010
A study published in 1972 in the Veterinary Record, entitled, Experimental Benzoic Acid Toxicity in the Cat, clearly showed that even small quantities of benzoic acid are toxic to cats. Symptoms of toxicity included: abnormal behavior, oral ulceration and salivation, internal organ damage and death.
Benzoic acid continues to be added to food and supplements marketed for cats. Play it safe, read the ingredient list on any product purchased for feline consumption and avoid those that contain benzoic acid or PABA (parabenzoic acid).
Feline Renal Disease: Are Vaccines to Blame? December 30, 2009
This is an interesting study showing a clear link between certain commonly used Feline vaccines and Interstitial Nephritis. Studys have shown that there is no need to vaccinate indoor cats after the age of one year… so why do we continue to do so? You have the right to refuse annual vaccination for all of your pets.
S
HORT COMMUNICATION
Interstitial nephritis in cats inoculated with Crandell
Rees feline kidney cell lysates
Michael R Lappin
DVM, PhD
1
*, Randall J Basaraba DVM, PhD
2
Wayne A Jensen
,DVM, PhD
3
1
College of Veterinary Medicine &
Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO
80523-1678, USA
Department of Clinical Sciences,
2
Immunology and Pathology,
Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, CO, USA
Department of Microbiology,
3
Mountain Avenue, Loveland, CO
80538, USA
Heska Corporation, 3760 Rocky
Parenteral administration of Crandell Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cell lysates or
feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus-containing vaccines
(FVRCP) grown on CRFK cells induces antibodies against CRFK cells. These
antibodies also react with feline renal cell extracts. The purpose of this study was
to determine whether interstitial nephritis would be detected in cats that were
immunologically sensitized with CRFK lysates, boosted with CRFK lysates, and
then biopsied 2 weeks after the booster. Cats (2 per group) were
immunologically sensitized against CRFK lysates by administering 10
or 50
were inoculated three times, 4 weeks apart with an FVRCP vaccine for intranasal
administration as kittens, boosted 50 and 102 weeks later, and then renal biopsies
taken 2 weeks after the last booster. Neither of the cats vaccinated with the
FVRCP for intranasal administration had detectable renal inflammation.
One cat in each of the three CRFK lysate sensitization groups had
lymphocytic
mg, 50 mg,mg plus alum 13 times (12 times in the first 50 weeks) over 2 years. Two catseplasmacytic interstitial nephritis.
Date accepted: 5 March 2006
2006 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
L
is a common histological lesion
in cats with renal failure (
1992, Minkus et al 1994
and plasma cells in renal tissues is not specific
for any one disease; there are a number of
known causes including diet and some infectious
diseases (
Kordick et al 1999
inoculated parenterally with feline herpesvirus
1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus-containing
vaccines (FVRCP) multiple times in their
lives. Because the vaccine viruses in most of the
commercially available FVRCP vaccines are
grown on the Crandell Rees feline kidney
(CRFK) cell line (
1970, Lee et al 1969
a study to determine whether vaccinated cats
or cats immunologically sensitized with CRFK
cell lysates developed antibody responses to
the lysates and whether the antibodies reacted
with feline renal tissue lysates.We also evaluated
whether the cats would develop clinical, biochemical,
or urinalysis evidence of renal disease,
and whether the cats would develop histological
evidence of renal disease (
Cats (
(12 times over 50 weeks) with varying concentrations
of CRFK lysate or administered a FVRCP
vaccine three times, 4 weeks apart as kittens
and then boosted at 50 weeks. Prior to CRFK
sensitization or vaccination and at week 56 of
the study, renal biopsies were obtained for histopathological
evaluation (
against CRFK lysates were detected in all
cats that were sensitized with CRFK lysates, in
five of six cats administered a commercially
available FVRCP vaccine parenterally, but in
neither of the cats administered a commercially
available FVRCP vaccine intranasally (Feline
UltraNasal; FVRCP Vaccine, Heska Corporation,
Fort Collins, CO). Antibodies against renal cell
lysates were detected in all cats that were
ymphocyticeplasmacytic interstitial nephritisLulich et al). Detection of lymphocytesDiBartola et al 1993, Minkus et al 1994,). Many client-owned cats areCrandell et al 1973, Scott et al), we previously performedLappin et al 2005).n ¼ 14) were inoculated SQ multiple timesLappin et al 2005). Antibodies
*Corresponding author. Tel:
1275. E-mail:
þ1-970-297-1274; Fax: þ1-970-297-mlappin@colostate.edu
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2006.03.003
(2006) 8, 353e356
1098-612X/06/050353+04 $32.00/0
2006 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Is Irradiated Food Safe – I don’t Think So! June 12, 2009
From Pet Food Industry magazine:
Australia suspends irradiation of cat food
Release Date: Tuesday, June 09, 2009
An outbreak in neurological disorders in cats has lead Australia to cease sterilization of cat food by irradiation. Scientific studies have suggested food irradiation as the source of the illnesses afflicting cats, but exactly how irradiation is causing food to be toxic to cats is unknown.
Ninety cats in Australia were afflicted with neurological disorders after they ate Orijen imported dry cat food, manufactured by Champion Petfoods, according to Dr. Georgina Child, a neurologist familiar with the cases.
Only Australia, which requires irradiation of pet food, has reported issues with Orijen cat food; all other countries who imported non-irradiated Orijen cat food reported no problems.
Finni’s Story May 2, 2009
This is from Pat Jordan who has been doing considerable work investigating the effects of vaccinations.
Finni and his rabies vaccination
We want to tell you a very sad story about our dog – and tell you to carefully consider vaccinating your Finnish Spitz!
Our Finnish Spitz, named Sukunimi Finni, was born on March 19, 2007. He received his first rabies vaccination in Wales on June 11, 2007. A few weeks later he came to Holland with us, and grew up as a very lively, happy, healthy and handsome dog. No health problems at all.
As we did with the dogs we had before, we went to the vet after one year for his regular vaccinations, and one of these was the booster rabies vaccination. This happened on May 27, 2008.
A few days later we noticed changes in Finni’s behaviour. He suddenly was afraid of water; he did not run into the pond, which was one of his favourite habits before. He even seemed frightened to come close to the water.
We also noticed that the spot between his shoulder blades, where the vaccination was given, was painful.
Hardly three weeks later, Finni suddenly behaved very strangely: he fell on his back, trampled with his legs and some saliva dripped from his mouth.
It all happened within a very short time and we were not sure what was happening. Unfortunately, a few weeks later it happened again, and now we were absolutely sure this was an epileptic seizure (a short period of stiffness, convulsions, trampling with the legs, a lot of saliva). This time he had two seizures, one after the other and we directly went to the vet.
A physical examination and several blood tests followed. No physical cause was found, and Finni got Phenobarbital which is the most common treatment. We started with a low dose, but as Finni still experienced seizures every two-three weeks, the dose was increased until he reached the maximum according to his weight.
Unfortunately, in spite of this, the seizures continued every two-three weeks and became worse (clusters of 3 or 4 seizures after each other). We were very unhappy with this, and despite a lot of visits to the vet where we mentioned this all started after the rabies vaccination, no other treatment was given, except extra rectal Valium.
Then we started several less toxic treatments: homeopathy, Bach flower remedies, allergy free food (James Wellbeloved). Nothing helped Finni, he became worse and worse.
In desperation we phoned a vet who is connected to the University Clinic for Animals in Utrecht. He immediately said that this was not ‘ordinary epilepsy’, and that an MRI-scan of Finni’s head was absolutely necessary.
We agreed to pick up all necessary paperwork the next day in order to go to Utrecht that same day. But that night Finni became very ill – the seizures did not stop any more. The next morning the vet saw Finni and had no other option than to put him to sleep…
This vet performed one significant test: he turned on the water tap, and, although Finni was almost unconscious, he was terrified. This was a specific reaction belonging to rabies, and in this case that rabies might have caused the illness. Because of this Finni was isolated and brought to a special laboratory in Lelystad where several tests were done. The final conclusion is: ‘a rare reaction of the rabies vaccination causing inflammation of the brain tissue and cerebral membrane’.
As we discussed this later on with the vet, he told us that it is the best to always determine the titre of the antibodies of rabies in the dog’s blood – and according to this level, decide if the dog needs a vaccination!!
Jos and Arry de Bruijn (Holland).
We were extremely sad when Jos and Arry told us about Finni’s illness and eventual death, and wondered whether anything positive could come out of this terribly sad situation. We are therefore very grateful to them for telling Finni’s story and giving their permission to alert other Finnish Spitz owners across the world to the possible dangers of the rabies vaccine.
Finni was put to sleep in early December and left an enormous gap in Jos and Arry’s lives, so we were thrilled for them when they decided to offer a dog from their local dog shelter a new home, and we wish them many happy years with Mickey, pictured below.
Steve and Alison Piearce
Sukunimi Finnish Spitz
EPA to Investigate “spot on” Flea Products April 23, 2009
Here is a link to an excellent article on the dangers of flea and tick products. http://www.apnm.org/publications/resources/fleachemfin.pdf
It seems that the epa has received numorous complaints about topical flea control products. I have seen the list of products that the epa is investigating. It includes, promeris, frontline, hartz products, biospot, among others. Let’s take a closer look at the investigation and what you need to worry about as well as how to protect your pet.
There is a huge difference among the active ingredients in “spot on” flea products. THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW: there is a big difference between the new flea products generally sold through the veterinarian and spot on products available at major retailers. THAT DIFFERENCE IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT: many over the counter products available at major retailers or feed stores contain ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDES. These were the products we used 20 years ago because it was all we had. There is a VERY limited margin of safety with organophosphate (permethrin, pyrethrin) products. If you fail to follow manufacturers directions or if you accidentally apply an product made for dogs on cats, the result can be disastrous. “Back in the Day:, we treated many cases of organophosphate toxicity caused by this products, not always successfully.
The bottom line, is that you need to read the package, not all products are created equally. Any product containing either or permethrin or pyrethrin should be avoided at all costs, there are safer products available.
Frontline and advantage both contain active ingredients with a wider margin of safety. The primary complaint I hear after application of these products is local irritation and itching at the site of application. Occasionally, I see transient hyperactivity associated with these products. I have yet to see death associated with these products.
That said, you as a pet guardian, should work on environmental control and not put chemicals directly on your pet. Approximately 75% of the flea burden exists in the environment and not on the pet. So, controlling fleas in the environment is more important that treating them on the pet itself.
The other thing that needs to be discussed is that HEALTHY PET’S DON’T ATTRACT FLEAS! If you are actively engaged in a program of holistic health for your pet, you will notice a drop in the flea population naturally over time. How great is that!
Pancreatitis and Vaccines April 9, 2009
We have recently been discussing whether or not there is a corrolation between vaccines and pancreatitis. I admit the studies I sited where all human studies. But, it should still make us think..are vaccines behind the rise in pancreatitis that we are seeing in both dogs and cats.
Today, I was presented with a 1 year old dachshund with severe abdominal pain and vomiting of 12 hours duration. The clinical signs are consistent with mild pancreatitis. I will admit his lab work was within the normal range and did not CONFIRM pancreatitis as the diagnosis. But pancreatitis by conventional medical standards can be very difficult to diagnose. For me, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.. I will call it a duck. So, he has symptoms consistent with pancreatitis. The kicker.. this dog was vaccinated just last week. Not with a dhlppc combo vaccine but a DAP vaccine. By conventional standards, this would not be considered a vaccine reaction, as those must occur with in 24 hours of a vaccine. From a classical homeopathic standpoint, this is quite clearly a vaccine reaction. There are no coincidences in medicine.
So, can I prove this dog has pancreatitis, No, I can not. Am I suspicious that he has pancreatitis induced by last weeks vaccines? Yes, I am. I know there is no “scientific evidence” in this case. But it does make me think and it should make you think also.
Pets in Need Clinic (PINC) April 8, 2009
LOCAL VETERINARIAN TO HOLD SECOND “PINC” DAY; CHALLENGE TO VETS GATHERS STEAM NATIONALLY
Continued Area Hardship Prompts Second Pets in Need Clinic and a
Mobile PINC “Meals on Wheels”
Henrietta, NY – For three hours one Saturday afternoon in February –inspired by President Obama’s recent call to service – Henrietta Animal Hospital owner Dr. Michelle Brownstein held her very first Pets in Need Clinic (PINC) to provide basic veterinary medical support to dogs and cats whose owners have fallen on hard times. “The outpouring of support from the community was overwhelming,” said Dr. Brownstein. “With 25 people volunteering their time, we were able to see more than 20 pet owners with 30 dogs and cats in real need of fundamental veterinary services.”
Two months later, if anything, that need has increased, and Dr. Brownstein is offering a second PINC on Saturday, April 25 from 12-3 pm at the Henrietta Animal Hospital (3156 East Henrietta Road). Local veterinarian Dr. Edward Gschrey from South Towne Veterinary Hospital in Henrietta was moved by Dr. Brownstein’s efforts, and will be joining her for the April PINC to increase the number of pets that can be served. Some of the recipients of services from the first PINC will be “paying it forward” by helping to volunteer their time on April 25.
In addition to doing her part in the Rochester area, Dr. Brownstein has gone global with PINC. “From the beginning, my hope was to challenge other vets across the country to set up their own Pets in Need Clinics – as well as others in their individual areas of expertise,” she said. Through her national veterinary networks, she posted information about PINC, offering to share her expertise and her Henrietta Animal Hospital model to build the PINC concept.
The media attention and word-of-mouth from her successful PINC has resulted in interest from national media as well as veterinarians in California, Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri ready to take up her challenge. “I’m happy to share our model to help them replicate PINC in their areas,” she said, noting that her efforts started with “a lot of personal calls and letters to local organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Way, Catholic Family Center, Jewish Family Service, Open Door Mission, Salvation Army, Veterans Outreach Center, and Visiting Nurse Service, followed by calls for volunteers, and food and medical suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers.”
In addition, Dr. Brownstein is working with a colleague from the Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County to join him for a “mobile” PINC on Saturday, April 18, as he delivers food to shut-ins through Meals on Wheels. Henrietta Animal Hospital also has joined the Nevada-based “Feeding Pets of the Homeless,” and will be a collection site for dog and cat food drop-off. Details will be available through the Henrietta Animal Hospital website and the PINC facebook site.
As it did with the first PINC, the upcoming April 25 Pets in Need Clinic targets recently laid-off workers, people who have lost their homes or suffered disasters, veterans who have fallen on hard times, or those for whom the economic downturn has affected their ability to provide basic veterinary care for their pets. Two mandatory documents will be required in advance: a signed referral letter from a social worker, case worker, or member of the clergy, and a registration form. The registration form is downloadable from www.henriettahosp.com. Both documents need to be received by April 19. The referral letter and the registration document can be faxed to Henrietta Animal Hospital at 585-321-9975, emailed to drbrownstein@henriettahosp.com , or mailed to Henrietta Animal Hospital, 3156 East Henrietta Road, Henrietta, NY 14467.
The Clinic will provide distemper and rabies vaccines, preventive de-worming for dogs and cats, heartworm testing for dogs, feline leukemia testing for outdoor cats, and a complimentary dose of heartworm pills. Limited amounts of food also will be available. Drs. Brownstein and Gschrey will be donating their time, and all goods and services will be free of charge, although a minimal payment is suggested, as Dr. Brownstein believes in pet owners having a vested interest in their pets’ health care.
PINC also is looking for volunteers to help out during the clinic times with greeting, registration, data entry, and other non-medical duties. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up early and can do so by calling 585-334-3800, or visit www.henriettahosp.com and click on PINC Volunteer.
For more information about PINC, please call the Henrietta Animal Hospital at 585-334-3800, or visit the PINC Facebook site.
Dr Marcia has accepted Dr. Brownstein’s challenge! I will be holding a PINC clinic in Boca Raton in late June or early July. If you want to help or donate to this great cause contact dr. brownstein at the above address or drmarcia at drmarcia39@gmail.com.
DrMarcia is already a member of Feeding Pets of the Homeless. www.petsofhomeless.org. This a great organization helping to provide food to pets whose owners otherwise may not be able to afford it. Food donations can be left at Calusa Veterinary Clinic, 6900 Congress Avenue Boca Raton florida (www.cvcboca.com). Broward county Meals on Wheels will pick up and distribute the food to seniors in need.
By working with PINC and Feeding Pets of the Homeless, we are hoping that distressed families will be able to keep their beloved pets happy and healthy even in these difficult times. It really is the very least we can do to sure that fewer animals end up in shelters.
LIFE LESSONS FROM THE FAMILY DOG April 5, 2009
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/life-lessons-from-the-family-dog/
This is a very moving story of the relationship of a man suffering from prostate cancer and his relationship with his beloved 10 year old miniature poodle. It is a hard story for anyone with training in alternative medicine to read. He talks of all the health problems his little dog suffers from and the long list of drugs the dog must take: The problems include:
- seizures
- recurring bladder infections
- painful arthritis
- and urinary incontinence
You can look at this from the conventional drug paradigm and give a drug for each symptom: the way she is currently being treated.
We can look at it from a classical homeopathic standpoint. This is a clear picture of vaccine damage. Vaccines have been scientifically proven to cause or exacerbate seizures. They have also be shown to cause cystitis in cats (we can translate this to dogs and other animals). Arthritis is chronic inflammation exacerbated by repeated vaccines. This dog would greatly benefit from a properly prescribed homeopathic remedy. He quality of life would improve dramatically and some of the medications could probably be discontinued.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine standpoint this is a clear picture of deficiency in the kidney meridian. The kidney meridian is associated with the bones and the marrow (which includes the brain) as well as the actually actual organs of kidneys and bladder. By strengthening this meridian through acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy this little dog could have a much better quality of life.
We need to learn to look outside the box, especially when the treatment being given is not providing adequate quality of life. He describes this dog as though it is aged and close to death. Remember she is only 10 years old. This is barely middle aged for a mini-poodle and yet she suffers from several issues associated with old age. She is way too young to be this old.
