Saturday, July 29, 2006

Gear head

In two and a half hours, we will be heading up to Acadia National Park in Maine for our summer vacation. We are "uber" excited, as our cousin Steven says. Steven is Jeffrey's cousin and he and his wife will be joining us midweek.
Jeffrey has been preparing for this trip for the past few weeks now. Not only do we have a new inflatable raft, fishing poles, PFDs, and water socks and gloves, but Riley has a new pack too. It is the cadillac of dog packs, IMHO. We got it online from Ruffwear (http://www.ruffwear.com) and it's the Pallisades Pack II. It's got some wonderful features to it, including two hydration bladders, built-in compression straps, a handle on top, and easy removal of the pack from the harness. I hope the weather is not too stiffling hot so we can try it out. Mainly, I like that Riley can carry his own water so we don't have to worry about running out.
We tried it on the other night and he looked quite handsome. I will definitely return with great pictures to share.

Call him Speedy

Since our first visit with the new holistic vet, Riley has been on daily natural supplements. He actually really likes some of them! Stuff like organically bound minerals, Fung Dx, Spanish Black Radish, Cholacol, and solvent remover. These were to help build up his system so he's not so sensitive to everything. Since we've been on supplements, I started a mini experiment. I stopped cleaning his ears. Riley's ears have always been a source of not only brown goopy yeast, but smelly yeast. Today at the follow visit at the vet's, I told her about my little experiment.
"Really? As she peered into his ears. All I can say is W. O. W. I was expecting some improvements but I've never seen a dog respond so quickly! We'll call you Speedy!"
Not only has the yeast dissappeared from his ears, but the goop from his eyes too. I'm assuming the FungDx took care of the yeasty problems. Unfortunately, Riley is still eating up the dirt and mud at the park. I was hoping the bound minerals were going to provide the minerals he's looking for in the dirt, but I guess not. But the vet recommended we decrease the supplements a bit but continue just to make sure he's on the right track.
While at the vet's I also asked her to look at Riley's movement as his gait looks off to me. Sometimes I watching him galloping and he looks great. Smooth, graceful lines. And then othertimes, he is trotting and something about his gait catches my eye. I couldn't really explain it to her but I knew I had been seeing something. She asked me to trot him up and down the parking lot a few times. She saw exactly what I saw and she had an explanation. His right rear leg reaches too far under and across his midline, even crossing over the left, causing his gait to be a little off kilter. Besides this being a structure issue, she reassured that this is how Riley is built and there isn't anything to worry about. She did a few chiropractic adjustments to his lower back and hips, which he seemed to enjoy immensely, and we were done.
I was pleased to see that the supplements helped Riley's allergies. He seems happy, healthy, and not annoyed by any itchies. At age 3, we are doing great!

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Heat wave

The heat was supposed to start Saturday. It wasn't so bad though on Saturday. Riley and I made it up to Fort Foster in Kittery, Maine, to join 55 other Berners at the summer picnic. We haven't been to this event since Riley was just a 12 week old puppy! It was the first Nashoba Valley club event we attended and we received an award for youngest puppy. So the picnic this year was fun. The weather was warm but not unbearable. I got to meet and hold several new puppies. One was only 8 weeks old and just a sweetheart! Near the end of the day, several of us and some 9 Berners headed down to the beach to let our furkids romp on the beach. Riley would be the only Berner who did not love the water. He was content just to sit up on the rocks and watch everyone swim, jump, and lay in the waves. It was quite a site to see.
Since Saturday, the temperature has risen up to 100. Riley has not been out on a walk. It has been quick bathroom walk in the AM and one in the PM. I worry about his weight and his mental status. So this morning, we went for a nice walk at the Paine Estate. He got a chance to stretch his legs and do his doggy thing. He looks much better now. Hopefully this 100 degree weather is over and done with.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Mr. Mom

This coming weekend, I will be away for 4 days. Well, three and a half, but really almost four. To say that I'm not just a little bit worried about how Jeffrey will manage with all the furbabies would be a lie. I think maybe even a crash course in daily furbaby care may be in order. In actuality, as long as I return and we still have three kitties and one Berner, no more, no less, then I will be quite relieved. I know the kitty girls will not get their regular "healthy" meals but in fact everyone will be spoiled rotten on canned food all four days. Riley, who is on a limited diet: no chicken, no turkey, no rabbit, no duck, no a lot of things, but must have his daily supplements with smaller portions of food. I fear I may return to everyone having gained 5 pounds each! In an effort to simplify things, I may have to preportion and label everyone's meals for each day. *sigh* Nevermind the dialy brushing and litterbox maintenance either. I'm sure we'll all survive this weekend. Isn't this how it typically is with human families when the primary caregiver is away? Pizza everynight!

Friday, July 14, 2006

Giardia fears

Two days ago, I was awaken early in the morning by Riley scratching at the bedroom door, asking to go out. Riley rarely gets up in the morning until I do, even though Jeffrey is already up. So this was an unusual event. But I figured he may have heard something downstairs and wanted to check it out. When I didn't get up, he came over to my side of the bed, sticking his nose up to the edge of the bed, and tried to wake me up politely with a few tail wags. I ignored him, turning over to catch the last 15 minutes of sleep. A few minutes later I awake to the sound of gutteral wretching. Oye! Poor guy was feeling ill and tried to tell me to open the door and let him out. Luckily, it was just a little yellow bile. I chocked it up to the canned cat food Jeffrey likes to give him now and then.
Then there was a little diarrhea here and there. Not horrible, so I don't worry too much. Again, I chock it up to something he may have picked up at the dog park, in the creek, or mud.
As I pull out of the driveway on my way to Lion Dance practice though, I see my neighbors with their Yorkie puppy. They tell me that little Doughnut has picked up a parasite, Giardia. Ah-ha! They think she may have picked it up at the dog park. It's definitely a possibility. All sorts of wildlife live at that reservation park.
So I'm now faced with the possibility of a stomach parasite that is potentially lethal. I decide against going to the allopathic vet for testing. They would need a fresh stool sample and I've already been fasting him to clean out his gut so no samples to give. Also, if he did test positive, the standard practice is to treat with Flagyl, which is an antibiotic.
Here's the info I dug up on Flagyl:
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Metronidazole is an antibiotic effective against anaerobic bacteria and certain parasites. Anaerobic bacteria are single-cell living organisms that thrive in low oxygen environments and can cause disease in the abdomen (bacterial peritonitis) liver (liver abscess), and pelvis ( abscess of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes). Giardia lamblia and ameba are parasites that can cause abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea in infected individuals. Metronidazole selectively blocks some of the cell functions in these microorganisms, resulting in their demise.
SIDE EFFECTS: Metronidazole is a valuable antibiotic, and is generally well tolerated with appropriate use. Serious side effects of metronidazole are rare; and include seizures and damage of nerves resulting in numbness and tingling of extremities (peripheral neuropathy). Metronidazole should be stopped if these symptoms appear. Minor side effects include nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, a metallic taste, and rarely a rash.

Kinda sounds like a lot of common drugs that doctors and vets prescribed to us. But I have just read a recent post on my Natural Berner yahoo list about someone's dog having a severe reaction to Flagyl. Plus, it really doesn't make any sense to me to treat a parasite with an antibiotic. But without my own plan in place to talk to the vet about, I decided to contact my holistic vet. She is out of town and I speak to the very knowledgeable receptionist for a few minutes. We decide to fast and make sure he stays hydrated. I will keep an eye on him tomorrow and decide if we want a definitive diagnosis. I am hoping that by starving the parasite, Riley's own immune system will fight this off.

In the meantime, some of my internet mentors send me some suggestions. Para-GARD, Panacur, and Sulfur. I have Sulfur at home and may try a dose of that tonight. Here's info on Panacur:
BACKGROUND
The care of animals has always included the management of internal parasites.  As technology has progressed, the medications developed have become more and more broad in the spectrum of parasites they can eradicate. Fenbendazole is a member of the benzimidizole group of anti-parasite medications which makes it a relatively broad spectrum product.
HOW THIS MEDICATION IS USED
Fenbendazole (often abbreviated “FBZ”) is used in both large and small animals. In dogs, it is useful against roundworms, hookworms, and the more difficult to treat whipworms. It is effective against the Taenia species of tapeworm but not against the Common tapeworm Dipylidium caninum. It is also effective against giardia, a protozoan and several species of lungworm and even some flukes.
Fenbendazole is rarely required for feline use but can certainly be used safely in the cat. Fenbendazole is not approved by the FDA for use in the cat, however.
SIDE EFFECTS
Some animals experience vomiting/nausea after deworming.
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS
There are no significant drug interactions in small animal use.
CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS
Fenbendazole is considered safe for use in pregnancy in all species.
Treatment is necessary for three consecutive days. Treatment may require a second course depending on which parasite is being treated.

And Para-GARD:
Para-GARD is a botanical supplement designed for gastrointestinal problems. Most of the ingredients in this formula have shown antimicrobial activity and antiparasitic properties. Some ingredients also dry excessive secretions, which help alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea. This combination of actions make Para-GARD® an excellent product for acute diarrhea, and some cases of chronic diarrhea.

I'm leaning towards Panacur. If we can make it to Monday without any major concern, then my holistic vet will let us know what to do. Hopefully, this will all be over by then...we'll see...I know, aren't you just thrilled to have learned all of this? Actually, I'd be pretty shocked if you've read this far. I even think this is boring!

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Dr. Doolittle

A few weeks ago, I brought Riley to see a new vet. Her name, no kidding, is Dr. Doolittle.
No, I didn't find her in the yellow pages. In fact, she came very highly recommended and I truely had my own reservations of seeing someone actually named Dr. Doolittle. But many club members I know take their Berners to her and rave about what she has done for their furkids. Since we are still in the midsts of itchy ears and sensitive stomach issues, I decided to go see her. She does not practice homeopathy, but I thought I'd try a different avenue until we can find a new homeopath.
Dr. Doolittle is a certified vet, which gives her more credibility, I think, to skeptics. She also practices with herbal medicine (even Chinese herbal medicines), kinesthesiology, and she is a chiropractor. Here's her website: http://www.holisticanimalvet.com/news.htm
The appointment was an hour and a half. What I really do like about non-allopathic vets is that you get so much more time with your vet. The atmosphere is welcoming and you don't have that sterile feeling, that you're a patient and their the professional doctor. I really appreciate that.
She tested Riley and narrowed down the foods that would be easiest for his body to digest and receive nutrients from while simultaneously prescribing herbal supplements to boost his health. Things she felt needed boosting were his digestive and immune system. Some of the things she prescribed included a toxin remover, earth bound minerals, and several natural pills that as far as I can tell are human-grade supplements. Some to boost his kidneys, some for the yeast, others pancreas, and some for the liver. We go back in a few weeks to see if there is some improvement. So far, the only thing I can really tell is that he doesn't mind eating the funny smelling supplements and his ears have not started up with yeast since the last time I cleaned them. This appointment certainly made a dent in my checking account. But my hope is that helping Riley reach a more optimum level of health will save us money and heartache in the long run. I hope to get him to a point when vet visits are nil to none and we can feel confident that he will live out the last days of his life, succumbing only to old age and nothing else. That's all I can offer him, the big bundle of joy that always makes me smile all over. He's the best...What wouldn't I do for him?!

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Another Deramaxx problem on CBS

PHILADELPHIA:
In an I-Team Investigation , the CBS 3 I-Team uncovers a disturbing problem that may be contributing to the death of thousands of pets.The animals are dying, sometimes at the hands of their unsuspecting owners. Investigative Reporter Jim Osman exposes what could make your pet severely ill, fits in the palm of your hand.One particular dog's love and energy for years helped cheer up dying and sick patients at hospices and nursing homes in Allentown.“It was just amazing to see the look on their faces, they were just so happy to spend that hour with that dog,” said the dog’s owner.On visit days, Jetta had a big fan club.“People would sit on the sidewalk and wait and they would call Jetta, Jetta, Jetta,” said the owner.However, it's what's inside these common pet pills that her owner and even the government believe left Jetta unable to answer the call any more.“When we were getting ready to take her, she had a heart attack and she died,” explained the owner.Jetta had developed arthritis and a painful limp. A vet prescribed deramaxx to combat it.In two days, the dog started having trouble.“She wasn't really eating or drinking, she was lethargic, when the 2nd bloody bowel movement came, we were really concerned,” said the owner.Jetta had side effects from deramaxx, side effects listed on the drug company's web site.The problem was the owner says he never knew about any side effects.The vet filed a complaint with the FDA and determined the likeliness deramaxx contributed to the dog's death was "high.”“It's common sense and common decency to let people know what the side effects are of any drug their pet might take,” State Senator Michael Stack.Pennsylvania State Senator Michael Stack wants a change in the law to force vets to inform owner's of drug side effects.It is for good reason because, as the CBS 3 I-Team discovered, FDA records show more than 3,000 dogs have died after taking a variety of painkillers including deramaxx.19,000 dogs have had adverse reactions to the meds.It's why Jetta's remains are in a box and why she's not running around anymore raising the spirits of the sick.“There's no recovering, it's been such an emotional situation,” said the owner.We contacted Novartis the maker of deramaxx and in a statement the company tells Eyewitness News:Deramaxx has been safely and effectively used to treat more than one million dogs for canine osteoarthritis .Novartis also says it provides vets with an information sheet about the benefits and possible side effects of deramaxx, so make sure your vet gives it to you.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Friday, July 07, 2006

Agility Nationals

On Animal Planet tonight, Ultimate Dog Championships was showing Agility National competitions. I only caught the tail end of it. I watched as all sorts of dogs, mixed, pure bred, big, and small, attacked a very confusing agility course. There didn't seem to be a circuit course, but instead a number of obstacles worth a variety of points and then a final four hurdles to the finish line were mandatory. During the first 30 seconds, a dog could run through a number of obstacles no more than twice each to rack up as many points as possible. Once the horn blew, they had to run immediately through the final four hurdles to the finish line. And they only had a limited amount of time to finish the final course. Many dogs ran out of time and were disqualified. What I noticed was that the handlers were having to do so much work, talking, signaling, praising, looking ahead, and the dogs just looked confused, trying to figure out what to do. I suppose if it was a set circuit course it would be much easier. But anyways, it was interesting to watch. I wouldn't want to try that kind of competitive agility. I'll stick to our little agility course for fun. In fact, another course is starting in just a few weeks and I'm very excited it's on a night that I can go to. I think we're gonna continue with this, just for fun.